Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 78631 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 315(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78631 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 315(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
No. Not happening.
Besides, her secret would always be between them. She didn’t dare give him the opportunity to worm it out of her. The truth wouldn’t do Nash any good, so why bother? Maintaining distance was the only way she could protect him.
Thank god she had CSI. Maybe she should check in on a few of the cases she’d been assisting with. Yeah, and if she was going to do that, why not see if JasperThePrivateDick had made any progress?
Haisley nuked a frozen dinner and poured herself a generous glass of wine, then settled onto her sofa with a recent playlist and her laptop. Two minutes later, she propped her feet on the coffee table and scarfed down her dinner with one hand while logging into CSI with the other. She opened her private chat with Jasper, somewhat surprised to see he was also online.
RedHotSavvySleuth: Hi, Jasper! How was your Monday?
JasperThePrivateDick: Hey, Red! It was a little crazy, but I feel good about my accomplishments. You?
RedHotSavvySleuth: It was crazy for me, too. I don’t know that I feel good about anything I accomplished, but I do have information to share.
JasperThePrivateDick: Same. But before we dive in, do you want to talk about whatever happened?
RedHotSavvySleuth: I appreciate the offer, but I just want to put it behind me and see if we can focus on helping these victims.
JasperThePrivateDick: I completely understand. And normally, I’d agree. But when my mind is full of heavy stuff, I find it really tough to concentrate. We might do these victims more good if we sift through whatever’s upsetting you first. I’m a willing ear…
RedHotSavvySleuth: That’s very sweet, but I doubt you want to hear my BS.
Besides, she barely knew this guy.
JasperThePrivateDick: Don’t assume. I’m rattling around this big house alone tonight, and all I can think about is my beloved. She’s been gone a couple of years, but I still miss her every day. Life has been so empty without her. So if I can focus on someone else’s problems and make any difference at all, you’d be doing me a favor.
His words hit her straight in the heart. OMG, had his wife left? Died? Haisley didn’t want to pry, but… Was Jasper sitting alone, missing the woman, despite the years since she’d gone? He must have loved her so much. His woes were none of her business, but losing a spouse or significant other made her own problems seem paltry by comparison.
RedHotSavvySleuth: I’m so, so sorry, Jasper. I know what it’s like to miss someone you can’t have anymore. Mine was a breakup and not anything as permanent as your loss sounds, but I saw my ex today. At my new job, of all places. Long story short, life is crazy, and not only did I learn that I’m actually working for the man who built and still runs the Oakfield Mall, where these women have disappeared, but my new boss hired my ex to get to the bottom of the incidents. So now I’m going be stuck with him indefinitely.
JasperThePrivateDick: That sounds challenging. How are you handling that?
RedHotSavvySleuth: Not well. But enough about me. I have the schematics of the mall, as well as all the associated permits.
JasperThePrivateDick: Does your ex say or do things that upset you?
RedHotSavvySleuth: Not in the way you mean. He’s just a flirt, and it’s my fault for thinking I meant more to him. But honestly…I’d rather not talk about it. Let’s focus on the case. Before I left the office, I stumbled across a list of all the security measures that have been in place since the mall opened, along with new ones they’ve implemented since the abduction started.
JasperThePrivateDick: Are you at liberty to share all that with me? If you’re not, I completely understand. This is your job and your livelihood. I would never want to risk that.
Funny, before he’d asked her to share, she’d decided not to leak Mr. Benedict’s information to Jasper. But his respect for the delicate situation she was in and his understanding soothed her. Besides, Mr. Benedict behaved like an asshole. Was it possible he’d just been having a bad Monday? Sure. But that didn’t make his barking, growling, unpleasant nature any better.
True, but his crappy demeanor didn’t make betraying the man’s confidence okay, either.
RedHotSavvySleuth: I appreciate that. I’m not comfortable sharing what I have right now. I hope you understand.
JasperThePrivateDick: Absolutely. Maybe if I ask questions, you can answer them, based on your information?
RedHotSavvySleuth: Let’s do that. You found something today?
JasperThePrivateDick: I did. I have a former associate who happens to know someone retired from the Lafayette PD. He called some buddies who still work on the force and were willing to chat.
RedHotSavvySleuth: Wait. You just happened to have a friend in New Orleans who knows cops in Lafayette?
JasperThePrivateDick: I know a lot of people. Anyway, the Lafayette PD officer talked to my former associate off the record about the case. I didn’t get a lot of information, mind you. But he’s willing to let this former associate ask him questions on our behalf, so…hit me with your thoughts.