Chapter 39 colette
I quickly dressed for work and consumed the breakfast that Rossi had placed on the table. I didn’t taste anything, still trying to work out what I wanted to do. Now, dealing with the fact that Ian might be a pleasure and pain dom was a completely different can of worms. I might actually be able to handle that. If I knew what was going on.
It was the fact he’d crossed a clearly defined line that made me wonder if I could trust him for anything more than a partner finding Andy’s killer. My scrambled eggs offered me no answers.
The ride to the office was quiet. We were both lost in thought, and I wasn’t about to start a conversation with him. Right now, he could have to work for my attention. I’d said I might forgive him, but I wasn’t about to forget. There was no way I would make this easy for him.
When Andrew was avenged, I couldn't decide if I was going to run far away from him and never look back. Or if I couldn’t live without Ian Holdt.
I squished my legs together and tried to think of things that weren’t about sex related. Revenge should be the topic of my thoughts, not sex.
Everything was different though, because I wasn’t conflicted about caring for the man who might have killed Andy. That meant I could use his help and focus on finding my brother’s murderer. United, we could present a much stronger front to get justice. For once, I wouldn’t be alone. I’d have my brother’s best friend.
And I would find Andy’s child, too, if it was the last thing I did, and make sure he or she was safe.
Nothing appeared to have changed when we got to the office. “We have several days of missed work to catch up on and get things ready so that we can be gone an extended amount of time looking for Andrew’s killer. Kathy is still in Ireland, holding down the fort, so we have continuity there.”
Ian placed a stack of paper on the table and I knew that it was the new contract.
This time, though, I read through all the clauses to make sure that I wasn’t signing my life away.
Everything seemed to be in order as far as the non-disclosure agreement went. There was also a contract that laid out the normal duties of a personal assistant and what I was responsible for in the company. None of which involved the extras in my original.
I scribbled my signature and backdated it to the date I’d been hired. Then I tore up the other one.
It wasn’t until I started to get hungry several hours later that I realized that I had an opportunity to get out for a while. Giddiness bubbled up inside of me at the idea of stepping away from him, this office, and being outside without someone observing me. I’d never been the bubbly type, but I decided to roll with it.
A lunch break was right up my alley, and it was time to enjoy my newfound freedom. Most employees took one each day, and it would be wonderful to get out of the office for a change.
Drawing in a relieved breath of air, I understood in a new way that I was actually free. When he’d torn up the contract, it had meant a new start, or if I didn’t want to start over, I could just leave. I didn’t have to come back to work here.
That was what I was going to do—leave.
After getting my keys back, I headed out.
I had things to do.
The first thing on my list was to talk to Ingrid. I needed to bring her up to date.
While I had my own car again, I could have saved myself the gas money because I was certain that Ian had sent Rossi to follow me around. Ian might be trying, but he wasn’t going to let me run around loose, considering all that had gone on the last few weeks. A part of me hated that I didn’t blame him.
“Collette! What happened?”
Ingrid came around her desk to give me a hug as soon as I walked in the door to her office. I took that to mean she was super excited to see me. It was nice to be missed.
“I was so worried. When you messaged that you were going to confront him and then didn’t return, I nearly called the police. I held off since you’re an adult, but please never do something like that again!”
Ingrid spoke fiercely.
“Well, I did find some things out.”
She shook her head and pointed at a chair, taking a seat in the one opposite it.
I took a seat across from her. “There’s been a turn of events that you’re not going to believe.”
Ingrid nodded, her expression impassive.
“First off, I found out that Ian didn’t kill Andy.”
Adjusting her jacket, she sat back and gestured for me to continue.
Taking a deep breath, I leaned forward. “In fact, he was helping him when he disappeared. In the process, I learned that Andy had a girlfriend named Heather, and she was pregnant. By now, she’s probably given birth. Her father was an abusive son of a bitch, and she’d managed to avoid him for quite a while. Eventually he grabbed her and had hidden her away in Ireland, which is why Andy went over there to try and find her. Ian was giving him money and resources to help look for her, but instead, he and the bodyguard that Ian sent with him were both killed.”
“I’m aware of the fact he had a girlfriend, though I haven’t been able to find out her last name or her location. She was going by an alias. Do you know the name of the bodyguard or where he was found?”
Ingrid asked
“No. I thought he was with Andy.”
I shook my head to clear my thoughts. “Hether’s last name s Kelly.”
“No, he was found dead in the street, but there wasn’t another body anywhere near his.”
Ingrifd gazed at me searchingly, as if she knew something I didn’t.
“I’ll have to ask Ian for more information on who went with him. We hadn’t focused on that aspect before, and it might just give us something to go on.”
“We? Collette, what is going on?”
I smile at her sheepishly. “Back to your question. Ian had a job opening when I went in to confront him. There were certain requirements for the security of his firm, which included me not having access to my phone or being able to contact anyone until I’d been properly vetted.”
I grimaced. “I’m really sorry about that. I would have let you know I was alive if I’d been able to.”
Ingrid shook her head. “ He shouldn’t have been able to keep you from talking to people. That sounds like a situation ripe for abuse.”
“Um, maybe, but not in the way you’d think.”
I wasn’t about to tell Ingrid what actually went on with Ian. “Let’s just suffice it to say that it’s been a long two months and leave it at that. I wasn’t a prisoner and could have walked out at any time, but I wanted the information about Andy. It just took longer for me to find out what I needed to know.”
Ingrid eyed me for a moment. She was assessing what I told her. Hopefully she would drop it so we could move and find Andy’s killer and save my niece or nephew. Thankfully, she was going to shelve the hostage conversation. For now.
She said, “We’ve been looking for Andy’s girlfriend because hopefully that will lead us to his killer. There’s one other clue about his death, from some of his injuries. With your new information, I might be able to pursue this case more efficiently.”
“What injuries?” I asked.
“He had several dog bites on his arms and legs. It’s similar to an interrogation technique used by one of the Russian mobs, so we’ve been looking to see if any of them have moved their operations to Ireland. Also, you may find it helpful to know that a major Mob Boss in Ireland’s name is Edmond Kelly. GIven what you just told me was Andy’s girlfriend’s last name, this could be a very dangerous situation indeed.”
I shivered. I hated the thought Andy had been hurt before he died. Was that somewhere in the information Ian was holding?
“Ian has enough money and connections to be able to do a quicker investigation than you’ve been able to.”
I didn’t want her to feel bad, but it was the truth. “We’re trying to form a plan to find Heather and the baby. She shouldn’t have to live in fear if we can rescue them and get them to a safe place.”
“Be careful.”
Ingrid leaned forward, gaze intent on me. “If the Mob is involved, this will get dangerous fast.”
She sighted at my silence then gave me a measuring look.
“Something about this case really hit home, and I’d like to make sure that Andy isn’t just a forgotten person. But I don’t want more bodies on my watch either.”
“Don’t worry about that.”
I gave her a tight smile. “Where there’s money, there’s protection. And Andy won’t be forgotten. Several of us are keeping him alive in our hearts. His child will be told many stories about his younger years after we find him or her.”
I stood and held out a hand.
“Thank you for all your hard work. We’ll make sure that it doesn’t go unused.”
“Be careful.”
She shook my hand, her grip firm. “I have a feeling there is more going on then you know about. Don’t get cocky.”
“That is something we both can agree on. I’d like to live the life I’ve been granted to the fullest.”
I walked out the door feeling confident for the first time in months. It was time to go shopping and then travel to find a killer.