Chapter Five
Rylan sat back and watched her as she closed the door. The woman was a lousy liar, and she’d lied several times for some reason. If it had been anyone else, he would have called them out, but with her, he was afraid she’d run. He’d gotten the feeling she was someone who desperately needed a break or a little help.
The woman looked like a mild wind would topple her over. The baggy black pants she wore had seen better days but were clean. The shirt was a little tight, but she made sure she looked as tidy as she could.
He had the strongest urge to pull her back in the room so he could take care of her. He’d make sure she ate and got the sleep she needed to erase the dark circles of fatigue under her eyes. Rylan had no idea why he wanted to take care of her and was protective of her because he didn’t know anything about her.
He vowed to keep his eye on her and help her if needed.
He looked over her application, but it gave him so little information, and he doubted a lot of the information she gave him was the truth.
Thirty minutes later, he looked up when there was a knock on the door.
“Come in,” he called out.
Carolyn, his secretary, walked in with a frown.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
“Faith. After you met with her, she shook like a leaf but smiled brightly and acted like everything was fine. I asked her questions about herself, and what she told me didn’t sound right.”
“I feel the same way.”
“Where did you find that poor girl?”
He told her the story of the day before and grinned when Carolyn muttered the word assholes. His secretary very rarely cursed, and it was only when she was pissed.
“I’m glad you found her. I’ve got the feeling if you hadn’t intervened, she would be homeless.”
God, the thought of that little woman on the streets by herself made him sick. So many things could happen to her. She’d be the sheep in the midst of wolves.
“How about the both of us keep our eyes on her and see if we can’t help her.”
“I’ll do that. She’s so sweet,” Carolyn said. “I can’t help but think of my daughter when I see her.”
He nodded. Her daughter Casey was a sweetheart and would do anything for anyone. A few years ago, she was taken advantage of by a man who was supposed to take care of her. It took Carolyn and her husband months to realize their daughter was being abused, and then they took her from the man and helped her start a new life. Carolyn often told him about the changes to her personality and the way she tried to hide it, too. There were too many shadows in her eyes that hadn’t been there before, much like Faith.
“Don’t worry, Carolyn. We’ll help the woman.”
She nodded, turned, and left.
Rylan reached for his phone. “Mac, it’s Rylan. I want you to find out information on someone.”
“Sure. What information do you have?”
Rylan gave him her name, age, Social Security Number, and everything on the piece of paper he held. He also told him about where she used to work.
“I’ll get on it.”
“Thank you.”
Around lunchtime, Rylan called down to the mailroom.
“Hey, Bucky. How’s Faith doing?”
“She’s so sweet, sir, and she works so hard. I hope I get to keep her down here.”
Rylan chuckled. “We’ll see. Is she on her lunch hour?”
“Yes, but I don’t think she went anywhere. I saw her get some crackers out of the snack machine. I hope that’s not her lunch.”
Rylan would guess it was. “Send her up to me. I’ll get her fed.”
“Yes, sir.”
Rylan called Carolyn. “Can you get us a few sandwiches, chips, and other things? I’m having Faith come up to my office to eat.”
“I’ll take care of it. The woman is too skinny.”
Rylan agreed and went back to work.
Several minutes later, there was a timid knock on his door.
“Come in.”
Faith opened it. The fear on her face didn’t sit right with him at all. He smiled gently at her.
“I’m glad you could come to have lunch with me.”
“Lunch? But I already ate.”