****

  Rapping knuckles against the outer door disturbed his concentration. Irritably, Bruce said, “Yes?”

  “Mr. Malone, your eleven o’clock appointment is here.”

  “Yes, of course. Send them in.”

  Elizabeth turned sideways, and Mrs. Tillman’s elderly form shuffled in once again.

  “Elizabeth, some coffee, if you please.”

  “Yes, right away.” She smiled at Mrs. Tillman and backed out the door.

  Elizabeth was only gone for a few moments. When she returned, she brought the coffee and sat it gracefully on a small table in the room. Her long, slender fingers cradled the cup. Bruce imagined his face in those hands. Her fingers touching his skin as if he might break.

  Bruce needed to stop this madness. She was his employee! He’d enjoyed their time together at the bistro the night before and that was nothing more than a causal dinner. He’d owed her that. So why couldn’t he get her off his mind? Why did her gentleness with everything and everyone engage him so?

  Elizabeth left the room, leaving a feeling of emptiness behind. Exhaling loudly, he focused on the lady in front of him. “Mrs. Tillman, I believe I may have the answer to your case.”

  “You do?” The old lady questioned, her voice trembling.

  “Yes. It seems there is a document that shows the company knew their product was dangerous, yet they allowed the workers to continue.”

  Mrs. Tillman’s gnarled hands twisted in her lap. Tears slid down her weathered cheeks. Nodding her head she said, “John was sick so much. But we never suspected it was from work, you know. We’re just simple folk. Just trying to eek out a livin’. He worked for the company in Kentucky for almost twenty years, and we never had one problem until we came here.” A sigh escaped her wrinkled lips as she continued, “So what do we do now?”

  “Mrs. Tillman, I have to mention this. You know that my specialty is criminal law, right?”

  Her head bobbed up and down once more. “Yes. I do.”

  Steepling his fingers in front of him, Bruce said, “I could recommend you to another lawyer in the firm. One that might be able to attain a higher settlement.”

  “Sonny, there ain’t no amount of money going to bring my John back. This ain’t about the money. This is about justice and bringing this company’s shame into the light of day. Besides my son recommended you. Said he had it on good authority you was the best at lawyerin’. And that is enough for me.”

  “You’re sure?”

  Light sparkled off the lady’s pale blue eyes as she smiled and said, “Yep. Never been surer of anything in my life. Besides that, your secretary makes some of the best coffee I’ve ever tasted!”

  Bruce raised his own cup in salute and smiled.

  Chapter Eleven

  At precisely twelve, Elizabeth went to lunch, leaving Mrs. Tillman and Mr. Malone in the office. Stepping off the elevator into the promenade, she saw Wesley and Lisa with their heads bent close together. They appeared to be whispering.

  Elizabeth approached, making sure to speak loud enough so they would know she was there. “Hey, guys.”

  Their faces rose as one. Wesley’s brows knit with concern. Lisa’s makeup was streaked; her mascara ran down her oval face. Taking a deep breath, Elizabeth found a chair and scooted it up to Lisa.

  Taking her hands in her own, Elizabeth asked, “Lisa, what happened?”

  She sniffed and wiped a tissue at her nose. “My mother came.”

  “Oh. I guess you told her about your faith.”

  “Yes.” A wash of fresh tears slipped out the corners of her red-rimmed eyes. Wesley flung his chair backwards and stalked away.

  Lisa’s eyes followed him. “He’s angry.”

  Elizabeth studied the stiff line of Wesley’s shoulders, and said, “I see that. What happened?”

  A sigh ensued as Lisa said, “Well, let’s see. First of all she was late. Which is normal for her. And well,” Lisa squirmed. “She was drunk. And…and… she wasn’t alone.”

  “Oh.” Elizabeth replied, her mouth forming an o.

  “Yeah. They both staggered into my house all tipsy and barely able to stand. She’d met him at the airport bar or something like that. She thought he could stay at my house with her for the night.”

  “Oh, Lisa,” Elizabeth groaned.

