Page 78 of It Starts With A No

“But if you want people at work to show you more respect, then you should slow down your smile.”

Was Zane actually giving her advice? “I’m not sure that will be enough.”

“Try it.” Zane waved, cast another glance at Seth, then strode out of the diner.

“Are you in trouble?” “What did the detective want?” She and Seth asked at the same time.

“Remember the guy I told you about just now?” Clary asked.

“Which one?”

“The one who threatened to cut my face up. The one who’s supposed to be in prison.” She cracked a wry smile. “He escaped.”

Seth closed his eyes. “You can’t be serious.”

“Yeah. Can this day get any better?” She grabbed her bag and swung it up onto her shoulder. She filled him in on the rest of what Ron had told her as they made their way toward the door.

Seth opened the door for her. “So he could’ve gotten an accomplice to send you the threat.”

She pursed her lips. “Back in New York, he threatened to slash my face. That was why I started keeping the threatening letters. I didn’t think it could be him since he was in jail, but …” She shrugged. “I just decided to keep them.”

“I’ll send Zane the shipping label from the mannequin. He should be able to trace the sender.”

“That was what he was talking about?” She checked her watch when it started buzzing. Grandma Moretti.

“Go ahead,” Seth said and put his hand on her back to steer her toward his car.

Chapter 15

“I’ll be okay, Mr. E. Okay, okay. I’ll check into a hotel room.”

Seth peered over at Clary. She’d been on her phone the entire drive. First, with her Grandma Moretti. Now, with Edward Eolenfeld.

“No, I can arrange it my—” Clary puffed her cheeks and blew out a breath. “Okay, fine. Yes. Yes, I’ll call her once I get to the hotel room.”

Seth didn’t think she should stay here on her own either. Detective Lowe was right: a determined person could easily break into the mansion.

But would Clary be safe at a hotel?

She would still be alone.

“I’m almost at the mansion. No, I haven’t been driving. Speaking of which, the car—” She sighed softly. “I’m with a friend. You and nonna barely let me—” She shook her head. “Yes.” She paused and turned to him. “Yes, Seth Anderson. No. I won’t put him on.”

Seth slowed his car when he noticed a police patrol car in front of the mansion. He held a hand out toward Clary, but she slapped it away.

“No.” She rolled her eyes. “That’s just an excuse.” She bit down on her lips.

“It’s okay,” Seth said. “I’ve spoken to him before.”

Clary shook her head. “I’ll put you on speaker.” She tapped on her phone. “You’re on speaker. He’s right next to me. He can hear you, and so can I.”

Seth’s lips curled at her ominous warning and further slowed the car when an officer stepped out of the patrol car.

“Seth, I’ll wire you what you need by tomorrow evening.”

“Thank you,” Seth said.

“I’ll waive the interest you mentioned if you’ll make sure that Clary—”

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