Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 76782 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 384(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76782 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 384(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
“You can fly there later tonight and home on Wednesday,” Archie offered.
“As long as things go well.”
“And with you there, I know they will.”
“Fine. I’ll catch up on what I can and go home to pack. I’ll get Lloyd to book me out on the late flight.”
He nodded and left, and I shouted for Lloyd, telling him what I needed.
“On it,” he assured me.
Then I called Autumn and told her the news.
“Oh, okay,” she said. “You’re grand.”
“What?”
She giggled. “Roisin taught me that one. It’s fine, Sully. Except I have a meeting at five I can’t get out of, so I won’t see you.”
“Dammit.”
“I’ll see you Wednesday,” she soothed. “Bonnie and I were going out for drinks tomorrow anyway. Everything is good.”
“I’ll miss you,” I grumped.
“I’ll miss you, but I will see you the day after tomorrow. That doesn’t sound so bad, does it?”
“It’s fine.”
“Call me from your hotel.”
“I’ll probably call you from the airport.”
She laughed softly. “Fine.”
“I love you,” I murmured, looking up to see Lloyd coming in. “I’ll call you later.”
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
SULLY
Ipacked on autopilot, grabbing a suit and everything needed and adding it all to a garment bag. My toiletry bag hadn’t been unpacked from visiting Roisin’s yet, so I threw that in and tossed in sleeping pants and a casual outfit. I always kept things to a minimum but decided to add a second suit in case something happened and I had to stay.
I was in a foul mood. The office had been crazy, even Lloyd was struggling to keep up with the constant interruptions. I hadn’t managed to read everything I needed to in order to catch up on the case, but I would do so at the airport and on the plane. I would have time once I got to the hotel as well.
I went into my home office to grab some cash from the safe hidden in the bookshelves since I hadn’t had a chance to go to the bank, and I wanted some for tips and small necessities. My phone rang while I was there, and I saw Niall’s name. I hit speaker, setting the phone on the shelf.
“Hey.”
“Sully.” Niall’s voice greeted me. “How are ya?”
I leaned against the desk, facing the bookshelves. “Fecking great. You?”
He laughed. “You sound like thunder.”
“I’m getting ready to catch a flight to Dublin.”
“Weren’t you just there, literally yesterday?”
“Indeed, I was. But the firm needs me back there to cover for another solicitor who is ill.”
“Ah. How did you find Mum?”
“Grand. Hearty, healthy. Full of stories to tell Autumn that made us all look bad.”
His chuckle was deep. “No doubt. She does the same with Anna and Una.”
“How are your womenfolk?”
“Great. Doing well.”
“I assume there is a reason for the call, not to simply say hello,” I stated dryly. A noise caught my ear, but hearing nothing else, I ignored it. No doubt it came from outside.
“Alan Blane.”
I tensed. “What of the fecker?” I growled. “Did you find him?”
“Yeah, we found of him. That’s not his real name. It’s one of many aliases he goes by. He’s done this before, Sully. He’s a serial stalker. He moves on, finds a new victim through work colleagues or people he befriends. We found three other names associated with him, and his real name is Calvin Dickens. He has a long rap sheet.” He paused. “He’s dangerous.”
“Motherfecker,” I swore. “Tell me.”
“Two other women filed complaints, and he disappeared. The third, not so lucky. He went after her. Took her and held her hostage. She escaped, but barely. He’s a fecking nutjob. His last name says it all.”
I lowered my head, shaking it as images of Autumn caught by him rolled through my mind.
“Now, the good news is we have no sightings of him. None. He may have walked away, but—”
I interrupted him. “Or he may be waiting. She’s coming back in two weeks to close out her life there. I need the syndicate on board. We need to find him and take care of him.”
“We’re trying. Calling in some favors. The others are on alert.” He paused. “What do you want done if we find him?”
“Eliminate the problem.”
“Do you want to do it?”
“Feck yes. I’d like to remove his hands for touching her. Torture him for scaring her. Make him pay for what he’s done to others. But I canna. I need to stay here. But I need it done. I need him wiped off the earth so he can’t hurt her or anyone else. I’ll owe the syndicate whatever needed to get it done.”
Another sound hit me, and I whirled around. Autumn stood in the doorway, her hand covering her mouth. Her eyes were wide with shock, her face ashen.
Everything I didn’t want to happen had just happened. Autumn overheard me, and now she knew. I’d spilled my own secret without meaning to, and now I had to try to explain.