Jay rolled his eyes, feeling old anger rise. “Stella is missing, and you’re still going to play this game?” He shifted his gray eyes back to Ms. Carmichael. “I don’t pretend to know everything—”
“Don’t you?” Mr. Haraby sneered. “I thought that was pretty much your thing. Empty arrogance.”
Jayden continued as if the man had not spoken. “However, from what I do know, Ms. Haraby is not the only one to have gone missing. I am here to offer my help to find both Ms. Haraby and Ms. Williams.”
“Who are you?” Carmichael asked as Mr. Haraby muttered a profanity.
“I—”
“He’s a convicted murderer, is what he is. Just got out recently, I see.. I suggest you throw him out. Immediately.”
Jayden struggled to keep a grip on his rising anger. His face was descending into a mask that would frighten many. He knew he should stay calm, but Stella’s father seemed to know exactly how to hit his buttons.
Thankfully, Dave had not been an idle by-stander and seemed to have read the situation right. He stepped forward, finally gaining the attention of the others, and threw on his winning smile.
“That would be a mistake, Ms. Carmichael,” he added gently, his voice and face both open and calm. “This is Mr. Roe,” he continued when neither looked ready to interject some opinion. “The murder conviction Mr. Haraby is referring to is in relation to the Goldstein scandal. I’m certain that a woman of your caliber heard all about that.”
“And who are you exactly?” Mr. Haraby snorted, aiming his permanently disapproving gaze at Dave this time. “Is he on parole watch or something? Or are you some sycophant that his pride enjoys allowing you to trail him? Or perhaps you’re his private journalist now? After all, the sensation with Goldstein must be why he is here. Probably want another high profile case and more limelight to hide his dirty record.
Dave, after a startled pause at the unwarranted attack, answered with calm dignity, though the cheeks beneath his many freckles were burning.
“I am Dave Tiller. Mr. Roe has hired me as his apprentice.”
Silence reigned for a brief moment, and then Mr. Haraby uttered a short laugh. “An apprentice? What’s the matter, Jay? Worried the law will come back to bite you and you want a fall guy?”
“Not at all, Mr. Haraby,” Jayden answered. Although his voice was calm too, the steady notes did not hide the threat in his tone. “Unlike some, I recognize and value talent that crosses my path. It is my job, as a private investigator, to do what the police cannot in order to solve the cases given to me quickly and accurately.” He glanced at Ms. Carmichael. “My record speaks for itself. I understand that you take care of everything for Ms. Williams so I would like to offer my services.”
Silence fell tense and thick, and Ms. Williams’ hired security finally made an appearance.
“Ms. Carmichael, there are suspicious people that just walked…” the young guard’s voice trailed off. He immediately reached for the taser on his belt as he recognized the two strangers from the security camera.
“Easy there,” Jay said as Dave swallowed hard and took a step behind him again. “If we had wanted to hurt Ms. Carmichael or anyone else here, we’d have had more than long enough.”
“It’s alright,” Ms. Carmichael reassured, watching Jay with a speculative light in her brown eyes. “They were just leaving. If you can, please show them the way.”
Jayden looked back at her as the guard replaced his taser, then at the smirk on Gregory Haraby’s face. She followed his gaze and snatched a notepad and pencil from her desk.
“Mr. Haraby will be leaving too.” Her voice brooked no argument and Haraby seemed to bite his tongue on an argument.
“Ms. Carmichael,” Jayden said as she stepped into what had thus far been a section of no man’s land between the four of them. “I am certain that I can help you if you—”
“She doesn’t need your help. I have already hired a man. A better man than you. Neither I, nor Ms. Carmichael, nor Stella,” his voice dropping to a menacing growl, “need you to do anything other than stay out of our lives.”
“I assume Ms. Carmichael can make her own decisions?” Jay inquired politely, ignoring the barb. Now that he had vented some of his anger, it was easier to remain appropriately calm, at least outwardly.
“I mean it, Jay. I will get a court order against you if you—”
“Don’t threaten me, Mr. Haraby,” Jayden said, turning to face him fully. Gregory Haraby was as unlike his daughter as was possible, being short, stocky, and with receding dark hair struck through with gray. “And don’t claim to care for Stella when your every move since I arrived here has been to delay me in helping search for her.”
Mr. Haraby opened and closed his mouth twice, swore once, and left the room.
Jay shook his head and turned back to Carmichael, meaning to press his point with her before she had the guard forcefully remove him. Instead, he got a notepad thrust into his chest.
“Write down your contact details on that. I don’t need any of your pre-planned talks, Mr. Roe. I will give you my answer tomorrow.”
Jayden stood stunned for a moment then smothered a small chuckled, even as he quelled a stab of panic and wrote his number on the note pad. He didn’t like the idea of spending another day here in Salisbury with no further leads on Stella. Still, he knew he had no real choice. If both Stella and Miranda had been taken, as now seemed to be the case, then Ms. Carmichael was their best bet to
