Page 24 of Wired Strong

“Humpf.” Cho grunted. “We won’t be long.” She whirled to head up the stairs instead of using the elevator. Raveaux dogged her sensibly-sandaled heels as they thumped up an aluminum stairwell, heading for the fourth floor.

“Ms. Leede’s methods are a bit unconventional.” Raveaux ventured an olive branch as he beat Cho to the door to her level, opening and holding the heavy panel ajar in a gentlemanly way. “Thank you for being gracious with the process. I’m sure you want to catch this thief and clear your firm’s name as much as we do.”

Cho slanted an unfriendly glance over her shoulder. “Let’s discuss this in my office.”

Staffers in cubicles glanced at them curiously as they passed. Raveaux mentally cringed at the number of computers Sophie might be dealing with.

Cho unlocked her office, ushered him in, then turned to close the door. She put her hands on her hips. “I know you think my firm has something to do with this.” Her brown eyes were wide and angry. “And I don’t appreciate it.”

Raveaux raised his brows. “Madame, I assure you I have no opinion whatsoever on any of this. I am merely Ms. Leede’s associate, and as you can see, she uses me mostly for muscle.” He tried a wink. “I’m just here to fetch and carry.”

Cho seemed to thaw. She turned away and slipped off her Birkenstocks. Her brown socks looked hand-knit from the hair of some unknown animal. “All right then. I will save my frustration for Ms. Leede. I don’t personally handle the Kama`aina Schools’ accounts, but we can get a computer trolley and pick up the units of those who do, right now. Also, I want my phone back.” She padded over to her desk and depressed a button on the phone, summoning an assistant to bring the trolley.

She returned to face Raveaux and mustered a smile, seeming to really see him for the first time. Cho was attractive when she smiled. She patted her flyaway hair, tucking it behind her ears. “This investigation has been something of a shock. I didn’t know about the audit until I was summoned to the campus this morning. Very stressful. I’m sure you understand.”

“Absolutely.” Raveaux turned and meandered around the office, noting the striking fiber art on the walls, the natural wood credenza, the meeting table and seating lounge. “Have you been with Peerless long?”

“Five years. I was an IRS analyst before I came to work for Peerless.” She seated herself in her chair. “I’m from Seattle originally. This job has been practically a vacation, compared to my government one.”

“I understand. I was with the French police for my entire career, and nothing ever came without sixteen forms to be filled out and submitted to different departments. We never caught up with the workload, either. I used to say I should wear a miner’s light on the front of my hat, I was so buried in cases.” He got her to smile again as the assistant came in with the computer cart. “Let’s pick up the units, I’ll give you your phone, and I’ll be on my way.” He took her device out of his pocket. “Would you unlock it, please? I’ll put my number into your contacts, in case you need to reach me for any reason.”

Cho accepted the phone and unlocked it. “I’d appreciate that.”

“Of course, madame. Never know when you might need a little muscle.” He winked, and added his number to her contacts.

Cho took the phone back, slipping it into the pocket of her baggy dress. “I’ll be in touch, Monsieur Raveaux, should I need to reach you.”

“Call me Pierre.” He gave her some eye contact.

Cho looked down, flustered. “Follow me and we’ll go get those computers.”

* * *

Raveaux pulledinto the alley behind the Security Solutions building. He’d texted Sophie that he was on his way; he wasn’t surprised to see her standing, arms crossed, with a dolly and three strapping security operatives. The four of them wore all-black outfits marked with the Security Solutions logo.Where was that red outfit she’d worn in the morning?

“Quite a car,” Sophie commented, as Raveaux got out of the vehicle. “That belong to Ms. Leede?”

“Yes.” Raveaux popped the enormous trunk and the men began loading the equipment onto the dolly. “She is compensating for her size, I believe.”

“Apparently, not only men do that,” Sophie smiled. “My father likes Cadillacs too, though.” She picked up one of the laptops. “In case you need to know where the equipment is, I’ve set up a workroom for us in the basement of the building. Our case workstation will be in Storage Room 2A. I only have time to set up the duplicating software for these rigs tonight; it takes a couple of hours to copy each hard drive, so I’ll be working on this through tomorrow. Once we have all of them copied, I’d like to meet Ms. Leede and discuss who’s doing what. I cannot be the only one sifting through these computers.”

“Of course. I’ll let her know. We should meet tomorrow.” The three men loaded the equipment onto the dolly and took it into the building. The door shut behind them with a clang. Raveaux cleared his throat. “How are you feeling?”

Sophie frowned. “Are you asking because I’m pregnant?”

The heat of embarrassment tingled the back of his neck. “I suppose.”

“Well, stop that. Don’t treat me any differently than you did before.” Her voice was taut with annoyance. “I’ll let you know if I’m having a problem.” She turned to follow the computers into the building, and her hand landed on the handle of the steel door.

“Then let me fix dinner for you, sometime,” Raveaux burst out. “You liked my cooking. Before.”

Sophie stopped, her back to him. “I do like your cooking.” She opened the door. “Text me when you’re making something worth eating.” She never looked back. The door banged shut.

But she would let him feed her.

Raveaux got back into the Cadillac, unaccountably lighter.

Chapter Twenty

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