Jennifer Morey - Justice Hunter

Chapter 4

Rachel couldn’t stop thinking about Luke. Over dinner he’d been so obsessed with her job at the insurance company she wondered if he had something wrong with him. Would he turn into a stalker or something equally weird or more dangerous? But then that inexplicable attraction she had, and he for her—she felt it between them, a living thing that kept expanding. That was what made her invite him in.

Talking the way they had changed her perception of him. He’d revealed himself, more than he had so far. Where before she felt he’d played a role, last night she’d gotten to know the real Luke Bradbury. And she liked him.

Leaving the break room toward the end of her workday, she started down the hall toward her desk. Hearing a laugh that sounded like Marcy’s, she stopped and headed in its direction. Might as well say good-night.

“I know. She thinks this is real,” Marcy said. “Like we’re all really her friends.”

Rachel stopped short on the other side to the cubicle wall.

“What’s Joseph going to do when she finds out?” another woman asked.

Was she talking about Rachel? She had to be.

Rachel felt coldness spread through her face, and prickles of apprehension sank down her arms, making her hands tremble.

“Hire somebody else, I guess. I’m not going back to work for him. He knows I want the job in Legal.”

They were talking about her. No.

Betrayal snaked into her. In seconds she added up what this meant.

“Why did Lucas lie to her? Why not tell the truth?” Marcy’s friend asked.

Yeah, Rachel wanted to know the same thing. Lucas? Was that his real name? He’d lied to her about his name? His identity?

“His ex-wife’s been calling, did you know that?” Marcy didn’t answer her friend’s question.

“No. Are they getting back together?”

Rachel swam in confusion. Who was this man? Did his ex-wife really lie to him? Had he made it all up?

“I bet she’d like that. Who wouldn’t? He’s hot.”

“And rich.”

The two laughed in borderline giggles.

“I almost feel sorry for Rachel,” Marcy’s friend said.

“She’s going to find out what he’s up to eventually,” Marcy said. “It won’t be too hard for her to figure out.”

“Did Joseph tell you why Lucas wanted him to hire her or why they lied about who they were?” Marcy’s friend asked her question again.

“No, but I heard Lucas joined some hotshot private detective agency. Have you heard about that guy whose daughter was kidnapped and killed a few years ago? Kadin Tandy?”

“No. Who is he?”

“He’s famous for his involvement in cold cases. Dark Alley Investigations is the name of his agency. He only takes cold cases. People go to him for help in finding their lost kids or family members, or to help them solve their murders.”

“Really? Lucas was sexy before, but that makes him even more so. Maybe we should tell Rachel about him. Have you seen the way he looked at her yesterday?” Rachel pictured Marcy’s friend fanning her face in her pause. “Could have lit the place on fire.”

“Are you sure?”

“Oh, yeah. I don’t even think he’s aware of what he’s doing.”

Marcy’s cell phone chimed. “Gotta go. My new boss is texting me.”

“Don’t stir up any trouble,” her friend said.

Marcy laughed softly and left the cube. She saw Rachel and froze.

Rachel pivoted and headed for Joseph’s office. He was still in his meeting. She didn’t care. She went to the boardroom and flung the door open so hard it banged against the wall.

Joseph sat at the head of the conference room table, four other men in suits lining both sides. He looked up at her and didn’t have to be told what she’d just found out.

“Why did Lucas lie to me?” Of course, she already knew. This must have something to do with her job at the insurance company. And Jared...

“Rachel.” Joseph stood up while the other four men watched in riveted interest. “I didn’t want to go along with this.”

“Why?” She felt tears threaten and refused to give in to them now.

“Lucas should explain it to you. I warned him not to lie to you. I told him he should be honest.”

He wasn’t going to tell her. Rachel turned and walked fast to her cubicle—no, not her cubicle, Marcy’s cubicle. Except Marcy wouldn’t take her job back, one she’d had to vacate to allow for this farce to play out.

“Rachel, we found out about you and Jared, and Lucas wanted to try and get you to talk about it.”

Talk about what? What about her and Jared. Not needing to hear another word, afraid of what might come to light, she grabbed her purse and hurried for the exit.

Joseph followed her. “Rachel. Just let us both explain.”

She reached the front entrance, security guards and a few visitors stopping what they were doing to watch.

Joseph took hold of her arm and stopped her.

Rachel looked away but didn’t try to pull away. He’d seemed so nice to her, like a father figure. That stung most of all.

“I told him what a lovely young woman you are. You aren’t what he initially thought. I knew this would end badly. And now it has, and I regret my part in it. I offer you my sincerest apology. Please believe I have tremendous respect for you and sympathize with all you’ve been through. You are a kind, giving and brave woman. I can only ask that someday you’ll forgive at least me.”

That softened her marginally, but not enough to make up for the hurt.

“I thought this was for real,” she said, tears threatening again. The last time she’d cried was the last night she’d spent in jail.

“It can be. The job is still yours if you want it. Take all the time you need.” With that he let go of her arm.

Rachel saw genuine regret and apology in him and had to believe he’d meant what he said.

“Unfortunately, I think it’s too late.” She turned and left the building, wiping a tear away, angry it had slipped free.

She walked to a faraway bus stop and finally boarded, staring out the window all the way to the stop near her apartment. Had everything Luke—Lucas—told her been a lie? Last night had seemed so genuine. But he’d left out a few facts, more than just his real name. He worked for a place called Dark Alley Investigations, a place that investigated cold cases. It could mean only one thing.

Lucas had joined the agency to look into Luella Palmer’s murder. Was Joseph her father? Was Lucas his friend, as he’d said?

She took out her older model smartphone and began to slowly navigate the internet, searching for anything relating to Joseph Tieber. She searched for Luella as well, and found a news story on her murder. An obituary said Joseph Tieber was her father and Lucas her brother. Lucas Curran, not Bradbury. Reading that stung. Who was he? She didn’t know him at all, a man she’d slept with.

Was Joseph his stepfather? They had different last names. Had Luella been Tieber or Curran before she married Jared? She had an urgent need to know and berated herself for allowing her feelings to run her out of the office before making Joseph tell her. Humiliation didn’t make her eager to face him again. Or Lucas.

Not wanting to go home with all the chaos mixing in her mind, Rachel stayed on the bus, and then two hours later found herself walking toward Joseph’s house. She remembered his address from some documents that had required she list it. All she needed was information. The truth. Not knowing who Lucas truly was would prevent her from getting closure. She’d rather face Joseph than Lucas. Joseph should be home from work by now. She’d talk to him and then she’d put this behind her and move on with her life.

Another hour later she walked up Joseph’s spectacular street, huge and luxurious houses spaced far apart on giant lots. She went up to the front door and knocked.