Standing Guard by Valerie Hansen

Author:Valerie Hansen
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Steeple Hill
Published: 2012-03-03T16:00:00+00:00

TEN

The strange sedan waiting on one side of Lindy’s wide driveway when she got home gave her the willies. Who was it? And why were they just sitting there?

She had almost convinced herself to put her car in Reverse and flee when a tall, distinguished-looking gentleman with a thick head of graying-black hair climbed out of the parked vehicle. He straightened his suit coat and tie before raising a hand to wave.

Recognition dawned. Lindy began to grin. Parking parallel to the other car, she helped Danny undo his seat belt, then greeted their visitor.

“Mr. Reed! What a nice surprise. What brings you to Serenity?”

He took her hand when she offered it but instead of merely shaking it he clasped it firmly. “Hello, Lindy. Danny. I was worried after you called the other day. How are you doing?”

“We’re okay,” she said, sobering. “I have had some financial reverses recently but it’s all a big mistake. My boss is helping me sort things out.”

“So, you do have a job?”

“Yes. I’m an executive assistant at Pearson Products, right here in Serenity.”

“Never heard of them. What do they handle?”

“Kitchen gadgets, mostly,” Lindy said.

“How...interesting.”

“I think it is,” she said, noting with disappointment how quickly the man’s attitude had become dismissive.

Now what? Lindy wondered. The polite thing to do was to invite him to join them for Sunday dinner. That wouldn’t have caused any consternation if Thad had not been expected, too. She didn’t want to expose her friend to the kind of snobbery she’d just glimpsed if she could help it. Still, what real choice did she have?

“We were planning to have a simple spaghetti dinner in about an hour. If you can stay...”

“Love to,” Reed said. “I’ve been wanting to check in on you and see for myself that you’re all right. I apologize for not doing so sooner.”

“There’s really no need for you to feel responsible.”

“Nonsense. Ben was one of our most valued employees until that unfortunate incident with the hedge fund.” He leaned closer to speak as he followed Lindy toward the house. “I never did think he was as involved as the authorities claimed. And if he was, he must have had good reasons for the decisions that led to such a tragic end.”

“Really?” Lindy was flabbergasted. Ben had been as guilty as sin and everyone knew it, from the local police all the way up to the top agents in the DEA. His private papers and computer files had proved it beyond a doubt.

Yet, here stood one of the men whose firm had borne the brunt of the bad publicity and he was defending Ben’s morals. Could he be that clueless? That forgiving?

Or was he simply trying to get on her good side by praising her late husband? If the latter was true, he clearly didn’t know what kind of man Ben had been in his private life.

It took Lindy a few extra seconds to unlock the door and let them all in because of the additional dead bolt Thad had installed.

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