“Mr.Pickens?”Jasmin said, raising her eyebrows.
He nodded to her, then focused on Harmony once more.“I’d hoped this meeting would be more enlightening, but I’m sure we will see each other again soon, Ms.Gibbs.”
Harmony took a step back when he reached to shake her hand.
One eyebrow spiked, and a smirk lifted the edge of his lips.“I was simply offering my hand, Ms.Gibbs.”
Harmony slid her hand into his.
“I wouldn’t dream of hurting you with so many witnesses.”
Harmony yanked her hand back, staring at the man as he turned and followed his assistant to the elevators and out of sight.
“That went well,” a man said from right next to Harmony.
She jumped, searching for the source of the voice.“Captain.”
Captain Marcus Patrick didn’t miss much, and the panicked look Harmony was sure she wore was obvious to anyone who bothered to look at her.“Are you okay?”
Harmony swallowed roughly and nodded.“Fine.Just… overwhelmed.”
“Are you sure that’s all it is?”Captain Patrick looked where Grant Pickens had disappeared.“Did he say something to you?”
“I… No.It’s just been a lot for me.I’m not used to so much attention.”
Captain Patrick narrowed his eyes, but he either decided to let it drop or believed her lie.“I imagine not.What do you plan to do with that?”
Harmony looked at the check she still held.Blood money.That’s how it felt.A weight settled on her shoulders.“I don’t know.Donate it maybe?”
Captain Patrick’s eyebrows shot up.“All of it?”
Harmony shrugged.“I didn’t do anything to really earn it.I feel like it should go to help people.”
“Well, until you figure that out, you should probably put it somewhere safe.Do you have a bank you use?I can escort you there since you’re holding on to a pretty big check.”
“Do I actually hand this over?”Harmony thought the foam board was a symbol, not the actual check.
Captain Patrick chuckled.“No.The actual check is attached to the back.”
Harmony looked and saw the envelope that blended into the white board.“Oh.I feel silly.”
“No reason for that.Do you want to keep the board?”
“I don’t really know what to do with it.”
“No one ever does.Ready to go to the bank?”
Harmony nodded and followed the police captain outside.He shielded her from the casual observers who were hoping to get her attention.Captain Patrick led her to his vehicle and secured her inside before driving her to the bank.
“What would you do with this kind of money?”Harmony asked him as he eased away from the crowds.
He hesitated for a moment, glancing at her before he focused on the road.“I would help people.”
“Really?”
He nodded.“I would.My wife owns a women’s shelter, so I know very well how hard it can be to find funding in the nonprofit sector.”
“I didn’t know that.”
