Investigating 101 Read online

  Serena inhaled an unsteady breath. “I’d like to see some ID.” Good thinking. Though she couldn’t imagine how anyone could know she’d contacted the Colby Agency. He had to be telling the truth. But she had to be absolutely certain. Victoria had called her and told her that Mr. Braddock and a Mr. Thompson would be working on her case, but she hadn’t met either man. Victoria had wanted to set up a meeting last night except Serena hadn’t been able to get out of a prior commitment to work late without appearing suspicious. Dr. Landon didn’t like what he called slackers.

  She hadn’t really worried about it. To her way of thinking it might be better if she met the men for the first time when Dr. Landon did. He was so good at reading her, she hadn’t wanted to take any chances. Who would have guessed that he’d have her running reports downstairs for him this morning? When she’d returned to the sixth floor at five after nine she had assumed that both representatives of the Colby Agency were in the meeting with Dr. Landon.

  The man standing far too close for her comfort finally removed his hand from her mouth and reached for his wallet. He flashed his driver’s license, which backed up his assertion as to his identity.

  “Why aren’t you in the conference room?” She was certain Dr. Landon would not have left anyone, much less a stranger, in his private office.

  “Braddock doesn’t need me right now,” he said, but Serena wasn’t sure she believed him.

  Her gaze narrowed. “How did you get in here?”

  He shoved his wallet into his back pocket. “We’re wasting time.”

  He was right about that, but his response didn’t answer her question.

  She planted her hands on her hips, mainly to camouflage their shaking, and demanded, “I want to know how you got in here, Mr. Thompson. It’s my understanding that the Colby Agency is one of the most prestigious private investigations firms in the country. This doesn’t feel right.” Mostly she was just flustered and she hated feeling that way. That he could fluster her so easily annoyed her unreasonably.

  He stared at her, his mouth set in a grim line. She tried not to notice the fact that he was really cute…but he was.

  “All right,” he relented, but the tick in his stubbled jaw announced loudly that he didn’t like having to answer to her or anyone else.

  They were wasting valuable time. She glanced at Dr. Landon’s desk. She wanted to look at his computer files, view anyone he’d contacted recently. The police claimed to have done all that, but she needed to be sure they hadn’t missed anything. And the truth was, they’d ruled out Landon almost immediately. He had an airtight alibi. He’d been here at work when his wife went missing.

  “I thought I’d do a little off-the-record browsing while Braddock has Landon preoccupied,” Thompson admitted.

  Well, at least they thought along the same lines.

  “Do you know what you’re looking for?” she asked bluntly. Though she was certain he knew what he was doing, something about him went against the grain. He just wasn’t what she’d expected.

  Irritation flickered in his eyes, turning the pale blue to a deeper sapphire. “Are we going to stand around here all morning or are we going to do this?”

  “Move out of my way.” Serena wasn’t sure where the courage to make the demand had come from but she couldn’t very well get anything done with him looming over her like this.

  To her surprise, he stepped aside and let her pass. She bit back a smile. Wow, that felt good.

  She hurried around Landon’s desk and skimmed the top for his calendar. She quickly flipped through the pages since April seventh. Nothing unusual, not that she expected anything to be there. Landon was too smart for that. She dropped into his chair, entered his password—the one he didn’t know she had—and scanned his computer log. Thank God, Landon was one of those overconfident men who didn’t delete his electronic trail very often.

  “Anything out of the ordinary?”

  She shivered at the unexpected question, refused to look at the man crouched next to her. How could she have forgotten he was so close? “Not yet.”

  She didn’t have to look at the clock to know the minutes were ticking by. She gritted her teeth to hold back a curse when she reached the date in Landon’s log two weeks prior to Molly’s disappearance.

  “Nothing.”

  “What about his files?” Thompson stood and moved toward the first of half a dozen file cabinets.

