wit pleased her. “I can multitask.”
They walked back down the hall toward the children’s area and a small kitchen. “So you two dated and he proposed.”
“Yes, at his condo. We’d had another catered meal.”
“Do you remember the restaurant?”
“Cheesecake Factory.”
“We’ll see if the order can be traced and do the same for every restaurant.”
“They were all on my phone’s calendar. A lot of good that does now.”
“Do you use iCloud?” He shook his head. “I imagine you have all the latest and greatest.”
“I do, and I could log into my iCloud account later. He has my iPad and probably my iPhone. I think. The hospital and you claim not to have them.” She told him how her iPad ended up in his possession.
In the kitchen, he flipped on the light and opened the fridge. He tossed her an apple, then tore off a paper towel. “Take a seat and start on this. I’ll look for something more substantial.”
She frowned but eased into a chair. After digging into her purse, she slapped a ten on the table. No reason to add thief to her list of new traits. “This should cover it.”
He shook his head and grinned. “You are one unusual lady.”
For the first time she noted his tan jacket over jeans and a navy shirt. When she’d seen him in the hospital, his ice-blue eyes seemed to cut through her. But now they were kind, as though he believed in her innocence. Dark-blond hair gave him an all-American look. Oddly, she liked him.
“Eat it. You look horrible.” He turned to the cupboard and pulled out a jar of sunflower butter. “I suppose this is a substitute for peanut butter since so many kids are allergic to nuts.” Reaching into a drawer, he handed her a spoon. “Go for it.”
She took a bite of the apple, hoping her stomach cooperated. Its juicy sweetness spread through her mouth.
“How about some honey?”
“No thanks. It comes from bees.”
“The vegan thing?”
She nodded.
“My preference is a triple-decker cheeseburger with lots of onions and a chocolate shake.”
She laughed. How could she find humor in the middle of such a mess? “I’d starve.” She also believed a vegan diet lowered her risk of cancer. But what did that matter when people were trying to kill you?
“How did you get on the vegan kick?”
She’d promised herself to hold nothing back, no matter how insignificant. “I had horrible acne as a teen. Tried everything until the change in diet cleared up my face. Even helped tame my hair.”
Grayson sat across from her and pushed a button on his BlackBerry. He whipped out his notepad and pen. “What happened after the proposal?”
“He arranged everything. All I did was pick out my dress.” She closed her eyes and told him what she’d learned this evening.
“Phillip Murford —”
A door slammed. Her gaze flew to Grayson.
He slipped a Glock from his jacket. “We have company,” he whispered. “Did you order out for Chinese?”
Cold dread stopped her from responding.
CHAPTER 15
NEW YORK
12:55 A.M. EASTERN, TUESDAY
My phone rings, and I check caller ID. It’s him. I’m aware of how he takes care of those who don’t perform. The same way I do, except worse. I destroy careers or bankrupt dreams and financial portfolios. Laugh at their pathetic wailings. If someone has to disappear, I know who can make it happen and how much it will cost. My hands don’t get dirty. But not the caller at the other end of the line. He kills because he’s addicted to the high. Because he likes to smear blood on his hands and take the credit.
My phone rings until it rolls over to voice mail. Then it begins again. He won’t give up. I finish a Scotch and answer it.
“When I call, you answer.”
“Look at the time. I like to sleep.”
“Where is the product?”
“Murford is bringing it in the morning.”
“You want to know why that won’t happen?” He curses. “Word is he’s selling it to the highest bidder.”
I pour another Scotch. Murford
They walked back down the hall toward the children’s area and a small kitchen. “So you two dated and he proposed.”
“Yes, at his condo. We’d had another catered meal.”
“Do you remember the restaurant?”
“Cheesecake Factory.”
“We’ll see if the order can be traced and do the same for every restaurant.”
“They were all on my phone’s calendar. A lot of good that does now.”
“Do you use iCloud?” He shook his head. “I imagine you have all the latest and greatest.”
“I do, and I could log into my iCloud account later. He has my iPad and probably my iPhone. I think. The hospital and you claim not to have them.” She told him how her iPad ended up in his possession.
In the kitchen, he flipped on the light and opened the fridge. He tossed her an apple, then tore off a paper towel. “Take a seat and start on this. I’ll look for something more substantial.”
She frowned but eased into a chair. After digging into her purse, she slapped a ten on the table. No reason to add thief to her list of new traits. “This should cover it.”
He shook his head and grinned. “You are one unusual lady.”
For the first time she noted his tan jacket over jeans and a navy shirt. When she’d seen him in the hospital, his ice-blue eyes seemed to cut through her. But now they were kind, as though he believed in her innocence. Dark-blond hair gave him an all-American look. Oddly, she liked him.
“Eat it. You look horrible.” He turned to the cupboard and pulled out a jar of sunflower butter. “I suppose this is a substitute for peanut butter since so many kids are allergic to nuts.” Reaching into a drawer, he handed her a spoon. “Go for it.”
She took a bite of the apple, hoping her stomach cooperated. Its juicy sweetness spread through her mouth.
“How about some honey?”
“No thanks. It comes from bees.”
“The vegan thing?”
She nodded.
“My preference is a triple-decker cheeseburger with lots of onions and a chocolate shake.”
She laughed. How could she find humor in the middle of such a mess? “I’d starve.” She also believed a vegan diet lowered her risk of cancer. But what did that matter when people were trying to kill you?
“How did you get on the vegan kick?”
She’d promised herself to hold nothing back, no matter how insignificant. “I had horrible acne as a teen. Tried everything until the change in diet cleared up my face. Even helped tame my hair.”
Grayson sat across from her and pushed a button on his BlackBerry. He whipped out his notepad and pen. “What happened after the proposal?”
“He arranged everything. All I did was pick out my dress.” She closed her eyes and told him what she’d learned this evening.
“Phillip Murford —”
A door slammed. Her gaze flew to Grayson.
He slipped a Glock from his jacket. “We have company,” he whispered. “Did you order out for Chinese?”
Cold dread stopped her from responding.
CHAPTER 15
NEW YORK
12:55 A.M. EASTERN, TUESDAY
My phone rings, and I check caller ID. It’s him. I’m aware of how he takes care of those who don’t perform. The same way I do, except worse. I destroy careers or bankrupt dreams and financial portfolios. Laugh at their pathetic wailings. If someone has to disappear, I know who can make it happen and how much it will cost. My hands don’t get dirty. But not the caller at the other end of the line. He kills because he’s addicted to the high. Because he likes to smear blood on his hands and take the credit.
My phone rings until it rolls over to voice mail. Then it begins again. He won’t give up. I finish a Scotch and answer it.
“When I call, you answer.”
“Look at the time. I like to sleep.”
“Where is the product?”
“Murford is bringing it in the morning.”
“You want to know why that won’t happen?” He curses. “Word is he’s selling it to the highest bidder.”
I pour another Scotch. Murford
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