Hear No (Hidden Evil, #1) (10 page)

“I can get my own,” Kaylee said, reaching for her purse.

“On me,” Nathan replied.

“I have to insist. It’s Mike’s policy. Clients don’t buy us drinks,” she said firmly.

“I’m not a client.”

Kaylee met his gaze, waiting.

“I’m a classmate,” Nathan said.

“None of his classmates would buy a new member to the firm a drink.”

Nathan almost smiled. “All right, Kaylee. I’m a friend.”

“Mike has no friends. He’s intolerable.” Her eyes narrowed. “You want to try again?”

“I see why he hired you. You’ll make a great lawyer.” Nathan said, the corner of his mouth lifting. He held her gaze. “Maybe I’m considering becoming a client.”

“Or maybe you want something from him.”

“Smart girl.” He touched her chin, amusement in his face.

She had the sudden urge not to drink around him. He wasn’t the headhunter she expected. She’d dealt with them before. They never hid their intentions one-on-one.

This man didn’t want her to know who he was or why he needed to see Mike. It made her uneasy.

“Where is Mike?” he asked too casually.

“That’s none of your business. You’ve failed to convince me you have any sort of relationship with him,” she replied. “I think I should go.”

Kaylee rose and fumbled with her notepad, angry and nervous around the handsome stranger.

Nathan caught her arm. His hand was unusually hot, warm enough to pierce the thick material of her suit jacket. She froze, recognizing the sensation.

“One drink,” Nathan said.

Kaylee looked up at him uncertainly, intrigued by the enigmatic man but unsettled by his intensity as well.

“Sit your ass down,” he added, winking. “I know you’re curious.”

She hesitated then sat, instinctively pushing her chair away from his.

Nathan was watching her. “I feel like we know each other,” he started.

“We don’t,” she said pertly. “I have a feeling you don’t know Mike either.”

“You’re pretty protective of your boss. He must be a good guy.”

Kaylee bit her tongue to keep from responding. She looked away, temper flaring. Nathan couldn’t know he’d just given her a verbal slap, a reminder she was always covering for a man she considered to be the lowliest scumbag on the planet.

“So he’s the opposite,” Nathan said, chuckling.

“Mr. Harrison is a renowned defense attorney who has never lost a case,” she replied.

“But how is he as a person?”

“Why?” She eyed him, unable to determine what this man wanted.

Nathan didn’t answer. He reached forward to grab the leg of her chair and pulled her closer, until her knee rested at the edge of his chair and his at the edge of hers.

Kaylee’s face grew hot at the intimate proximity to a stranger. His body heat was as intense as his look. If she let her left leg relax, it would be resting against his thigh.

She found herself interested by the idea of experiencing his heated strength in more ways than one.

“Thanks.” His attention shifted to the bartender. He lifted his drink. “Cheers.”

She lifted her glass and took a sip then set it down. Whatever Nathan was doing, she wasn’t about to get shit-faced so he could exploit her for information. It was hard enough for her to focus with him so close. She dealt with men all the time and never felt as affected as she did now.

Nathan swallowed half his drink in one gulp.

They gazed at each other.

“Don’t look so worried,” Nathan said. He rested a large hand on her thigh and squeezed. “My intentions are relatively decent.”

“That’s encouraging,” she retorted. She swiped his hand off her thigh.

“You were telling me how Mike is as a person,” Nathan prompted.

“No, I wasn’t. I was finishing my drink to leave.” Kaylee tossed the rest of her drink back.

She stood, off-balance with the lack of space between them. Nathan rested his hands on her hips to steady her, their faces inches a part.

Kaylee’s breath caught from the combination of his hot touch and direct gaze. Her stomach was fluttering, and warmth raced through her. She hadn’t noticed a man this way in years.

Strong, steady, calm and intense, Nathan had already called her on it when she lied. There was no doubt he’d notice the fact she was attracted to him.

She was surprised to find his intensity a turn on. She couldn’t stand the way Mike watched her, waiting like a predator to pounce on any mistake she made so he could rub her nose it in.

Nathan’s attention was different. He wasn’t trying to catch her mistakes. He was looking at
her
, as if he really wanted to know her from the inside out.

