Page 36 of Merrick

“You seemed chummy at the function, and you did leave with him.”

“So?”

“It seems to me that the guy is really interested.”

“We have an ongoing case, one that is frustrating as hell. We certainly do not have time to be digging into my personal life.”

He latched onto that. “You have a personal life?”

“Why don’t we concentrate on the case?”

“You’re being evasive, and it makes me wonder why.”

“I am subtly telling you to mind your own business, but that is not working. Butt out.”

“I hope you know what you’re doing,” he muttered.

“I know what I am doing. Now back to the evidence.”

“What evidence?”

“Or lack thereof.”

*****

She weighed the consequences and decided that she did not have a choice. She had asked him for a couple of days, and he had not called her. She had of course ignored the tingle inside her as she wondered what he was doing and if he was still interested.

So, she had called and was put through to his very professional sounding assistant. She had preferred going that route, even though he had given her a card with his personal cell numbers on the back.

And she had asked for a meet.

“I think it’s time I saw where you operate from, don’t you?”

“That is, it? Nothing more to say?” His voice was cool and had given her pause for thought…”

“Are you going to be pissed off right now? I am not going to apologize for wanting to take some time to think.”

“And have you thought about it?”

“Yes.” She blew out her breath. “Now, can we move on?”

“Oh, we are going to have a damn conversation all right. Swing by at seven. I am assuming you know where the place is?”

“Everyone does.”

So, now she was in the vast parking lot of the impressive Medtech building. The building was easily sixty floors and considering that she was afraid of heights, she tried not to think about it. He had told her to come right in.

“The guards downstairs will point you to the private elevator.”

Sitting behind the wheel, she took in the towering glass and stone building and the lush green trees, the park benches, the fountains, elegant and lovely sprouting clear, clean water and felt overwhelmed. Brad was right. She was in over her head.

She was dealing with a giant. Medtech had an extraordinarily long reach. Merrick Pendergast, the man she had spent an entire night and morning with, naked in bed, was a powerhouse.

And if he discovered, had even the slightest inkling of what she was up to- Well, she had no idea what would happen. He would hate her of course. And he would probably ask for her badge. He was friends with politicians, judges, and lawyers.

She was just a cop looking for justice for some dead people. Blowing out a breath, she placed a shaky hand to her chest. Never in her career had she felt the slightest hint of fear. Yes, she had gone up against gang members and other unsavory elements, but she had always been unafraid.

This was different, not just because of the man she was dealing with, but because of the emotional upheaval she was going through. She had spent two days away from him to try and get some sort of balance, some sort of semblance of order to her life, but ended up yearning for him.

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