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“It’s a private club. One that vets its members thoroughly.”
“She doesn’t seem like the type to frequent a cigar club.”
A laugh escaped Daniel. The image of Ali strutting around in a cigar club in one of her club outfits amused him. But he knew what his son was trying to do. “Stop fishing.”
They stared at each other for a long time. Most people would have caved, but he knew better. “There’s nothing I can say, is there?” Bradley said.
“To change my mind about Ali? No. She’s the woman I’ve chosen to have in my life. You don’t have to like it, but you do have to respect it.” He looked at his son with a pointed expression. “That means no more evening dips in the pool or anything else that would make her uncomfortable. Got it?”
“Got it.”
Daniel stood. While he wasn’t sure he’d changed his son’s mind about Ali, he was hoping his message had gotten across. He really didn’t want to have to kick his son out. “Ali should be home shortly. Are you joining us for dinner?”
“Yeah. I’ll be here.”
Nodding, Daniel went inside and started to prep the vegetables for dinner.
Three hours later, he was pacing the floor. Ali wasn’t home yet. He’d called her cell twice, but she hadn’t answered. He’d even tried her work phone. Nothing. Dinner was ready, but he refused to sit down without her.
“Maybe she had another more pressing engagement,” Bradley said from the couch.
Daniel picked up his phone again. This time, he dialed Kim.
She answered on the first ring. “Is she okay?”
Unease creeped up his chest. “That’s what I was hoping you could tell me. She’s not made it home yet.”
There was a long pause. “I bet she’s still at work.”
“It’s after seven. Why would she still be at work?”
He heard someone in the background. Justin, he assumed. Then he heard Kim say, “It’s Daniel. Ali isn’t home yet.” There was another pause, then she was talking to Daniel again. “She had a rough day at work. Her boss—who’s an ass—gave her so much work there’s no way to get it done. And he told her if she didn’t get it to him by tomorrow morning, she’d be fired.”
Daniel saw red. “He what?”
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Bradley stand.
Grabbing his keys, he was halfway out the door before he realized Bradley was following him. He slid behind the wheel of his car, not reacting when his son got into the passenger seat. “See if you can get a hold of her, and if you can, call me back. I’m heading to her work now.”
“You won’t be able to get in without a keycard. Not this time of night.”
Daniel wasn’t worried about getting inside. He’d find a way.
He hung up the phone and backed out of his garage.
“Where are we going?” Bradley asked.
“To the hospital administration building.”
“Where Ali works?”
“Yes,” Daniel confirmed.
“Why?”
Daniel’s nostrils flared. Instead of answering his son, he reached into the back and retrieved the envelope from earlier. He handed it to Bradley. “I need you to read this and give me an overview.”
His son opened the envelope and pulled out a stack of papers an inch thick. “What’s this?”
