“What a mess.”
“Uh-huh.” Amanda was short on words. “I told the doctor that I’d notify Sharp.”
“After you tell her about her friend, I want you to deliver her to a safehouse. I don’t care if she protests like a cat being dunked in a tub of water.”
That doesn’t sound like any fun…“All right, just shoot me the address where we’re to take her.”
“Will do.” With that, Malone ended the call.
She was left considering that things could have been even worse. If she and Trent hadn’t been at Blackburn’s house, they could have found two bodies wrapped in tarps, tied up with rope. Though that did little to soothe her. They had still failed Blackburn. And Dominique wasn’t out of danger yet.
Amanda received a text from Malone with the safehouse address when she and Trent were walking into Sharp & Associates.
Minnie sat up straighter behind the reception desk at the sight of Amanda and Trent as they walked through the doors of the law firm. “Detectives?”
Amanda suspected Minnie wanted to know if her tip had paid off, but they weren’t here to discuss Hernandez. “Minnie, it’s urgent that we see Ms. Sharp.”
“Certainly. One moment.” Minnie lifted the phone, and soon after, she returned the receiver to the cradle. “You can go to her office.”
“Thank you,” Amanda told her.
Dominique waved Amanda and Trent in with an exaggerated sweeping roll of her arm. Amanda sat across from Dominique while Trent closed the door.
The woman’s eyebrows kicked up for a second, as if she wasn’t impressed they were taking over her space. “Have you found the person who is trying to kill me?”
“Unfortunately, that’s not what brings us here,” Amanda told her.
“I don’t understand then.”
Just coming out with it was the merciful and practical thing to do. Dancing around it only prolonged the agony. “We’ve heard from Mr. Blackburn’s doctor, and we’re sorry to inform you that Joel didn’t make it.”
“What do you mean? He made it through surgery just fine. I was told he was going to be fine…”
She seemed more irritated than accepting, which could be shock. “We’re sorry for your loss.”
“Sorry for my—” Dominique snapped her mouth shut and put a hand to her chest. Tears fell, and she rushed to swipe them away.
For the first time since meeting Dominique, sheexposed a vulnerable side. This shift might make her more compliant with going to the safehouse. “Dominique, we don’t think this person will stop trying to kill you until they’re caught or they succeed. For your own safety?—”
“No. As I’ve already told you many times, I’m not going to hide away somewhere. It’s bad enough the PWCPD has officers breathing down my neck. If you just caught this person, we’d be finished here, right?”
As if it were that simple…Amanda tamped down her frustration, appreciating that this woman was still processing a loss. “As I said, but until then?—”
“There’s a chance I will be…” Dominique let her sentence dangle there.
Killed…“Yes, there is, and I assure you the officers watching over you are there for you, to protect your life. Without them, there is nothing standing between you and the person who wants you dead.” It might seem harsh putting added emphasis on that last word, but Amanda suspected it was necessary to breach Dominique’s tough exterior.
“Very well then.” Her voice was gravelly when she spoke. It would seem Joel’s death had shaken her more than she wanted to let on. It must be the lawyer in her that was an expert at governing emotions.
Amanda nodded. “Good. Now our sergeant has instructed us to bring you to a safehouse for?—”
“No, I’m not leaving my office right now. I have work to do.”
Amanda saw this attitude as a slight improvement. At least she agreed to go with them, but she was just mistaken about the timing. “Given the threat level, it’s imperative that you come with us now. You can bring your laptop and whatever files you need with you.”
Dominique sat back in her chair, angled her head. “Why does the PWCPD care if I’m killed anyhow?”
Is she for real right now?“We take our vow to the badge and our community to protect and serve seriously.”