She’d given up on finding a man interested in the woman behind the business suit. Her father valued appearances more than substance, pushing his daughter to follow him into law and getting her the internship with Mike. The men she dated – at least, those her socialite mother set her up with – were more attracted to the idea of meeting her father than being with her.

“Goodbye, Nathan,” she said.

Kaylee grabbed her purse and walked away. She made her way through the bar, unable to think clearly until she reached the chilled fall evening air outside. She breathed deeply, rattled by the sexy Nathan. After a moment, she started down the block towards the parking lot where her car awaited her.

She walked quickly, anxious to be home. Lost in her thoughts, she didn’t register the sound of anyone following.

Kaylee unlocked her car door and tossed her purse in the backseat.

“Kaylee, wait.”

She turned to face Nathan. He hung back a few feet, dark eyes on her.

“You’re following me?” she asked.

“It’s important I talk to - ”

“If you want to see Mike, you can make an appointment like everyone else,” she told him. She turned and opened the door.

Nathan reached around her and pushed it closed.

Kaylee tensed, suddenly reminded of another scary movie she’d watched.

“Back off, Nathan,” she said, facing him. Any further words caught in her throat.

His body was inches away, his height and heat rendering her breathless. The fact he followed her to her car, however, unsettled her.

“Better?” He held up his hands and took a step back.

“What exactly do you want?” she demanded.

“To talk.”

“We talked. I’m done.”

“Look, Kaylee, it’s potentially a matter of life and death. What if I said it could be your life in danger?”

“Are you threatening me?”

“No, Kaylee.” Nathan rested his hands on her arms. “I’m –”

“Don’t,” she warned. Alarm bells were going off in her mind.

He dropped his hands without stepping away. “There’s someone who goes by the name of Shadowman. He’s an associate of Mike’s.”

Shadowman.
Kaylee didn’t move, didn’t speak. She was barely able to breathe. How did this stranger know about a creature from her dreams?

“I need to know Mike’s involvement with him,” Nathan continued at her silence.

“I don’t know anything about Shadowman,” she managed.

“Mike probably didn’t tell you. Kaylee, I need to know where Mike is.” Nathan touched her again.

Kaylee sidled away. Uneasiness turned into fear. She’d hallucinated the other night when she saw Shadowman at the mental health center. Was Nathan nothing more than a dream?

“Call Linda to make an appointment,” she whispered. “I’m not talking to you anymore.”

She turned to leave, wanting to escape Nathan.

 “Kaylee, please.” Nathan’s voice was soft. “I’m sorry if I’m scaring you. It’s important. We need to talk.”

“Stop, Nathan.”

“Everything okay, ma’am?” an unfamiliar voice called.

She faced the pair of uniformed police officers climbing out of their cruiser at the end of the row of cars.

At least I know he’s not a hallucination.

“We’re good,” Nathan replied.

She glanced at him. He was moving away.

Kaylee couldn’t remember the last time she felt this way, outside of when she awoke from a nightmare. He shouldn’t know about the Shadowman. He was after Mike. She didn’t know why, but she had a feeling he was going to show up tomorrow morning at her office again, if he didn’t find Mike tonight.

Which he wouldn’t. If she couldn’t locate the attorney, no one could.

“You sure, ma’am?” The police officers were drawing near.

“He followed me to my car and wouldn’t let me leave,” she replied.

“Kaylee …” Nathan sighed. “I’m leaving.”

“You want us to make sure he does?” the officer still addressed her.

She hesitated then nodded.

“Sir, please come with us.” One reached for his weapon while the other approached.

Kaylee braced herself, uncertain how the determined Nathan would react. He raised his hands and moved forward voluntarily, stopping in front of her.

“All right. I’m coming,” Nathan said to the police.

He glanced at Kaylee. She was surprised to see his apologetic smile was genuine.

“Sorry for scaring you, Kaylee. If Mike wants to know about Shadowman, you know where to find me.” He winked, not intimidated by the idea of going to jail.

He acts like he owns the world.

Kaylee watched him walk down the aisle with the cops. By the time they reached the cruiser, they were laughing at a joke he made and let him get into the back on his own.

