Tall, Dark and Deadly Books 0.5 - 3

by Lisa Renee Jones

  She didn’t know what to do about Mark. Maybe he was just worried about her. But, then, maybe his concerned words were simply a manipulation tactic.

  * * * * *

  The minute they stepped into the lobby of the Paxton Group, Judy greeted them with messages in hand. “The phone is ringing off the hook,” she said, her voice frazzled as she stuck a pencil behind her ear. “Everyone has heard the two of you are back.” Her attention went to Lindsey. “Your father called, sounding rather grumpy.”

  Lindsey made a face. “So, he sounded normal.”

  She laughed. “A little more on edge than usual,” she said, and thumbed through several messages, and a memory flashed in her face. “Oh, yeah, some guy called several times. Said his name was Todd but wouldn’t give me a last name or leave a message.”

  Mark and Lindsey looked at one another. “The boyfriend?” Lindsey frowned.

  “Maybe,” Mark said. “We did leave him several messages.”

  “Yeah, but why not leave his last name and a number? It’s strange.” She shrugged. “I’ll just try and call him again.”

  He nodded. “I’m going to have Maggie order some food. Want something?”

  “Yeah, sure. She’ll know what to get,” Lindsey said, her thoughts still lingering on the oddness of Todd’s call.

  * * * * *

  Entering her father’s office, Lindsey let her body hit the chair with a loud thud, wishing it was her office, her space. Somehow it seemed as if that would be accepting a future at Paxton. Still, sitting in her father’s office was like being suffocated by his wishes.

  The ones that included running her life.

  But what was really upsetting her was fighting with Mark. Her teeth sunk into her bottom lip. Her night with him had been amazing. For the first time in a long time—no, maybe ever—a man had made her feel feminine and special, but also, she grasped for the word . . . equal. Yes. She had felt as if what they had shared was just that. Shared. Give and take.

  So what happened in the light of a new day?

  Being honest with herself wasn’t always an easy task. No one wanted to face hard truths about their own choices and decisions. Or their fears. And Mark scared the hell out of her. He made her feel things she didn’t want to feel. Things she didn’t want to put names to. Fighting with him messed with her head far more than it should. Deep down, she knew, way too fast, she was developing feelings for Mark.

  As if that wasn’t complicated enough, stepping back into the courtroom had been like a rush of memories. She’d expected as much. The big surprise was that they weren’t all bad. In fact, they were—for the most part⎯good. For the first time in years, she was questioning what she thought she knew. Being in the courtroom again had felt invigorating. A part of her had felt more alive than it had in years. And she had just been sitting behind a table: watching Mark, imagining her own performance.

  The truth was, she had loved the challenge of each and every case. The high of winning had been exhilarating. Dropping her elbows to the desk, she buried her face in her hands. If only that woman hadn’t been killed. The hell of that murder had haunted her for years.

  A stream of bright sunlight was suddenly at her window, as if a cloud had moved. Hot and heavy, it rested on her face, making her more uncomfortable than she already was. She pushed to her feet and moved to the window, pulling the cords to release the blinds, and turning the room into a darkened box. A perfect match for her mood.

  She hadn’t called her father back, and she knew she had to. Judging from the mood Judy had suggested he was in, he’d probably heard about Mark. The firm needed Mark, but her father wouldn’t see it that way. What would he do if she refused to run the firm? Squeezing her eyes shut, willing herself to pick up the phone. Her fingers dialed. She tried Todd again. No answer. She left another message. And that was the end of her excuses. She dialed her father.

  The minute he heard her voice, he went on the attack. “Lindsey, what in the hell is going on over there?”

  She went for a matter-of-fact voice. “We had a good day in court.”

  He growled into the phone. “You know damn well what I mean. Why is Mark Reeves in my offices?”

  This was going well. “Daddy, listen—”

  “No, you listen,” he huffed. “I want him the hell out of there now!”

  Twisting the phone cord around her hand, she forced out her response. “I can’t do that.”

  There was a pregnant silence, and she knew he was stunned at her open disregard for his wishes. “You can, and you will.”

  She was firm on the outside, but arguing with her father had always been difficult. “I can’t.”

