Page 132 of Retribution

“I don’t want to know,” I sigh. “At least, not right now.”

“I’ll make the call,” Oliver says. “Update as you can, Lucas.”

The phone goes dark and I watch my omega leave my building all over again. She was supposed to be safe here.

“Paula,” I murmur. I don’t have to raise my voice because I know that she’s in tune with me. She’s my right hand work person, and I’m in need of that.

“Yes,” she says, stepping forward. There’s no excess chatter or apologies. She simply gets right to the point.

“Please tell everyone to go home. Whatever hours left in the day will be paid. We have a crime scene outside and the lobby is a bit torn up from the firefight. Jesus,” I groan. “This was supposed to be a safe place.”

“I’ll clear the building,” she says, walking over to the wall and unapologetically pulling the fire alarm.

Damn, the girl’s got style. Thankfully there is another stairwell on the other side of the floor for people to go down since the elevators may stop working soon. Whatever, my staff is sitting ninety percent of the work day.

A little exercise won’t hurt them.

“Please make your way toward the stairwell on the left hand side of the building,” she yells. “We are evacuating. The rest of the work day will be paid. Go home.”

Paula watches as people walk past her, looking smug as everyone seems dazed as they grab their things to leave. I’m not going to worry about semantics or how illegal her actions are when she gets results.

“Now that that’s done,” she says, coming back to me. “The police just got off the elevator for the body outside, and Miranda and Tracy are already being fired by Human Resources. Not that the latter matters in the great scheme of things, but I’m on top of it.”

I’m not surprised she knows about the body. Paula is the eyes and ears of my company in Indianapolis' home base. The pharmaceuticals are made in a factory twenty minutes from here and she checks in regularly with them all.

It comes in handy when things go to hell in a handbasket like they have today.

“Thanks, Paula. I’ll meet the police myself,” I say, closing out the camera feed and standing.

“I hope you find her, boss,” she says, her eyes sad.

I notice the way that she doesn’t mention anything about the police finding her, nodding as I approach the two detectives who are looking around the ghost town that is now my office. This place evacuated quite quickly outside of the building security and Paula.

“Detectives,” I greet them. “I’m sorry to drag you down here under horrible circumstances.”

“No one calls us under good ones,” one of them mutters.

“Show us the body, sir. I’m Detective Lemper and this Detective Biggerstaff.”

“Of course. Please follow me,” I say. I walk them to the exit and nod at the security guard to open the door.

Detective Biggerstaff steps forward and pulls out a pair of gloves.

“There was definitely a fight,” he says, taking everything in.

“Isolde isn’t the type of person to go without one,” I say cryptically.

“How tall is she?” he asks.

“Five-nine,” I say. “She has red hair, and was wearing a pair of green cargo pants, a long sleeved shirt with lace sleeves, and combat boots. Isolde came out for some air and was attacked. She’s a victim of kidnapping, and should not be investigated in any shape, way, or form. If you’re unable to find her, then I will. Any other questions?”

“No, sir,” Detective Lemper says, glaring at his partner. “Self-defense is all I see here. Please check his pockets, Alex.”

The other detective pulls out booties and covers his shoes before walking out, still trying to avoid the blood as he leans down to pull everything out of the beta’s pockets.

“She was dragged through the blood, but I’m unsure how her assailants were able to overpower her,” Detective Biggerstaff says.

“I think she was tased,” I explain. “I could feel it through the bond. She was screaming in my mind, and there was a lot of pain thrumming through my body. It felt as if my nerves were on fire. I got out of my chair and went hunting for her. I wasn’t fast enough.”