Calculated Risk by Marie James

Author:Marie James [James, Marie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: security romance
Publisher: MJB Publishing
Published: 2021-03-02T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter 19

Quinten

“You’re welcome, Mrs. Humphrey. Thank you for following our advice.” I drop the phone back into the cradle and look at Deacon who entered my office while I was on the phone with a client.

“Another happy customer?”

“Always. What’s up?” He shrugs. “It’s Monday evening. Shouldn’t you be home with your very pregnant wife rubbing her feet or building baby furniture?”

“I’ll have you know the nursery is completely done, and Anna is with her mother this evening.”

“And how much longer does she have?”

“Two months. Well, just a little over two months.”

I smile. He doesn’t have to tell me something is off. I can feel it swarming around us in the room.

“How long are we going to make small talk before you actually get around to telling me what you came in here to say?”

He gives me a wry smile. “Have plans tonight?”

“Deacon. Come on.” I rub both hands over my face feeling tired and antsy all at the same time.

“The class went well. Thirteen graduates, and seven of them signed up for the next level class, Adam said.”

I guess that’s not bad—thirteen graduates from a class of fifteen. Parker Maxwell, Hayden’s friend, missed too many classes, and Gayle—I don’t even want to think about her, but I get a sinking feeling that she’s the reason he’s here.

“Just tell me.”

“Gayle was murdered by an ex-lover. The police used all the information Wren dug up, and the man confessed within minutes of them going to his house.”

“They caught him. That’s good news.”

“They can’t find any DNA on her body though, and his confession was made while he was stoned out of his mind. They’re not sure it will stick because he recanted once he was sober.”

“They wear body cams, so they have it recorded.”

“He also confessed to being Hitler and being in a long-term relationship with Bella from Twilight.”

“Shit,” I grumble.

“Yeah. So, we’ll just have to wait and see. I know you and Wren were looking for Gayle when she went missing, but do you have concerns for any of the other women from the class?”

I look at him unblinking, wondering what I should say.

“Not concerns,” I say eventually.

“Okay. Maybe elaborate?”

“I like one of the women that completed the class.” He stays silent, waiting me out so I’ll speak again. “Hayden Prescott.”

“The one you kicked out of class?”

I clench my jaw. “I didn’t kick her—you know what, semantics. I’ve spent a little time with her outside of class.”

“I see.”

“Are you going to jump my ass for it?”

“Class is over, Quinten. You’re free to do as you wish. Do you think she’s going to turn into a woman scorned and leave a bad Yelp review?”

I huff a laugh until I see that he didn’t ask the question with humor.

“Really?”

He shrugs. “BBS is a business like any other. We were trending online for the better part of a month. Hordes of people have contacted us because of that popularity, but there are also people out there that want to see us fail. I’m just wondering if there’s going to be backlash if she’s unhappy when it ends.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.