Page 6 of Deadly Designs

“Did you go looking for him after I told you notto?”

“What? No.” He looked offended. “His entourage waspassing by when I came out of the bathroom. Don’t worry. Irefrained from charging out and asking for an autograph, if youwere wondering. I slid back inside, and they didn’t see me.”

“Not that I didn’t want them to see you,” she assuredhim. “I didn’t want to disturb the man.”

“Well, he was left unpestered by little ol’ me,” hesaid with a nose in the air.

“Jay, what is up with you?”

He turned to her with a frown. “What do youmean?”

“You’re being very caustic. Moreso than usual.”

“No, I’m not. You’re just excessively touchy. Thattime of the month?”

She ignored his dig and reminded herself that she washis boss. “I don’t know what’s up with you, but would you pleaselet me notify the police about the messages?”

“Aja Blue, look. There he is.”

She followed his finger-pointing to see Mr. Sinclairemerge from the house via a door different from the one they’dused. He was with a group of men dressed in black suits. Jay wassnapping photos when a loud pounding sounded on her window, and shejumped with a scream, slamming her legs into the steeringwheel.

“Ow, that hurt.” She rubbed her thighs with one hand.The window was deeply tinted, so the man glaring through the glasswouldn’t be able to see her until it was lowered. When he lifted agun and pointed it at her face, she fumbled with the switch to rollit up again, but he ripped the door open. Damn it. The lockswould've engaged if she had put the vehicle in gear, barring hisentry.

“Oh, my God,” Jay whimpered when he saw the gun.“This is not how I want to die! I’m wearing generic whiteboxers!”

Aja Blue ignored him and focused on the stranger withthe weapon. He had spiky silvery hair and mirrored shades. Withfalse bravado, she snapped, “What the hell are you doing?”

“Do you realize you are trespassing on privateproperty?” he barked. “Why are you here? How did you get throughthe gate? Are you paparazzi? What outlet do you work for?”

“Which question do you want me to respond tofirst?”

“Take your pick,” he growled.

Though she wanted to tell him to shove his questionsand gun where the sun didn’t shine, she informed him, “Mrs.Sinclair hired us to decorate the new pool house. She invited us,put us on the guest list, and the guard let us inside. We are nottrespassing. Does that answer your questions?”

His eyes narrowed, and he lowered the gun. “Hey,aren’t you Aja Blue LaLonde, the actress?”

“No, I’m Aja Blue LaLonde, the interior designer. CanI have your name so I can inform Mrs. Sinclair about how youtreated us?”

“Get the hell out of here now,” he snarled.

“Excuse me?”

“I said, get out. Now.”

She didn’t have to be told twice . . . except,apparently, she did, since she asked him to repeat the command. AjaBlue jerked the door out of his grip and slammed it. If, say, oneof his fingers got in the way, she wouldn’t hate it. Sadly, nodigits were damaged as she started the car and executed a U-turnaround him to leave.

“Well, that was rude,” Jay sniffed.

“No kidding,” she grumbled. Aja Blue did plan onletting Mrs. Sinclair know about the impolite man. She did not wantto run across him and his shiny black revolver again. Sheshivered.

Traffic across the bridge was better as they drove tothe office. Aja Blue had purchased a storefront in Ghent, a trendy,unique, and vibrant neighborhood packed with culture, character,and cuisine. It featured eclectic shops, galleries, antique stores,and eateries.

She currently employed three people besides Jay. SaraLea answered phones and mail and served as the office manager.Darwin was her information technology specialist and handled herwebsite, social media, and all computer issues. Marla worked withvendors and helped with designs. Aja Blue’s workload had increasedin the last few months, so she was considering adding a few morestaff members to handle the influx.

She parked in her space behind the building and slidoutside. She was exhausted after spending all morning at theSinclair mansion and then the following excitement. Once shechecked on things in the office, she planned a hot bath, a tallglass of wine, and a good book, not necessarily in that order.

Alas, it wasn’t to be.

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