“Just, work faster,” I grumble.
“What happened last night? What did you do to make her duck out this morning? Was it bad sex? Is it an erectile problem? It’s common for men your age, so there’s no reason to feel insecure about it. You can overcome that. I found a book online that—”
“We didn’t have sex,” I snap.
“Obviously. That’s the reason I’m recommending the book.”
“I don’t have problems getting an erection. Fuck, would you just shut up and work? I’m not discussing this with you.”
He chuckles as his fingers fly over the keyboard. “There. I’m in, but I can only keep my shield up for a little while. Get your fill, and then I have to shut it down and cover my tracks. Deacon would lose his shit if he knew I was doing this.”
“This is her office?”
“According to her taxes, yes. She works as an accountant. This is the accounting floor.”
“There’s no one there.”
He shakes his head as he points to movement in an office doorway. “There.”
“I can’t see shit. Go to a different camera angle.”
“There aren’t anymore. They don’t deal with actual money like a bank would. This is the only camera on the floor.”
“Can you zoom in? Where is that?”
Another screen pulls up to the side. “According to the online blueprints I was able to find, that’s her boss’s office. Chance Harrison. Do you think she has a thing with her boss? Is that why you wanted me to do this?”
I hadn’t actually considered that until he opened his mouth. She told me she doesn’t have a boyfriend, but she may not consider an interoffice affair the same way she would a relationship that happens outside of work.
“Is that—fuck, Wren. Is there audio?”
“They don’t have audio.”
“That guy has a fucking gun. Is she in there?”
“I can only see what you see.” The camera shot widens. “There’s no one else in the office, but her phone is showing as being at work. Now, the parking garage is under the building, so I can’t be sure, but it’s possible she’s up there right now.”
“Being held at gunpoint,” I growl.
“I’m already sending a message to the St. Louis Police.”
The man disappears from sight, and my stomach sinks. I’m miles away, watching what could end up being the most horrific thing I’ll ever witness, and I can’t help her. I’m a fixer. It’s what I do. I see a situation, and I take steps to make it better.
I’m turning to leave, ready to gather the cavalry when the guy reappears in the camera shot, positioning himself in the open doorway. He’s not alone. Hayden is clutched to his side, and although I can’t see it with their backs to the camera, I know that fucking gun is pointed at her.
“What has she gotten herself into?” Wren snaps as his fingers work, the other two screens he uses, flashing information and windows moving too fast for me to keep up with.
“I’ve got to go.”
“Police are already on their way, Quinten. There’s nothing you can do.”
“Like hell,” I snap. “She needs me. I can—”
“The fuck?” Wren hisses as we watch the man holding Hayden at gunpoint fall to the ground. “Is that—”
“Blood,” I answer. “She fucking shot him.”
I disappear out the damn door, ignoring the yells from the guys in the breakroom.
Chapter 26
Hayden
“Oh shit.”
The mumbled words don’t register in my head even though I hear them.
“This is bad.”
I stare down at the bleeding man as I pull my hand from my purse. I didn’t know if it would work when I shoved my hand in there and pulled the trigger, but the growing red stain on his shirt is enough of an answer.
He’s not dead, he’s gasping for air, hands shaking as he tries to press a finger to his wound. My first thought is to make sure he can’t hurt me. I kick the gun he was holding further away, but telling from the look in his eyes, the man is no longer concerned about threatening either one of us.
His eyes plead with mine, but before I can drop to my knees and help him, there’s a rush of activity outside Chance’s office.
“Hands up!” an officer yells as he closes the distance between me and the elevator on the far side of the office.
For the second time today, I have a gun pointed at me, and before I can open my mouth to explain, I’m shoved to the ground and handcuffed.
I knew carrying a gun was a bad idea. I don’t know that I would change a single thing that just happened, because the guy lying on the floor bleeding was growing increasingly agitated, and I knew it was minutes if not seconds before he pulled the trigger to get my boss to comply.
I have no idea what Chance got himself tangled up in, but from the looks of the situation, it turned bad very quickly.