Riddle Me This (Detective Kate Rosetti Mystery Book 2) by Gina LaManna

Author:Gina LaManna [LaManna, Gina]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: janet evanovich, Kendra Elliot, thriller, lee goldberg
Publisher: LaManna Books
Published: 2020-04-30T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 12

Brandy Lee worked out of a tiny office on the outskirts of Uptown. I crossed from St. Paul into Minneapolis, cruised down Lyndale, and parked between a hipster coffee shop and a run-down liquor store. Brandy’s office was above the coffee shop.

The smell of freshly roasted beans followed me as I climbed to the second level and found a sign on the door that read Glitterati Party Planning. I let myself inside and found a cute, albeit cramped, lobby the size of a large walk-in closet. A woman sat behind a window and smiled brightly through the cutout.

“Can I help you?” she asked. “Do you have an appointment?”

“Actually, I’m here on official police business.” I flipped out my badge and rested it on the desk. “Detective Rosetti. Is Brandy Lee in?”

“Is she in trouble?”

“I just have a few questions to ask her,” I said. “It shouldn’t take long.”

“She’s actually out on a job right now,” the receptionist said. “I’m sorry, but I don’t think she’ll be back to the office today.”

“Do you happen to know where she is?”

“I’m sorry, I can’t say.”

“Can’t or won’t?” I opened my phone, scrolled down to Alastair Gem’s number. “That’s his direct line. If I call it, will I find Brandy at his offices?”

The receptionist didn’t blink an eye. “It’s possible.”

“How possible?”

She sighed. “Quite.”

“Great. Thanks for your help,” I said. “If she comes back early, let her know I stopped by.”

She nodded. “Rita’s in, if you’d like to speak with her instead.”

I glanced at the name on the door—Rita Banks—and saw the words CEO printed underneath. “That’s okay. I’m looking for Brandy specifically. It’s important.”

The receptionist gave a weak mumble of agreement. I took the stairs two at a time and came to a stop in the first-floor coffee shop. I was powerless against the smell of fresh beans, so I ordered a cappuccino to go. I’d need all the energy I could get to face Gem and Brandy together in one room.

Gem Industries stood just as tall and intimidating as I remembered. The Christmas decorations from the last time I’d been inside had been taken down and replaced by springs of fresh greenery and impressive floral arrangements.

The Valentine’s Day theme had already begun to seep throughout the facility with white Calla lilies perched in long-necked vases, pink roses gathered on every desk, and giant red blooms craning over the entryway that looked as if they belonged in an exotic tropical destination, and not in blustering, wintery Minnesota.

I made my way to the front desk where I stopped before a receptionist I’d met on several prior occasions. I leaned on the desk and gave Ms. Karp a thin smile.

“Hey there, remember me?” I flipped out my badge just in case she’d forgotten. “I’m looking for Gem. Feel like buzzing me up?”

Her cheery smile grew brighter and more fake all at once. The receptionist looked as if she wanted to argue, but thankfully, she thought better of it. Pursing her ruby red lips, she reached for the phone.

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