Slow Burn: A Novel by Julie Garwood

Author:Julie Garwood
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Psychological, Psychological fiction, Charleston (S.C.), Suspense fiction, Fiction, Romance, American, Mystery fiction, Attempted murder, Thrillers, Suspense, Romantic suspense novels, Businesswomen, Women
ISBN: 9780345453846
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Published: 2005-08-29T10:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-four

The law firm of Smith and Wesson and Associates resided in an early-nineteenth-century, three-story home that had been transformed into offices but had kept its antebellum elegance.

The lobby was wide, and the eye was immediately drawn to the colorful mosaic design on the tiled floor. A grand staircase in the center led up to an open balcony that surrounded the lobby and was supported by white Doric columns.

Dylan half expected to see a southern belle sweep down the steps in her hoop skirt to greet them, but instead a receptionist in a dark suit with a silk blouse and pearls smiled up at them from her tidy mahogany desk.

Kate waited by Dylan’s side while he dealt with the security guard. The alarm had been triggered when he’d walked in, but as soon as he showed his badge, the pulsating noise stopped.

She didn’t have to give her name to the receptionist. The young woman already knew who she was.

“Good afternoon, Miss MacKenna. Mr. Smith will be right down. He’s most anxious to meet you.”

Anxious? Was that a good anxious or a bad one? Kate wondered.

Less than a minute later, the attorney rushed down the stairs. His smile seemed genuine. Still, he was a lawyer, she reminded herself, and from his surroundings, a very successful one at that. Therefore, he had to be quite good at masking his real emotions.

Extending his hand, he said, “My name is Anderson Samuel Smith, and I am delighted to meet you, Miss MacKenna. Simply delighted.”

He was quite polished, for he quickly put her at ease. He shook Dylan’s hand, and the two men exchanged polite greetings.

Speaking to both of them, he said, “I was your great uncle Compton’s attorney for seven years, and I do believe the firm took great care of him. He was quite an interesting fellow. Perhaps we might have dinner sometime, and I’ll tell you what I know about him.”

“Did you know his brother?” Kate asked.

“Yes, I did, Miss MacKenna. Our firm did not handle his affairs, however.”

“Please, call me Kate.”

He flashed another brilliant smile. “Kate. A good name,” he added with approval. “And you must call me Anderson.”

“If you wouldn’t mind, I’d like to freshen up.”

“Good idea,” Dylan said.

Good idea? What did that mean? She must either look a mess, or Dylan wanted to talk to the attorney alone.

Anderson showed her the way to the powder room and returned to Dylan in the foyer.

Kate washed her hands and checked her appearance in the full-length mirror. Okay, she was a bit disheveled, but she didn’t look that bad, did she? She didn’t look that good, either. She could make herself a little more presentable, she decided.

She brushed her hair, and since there was some curl, she didn’t clip it back again but let it fall around her shoulders. Digging through her purse, she found her blush and lipstick and freshened her makeup. She checked herself again. It was the best she could do without a complete overhaul.

She wanted to give Dylan another couple of minutes with the attorney.

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