Page 34 of Haystacks and Hoaxes

The way she grew abruptly silent told Mila they were kissing.

Mila finished getting ready and returned to the kitchen, where her brother was waiting impatiently for her. He hustled her to the garage and drove in companionable silence to work, while she sipped down the rest of her coffee.

Instead of pulling into the parking garage, he grabbed a spot in front of the building.

“Oo! Curbside service,” Mila cooed.

“Hold your horses,” he warned as she reached for the door handle. “Hawk Chesney is on his way to escort you inside.”

“Why? Where are you going?” She polished off the rest of her coffee with a noisy slurp.

“To the sheriff’s office.” He pulled out his electronic tablet and fiddled with his messages while he waited for Hawk to make his appearance. “Since the stuff happening to you has led to a criminal investigation, we’ll be working closely with Luke and his team until they make an arrest.”

“Got it.” She was grateful that the police were taking the attempts on her life so seriously. “Thanks for all you’re doing, Deck. I mean it.”

He smirked at her. “You’re the only sister I’ve got.”

Her heart melted at the affection in his voice.

Hawk strode their way and opened her door for her. “Morning, Mila.”

“Morning, Cocklebur.”

Though Deck raised his eyebrows at him, he didn’t comment on her use of the guy’s nickname. He merely nodded at her bodyguard. “Hawk.”

“Boss.” Cocklebur nodded back at him.

Mila snickered as Hawk did his usual hovering on their way to the front entrance doors. “Y’all managed to turn two syllables into an entire conversation.”

He grunted instead of answering.

Her eyes widened as she caught sight of an elaborate, edible floral arrangement resting on the receptionist’s booth. Since the booth was currently unmanned, Mila walked right up to the gorgeous display to tap the cheery red, white, and gold balloons tied to it. “I wonder who it’s for.” Knowing she was being nosy, she swiftly read the message on the attached card and grew still. They were from Decker, congratulating her on her new job.

“For me?” she squeaked, spinning back toward the glass entrance doors. She was just in time to catch the taillights of Deck’s SUV disappearing around the corner. “So that’s why he dropped me off at the front door!” Ordering a bunchof fruit cut into flower shapes was probably Chanel’s idea, but still.

“Nice.” Hawk reached out to tap one of the balloons the same way she had.

“Please.” She gestured at the succulent bouquet with both hands. “Have a bite.” The thick floral clusters of pineapples, apples, grapes, and melon wedges were way too much for one person to eat.

“No, thanks.” He held up a hand. “I already ate breakfast.”

“Well, I didn’t.” All she’d consumed so far was coffee. She pulled a single petal of melon from one of the flowers and popped it into her mouth. “Mmm!” Since there were umpteen security cameras trained on her and she wasn’t being paid to eat, she scooped up the lovely arrangement and carried it with her toward Rock’s office.

With each step she took, it grew harder to breathe. A tight feeling settled in her jaw. Then a sharp pain shot through her midsection. She sucked in a breath, but it sounded more like a wheeze.

Fortunately, Rock’s door was ajar, because she wasn’t sure she had the strength to open it.I’m going to be sick.She barely made it across the threshold before the edible flower arrangement slid from her grasp. It crashed to the floor.

Rock’s head spun in her direction. “Mila! What’s wrong?” He shot to his feet behind his desk, half-limping and half-jogging her way as fast as he could without his cane.

Her thoughts seemed to be moving in slow motion. She opened her mouth to tell him that something was terribly wrong, but no sound came out. She slid to her knees, clawing at her neck.

By the time he reached her side, she was shaking andarching her back with uncontrollable muscle spasms. From somewhere behind her, she heard Hawk barking into his phone. It sounded like he’d called 9-1-1.

“Don’t touch the fruit,” he warned an employee she didn’t recognize, who popped his head around the door. “It may have been poisoned.”

Poisoned?Mila slumped to her side on the floor, gripped by another round of muscle spasms.I’m going to die right here on the floor.It became increasingly harder to breathe. She grew lightheaded. Rock’s panicked features wavered in and out of view. Then her eyelids drifted closed.

Though she never fully lost consciousness, she no longer felt in control of her movements.Please, God!She’d never felt such excruciating pain. It was as if tiny monsters were inside her body, slashing her vital organs to ribbons one by one. She didn’t know how much longer she could hold on. Tears of pain and horror streamed down her cheeks.

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