and I’m not feeling very well.”
“I know what you’ve been up to and I know exactly how you feel. So be here by ten. Better yet, William will pick you up.”
“B, what do you mean, you know exactly…” I shook my head. “Never mind. If you have something to tell me, just say it over the phone. I’m not coming all the way out there.”
This woman always brings out the bitchiness in me. She’s hurt my father and my family enough. I don’t owe her anything, and I’m not about to rush over there.
“ Alexandria , I will remind you that my name is Beatrix, not B. Now, you have caused quite a stir over the last couple of days, young lady, and I’m afraid the cat is out of the bag.”
What was she talking about? How did she have any idea about what I’d been through the last couple of days? I cradled the phone against my shoulder and took off the bandage to check out the cuts on my hand as she continued.
“You need to come alone; I’m not interested in entertaining your husband. I cannot stress enough that this matter is of the utmost urgency and is private. I know you were attacked. It’s time for us to talk.”
I was shocked and overwhelmed. Shocked because my hand was completely healed and because she seemed to know what had happened. Overwhelmed because this was the longest conversation we’d ever had.
All I could say was, “How?”
“Good girl. William will be there at 9:30 to pick you up.” Then the phone went dead.
Damn it, she’d hung up before I could tell her to shove it.
I told Alan everything. Problem was there wasn’t much to tell. The dream had faded around the edges, and my conversation with B was strange. Alan thought I must have been talking about the roses in my sleep, and he just repeated what he’d heard. That seemed logical, but neither of us could explain what B meant.
The more I thought about B the more furious I got. I mean, really, how bitchy could she be? What the hell was this meeting about? As I thought of her, my lips curled up in a small smile. Petty of me I know but, I enjoy knowing how mad it makes her when I shorten her name to just B.
After I got dressed, I checked in at the office while I sipped my coffee. Kim told me that Ottie had called in an update on the Janecks. No change. Riley had taken over surveillance late last night or early this morning, depending on your perspective.
No news is good news, I guess, but something was going on with Philip, I’d bet on it. But without proof, there’s nothing I can report to our client. I asked Kim to tell Devon I’d be in later to see what he’d found out about the activity on my old phone.
“Lexie, is there anything else I can do?” Kim asked.
“Nope, thanks, though. If you need me, you can reach Alan here at the house and he can find me. I’ve got some errands to run.” I don’t know why I didn’t just tell Kim I’d be at B’s. Something told me the fewer people who knew about this meeting, the better. Paranoid…hmm, maybe.
“Okay, I’ll check with Devon and I’ll have another phone for you when you get here. I’m glad you’re feeling better. See you soon.”
Breakfast with Alan was quiet. He mostly stared at me over his coffee, obviously worried that I’d freak out again. I guess I couldn’t blame him. I was worried about the same thing. What is wrong with me? I’m a level-headed person. I’m not prone to hysterics or theatrics. I know that some people attract drama like a flame attracts moths, but I’ve always avoided drama by being direct with people. Growing up surrounded by men I learned the value of straightforwardness. I consider it a virtue. Of course, not everyone agrees with me.
But something was definitely wrong. What had I gotten myself into? Had I just been in the wrong place at the wrong time, or had destiny called me? Am I somehow meant to be involved with …oh, hell, I am so screwed, I don’t even know what I’m involved in.
“Honey,” Alan’s voice nudged me out
“I know what you’ve been up to and I know exactly how you feel. So be here by ten. Better yet, William will pick you up.”
“B, what do you mean, you know exactly…” I shook my head. “Never mind. If you have something to tell me, just say it over the phone. I’m not coming all the way out there.”
This woman always brings out the bitchiness in me. She’s hurt my father and my family enough. I don’t owe her anything, and I’m not about to rush over there.
“ Alexandria , I will remind you that my name is Beatrix, not B. Now, you have caused quite a stir over the last couple of days, young lady, and I’m afraid the cat is out of the bag.”
What was she talking about? How did she have any idea about what I’d been through the last couple of days? I cradled the phone against my shoulder and took off the bandage to check out the cuts on my hand as she continued.
“You need to come alone; I’m not interested in entertaining your husband. I cannot stress enough that this matter is of the utmost urgency and is private. I know you were attacked. It’s time for us to talk.”
I was shocked and overwhelmed. Shocked because my hand was completely healed and because she seemed to know what had happened. Overwhelmed because this was the longest conversation we’d ever had.
All I could say was, “How?”
“Good girl. William will be there at 9:30 to pick you up.” Then the phone went dead.
Damn it, she’d hung up before I could tell her to shove it.
I told Alan everything. Problem was there wasn’t much to tell. The dream had faded around the edges, and my conversation with B was strange. Alan thought I must have been talking about the roses in my sleep, and he just repeated what he’d heard. That seemed logical, but neither of us could explain what B meant.
The more I thought about B the more furious I got. I mean, really, how bitchy could she be? What the hell was this meeting about? As I thought of her, my lips curled up in a small smile. Petty of me I know but, I enjoy knowing how mad it makes her when I shorten her name to just B.
After I got dressed, I checked in at the office while I sipped my coffee. Kim told me that Ottie had called in an update on the Janecks. No change. Riley had taken over surveillance late last night or early this morning, depending on your perspective.
No news is good news, I guess, but something was going on with Philip, I’d bet on it. But without proof, there’s nothing I can report to our client. I asked Kim to tell Devon I’d be in later to see what he’d found out about the activity on my old phone.
“Lexie, is there anything else I can do?” Kim asked.
“Nope, thanks, though. If you need me, you can reach Alan here at the house and he can find me. I’ve got some errands to run.” I don’t know why I didn’t just tell Kim I’d be at B’s. Something told me the fewer people who knew about this meeting, the better. Paranoid…hmm, maybe.
“Okay, I’ll check with Devon and I’ll have another phone for you when you get here. I’m glad you’re feeling better. See you soon.”
Breakfast with Alan was quiet. He mostly stared at me over his coffee, obviously worried that I’d freak out again. I guess I couldn’t blame him. I was worried about the same thing. What is wrong with me? I’m a level-headed person. I’m not prone to hysterics or theatrics. I know that some people attract drama like a flame attracts moths, but I’ve always avoided drama by being direct with people. Growing up surrounded by men I learned the value of straightforwardness. I consider it a virtue. Of course, not everyone agrees with me.
But something was definitely wrong. What had I gotten myself into? Had I just been in the wrong place at the wrong time, or had destiny called me? Am I somehow meant to be involved with …oh, hell, I am so screwed, I don’t even know what I’m involved in.
“Honey,” Alan’s voice nudged me out
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