Had she ever met someone as confident, handsome or enigmatic as this man? How did he seem able to charm anyone but her?

She didn’t move for a long moment then roused herself and got into her car.

Nathan knew about Shadowman. The way he was talking, so did Mike. How was Shadowman tied to Mike?

Where was Mike?

If Mike wants to know about Shadowman, you know where to find me.

“This is crazy,” she muttered. Kaylee put her car in gear and drove home to her apartment.

Shadowman was waiting for her. His oppressive presence greeted her when she got out of her car. She paused, chewing her lip, and leaned against it. She knew where the police had taken Nathan, to the station closest to her work. She had made many, many trips there to interview police and accused alike.

If she decided to talk to Nathan, she knew where to find him. In the meantime, she was going to hunt down Mike. She hadn’t wanted to call his family. The one time she’d done it, he flipped out, probably because she called his wife by his mistress’s name.

Kaylee looked around her cozy living area then tossed her purse and jacked on the couch.

“Are you here?” she whispered.

No one answered. Nothing blocked her balcony, and no faceless man appeared.

She locked her door and crossed to her bedroom. Her apartment was too warm, the side effect of being stalked by a man that didn’t exist.

Kaylee flipped off her heels, grabbed her phone and began dialing.

“Hi, Mrs. Harrison?” she asked.

“Yes.”

“This is Kaylee, Mike’s assistant. I need to talk to him about something important. A case,” Kaylee lied smoothly.

Mrs. Harrison sniffled. “I’m afraid he’s left me.”

“Oh.”
Shit. Like I didn’t see that coming.
“I’m so sorry. This is terrible timing on my part, but do you know how to get a hold of him?”

“He’s not answering his cell. Maybe his fucking girlfriend knows.” Mike’s wife hung up.

Kaylee shook her head.
Mike’s an idiot
. She scrolled through her contacts to Mike’s mistress and dialed.

“Hello?”

“Hi, Ms. Ingram. This is Kaylee, Mike’s assistant. I’m trying to reach him to discuss an important issue.”

“I’m glad you called. He called Monday evening to say he was on his way over and didn’t show. I assumed he went back to his wife.”

“Thanks,” Kaylee said. “I’ll let you know if I hear from him.”

“Always a pleasure hearing from you, Kaylee.”

Kaylee hung up.

First Amira disappeared then Mike. Kaylee tossed her phone on the couch, not understanding the connection. It made no sense that Mike’s client would do either. Mike was the best defense attorney in the DC area, and Amira’s testimony – even if allowed – wasn’t enough to put anyone in jail.

Shadowman.

You’re keeping him here.
What had Amira meant? Keeping who here?

Kaylee shook her head. She’d take a shower then call one of the other partners to see if they sent Mike away for some sort of high level case. It was possible he had left town on an important business trip.

Without his briefcase, notepad and phones.

The dread at the base of her belly made her think that something bad happened to him.

She continued making phone calls and finally gave up, not sure who else to try.

An hour later, Kaylee sat on the couch in pajamas, ignoring the television. Her cell phone was in her hand, in case either of Mike’s partners returned the messages she left.

Shadowman moved to block the balcony.

Kaylee sat up straight. A shadow like a black curtain was being drawn across her balcony windows. It moved to her living room windows as well.

She went to the patio doors and twisted the doorknob. It didn’t budge. Kaylee watched the shadow spread across the living room windows, headed towards the front door.

Inexplicable panic shot through her. She darted to the front door and unlocked it, then yanked.

The door stuck. Kaylee pulled again, rechecked the locks and tugged.

It didn’t move.

The shadow crept beneath her doorway, pooling like water at her feet. She stepped back.

“What are you doing, Shadowman?” she asked, struggling to keep her tone steady. “Why are you locking me in?”

No one answered. Kaylee took a deep breath. She checked all the windows in the apartment. They were all blacked out. She sat back down on the couch and reached for her phone.

It was dead.

Kaylee clutched it to her chest.

You know where to find me.

Chapter Ten

The cell door closed behind Nathan. The two cops had processed him and thrown him into the drunk tank, where they claimed he’d remain for twenty-four hours then be freed.