Taking Control (Kerr Chronicles #2)(11)
Author: Jen Frederick

“That was genius.”

“I know. It still makes me smile, even though it happened three years ago.”

“I’d like to do something like that to a guy I know,” I admit. “Embarrass him so much he’s shunned by his friends.”

“Public humiliation is hard. What’d this guy do to you?”

“Enough.” I don’t want to reveal that it’s Ian who has a vendetta against Richard Howe. He wouldn’t want me spreading his private business, and besides, what hurts Ian hurts me.

She looks thoughtfully at me but doesn’t ask me to elaborate on what enough means. “Who is it?”

Looking around to see who is next to me, I lean in and gesture for Sarah to come close so I can avoid other people hearing. “Richard Howe.”

“Ed Howe’s son?” she hisses. “Ed Howe, the family-first mayoral candidate?”

“Yes,” I hiss back.

“Come on. Let’s go somewhere we can talk.” She stands abruptly. The waiter comes over immediately. Sarah and I fight for the bill, but I tell her Ian is paying and she gives in. We walk a little ways down 69th Street West toward Amsterdam.

“Are you afraid that he’s trying to break you and Ian up?” she asks finally.

I choose my words carefully, because I don’t want to lie. “I think that he’d do anything to hurt us, Ian particularly. He’s really jealous of Ian’s success.”

“I can see that. Who wouldn’t be jealous of Ian? Rich, good-looking, has a hot blonde girlfriend.” She winks at me and I give her a weak smile. “Did he hurt you?”

“He’s trying to,” I say. It’s as much as I feel comfortable saying, but it’s the truth.

“What you really need is dirt on him. Like I got on Cam.”

“I know,” I say glumly.

“Look, I’ve got to go back to the office,” she says when we reach Broadway. “The best thing I can say is to follow him around. Get on your bike and shadow him for a few days. See if there’s anything you can find that would embarrass him. Once you find it, go to him and say that you’ll release that information if he doesn’t leave the two of you alone.”

“But what kind of information?” When Ian and I first met, his goal was to use me to get information to blackmail Howe. I can’t really tell Sarah that, and I know Ian would be furious if I engaged in any kind of flirtation with Howe. But following him around? Maybe Sarah has something.

“You won’t know until you follow him. Might be fun.” A cab finally stops, and Sarah climbs in. “Let me know if you want help.”

With that, she waves goodbye. Seconds after the cab pulls away, Steve pulls up.

“Does Ian know you’re following me?” I ask. I get in because if I don’t, he’ll just follow me up the street.

Steve grunts once which I take as a yes. On the ride back to Jake’s office, my lunch conversation swirls around in my head. Sarah reminding me how Ian and I do fit together. Her suggestion that I follow Howe. Then there’s Jake’s idea that maybe I could do fieldwork. It’s a lot to take in but all in a good way.

IAN

WHEN I ARRIVE AT MY office building downtown, Malcolm Hedder is waiting for me. He pushes away from the granite wall as I climb out of the car.

“You’re a long way from Queens.” He looks out of place down here in his dark wash jeans and white T-shirt, a modern day James Dean.

“Throw her back,” he says without preamble.

“So she’s a fish?”

“She doesn’t belong with you.”

“If you cared so much, you should have taken better care of her when you had the opportunity. She’s mine now.” Steve’s turned off the vehicle and has stepped out of the car, his hand on the roof.

I shake my head in warning. I can handle this. “I’m fine,” I tell Steve. “And you have better things to do.” He squints at me, making up his own mind. Having decided that I don’t need him, he leaves. He needs to get up to Jake Tanner’s office so that he can watch Tiny. Now more than any other time, we need to be vigilant about her safety. Malcolm is lurking outside of my office, demanding her return as if I’m holding her hostage, Howe still breathes, and now her long-lost stepfather is demanding a meeting.

“You don’t know my circumstances,” Malcolm protests.

He’s pathetic. I advance on him. “I’d have abandoned my own mother if I had to choose between her and Tiny. But you know what? Tiny would never have made you choose. She would have helped you find a solution that worked for both of you. But you’re either too stupid or selfish to realize that.”

Malcolm scowls at me. “Here’s what we both know: you’ll get tired of her. And then where will she be?”

“Don’t pretend like you know me, Hedder. I’m a choir boy compared to you.” I look at my watch. “I’ve got other unhappy children to deal with today. Are we done here?”

“You’re placing her in danger,” he blurts out as I brush by him. This stops me, as he knew it would.

“From you or your father?”

“Your life is dangerous,” he shoots back with narrowed eyes.

“Really? Because I’m not the one engaged in criminal activity. I believe it was the job you asked Tiny to do that got her beat up by a drugged out, paranoid customer.”

He has the grace to flush but persists. “She’s an ordinary girl and won’t have the first clue how to deal with your business dinners. How are you going to feel when she unintentionally insults someone or can’t keep up with current events because she doesn’t even f**king read? You’ll ruin her.”

“This is why you lost her, Hedder. You’ve never valued her highly enough. You cared more for your own problems than you cared about her. I don’t care what anyone else thinks of Tiny because she’s a goddamn revelation and anyone who doesn’t recognize that can go f**k themselves. Have a good day,” I say pleasantly and walk through the revolving doors.

FOUR

AS PREDICTED, LOUIS DURAND IS standing at my office door when I arrive. After dealing with Malcolm, my patience is in short supply. From the look of annoyance on my admin Rose’s face, he’s been there long enough to keep her from getting her own job done.

“Ian,” Louis cries in greeting. He’s trying to hide his impatience, but the rhythmic tapping of the prospectus in his hand gives his true feelings away.