Fast Burn (Body Armor #4)(48)
“Maybe,” she whispered, “I should go with you because I need the support.”
That didn’t make a bit of sense, but Brand kissed her forehead and, as usual, gave in. “All right. But I promise you’re going to regret it.”
*
MIDWAY THROUGH THE DAY, after she’d gone over a hundred photos and still hadn’t seen her kidnapper, Enoch stuck his head in the door.
“Mr. Wallington on line one.”
She blinked up from her study of computer files and saw why Enoch hadn’t simply used the intercom. The blessed man carried in lunch.
“You’re too good to me.”
“Not possible,” he said, sliding a sandwich and soup from Panera in front of her, along with a frosty green tea. “Your favorites, so eat, okay?”
“Not a problem. I’m famished.” It had been too many hours since she’d eaten that divine treat Brand had made for her. If she’d been thinking, she’d have brought the rest to work with her. Actually, after she finished lunch, she could probably sneak up to the suite to—
“Don’t forget you have an appointment in twenty minutes.”
She barely choked back her groan.
“And two more after that.” Commiserating, Enoch said, “I’m sorry, but the next few hours will be hectic, which is why I really do hope you’ll eat.”
“You have my word.” She picked up the phone and clicked line one as Enoch exited the office. “Good afternoon, Justice.”
Skipping a greeting, he said, “Did you schedule landscapers at your house?”
Startled, she picked a piece of turkey off her sandwich and replied, “No, of course not.”
He cursed, got himself together and growled, “They were here. They not only trimmed everything, but butchered your tree.”
“My tree?”
“The one we’d already cut back so no one else could use it getting in or out of your house. Well, there’s no chance of that now. It’s a bare trunk damn near to the top!”
She sat back in her seat, thinking. “The landscapers come often, but they always tell me first. They can’t get through the gate otherwise.”
“I was here,” Justice said, “looking things over.”
“Looking things over?” she repeated.
“We agreed—”
“We who?”
Picking up on her incredulous tone, he paused. “Leese, Miles and I. We figured we’d take turns stopping by, making sure no one was around...looking things over.”
“I see.” And no one had thought to discuss this plan with her? Did Brand know? Did they all think her too frail for details? “Why wasn’t I told?”
“I figured Leese would tell you,” he said fast. “But he got held up today so I guess he hasn’t had a chance.”
Ah, so they weren’t protecting her from the plans. That mollified her—a little. “You let in the landscapers?”
“They came in behind me. After Miles called them yesterday, we knew to expect them, but since someone had gotten in here, I figured I’d watch them anyway, just to be sure, you know?”
“And?”
“They did a terrific job. The grass is cut and edged, the bushes shaped, the trees trimmed. I had no reason to think they weren’t legit until I saw what they did to the tree. And if you didn’t tell them to do it, then what the hell is going on?”
“I don’t suppose you got photos of the men?”
“No.”
She sighed. “Well then, I really have no idea. But I have appointments starting in—” she checked the clock “—fifteen minutes, and I need to devour my lunch. When I get some free time I’ll call the landscapers and find out if it was in fact them, and if so, why they butchered my tree.”
“Yeah, you do that. I’m going to get hold of the others.”
“Justice—”
“I’ll catch you later, Sahara.” And he ended the call.
Grumbling, Sahara took a big bite of her sandwich. She had a feeling it hadn’t been the landscapers at all, but who would sneak onto her property, do the job of well-paid landscapers...and then destroy her tree?
CHAPTER NINE
WHEN SAHARA TOLD him what happened, Brand wanted to turn the car around and cancel the trip to see Becky. Any excuse would do, but this one had meat, had legitimacy.
Unfortunately, Sahara refused.
“I’ve been looking forward to it. If you cancel, I’ll feel obligated to go back to the office, and I swear my eyes are crossing from searching through so many files and matching names to photos. Give me a good old-fashioned confrontation any time.”
Brand tightened his hands on the steering wheel. “Who do you want to confront?”
“No one, now. But I would have certainly questioned the phony landscapers if I’d been there. Unfortunately, I’ve been denied that opportunity.”
Thank God for small favors. “Why the hell didn’t Justice get some photos if he was skeptical?”
She shrugged. “He wasn’t, because he had no reason to be, not until he saw that they’d nearly cleaned my largest tree of all its branches. Not only did they take off every branch that could lead to my window, they cut away any that came close to the roof.”