Page 81 of Blackmailing the Bad Girl

Chapter Nineteen

Trenton had believed he was coming to the office this morning to finalize the deal he’d been trying to get Nik on board with for over a year. Nik had disabused him of that idea quickly.

It appeared Trenton had recognized Summer and tried to use her as some sort of bargaining tool.

His little ex-con girlfriend, Trenton had called her. Nik had said if he ever mentioned her again, he’d make sure Trenton lost every last penny he had. He’d cooperated after that.

Nik had demanded his immediate resignation, plus a signed affidavit that the money Summer had taken from his company was compensation for industrial injuries suffered by her mother. He’d told the man if he did that, then there would be no further reprisals. From him, at least. But he might know of a few other people who would be interested in the contents of Harry’s research files.

But it was over, and Summer was safe.

Now he had the company jet ready to fly to Edinburgh, and somehow, he’d find her. Harry had contacts. He’d had someone watching the train station. They hadn’t spotted her yet, though, which was worrying.

He’d find her if he had to go stand in the middle of the city and shout out her name.

His phone rang, and he picked it up. It was his temporary assistant. “There are two people here to see you. Harry let them up. Regan Malloy and Darcy Butler.”

“Send them in.”

Summer’s friends. What could they want?

They charged in like a pair of angry lionesses. What had he done to cause this?

Darcy was waving something in the air. She threw it on the table, and he glanced down. It was the check he’d given Summer. It had been torn in two.

“How could you?” Regan asked.

“How could I what? I was trying to help.”

“That’s all people like you can understand. Goddamn money,” Regan snapped. “She needed your help, and you gave her a check.”

“Good point,” Harry murmured. He’d followed them in and was leaning against the door, his arms folded, a smarmy smile on his face. Not helping.

“She didn’t want my help. She wanted to go.” Now he really had to find her, before she starved on the streets. She had cleared out her accounts, but there hadn’t been much in them.

“No, she didn’t,” Regan said.

“Yes, she did. Look, it doesn’t matter. I’m going after her.”

“You can’t.” That was Darcy.

“Yes, I can. I have a plane ready.”

“Whoop-de-do for you,” Regan replied. “But it won’t do you any good.”

He’d been reaching for his jacket, but now he paused. Something churned in his stomach. Fear? What had she done? “Why?”

“Because she hasn’t gone.”

“So where is she?” He looked around the room as though she might suddenly pop up from behind her friends.

“She’s giving herself up to the police. She’s going to confess everything. She’ll go back to prison, and she won’t make it this time because she’s too good for that place.”

He sat down, his legs shaky, and ran a hand through his hair. “She has nothing to confess. I’ve sorted out Trenton. He’ll never press charges. She’s free and away.”

“Not if she confesses first. The case probably won’t go forward without Trenton, but it could still mess up her parole.”

“There’s no smoke without fire,” Harry murmured. Nik ignored him.

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