  “Don’t cross me, Lindsey,” he warned.

  This time she crossed the invisible line never to be crossed. She put it on the line. “He stays or I go.”

  Silence, thick like a heavy blanket, fell between them. “What?”

  Her voice was low. “I can’t handle the Williams case without him.”

  He didn’t care. “You can, and you will,” he said in a biting tone. “I’m warning you, Lindsey Paxton, get rid of him by tomorrow or I will. I don’t care if I have to have security carry him out.”

  She clenched her teeth. “I won’t do it, Daddy. We’re a package deal. He stays or I go.”

  “Get rid of him.” And the line went dead.

  Her stomach twisted in a knot. Holding the receiver, a bit stunned by the outcome, she couldn’t seem to get herself to move. A knock on the door made her jump, and she dropped the phone. It crashed against the desk and hit the floor. “Come in,” she yelled, as she reached for it.

  “Look, what I have for you!” Lindsey knew Judy’s voice without turning. She replaced the receiver and turned to find her rushing towards the desk with a vase of roses. “Someone sent you flowers.”

  Setting them on the corner of the desk, Judy stepped back and surveyed the arrangement with approval. “They’re so pretty,” she beamed.

  It didn’t take reading the card to tell Lindsey who sent them. They were Greg’s signature pink roses. She swallowed, trying to fight that old feeling of claustrophobia the combination of Greg and her father combined had always evoked.

  Reality hit hard. The courtroom hadn’t driven her away. They had.

  “Aren’t you going to look at the card?” Judy asked, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

  Lindsey’s lips thinned. “No,” she responded. “I know who they are from.”

  Maggie walked in at that moment, Lindsey’s lunch in hand. She froze in the doorway. “Oh, dear,” she said and then began walking again. “Greg knows you’re back, I see.”

  Lindsey grunted. “Yes,” she said in a strained tone. “Would you believe he’s prosecuting Williams?”

  Maggie’s face filled with understanding as she sat the bag of food down on her desk. “Sorry, dear,” she said and patted Lindsey’s hand. “I know this is not easy for you.”

  Lindsey gave her a look of appreciation.

  Judy now stood with her hands on her hips. “Who’s Greg?”

  Maggie shot her a reproachful look. “No one interesting.” Maggie directed a rare frown at her. “Whose covering the phone?”

  Judy’s hands flew to her chest. “Oh goodness. The flowers distracted me, and I completely forgot the phones.” She turned to exit and peeked over her shoulder. “I’m sorry,” she added and dashed away.

  Maggie focused on Lindsey. “You okay?” Lindsey nodded. Maggie wasn’t satisfied. “You don’t look okay, you look pale.” Maggie indicated the food with a nod. “Perhaps eating will do you good.”

  Lindsey eyed the bag. “I’m not very hungry. Why don’t you see if anyone else wants it? I’ll take the drink though.” She offered a weak smile.

  “Are you sure?” Maggie asked, with concern falling over her features.

  An unconvincing smile filled her face. “Yes, I’m sure.” A thought came to mind. If anyone knew what the past held . . . “Maggie, what happened between Dadd
y and Mark?”

  “Well dear, I’m not completely sure. It comes down to one simple fact. No one crosses your father and gets away with it.”

  Lindsey sighed. “Right. How did Mark’s leaving impact the firm?”

  “I know our billing dropped more than fifty percent.” She hesitated and then said, “I heard them argue just before Mark walked out. Something about the wrong type of clientele and people who don’t pay their bills.”

  It made sense. Mark hadn’t been the bad guy. He’d been trying to save the firm. “Is Mark in his office?”

  Maggie nodded. “Yes, I just took him his food.”

  “Okay, thanks Maggie.” She pushed to her feet. “I’m going to go see him.”

  * * * * *

  “Mark?”

  Mark’s eyes lifted from the file in front of him. He’d know Lindsey’s voice anywhere. He’d been thinking about her. If thoughts could will someone to appear, his had willed her to his office.

  “Do you have a minute?”

  He could see the tension lines in her face. Leaning back in his chair, he waved her forward. “What’s wrong with you?”

