Random Acts of Deceit (Holly Anna Paladin Mysteries Book 2)

by Christy Barritt

  Yes, meet for lunch.

  No, I wasn’t losing my mind. What I was doing was taking action. Initiating. Putting the ball back into my court.

  One way or another, I was going to get some answers.

  ***

  I forced a smile when I saw Benjamin the next day. I’d just stepped inside Jalapeño on a Bun, a Mexican restaurant and deli that was nothing special, other than the unusual pairing of cuisine. The food was ordinary, the decorations boringly minimal, and the service lackluster. Normally, I’d avoid this place, but I needed somewhere ho-hum to meet Benjamin, and Jalapeño’s fit the bill.

  I’d picked a location that was purposefully close to the Chinese restaurant where Chase and I had met for lunch earlier this week. That Chinese restaurant was where I’d first run into Benjamin, which led me to believe that the man worked somewhere close. I hoped my theory was correct. I also hoped that, even though it was Saturday, Benjamin really was working 24/7 at this new start-up or whatever kind of secret company it was that employed him. There were lots of “ifs” here, and I desperately hoped this gamble paid off.

  As mariachi music played overhead and the scent of cumin filled the air, I mulled over my plan, praying it worked. The more I thought about it, the more I concluded that Benjamin’s association with this scheme was more of the clueless variety than the evil mastermind. With that fact solidified in my head, I waved to Benjamin and started toward the laminate booth where he was seated.

  He was dressed in business attire again today—this time in a pink shirt and navy-blue tie. His hair was still wet, like he’d just gotten out of the shower. His eyes still looked bright and hopeful.

  “You look perky today.” He rose five seconds too late to be proper. I was already down and my purse was settled in the corner near the wall.

  “I’m feeling a bit better,” I told him.

  A plump waitress wearing a white blouse stained with what I could only assume was salsa placed a tuna salad sandwich in front of me.

  “I hope you don’t mind . . .” Benjamin started, pointing at my food. A tuna salad sandwich was also placed in front of him.

  “But you ordered for me?” I finished.

  He nodded. Maybe he’d grown up with a mom who’d taught him this was the polite thing to do on a date. I, for one, liked to choose my own food. But none of that was important right now. This was all a means to an end, and I just had to get through this lunch date for my plan to work.

  I picked up a tortilla chip—it was baked, not fried. If I ate chips, I liked them to be crispy and greasy, which was probably the reason I didn’t eat chips that often. Despite that, I popped one in my mouth, preparing myself to listen to Benjamin talk about himself again.

  “So your brother is a state legislator?” he started.

  Great. He was asking me to talk about myself. I had a feeling he probably knew more than he was letting on to. “That’s right. Ralph Paladin. I’m working for him.”

  “And your sister is one of the district attorneys, right?”

  I hadn’t shared that information, had I? I was pretty sure I hadn’t. He must have seen my confusion.

  “That was listed in an article I read about Ralph. Not trying to freak you out.” He let out a weak laugh.

  Too late!

  “I see.”

  “Your family is very connected in the area, it sounds like.”

  “We’re all just trying to make a difference in our own way, I suppose.”

  “What do you do for your brother?” He ignored his food and laced his fingers together, reminding me a bit of a psychiatrist.

  “I’m the constituent services aide. Basically, I’m the one who answers correspondence and keeps an ear on district and local issues. I garner support for causes and offer research on legislation.”

  “Whoa.” He shook his head, his eyes widened. “You must be pretty smart. Smart and pretty? Lethal combination.”

  I shrugged, never one for flattery. “I was a social worker. Titles don’t really have much appeal for me. We only have a short time here on earth, and I really want to do the most good possible.”

  Something flickered in his gaze. Surprise? Admiration? I wasn’t sure. “Sounds noble.”

  “That is yet to be seen.” Some days I felt like it was the right decision, and other days I missed working on the front lines in the community.

