Ugly(144)
I look up at the building and smile. I can do this. We walk in and go to the front counter which is manned by two people. “Can I help you?”
“I’m here to see Detectives Harris and Jones.”
They look me up and down, then pick up the phone to ask either of them to come down.
A moment or so later, while my pulse quickly thrums through my body I hear, “Lily,” Harris says as she approaches us. “Come with me,” she leads us to an office and closes the door. “You’re looking better than you were yesterday. You are?” She directs her attention to Max.
“Max Sterling.”
She gives him a slight nod, and looks back to me. “Did you bring the journal?”
“I did. Here.” Max hands her my diary. “I also took copies of everything in case anything happens.”
“Nothing will happen. We’ll read it and take copies of what we need. Once Trent’s trial is over, we’ll return it to you.”
“Can I ask a question about Trent?” I look at Harris and silently plead.
“If I can answer it, I will. There are things I can’t discuss with you, obviously.”
“When did he beat Audrey?”
“Three days ago.”
“Is he in jail?”
“He was granted, and made bail.”
I shiver at the thought he’s around and could come after me. “Should I swear out an order of protection against him?”
“It’ll be a good idea, considering he’s out on bail, and now we have something that shows he’s a perpetual offender.”
I look at Max and he nods his approval. I can tell he wants me to get one. “Okay, how do I go about doing that?”
She explains it to me, and tells me under the current circumstances, they should be able to get a judge to approve it fairly rapidly.
Max and I leave after filling out paperwork for the restraining order, and Max takes me to work. “You sure you don’t want to spend the day at home? I can have a masseuse to come over, maybe even have someone come and give you a manicure and pedicure?” he asks.
“No, I’ll be okay. I need to keep busy, and I need to call Jolene and speak to her. I should’ve told her on Saturday I wasn’t going to accept the position. I don’t want to move, even though I would like to be doing what I love.”
“Okay, well the choice is yours. I’m working late tonight. I won’t be home until around eight or nine.”
He pulls up in front of the store and leans over to kiss me. “I’ll see you tonight,” I say.
As I go upstairs, I stop into Peter’s office. Dale’s there and they’re drinking coffee and laughing. “Lily, come in,” Peter says. Dale gets up from the chair, and moves to lean against the small expanse of wall between the large windows overlooking the floor.
“I just wanted to let you both know what’s happening.”
“And what’s that?” Dale asks.
I give them a run-down of everything that happened this morning, and both say how they’re pleased Trent’s finally being held accountable for his actions.
“I also wanted to say, to both of you, thank you. You’ve not only shown me kindness, but you’ve also been patient with everything. I really appreciate it.”
“Peter told me you had your interview with that publishing company,” Dale says changing the conversation. Obviously they both find it as difficult to accept compliments as I do.
“I did, but I’m going to decline their offer.”
“What?” they both half yell at me. “Why?” again they both say.
“First they wanted me to move to New York so I could go into the office, but I told them I’m not moving. So they offered for me to do it all by email, phone, courier and fly into New York once a month. But I don’t want to do that either.”
“Was the money good?” Dale, the numbers man, asks.
“It was ten percent more than I’m earning here, but the catch is I can’t have any personal clients.”
“Ten percent is weak,” Peter says and Dale nods his head.
“It’s really a combination of things which made me decide to decline the offer.”
“You’ve not declined it yet?” Dale asks.
“What with what happened yesterday, I really didn’t have a chance to.”
“Do you want to take it?” Peter says as he finishes his coffee.
“It’s what I’d like to do, but at the same time, I like it here. And I’m booked up for the next three months and I have five on a waiting list. So really I don’t need them, but it would be nice to do what I love.”
“You know, Lily,” Peter starts. “You’ve been headhunted by one publishing company. I can guarantee it, you’ll have more offers.” I laugh and remember what Jolene said to me. “What’s funny?” He looks at me quizzically.