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“I’m pretty sure that someone has been following me the last few days,” Millie revealed, her eyes filling up with tears. She quickly got her emotions under control. “I can’t prove it. I technically haven’t seen anyone. And no, before you ask, I didn’t inform Officer Soerig or anyone else of my suspicions. Everyone already believes that I’ve overreacted, and I won’t have them thinking that I’m crying wolf. I know that you’re a private firm. I also know that I most likely couldn’t afford your fees. Ms. Sloane, I’m here because you are my last hope.”
Chapter Three
Brooklyn Sloane
December 2022
Friday — 5:48am
Thegreenlightevenlyscanned Brook’s iris to trip the locks on the double glass door entrance of S&E Investigations, Inc. The biometric scanner was one measure of the multilayered security system that Bit had installed for the firm. Only those who had approval to enter the offices were in the system, and any other guest needed to be buzzed in by Kate. Basically, everyone on the team had the ability to unlock the main entrance from their electronic tablets.
The faint sound of the lock being disengaged allowed her to open one of the doors. Both her purse and the soft leather bag that served as her briefcase were strapped over her right shoulder. She also carried a large caramel macchiato in her left hand while a small tote bag that contained her black high heels hung from her right forearm. She probably should have driven into work, but walking two blocks from her condo wearing winter boots had been easier.
Ever since her brother had tried to brutally murder a reporter back in May, Brook hadn’t needed to keep the same daily routine. She’d known that Jacob had been monitoring her comings and goings before then, and she’d intentionally been trying to draw him out. She was almost certain that her decision to do so had been having the desired effect, too. Unfortunately, certain events had unfolded that had been too much for Jacob to resist.
Her brother was no longer in Washington D.C.
Brook couldn’t explain how she knew that detail, but he was somewhere out west searching for Sarah Evanston—the only victim to have ever survived one of his vicious attacks. She was currently in witness protection after having received multiple facial surgeries to try and restore what remained of her face. There hadn’t been much left to work with, and Brook couldn’t imagine the pain the woman had suffered during her recovery. More surgeries were no doubt on the horizon, which meant that Sarah Evanston would have to remain in one place for at least a couple of years.
Jacob would know that small piece of information, and he would use it to his advantage. Brook knew her brother better than anyone, and there wasn’t a chance in hell that he would allow one of his victims to get the best of him.
She grimaced when the handle of her tote bag got caught by the silver handle.
“Do you need a hand?”
The male voice behind her wasn’t unexpected, though she had found herself somewhat taken aback by Kyle Paulson’s presence in the downstairs lobby. He was one of the portfolio managers for the hedge fund across the hall. The two businesses shared the floor, including a public restroom that was nestled into a hidden hallway right outside the heavy wooden doors of the financial firm.
Before Brook could respond, Kyle had stepped forward and helped to unhook the strap of her tote bag from the door handle. She usually went out of her way to avoid conversations or run-ins of any kind with the hedge fund’s employees. She preferred to maintain a professional distance.
S&E Investigations had opened their doors at relatively the same time that she’d given an interview and all but bared her personal life to every household in the country. Their curiosity was expected, but that didn’t mean she had to feed into their conspiracy theories.
“Thank you,” Brook murmured as she was finally free to stand to her full height of five feet and five inches. Her winter boots didn’t quite give her the additional height she was used to in her heels, but Kyle Paulson was maybe only five inches taller. Hoping to stave off further encounters, she probed for the reason that he was in the office at such an odd hour. “You’re in earlier than usual.”
“I have an important meeting today with a potential, high-net-worth investor.” Kyle didn’t seem to be in any hurry to go and prepare for his sales pitch. He carried a standard briefcase, unlike her bag with the soft leather. “I saw you last night. At the pub.”
Brook almost asked if that had won him a prize that she hadn’t been aware was up for grabs, but she remained silent. In the twelve months that they had worked in the same building and on the same floor, Kyle Paulson usually went out of his way to avoid her. She could count on one hand the times that he had even made direct eye contact.
“I was having drinks with some of my colleagues,” Kyle said to fill in the awkward silence. He unfastened his dress coat before sliding his hand into the right pocket. He had a penchant for wearing expensive suits and jackets, but he’d yet to splurge on a worthwhile pair of quality shoes. The glaring omission in his appearance was either due to being prudent with his money or he wasn’t that good at managing his personal funds. The latter didn’t shine the brightest light on his firm. “I recognized the woman who was sitting at your table. Her first name is Millie, right?”
Brook was rarely caught off guard.
“I’m sorry, but I can’t discuss potential clients.” Brook’s purse strap slipped a bit, and she used the excuse to extricate herself from the conversation. “Good luck with your presentation.”
Brook had no idea if such a meeting was called a presentation in the financial industry, but it was the only description that she could come up with on short notice. Multiple questions were running through her mind, but what she really wanted to know was how Kyle Paulson knew Millie Gwinn.
“Thanks,” Kyle responded with a small smile before he pulled out the keys that would obviously give him entrance into the hedge fund. “Have a good day.”
Brook stepped back so that the glass door slowly closed behind her. It was in her nature to be suspicious, but no one could argue that such an obviously staged run-in wasn’t highly questionable. She would have Bit find the connection between Millie and Kyle. If there was something more than curiosity that had Kyle approaching Brook, she wanted to know upfront.
In the meantime, she had a lot of groundwork to cover before meeting with the team at eight o’clock. While they had not technically taken the case, the decision to do so was definitely leaning in that direction. First, Brook needed to consult with the firm’s accountant regarding the viability to conduct a pro bono investigation.
Brook crossed the marble tile through the large waiting area to her office. The Christmas tree that Kate had decorated in crystal-clear blinking lights with white and black ribbon at the beginning of the month had been positioned in the corner. The brilliant white lights had been set on a timer, and they weren’t scheduled to start their preprogrammed blinking pattern for another hour or so. The team had made the decision to decorate while she’d been testifying in court on a previous case. She should have known they’d take the idea to extremes. It was literally a color-coordinated black and white Christmas to match the modern décor of the office.
It wasn’t that Brook was opposed to holidays.
She had simply never had reason to celebrate them before, and that technically hadn’t changed. Come Christmas morning, the team would be with their families, and she would be at her condo staring at her dining room wall that served as a murder board dedicated to her brother’s brutal crimes.
Work had become her life early on, and she’d accepted long ago that it was her responsibility to stop her brother and his sick desire to kill women who believed their lives were perfect. She wouldn’t stop until he was behind bars or six feet under. Until then, she would continue her search while also attempting to give closure to other families of similar crimes.
