Chapter 78
CHAPTER
YOU’RE DEMOTING ME? AGAIN? ARE you serious?”
Elaine Fixx was standing behind the desk in Nash’s old office and looking incredulously at Rhett.
“Just back to your old position, Elaine.”
“But why?”
“Well, if it wasn’t enough that thugs hired by your husband nearly killed me, then there’s also the fact that you have no experience as a senior executive.”
Fixx glanced over at Nash, who stood fixedly by the door. “Look, Rhett,” she said pleadingly. “I talked to Roger. I told him if he ever tried something like that again that he would go to prison.”
“Oh, he’s going to prison. I’ve sworn out a complaint with the police. And then I’m going to sue his ass off.”
“What?”
“You couldn’t think that I would just let him walk on this, right?
I’d probably be dead if it weren’t for this guy,” he added, pointing at Nash.
“I engaged a PI firm. They’ve traced the idiots who jumped us and they turned on your hubby.
He’s going to have a few years of solitude to reconsider the error of his ways. ”
“But I… I was the one who drove him to this by having an affair with you.”
“Well, that’s between him and you. My concern right now is your position at this firm. So you can clear out of here and go back to your old office.”
“And who’s replacing me?” she said bitterly.
“I’ve actually arrived at the conclusion that I can wear both hats.”
“You’re taking Walter’s old job?”
“You make it sound like he was something special?”
“Well, he was.”
Rhett drew closer to her. “You keep up that attitude, you won’t have any job here at all, sweetie.”
She glanced nervously at Nash. “Rhett, does this mean that you and I…?”
He looked at her condescendingly. “Of course it does, Elaine. But with your hubby going to prison, you’ll find someone, I’m sure of it.” He looked her up and down like he was appraising a product at the store. “Just don’t let yourself go. Men don’t like that.”
“I’ll get my things boxed up,” she said, staring at her shoes.
Nash watched as the man had the gall to pat the woman’s bottom. “Come on, quit with the pouty face. And who really knows about us? Nothing is permanent, right? So the fun times might come back. All depends on you and your performance.”
He walked out and Nash started to follow. But as he saw the tears sliding down Fixx’s cheeks he pulled some tissues from a box on her desk and handed them to her.
“Here, ma’am. Are you going to be okay?”
She snatched them from him and said angrily, “Better go catch up with your asshole boss, you son of a bitch.”
Nash turned and left.
That evening, Nash stood next to Rhett as they rode the elevator to his penthouse. When the doors opened directly into Rhett’s home, they stepped out.
Nash pulled his weapon while Rhett took a quick step back as the woman came into view.
She was petite and slender. Her hair was long and white, although she was only around thirty-five, Nash assessed, as he kept himself between her and Rhett.
“Who in the hell are you?” barked Rhett.
“My name is Lynn Ryder.”
“How did you get up here?” Rhett demanded.
“The man at the front desk was persuadable.”
“Persuadable how?”
Ryder shifted her gaze to Nash. “There is no need for guns.”
Nash didn’t lower his weapon.
She turned back to Rhett. “Our mutual acquaintance sent me. To assist you in the task she has given you and for which there has been no resolution.”
“What task?” asked a still-confused Rhett.
“To locate someone important to both of you? He has unexpectedly gone missing?”
As he realized what the woman was referring to, Rhett let out a breath and said to Nash, “It’s okay. She’s cool. I… I know her boss.”
They all moved into the front room with views of the cityscape. Nash had reluctantly put his gun away, but kept his gaze locked on Ryder.
She eyed Nash and then looked back at Rhett, who glanced at Nash. “Dillon, you can go to your place. I’ll call when I need you.”
“You’re sure, Mr. Temple?”
“Very sure.”
With one more look at Ryder, Nash nodded and left them. Right before he entered the elevator, he touched the side of a tall, wooden pedestal that held the statue of a miniature horse in full stride. Then he got on the elevator and used his security card to go to the floor below.
He put his AirPods in and dialed up an app on his phone. The voices came through loud and clear on the listening device he had stuck to the back of the pedestal.
He got to his apartment and continued to listen. The conversation was brisk and businesslike, especially from Lynn Ryder. A couple of minutes later he heard the elevator coming up and then a few moments later going back down.
Two minutes later Rhett texted him: Be ready to go in half an hour.
Nash sent a message to Agent Morris detailing the latest with Elaine Fixx, and providing her contact info.
Then he wrote out for Morris the new information on the police investigation into Barton Temple’s murder that he had learned from listening to Detective Ramos.
Last, he compiled a comprehensive brief for the FBI agent on what had just taken place between Rhett and Victoria Steers’s agent, Ryder. He figured Morris would be especially excited about that one.
Nash had also heard the marching orders Rhett had been given by Ryder, and figured what his part would be in where he and Rhett were going.
He wants me to help him track down… me.