Total pages in book: 181
Estimated words: 171979 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 860(@200wpm)___ 688(@250wpm)___ 573(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 171979 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 860(@200wpm)___ 688(@250wpm)___ 573(@300wpm)
Opening her purse, she took out a sheath of papers. “His name was Officer Simon Lee. He was a nice man. He and his wife followed me home from the ER. They even helped me in with my groceries.”
“I’m glad they were there to help you. Did you call and report your cards stolen?”
“While I was in the ER.”
“Good.” Starting the car, he gave her a serious look. “Are you good to go back to work?”
“Of course. I’m tougher than I look.”
Pulling back into traffic, he blandly asked another question. “Why did Bree want to see you this morning?”
Sage rolled her eyes at him. “She called me into her office to tell me that Hollingsworth has a reputation to maintain, and I need to be more circumspect with my personal life.”
“Huh?”
“She inferred my injuries were a result of domestic violence.”
“You’re kidding?”
“I wish I were.”
“Did you tell her you were mugged?”
“No. It was none of her business.”
Kent smiled at the stubborn tilt of her chin. “Technically, it was none of my business, either, yet you told me.”
“Yes, but you bought me a burrito and my iced coffee.”
He was still smiling when he pulled back into his reserved parking spot. Turning off the car, he unbuckled his seat belt while Sage undid hers.
“I’m sorry you were mugged. I’m sure it was a frightening experience for you. If you need anything, just give me a call. I’m only a few floors away.”
“Thank you, Kent.”
“For what? A burrito and a cup of coffee?” he joked as they got out of the car.
Closing the car door, she came around the back to walk alongside of him. “For making today a little less crummy.”
“You brightened my day, too. I had to sit through an entire morning going over my colleagues’ and my open cases.”
“Ouch. Somehow, I think I had a better morning than you did,” she said laughingly.
“There’s a big beer fest Friday night downtown. You want to hit a few of the stalls with me?”
“Kent”—she pressed the elevator button—“you had me at beer.”
As the elevator door opened on Sage’s floor, Kent pressed the button to hold the door.
“Don’t forget, if you need anything, just give me a call.”
Shyly, her eyes skirted his as she left the elevator. Sage was like a flower unfolding with more and more attention he gave her.
As soon as the elevator closed behind her, his smile disappeared as if it had never been there. He had lost count of the number of women he had used to further his own ends, and never once had he felt a twinge of guilt. Until now.
That she had given the same answer he had Garrett made him question what Bree had shown they both wanted to keep their work life separate from their private life. Unfortunately for Sage, she was playing right into his hands.
Passing his assistant’s desk without a word, he went into his office and closed the door, taking out a disposable cell he always kept on him.
He keyed in a number, then impatiently drummed his fingers on the desk as he waited for the call to be answered.
“Yes?” Sal’s voice came over the phone.
“I’m going to need a couple of favors.”
“You want favors, go through Lucca,” Brusquely, Sal refused.
“What I want is your field of expertise. You do these favors, and I’ll tell you how to get your little firecracker in bed.”
“Who says I want that?”
Not in the mood to play games, he disconnected the call. He was dialing another number when an incoming call flashed across the screen. Kent accepted it with a smug smile, glad Sal wasn’t there to witness it.
“What’s the favor?”
“I want the security footage from the Smart Shopper parking lot from Monday at five p.m. and an Officer Simon Lee’s phone number.”
“Why do you want the security footage?”
“A friend of mine was mugged there.”
“Give me an hour.”
True to his word, Sal had the information he wanted within the hour. Kent returned the favor, letting Sal know anything Nintendo should do the trick.
Using his personal laptop, he pulled up the footage. The surveillance video provided a sideview of Sage’s mugging. Unfortunately, the mugger’s back was to the camera, so he couldn’t get a clear view of his face. The fucker was twice Sages size. After taking what he wanted, he had run off to the side of the market, where he was out of view of the camera.
Rewinding the footage, he focused on Sage. She had parked right under one of the store’s lights. Zooming in closer, he was able to get a clear image of the watch she’d been wearing.
He took a picture of the watch on his cell phone and felt a burning rage at Sage’s terror-stricken expression. Closing his personal computer, he placed it back inside his briefcase.
The call to Officer Lee was quick and to the point. At first, he refused to give him any information on Sage’s case until he dropped a couple of names. If the Carusos or the Lucianos found out about the name-dropping, he would cross that bridge later. Right now, he was only focused on one objective.