Page 13 of Heart of Stone

Just forget her. She’s too young anyway.

“Your total is thirty-seven dollars and four cents. Will that be cash or credit, sir?” asked the skinny blond that was working the register.

I focused my attention on the cashier. Her nametag read CASSIE in bold print.

Mid-twenties, been around the block, on the prowl for Mr. Right.

One look at her and it was easy to assess that she was the latch on kind of girl. She was trying to look sexy and coy, peering at me through eyelashes that had too much mascara on them. I ignored her. She was cute, but she wasn’t my type.

If only Krystina could be as transparent as this one…

I pulled out my credit card and absently handed it over to the coquettish Cassie, careful not to give her any encouragement.

Once my transaction was complete, I collected my purchases and left the grocery store. When I stepped outside, I blinked from the bright sunlight, and reached into my suit jacket pocket for a pair of sunglasses. After my vision adjusted, I saw Hale waiting for me, double-parked at the end of the block. I headed in that direction.

Hale moved to get out of the car when he saw me, but I waved him off.

“I’ve got it,” I called out to him. I deposited the groceries into the trunk, and then climbed into the backseat. “One of theses days you’re going to get a parking ticket.”

“Don’t worry. I have a few connections,” he told me easily. “Where to now, boss?”

“Back to the office. I have more work to do on the Canterwell deal. Just drop me there, and then run this food back to the house. Oh, and I need you to get with Stephen and gather some information.”

“Yes, sir. I’ll call Stephen now and have him get started on it. Is Canterwell looking to unload another property?”

“No, this isn’t about Canterwell. It’s about a person. I want all the information you can find on Krystina Cole.”

CHAPTER 4

I stepped into the elevator of my apartment building, punched the number for my floor, and watched the doors slowly close. I leaned against the back wall and closed my eyes. It had been hours since my conversation with Alexander Stone, yet my head was still reeling from our encounter. I didn’t know what had come over me. I really needed to talk to Allyson.

I was just about to insert my key into the door of my apartment when I heard my cell phone ring. I reached into my purse for my phone and gingerly answered the call, being extra careful not to slice my finger open on the cracked screen.

“Hello?”

“Hello, may I speak with Miss Krystina Cole please?” asked pleasant female voice.

“This is Miss Cole.”

“Miss Cole, this is Laura Kaufman calling from Turning Stone Advertising. We received your résumé and we’re interested in setting up an interview with you for a position in our marketing department.”

That’s strange.

I had never heard of Turning Stone Advertising. I wondered how they got a hold of my résumé. Either way, beggars can’t be choosers, as job interviews had been few and far between.

“I would like that very much. When would you like to meet?” I asked her, stepping into my apartment and quietly closing the door behind me.

“Does tomorrow morning at nine o’clock work for you?” Laura politely asked. I mentally ran through my schedule at Wally’s. I was scheduled off for the next two days.

“That’s perfect. Can you please tell me where you’re located?” I figured that was an important place to start, considering I knew nothing at all about the company. I quickly went to the kitchen and pulled a pad of paper and a pen out of one of the drawers.

Laura rattled off an address in the financial district then said, “Just go to the security desk in the lobby and ask for me. The guard will tell you where to go from there.”

“Great! Thank you and I’ll see you in the morning.”

I thought about the upcoming interview as I finished scribbling down the address that Laura had given me.

Finally – an interview!

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