HARRISON
“Report.”
Archer Malone’s voice cuts through the device in my ear, his rage a feral, physical thing in this otherwise empty hallway. The time on my watch shows almost midnight, Minka Mayet vowed to go to bed hours ago, and yet…
“She’s in her apartment. Hasn’t come out since I arrived.”
“Did she eat?”
I gulp, remembering what it was like to work for Timothy Malone the Second. It was our job to answer the man’s questions, but if those answers were displeasing, we caught his temper, even if whatever caused those answers wasn’t our fault.
“Harrison?”
“No, sir. I don’t believe she did. I’ve yet to catch the scent of cooking, nothing has been delivered, and I didn’t hear the crinkle of a cereal box or bag of chips.”
He falls silent for a long, loaded beat. His temper palpable.
If he were his father, this is the point I’d already have a bullet burning my flesh.
“Has she had any visitors?”
“No, but she made a single phone call. I couldn’t make out what was being said, but it lasted only a couple of minutes before it was over. Soon after that, the pipes rattled in the walls, indicating that she was taking a shower. I’ve heard nothing since, besides the hum of the television.”
He breathes through his thoughts. My words. His rage and devastation. Then, “What’s she watching?”
“The Lakers game, sir. Lakers won.”
“Basketball?” He gnashes his teeth noisily. “Alright. The apartment is quiet now?”
Err… nope. Lights are still on, basketball highlights drone through the wall, and the woman herself hasn’t stopped pacing since about eight-thirty. But for the sake of everyone’s sanity, I nod. “Haven’t heard a word from her since her shower.”Truth. “She’s tucked up tight inside, safe and sound. You can probably head to bed, sir. I’ve got my eyes peeled over here.”
“Yep.”
He hangs up without a goodbye, though I get no time to relax, because my phone trills again, the call connecting through my earpiece.
“Harrison,” Felix bites out. “What’s happening over there?”
I don’t dare smile on the outside, and I sure as fuck keep my ‘you should talk to your brother’ suggestion to myself. I’d prefer to live with all of my appendages intact, so I brush a hand over my lips and drop my gaze, but I draw a long breath and prepare to report the same things a second time. “She’s in her apartment.She’s made a single phone call, had a shower, watched the Lakers game, and now she’s just hanging out.”
“Not sleeping?”
I shake my head, nibbling on my bottom lip. “No, Boss. I know you and the family are scheduled to head back to New York in the morning. Is that still going ahead?”
He sighs. “Yeah. Cordoza wants me at his dining table tomorrow night, and canceling on him so soon after the Agosti stuff might make him think we’re holding a grudge. For the sake of the family, I have to go.”
“I was hoping to take leave, Boss.” I swallow the nerves bundled at the base of my throat. “I’d like to stay assigned to Doctor Mayet until the current situation has resolved.” I reach up and loosen the tie strapped firmly around my neck. “If that’s okay with you.”
“That’s not leave, Harrison. That’s work.” He closes a door on his side of the line, the soft snick proving he’s heading into his private room. No doubt, his sweet baby girl slumbers somewhere nearby. “You have my blessing. Until Archer orders you away, you stay on her. She seems fond of you, and our prickly Chief Mayet is fond of so few.”
“Thank you, Boss.”
“But you’ll remain in the hall,” he adds, fiercely sharp. “Or driving her around. You’ll maintain a respectful distance at all times, and your conduct will be above reproach without exception. She’s notthatfond of you.”
“No, of course not, Boss. My interest is professional only. She seems comfortable in my presence and isn’t inclined to allow anyone else close enough to watch over her. I figured, while I’m here and while she tolerates it…”
“Yeah.” He wanders until the soft droning of a television plays in the air. But I absolutelydon’timagine Ms. Cannon lying on their bed, waiting for her husband to come home. I don’t picture their private suite, scattered with baby paraphernalia. “Stay,” he finishes. “I’ll call for updates each day until the situation is resolved. Stovic’s on his way into town now.”
My eyes widen. “Stovic, sir?”
