Page 6

The hot water sluiced over his body, and he scrubbed with the Hermes soap he preferred.

A luxury for sure, but he was never going back to the cheap stuff his father bought.

He stood under the shower for a good ten minutes, his thoughts consumed with Claire.

The many times he had taken her in the shower.

The last time she went down on him. How he loved her breasts and the way she screamed when she came. Damn. She was his.

Where was she?

His cock was hard, and he was furious. Furious that he had to take matters into his own hands—again.

With vigorous rubbing, it only took a couple of minutes to explode over the shower wall.

He welcomed the relief, but his anger returned.

He rinsed off and got out to towel-dry. He wrapped the super plush towel around his waist and lay down on their king-size bed for a few minutes, inhaling the floral scent he preferred on Claire.

Next steps. Keith tapped his chest with his fingers and contemplated how he was going to find out where Claire was. It was Tuesday, the day Claire usually worked in the museum shop. It was only a short walk to the museum. He would visit this afternoon.

Plan made. Keith took a short nap before he went out again.

A couple of hours later, Keith entered the Metropolitan Museum, flashed his pass to the guard, walked through the Great Hall and turned right.

He passed through the columns at the entrance of the museum store and walked around the cases of jewelry, books, paper, magnets, tchotchkes—something for everyone to remember their visit to the museum.

“Keith,” a woman’s voice purred behind him. He turned and almost bumped into her rather ample bosom .

“Mary,” he said, “long time no see. How’ve you been?”

The silver-haired bimbo had been trying to get in his pants for over a year now. She was always rubbing her breasts against him whenever he saw her. Yuck. He was usually faster to avoid her, but today he let her take some liberties.

Mary told him she was fine. She was working here part-time. Keith remembered she lost her husband, a member of his firm, a year ago, and they talked about Bob for a while.

Taking her arm, he led her to a corner. “Mary, I’m in a jam here.”

“Oh, no!” Her blue eyes widened. Her false eyelashes moved like caterpillars on her lids, and he tried not to stare. Didn’t she know how silly she looked? Claire was always subtle with her makeup. Just the way he liked it.

“Is Claire here? I know this is her day to work.”

“Claire?” she cocked her head. “We were told she was sick and taking some time off. Is everything okay?”

Sick, my foot.

“No. Not really. Claire hasn’t been feeling well.” He leaned in closer, forced another tear, made his lips quiver. “She’s having an issue with depression, not taking her meds, and disappeared a couple of days ago.”

Mary gasped. “You poor dear. How can I help?”

He had to be careful. Mary was too sharp.

“Well, did Claire have any special friends here? Someone she talked to more than others?”

“Hmmm.” She tapped her lips with half-inch red nails. “She talked to Sheri but didn’t say much to anyone else.”

“Sheri?” he asked. “Is she new?”

Mary nodded.

“Is she here?”

Mary thought for a moment. “No. I think she has the day off.”

Keith held his hands, palms up, and shook his head. “Mary, I’m desperate here. Do you know Sheri’s address?”

She put her fingers to her mouth. “We usually don’t give out that information, but this is serious. Give me a minute, and I’ll look it up in the office.”

Mary scurried away while Keith stood impatiently in the corner, listening to all the rich bitches’ ooh and aah over the jewelry. When she came back, she held out a piece of paper. “Here you go, hon. Good luck.”

“Mary, you’re the best. Keep in touch. Hear?”

She nodded and leaned in for a kiss. Riiight. Yuck, but he gave her a peck on the cheek anyhow and walked out.

Outside, he looked at the address. ! It was still early afternoon. Maybe Claire was hiding out with this Sheri. A long shot but still.

Sheri lived farther downtown, a couple of stops from the subway. He hailed a taxi. The subway was for the masses.

He made one stop before the taxi stopped in front of an older ten-story brick building on the west side.

He paid, tipped the driver and walked over to the front door.

He needed to be buzzed in. Would Sheri be home?

He took a chance of coming here rather than calling.

Would she even let him in? He hoped so. He needed to look in Sheri’s face.

He was good at telling when people lied to him.

And God only knew what Claire had told her.

He rang the bell for apartment 601 and was buzzed in. Sheri needed to be more careful. Took the elevator up to the sixth floor and knocked on her door. An attractive, thin woman with black hair pulled back in a ponytail opened the door. Stood there, surprised.

“Oh. I was expecting my sister.”

Keith introduced himself and asked if he could come in. She hesitated but eventually opened the door wider and let him in .

“I don’t have a lot of time, but I was wondering if you heard from Claire?”

“Claire?” Sheri’s voice came out in a squeak. “No. Why would I?” Sheri averted her gaze and looked frantically around her apartment.

Oh, Sheri. Never take up gambling. She was lying. Keith wanted to show her what happened to liars in his world, but right now, he needed to be nice.

He explained Claire had disappeared and he was worried.

She covered her mouth. “Oh, poor Claire.”

Keith was sure she was laying it on thick for his benefit.

“How can I help?”

“Well, if you happen to hear from her, would you let me know?”

She nodded vigorously.

“Also, you could give me your phone number so that I can check in with you occasionally.” He tried to look pitiful. “In case you hear from her.”

Sheri appeared conflicted. He could tell she didn’t want to give him her number. She knew something about Claire, and he wasn’t leaving here without it.

“Please. I’m frantic to find her, and I understand you’re her friend.”

Finally, she made up her mind.

“Be right back.” She walked down the short hallway. He had seconds to hide the mic before she came back from her bedroom.

She came back, and they exchanged phone numbers. A foolish, gullible woman. No wonder she was single.

She promised to call if she heard anything. Keith smiled to himself. Liar. He was sure he’d be six feet under before she called. Guilty, that’s what she was, and she would eventually find out what happened to people who lied to him and kept his wife from him .

But that would be for another day. Today he accomplished part of what he had to do.

Thanking her, Keith left and went home. He had work to do.

Mainly installing the spyware on Sheri’s phone.

It would be harder than putting it on Claire’s but doable, plus Claire didn’t have her phone.

It was now a matter of time. He would find Claire.

And then … she would never run away again. Ever.