Page 42 of Hidden Trial

“You’re making it worse by delaying telling me.”

“The role that’s needed for this job is that of a call girl.”

“You’re not serious.”

“I’m afraid so. I need to speak to someone who is also a call girl, and the only way in there is going to be with you on my arm as my escort.”

She turned away from him and rubbed the towel through her hair, then went to the bathroom. Helping Maddy had gone from being a respectable businesswoman to being a prostitute. It didn’t matter that it was acting. It made her stomach squirm. With her work, she’d set herself boundaries, like she’d told Will. There had been more than one occasion when she’d turned down a job.

After pulling on a comfortable pair of slacks and a loose blouse, she went back into the living room where she found Will sitting on the couch looking at his phone.

She stood in front of him with her hands on her hips until he looked up. Then she said, “I don’t think I’m comfortable with this.”

“It’s not what you think.”

“I know what a call girl is.”

“I won’t leave you alone, and you don’t have to do anything. You don’t even have to dress inappropriately. I’ll make sure you’re suitably covered. I only need you with me to get onto the right floor.”

She huffed down into a chair.God, what do I do?

“You helped rescue girls from a trafficking ring, right?” he said.

“Yeah.”

“That’s what this is about. I’m trying to rescue someone, and one of the girls in this hotel might know where I can find her.” He shifted forward on the seat. “Look, Charlotte, if you really don’t want to do this, I won’t force you. But it would help me a lot.”

“You promise you won’t leave my side?”

“Absolutely.”

“And you won’t let anyone touch me?”

“I’d break their arm first.”

“That seems a tad excessive.”

“I want you to know you’re safe. Did it work?”

“Yes.”

“Great. Thank you. This will be good for you, too. It will give you confidence when we’re doing the real thing with Antonio. But you have to promise me something.”

“Maybe.”

“Maybe?”

“I’d like to hear what it is first.” It wasn’t often she got the upper hand over him.

“I don’t want you to mention it to Maddy.”

“Why not?”

“Because…she doesn’t like me working on side cases.”

“Isn’t that what she was doing when she got hurt?”

“She wouldn’t classify that as a side job. She was being blackmailed. It’s different.”

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