Caterpillar, a Paranormal Romance With a Touch of Horror by M. Leighton Page B
Authors: M. Leighton
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very dark side and zero scruples.”
“That’s it? You went all catatonic for that? What does that even mean, ‘zero scruples’?”
“I don’t know, Rainn. It’s hard to explain. I don’t even really understand it myself. All I can tell you is what it seems like to me. It might not even be right. Maybe I’m having seizures or something,” I offered, hoping to throw her off the scent. “Can we please just drop it and enjoy our lunch? I didn’t come out with you to be grilled.”
While Rainn didn’t like that option, she accepted it out of deference to me. Not one to let much get her down, though, she was back to her talkative, entertaining self in no time. I spent the remainder of our lunch break listening to her fashion critique of the other patrons at the restaurant. Between her and my second mixed drink, I was in good spirits by the time we were ready for our check.
We paid our bill then made our way through the restaurant toward the door. I kept my eyes trained on the back of Rainn’s head, willing myself not to look for Tegan and his companion. I was more than a little dismayed at how difficult a task that was.
Chapter Twelve
Back at the office, I rounded the corner into my office and saw Audrey sitting in the chair behind my desk. That sight never boded well.
“Catherine,” Audrey purred. She insisted on calling me Catherine, said it sounded more professional.
She rose and made her way around the desk, stopping in front of me to lean one hip against the corner of my desk. She crossed her arms over her chest, her body language screaming that I was in trouble for something. She never quit smiling, though, and I took that as a good sign.
“How are things?” Small talk was torture in times like this.
“Alright,” I responded noncommittally, my suspicion growing by the minute.
Audrey had short, sassy, perfectly coiffed strawberry blonde hair and a suspiciously smooth, creamy complexion for someone in her late forties. Her sharp brown eyes missed nothing. Many had made the mistake of being fooled by her feminine looks, but I’m no fool. I never let myself forget that, beneath her two hundred dollar blouse, she is not just a shrewd businesswoman in fine attire. She’s a shark.
I waited for her to speak. She didn’t. She simply stared at me, smile still in place, for two incredibly long minutes. I nearly collapsed in relief when she finally spoke.
“I have been contacted by the police for an inventory of all your listings. I thought it appropriate that I inform you, as I will be sending that list over first thing in the morning. Also, I wanted to congratulate you on selling the McKinnley home so quickly. Nice work. I heard all about the broker’s open you hosted.
“Now,” she said, her smile fading somewhat, “there’s one more thing I’d like to discuss with you. Pinnacle has always welcomed publicity for our group, and I’m sure you realize that certain kinds of publicity are more desirable than others. We need to spin these… incidences you’ve stumbled upon to our advantage.” She walked back around and stood behind the desk. “What I’d like for you to do is to let Megan Bounty interview you. We can go over the things you should say.”
“Audrey, I—”
“This is non-negotiable, Catherine. We don’t want this agency to appear culpable or involved in any way. Only by letting the public see our full cooperation can we hope to come out of this in a positive light. You understand.”
“I do, but I’ve already told the police all that I know.”
“And you can tell the public the same thing.”
“Are the police ok with this?”
“They’ve arranged for you to receive some assistance, some coaching, from a Detective Tegan. He’ll be in touch with you about what is permissible for you to mention on air and what they’d rather keep confidential at this point.”
“Audrey, I—”
“I assure
“That’s it? You went all catatonic for that? What does that even mean, ‘zero scruples’?”
“I don’t know, Rainn. It’s hard to explain. I don’t even really understand it myself. All I can tell you is what it seems like to me. It might not even be right. Maybe I’m having seizures or something,” I offered, hoping to throw her off the scent. “Can we please just drop it and enjoy our lunch? I didn’t come out with you to be grilled.”
While Rainn didn’t like that option, she accepted it out of deference to me. Not one to let much get her down, though, she was back to her talkative, entertaining self in no time. I spent the remainder of our lunch break listening to her fashion critique of the other patrons at the restaurant. Between her and my second mixed drink, I was in good spirits by the time we were ready for our check.
We paid our bill then made our way through the restaurant toward the door. I kept my eyes trained on the back of Rainn’s head, willing myself not to look for Tegan and his companion. I was more than a little dismayed at how difficult a task that was.
Chapter Twelve
Back at the office, I rounded the corner into my office and saw Audrey sitting in the chair behind my desk. That sight never boded well.
“Catherine,” Audrey purred. She insisted on calling me Catherine, said it sounded more professional.
She rose and made her way around the desk, stopping in front of me to lean one hip against the corner of my desk. She crossed her arms over her chest, her body language screaming that I was in trouble for something. She never quit smiling, though, and I took that as a good sign.
“How are things?” Small talk was torture in times like this.
“Alright,” I responded noncommittally, my suspicion growing by the minute.
Audrey had short, sassy, perfectly coiffed strawberry blonde hair and a suspiciously smooth, creamy complexion for someone in her late forties. Her sharp brown eyes missed nothing. Many had made the mistake of being fooled by her feminine looks, but I’m no fool. I never let myself forget that, beneath her two hundred dollar blouse, she is not just a shrewd businesswoman in fine attire. She’s a shark.
I waited for her to speak. She didn’t. She simply stared at me, smile still in place, for two incredibly long minutes. I nearly collapsed in relief when she finally spoke.
“I have been contacted by the police for an inventory of all your listings. I thought it appropriate that I inform you, as I will be sending that list over first thing in the morning. Also, I wanted to congratulate you on selling the McKinnley home so quickly. Nice work. I heard all about the broker’s open you hosted.
“Now,” she said, her smile fading somewhat, “there’s one more thing I’d like to discuss with you. Pinnacle has always welcomed publicity for our group, and I’m sure you realize that certain kinds of publicity are more desirable than others. We need to spin these… incidences you’ve stumbled upon to our advantage.” She walked back around and stood behind the desk. “What I’d like for you to do is to let Megan Bounty interview you. We can go over the things you should say.”
“Audrey, I—”
“This is non-negotiable, Catherine. We don’t want this agency to appear culpable or involved in any way. Only by letting the public see our full cooperation can we hope to come out of this in a positive light. You understand.”
“I do, but I’ve already told the police all that I know.”
“And you can tell the public the same thing.”
“Are the police ok with this?”
“They’ve arranged for you to receive some assistance, some coaching, from a Detective Tegan. He’ll be in touch with you about what is permissible for you to mention on air and what they’d rather keep confidential at this point.”
“Audrey, I—”
“I assure
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