  Taking a deep breath, “I told her no, of course. Then she became irate and started going on about how I’d let her do it last time she visited. I tried to explain that things had changed. That I was a different person now. That I believed in the Lord Jesus as my Savior. That I was living a different life. That Jesus had forgiven me for my sins. And do you know what she did? Do you? She laughed at me. Told me I was a complete fool. She grabbed her new man and left. I haven’t heard from her since. I should have called Wesley last night and told him. He thought everything was fine until today. But I just couldn’t talk about it. You know? All of you have families that are happy about your faith, but not me. Not me.”

  Elizabeth pulled Lisa into a hug, giving her a reassuring pat on the back. Leaning back she grasped Lisa’s hands in her own and squeezed. “Lisa, the Lord never said that everything would be easy. Remember the verse about counting all persecution as righteous? I know this isn’t what you’d planned. I know you wanted your mother to understand. To see the work Jesus has begun in you, in your life. And maybe someday she will. We just have to keep praying for her.”

  Lisa nodded her head. Taking a tissue from her pocket, she cleaned her face, and sniffled back her sorrow. “You’re right, of course. Can you get Wesley back over here? I just want to sit here and eat and not think about this anymore.”

  “Yes, of course.”

  Elizabeth left Lisa alone in their usual spot and went to find Wesley. He was on a pay phone in the hotel lobby, his was voice raised in anger. Elizabeth approached with caution, not wanting to interrupt the conversation.

  “I said no, I won’t help you.” Wesley paused as he listened, then responded in a hushed gruff way, “Listen, leave me alone. Okay? Just leave me alone. I’m not doing that anymore. Find someone else.”

  The slam of the phone startled Elizabeth. She didn’t have time to hide. When Wesley turned around to face her, sweat beaded his brow; his face was red, his breathing heavy. “Elizabeth?”

  She tried to hide her knowledge, attempting to keep her expressions neutral. “Wesley, I’m sorry to intrude. Lisa said that she wanted to speak with you.”

  Wesley peered at her, one eyebrow arched. “Did you hear that?”

  She shrugged. “I heard some of it. I, I’m sorry. I should have scooted back. It’s none of my business.”

  “You’re right, it’s not.” Wesley turned on his heel; his hand ran through his short blond hair. She wasn’t moving. She was too shocked! Wesley had never spoken to her that way before. He’d never been rude. What had gone wrong for him to suddenly change like that?

  Elizabeth spotted LuLu coming down the elevator. With everyone having a problem today, Elizabeth couldn’t help but wonder what kind of mood she would be in.

  “This has been the best day ever!” LuLu exclaimed. “First of all, Mr. Hampton, I mean my Mr. Hampton, Henry, offered me a raise! He said I deserved it. Me! I couldn’t believe it. Then he invited me to Mr. Hampton, I mean George’s, engagement party! Isn’t it exciting?”

  Wesley, Lisa, nor Elizabeth replied. That didn’t dampen LuLu’s excitement as she continued to talk. “I think I’m going to take that raise and go buy me a new dress. Of course, it would be nice if you would help me, Lisa. I don’t want to spend all the money I’m supposed to get, you understand. I just want something that won’t make me look so fat. Okay, so I know I’m a tad overweight. No need to comment, but still something that provides a slimming look would be nice. Maybe something in a black?” LuLu paused for breath. When she started to speak, her eyebrows arched high with confusion. “What’s wrong with you guys today? Why is no one talking?”

  The three of them shrugged in unison. When no one answered, LuLu ignored them and kept right on going. So many things were different today. LuLu was unusually chatty. Lisa was unusually weepy. And George Hampton had kicked it up a notch. No longer was he just being playfully flirty; now he was actually flirting. And she’d gone on an almost-date with Bruce, her boss.

  Placing her sandwich to her lips and taking a healthy bite, Elizabeth tried to remember if perhaps last night had been a full moon. For what other explanation could there be for all these crazy happenings?

  Chapter Twelve

  The following week, the three floors of Hampton, Hampton, and Hampton were abuzz with news of the engagement party. Every employee had been invited. It was going to be a shindig to rival all shindigs. Women in the restrooms, at the water fountains, and in the hallways were discussing what they were going to wear, how they were going to fix their hair, and who they hoped to impress. Not a few of them were hoping to garner the attention of Mr. Malone.

