“Whoa, Ash.”
“Instruct him on who to run Internado’s profile against.”
“I will.”
“Did you hear Internado admit he falsified the report?”
“I did. That’s the evidence we need.”
“Is anyone at the office with you? I won’t get back ‘til after eight.”
“Penelope is here, but she shouldn’t have to babysit me. I’m fine, Ash. This place is like Fort Knox.”
“All right, babe. I’ll see you in a few.”
“Ashton?”
“Yeah?”
“I love you, and I love that you never take no for an answer.”
His heart swelled. “I love you, too, Carly girl. So damn much.”
Carly called Steve-O and gave him the DNA cross-reference, then continued working, though she was having trouble concentrating. George Internado could be Erin Murphy’s biological father…and a cold-blooded killer.
Thirty-five minutes later, Penelope tapped on the open door. “Where’s Maverick?”
“Running an errand. He’ll be back around eight thirty.”
“I’m happy for you two,” Penelope said. “He’s been waiting a long time for you, you know?”
Happiness filled Carly’s soul. “Same here. Timing is everything, right?”
“Tell me about it. I met my husband the last week of flight school. If I hadn’t been running late to an exam, I wouldn’t have met him at all.”
“Some things are just meant to be.”
Penelope nodded. “I love that about life. You want me to stick around and wait with you?”
It was a little past six. “Go and enjoy your weekend.”
Penelope left and Carly turned her attention back to her laptop. At quarter past eight, her phone buzzed with an incoming text.
“It’s Cassandra. I locked myself out of the office. Bring the spare key. I’m at a bar down the street and borrowed a friend’s phone. Text when you’re on the way.”
She fished out her key ring, eyeing the spare. If she left now, she could be back before Ash returned. Although angry with her sister for being such a bitch, she wouldn’t leave her stranded.
She jotted a quick note.
Ash, Cassie is locked out of her office.
Bringing her the spare key. See you shortly.
I love you, honey.
The cool evening breeze chilled her and she tugged her suit jacket around her as she jumped into her car. The cloudy night sky blanketed the evening in a murky darkness. She texted back, “On my way.”
Maverick was flying high when he rolled back into ThunderStrike, but a quick scan of the parking lot had him running full tilt into the office.
