Not only do I think it’s needed to make up for the years I wasn’t in her life. When, as Paul’s best friend, I should’ve been there for her and taking care of her. Even if it was from afar. I didn’t get a chance to make that happen, but I can make up for it now.
I think her friend Mary might be right; I wasn’t supposed to find her until now. Otherwise, we would’ve never come together like we had. I would’ve never gone for her if she’d been younger. Now, I can’t imagine not being with her.
She sits next to me as I write up some paperwork for evidence as well as contacting my friend to see if he can run the license plate number she saw the other day. It might come back as nothing, but I somehow doubt that. Donna must’ve seen her or something that day and she didn’t realize it. Maybe they thought she saw something she shouldn’t and tried to find a way to get rid of her without killing her.
I finish with my email and close my laptop. I look at her. “I’ll try calling your boss again in an hour or so, but how would you feel about going on a date with me tonight? I would love to have a meal with you.”
Mary claps. “Yes, say yes! We can spend the night getting you ready. And you don’t work tomorrow.”
I smile at that. That means I can spend the night and the next morning with her. I want to get to know her better. I want to know what her life has been like since Paul’s death.
Carissa nods. “Yes. I would love to go on a date with you.”
Leaning across the table, I give her a chaste kiss, not wanting to go too deep in front of her friend. I stroke my thumb over her cheek. It feels too good to kiss her to ever want to stop. We’ve gone too far to ever be able to go back to the beginning and start over. “I’ll pick you up tonight at seven?”
She nods. “I’m looking forward to it.”
I stand to gather my things. She walks with me to the door and we kiss one more time before I leave. I can’t wait to have a real date experience with her tonight.
Heading back upstairs, I call her boss again.
“Barnes.”
I keep in the sigh that wants to come out. Finally. “Hello, Mr. Barnes. My name is Knox Cunningham. I’m the legal representation of Miss Adler, an employee who worked with you and has been charged with fraud.”
“Okay.”
I lift a brow. “Are you available to meet this afternoon? I have compiled evidence that my client is innocent and the possible identity of the perpetrator. Would you be willing to come to my office, and we could settle this outside of court?”
“We have proof that Miss Adler committed the crime.”
I bite my tongue. I might have personal feelings involved, but I have to treat this on a professional level. “Her name tag being on the person, is not solid proof, Mr. Barnes. The person in the footage is taller and heavier than my client, has tattoos when my client has none, and my client has an alibi with video proof. I’ve already contacted the police to have the security footage pulled giving proof of where she was during the hour of the crime. Are you sure you don’t want to settle out of court?”
“I’ll have my legal team contact you.” The line goes dead and I look at my phone. Well, once I speak with them, this will be closed and shut. There’s no way his bosses will want to spend money on more legal fees when it’s clear Carissa wasn’t there.
I sigh. I still have several hours before my date with her. I can’t wait for it. I need to call up my chef friend at STK and see if he can get us in on short notice. They’re one of the best restaurants in town, and I want to treat her to something magnificent.
* * *
The hours pass by at a snail’s pace, but my friend secured us a table, and I’m over the moon to take her to it and then spend the night with her. I even went out and got things for breakfast in the morning. I got all sorts of things, not knowing if she likes pancakes or not. I even got lunch, for if we sleep late.
I bounce on the balls of my feet as I exit the elevator and make my way to her door. I knock. After a moment, no one comes to it, not even her friend.
I knock again. Still nothing. I can’t even make out that there’s anyone in the place. I frown. Could she have changed her mind? About everything? Maybe knowing that I’m her dad’s friend was too much to bear, but I think she would at least say something to me if that were the case. She doesn’t seem like the type to just avoid things.
I pull out my phone and try to call her. I lean in toward the door, but don’t hear a phone on the other side.
“Hi, you’ve reached Carissa Adler. Leave a message.”
My frown deepens. “Carissa, it’s Knox. Not sure what’s going on, but I’m outside your place. If you’ve changed your mind about this. Please let me know. I’ll understand, I just need to know.”
I stand there for another minute and start to walk away when something tells me to try the door. The knob turns freely, and I push it open. I glance around, before stepping inside as my heart picks up. “Carissa?”
I find the table we set up earlier toppled over and glass shattered on the kitchen floor. Something bad has happened. I search the apartment but don’t find anything. Something has happened to both her and Mary, I can sense it.
I dial 911 on my phone. I need to report this and then I need to figure out where to find her. This has to do with that Donna woman, it just has to.
Chapter Fifteen
