Page 32 of No Way Forward

“Wow. I had no idea. When was this?”

“From the first year you were gone. His intel started two months after you left.”

She was dumbfounded.

“It took me some time, but I started to think he avoided giving us information that would lead us to you.”

“You’re saying he was milking my dad but keeping him on the hook? Here I thought I was so clever, and he knew where I was right away?”

“Not right away, and no one else found you.”

“So what does the investigator have to do with the kidnapping?”

“The last time I visited him, I started pushing, telling him I was suspicious. He saw his cash cow disappearing and somehow got wind of the fact that I did my own investigating to find you. As a last resort, he tried to kidnap you. That’s my theory anyway. I have no doubt he would have demanded a ransom.”

She shivered, and he hugged her close. “You’re telling me he risked throwing his career away just for a little extra cash? If he had the reputation you’re saying he had, then he should have had some top clients already.”

“People will do anything for money, Novette. Like I said, I’m waiting to hear back from my friend. Plus, I’m going to look into this man’s financials through another friend. I’ll get to the bottom of it because no one threatens you and gets away with it. Not without me feeding them their own teeth.”

“Yikes.”

He stood. “I should go so you can get some sleep. Tomorrow, try to turn those two guys off.”

“It won’t take much. Look what happened with Felix.”

“Don’t think that way. You’re beautiful and perfect.”

“I’m glad you think so. Zaid?”

He had moved to the door, but she held her hand out to him.

“Stay.”

Chapter 15

Azalie stuck her head into Richard’s office. He sat behind the huge desk, sorting through a pile of papers. Someone with a dull voice droned on and on over his phone’s speaker, and Azalie’s mom sat nearby typing away on a laptop. She must be taking notes.

Azalie couldn’t figure out how her mom could do the same boring job year after year. Sure, there were perks, like when Richard flew to Paris for a conference and took Sheila along, but those bonuses were too few and far between. Azalie would rather spend money than make it, and to do so in an exotic location would be the ultimate.

She shoved the door wider and strolled into the office. “Hey, Mom, I came to see if you want to buy me lunch today.”

Richard glanced up and glared. He pressed a finger to his lips for her to be quiet. Azalie wrinkled her nose. God, he was listening to that guy? Why bother? She heaved a somewhat noisy sigh, and her mom jumped to her feet to drag Azalie toward the door.

“What are you doing barging in here, Azalie?” her mom whispered in a fierce whisper. “I’ll talk to you when we have a break. I have to get this information down.”

Azalie stumbled on the four-inch hot pink stilettos she wore. “Jeez, Mom—”

“Wait.”

They both stopped and looked back at Richard. He stabbed a button on his phone, not bothering to ask the man on the other end of the line to hang on. The man continued to speak while on mute. Richard stood.

“I need to talk to you, Azalie. Sheila, take a break.”

“Wha—?” Sheila looked from Azalie to Richard.

“It’s about Novette. Give us a minute, Sheila.”

“Of course, sir.”

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