Page 44 of The Deputy's Secret Double

JJ spun around on her heel and was charging after Price before he could finish his sentence.

The hallway wasn’t as long as the previous one. Instead, it branched off several times before coming to its end. JJ had already lost sight of Price by the time she skidded to a stop at the last option to turn. She listened for a few beats.

Then she heard a door slam somewhere in the distance.

JJ backtracked and followed the echo to what seemed to be the main hallway. There was an elevator at its end, another door for the stairwell next to it. JJ didn’t have to open it to know that’s where they had gone. She could hear the loud footfalls hitting what must have been metal and concrete.

JJ did some quick math.

They were probably ahead of her by one flight. If she ran in after them, not only would she be unable to catch up, she would be in danger of exposing herself as involved.

What would the man in the black suit do?

Would he get off at the first floor he could, or try to put more distance between Price and himself?

There was no time to sit and wonder.

So, she left it up to fate.

JJ smashed the up button for the elevator. If the doors opened in the next few seconds…

They opened immediately.

JJ tucked inside and decided to press the second floor. Her painted fingernail was backlit by the lit up Two but her mind was already in planning mode a floor above. If she was fast enough, maybe she could catch sight of them if they had left the stairwell. If not, she would go up another floor.

The sound of someone coming made her move her finger on reflex to the close-door button. However, the person was faster. He swept into the elevator and turned to face the doors in one fluid move.

JJ was about to stumble her way through, making an excuse that would get him to leave, when she realized who exactly he was.

JJ didn’t know why she even made plans.

Fate sure didn’t let her keep them.

Lawson Cole wore his black suit well. There was no doubt about it. Up close, she could see that it was also, in fact, tailored specifically to him. Like a second set of skin. It didn’t look like he was a man who had been asked to dress up and attend an event. Instead, he looked like a man the event had been thrown for.

It was infuriating to see him doing so well.

It was terrifying to see him so close.

And it was worrying that Price didn’t come into view as the elevator doors closed in front of them.

JJ assessed the situation as fast as she could. Lawson wasn’t making any quick movements. He hadn’t grabbed her or said her name or even, it seemed, looked at her.

Had he not seen her running behind him and Price?

Maybe he thought she was just some partygoer who was exploring or a staff member on business?

JJ took a tentative step back.

The doors might have opened quickly, but she had severely misjudged the speed of the actual elevator. It hadn’t even started rising yet.

If Lawson hadn’t recognized her, would it be suspicious for a normal person to just stand there motionless without speaking?

Or this is the time,a thought said, skittering across her mind.You could confront him now and end this.

But it wouldn’t end this, would it?

Could it be that simple?