Page 6

JASPER

W alking into my office I immediately spot Max sitting on my chair with his legs propped up on my clean desktop, or at least it was clean . Saturdays are a bit more laid back, considering there is next to no one in the office, but I can always count on seeing Max. The man has no life outside of the office, but then again, neither do I.

“Get your feet off my fucking desk, asshole,” I snapped at him as I walked over dumping my jacket on the back of the black leather couch.

“Damn, did you have too much to drink last night?” He retorted as he dropped his feet and moved to the chairs opposite my desk.

“Something like that,” I said walking to my desk to sit down.

I took out my keys and cell phone. Then I placed them in front of my computer before I opened my briefcase and pulled out the files I worked on from home last night.

I couldn’t sleep after what happened at the lounge. I kept thinking about Harper. Curious if she had gotten home okay and if she did was there someone to go home to?

The way she disregarded all the men who approached her, made me curious whether she was lesbian, married or otherwise taken, or just really, really hated men. I smiled to myself as I recalled her knocking that asshole to the ground at the bar. With men out there like that fucking prick, I wouldn’t blame her if it was the latter.

“Did you get the information I asked of you last night?”

“Sure, did boss. Is this info for one of the cases? I don’t remember seeing that name in the files. Unless it’s from the Novikov case I didn’t have that file with me.” Max said as he stared at his phone, hopefully emailing me the file on Harper.

“It wasn’t a pleasant search, that one,” he said as he nodded towards my computer monitor, just then an alert crossed the screen notifying me of a new email. I wasted no time opening it and completely ignored Max’s inquisition.

The first thing I saw was a police report. Taking it all in as I quickly scanned the report, my heart sank.

No wonder she was so fidgety and uncomfortable.

“Hello, earth to Jasper.” Max stood leaning over my desk and waved his hand in front of my face to grab my attention. He’d been rambling about a woman he was with the night before. Max was a one-night kind of man, and the women he chose to bed didn’t mind it either.

“Yeah, what did you say?” I asked, tilting my head towards him with my eyes still stuck on my computer monitor. He rolled his eyes dismissing my ignorance and waved a hand towards the screen.

“I was able to retrieve a lot on the initial incident through public records, the police reports, and witness statements. I have a friend at the police station there in Atlanta. I’m sure I could get him on the line if you needed more, who is this girl? Why are we interested in her background?” Max asked, picking at his nails. Now seated with his feet stretched out in front of him.

“Is there a current employment listed?” I asked again ignoring his questioning.

He raised an eyebrow suddenly aware of my avoidance.

“Well, I wouldn’t be doing my job if I didn’t get the current info too. Flip to the next page. She works downtown in some bookstore on the weekends, and during the week she works for the local newspaper as an errand girl or assistant or something.” he answered unbothered.

“So, are you going to tell me why we are interested in this girl?”

“Not we , me,” I snapped. I wrote the address down on a Post-it. I got up, grabbed my jacket from the couch, and headed for the open door.

“Cancel my appointments for this morning. I’ll be back this afternoon for the debriefing.” I yelled over my shoulder.

Walking into the elevator, I quickly texted my driver to meet me outside at the curb along with the address to the bookstore where Harper worked. Just as expected he was right there when I exited my building. Good help is hard to come by, but I’ll be damned if he isn’t one of the best drivers I’ve ever had.

“Sir.” He welcomed me with the door open, anticipating my arrival.

“Thank you, Hector, did you get the address I texted?” I asked unbuttoning my suit jacket as I slid onto the leather seat.

“Yes sir, it’s only about a ten-minute drive from us, with no traffic.”

“Good, let’s go,” I demanded before he closed the door behind me.