  All week Elizabeth had been making covert glances at Mr. Malone. Bruce. After their one afternoon at the bistro, he’d been nothing but professional. They’d been relaxed in each other’s company. He’d acted friendly, downright flirty even, in the vehicle that night, and Elizabeth had been sure he’d ask her out again. The statement from earlier that he would pick her up at eight o’clock for the party wasn’t exactly what she’d hoped for. Perhaps all those rumors about him never dating anyone he worked with were true. In fact, she hadn’t seen him date anyone at all.

  Sitting at her desk and typing a letter, Elizabeth was startled by a shrill whistle.

  “Wow! Who are you?”

  Elizabeth looked up from her paper. “I beg your pardon?”

  The male voice continued, “Oh, you heard me. I want to know who you are.”

  Elizabeth shifted in her seat. “Well, forgive me for not answering, but your greeting is an odd way to get an answer.”

  The rich timbered laugh filled the small office. A smile spread the width of the visitor’s chiseled face. He was easily over six feet tall, with broad shoulders and roguish good looks. When he turned his head to the side, it caused his black hair to sweep back into its proper place. Placing a large hand palm-down on her desk, he leaned forward. His light blue eyes probed her face as they drifted toward the V in her shirt.

  Elizabeth cleared her throat, and his eyes slipped upwards, centering on her mouth. Feeling a flush of warmth from her toes to her hairline, she moved her chair backwards, hoping to escape this man’s presence. Standing and backing up toward Bruce’s door, a sudden burst of air was felt behind her. Elizabeth stepped backwards, her high heel twisted in the carpet, as arms from behind wrapped around her middle to steady her.

  “Ms. Smith, are you all right?” said Bruce.

  Elizabeth pulled her shirt down and distanced herself from Bruce. Little electric pulses ran the length of her arms from his brief touch. She stuttered a reply, “Y—yes, I’ll be fine. I believe this man is here to see you.”

  A smile spread across Bruce’s face. “Ah, Cole. I see you’ve made your usual entrance.”

  The corner of Cole’s lip lifted. “Well, little brother you know what I say. Never let an attractive woman go to waste.”

  Elizabeth looked back and forth between the two men. Brothers? Now everything was clear. The black hair, blue eyes, the tall muscular build. The only difference seemed to be in the way they behaved.

  “Elizabeth, you’ll have to excuse my brother and his crass attitude. He thinks he’s God’s gift to women.”

  “Oh, but I am,” said Cole Malone with a devilish glint.

  Changing the subject, Bruce asked, “How is Julie? And Austin?”

  Cole knitted his brows together. “You just have to bring them up, don’t you?”

  Bruce winked in Elizabeth’s direction, sending her heart into a flutter. Suddenly her mouth was dry, and she needed a drink of water. Or maybe she needed to sit down. Or perhaps she needed to go for a long run.

  “Excuse me,” she said, as she escaped to the restroom. The last thing she heard was, “Little brother you’ve been holding out on me. Why didn’t you tell me about her?”

  ****

  “Cole, I have something to ask you.”

  His brother was casually sprawled out over the leather couch. One arm lay across the back, while his legs were crossed in front of him. “You’ve got a nice office here, bro.”

  “Thanks.”

  “Where did you get the furniture?”

  “Cole, you know that I brought it from the house. I also know you don’t care about any piece that is here. So can we please focus?”

  “Sure. I’m focused. What do you need?”

  He watched as his brother laid his head back and studied the ceiling. Cole was notorious for not taking things seriously, and it looked as if this time was to be no different.

  “I want to discuss the case, but first I have to ask you something else.”

  “Well, go ahead. I really don’t have all day.”

  Bruce shook his head, and started. “You remember telling me someone in the Hampton firm could be in trouble?”

  Cole leaned up, his elbow resting on his knees. He looked around the room, his eyes studying every corner. “Yeah, I remember.”

