Page 29 of Freeing Ruby

“Should I let him in?”

Looking resigned, she nods. “Might as well. He won’t go away until we do. He’ll just get louder and more obnoxious the longer he waits.”

I open the door. “Mr. Foster, come in.”

The man glares as he brushes past me. “Who the hell are you?”

“Dad!” Ruby cries. “Don’t speak to Miguel like that.”

Allen Foster ignores his daughter. “I asked you a question, son. Who the hell are you?”

“Miguel Rodriguez, sir,” I say, hoping to keep things civil for Ruby’s sake. “I was hired to find out who’s terrorizing your daughter.”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Foster says. “She’s making it up for attention.” He eyes me from head to toe. “Hired? Who hired you? I sure as hell didn’t, and Ruby can’t afford to hire security.”

“Edward did,” Ruby says.

At the mention of Edward McCall’s name, Allen Foster’s expression darkens. “What the hell? He had no right to do that.” Foster turns his attention back to me. “Where are you from?” he asks me.

“He’s from McIntyre Security,” Ruby says, completely misunderstanding the nature of his question.

I know what he’s getting at. I’ve heard this question a million times. “Chicago.”

“No, I mean where were you born?”

“Cook County Hospital.”

Foster’s frown deepens and he practically growls. “Don’t play stupid with me, son. You know exactly what I mean.”

Yeah, I do. “My grandparents emigrated to Chicago from Mexico City back in the sixties. Both of my grandfathers were structural engineers who came here on employment visas during a construction boom. Both of my parents were born in Chicago. I’m the oldest of eight kids, all born and raised right here in the Windy City.”

When Ruby steps between me and her father, my heart melts. It’s sweet of her to want to protect me from her father’s prejudice, but completely unnecessary. I’ve heard and experienced far worse. “Ruby, it’s okay.”

“No, it’s not.” She points to the door. “Dad, I think you should leave.”

Foster scowls at his daughter. “After everything I’ve done for you, you ungrateful little—”

Now it’s my turn to step in. “Mr. Foster, Ruby asked you to leave. I think you should do as she asks.”

He turns his scowl on me. “And if I don’t?”

“Then I’ll make you.”

Ruby makes a sound of exasperation. “Dad, why are you here?”

“Edward called to tell me he’d hired security. I wanted to see for myself.” He gives me a disapproving look. “I don’t think it’s appropriate for a strange man to be staying in my daughter’s apartment.”

“It’s fine, Dad,” Ruby says.

Foster ignores Ruby and glares at me. “Get your stuff and get out—now!”

This is escalating quickly. “Mr. Foster—”

“No, don’t you Mr. Foster me. Edward had no right to go behind my back. I’m Ruby’s father, and I’ll decide what’s best for her. I’m telling you to get out. Your services are no longer needed.” He glances at the neatly folded bedding and the pillow piled at one end of the sofa and sneers. “Frankly, I think it’s unseemly for you to be staying here.”

“You can’t fire Miguel,” Ruby says. “You aren’t the one who hired him.”

Foster turns to his daughter, clearly aggravated. “If you’re so worried about your safety, then come back home where you belong.”

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