weren’t many details to go by. The parents were super private and had refused all interviews. All Leese could find was a report of the fire, started by accident, saying that the sister had died. Apparently the Wades had enough money and influence to keep their personal business out of the news.
To prepare for the assignment, Justice had left Leese to finish up his cursory research while he checked out all the local establishments that Fallon might want to visit. That had taken most of the afternoon. After figuring he had a handle on things, Justice had eaten his dinner and headed out.
Now that the storms had blown over, the spring day felt too warm and muggy. He’d dressed in a T-shirt and jeans with his usual gym shoes. This time of early evening, the sun settled like a blaze on the horizon, making sunglasses necessary as he drove along the landscaped private drive to the house.
First thing Justice noticed was a black Mercedes parked out front. Slick ride. Curious, he parked behind it, got out and started for the front door. Right before he reached the steps, the door opened and a suited GQ-looking guy got ushered out.
Tall, trim, blond—and obviously of the same moneyed ilk as Fallon’s family.
Effectively backing him out the door, Fallon said, “Really, Marcus, I’ve been clear. I’m sorry, but it’s over.”
Huh. A boyfriend? Maybe past boyfriend, given Fallon’s frown. Justice held back, watching and waiting.
Marcus took her hands. “Don’t say that, Fallon. You can’t mean it.”
“I do.” She tugged, but good ole Marcus didn’t let her go.
That irked Justice big-time. He was about to intercede when Mr. Wade stepped out, and for once he looked pissed at someone other than Justice. “Go, Marcus. Don’t make this more uncomfortable for her than it has to be.”
“Please, sir, I need just a minute to speak with her.”
“She doesn’t want to talk to you,” Mr. Wade insisted.
“Dad,” Fallon complained. “I can handle this.”
“I screwed up,” Marcus rushed to say to her father, ignoring Fallon’s objection. “I know that and I’m sorry. It just...took me by surprise.”
“Marcus!” Face going red, Fallon glanced at her father, who didn’t budge. “You don’t have to explain. Seriously.” She tugged again, but blondie didn’t let go. “I understand. But surely you see—”
“It won’t happen again. I swear.”
“What,” her father asked with growling menace, “won’t happen again?”
“Dad,” Fallon pleaded more urgently. Then to Marcus, “Don’t do this. Please.”
Justice decided he’d had enough. Interrupting whatever Marcus would have said, he announced himself. “Hey, Fallon. You about ready?”
Finally noticing him, her face lit up, then pinched in irritation as she forcefully yanked her hands from Marcus. “Yes, of course. I’ll need only a minute.”
“Sure.” As he strode up the steps, Justice pushed the glasses to the top of his head, letting them catch in the messy fauxhawk that he knew needed a good trim.
She looked nervously to her pushy swain. “Marcus...”
“I’m not leaving,” Marcus insisted.
Yeah, Justice decided, he was. “Did I get here just in time to be useful?” His muscles clenched. He felt like cracking his knuckles—or the boyfriend’s head.
“No! That is, everything’s fine.” Fallon floundered, then pulled back her shoulders and glared at Marcus.
“Fallon,” the guy pleaded.
“Goodbye.” After giving her dad a warning frown, Fallon sent a fast smile to Justice, then hurried inside.
Pinning his gaze to Marcus, Justice approached with as much menace as he could muster.
Marcus quickly stepped aside, caught himself and, instead of leaving, he struck an arrogant stance. “Who are you?”
“None of your business.” Satisfied with Marcus’s flustered reaction, Justice turned to her father with a cordial nod. “Mr. Wade.”
“Mr. Wallington.” He blocked the door. “I’d like a word please.”
“All right.” Justice had figured on getting an earful.
Mr. Wade turned to Marcus again. “Don’t come back here uninvited or you’ll find yourself out of a job.”
Justice whistled low. Far as dismissals went, that was a brutal one.
Face going red, Marcus nodded. “As you wish.” Trying to muster some dignity, he needlessly straightened his suit coat. “But I will speak with her again.” He cast a cautious look at Justice, turned and left.
Both men watched, arms crossed, until Marcus had driven out of view.
Seeing a neutral opening, Justice asked, “Is he a threat?”
“Marcus? No, of course not.” Mr. Wade closed the door behind him, giving them privacy outside. “You know that I fired you.”
“Not something I would’ve missed.” The man had shouted it at him in a rage.
“I hired you back only because Fallon insisted.”
What was he supposed to say about that? No way would he thank him, so instead he settled on a simple, “Okay.” He didn’t want things to be more awkward than necessary, but hell if he’d grovel.
“I wouldn’t have,” Mr. Wade stated, “but she threatened to hire you herself. With her own money.”
Fallon had enough of her own? Justice wasn’t sure. Nothing in the research revealed her finances, and it didn’t feel like an appropriate question to ask. Feeling his way, he said, “I gather you don’t want her to do that?”
“No, I don’t.” Showing his frustration, Mr. Wade ran a hand through his hair, disrupting the meticulous style. “But Fallon is independent.”
Justice almost choked on that. He banked the skepticism when Mr. Wade glared at him.
“You don’t understand,” Mr. Wade continued. “I would love to indulge her, but other than agreeing to live at home, she rarely lets me. Even for holidays—her birthday, Christmas—she complains if we give her too many gifts. She buys casual department store clothes, drives an economy car—”
“So far,” Justice said, “I don’t see a problem.” He kind of liked the idea that Fallon was so low-key. Made it easier for him to relate to her.
“I was remiss in explaining things to you.” Locking his hands behind his back, Mr. Wade paced. “Fallon received a sizable trust fund from my parents. If she chose to, she could live a very comfortable, independent life off that. However, she almost never touches the money. For
