like to see your notes and research.”
“As I told him—” she tipped her chin in Carter’s direction “—I can bring it all tomorrow. It will take me some time to gather everything. I’m not the most organized individual.”
Noah inclined his head. “Tomorrow, 10:00 a.m., then. I’ll tell the front desk I’m expecting you. For now, I’ll have Carter escort you home.”
“I can’t right now.” Carter shook his head. “I have Ellie. Send Faith.”
Noah nodded and picked up his phone to call for Officer Faith Johnson and her dog, Ricci.
“I’ll leave you to it.” Carter left the room without so much as a glance at Rachelle. If he never saw the reporter again, it would be too soon.
* * *
“Thank you, Officer Johnson,” Rachelle stopped at the locked entrance to her apartment building.
“Of course,” the petite female K-9 officer said with a smile. “I can walk you up.” Her dog, a handsome German shepherd, sat patiently at her side.
Rachelle rattled the doorknob. “It’s a secure building. No one can get in without a key. I’ll be fine.” She was exhausted. Two attempts had been made on her life. If Carter hadn’t been there...
Now all she wanted was to get into her apartment before her roommates came home. A hot bath, a change of clothes and a tall glass of sweet tea were in order.
Officer Johnson looked around as if assessing the threat level. “Okay. We’re just a phone call away.”
Rachelle smiled because the irony was the NYC K-9 Command Unit was so close she could probably scream and be heard by the extraordinary dogs. “I appreciate you taking time for me.”
“Chief said to be back here in the a.m. to escort you to his office. I’ll see you then.” Officer Johnson nodded, her dark, chin-length bob moving jauntily beneath her NYPD cap.
Rachelle unlocked the door and hurried inside, making sure the door closed completely behind her and the lock was secure. Through the small square window at eye level in the door, she watched the officer and dog walk away.
Breathing out a tired sigh, she headed to the elevator only to find a handwritten note saying, Out of Order.
Great. Just what she needed. She veered away, resigned to taking the stairs to the fourth floor. She trudged up each step at a slower pace than she normally would. Her legs were tired and sore and bruised. So was her ego. All her hopes for a career boost with her investigative report into Jordan Jameson’s murder had slipped out of her control.
When she told Carter about the article on his brother’s murder, his expression had made her lungs constrict and even now she was struggling to catch her breath. He’d been hurt, shocked and angry. He couldn’t even look at her when they were in Noah’s office.
She was glad she hadn’t given in to the temptation to tell him her own family drama but thankfully, she’d managed to keep it inside. He wouldn’t think her issues were anything compared to the losses he’d suffered. And he was right. Her heart ached for the Jamesons.
Two flights up, she turned the corner in the stairwell and found the way blocked by a man wearing a gray T-shirt. Shock constricted the muscles in her throat. Rough hands grabbed her and spun her around so fast she didn’t have time to look at his face. A muscled arm slid around her neck and squeezed while her attacker’s other hand pressed a smelly cloth over her nose and mouth.
She breathed in, preparing to scream, and gagged. Her eyes watered. Her surroundings grew dim while her oxygen supply depleted, leaving her head woozy.
Her mind screamed, Dear Lord, help me.
Конец ознакомительного фрагмента.
Текст предоставлен ООО «ЛитРес».
Прочитайте эту книгу целиком, купив полную легальную версию на ЛитРес.
Безопасно оплатить книгу можно банковской картой Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, со счета мобильного телефона, с платежного терминала, в салоне МТС или Связной, через PayPal, WebMoney, Яндекс.Деньги, QIWI Кошелек, бонусными картами или другим удобным Вам способом.
