Page 77 of Ms Perfectly Fine
“What about an ex?” It hurt him to even ask. They hadn’t opened the ex files yet, and he hoped they never had to.
“No. The last person I dated is touring, and they aren’t the type to get hung up on anyone,” she told him.
“What about any fans hanging around after performances?” he asked, trying to think of any and all possibilities.
“I don’t think so. I wouldn’t know what to look for.”
“How can you be so calm about this? If I was getting gifts from a stranger, I would be freaked out.”
Autumn laughed, and it terrified him. “Trust me, when you’ve been to hell, everything else appears dull in comparison,” she said. “There’s nothing this person can do that can outweigh anything else I’ve been through.”
Hearing her so content in her suffering tore at Elijah’s soul. A car horn stalled their conversation, and she gripped his jacket, forcing him down to her level.
“Thank you for caring so much.” She kissed him, and he let out a long sigh, knowing he wouldn’t be able to stop her from leaving. The horn sounded again. “That’s Nina. And please listen to me. I have to get to rehearsal, and you have to go or Francis will blame me for keeping you. Let’s not give whoever the hell is doing this the satisfaction of ruining our day.”
He was a minute away from going full protective caveman, but he knew her comeback meant everything to her, and he wasn’t going to stand in her way. Pulling her into his embrace, he let the smell of her perfume ease his worry. She tried to worm out of his grasp, but he wasn’t going to let go until she conceded one point.
“I won’t call the police, but let me tell Francis’s husband what’s happening and see what he suggests. You don’t have to fill out a report until you are ready,” he said. Negotiating usually worked for them when they couldn’t agree.
Autumn’s eyes narrowed, telling him she was considering it. “If I agree, will you let me go?” she asked, looking over the gate to Nina.
“Probably,” he mused before tilting her chin up so he could taste her one last time.
She sighed into his embrace. “You are exhausting.”
“And I’m beginning to think you have a death wish.”
“Keeps life interesting.” She winked.
He raised his eyebrows, still waiting for her answer.
“Fine, talk with him. I have to go.” She squirmed away from him, and he waited until she was in the car before he took Brinkley back inside.
“Aiden Grimshaw’s office. Is hein today?” Elijah asked the receptionist at the front desk of the police station.
The man in his sixties eyed him above his thick glasses. “What is the reason for your inquiry? If you are here to report a case, you need to talk with an officer first.”
“No, I’m here to see a friend,” Elijah said. He didn’t want to get stuck with a junior officer.
“Detective Grimshaw should be back soon. Detectives are on the third floor; last door on the right.” The receptionist diverted his attention back to the computer.
Elijah was making his way up the stairs when his phone went off. It was Francis calling.
“Hey. Sorry, I can’t talk,” he whispered, finding Aiden’s name at the last door. He knocked but there was no answer, so he took a seat outside and decided to wait.
“You’d better talk! Where the hell are you?” Francis hissed.
Elijah winced. He knew he should have gone to the station after the signing with Nirosoft, but he wouldn’t be able to focus until he spoke with Aiden about Autumn’s stalker. The note was burning a hole in his pocket.
“The contract signing will have to wait. Push the meeting an hour and I’ll get there,” he said, keeping his voice low so he didn’t attract attention from the passing officers.
“I’m beginning to think you’re sabotaging this deal on purpose! Since you moved into that damn house—”
Aiden appeared in the doorway.
“I’ll be there. Take them out to lunch on the company card,” Elijah said in a desperate effort to stall. Francis groaned, and he hung up.
“Elijah? What are you doing here?” Aiden said, closing the file in his hands.
