Page 22 of The One for Forever

“It’s possible,” he says. “Which suggests you didn’t leave your purse behind. Whoever left this note might have taken it. Which means they were following you.”

That’s all true, but I can’t imagine it was that orange jacket guy or his friend. Nothing was taken from my purse. Whoever left this note only took my clutch for that purpose. There’s no way it was the same guy who accosted us, or his buddy who threw the milkshake. Those guys had zero subtlety.

This person managed to get my purse without me or even Rex noticing.

“It might be legit,” Rex says, “or it might not be. But either way, I want to check it out. The timing alone makes me nervous. A secret witness turning up just as you’re getting more attention for your part in the trial.”

“That could be the very reason this witness decided to get in touch. I need to tell Lana. See what she thinks. There’s no harm in seeing what the guy has to say.”

Rex looks over at me, and I’ll admit, I look for some sign of something in his eyes. I blame Lark.

He does look concerned. But there’s also a twinkle of interest. And excitement. In the possibilities for our case, of course. Nothing else.

“If you want to show this to Lana right now,” Rex says, “I know exactly where she is. Are you up for a detour?

“Are you kidding?” My Sunday just got a lot more intriguing. “Let’s go.”

I’ve never beeninside Bennett Security headquarters. But I’ve seen the place from the outside. It’s hard to miss.

We head toward the ocean, then follow the coastline to the north side of West Oaks. A huge brick building is perched right on the water, with waves crashing dramatically into the rocky beach below.

Rex pulls his truck into a driveway, swiping a key card that lets us into the underground parking.

While Bennett Security is known for providing protection to West Oaks elite and visiting celebrities, they also frequently work with law enforcement. And because Lana is married to the CEO, the company has a special relationship with the West Oaks DA’s Office. Max has offered his company’s investigative resources on numerous cases. And when it’s made sense and there hasn’t been a conflict of interest, Max has done the same for criminal defendants too.

Makes me wonder if Amber Printz tried to hire them at any point. Obviously, that’s out of the question now, especially with Lana’s safety at risk.

Chief Holt and West Oaks PD have done a great job giving us the support we’ve needed on a daily basis, and we have great investigators at the DA’s office of our own.

But am I happy that Bennett Security is involved in this case? That they’ll be ensuring my personal safety? I’d be a fool not to recognize the benefits of that.

I mean, just look at this place. The West Oaks County legal complex is sleek and modern, a testament to all those tax dollarsat work. But Max Bennett’s bat cave puts the county’s public buildings to shame. Not because its architecture is more flashy, but because of its seamless blend of high-tech and high style.

There’s the retinal scanner as we walk in through the employee entrance and take the elevator. The banks of state-of-the-art computer terminals. Screens adorn one wall with a constant stream of statistics, camera feeds from around the city, and bodyguard assignments. Yet the exposed brick, artwork, and plush rugs keep the bustling work floor inviting.

But the crowning jewel of the huge, open workspace is the glass-walled office above, accessible from an open-riser staircase.

“That’s Max’s domain up there,” Rex says, nodding.

“I figured.”

He smiles. “Yeah, Bennett can be over-the-top sometimes. He’s a great boss, though. A very good friend. You’ll rarely meet anyone as loyal.”

From our vantage point below, we can see Lana sitting on a couch near Max’s desk. He brings her a cup of what looks like tea. “Not a lot of privacy up there,” I comment.

“Those walls turn opaque at the push of a button. But we’re one big family here.” Rex touches my arm, ushering me forward. “Come on. Let’s show them what you found.”

What we found, I almost correct. But we’re not awe.

They see us coming. Max meets us at the door, while Lana looks on from her spot on the couch. “Quinn, what are you doing here? Is something wrong?” She already knows what had happened last night, so I quickly explain the latest developments.

Lana holds out her hand. “Can I see this note?”

I pass it over to her. I briefly wondered about forensic evidence, but I already covered it in my own fingerprints in the car. Lana shares a glance with Max, who’s examining thenote over his wife’s shoulder. “Seems too good to be true,” Max comments.

Lana just says, “Quinn, let’s chat. Let the guys see to themselves for a few minutes.”

Max laughs. “Does that mean I’m dismissed, DA Marchetti?”

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