Page 101 of Boss

“No. I wasn’t beaten, and he didn’t kill Daniel. He saved my life by killing that man Cash Dagwood who was sent to that ranch by Alek Marshall to kill me. Cash must have killed Daniel.”

“That’s crazy! Mr. Marshall wouldn’t do that.”

“How the hell would you know?” Kassidy could feel the tension return in her body. Anxiety over being questioned or was it just anger?She wasn’t sure but one thing she was certain of was that she was tired of people not believing her words.

“You’ve been gone for close to seventy-two hours. I was calling you, looking for you. And as soon as this blew up and you two were arrested, the Marshalls did everything to save you both.”

“So?”

“So! Why would they bother if they wanted you dead or arrested?”

“For the same reason you keep drilling me for details,” Kassidy said. “Because all of you want to know what I took and who I gave it to! Tarek’s being set up by his family. They are after him too. And I don’t even know if he’s alive or dead!” her voice broke with emotion.

“Tarek? You’re trying to protect Tarek? He started this mess,” Reese reminded her.

“He saved my life!”

“After he put it at risk,” Reese declared.

“He protected me. You have no idea what I’ve been through.” Kassidy shook her head.

“I know I don’t. That’s why I’m asking you. What is it that you have on Alek or Dale Marshall?”

“Isn't that the golden question?”

“This is serious! And it can get a lot worse for you. What did Tarek Marshall do to you to deserve any loyalty?”

“Nothing”, Kassidy answered. “He did absolutely nothing. He talked, he threatened, and he tried to intimidate me. But he only did those things because I... I provoked this...”

“Oh brother...” Reese groaned.

“I stole from him. He never wanted to hurt me. He cares... cared for me.”

“Tarek Marshall, The thug in a suit. Remember him? Now he’s a hero?”

“You weren’t there!”

“You keep saying that, as if any of this would make sense if I had been there. He’s a psychopath. And you were probably too traumatized to realize it when he killed those men!”

Kassidy shook her head.

“Okay stop!” Reese said. “Stealing and kidnapping are two different things. Thank God you told those police the truth. They’ll arrest Tarek and I’ll get you out of this mess. Just tell me, what else do you have?”

“You’re missing the most important part to this story, Reese. Yes, I stole some stupid information about bribes and regulatory violations. But the Marshalls did far worse. They hired Cash Dagwood to come out to that ranch and kill us both, because they have ties to organized crime.”

“Bullshit!” Reese said.

“It’s the truth,” Kassidy insisted.

“The truth is you have never lived in the real world if you been with the E.P.U. For you it’s save a turtle or whale. For me, its work your ass off and pray that being a woman, and a black one at that in corporate America, will be overlooked.”

“Please. Let’s not pretend hard work was the only way you climbed the top of the corporate ladder. I hear you and Dale are really close.”

“What the fuck does that mean?” Reese shot to her feet.

“Sorry... that was a low blow.”

“You’re sorry? And that means shit now, Kassidy!” Reese’s eyes watered. “Shit! You deceived me, not the other way around. You are no victim.”

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