Chapter Three
Lyingin bed with River pressed against her, Elizabeth tried, and failed, to concentrate on her book. She’d applied for three jobs today, gone for a run, cleaned her small apartment, and put in two hours down at the food bank. She was exhausted. As the clock ticked past eleven, she yawned. After staying up past midnight exchanging text messages with Alexander Fairhaven the previous night, she needed sleep, but he’d asked her if he could text her again tonight. So far, though, her phone had remainedsilent.
She had, however, received three unwanted calls from her former employer. They wanted her to come in for an exit interview. She’d politely declined the first time, and they’d called twice more, leaving terse messages that chilled her. Harry Carter wanted nothing to do with her—he’d made that abundantly clear when he’d fired her—but apparently, Hayes feltdifferently.
After yet another check of her screen, she let the phone slip from her fingers and turned to River. “I don’t know why I’m still up, sweetie. There’s no point in starting anything with that man. He’ll only drop me like a hot potato when someone more interesting comes around.” The cat rolled over and exposed her belly, begging for more. “At leastyouloveme.”
Elizabeth sighed as she rolled over and yanked open her nightstand drawer. Her vibrator sat in the neatly ordered space, next to a box of old condoms, a silk blindfold she’d bought on a whim and never used, and a small tube of lube. Desperate to prove herself at her job, she hadn’t dated anyone in over a year. Friendships, romance, and even her passion for cooking had suffered. At least she’d discovered her love of running. It was the only way to reliably beat thestress.
Her fingers had just brushed the vibrator when her phonebuzzed.
What are you doing tonight,Elizabeth?
Her heart skipped a beat, and she slammed the drawer shut, the vibratorforgotten.
Reading. It’s late. I was about to turn out thelight.
I’m sorry. It was a terrible flight. I’ve made this trip for years and never encountered such turbulence. I went to bed ill last night. What are youreading?
Principles of ForensicAccounting.
For the love of God,why?
She kicked herself her honesty. This afternoon, she’d sat down at her computer and reconstructed most of the data from the Museum of Contemporary Art’s tax return, one of the accounts she’d been accused of screwing up. She’d kept backup copies of a few files on her laptop, and her uncanny ability to remember numbers had helped her piece together the truth. Someoneelseat CPH had altered those returns. Not her. Now she had to decide what to do with thisknowledge.
Elizabeth?
Shaking her head, she responded:I’m trying to keep my skillscurrent.
It has been less than a week since you were sacked. I do not believe you need a refresher course already. You were well educated,yes?
Harvard.
Yale here. You did not make a mistake, didyou?
Biting her lip, she stared at the screen, then sighed as she tapped out her reply:I don’t want to talk aboutthis.
Only a few seconds later, he returned:Is there anything I can do? My brother’s division uses CPH. I could speak with him. He might know one of thepartners.
No. I’m tired now, Alexander. I have to be up early. I’m spending the day at the soup kitchen in the North Endtomorrow.
Several long moments passed before his reply popped into the box.Happy Thanksgiving, Elizabeth. I am sorry we did not have more time to chat tonight. I find myself missing yourcompany.
She frowned.You haven’t had the pleasure of my company enough to miss it. Goodnight.
Elizabeth tossed the phone on her nightstand and then turned off the light. Despite Alexander’s forward and presumptive nature, she shouldn’t have been so rude. She sent one lastmessage.
Happy Thanksgiving,Alexander.
And then after tossing and turning for half an hour, she sent anotherone.
I’ll chat with youtomorrow?
His reply cameimmediately.
Yes. Without a doubt. Sleep well,chérie.
On Friday morning, Benny Hedgeman, a representative from the Red Sox, Elizabeth’s biggest client, called her to discuss the work she’d done for them the previousyear.
