Page 9 of Seductive Secrets

He walked right up to the front desk as if he owned the place. “Can you let Mike Pritchard know that James Rutherford is here to see him?” he asked the receptionist.

“Of course,” the woman replied as she picked up the phone. While the receptionist relayed the message, Angela moved around the formal waiting room. There were soft leather chairs and a sofa, a low coffee table, and paintings on the walls. She didn’t recognize the paintings, but they were impressive. The landscapes seemed to come alive on the canvas, the sun and light competing with the darker shadows that seemed to be hiding something evil.

“I like it,” James commented from beside her and making her jump. She’d been so caught up in the painting she hadn’t noticed his approach. Normally, she was always aware of where others were in the room. But this time, she’d been oblivious.

Even this was startling, because she didn’t feel trapped. In the past, when a man got too close and she didn’t have an escape route, Angela panicked. But for some odd reason, James’ closeness didn’t bother her at all. In fact, just the opposite. She felt…safe?

Impossible, she told herself as she moved several feet away. “I do too,” she replied, but before she could say anything more, the glass doors opened and a tall, impressively good looking man stepped out. “James! How the hell are you?”

The two shook hands, but that morphed into that odd bro-hug where they pounded each other on the back hard enough to break ribs.

They parted with huge grins and no apparent injuries. Then James extended his arm towards Angela. “This is Angela Bertucci. We’re working on a project together.”

Angela donned her professional “face”, extending her hand politely. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mike.”

“Same,” he replied, his smile easy but she saw the admiration in his eyes and pulled back. Odd that she felt threatened by Mike Pritchard’s gaze, but not James’. She’d analyze that later. Right now, she needed answers. She had a funny feeling that the blue powder wasn’t going to bode well for Mark. She couldn’t define why she felt that way. It was just that odd sensation she felt whenever trouble was looming.

“Is there a place we can talk in private?” James asked.

Nothing in Mike’s expression changed, but Angela sensed a sharpening of his attention. “Absolutely,” he replied. The man flashed a badge against a scanner beside the frosted glass doors. “Let’s go to my office.”

They walked down the hall, Mike and James chatting about their college days and their lives since the last time they’d gotten together. Apparently, Mike still wasn’t married, the business was going well, and a development project was about to be released to the world. Whatever that new development was, James was exceedingly pleased about it.

Mike led them into a corner office filled with afternoon sunlight. A large desk sat in one corner and a polished conference room table took up more than half of the office. There was a bar along the opposite wall, as well as a sofa and two club chairs. Mike led them over to the sofa and waved them into their seats, waiting until they were seated before he took one of the club chairs.

His assistant brought in coffee and everyone was silent until the man left, closing the door with a snick.

When they were alone, Mike moved forward and poured everyone a cup of coffee, saying, “Okay, what’s going on and how can I help?”

Angela shot a quick glance at James. “We can trust him,” James assured her.

Angela nodded, opened her purse, and brought out the vial of blue powder.

“Do you remember Mark DuBreck?”

Mike took a sip of his coffee, nodding. “Yeah. Terrible singer. Outstanding kicker though.”

James chuckled, nodding his agreement. “Exactly. Well, he might be kicking the ball straight out of bounds.” He nodded towards the vial. “Mark has disappeared. He sent me something recently, which is why I drove up to Baltimore to speak with him.But when we got to his place, the door was open and we found this in the Alto Trophy.”

Mike’s eyes narrowed. “Why the hell does he still have that thing? Why didn’t he pass it along to the next group of seniors like he was supposed to?”

“We don’t know. But we need to know what’s in this vial.”

Mike set his coffee down on the table and picked up the vial. He shook the tube gently, his lips compressing but he didn’t say anything. For a long moment, he examined the vial from every angle. He even shifted on the leather chair so he could view the powder through the sunshine.

Then he nodded sharply. “I’m guessing that you need information on whatever this is as soon as possible?”

James nodded sharply. “If you can spare someone to look into it.”

Mike’s handsome features were grim. “I’ll do this myself. I don’t think that you want anyone else examining this stuff.”

“What do you suspect?” James asked.

Mike hesitated as if he might offer an opinion, then he shook his head. “Let me figure out what it is first, then I’ll explain. I don’t want to say something too soon and send you guys down the wrong path.”

James nodded and stood up. “Fair enough.” He extended his hand and the two men shook. “I’ll wait for you to do whatever it is that you do with that stuff. You know how to reach me.”

Mike nodded, released James’ hand, then shook Angela’s. “I’ll get started immediately. I should have apreliminary finding for you by tomorrow. I’ll let you know whatever I find by then.”

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