“No, I couldn’t.”
“You will. I’m just going to get myself one now.” He nudged his head toward Dominique, implying Amanda keep a close eye on her.
Trent wasn’t gone for long. Amanda had braved a tentative sip of the vending machine brew. It wasn’t half bad, but waged no competition against Hannah’s Diner.
She sat beside Dominique while Trent sat across from them.
“We need to discuss your trip to DC,” Amanda began.
Dominique lowered her cup from her lips. “There’s nothing to say.”
“Just that it was unexpected and last-minute?” It was curious why this woman was being difficult given what had taken place in the last few hours.
“That’s right.”
Amanda would play along. For now. “If it hadn’t come up, would you have been home on Friday night?”
“Yes. Though, I would have stepped out if Christine had arranged a showing.”
That seemed obvious, and it didn’t sway Amanda from her conviction that Dominique was the true target. After all, tonight proved that she was. “You also told us before the trip was for business because you’re acquiring another firm. Tell us more about this deal. Anyone not happy about the venture?”
Dominique shrugged and took another sip of the coffee Trent had bought her. “I’ll have Casey gather all the threats against me together. It shouldn’t take her too long. The office opens at nine. I’ll tell her it’s the priority.”
That wasn’t an answer to Amanda’s question, but she’d revisit it in a minute. “Who is Casey?”
“My assistant.”
“Her last name?” Trent asked.
“Branch.” Dominique followed up by spelling it out, as if it weren’t straightforward.
“Going back to the deal. You never said if someone wasn’t happy with the acquisition,” Amanda said.
“If anyone has a problem with it, they aren’t saying as much to my face.”
Given Dominique’s formidable character that didn’tsurprise Amanda. “Was there anyone you suspected of talking badly about you behind your back?”
“I don’t pay attention to things like that. My work is important and demands my focus.”
“Speaking of your work,” Amanda began.
“Oh, no, I know what you’re going to say.”
Amanda proceeded anyhow. “Until we find this person, you’ll need twenty-four-hour protection.”
“I told you before that’s not going to happen.”
“This killer has made it clear they intend to follow through. They will keep trying until they succeed,” Trent stressed.
“I refuse to let this person bully me into hiding away. As I told you, my work is important. Speaking of, if Joel’s surgery doesn’t wrap up soon, I’ll need to leave for the office.”
Was she using work as a distraction? Or was she really that heartless? Though, there must be some clue in how she referred to Joel as her lover. It was such a cold and clinical way to quantify a relationship. Even calling him her friend would be a vast improvement. “After what’s happened, everyone at your firm would understand if you didn’t go in today.”
“Their understanding isn’t something I need.” She crossed her legs.
“An attempt was made on your life.” It struck Amanda how often she and Trent needed to point this out to her. Was it denial or pure stubbornness? Or something else altogether? Her ego lying to her, telling her she had everything under control?
Dominique shook her head, waved a hand in dismissal. “They never got close to me.”
