Page 18 of Fury
“It was the office computer. Everyone had the password who works for the business,” he shrugged. “Have you contacted the police?”
“Yeah. There’ll be out to see us soon.”
“Probably shouldn’t have tidied the office up till they got here. Fingerprints and stuff.”
I probably shouldn’t. But I couldn’t have sat in that mess.
“Anything else you need me for, Ms Fischer? I have some embalming to do.”
“No. No. It’s fine, thank you.”
I should have suspended him, sacked him. Got him out of the way while I investigated. But suddenly I wasn’t so sure. Maybe the police could dust for fingerprints? Find some evidence? Dave was close enough to the accounts to be taking money out of the business. It was a brilliant cover to pretend to be a technophobic dinosaur.
I wandered back to my office, my pace quickening as I passed the room full of bodies, something I didn’t think I’d ever stop doing. I’d never seen a dead body, not even my mother. And for now, I wanted to keep it that way. I had no business being in there with them. I’d work behind the scenes and leave the people who could, to do.
The mountain of leather had returned. I hadn’t seen him straight away, my mind elsewhere, my thoughts whirring. But suddenly darkness had consumed the daylight, a shadow looming over the top of me. I jumped. My heart skipping a beat, sending a thick fluttering around my chest.
“Heidi,” his voice grumbled in the snug space of the funeral home’s reception.
“Oh. Hi,” I answered, surprised. “How can I help?”
“I just wanted to check you’re ok. After last night, I mean.”
Glancing around him, I could see the receptionist watching us, her face still, discerning. Stepping aside, I ushered into the broken office, pushing the door into the splintered door frame, the wood not quite securing in place.
Fury scanned the room, probably noticing something was different, even though the cabinets were back in place and everything tidied.
“What happened in here?” He asked, sinking into the seat in front of my desk.
“We were broken into.”
“The footsteps.” He almost breathed the words, his voice low, as if he was talking to himself, not me.
“That’s what I reckon.”
“Apart from that old computer, they take much?”
“You noticed that? I don’t think so.”
“Look, lady.”
I stared at him, not sure I had the energy to correct him, my head still heavy from a hangover that was showing no signs of fucking off.
“Heidi, sorry,” he corrected himself, and suddenly there was the hint of a grin lighting up his face. “I’ve got a proposal for you. I reckon we can come to an agreement on the funeral arrangements?”
“We’ve already discussed those.”
He reached for me, hot rough skin suddenly covering my hand. I moved to snatch it away, but his fingers curled around it, keeping it captive on the desk in front of me.
“If you know what’s good for you, you’ll let go.”
My voice was a growl, a warning. But an empty one, because I had no clue what I was going to do if he didn’t let go. And I needed him to stop touching me, because it was sending confused messages to my alcohol pickled brain, and my heart thudding in my chest.
Chapter Nine
She was insanely beautiful when she was angry. The blue in her eyes almost smouldered, and those perfect pink lips were still plump and fuckable when she pursed them together. Her hand tensed under mine, and those words, the threat, all of it, made my blood heat. I wanted to test that threat. See what she would do if I didn’t let go. But I had a job to do this morning, striking while the iron was hot, while she was still frightened by the events of last night. And now that someone had busted her office, I was certain I was onto a winner.
I smiled at her; her face contorting into a further fit of fury. But then I relaxed my grip, sliding my hand from hers, stroking my fingers over the smooth skin pulling over dainty knuckles.