  I popped another baked chip in my mouth, stared at the overstuffed sandwich, and frowned. Before I could overthink it, I grabbed a fork and cut off a piece. The sandwich was way too messy to eat with my fingers.

  “I always kind of wished I’d gone into a job more in the helping profession.” Benjamin took a sip of his iced tea before twirling the ice around the glass, probably trying to disperse the sweetener he’d added.

  “What do you do?” I ventured to ask. He finally had my attention. I needed to find out more about him, even if that meant pretending to be interested.

  He laughed faintly, but the sound trailed almost uncomfortably toward the end. “I wish I could talk about it.”

  I leaned closer, hoping there was no leftover tuna salad on my lips. “I’m intrigued now. I mean, how can your job be such a secret?”

  His lips twisted in a frown, and he picked up his tea again. “It’s thorny.”

  “I understand thorny.” I decided to take a page from Jamie and lowered my voice all conspiracy-like. “Can’t you just give me a hint?”

  He opened his mouth but immediately shut it, acting like he wanted to say more, that he’d thought about it, even, but changed his mind. “I wish I could. But I can’t. Not yet.”

  “CIA?” No, I didn’t really think that. And I wasn’t usually this pushy. But with my life falling apart around me, I decided aggression might be a good thing. I didn’t have time to waste here!

  He laughed, his shoulders relaxing slightly. “No, it’s not the CIA. Not nearly that exciting.”

  I leaned back and studied him a moment, narrowing my eyes with thought. “But exciting enough that you left Louisville and moved here. That’s significant.”

  “Well, it was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up.” He pretended to twist his lips shut. “But that’s all I can say. I’ll have to remain a man of mystery.”

  I bit back a frown, realizing he wasn’t going to tell me anything. I was going to have to find out on my own. Instead of pushing more, I took another bite of my tuna salad sandwich.

  “So, it was the strangest thing yesterday. I was talking to some old classmates of mine and . . .”

  I tuned him out as he continued to talk. And talk. And talk.

  Finally, I looked at my watch. Ordinarily, I’d hate being rude. But when my arm was twisted and the man in front of me was somehow involved, I shoved my social manners aside. As Mom always said, there was a time and a place for everything. That included social graces.

  “Unfortunately, I have to get back to work,” I told him, wiping my mouth and pushing away the remainder—which was almost all—of my sandwich. “I’m working some Saturdays until I get settled on the job.”

  “Me too, now that you mention it.” He glanced at his expensive-looking watch.

  Just like he did yesterday, he rose and opened his wallet.

  As he did, I tried to catch a glance of his driver’s license as one of the bifolds flopped my way. Sure enough, the man’s name really was Benjamin Radcliff. I also saw an address: 471 Warble Wing Street.

  I stored that information away because a girl never knew when it might come in handy.

  Benjamin paused at the front door and stared at me. I took a step back, afraid he might pucker up. No, thank you. Being coerced into going on a date was one thing; being forced to trade kisses? It wasn’t happening.

  “Seeing how things are going so swimmingly, we should do this again sometime.” Benjamin stared at me, watching my every reaction.

  I tensed at the suggestion. I hoped to put an end to this. Soon. Like, before we ever had to meet again. Or before he ever considere
d kissing me.

  “Call me,” I said instead. Avoidance. Noncommittal. Nonconfrontational.

  I wasn’t sure if I was being a lady or being spineless. I just knew that I had to play this safe.

  “Good-bye, then.” He nodded.

  I pointed behind me. “I’m going to freshen up for a moment. Have a good day, though.”

  As soon as he walked away, I quickly snapped into action. I slipped a fedora on. Cheesy? Yes. But I didn’t care. I also slid on sunglasses, pulled my hair back in a ponytail, and shrugged into my coat.

  I couldn’t be conspicuous, right?

  Ignoring a strange stare from a woman seated by the door, I slipped out just in time to see Benjamin disappear around the corner. I had to follow him, and I prayed I would find some answers.

