“No biggie, I’ve done that many times before,” Kelly said.
“How have you been?” Charlotte strolled over to her desk, as if she didn’t have a care in the world.
“Well, let’s see. I’ve gained fifteen pounds, Billy and his new wife are fighting me for custody of the kids, and this job barely pays enough to cover my attorney’s fees. Other than that, things are great.” She laughed it off like she was joking, but she wasn’t.
Kelly was one of those people who never seemed to be happy.
“I’m here to see Mr. Pennington,” Charlotte said.
Kelly glanced around, then leaned forward.
“There’s something going on with him today.” Another quick check over her shoulder toward his office. “He’s asked me to get ahold of that creepy Kimball guy so many times this morning that I’ve lost count. Mr. Pennington is flipping out that I can’t find him.” She checked again that no one was around. “He got so mad he threw that expensive, fancy pen of his across the room.”
“Why are you dealing with this? Where is Helene?” Charlotte asked, because it would’ve been strange not to.
“I have no idea where she is, and frankly, I’d be fine if she never came back here again.” Rumor had it, Helene had put the moves on Kelly’s ex. “That woman is a nightmare on heels.”
“Why was he looking for Mr. Kimball?” Charlotte whispered, knowing full well why he was desperate to talk to him.
“I have no idea.” Kelly shrugged. “And he’s been out here at least three times asking about you.” She pointed her thumb over her shoulder. “Are you sure you want to go in there?”
No.
“Yes, I need to discuss something important with him.” Charlotte thought about what day it was. “I think today is cookie day down in the third-floor break room. Why don’t you go down there and take a break, and I’ll see if I can figure out what’s going on with him.”
“Cookies? Seriously?” She rolled her chair back away from her desk and stood. “You’re a lifesaver.”
Charlotte gave her a little wave as Kelly stepped into the elevator.
“Ms. Cavanaugh.” Pennington loomed in the doorway like a tall, thin thundercloud just waiting to dump on her.
She was shocked by his appearance.
He was usually neat as a pin, his three-piece suit freshly pressed, his gray hair slicked back, not a strand out of place. Today, his tie was loosened, his vest unbuttoned, and he had definitely been raking his fingers through his hair. And the shadows beneath his eyes were very pronounced.
Charlotte had a sudden thought—if he were to attack her, could she defend herself? In the few seconds it took to close the distance between his office and Kelly’s desk, her mind raced through multiple scenarios. Conclusion? This lecherous old skinbag had never had to fight for anything a day in his life, so yeah, she could hold her own against him.
“After you.” She got to within a few feet of him, swept her arm toward his office, and waited.
No way was Charlotte turning her back on this snake.
He huffed, stomped into his office, and dropped into the big leather chair behind his giant, intricately carved desk.
“Please, have a seat.” He indicated the chair in front of him.
That was the most courteous he’d ever been to her.
Charlotte sat on the front edge of the chair.
“I’ll get right to it.” She didn’t want to be around this guy any longer than absolutely necessary. She couldn’t look at him and not think about the awful things he’d done to children. “As you know, I came across the list.”
“List? What list?” He laced his fingers together on his desk and tried to bluster his way through a denial. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“So that’s how you’re going to do this? What a shame.” She pushed up from the chair. “I guess we’re done here.”
“Wait!” He stood so fast, his chair rolled back and banged into his fancy credenza. A framed picture of his wife teetered and fell over. “Okay, yes, I heard about the list from Mr. Kimball, but he didn’t give me any details what was on it, just that it was damning.”
He reached behind him, grabbed the arms of his chairs to roll it forward, and lowered himself into it.
