Page 58 of Embers of Torment

"Yes! A man sitting there told me it was a woman. I mean, a woman was wearing that gross-smelling perfume. He said she was watching a person get on the elevator. Oh, freaking monkey muffins. Did you just get here?"

"I did, and don't you move." Sofie picked up her desk phone and dialed a number. "Reid, I need you in my office. Now." She paused and rubbed her forehead. "I'm sorry. I'm upset. Della encountered someone…something…in the lobby a few minutes ago. I need you. Please." Sofie hung up and stared out the window.

"What now?" I whispered.

Sofie swung toward me, her jaw tight. "Reid's coming up here. I need you to stay."

"Okay." I pulled on the hem of my blouse, now less freaked out and far more worried.

Reid stood in the doorway minutes later, dressed in a gray suit and navy tie. His towering frame took up most of the space. "Sofie, what is going on?" His brow furrowed questioningly.

"Something happened to Della in the lobby. It's best if she explains it," Sofie said, her finger tapping the top of her desk.

Reid swiveled toward me. "Go ahead. I'm listening."

Shrinking under his unwavering stare, I slowly explained what transpired downstairs. I could see Reid's body tense as my story unfolded. When I'd finished, Reid stood there, rigid as a post, the muscle in his jaw twitching. Ultra protective of Sofie, I knew that beneath his intimidating stance was a river of concern.

Reid stepped into Sofie's office, leaned against her file cabinet, and crossed his arms. "Sofie, I know what you're thinking. But as oddly coincidental as Della's experience downstairs is with the one on our deck, I still don't see how it could have been your mother. She's not a young woman, and she certainly didn't look healthy enough the last time we saw her to be able to climb our tree."

"So you truly don't think it was her, even if she had help? Maybe from the man Della bumped into?"

"No, I don't. The man Della ran into in the plaza and possibly saw at the end of our block was alone. Like Braxton said, we have nothing to connect him to your mother. At this point, it's all speculation."

"Umm…can I go?" I wasn't sure if they had forgotten I was there. Either way, it suddenly seemed like I was intruding.

"You can go," Reid said. "But be aware, Braxton will likely need to talk to you. I'll call him after Sofie and I finish our discussion."

"I understand." I left Sofie's office and went to mine, finding a takeout container in the middle of my desk. I'd forgotten allabout breakfast. It didn't matter because I'd lost my appetite. I removed my cell phone and stashed my purse in my drawer. Then I plopped in my chair to type Jace a three-word text. I hit the send button.

Me: Got fod thanks.

I glanced at my screen. Darn it. I didn't even type my message correctly. My phone dinged, and a response from Jace appeared on the screen.

Jace: Fod?

I groaned.Stupid, stupid, stupid. Now I have to explain.

Me: Sorry. I typed too fast. I meant food.

Jace: Are you okay?

I paused, then typed my reply.

Me: No. Can you call me?

Jace: Calling now.

My phone rang in my hand, and I answered it. "Hey, sorry about that. I…umm…had something happen after you left. It was down in the lobby."

"What happened? Are you all right?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. Well, maybe a little shaken. Remember that horrible perfume smell I told you about? The one that permeated the deck at Sofie and Reid's house the night I babysat."

"I remember. Didn't Reid get upset because you hadn't mentioned it to them at the time?"

"Yeah, he wasn't happy. Anyway, I smelled it again, but it was in my building's lobby this time. A man sitting there told me a woman was wearing it, and apparently, she was watching someone. I just got to my office because I had to tell Sofie and Reid about it first, and I'll probably have to talk to Braxton."

"Is he the detective with the Boston police?"