  “My father,” she stated.

  That said it all. “He found out I’m back and wants me removed immediately.”

  Lindsey’s eyed widened as she settled into the chair in front of his desk. “Yes, exactly. How did you know?”

  “I expected as much.” Edward, was, if nothing else, predictable.

  “He threatened to have security escort you out.”

  Mark pushed away from his desk and stood up. He walked around the desk and leaned on it, facing her. Close but not too close. Edward wasn’t his concern. “What do you want?”

  She didn’t hesitate. “I want you to stay.”

  “You’re sure?” he asked. Her accusation still ate at him. “You said I was just like him.”

  She looked down. “I was upset.” Her eyes lifted again.

  He needed to know where they stood. “That doesn’t tell me anything.”

  “Mark, I . . .” Her words faltered.

  His eyes probed her face. “What did you tell Edward?” Her answer would say a lot.

  Her chin raised a notch higher as if she wanted him see the truth in her gaze. “I told him if you go, I go.”

  He reached for her then, taking her hand and pulling her to her feet, and then into his arms. She came without hesitation, hand on his chest, looking up at him with those soft, too-green eyes. “And he said what in response?” Mark asked.

  A wave of distress flashed across her face. Unaware of her action, her hands tightened on his shirt. “He hung up on me.”

  Mark couldn’t help feeling a hint of amusement. He would have loved to have been a fly on the wall when Lindsey had laid it on the line. But she was distressed, and he understood why. His hand ran down her back. “Everything will work out. I promise. Let me think things through, and we’ll talk before the meeting. Is that fair enough?”

  “How can he expect me to do this alone?” she said, as if a wall had come down and she had decided to unload on him. “I’ve never even touched the books, and dealing with the partners is new to me. I can’t do this Williams case alone—”

  Mark cut her off by kissing her, a soft, reassuring press of his lips to hers. When he lifted his head, he smiled at her. “It’ll work out, I promise.”

  “Why does he hate you so much?”

  Mark was silent. He hadn’t told Lindsey what had happened between him and Edward, and now didn’t seem like the time. “He and I simply don’t agree on business matters.”

  She grabbed his tie. “Don’t shut me out, damn it.”

  His hand went to her face. “Then don’t shut me out. Give me a chance before you judge me.”

  Her eyes registered her guilt, but her words were defensive. “I had a good reason for not taking you to the meeting with Steve.”

  “You ran out on me while I was in the shower. That was a low blow.”

  She paled. “If you hadn’t demanded—”

  “I was worried.”

  “I can take care of myse—” He swallowed her words with his mouth, kissing her as if he was drinking her in, with long, sensual strokes. Lindsey was like a fine wine, perfect from the very first drop, and addictive from there.

  Whatever she was doing to him, he wanted more. The instant his tongue touched hers, she relaxed into him, arms inching around his neck, body leaning into him. She felt what he did. This irresistible need to explore what was between them. Right or wrong, what they shared was too alive to ignore.

  When they came up for air, he leaned close to her ear. “I wasn’t trying to control you.”

  “I know,” she whispered.

  He leaned back to see her eyes. “You’re sure?”

  She smiled. “At this very moment, in your arms, having just been kissed very well,” she said, “yes.”

  He laughed. “I guess I will settle for that answer.”

  “Do you have time to hear what Steve had to say?” She pointed at the untouched bag of food on his desk. “You can eat while I talk.”

  He smiled. “Sounds good.”

  “Then we can figure out how to handle my father.”

  “I’ll take care of Edward.”

  She fixed him in a look. “Not without telling me how. We do this together or not at all.”

  Mark smiled to himself. Lindsey had no idea how much she had just given him.

  Chapter Eight

  If one more cab passed her by as if she wasn’t standing at the curb with her hand out, she might just throw something at it.

  As if in acknowledgement of her words, a car screeched to a halt in front of her. “Finally,” she muttered to the air as she yanked open the door and slid inside.

  “Where to, lady?” the driver barked, never looking at her. Lindsey reached for her briefcase. “I said, Where to, lady?”

  “Just a minute.” Her response was terse as she dug for Todd Rogers’ address and found it.

