Page 42 of Dragon Detective

“As you can see, I’m kind of busy.”

His gaze strayed to the boarded-up window beside him. “Have you notified Detective Carter?”

“Of course.”

“And . . .”

“He’s still analyzing clues.” I hoped. Assuming there were any clues.

Grant frowned at the newly installed cameras. “You must’ve caught some evidence on those.”

“They were installed this morning, so no, I don’t know who did it yet.”

“How frightening for you.” His voice quavered. “You’re fortunate you weren’t here.”

I settled in the chair opposite his. “How do you know I wasn’t here?”

His grip tightened on the handle of the briefcase lying across his lap. “It’s only an assumption on my part.”

“Where were you yesterday?”

He blinked a moment. “In the office.”

“And Estadore can confirm this if I call him?” I didn’t think Grant had destroyed the windows, but I wasn’t crossing him off the list of suspects.

“I’m sure he can.” He unlatched his briefcase and opened it, pulling out papers he handed to me. “Sign at the bottom, and I’ll be on my way.”

I scanned the document. “This is an offer on my building.”

“A generous one, I’ll point out.” His smile came out greasy. “Investors are waiting to demolish this sorry building and put up gleaming condos in its place. I might even be able to get you a ten percent discount on one of the units.” His smile widened, still dripping with grease. “If you ask nicely.”

“I don’t do nice.” Not with him anyway.

His smile fell faster than it rose. “Alright. No discount.”

“I’m not signing.” I tore the document in half. “I told you no the first time you stopped by not long after I moved in. I told you no a week later when you tried to pin me against the back of my car in my very own driveway to tell me you were increasing your offer. This is the third no, and the last.” I rose and flung the papers at him. They fluttered around him, falling onto the porch floor. “No means no every single time I say it. Don’t come back here again.”

I stomped toward the door and grabbed onto the knob while Grant scrambled to his feet.

“You’ll come begging one of these days,” he snarled, Briefcase in hand, he slammed down the front steps and onto the walkway, turning to send me a glare. “And then, missy, it’ll be too late.”

My hands shaking from fury, I went inside and locked the door, hurrying to the front parlor, where I watched through the tiny gap in the plywood as he got into his car and squealed the vehicle down the driveway and out onto the road.

Once he was gone, I rushed out back and filled Reylor in on the conversation.

His growl ripped out, and he leaped off the ladder. “He’s about to learn never to threaten my mate.”

My heart flipped over at his declaration, but I was perfectly capable of taking care of this myself. “I handled it.”

“I’m sorry I wasn’t there to punch him.”

“I’m glad you weren’t. He’d press for assault charges.”

He rubbed his fist. “Only if he could prove I’d done it.”

“Don’t beat anyone up for me. The next time he comes here and tries to get me to sign, I’ll be the one punching.” Sadly, I suspected this wouldn’t be the last time I saw Grant Murray.

I went inside and installed a faucet in one of the second-floor bathrooms. Making progress on my building restored my good mood, so when I was finished, I went to my office to make phone calls.

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