  Serena swiftly scanned the rest of the log, desperation gnawing at her. “No. I’m responsible for those files,” she said to Thompson. “There’s nothing in there that I haven’t seen.” It was his computer that she’d hoped to find something on. He never, ever allowed her in his office when he wasn’t present. She’d been certain she would find a clue in this log. Hope deflated as she viewed the last entry. Maybe Landon was better at covering his tracks than she’d realized.

  Thompson surveyed the office. “Any place else we can look?”

  She shrugged. “His cell phone or maybe his Palm Pilot.”

  Thompson turned to her, a wicked grin on his face. “I think I can arrange that.”

  Despite her annoyance at his cockiness, she felt her lips shifting into a smile. “Are you really that good, Mr. Thompson?” He looked so young…maybe the same age as her.

  “Call me Todd.”

  A sharp rap on the door sent the oxygen out of Serena’s chest once more and Todd Thompson wheeling in the direction of the sound.

  Their gazes collided with the second knock.

  It couldn’t be Landon: he would simply walk in.

  Todd pointed to her and then at the file cabinets.

  Before she could fathom what he meant, he’d moved around behind her and was ushering her away from the desk. As she moved toward the file cabinets, he crouched behind the desk to conceal his presence.

  Okay, she got it.

  She swiped her badge along the channel of the cabinet’s electronic lock and dragged a file drawer open, then grabbed a handful of manila folders. With a deep, bolstering breath, she opened the door. “Yes?”

  It was Nolan Fairbanks, the mail clerk and a distant cousin of Arthur Miles, the CEO of Milestone. Nolan, since he didn’t have anything beyond a high school education, was working his way up in the business. Dr. Miles couldn’t very well turn away blood, no matter how far removed.

  “What’s up, Serena?” Nolan winked and walked far enough into the room to toss a handful of mail onto Landon’s desk.

  Serena glanced at the desk and forced herself to appear calm. “Just doing the dirty work,” she said, incredibly without her voice wobbling.

  “Hey.” Nolan moved in close, the smell of his new favorite cologne preceding him.

  Every female on the staff knew what a flirt he was, occasionally to the point of being a nuisance. But he was only twenty, with the maturity level of a teenager, and basically, he was harmless. Right now, it behooved Serena to let him play out his little game.

  “You busy for lunch? You owe me a rain check, you know.”

  He was right. She did and she wasn’t busy for lunch. She thought about Todd Thompson under Landon’s desk but resisted the impulse to look that way. She tacked on a wide smile. “I’d love to have lunch with you, Nolan. Twelve okay?”

  He nodded, his face beaming as if the hottest new actress on his favorite weekly sitcom had just said yes to his proposal. “The cafeteria?”

  She managed an affirmative movement with her head. Going out for lunch was generally too much trouble with Milestone Labs so far out of the city.

  Nolan winked one last time and backed out of the door as if he had to keep his eyes on her until the door closed for fear that he’d imagined the whole scene.

  Serena shoved the folders back into the drawer and spun around at the same time that Thompson moved around the desk. She shook herself, banished the thought of how fluidly he moved. Where was her mind? She’d just been caught in her boss’s office. If Nolan mentioned it…

  “We should get out of
here,” Thompson suggested.

  She glanced around, made sure all was as it had been. The calendar. The file drawer. “Push the chair in,” she said past the giant lump in her throat.

  Thompson did as she told him then gestured to the door. “Do you want me to go first?”

  That definitely wasn’t a good idea. She glanced at the clock—9:20. How could all that have happened in twelve minutes?

  “I’ll go first. If it’s clear, I’ll keep going.”

  “Gotcha.”

  He moved up close behind her when she hesitated at the door. “Don’t be afraid,” he murmured.

  She squeezed her eyes shut. He was standing so close she could swear she’d felt his lips against her hair when he spoke.

  She wiped her palm against her lab coat, then reached for the knob. Now or never. She turned it and pulled the door open. Her jaw was set so hard her teeth felt ready to crack as she moved into the corridor. Forcing her gaze first right then left, she let go of the door and started walking toward the conference room.

  Before she’d taken three steps, Todd Thompson moved up alongside her. Only then did she notice his visitor’s badge. Had he been wearing it before?

