19. Chapter 19
Chapter 19
Ezra moved to the lobby, a small glassed-in area away from the main set of offices and Kendra’s desk. There was an admin behind a simple desk who’d offered him a beverage while he waited.
He’d declined but was now calling Berlin as he sat in the plush area surrounded by glass. Outside, oak and magnolia trees shaded the entire area, making this place feel a lot bigger than it actually was. The furniture blended with the outdoors, with creams and dark browns, and the metals were all a bronze coloring. There were a dozen smaller plants indoors as well that were clearly kept up and watered, including a lemon tree.
There was a small bookshelf with newer books, magazines, and no television in sight. But soft classical music pumped in from speakers he couldn’t see. The whole environment was meant to put people at ease.
“Everything okay? I’m watching you through one of the exterior cameras. I wish she had them inside so I could hear everything.”
He turned toward the bank of windows, wondered which camera she was watching him from. “A man named Austin Jameson stopped by. He’s the competitor for her current bid and a real asshole.” And Ezra could admit he was pissed that she’d basically shunted him to her office when she was talking to Jameson. “And apparently they used to date.” Maybe. “I want you to do a deep dive on the guy, see what you can find.” He kept his voice pitched low so the admin wouldn’t overhear him. She was busily chirping to someone on the phone so he didn’t think she was paying attention to him anyway.
“Oh, Jameson, I recognize that name. Big construction company. And I’m on it,” she murmured. “Anything else?”
“Nope, not for now. I’m sure you’d tell me, but any news on Perry?”
“No, and I kinda wonder if the guy is dead. Or just not in town because it’s hard to totally disappear.”
Hard, but not impossible. “Okay, thanks.” As he set his phone down, it buzzed and Skye’s name appeared on-screen. One of the founders of Redemption Harbor Security and an all-around badass. “Hey, everything good?”
“Yep, of course. Just checking in.”
Okay, Skye never just checked in. Not with him anyway. He glanced over at the admin desk area, saw the woman working on her computer intently. Strolling to the window, he looked out at people passing on the street. Mostly joggers and a few moms or dads out with strollers, everyone bundled up to some degree. Magnolia’s building was in a mostly residential area, but there were a few other non-homes he’d seen on the way, including a lawyer’s office and a bed and breakfast. Her building blended well with the environment, something he was certain was intentional. “Everything is good enough here. Still trying to find the threat.” He kept it vague in case the admin could hear him.
“How are things with you and your son?”
Ooooh, so she was just dropping that. “Good, I think. We’ve been texting.” Which was a little surreal, but he found he liked it. At least it made it easier to think about what he was going to say. “And we played basketball together last night.” Something he’d enjoyed more than he would admit to anyone. It had been… Hell, he didn’t even know how to put it in words.
“Okay, just checking. Rowan and Adalyn have been pretty tight-lipped about things and I didn’t know if maybe there was an issue.”
He smiled because of course those two were keeping things quiet, even with their boss. “No issue.” Other than himself. He’d screwed up this morning, and now that Magnolia was all we’ll be friends , he wanted to drag her back to bed so she completely removed the word friend from her vocabulary.
He really was screwed up.
“I’ve got Berlin looking into something else, another potential issue.” He glanced at the admin through the reflection, was glad to see she wasn’t paying any attention to him at all.
“Good.” She started to say something else, but there was a shout of concern from beyond the waiting area.
“Gotta go.” Without waiting, he rushed past the desk into the area of main offices and saw Magnolia on the ground, her face turning red as she clawed at her throat. His entire world tilted on its axis. No. No, no, no.
Kendra and Charles were crouched next to her, looking horrified and useless.
“EpiPen!” he shouted as he raced toward her.
She pointed with a shaky hand, her other still clutching her throat.
Ignoring everyone who was just standing around making worried sounds, he sprinted to her office, dumped out her bag, snatched up both EpiPens that fell out.
Back in the center area, he shoved her cousin out of the way, uncapped the pen and slammed it into her thigh. He uncapped the other, waiting to see if the first didn’t kick in fast enough.
But she sucked in a breath, tears rolling down her cheeks as she struggled to sit up. He slid his arm under her back and helped her sit up.
“Kendra, get her two bottles of water now. Charles, call 911. Now!” He looked between the two of them before focusing on Magnolia, who was still dragging in lungfuls of air.
“Do you need the other pen?” he asked.
“No…I’m okay,” she rasped out, still breathing hard.
He rubbed her back in small circles as Kendra dropped back down, her fingers trembling as she tried to uncap the first bottle. He took over and opened it, holding it steady for Magnolia to sip.
After a few sips, she took it in her hands.
“Do you know what happened? Only answer if you can talk. And everyone go back to your offices!” he ordered as he turned to look at the cluster of people. “She doesn’t need you staring at her.” He knew he sounded like a dick. Didn’t care.
Magnolia gave him a ghost of a smile as her employees scampered away. “It happened so fast. I ate… I just took a nibble of one of the brownies in the break room. I’m only allergic to—”
“Mushrooms, I remember,” he murmured. “You, sit with her,” he ordered Kendra, not caring that he was taking over. “I’ll be right back.” Uncaring what the hell anyone thought, he gently kissed Magnolia’s forehead, then got up.
He made his way to the break room, saw a handful of various snacks in the middle of a table. They all had plastic coverings, including a tin of brownies which were part of a huge gift basket. He pulled out his cell phone as he rummaged around in one of the drawers for a gallon plastic bag. Just something that he could use to preserve this.
“Flores here.”
“It’s Ezra. I’m at Magnolia’s office and I believe someone tried to poison her. She had an allergic reaction to brownies, the only thing she ate this morning. And her only known allergy is mushrooms. I don’t know if this is related to what’s going on, but I don’t believe in coincidence.”
“I don’t either. I’m on my way. Is she okay? Have you called 911?”
“Yes, she’s okay because she had an EpiPen, and yes, the cops are on the way. I’m securing the brownies now.”
“Good. I’ll see you soon.”
Kendra stepped into the room, her dark eyes wide. “She’s okay but—”
“Do you know if she drank anything else this morning? Coffee, water?”
The woman blinked. “Ah…yeah, water.” She pointed to the fridge. “She always uses the filtered water, pours it into a travel bottle.”
He nodded. “Okay. No one comes into this room at all and no one leaves. Go spread the word.”
Eyes still wide, she nodded and he finished bagging up the brownies, held on to them as he hurried back into the main area.
Magnolia was now sitting at Kendra’s desk, working on her second bottle of water. And to his surprise, the rest of the office had listened to him, mostly. People were standing in doorways of their offices, worriedly watching, but no one was crowding her.
He crouched down as he set the bagged brownies on the desk. “Camila is on her way as well as the police. And I know you’re going to argue, but I think you should go to the ER or at least the walk-in, get your blood tested.”
She looked at the bagged brownies, understanding dawning in her pretty blue eyes, then back at him. “You think this was intentional?” she whispered.
“I don’t know. But I don’t think you should take any chances.”
“Okay,” she whispered. “I’ll go.”
If someone had poisoned her, that someone was going to pay dearly.