Was someone watching us?
32
ALEXANDRA REED
Brigit spent the remainderof the week in a frenzy of activity. After executing the trades in Colton’s portfolio, she kept an eagle eye on their performance while hunting for new opportunities. Friday’s arrival allowed her to take a breath.
“Payday,” Red said from Brigit’s doorway.
From behind her desk, Brigit blinked. “C’mon in.”
“Your first Mitus paycheck.” Red handed her a sealed envelope. “And now, it’s officially happy hour. I’m going to plant my ass on a kitchen stool with a bottle of wine.”
“You’re not working out tonight?”
“Let me demonstrate my workout.” Red lifted her hand to her mouth, brought it down and repeated the motion a few times. “Filling the glass adds weight resistance.”
Brigit laughed. “Is the team going to Colton’s benefit tomorrow night?”
“No, just you two. My work ends when yours begins. Taylor and I have immersed ourselves in that fundraiser for months. My reward is one long weekend sleep.” Red took a few backward steps, then spun toward the door. “I’ll save you a barstool.”
Tearing open the envelope, Brigit gaped at her paycheck.This would buy a lot of Francesco stock.Even though she didn’t know what the top secret Crockett Boxes did, or what Francesco would be doing with Colton’s thirty million, ignorance would be a hard thing to prove if charged with insider trading. For now, she’d put Francesco stock buys on hold.
Her cell phone rang. The Pennsylvania District Attorney’s number flashed on her screen. Brigit jumped up and bolted outside.
“Hello,” Brigit said as she closed the patio door behind her.
“Ms. Francesco?”
“Yes, it is.”
“This is Tanya from Jim Sausalito’s office. You called regarding an inmate status check.”
Brigit’s pulse soared. “That’s correct.”
“The prisoner is still incarcerated. Can you hold a second? I’m alone in the office and the phones are going crazy.”
Before she could reply, Brigit was placed on hold. As she paced on the cobblestone path, she questioned whether she’d heard correctly.Vinny Ray behind bars?She raked her fingers through her hair. If Ray was still in prison, he must have hired someone to trash her home.
“Thanks for holding,” Tanya said. “Did you have any further questions?”
“Please confirm the name of the prisoner is Vincent Ray.”
“Uh-huh. Can you hold again?”
“No. Thanks for calling me back.” Brigit hung up, rubbed the knot in her stomach and continued pacing.
If Ray wasn’t responsible for the devastation in her home, had his accomplice moved on? Was she free of Ray’s wrathful revenge or was someone watching her every move? As the chilly November breeze rustled the crisp leaves that clung to the giant oaks, she trembled. Dusk blanketed the remaining rays of light in early evening shadows and the tree-lined property looked ominous.
She hurried inside to find Colton’s cousin, Tucker Henninger, sitting on her love seat, sporting jeans, work boots, and a red and black plaid flannel shirt.
Oh, crap.
“Do you usually take your calls outside, darlin’?”
Just the secret ones.She forced a friendly smile. “I like your lumberjack look, Tucker. Headed into the forest to chop down trees?”
He chuckled. “If I wasn’t up to my eyeballs in work, I would play hooky. But I’m more of a nature lover. I’m here to update you on the break-in.”
