AllFreeNovel
Share Us
After I call Caleb to inform him of my finding, he tells Christie, who quickly gives permission for us to access the security logs and tapes. Connor was working late the night Gregory died. His key card showed him coming into the building at ten in the morning and never leaving. The last man out of the building, other than the security guards, was Gregory Madden, which is impossible because he was found dead in his office. Someone took Madden’s card and used it to exit the building.
Taking it a step further, I hack into Connor’s calendar to see where he was supposed to be that day. He made his meeting in the morning with stakeholders, then had lunch, where he used his card going out and on his return. After that, there’s no sign of him leaving the building. A plausible explanation for Gregory Madden’s death is that he discovered Connor was cheating his company and using the relationship with his daughter to infiltrate his business. Madden called him on it and Connor killed him. The question still left unanswered is, why come after Jasmine?
Caleb doesn’t answer when I call, so I decide to try Damian next.
“Just on my way over, bud. Chloe’s with me. Alex and Caleb are meeting me there,” he tells me.
“Caleb didn’t answer. Is he okay?”
“Yup. He had to run home for something. Probably didn’t hear the phone. Chloe and I will be there in ten. And I’m eating a dozen cookies,” Damian says. “Jaz just texted Chloe and told her not to bring dessert.”
“What cookies?” I’m confused. That is until I inhale the aromatic scent of chocolate wafting through the air. “Never mind, I smell it now.” Chocolate chip cookies are my favorite. I told Jasmine that the other night. “I’m going to go grab one before you and Alex devour them all.”
I grab my crutches and hobble out. I’m getting pretty good at getting around with them. When I reach the counter, there’s a dozen cookies, still warm, resting on the platter. Jasmine’s bent over taking out another batch and putting in the last tray.
She turns to find me standing there and smiles. “Made it out of your lair, huh?” she kids.
The sandwich she brought me earlier is long gone, and my stomach rumbles. I grab a cookie, take a big bite, and moan at the delicious soft, gooey cookie melting in my mouth. These are better than my mom’s, not that I’d ever tell my mother that. “Hide these,” I say. “These will be gone within seconds. The guys have a sweet tooth, and Chloe is a chocoholic.” I stuff the rest of the cookie in my mouth and grab another.
Jasmine giggles. “I’ve filled a container and put some out of sight,” she says, using a spatula and heaping the rest of the cookies onto the platter. “I made a pot of chili. Will they be staying for dinner?”.
“Babe, I just finished saying they love food. If they get a whiff of your chili, they may move in,” I joke. Leaning against the counter, I say, “Come closer.” Jasmine leans across the counter, and I hold the back of her head steady, brushing my lips over her soft, plump ones. “Thank you for doing this. It’s been a long time since someone’s cooked for me.”
“You’re welcome.” The doorbell rings. Jasmine’s quick to move toward the door. “I got it.”
“No. I got it.” I grab her hand to hold her back. “You don’t answer the door until we’re sure we know who’s on the other side.”
“I was going to ask,” she says.
“Hello. Anyone going to open up?” Damian shouts through the door.
“I think I’m safe,” Jasmine singsongs, and practically skips to open the door. As soon as it swings open, she says, “Sorry for making you wait. As a peace offering, I’m inviting you for dinner. Homemade chili and fresh rolls, and cookies for dessert.”
“I’m in,” Chloe calls out happily. “What can I do to help?”
“I hope you made plenty, because Alex, Sabrina, and Caleb should be here soon,” Damian adds.
“It’s a huge pot. No worries. I was hoping you’d all stay,” Jasmine replies. “We used to have dinners like this all the time when my parents were here. My friends would come, and we’d all sit around after dinner and talk. Mom would have theme nights sometimes. Dad hated them because he’s a meat-and-potatoes guy, but he went along with it and ate couscous with the rest of us.”
Chloe bursts out laughing. “Your parents sound like fun.”
“Definitely fun, and totally awesome.” Jasmine turns to me. “You need to go and sit. I’ll bring a couple of beers into the living room.”
“I got them, Jaz,” Damian says. He gives me a nod. “Go sit down and prop that leg up.” I make it over to the sofa and plop into the corner. Damian hands me a beer, scanning the kitchen to see where the girls are before speaking. “Christie Madden was very informative today. She’s not a fan of Connor Royce.”
“No doubt. Caleb said she lost her mind when she found out he was skimming money from the company. She wanted to call an emergency board meeting and get him out of Madden Holdings immediately. Caleb convinced her not to. He’s sure Royce will disappear if he thinks we’re on to him.”
We’re joined by the rest of the crew shortly after. Alex comes in with wine in hand, and Caleb brings pastries from Dee’s Delights, the new bakery down the street. Even though the guys offer to help, the girls refuse, and we end up taking our conversation into the office.
“So get this,” Alex starts. “I went back to the bar and circulated a picture of Connor. A couple of guys remember him coming in a couple of times for a beer and to meet a girl. When I showed them the picture of Paris Madden, they confirmed it wasn’t her.”
“That just says he’s a dawg. It’s not enough to link him to Candor,” Damian points out.
“True, but as I was flashing around the photo, the bartender saw it and mentioned that Connor was in one night and paid a couple to move from their table so he could have it. He sat there all night and was listening in on a conversation a couple of guys were having at the next table,” Alex says. Caleb’s eyes light up and I’m grinning from ear to ear. We may actually be on to something. “The bartender said the guys were regulars and confirms that one of the men was Candor.”
“Fuck, yeah!” I shout. “We finally got a connection to Candor.” This may be the break we need. I still don’t get the link to Jasmine, though. “How did Jasmine get in the middle of this?”
“Good question,” Caleb says. “Let’s have another chat with that lawyer, Nick Davis. Let’s find out who else knew Madden was looking for his long-lost daughter.”
