Page 53 of Every Broken Piece
“My point is, that nothing I read indicates you have a fiancé. You haven’t been photographed with a woman in years.”
“You certainly did your research,” I say wryly.
She taps the badge clipped to her belt. “That’s why I’m a detective. I like research.”
The elevator passes several floors while I debate how much to tell her before settling on the truth.
“Tess is my assistant. I told the hospital I was her fiancé because at the time it was the only way they’d let me see her.”
It’s the first look of surprise I’ve seen on her. “You flew from Colorado to Ohio because you were worried about your assistant who I’m assuming works virtually since she lives here.”
I tap my finger on my crossed arms for several beats of silence. “There might be some feelings involved.”
“Ah.”
“It’s new.”
“Hence why you don’t know why she’s afraid of the police.”
“I’d appreciate it if you kept this information to yourself. If the press finds out I’m engaged”—I finger quote the word engaged— “the spotlight will shine on Tess and that’s the last thing she needs.”
Those shrewd eyes study me for a long while. “You’re in deep, aren’t you?”
The doors open into the lobby. I wave my hand to let her exit first. The halls are mostly empty this late at night and the waiting areas dark.
“You going to tell me why you’re escorting me out?” she asks.
We pass a closed-up gift shop, blue and pink balloons bobbing against the draft of the vent they hover below. “The day I arrived there was a woman in the lobby yelling at two security guards, demanding to see her daughter. Said she has rights as a mother.”
Detective Hardwick hitches her bag up higher on her shoulder and side-eyes me. “Go on.”
“Tess told her friend Amelia that she has no family. But Amelia is pretty sure that woman wanted to see Tess. I need her name.”
She stops, forcing me to stop with her. The revolving door swishes as a frazzled looking man carrying an empty infant car seat rushes in.
“You think this woman has something to do with Tess’s attack?” she asks.
“I’m not sure. At this point I’m following a hunch.” Usually, my hunches are correct. Sometimes not. But this feels right. That woman is the key.
“The golden touch,” she murmurs.
I tip my head one way, then the other. “This is a little different than walking into a boardroom and figuring out why the company’s failing.”
Her lips tip up. “Is it, though? Sounds sort of similar to detective work.”
“I’m asking for a name. That’s all.”
Those shrewd eyes probe me. “What are you going to do with this name?”
“The same thing you are, Detective. I’m going to find out how this woman is connected to Tess and if she has anything to do with the attack.”
“And then?”
I shrug. I’ve revealed all the cards I’m going to reveal at this point. I want that name.
After that, we’ll see where it takes me.
Chapter thirty
