Page 28 of The Money Man
“They stole—what was it?—three bucks? Why?”
“We’re still working on that. And it was $3.85.” Alice took a long swallow of deliciously cold water.
“‘We’? Who’s ‘we’?”
So Natalie hadn’t told Dawn about Derek. Alice launched into an abbreviated explanation of KRG, the SBI, and Myron Barsky’s apparent perfidy.
When she paused, Dawn whistled and shook her head. “That’s a lot of trouble for a few dollars, even if it’s from a bunch of companies. But a criminal is a criminal, no matter how little he steals. You’re smart to brush up on your self-protection.”
“Even though it turns eighty percent of my body black and blue?” She hoped the bruises wouldn’t show up any place that Derek might see.
“You’ll thank me when some crazy Russian hacker has you in a choke hold and you know how to escape.”
“I just can’t believe such a computer geek would turn violent.” She took another gulp of water as her breathing settled down to normal.
The notes of the minuet wafted up from the gym bag perched on a bench near the mat. Alice groaned at the thought of moving but forced herself off the floor to grab her cell phone. She glanced at the caller ID and nearly dropped her water bottle on the floor as she swiped to answer.
“Hi, Derek,” she said, trying to keep her tone casual while her body pulsed with awareness.
“Is this Alice Thurber, forensic bookkeeper?” His deep voice held a teasing note.
“You know it is.”
“I was expecting the official greeting, so I just wanted to confirm your identity.” He was definitely teasing her.
“I figured we were past that, especially at this hour.”
“Is it too late to call?” He sounded guilty.
“Of course not!” She checked the gym’s wall clock. It was eight o’clock. “I just meant it’s after normal people’s business hours. But I know you guys at KRG don’t keep to those.”
“Good.” There was a pause. “I just got the information about how we can connect you with KRG. I thought it might be useful to go over it in person, as well as other aspects of our cover story.”
A thrill of exhilaration spiraled through her. She would see him in person before their trip to Texas.
“And I have a craving for one of Nick’s Specialty Burgers,” he continued. “Any chance we could have a late dinner in Cofferwood?”
“You mean tonight?”
“Short notice, I know—”
“No, it’s fine,” she interrupted. “I just wanted to be clear on when.” And she couldn’t believe her good luck.
“I’m leaving in five minutes. I’ll text you when I have a better idea of how the traffic will affect my arrival time.” Another pause. “I look forward to seeing you.”
His words were the standard courteous sign-off but his tone held a low, seductive hint of something more than business and a burger. She felt it cascade through her abused body in a ripple of exhilaration.
She had been right last night. Hehadwanted to kiss her. The knowledge fanned the hot anticipation already coursing through her veins.
Tonight if he leaned toward her, she was going to meet him halfway. In fact, she might just lean toward him first.
When she disconnected, Dawn plunked down on the bench beside Alice’s bag. “Okay, there was a whole lot of interesting body language going on during that call. What gives?”
Alice had forgotten about Dawn’s superpower: her friend had a hyperawareness of people’s posture and gestures. She could read emotion from them.
“That was Derek Killion, the consultant I told you about.” Alice waited to hear what she might have revealed to Dawn just by her stance.
A smile tugged at the corners of Dawn’s full lips. “You’re holding out on me, girlfriend. He’s not just a consultant. You like him.”