  The cell phone in her pocket vibrated, making her jump. To her chagrin, Thompson noticed.

  She dragged the phone from the pocket of her lab coat. Landon. She swore softly, guiltily. “Serena Blake.”

  “Serena, would you come to the conference room?” Landon asked in that too pleasant voice he used whenever he had company that he wanted to impress.

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Oh, and, Serena, there’s a young man waiting in my office, Todd Thompson. Bring him, as well.”

  Serena dropped the phone back into her pocket and turned to the man next to her. “He left you in his office?”

  Todd shrugged. “I had to make a call.”

  Now she was plain old PO’d. Landon blew a fuse if she went into his office without him present. And yet he left a total stranger there? “Then why hide when the mail clerk popped in?” she demanded.

  He gave her a hopeful look. “Felt like the right thing to do. I knew it wouldn’t be Landon and anyone else was more likely to speak openly to you if my presence was unknown.” He smirked. “Was that your boyfriend?”

  A new slash of irritation whipped through her. “That’s none of your business.” How could Landon trust a total stranger in his office when he didn’t trust his own assistant?

  Realization struck. The files were locked. So was his computer unless you knew his password, which she did. His desk was always locked and she still didn’t have a key. Of course he wouldn’t mind leaving Thompson in there. Not to mention that the act of trust would look good on Landon’s part. He had an ulterior motive for everything he did.

  The idea made her all the angrier. Bastard.

  At the conference room door Thompson laid a hand on her arm, stalling her when she would have gone inside without pause.

  She glared at him.

  “We good?”

  She feigned a smile. “We’re great, Mr. Thompson.”

  She opened the door and stepped inside. Landon, pretending to be a gentleman, stood. The other man, Mr. Braddock she presumed, did, as well.

  “Serena, this is A. J. Braddock from Sun Publishing.” He gestured to the man who had come to a stop near the table next to Serena. “And his research assistant, Todd Thompson.”

  Serena extended her hand to Braddock. “Serena Blake.”

  “It’s a pleasure, Miss Blake,” the broad-shouldered man assured her. “Dr. Landon told me how indispensable you are.”

  Serena choked on a laugh. “Thank you.”

  “Miss Blake.” Todd Thompson offered his hand next. “We didn’t make it official.”

  Hard as she tried, Serena couldn’t help hesitating before taking his hand. “Mr. Thomp…Thompson,” she said, stumbling over his name.

  “Serena,” Landon said, calling her attention back to him. “Sun Publishing is interested in my work in the field of stem cell research.”

  Serena kept that artificial smile in place. “That’s amazing.” She turned to Braddock. “The work he has done is nothing short of incredible. All that’s stopping him from going the full distance is full private funding.” She pressed a hand to her chest, mostly in an attempt to slow the fluttering in her heart. “Then I’m sure you know that otherwise you wouldn’t be here.” Landon’s work was unparalleled. She had to give credit where credit was due.

  Braddock smiled, a gesture that somehow calmed her. “Absolutely, Miss Blake. The study of genetics is the key to mankind’s future. Dr. Landon’s work has bestseller written all over it. He’s a pioneer.”

  For the first time in weeks Serena knew she wasn’t in this alone. Something about Mr. Braddock made her feel safe and secure. Whether it was his massive size or the strength she saw in his eyes, she couldn’t say. But she instinctively knew that he had the situation under control. He was exactly what she had expected from the Colby Agency. Todd Thompson was not.

  As Landon and Braddock moved back into a dialogue about Landon’s achievements, Serena stole a glance at Thompson. There was no doubt in her mind that this guy would do whatever he had to, to accomplish his mission, but she didn’t get the same safe, secure feeling from him that she got from Braddock. Oh, no. Thompson gave off a different vibe altogether.

  She would have to watch her step with Todd Thompson. He was impulsive…. And far too cocky for his own good, much less hers.

  “Serena?”

  Her head snapped up. Landon had said something to her. “I’m sorry, sir.” She shook her head. “I guess my mind was on that report that’s overdue.”