  CHAPTER 13

  I quickened my pace so I wouldn’t lose sight of Benjamin. My gut told me he worked within walking distance, and I hoped I was correct. If the man climbed into a car, I’d have no hope of catching him.

  Thankfully, he paused at the corner, waited for the crosswalk light to change colors, and then headed across the street. This could be trickier than I thought, especially if I didn’t want to be splattered against the asphalt in a tragic game of Frogger.

  This dress was way too cute to get messed up like that.

  The light turned yellow, so I started a light jog. So much for not being conspicuous. The light turned red just as I stepped onto the street. I ran across anyway.

  The driver of a silver sedan laid on his horn when I blocked his path for three seconds. I glanced up, hoping Benjamin hadn’t heard. When I saw him start to look back toward me, I pulled down my hat.

  Stupid move, Holly.

  Then again, I’d never been trained for these things. I was acting on a wing and a prayer here.

  I continued to follow Benjamin for three more blocks. Finally, he ducked inside an office building. On the bottom floor, I passed a copy center, a deli, a small newspaper and magazine stand, and a coffee shop.

  Benjamin paused by an elevator. As he lingered for a minute, I quickly ducked behind the newspaper stand. I grabbed today’s edition and held it in front of my face. Every once in a while, I peeked around the edges and saw he was still standing there. A couple of people waiting with him exchanged chitchat.

  The guy seemed so normal, in a dopey, clueless kind of way. I still couldn’t understand his nefarious motivations. As the elevator dinged, he climbed on. I put the paper down and slowly made my way toward the doors. When I saw they were shut, I stepped forward and stared at the numbers up top.

  This building had to have twenty floors. Of course. Four stories would have been way too easy.

  The first stop was on the third floor, I noted. The elevator then stopped on floors eight, twelve, fifteen, and eighteen.

  I was going to have my work cut out for me, especially if I wanted to search the floors without being noticed. That meant I was going to take the stairs. I had too many bad mental images of the elevator door opening and me stepping out into the lobby area of his so-called secret company and running into him.

  I started my journey, wishing I’d worn different shoes. Why had I donned heels today of all days? I must have lost my mind.

  And if I’d thought that after the first floor, I definitely thought it when I reached the third floor.

  I pulled myself together, despite my urge to dramatically drag air into my lungs and walk with a slump, and I pushed the door to the third floor open. It was just a plain hallway.

  I slowly walked down the corridor, keeping my sunglasses on to conceal my face, just in case.

  The floor appeared dead. There was an accounting office, an orthodontist, and a credit union.

  No go here.

  I started toward the eighth floor, pacing myself this time. Certainly the man was already in his office, so there was no need to hurry.

  I tried that floor and the additional four ones where I’d seen the elevator stop. One was a marketing agency that took up the entire floor, another was a law firm, one was a magazine, and the others were random businesses.

  I’d done all of this for nothing, unless I considered walking eighteen floors my daily exercise. My jellylike leg muscles clearly did.

  I still had no answers.

  And I was taking the elevator down.

  I climbed in on the eighteenth floor, crossed my arms, and leaned against the back wall. I’d be lying if I didn’t admit I was frustrated. This had been my best chance to find some answers, and I’d blown it. Now where did I go from here?

  The elevator filled up on various floors until all I could see were shoulders in front of me.

  As the elevator stopped yet again—I mean, seriously, where were all these people going?—I spotted a familiar figure stepping inside.

  Benjamin.

  I quickly looked up. This was the sixth floor. But . . .

  It didn’t matter right now. All that mattered was hiding before he spotted me.

  I ducked to the side, hoping to remain concealed by the tall man in front of me.

  Thank goodness so many people had decided not to remain at their desks at the moment.

  Benjamin’s gaze traveled back to where I was, but then he quickly conformed to the unspoken law of official elevator standing formation. He faced the doors, his back toward me. There were at least three people separating us. As long as the space didn’t empty too quickly, I should be okay.

  And what was up with the sixth floor? I’d watched: the elevator hadn’t stopped there.

