I had dressed in the black suit I normally wore for events like these, and I set my face with a serious, unfriendly expression, the one I used when I wanted people to stand back and be wary. I was here to do a job, not chat about the latest gossip.
Kayla, on her part, was handling this quite well as she mingled with the others. A smile pulled at her lips and she had a kind, gracious manner as she walked around the room. I was never more than a few steps behind, and I could tell that bothered Robert, but he wasn’t my client so I didn’t care what he thought.
Yes, he was the man paying the bills, but I had to be concerned with Kayla’s safety first and foremost. If he complained to Ansel and asked to replace me with someone else…fine. I wouldn’t like it, but it would free me up to concentrate on getting the new office in order, and that had been my initial goal, anyway.
We’d come to a stop as Kayla and Robert spoke to a man and woman, appearing in their early fifties. Both women laughed and complimented each other on their dresses while the men compared tuxedos. Typical. All of this would have bored me if I didn’t have to stay alert and ready for anything.
At least this event was for a good cause. Kayla had told me earlier that Fight Hunger, the organization running the charity dinner, made sure children in low-income areas had enough food. I’d gotten my ticket at the last minute, and the bill would go straight to Robert.
A prickly feeling tugged at the back of my neck, a sense that something wasn’t right. Glancing to my left, I noticed a man with blond hair watching Kayla intensely on the other side of the room. There was hurt and anger on his face as he began moving our way, never taking his eyes off her. I instantly went on high alert. She must have sensed his gaze as well because she glanced over at me with a startled expression.
“Troy.” She nodded in the direction of the man, her forehead creasing with worry. “That’s Leo, the one I told you about when we were filling out paperwork. I can’t believe he’s here.”
Right. The guy who’d been pestering her for a second date. A friend set them up, but she’d made it clear she wasn’t interested.
“I’ll take care of it.” I immediately moved to intercept him, adrenaline pumping through my veins. He wasn’t a large man, but he could have a weapon. Before the man reached her, I stepped in front of him and cleared my throat. “Miss Keller doesn’t wish to speak with you, so I suggest you turn around.” My voice was gruff and loud enough to make my point clear.
The man’s brows lowered, and he reared back as if he’d run into a brick wall. “Who are you?”
“Her bodyguard.”
It took him a moment to process that information, but once he did, he appeared confused. “Why does she need a bodyguard?”
“That’s confidential.”
“Unbelievable.” He ran a hand through his hair and attempted to peer around me in order to see Kayla, but I moved each time he tried that.
“I just want to talk to her. She’s been avoiding my calls, but she mentioned this event on our date. I think she wanted me to know she’d be here.”
“Kayla already told you how she feels. She doesn’t want to see you again.”
“She’s just scared to move on after what happened to her husband. If we could just—”
“Let me repeat, she doesn’t want to see you. Be on your way.”
“I need to talk to her.” He pushed me, and when I didn’t budge, fear flickered in his eyes for the first time in our exchange.
“Next time you try that I’ll make sure it doesn’t happen again. Don’t make me escort you out of here.”
“Just tell her to call me.” And then he turned on his heel and fled.
Chapter 8
Kayla
“Miss Keller, I’m calling to follow up regarding that list of addresses you found.” It was Officer Hill, the policeman who’d taken the report the night I was attacked after the concert.
I was at home, and it was the day following the charity event for Fight Hunger. I was alone, but I was secure in my house and didn’t have plans to go anywhere. So much had happened lately that I needed time to decompress and deal with the emotional after-effects. Having Leo ambush me at the dinner yesterday was plain creepy. What kind of psycho did Verity set me up with? I’d called her earlier this morning and she’d apologized profusely, not only for arranging that date, but for not getting to know him before setting us up. Even so, the damage had already been done.
“What did you find out?” I asked the officer.
“We don’t believe it had anything to do with the man who attacked you. The paper you found was most likely lying on the ground before the incident happened.”
“What makes you think that?”
“We didn’t find anyone who fit the profile. We did, however, figure out that all the homes on the list were listed as AirBnbs. We made a concerted effort to check out everyone staying in each home for the week in question, as well as the week before and after. No one had a visible scar or matched the description of the man you encountered.”
“I see.”
“I’m sorry I’m not able to deliver good news on that account. We’ll notify you if new evidence emerges.”
“Thank you.”
I ended the call and stood there for several long moments, a sense of hopelessness flooding over me like a giant tidal wave about to wipe me out. I knew that criminals were often brought to justice, but
