Page 43 of Bold Encounter
They sat quietly for a moment, the weight of uncertainty hanging between them.Finally, Cadie said, "How do we fight someone with so much power?"
"I don't know," Genevieve said."Abe feels that Jason is predictable because everything he does serves a purpose.But I feel like I'm playing a game where I don't know the rules."
"What does Abe think will happen next?"
"He's meeting with Gabriel's team to review their investigation.They've been digging into Jason's background, trying to find evidence of illegal activity."Genevieve took a breath."I could tell that he was pretty fired up when he dropped me off.I'm starting to know him.He tried to appear calm for my sake, but he wasfurious."
"Good," Cadie said."You need someone in your corner who's willing to fight for you."
"I just hope he doesn't do anything dangerous."
Cadie studied her friend's face."You're falling for him, aren't you?"
"You can tell, can't you?"
"I've known you for years.You can't pretend otherwise."Cadie's expression softened."He's different from the others."
"Abe is very different," Genevieve said."He doesn't see my music as competition or a hobby I should outgrow.When he looks at me, I feel like he sees all of me, not just the parts that fit into his idea of who I should be."
"That's rare," Cadie said."Really rare."
"I know it is.Which is why this whole situation with Jason feels so unfair.Just when I find someone who might be right for me, this chaos erupts and threatens everything."
"It won't last forever," Cadie said."Jason can't keep this up indefinitely.People like him make mistakes, and when they do, they usually make big ones."
Genevieve hoped her friend was right.But as they sat in the small apartment, surrounded by the tools of their trade, she couldn't shake the feeling that Jason's mistakes might hurt more people before they brought him down.
*****
During the drive, Abe tried to focus, but rage simmered beneath the surface.He'd maintained his composure around Genevieve because she needed his strength, not his anger.She was already devastated enough without seeing him lose control.
On his way to Guardian Investigations, Abe allowed himself to feel the full force of his fury.Jason Thornton had crossed lines of decency and legality.The man was systematically destroying the dreams of a woman Abe was falling in love with, and that made it personal in a way that went far beyond his duties as a detective.
The image of Genevieve's face when she'd received that phone call was branded in his mind.He witnessed her hope draining away, replaced by devastation and fear.She'd worked hard to build her career, and Jason was destroying it, piece by piece, to satisfy his twisted need for control.
Abe reached the Guardian Investigations office and took the elevator to the fourth floor.He forced himself to breathe deeply and remember the task at hand.He needed information and strategy.
When he entered, the office was quieter than usual.Gabriel's desk was empty, and only Weston and Amalie were working at their respective stations.
"Where's Gabriel?"Abe asked.
"He is meeting with the surveillance company, in case you need to move ahead with that soon," Weston said without looking up from his bank of monitors."Setting up surveillance on Jason is going to require some finesse.The guy has resources and probably expects to be watched."
"I agree we should be careful," Abe said."Jason is a snake.But I'm telling you, he is not going to slither out of his crimes."
Weston swiveled his chair to face him."I've fast-tracked the financial investigation.I should have something for you very soon.The money trail is getting clearer, and it's leading to some interesting places."
From her desk across the room, Amalie looked up from her laptop."You'd be amazed by what some people post on social media."
Abe turned toward her."You have something?"
"I'm just diving into it now," she said, her fingers flying across the keyboard."I'll work up a report for Weston.But there are a couple of mentions about Jason that are very interesting.People in the industry talk, and not everyone's smart enough to keep their observations private."
"What kind of mentions?"
"The kind that suggests his business practices haven't gone unnoticed," Amalie said."I need to verify some details before I can give you specifics, but there's definitely chatter about his methods."
Abe headed toward the door, impatient."Keep at it.Tell Gabriel to text me the instant you guys have something concrete for me to pursue."
