Page 4 of Conquer

So curious that I’d gone to Briar’s home and found it abandoned.

Yet another sign that I should have dropped it.

I hadn’t.

My mother might have wished I’d become a lawyer or a pastry chef, anything but an investigator, but she’d never understood that this was in my blood, that unraveling this kind of web gave me meaning and a thrill like none other.

Even though it would have been wise, there was no way I could walk away from this.

In the years since, there had been little to go on, but I’d always watched, and my gut told me I was close to something.

That feeling was further confirmed when I got a tip that Giovanna Carmelli, Santo’s long lost daughter, had come home. Not a peep from Santo in years, and yet his daughter was back? That was a significant development, one that had intensified the flame that had been at a low simmer.

But until I could figure out what was happening, and more importantly, what to do about it, I would keep my theories and my little side project to myself.

“Early again?” called my boss, Gordon Towles, as he entered the office and walked toward me, not stopping until his knee touched mine.

I clamped my teeth together in an attempt, a futile one, to bite back some of my irritation. Fortunately, I’d heard him as he got closer and had hidden my file. Now I’d just have to deal with talking to him.

I tried to remember a time when I had respected him and thought he was a dedicated to our work as he should be. Maybe when I’d been fresh-faced, right out of college with no idea how the world worked.

A long time ago, in other words.

Now, I recognized Gordon for the opportunist he was, so I stayed out of his way, kept my mouth shut, and fought to bite my tongue every time he got promoted.

Gordon couldn’t investigate his way out of a putt-putt golf course, so the idea of him in charge of the state investigator’s office was laughable. But he did have a knack for finding the right ass to kiss, a task he took to with wild abandon.

“Early bird gets the worm,” I said, smiling lightly, though I could feel the tense frown that wanted to pull at my face.

“Indeed, she does. Well, as your superior, I’m pleased with your dedication to your work, Sam.”

I smiled, grateful that my sweet facade didn’t give away what I was thinking. I despised Gordon and all that he stood for, but I wouldn’t let him know that.

“Lunch today?” he asked.

I shook my head and looked at Gordon as he put his jacket on the corner of his chair and sat at the desk that was directly across from mine.

I’d hoped his latest promotion would have taken him to the executive floors, but no, Gordon insisted that he needed to be “close to the troops,” so he wouldn’t be taking a private office.

Just remembering his stupid face when he’d said those words made me want to gag, but instead of doing that, I said, “No, thank you, Gordon. I have a lot to do today.”

“But you work so hard. I won’t tell your boss if you don’t,” he said, adding a little wink at the end of his sentence.

I laughed, giggling as though Gordon’s joke was the funniest thing I had ever heard, and then stood and walked to the office kitchenette to prepare coffee.

I hated shit like that, being fake and sucking up to that asshole, but I had a job to do, and managing Gordon was a part of it.

Still, after my coffee, I managed to avoid further conversation and waited until Gordon had left for his lunch to go in search of my own.

I stood, stretched, and then left the office, listening to the animated chatter of others as they walked down the hall.

An unexpected twinge of sadness hit me. I couldn’t really recall a time when I had chattered and giggled, that I’d seemed so carefree. My mother always said it was because I was too serious. Of course, I didn’t really understand what that meant, which was probably a part of the problem.

I mean, I was dedicated to my work, but there was no crime in that.

Almost instantly, I could hear my mother’s counter, could imagine her as she said that there was no crime in it but that I needed to open up more, try new things, meet new people. I’d long ago accepted that I’d never be the social butterfly she was, but she might have had a point.

I vowed then to make the effort, just as soon as I figured out what was going on with the Carmellis.

My car keys were clenched tight in my hand, but I shoved them into my purse, deciding to walk today. My favorite food truck was half a mile down the road, and the walk there and back would be good for me, especially since I planned to work late again tonight.

I walked there quickly but returned at a leisurely stroll, enjoying the afternoon sun as I nibbled on my taco. As the building came into sight, I tossed my trash and then turned the corner, heading toward the door.

Before I could reach it, the hairs on the back of my neck began to rise, and an instant later, I felt a shadow fall over me. I turned, mind racing as I tried to figure out how someone had snuck up behind me.

But everything fell away when I looked up into a pair of dark amber eyes.

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