Page 28 of The Attraction File

“Yes, Edgar? Did you need something?” I kept my focus on making the coffee so I was surprised when I felt his hand on my shoulder.

“Yes, I wanted to talk to you about something, Evaleen. What the detectives mentioned last week. Something that I don’t think they know about.”

I pushed the start button on the black coffee maker and turned to face him.

“Okay,” I said.

Edgar was rubbing the back of his head, his eyes taking in the room, refusing to land on me.

“I had hired a private investigator over a week ago to find out about Ashton. He discovered something interesting and since that picture of me that you took wound up on his computer, I wanted to show you what I found.”

“Why didn’t you say anything when they were questioning us?”

He shook his head. “I had planned to but you saw them. They seemed to want to make this out to be some jealousy issue that couldn’t possibly have existed. Asking us about our attraction to each other and if we had a personal relationship.”

I couldn’t help but agree with Edgar. They didn’t seem like they knew what they were doing. It made me worry for the safety of Ashton Graham. That his life may be in their hands.

“Yeah, I understand.” I leaned back against the counter and folded my arms. “Then they just casually mentioned the hacking. Like it was nothing. That was crazy.”

He sliced his hands in the air and nodded. “Right. That should have been one of their main concerns. Not some afterthought. Anyway, I wanted to show you what my guy found. I think you will be interested.”

The coffee pot beeped letting me know it was ready.

I realized I didn’t need it anymore as I was wide awake. My heart pounded in my chest as a bad feeling came over me. My mind raced with what Edgar had for me. Was it more hacking? Maybe Ashton was dead, killed by the mafia or the government. Perhaps Ashton was secretly in love with me and killed himself.

That’s it, no more crime shows for a few months.

“I do have a meeting with Mr. Mimir in a bit, so maybe you can show me later today?”

I was stalling. Something about it didn’t feel right. As if what he showed me would change everything for the worse.

“It won’t take long. I have it in my office, and I’ll send a text to Jacob that you are meeting with me. So if he needs you, he’ll know where to find you.”

Doesn’t that just solve everything?

My eyes scanned the room as I desperately tried to think of another excuse.

I was about to pretend to have an intense cramping issue due to my menstrual cycle, but then Edgar touched me. He placed his hand on my back, and I began to glide across the floor as he guided me out of the kitchen.

Why was I cursed with such a weak body?

All I remembered of the elevator ride down to Edgar’s floor was trying not to pass out. Knowing how good he smelled, like citrus and all things male, I held my breath the entire time. When the doors finally opened on his floor, I ran out and almost fell over gasping for air.

The plan to not smell him backfired as he helped support me as we walked into his office. He even wrapped his arm around my back, which made me more lightheaded than the elevator ride.

“Evaleen, I think you should sit down.”

I put my hands on my hips. “I can handle what you are about to show me, Edgar.”

Yes, I was scared of what he had to show me but I wouldn’t let him know that.

“I am talking about you almost passing out in the elevator. Then once I helped you into my office your knees buckled. I think you should sit down.”

He pushed out his desk chair and waved for me to sit.

“Oh, of course. You’re probably right.”

Heat traveled up my neck as I sat in his leather chair.

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