Chapter Seventeen
Taylor pickedat the nail polish on her thumb as she and Riley both sat across the mahogany desk from Mr. Gansett.
The atmosphere was rife with tension so thick, one would’ve needed a chisel to break through it. Actually, a chisel sounded good right about then. Maybe Riley could’ve used the tool to knock the information out of Taylor about what else she wasn’t saying.
Taylor fixated on her Jimmy Choo navy-blue heels. Rent might have been expensive in the city, but she could’ve afforded a decent place other than the dump Josh and Riley had found her in. That much, Riley was sure of, particularly since Taylor was wearing a tailored blazer over a knee-length skirt that probably cost more than Riley’s plane ticket.
Mr. Gansett loosened his tie, scrutinizing both women.
Taylor fidgeted as she stole a look at her boss’s boss.
His leatherback chair squeaked as he rolled it toward the desk. Then he knotted his fingers together and propped up his elbows. “Taylor, you told me Liza was on a business trip to LA this week. Is that true or not?”
Riley literally choked, ready to unleash all her anger on the thin and frail blonde—frail in the sense that she was cowering under his scrutiny.
Riley crossed one Capri-clad leg over the other and pierced Taylor with a hard look.
Taylor stuck out her angular chin. “Liza is on a business trip. At least that was what she told me. It was a last-minute change in her schedule. Ms. Norton wanted one of her designs changed. Liza had to fly to London.”
Riley had no idea who Ms. Norton was and didn’t care. “If that is true, then why can’t I reach her on her phone? Why hasn’t she called me to let me know? She wouldn’t drop our plans last weekend without a phone call or an explanation. You’re lying, Taylor. What are you hiding? Are you involved in Liza’s disappearance? Should I have the FBI check into your background?”
Taylor sucked in the woodsy-scented air. Mr. Gansett seemed to have bathed in a bottle of men’s cologne. She swallowed loudly. “I’ve done nothing wrong.”
Riley interlocked her fingers, mostly so she wouldn’t use them on Taylor. Riley sighed, trying to get her nerves under control. “Look.” She softened her voice. “I get the feeling you’re loyal to Liza. But I also get the feeling that you know where she is.”
Taylor’s jaw hardened. “How many times do I have to tell you? I don’t.”
Riley wanted to strangle the blonde, yet she had to take a step back. No matter how hard Riley probed, it was clear Taylor wasn’t going to tell them anything. Riley looked to Mr. Gansett for help and hoped he got the silent message she was sending him with her eyes.
He cleared his throat. “Riley, tell me about the FBI and why they’re looking for Liza.”
Riley pushed a nail into her palm. She wasn’t sure how much to tell him with Taylor present, although Taylor had told the FBI about the two men looking for Liza. Then again, Riley didn’t really know much except that Liza had called them. “I’m not sure. But I’m glad they’re involved. Maybe they can find Liza.”
Mr. Gansett considered Taylor.
As if his intimidating glare jolted her, Taylor said, “The FBI was here yesterday, asking to see Liza. They wanted to speak with you, but you weren’t here.”
He swung his gaze between both women before lifting his eyebrows at Riley. “Let me get this straight. Almost a week ago, you flew in to see Liza. But you never saw her and didn’t spend the weekend with her.” His eyes shifted to Taylor. “And you’re now telling me that Liza is on a last-minute business trip to London to see Ms. Norton. Is that correct?”
“Yes,” Taylor said meekly.
“Taylor.” Mr. Gansett’s voice was deep and intimidating, reminding Riley of her loser father before she thought he was a worthless person. “I know you need this job. So if I find out you’re lying, I will fire you on the spot.” He pressed a button on his phone. “Candace, please get me Ms. Norton on the phone ASAP. Also, check with accounting to see if a plane ticket was recently booked in Liza’s name to London.”
Candace’s light and airy voice came through the speakerphone. “Sure thing, sir.”
As they waited, Mr. Gansett said, “Riley, is there anything else you can tell me about the FBI and their involvement with Liza.”
Taylor, meek and scared, eyed Riley. She was becoming an enigma. When Josh and Riley had spoken to Taylor at her apartment the other day, the woman seemed to have a little more courage than she did now. Sure, Mr. Gansett was on the verge of firing her if Liza wasn’t meeting with Ms. Norton, and every ounce of Riley’s being knew that Liza hadn’t flown to London.
Riley sat up straighter, shaking her head. “I can put you in touch with an Agent Wallace.” It was best if Agent Wallace spoke to Mr. Gansett directly.
He smoothed two fingers over his mustache. “Does this have anything to do with her former employer?”
Riley suspected that Liza had been required to divulge her past employers on her resumé when she’d applied for the job at Stitches, Inc. “Possibly.”
The buzz of the phone trilled, causing Taylor to flinch. Riley had never seen someone so nervous to the point that a sheen of sweat coated her made-up face. At any moment, Taylor’s foundation would start to melt.
Mr. Gansett pressed a button on the phone.
