Page 22 of Legal Attraction

Rand checked his phone. The more detailed update looked grim. Their security detail had been locked in a room. The intruder was still at large. And no one was certain of whereabouts.

Another text came in.

“Nico gave me your number. You okay?” Coral.

The relief at hearing from her pounded through him.

“Yes, you?”

“I’m in my office. Alone.”

“Stay there. Do you have a bathroom?”

“No.”

“The intruder is still at large. Security is locked in their offices for now. Shots were fired somewhere.”He wasn’t sure why but he felt like Coral could handle the information and needed to know.

“I’m feeling trapped. This isn’t a good place to be. No escape.”

“I know. I’ll tell you as soon as I hear anything else. For now, it’s the best you’ve got. In the hall, you could be shot.”

“Where is the intruder?”

Rand checked his watch again. “I don’t know.” Shots were fired again. No silencers. They came from around the corner, closer to Coral’s office.

“You okay?”

“Yes, but that was next door. I’ve got to get out of here, or at least get a weapon or something.”

“I have a gun. I’m coming.”

“Wait, no Rand.”

He pocketed the phone and reached for his gun. As soon as he found out the security detail would be no help, he knew he’d be making his way out there. Someone had to do it and that’s why he’d joined the military. That’s why he’d been stationed in Iraq. He saw himself as that someone.

His hall was empty. He opened his door and then closed and locked it with no movement on his hall. The rooms all looked empty. At least the firm attorneys and staff were practicing protocol. If guns were involved and shots fired somewhere, the lock down procedures were probably saving lives. Had police been called? Something was not right, besides the obvious. He hurried down the hall, hugging one wall until he got to the corner. Coral’s hall. He’d head there first. Her office was partway down the hall. He peeked around the corner. Empty. And no sign of anyone. No blood. Who was firing shots and at whom? He checked behind him again and up and down the hall and then ran for Coral’s office with the phone up to his ear. It rang once and then he tapped. She picked up.

“It’s me.”

The door opened, and he slipped inside, locking it behind him.

Immediately she was in his arms. “You alright?”

She nodded and then shook her head. “I don’t know. This is worse than the Palisades. I feel exposed. I have nowhere to go. What’s wrong with their security?”

“I don’t know. We have better protocol in place and a robust team. I don’t know what’s going on. This is weird.” He rested his chin on her head. “And never happens. I promise. We don’t get people with guns roaming our halls.”

She snorted. “So you’re saying this is a welcome party for me?”

He pulled back and held her face in his hands. “I just can’t believe it. Wouldn’t be related to the Palisades situation, would it?”

“Or a client?” She pressed her lips together.

“Do you know something?”

When she looked away, he knew his irritation was rising. But now was not the time to cling to a dumb office drama. “What can you tell me?”

She shook her head. “Nothing now.” She turned away and moved back up against the wall. “We’re visible.”

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