Page 25 of Condemned By Secrets

Richard leaned back in the armchair, steepling his fingers as he grinned at her. “You know, Anna, I don’t work for free.”

“Excuse me?”

“I’m a consultant. I offer my services for a fee. Now, with you”—his gaze lingered on her chest before coming back to her face—"the fee could be paid in many ways.”

Her face blanched. “I’m sorry, but are you implying . . .” She couldn’t say the words.

Richard leaned forward, and she instinctively shied away from him. “Pretty little, Anna. You know exactly what I mean.”

“Get out!” She’d meant to shout it, but it came out more like a squeak.

“Still prickly, I see.” Richard rose and hovered over her.

She melted into her chair.Please, go away.

He didn’t. “If you want this project to succeed, you’ll reconsider. The fee stands, but . . . I wouldn’t wait too long.” He winked at her, and she couldn’t help but shudder.

When Richard left, Anna tried to move, but she was frozen. Her mind rebelled against the conversation she’d just had. A part of her wondered, or rather, hoped, she was still dreaming.

She felt dizzy as her thoughts scrambled around in her brain. Richard had hit on her over drinks two nights ago, and though it had been more provocative than a simple pick-up line, she hadn’t expected this. Was he doing this as payback? Because she’d rebuffed him? Did he think he could coerce her into doing something she’d refused to do willingly?

With each question, her stomach clenched, and she felt nausea working its way up her throat. On a hard swallow, she gasped for breath and pushed to her feet. In two quick strides, she had her door shut and locked. Leaning against it, she hugged herself as the other night with Richard replayed in her head.

The accidental brush against her breast as he’d reached for the drinks menu, the hand on her thigh when he’d wanted her attention, the leering looks. She’d written them off at first, thinking she was being overly sensitive—overreacting even. But blatantly asking her for sexual favors . . .

Anna gagged and lunged for the wastebasket. Mercifully, her stomach was empty. She spat into the bin, but the sour taste in her mouth remained. Richard wasn’t going to leave her alone, so what was she going to do about him?

???

Luther jumped at the knock on his window. He’d been staring at nothing, lost in thoughts of Anna again. Ever since their kiss, he couldn’t seem to stop. Not even when his head needed to be on the job.

Looking up to see who had rapped on his window, he nodded at Sergeant Jameson, who motioned for him to unlock the door. Luther did, and the sarge climbed into the passenger seat.

When he sat, his red curls brushed the canopy. “Damn tin can. You know you can take one of the SUVs.”

Luther laughed. The Dodge Charger suited him just fine. “Yeah, but Suzie’s more my kind of gal.” He lovingly rubbed a hand along the dash.

Sergeant Jameson rolled his eyes at Luther’s nickname for the cruiser. “Fine. Make this quick, then, Monroe. What have you found?”

Luther sobered, a frown marring his expression. He’d asked the sarge to meet him in a field on the outskirts of town because he wasn’t sure who they could trust at the station. “It’s bad, Sarge. The SAR? It’s legit.” Luther tapped on the steering wheel with nervous fingers as he thought about his investigation into the Suspicious Activity Report. “The pizzeria barely scratches the surface. It looks like that whole development of shops—maybe others too—are all part of the scheme.”

“Fuck!” Sergeant Jameson scrubbed at his face. “This is going to blow back on the whole town.”

Luther swallowed. “Yeah, and . . . someone’s providing top cover.”

“How do you know?”

“I found other SARs, but someone had buried them.”

“Dammit! That’s why we’re meeting in the middle of nowhere?”

Nodding, Luther added, “Do you think, I mean it could be the reason Haines brushed it off . . . what if he’s involved?”

I don’t know who to trust.

Sergeant Jameson’s jaw clenched, and Luther searched his face.Apart from you.

“Fuck, maybe. Don’t breathe a word of this to anyone but keep doing what you’re doing. If we’re going to bust this thing up, we need proof.”

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