  A few seconds later, she sunk back into the seat as the car jerked forward. It didn’t take much to tune out the horn-honking and cursing that went on in the front seat. It was just as much a part of New York as pizza.

  Her thoughts went to Mark. How easy it had been to fall back into his arms, and forget their earlier fight. She’d even enjoyed exchanging thoughts about the possible Nevada connection. But when he’d finished his lunch, he’d seemed eager to get away from her. And secretive about why. The more she thought about it, the more she wondered if he hadn’t manipulated her to see his way by way of his kisses. Which meant he had done the very thing she hadn’t wanted . . . controlled her.

  So, bothered by the idea that Mark was keeping her under thumb, she had to get out of the office. Since Todd couldn’t be reached by phone, she’d decided to try another in-person visit.

  The cab stopped at her destination way before her whirlwind of thoughts were in order.

  Todd Rogers lived on Bleeker Street smack in the middle of Greenwich Village, the heart of the art district. Considered to be one of the more expensive areas of town, Lindsey assumed Tom had family money or a whole heck of a lot of roommates. Stepping from the cab, she took in historic buildings with fondness. The particular area of town was full of shopping, fine dining, and elegant architecture. Close to campus, it was busy with skateboarders, bikers, and a scurry of walkers. Busy during the day, it was even busier at night. Clubs and bars lined the corners, as did restaurants and stores.

  Todd’s apartment complex sat nestled between a pizza parlor and a hairdresser. It was a small complex, not more than ten stories, versus the many high-rise towers so common in the city. There was no doorman so Lindsey was able to push through the street door and enter the small hallway that housed the mailboxes and the downstairs apartments. Glancing at the narrow stairs that led to the other apartments, with no elevator in sight, Lindsey was thankful Tom lived on the bottom floor.

  Almost the instant she knocked on the door, it flew
open, taking her off guard. Tall, lean, and denim-clad, the man who greeted her was a full-fledged cowboy, complete with a Stetson on top of his head. The hat shadowed his eyes, but she felt his gaze, hot and heavy, as it made a slow slide down her body. Uneasiness pricked at her nerve endings. Despite the perspiration dampening her skin, she felt a cold chill sweep over her skin.

  “Todd Rogers?”

  Using his knuckle, he tapped the brim of his hat backwards, exposing the well-defined sharpness of his cheekbones, along with sharp, sea blue eyes. “Nope, but sure wish I was,” he said, plopping a shoulder against the doorframe and crossing one booted foot over the other.

  Lindsey fought irritation. Damn if the man wasn’t going to make her ask the obvious. “When will he be back?”

  “Well, now, that depends on who’s asking,” he drawled in a slow, Texas accent.

  “Lindsey Paxton is the name and I am investigating the death of Elizabeth Moore. Now,” she said succinctly, “when will he be back?”

  He gave her a long, assessing stare. “Too bad about Elizabeth.”

  His voice seemed sincere enough, but something about it didn’t sit right with Lindsey. Perhaps, the words rolled out a bit too flat. As if they didn’t matter all that much. Lindsey’s eyes narrowed. “You knew her?”

  “Hard not to. She dated my roommate for a year. Party animal that one there, though. I told Todd he needed to get her under control. Appears I was right. Never safe for a girl like that to run around like she did.”

  Lindsey opened her mouth to speak when footsteps alerted her of someone’s approach. She turned as a man stopped beside her. “Hey, Rogers. You got a visitor,” Cowboy announced.

  Used to quick assessments, Lindsey sized up her new visitor. Medium height and build, he was nothing like his roommate. Glasses sat on top of his nose, encasing light brown eyes. Dark hair, conservatively cut, matched his yuppie-style clothing. Opposites attract, as they say, and Todd Rogers and his roommate were indeed just that.

  She extended her hand. “Mr. Rogers, I’m Lindsey Paxton. I’d like to talk to you about Elizabeth.”

  She watched as his eyes went wide. Her thoughts went to Jack the Ripper, a conservative businessman who had a nasty side. Could that be the case with Todd Rogers? Was there a nasty side hiding behind Mr. Prim and Proper?