Page 81 of Help Wanted

“He seems happy, Brady. He loves you very much.”

“When I left for basic, he was nine. I remember him waving to me from the front window until I couldn’t see him anymore. He told me he was going to join as soon as he was old enough and then we would be able to save the world together.”

“I think maybe you’re saving each other’s worlds.”

Brady nodded and sniffed, his eyes bright. “Zane’s a good guy.”

She sat up at the abrupt change in subject. “I know.”

“The thing is, he doesn’t date. So he pretty much sucks at it. I’m not trying to make excuses for whatever stupid thing he might have done to mess things up with you. All I’m saying is, try to look past it to see that he’s not a dumb shit on purpose. He’s really into you. I don’t know if he said it, but there. Now you know.” He grinned and she nodded and rolled her eyes.

“Fine. I’ll consider the possibility he’s not actually a dumb shit.”

“That’a girl.”

By Friday when it was time to go home, she had everything ready to go. The feeling of accomplishment as she looked at the pristinely painted building fell when she realized she would be giving up her job. The job she loved.

* * *

On Monday morning, Kenley went in to the Connecticut office with a determination she had never felt before. She was literally fighting for her life. She’d spent the weekend figuring out exactly what she wanted from Zane, both personally and professionally.

She wasn’t surprised he wasn’t there by eight, but when ten rolled around and he still wasn’t there, she sent a text.

Are you coming in today?

No. I’m in Florida. Last minute thing.

She didn’t know whether that was true or not. She threw a crumpled coffee cup across the room at the moment a well-dressed man stepped inside, causing the bells above the door to ring.

The startled man looked over at her and she winced.

“Sorry about that. Can I help you?”

“I’m here to pay a bill.”

“Sure. Your name?”

Kenley pulled up Mr. Fortney’s account and applied his five-hundred-dollar payment, which he made in cash. Who used cash anymore? She studied him for a moment while his receipt printed out. He didn’t look like a mobster. But did the real ones look like the ones on television?

Letting it go, she handed over his statement with a smile and thanked him for stopping in. When he was gone she took the money back to the safe in Zane’s office and found there was more cash there from payments made while she was away.

“Does he even know how to fill out a deposit slip?” she grumbled as she closed the safe and spun the dial. She’d have to go to the bank on her way home.

Back at her desk she started going through the pile of new invoices that had come in. It was enough to keep her busy and focused for the rest of the day.

When the bells above the door chimed the next time, she looked up from her work with a smile on her face.

“Can I help you?” she asked the pale, shaky man as he stepped closer to her desk.

“Yeah,” he said. “Give me all the money.” He pulled a gun out of his waistband and pointed it at her.