  “What did I tell you, Mr. Braddock? She’s a dedicated one.” Landon’s attention came back to rest on Serena and she didn’t miss the irritation in his expression. “So much so, I’m not sure what I’d do without her.”

  Serena’s heart lurched at the look in his eyes. There was a warning there…one she didn’t quite understand.

  “…are hard to find.”

  She missed whatever Braddock had said.

  “Serena,” Landon said, dragging her full regard back to him, “I’d like you to assist Mr. Thompson in any way he requires. He’ll be doing the legwork for Mr. Braddock.”

  “Certainly, Dr. Landon.” Serena glanced in Thompson’s direction. Strangely, he didn’t look any happier about the situation than she did. She almost frowned. What was up with that? She was a paying client, he shouldn’t have a problem doing whatever he had to.

  Another epiphany hit with entirely too much force. Maybe he didn’t like her. Before she could stop herself, she’d smoothed her hand over her somewhat less than fashionable hairdo. She felt certain she wasn’t exactly the type guys like Thompson went for. Her clothes were too conservative. Her whole personality was too conservative. Truth was, Nolan was the only man who had flirted with her in so long she couldn’t even remember the last one who had.

  Not that she’d ever really cared. She’d been too focused on her studies in high school. She’d managed her masters in genetic research by the time she was twenty-one—an incredible feat by any standards. She’d worked for Milestone Laboratories for the past year. They’d recruited her right out of university. One of her favorite professors had put a bug in Landon’s ear. Of course she’d been the one who put the bug in her professor’s ear. She’d needed a way into Milestone Labs. She’d had more than her future career on her mind. Since she’d completed her studies at the end of the winter semester, she’d gone right to work in the new year.

  She’d gotten this job because she was highly qualified, not because of how she looked or how she dressed. Or even who she knew.

  Okay, enough.

  When they’d all taken a seat around the conference table, Dr. Landon explained his daily routine and Mr. Braddock made suggestions of when they could meet and the format for discussion.

  Todd Thompson said nothing. He just sat there, careful no
t to look at Serena.

  She didn’t care. Not really. All that mattered to her was finding Molly safe.

  Serena said another little silent prayer for Molly. She’d been missing for six weeks now. The baby could come at any time. Serena refused to believe she was dead. She had to be all right. They’d only just found each other. Fate couldn’t be that cruel.

  She thought back to her early life in one foster home after another. Not the first happy memory. When she’d reached sixteen she’d liberated herself, but the authorities had found her. But this time she’d ended up with a caring family. She’d finished high school and gone on to college with the support of that fine family. The years she’d spent with the Blakes had almost made up for the other sixteen years of her life. So much so, she’d taken their name when the elderly couple had offered to officially adopt her.

  For a little while Serena had gotten a taste of what a real family was like. Her adoptive parents were both gone now; they’d died within six months of each other during her last year at university. It was as if one couldn’t survive without the other. She wondered if she would ever know that kind of love. Probably not. She doubted it even existed anymore.

  The Blakes had left everything they owned to her, ensuring that she wouldn’t have to worry about the future, financially anyway.

  Shortly after her adopted mother’s death, Serena had found out what little there was to be known about her own biological family.

  At first she hadn’t cared. She’d been grieving her parents’ deaths. She couldn’t have cared less about who had donated the egg and the sperm. The Blakes had been her family. But then she’d stumbled across one pertinent detail. She had a sister.

  A sister who’d been far more fortunate in those early years than Serena. Her first foster parents had been like the Blakes and had immediately adopted Molly.

  Molly Ledbetter had grown up in Chicago with wealthy parents who had wanted nothing more than for their only child to be happy. Like the Blakes, the Ledbetters had been older, apparently having waited most of their adult lives for their own reproductive organs to make their goal of offspring happen. Though the Ledbetters were still alive, both were in nursing homes. Mr. Ledbetter suffered with advanced Alzheimer’s with only rare lucid moments, while Mrs. Ledbetter had suffered a debilitating stroke that had left her unable to communicate in any way.