Page 25 of Maid For The Mafia Informant

That Partridge and his department can help get Ben’s case pushed forward so all these criminals can be locked up.

But Partridge doesn’t call me out, only looks down at his feet, sucking his teeth.

“I really don’t know, Sophie. I just don’t know. One thing I can tell you…” he adds, perking my interest further.

“And I don’t even know why I’m telling you is this, that the room opposite Ben’s had the city’s District Attorney in it, Daniella Fellini. She’s missing now too, but her room was untouched. The CCTV caught her leaving with three unidentified men. What would you make of that?” he adds leaning forward on his feet. Like he really would like to know what I think.

“She’s the one who ratted him out, told the mob where he was,” I hear myself saying slowly, watching Partridge nod his head in agreement.

“Pretty bright for a maid,” he says to himself, turning away and looking out the window.

“Cops daughter’s instinct,” I tell him, half-smiling, but feeling the pit of my stomach drop again as my mind reels.

How many people can Ben trust? How many people can I trust?

Partridge?

He turns sharply, giving me a look that seems to match the questions I’m asking myself.

And just how much more danger am I putting him in by having him here?

God, I wish Partridge and his men would just leave so I could actually talk to Ben.

I need to talk to him more than ever now, but I don’t want to blow it entirely.

Partridge’s phone rings suddenly, making me jump.

He nods and grunts then hangs up.

“I have to go now, the other two will watch you until your dad gets back, then it’s up to him what happens with you, I guess,” he says matter of fact.

“What is it?” I ask, hoping for fresh news from his call. But he frowns, giving me some of that attitude he likes to tease Ben with.

“That’s police business,” he says calmly, and he lets himself out.

My instinct is to search the house for Ben, but one of the policemen comes in from outback, his hand on his belly.

He’s blocking my way up the stairs as he asks if he can use a bathroom.

I glance at the one Partridge just looked into, “Go ahead,” I say, almost rolling my eyes, “that one’s free.”

The cop hurries himself to the bathroom and I hear a dull thud, followed by some groans.

Ewww. Other people using the bathroom.

I’m halfway up the stairs when I hear a hiss from behind me.

It’s Ben.

His mouth is on mine before I can say anything, and I feel a new kind of excitement inside me.

Without him having to tell me, I know we have to go.

We have to dress and get out of here in seconds, not minutes.

“Toilet guy?” I ask, making a face, wincing harder as Ben apologizes.

“Sorry. He’ll be okay, but your bathroom’s gonna need cleaning. Know anyone?” he says, his lip curling into a smile. “C’mon, let’s go.”

Stealing back up to my room, we hurriedly dress and I don’t even mind how Ben looks away this time. I know if he sees me naked again we’ll be in more trouble than we’re trying to get away from.

I wish I could say the same for myself though.

Seeing his body flex and tense as he dresses is enough to give me an instant wet patch and forget everything.

All I want is Ben.

Sensing my mood, he looks at me sternly and I recover myself, enough to get dressed and whisper to ask him what I’ll need to take.

“Phone, cash, passport,” he says and I feel a stab of fear again.

Passport?

“Just in case,” he tells me, reading my concern, all of those things are in the safe in my dad’s study.

I shake my head. “Cash, yeah but passport no. It’s all locked up.”

Ben doesn’t seem to mind, but I can almost hear the word Mexico filtering through his mind.

“I could try and get it, it would take a minute though,” I offer. He shushes me suddenly, craning his neck, and then readily agrees.

“If you can, grab it,” he says with continued urgency. “I’ll go check on our other friend.”

I feel bad, almost dirty helping myself to my dad’s safe.

It’s where we keep the most important documents, even a gun, and some ammo but I only take what’s mine.

I have no cash, except the cash check from the maid job, plus my phone.

I’m about as ready as I’ll ever be.

Ben startles me at the study door, making me jump and squeal out loud.

One look from him tells me that our two guards aren’t gonna be a problem, for a while anyway.

“Car?” he asks aloud, transmitting the silent question I know he has about the Mustang being trackable.

“Blue wire next to the battery,” I tell him and he kisses me briefly.

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