  “Well I need to know who that person is.”

  “Now, Bruce—”

  “Cole, please. I just get this sense that it is, well, that it’s someone I know. And if I’m correct, I would like to be made aware so I can help protect them, or do something.”

  His big brother leaned back against the couch, his head reared backwards with muffled laughter. When he spotted Bruce’s frown, the laughter ended, and his face morphed into a serious expression. “Listen, Bruce, I told you all that I know. I really did. It was just a rumor, mind you. The precinct received a tip that someone in the firm could be in danger. Nothing specific was ever mentioned.”

  “Well, I need you to find out more information.”

  Cole threw his chin up to the air, “Yeah, the story of my life.”

  Bruce wanted to get in his face and shout about his fears. He wanted to scream that he was afraid Elizabeth was in danger, but what good would that do? Attempting to maintain his calm, he said, “Promise me you’ll look into it?”

  “Yeah, will do.”

  Their conversation then turned to other matters, but Bruce’s mind still refused to let go of the thought that Elizabeth was the one in danger.

  Long after Cole left, Bruce sat in his office and pondered their discussion. Cole was a police officer, and Bruce had asked him to do some research on Mrs. Tillman’s case. Bruce wanted a list of all the employees that had worked with Mr. Tillman. Especially the ones that had died and been reported to the police as an accidental death. The list was staggering. Ten dead and not one cause of death was listed as work-related.

  There were several car wrecks. A few suicides. One unsolved murder. And the rest the ME—the Medical Examiner—had labeled as natural causes. John Tillman was the only one that had went into the hospital and been diagnosed with cancer and subsequently died from it.

  Bruce asked if the ME was the same on all the cases, and Cole had said no. Besides their place of employment, he had found one commonality among the cases. They all had a lawsuit pending against the Winterbottom Corporation. Bruce knew immediately what law firm was holding these cases: Hampton, Hampton, and Hampton.

  What did it mean? He had no idea. Bruce would need all the case files for those other men brought to him immediately. Mrs. Tillman’s case was up for review in just a few weeks. He’d tried to get an extension since he was new to the case and needed more time to review, but he’d been declined. Mrs. Tillman needed him and he wouldn’t let her down.

  Coming out of his office, Bruce spotted Elizabeth staring out of the windows. She held a cup of steaming coffee in her hands, sipping it slowly. As the mug rose, the edge of the cup touched her lips. She took a sip, a small drop of coffee remaining behind. Her tongue darted out to capture it before it fell. Bruce’s pulse increased.

  Clearing his throat to gain her attention, Elizabeth turned and offered him a smile. “Yes?”

  “Ms. Smith, could you retrieve some files for me?”

  She walked to the desk and placed the coffee mug down on a coaster. “Yes, of course.”

  He stood still, afraid to move. “I have a long night ahead of me. So once you’re finished retrieving the files, you can go.”

  She stared at him, her eyes seemed to bore through to his soul. “Would you like some help?”

  The question through him off-guard, and he questioned her back, “Help?”

  One corner of her mouth lifted, as if she knew the affect she had on his person. “Reviewing the files, I mean.”

  “Well, yes, of course,” left his lips. If he’d taken time to think about sharing his information with her, he might have hesitated. Bruce wasn’t certain, but he had a thought there was a plot to help the Winterbottom Corporation within the Hampton firm. Until he knew who was involved, he shouldn’t be sharing information, right? But Elizabeth? She would never harm another living soul. Besides, if he said yes that would mean they would be alone together. He found he couldn’t say no.

  Elizabeth sat down in her chair and rolled it up to the desk. Her fingers poised over the keyboard, she said, “Tell me which files you need, and we can locate them on the computer. That keeps us from going to all the different storage areas. We will just hit the rooms containing your files.”

  Standing over her shoulder and looking at the computer, Bruce listed the names of the plaintiffs. As Elizabeth pecked out the information on the keyboard, her appealing scent wafted toward him. Taking a deep breath, he tried to pay more attention to what she was doing. Within minutes she had a printout of the files and their locations. The list was over two pages long.