  The mystery around the man deepened. And where was he going now? He’d just arrived back.

  The elevator stopped again two floors down. A couple of people got off.

  I suddenly felt like I was perspiring—after all, women didn’t sweat—and my muscles tightened.

  I prayed that Benjamin didn’t look back. That he didn’t initiate conversation. That he didn’t recognize me.

  Why was my timing so terrible? I mean, of all the elevators he could have gotten on at just this time?

  I was a terrible undercover investigator.

  And to make matters worse, my phone rang at that moment. And I hadn’t turned the ringer off. Which meant that everyone in the elevator glanced toward me as Sinatra began belting a tune from the depths of my Dolce and Gabbana—a present from my sister.

  Awesome.

  I slipped my hand into my purse and hit mute.

  My heart was beating out of control as I anticipated getting caught. There were bigger implications at hand, more than me having to make up an excuse as to why I was there. The man who was threatening me might not take too kindly to me inserting myself into this situation. He’d already proven that there would be consequences, and I really didn’t want to make this any harder than it had to be.

  Finally, the elevator stopped on the first floor. Everyone flooded out. I pulled down my hat and took a step forward. But Benjamin had paused in the lobby and glanced back.

  No!

  Thankfully, just at that moment, a man approached him with an outstretched hand.

  “It’s Mark Reynolds. Thanks for meeting with me,” the other man said.

  Benjamin smiled. “Yeah, man. This is great. I’m so glad you found us okay. How about if we grab a cup of coffee and chat?”

  My heart slowed, but only for a moment. I could perhaps buy myself more time. Benjamin would probably be here for at least twenty minutes. That might give me just enough time to slip back upstairs.

  It was risky. I knew it was.

  But I was also desperate.

  As another elevator dinged and its doors opened, I slipped inside and hit the “6.” I felt a bit like a dog chasing its tail at the moment.

  My heart quickened again as I waited to get to the sixth floor. There was so much that could go wrong. All the possible scenarios kept floating through my head. My imaginings seemed innocent at first, but turned from innocent little thoughts to gripping nags that beat me over the head until
I was submissive to all the fears they produced.

  Okay, that was a little dramatic. But my brain was playing with me.

  I licked my lips as the elevator door opened. Holding my head high, I stepped out. Thankfully, this floor had been broken into several different office spaces. Maybe, just maybe, one of the placards on the doorways would give me a clue as to what was going on.

  I kept my chin up as two women walked my way. Look like you’re supposed to be here, I told myself. I offered them a quick smile, my gaze skimming the office titles. Chiropractor. Counseling. Technology consultants.

  None of those things seemed too secretive. At the end of the hallway I stopped by an office with an unmarked door. This space could simply be part of one of the other offices that had bought more than one location. Or it could be a company that had just moved in.

  I paused when I heard voices coming from the other side of the door.

  I glanced behind me and saw no one.

  After a moment of hesitation, I leaned closer to the door. I could barely make out the voices. Finally, I pressed my ear against the wood.

  “I think we’ve really got something good here,” a male said. “We’re going to blow this out of the water, and no one will be expecting a thing. Especially not the folks over at NSA. This is going to be the talk of the town. Mark my words.”

  NSA? Were these people terrorists? I’d just been joking about it when I mentioned the CIA to Benjamin earlier, but now I was getting a little nervous.

  Blow it out of the water?

  No one expecting it?

  Talk of the town?

  I swallowed hard. This was worse than I’d thought.

  CHAPTER 14

  As the voices got closer to the door, I quickly turned and headed back down the hallway. I stepped inside the women’s restroom and waited, my heart pounding in my ears.

  As the voices carried down the hallway, I cracked the door. A moment later, two men walked past. One was short and blond, and the other had red hair and a chunkier build.

  Neither looked familiar. Nor did they look evil. Or like terrorists. I mean, I knew terrorists were becoming homegrown and all, but something didn’t reconcile in my head.