Page 21 of Newly Tied

“Step back,” I ordered loudly, meeting his gaze. “I’m a federal marshal. You don’t want to touch me or either of these women.”

“You’re in my house and⁠—”

“You’re a marshal?” Hannah asked, and her excited, happy tone made no sense.

“I am.”

“That’s wonderful,” she declared, then turned to Alcott. “I’m Hannah Kage, Aaron Sutter’s goddaughter. You work for him, right?”

Me being a marshal didn’t have much of an effect on Quentin Alcott. The revelation that I was in law enforcement brought no change in his demeanor. However, Hannah announcing she was near and dear to the billionaire real estate mogul, that bit of news drained all the color from his face. I had never seen anything like that in my life.

“Suddenly the barfing doesn’t seem that bad,” Talia said with a deep sigh, turning her back to Alcott and facing Hannah.

Hannah passed me the glass and took both of Talia’s hands. “It’s not my favorite thing, but I always do feel better and get hungry after I barf as well.”

They both had a good laugh, and I looked at Alcott.

“Hannah’s godfather is a big deal, but just as importantly, her father is the chief deputy of the Northern District of Illinois,” I informed Alcott. “He will make certain to get this glass and its contents to the appropriate people at the Chicago Police Department. I’m certain a full-scale investigation will be underway shortly.”

That was a lie because, as Hannah said, proving who drugged the drink would be impossible unless there was camera footage. And maybe there was. Maybe Alcott had his whole penthouse wired, but that would take subpoenas and warrants to get possession of, and by the time those were served, the man was likely smart enough to have erased any incriminating evidence. But leaving him with that fear, causing him to immediately have to call his lawyer, that would be good enough until he faced other repercussions for his actions, like whatever it was Hannah seemed to have planned.

“I don’t know what you’re talk⁠—”

“Yes, you do,” I said coolly. “We both know precisely what you did and what you had planned. I overheard you in the hall.”

His eyes went wide, which was fun, and with that, I walked Talia and Hannah out to the main area. Once there, Hannah collected her boyfriend, Jake, whom she introduced us to, and the four of us headed out of the penthouse to the elevator.

“Why were you at the party?” Talia asked her.

“I was supposed to meet Darcy something—sorry, I don’t remember her last name—about purchasing the property for the animal shelters we’re going to build. I needed a point person in acquisitions.”

“I’m your person,” Talia told her. “Darcy bailed on both of us.”

“Too bad for her,” Hannah said. “May I come by and see you Monday afternoon?”

“How does three sound?”

“Perfect,” Hannah told her. “I’m out of class by then.”

“Oh? Where do you go to school? What are you studying?”

They had a nice talk all the way down the elevator, and I had a moment to think that my boss must be a pretty good man to raise a kid like Hannah.

After I returned the elevator card to the security guard and thanked him for his help, I joined the others, who were all standing outside the building. I was surprised when Hannah took hold of Talia’s hand.

“May I ask you something?”

“Of course.”

“On Monday when we meet, would it be all right if we went to talk to Uncle Aaron first?”

Talia’s breath caught. “To discuss all this with him?”

Hannah nodded.

“That would be great.”

They hugged then, and as always, I was impressed with how women seemed to instinctively come to one another’s aid. It seemed engrained in them.