The Wrong Side of Dead by Jordan Dane Page A

didn’t need. While she waited, she checked out the security cameras behind her. A girl could never be too careful when breaking into a guy’s room.
    After a long few minutes, the man returned.
    “Would you please follow me? Mr. Humphries would like a word.”
    “Yeah, and what word would that be?” Her attitude was beginning to show. She wasn’t going to get any cooperation, not today. “’Cause if he doesn’t have one in mind, I can make a suggestion or two.”
    “Please…this way.”
    She followed the uniformed man through the door by his desk and into the suite of offices she had spied earlier. Beyond a small break room, a reception area and a rather large office were at the end of the hallway, no doubt their final destination. A petite woman in a dark business suit with short auburn hair sat outside the office at a desk, presumably an administrative assistant to the head honcho. With a blank stare, the woman watched her walk by but didn’t acknowledge her in any way.
    Corporate America meets the Stepford wives in sensible pumps!
    Jess figured Humphries to be the property manager or head of security; either way, she didn’t like being summoned. And she hadn’t gotten her driver’s license back. At the threshold to the office, the concierge allowed her to enter and shut the door behind her, leaving her alone with a distinguished-looking man. His dark hair was streaked with gray, and he wore a sharp navy suit.
    “My name is Jonathan Humphries. I manage this property and oversee security here. Please…have a seat.” With a refined quality to his soft-spoken voice, the man offered a chair in front of his desk with a sweep of his hand.
    “No thanks. I prefer to stand.” She walked over to a nearby window and checked out the view of the bustling street beyond the reflective glass. “It’s been years since I’ve been in high school, but your summons feels like a call to the principal’s office.”
    “Ah, Ms. Beckett. Why does that not surprise me?” Humphries held her license in his hand, staring at it. When he looked up, he shook her by asking, “How is Seth?”
    The initial sternness in the man’s expression softened, and his voice reflected genuine concern. She narrowed her eyes.
    “So you know what happened to him?”
    “Yes, he contacted me a short while ago. And I know he considers you a friend. If that hadn’t been the case, I can assure you that we wouldn’t be having this conversation.” He handed back her license. “Why are you here, Ms. Beckett?”
    She thought she had known the answer to that question…until now.

CHAPTER 10

    Jess pocketed her license and kept her eyes on Jonathan Humphries, sizing the man up. In the end she opted for a rare first step—honesty.
    “I wanted to see who Seth was protecting at the expense of his freedom. He’s cut himself off to fight this thing alone when he could use all the help he can get. Is he protecting you?”
    “No, but I’m not at liberty to say any more on the subject.”
    The man sat behind his desk, looking worried and bone weary. Jess shoved her hands into her jeans pockets and remained standing, still feeling the edge of a faltering defiance.
    “I’m arranging for legal counsel, and if bail money is required, I’ll cover it,” Humphries added.
    “That’s a start. Thanks.” With his cooperation, she slumped into one of his chairs. “You know, I thought if I came here, I’d get to know more about Harper. The guy’s a regular ghost. I definitely think of him as a friend, but I know nothing about him.”
    Humphries found humor in what she’d said. A sad smile came and went. If she hadn’t been watching him, she might have missed it.
    “Do you form such loyalties for people you hardly know, Ms. Beckett?”
    “Actually, no, but Harper is…special.”
    “Yes, he is.” The man fixed his gaze on her. “Perhaps you’ve grown attached to him for other reasons.”
    “What?” She narrowed her eyes. “Look, whatever I feel