Chapter 12 #2
“So what are you going to do about it?” Her entire expression changed to one of mischief.
She dared dart a single look around her arm, sucking in her breath as soon as she did when returning her head in the correct direction.
“You’re right about the description. He’s watched one too many detective shows, but kind of cute if you ask me.
At least it’s sweet Maverick is worried about you. ”
In my mind, that meant he thought what I’d suggested might have merit. “Yeah, well, I don’t need a babysitter.”
“What’s the big deal? You have your own personal security guard. Even if it’s only a copycat, given what you endured, I’d be extremely happy for someone to follow me wherever I went.” She narrowed her eyes. “Unless you’re trying to lure this real killer out in the open.”
When I shrugged, she groaned.
“You cannot do that!”
“This nightmare needs to end. If Maverick doesn’t want to help me, I will do it myself.”
“Translation. You want his help. Don’t try and tell me otherwise. The question is, my best friend, what are you going to do about it?”
She was right as usual. I needed him to believe in and trust me, not just provide protection services. I was finished with hiding in the shadows, living my life by always looking over my shoulder.
“I guess I need to reiterate what I told him before. I’m going to get away from him and you’re going to help me.”
“And why should I do that?” Her upper lip curled on one side.
“Because you’re always telling me I need to live more. Plus, Maverick needs to learn I can take care of myself.”
“There’s nothing wrong with a man protecting his lady.”
“There’s just one tiny problem with that. I’m not his lady and I never will be.”
“We’ll see about that. You forget the various tequila drinks we’ve shared and the sexy discussions we’ve held on the perfect man.
If I remember correctly, Maverick’s name came up more than once.
” Sandra lifted her drink as if I needed a reminder of the bad girl good times we’d shared over the years.
“That doesn’t mean we’re destined to be in a relationship.” To make a point, I threw my hair over my shoulder, which caught the investigator’s eye. What was he writing down now? That I could enjoy myself?
She seemed more thoughtful, daring to glance over her shoulder again. “No, but you certainly deserve to have a little fun in your life. How did you leave things with him?”
“I left him a note telling him he was right about Samuel Wells and to have a nice life.”
“A note?”
I pointed my index finger at her. “Don’t read into anything.”
The way she threw up one hand as well as how her nose crinkled allowed me to read her mind. I had no idea who I thought I was fooling.
“I get that you’re not interested in commitments, but you did seek him out for help and advice. Right?”
“Yeah, I know, but I changed my mind. I’m allowed to do that.”
“Why? That you had a meaningful conversation with the man and slept with your hot fantasy doesn’t change anything.”
With a hard enough jerk I almost knocked the wineglass over, I yanked my cocktail napkin into my fingers, tossing it in her direction.
“Hey. I speak the truth.” She could pout like nobody’s business. “Plus, he obviously cares about you enough to send someone to watch out for you.”
“He ignored what I asked and I plan on giving him a piece of my mind.”
“Okay,” she said, elongating the syllables. “What do you want me to do?”
I tapped my finger across my lips, doing my best to keep from drawing any additional attention to us. “I’m going to grill him for information. In a couple minutes, I need to you to come by and steal his phone but make a commotion so I can get away.”
“Oh, I like where this is going, but what if he roughs me up to get to you?” Her eyes were momentarily pulled away, mesmerized by the thought. “Come to think of it. That sounds like a lot of fun. Much better than writing a critique that would certainly garner me death threats.”
I grabbed my purse. “Knock yourself out. Our next lunch is on me.”
“I won’t forget.”
“I’m certain you won’t.” I headed toward the table, doing my best to act as if I hadn’t realized I was being followed. That meant when I slipped into the seat, he was genuinely surprised, his entire face highlighting a taste of shock that drifted into personal frustration.
Meanwhile, I smiled as brightly as possible, folding my arms and waiting as patiently as possible.
“Can I help you?”
“Actually,” I purred as I grabbed his phone.
“Hey. What are you doing, lady?”
“I think I can help you.” He obviously didn’t want to make much of a scene. While he attempted to get his phone back, when I scooted my chair away, he stopped bothering. I flipped through his photographs, noticing he’d taken plenty of me.
At the house.
At my office.
With my boss.
In my car.
“You’ve been a busy boy. Let me save you some trouble.
See this purse? Inside is a SIG Sauer P365, a perfect weapon to conceal for a lady.
I’m highly skilled at using it. In fact, I always score much higher than every officer of the law at the gun range.
Would you like me to demonstrate?” I pulled the weapon into view, sweetening my smile.
Perhaps there was a hint of being impressed added to the mix.
“Now, about these photographs. Ugh. Certainly not my best. I’m going to delete these.” He almost managed to snatch his phone, but I was very adept at everything I did, easily deleting them. “There you go.” That’s when I noticed a text from Maverick to the burly bouncer.
The PI was to meet Maverick in about an hour. After his onsite meeting with his agent.
After I placed the phone on the table, I folded my arms and leaned over.
But I kept the phone close. Call it a bribe or maybe tossing out a treat.
I had no intention of allowing him to have it just yet.
“Whatever Mr. Callahan told you about me is wrong. I can easily handle the bad guys. Including you if necessary. Now, I’d prefer not to do that.
Oh, and if you’re worried about your boss being angry since I deleted proof you’ve been following me, don’t be. I’ll be happy to tell him myself.”
He had no idea what to make of me, but he reached his thick fingers toward the phone, which I scooted away.
Now he developed one of those smiles that screamed he had something on me more than disinterested information that didn’t begin to scrape the layers of my personality. I was curious if Maverick was trying to keep me safe or trying to discover more scathing details about my life.
Including why the killer might risk his life to finish off the task he’d allowed to slip from his fingers.
When I stood, so did he, once again reaching for his phone.
At that moment my brilliant and highly devious friend just happened to pop by the table. With a mere sleight of hand, she took his phone and he was none the wiser.
I used the opportunity to head from the table.
As expected, her performance was utter perfection.
She ‘accidentally’ tripped, bouncing into the private dick.
She’d calculated the right amount of force, pitching them both onto the floor.
With a loud crash and customers from other tables gasping, the noise hid the hard tapping of my heels against the wooden floor as I left.
If the handsome man believed he was going to keep a protective net surrounding me without my knowledge, he was dead wrong.
Maybe it was time for him to learn that I was no longer the terrified, clingy teenager.
And not just in the biblical sense.