Read Retribution Boxed Set (Books One and Two) for Free Online Page B

hand and squeezed it. “I’d
ask you to lunch today, but I have to get back to work. How about next week?”
    The look in his blue eyes seemed sincere, and she
wished more than anything she could spend the day with him. It would do her a
world of good to have someone to talk with. “I’d love to.”
    “Okay, I’ll call you. We could even do dinner or
something.”
    “That would be nice.” She might have to insist on
takeout to spare him the embarrassment, but it would be good to see him again. Plus,
she could get the scoop on what was happening back at the office and find out
if people really believed she’d stolen all that money.
    Mr. Barton looked as impressive today as he had
the first time she’d met him. He welcomed her into his luxurious office. The
massive dark wood desk and beige-colored walls were accented with minor
splashes of red in a painting and in the pillows that rested on a dark brown
leather couch. A warm, spicy scent caught her attention and drew her gaze to a
reed atomizer resting near the back of his credenza. Even the smell of his
office was rich.
    “Have a seat, Nicole.”
    She smoothed her dark gray pants as she sat
across the desk from him.
    He pulled out a large file with her name typed on
a label at the edge. She wanted to cry. How could someone who’d led such a
quiet life have a file that size? What could he possibly have in there? “Have
you found anything that can help me?”
    He glanced up, and she realized the salt and
pepper of his hair extended to his brows. “I’m still studying their so-called
evidence with a magnifying glass, looking for a loophole. I don’t think they’ve
got a chance in hell of proving you guilty. Everything is circumstantial.”
    She scooted forward to the edge of her chair. This
was the best news she’d had in a long time. “Explain exactly what
circumstantial means. I mean, I think I know, but I’d like to hear it from
you.”
    He laced his fingers together in front of him and
placed them on the oversized desk. “Circumstantial evidence is where everything
they have against you makes you look guilty, but none of it is solid evidence
that proves guilt.”
    “That’s good, then.”
    “Short of there being no evidence, it’s a good
thing.”
    “Can I see the video? I’d like to know exactly
why they think it makes me guilty.”
    “Absolutely.” He opened the file and then frowned.
The papers inside snapped as he flipped them, the lines on his forehead
deepening. He picked up the phone. “Where is the disc that was in Ms. Camden’s
file? He paused. “It’s not here now.” Another pause. “Then I expect you to
locate it or get another copy from the police immediately.”
    He hung up the phone, irritation ruffling his
usual smooth demeanor. “I’m embarrassed to say that we seem to have misplaced
it. My assistant is working on it right now.”
    Her spirits sank. She couldn’t help but feel the
one thing that made her appear guilty might also prove she wasn’t, and now
she’d have to wait even longer to view it. There had been at least one other
person in her area that night—the actual thief—and it was quite possible the
video might show someone besides the two of them, someone who might have
witnessed the thief. It didn’t even have to be a person on her floor. Anyone,
anywhere in the building. “Have you watched it?”
    “I did earlier this morning.”
    “What did you think?”
    “Besides the fact that it places you at the
scene, not much.” He seemed to commiserate with her.
    “Did the police say anything else?”
    “I know they’re still investigating, and like I
said earlier, you still appear to be their number one suspect.”
    “My aunt thinks I should hire a private
investigator. She said if the police are solely focused on me, then they’re not
looking for the real thief.”
    He waved away her concerns. “I don’t know that an
investigator is necessary at this point. You haven’t been charged