Chapter Twelve

RACHEL DENNISON’S ACCOUNTANT WORKED IN an office on the twenty-first floor of a large, modern office building on Madison Avenue. Jack and Jessie sat in the waiting area, under the watchful eye of a stern receptionist.

Jack glanced at Jessie, who looked amazing in a white sundress that accentuated her darkening summer tan. Her white sandals showed off pretty pink toenails on her recently pedicured feet. Her blonde hair fell in soft waves down her back and shoulders, and as always her sparkling blue eyes were impossible to ignore.

He was trying like hell not to stare at her. All he could think about was bending her over, pulling up that sexy little dress, and driving his cock into her as he spanked her perfect ass.

He wanted her so badly it was actually starting to piss him off. He wanted to punish her for making him so goddamn horny. Then he wanted to play with her innocent little pussy until she was hot and dripping and begging for it. He would pound his dick into that forbidden paradise until he had that sweetheart moaning under him like a porn star.

Maybe he should just fuck her and get it over with. Deal with the consequences later. Tempting, but Jack knew that wasn’t a realistic option. He doubted Russell would appreciate it, for starters, especially if it interfered with their ability to work together. Russell had told him to show her the ropes, but Jack was certain he was referring to investigative work, not sex. He laughed to himself at the thought.

Jessie looked around the formal waiting room and sat up straighter. She glanced at Jack and found that he was looking at her, his face serious and his expression unreadable. Their eyes locked briefly and he looked away first.

The receptionist announced that Mr. Reid was available to see them. They stood and followed her to the door of a large, modern office.

Inside, Jack introduced himself and Jessie to Wesley Reid, the Dennisons’ accountant. They sat in the two chairs across from his desk.

“Mr. Turner, Ms. Sparks,” Mr. Reid began, his eyes annoyingly, but understandably, all over Jessie. “Mrs. Dennison has asked me to assist you in any way that I can. Please, tell me what information you’re looking for.”

“We need to know about the five million that Mr. Dennison withdrew over the past couple of months. Anything you can tell us might be helpful.” Jack got to the point.

Mr. Reid sighed heavily. “I wish I could be more helpful. I asked Sam why he needed the money but he wouldn’t say. I assumed it was more gambling debt.”

“Do you know anything about the men he associated with?” Jack pressed him.

Mr. Reid hesitated. “I’ve sent a courier with cash to pay Sam’s debts before. Unfortunately I didn’t keep the address, but I can give you the name of the courier I used. He may remember. He’s very discreet.”

Mr. Reid wrote a name and phone number on a piece of paper and handed it to Jack, who passed it over to Jessie.

Jack went over Mr. Dennison’s financial records with Mr. Reid, confirming that the information he had was correct and complete. When they were finished about an hour later, Jack thanked him for his time and shook his hand.

Jack and Jessie squeezed onto the crowded elevator. Jack stood slightly behind her, a little to her left. An older man standing to her right leered at her, staring at her so obviously that it made her uncomfortable.

The old guy was definitely creepy. She blushed and tried to move away as he attempted to press himself against her. He shuffled closer to her again and she felt his hand lightly brush against her bare thigh, as if he could have done it by accident. She cringed and turned toward Jack, pressing all the way against him, the front of her body crushing against his.

Jack frowned slightly at first, uncomfortable with the contact. Then he noticed the lecherous old dude and realized she was trying to get away from him. He glared at the deviant who retreated back immediately once he realized that Jack was onto him.

Jack put one hand flat on the small of Jessie’s back and the other on her hip. He tried to ignore the way she felt against his hands and the fact that her body was pressing against his.

He gazed down at her, thinking about how soft her lips looked. She looked up at him expectantly with big blue eyes. He fought the urge to kiss her as the elevator came to a stop on the ground floor.

Out on the street, Jessie laughed. “Oh my God! Did you notice that gross pervert trying to put his hands on me?”

Jack laughed. “Not at first. I was wondering why you were all over me. For a second I thought you were putting the moves on me.”

“Yeah, right.” Jessie rolled her eyes.

“You need to be careful, Jessie,” Jack warned her. “This is New York. It’s not like being at home.”

“I know, Jack. I’ll be careful. I promise.” Jessie smiled. “I’m not a child. You don’t have to worry about me.”

He looked at her doubtfully. “Okay, princess.”

He knew he would worry anyway. After what happened to Gus he would never stop worrying. The weight of responsibility for his part in that was suffocating.

Jessie suggested that they split up. She would contact the courier to get the information about the drop-off location and Jack could follow up on the recurring credit card charges that he had found.

“Good plan,” Jack agreed. “Send me a text later to check-in.”

“Okay,” Jessie agreed. “You too.”

JACK WALKED INTO THE NONDESCRIPT, hole-in-the-wall diner that had appeared weekly on Sam Dennison’s credit card statement for several months. He sat down in a booth and picked up a sticky menu.

A waitress appeared almost immediately. She was an attractive woman in her late forties wearing a short skirt. She looked like she’d been around the block a few times, but she was probably pretty hot in her day. Jack couldn’t help but notice she had great legs.

“Hi, honey. I’m Linda.” She greeted him warmly with a friendly smile. “You want some coffee?”

He smiled back, shaking his head. “No thanks. Just water, please.”

“My, aren’t you a cutie?” she fawned over him. “If only I was twenty years younger!” She sighed dramatically. “Anything to eat for you?”

Jack smiled at her innocent flirting. “What’s good?”

“Everything’s good here, sweetie,” Linda assured him.

“Surprise me, then.” Jack winked.

A few minutes later Linda returned, setting a huge, triple-decker club sandwich with Cole slaw and French fries in front of him on the worn Formica table top.

“Thanks, this looks good.” Jack smiled at her. “Listen,” he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small picture of Sam Dennison. “I’m looking for someone. His name is Sam and he comes here all the time. His uncle passed away and he’s inherited some money, but no one can seem to find him.”

Jack showed her the photo. “Have you seen him before?”

Linda peered down at the picture. “Oh yes!” she exclaimed. “Sam! He comes in on Fridays, usually, with his pretty girlfriend. I haven’t seen him in a while. He usually orders the Reuben. And he loves the pie here… apple is his favorite. She usually orders a chicken Caesar salad. He’s a good tipper.”

“Do you know his girlfriend’s name?” Jack asked. “I really need to find him. It’s kind of a lot of money and I want to make sure he gets his fair share.”

Linda frowned. “Hmm, I can’t remember her name. Let’s see, it’s like a flower or something. Daisy? No, that’s not it. Hey Hannah!” Linda called loudly to another waitress a few tables away.

Hannah turned at the sound of her name. She was a cute brunette with shoulder length hair.

“What’s the name of the pretty girl that comes in here with Sam? You know, the blonde?” Linda asked her.

Hannah walked closer. “Violet. My friend’s brother used to go out with her.”

“That’s it!” Linda snapped her fingers. “Violet. She could be a model, she’s so pretty.”

“Thanks,” Jack said. “That helps a lot. Any chance you know where I can find her?”

“Yeah, she lives in that brick apartment building across from the college.” Hannah gestured down the street.

Jack sat and ate his turkey and bacon club, mentally reviewing all of the information he had gathered so far. Jack had noticed a number of transactions in Dennison’s accounts for extremely large payments to a Violets, LLC. Wesley Reid, the accountant, had not known what the payments were for and had no knowledge of the company.

After paying his bill and leaving a large tip for the very helpful Linda, Jack caught a cab and asked the driver to take him to the apartment building across from the college. The driver knew where he meant and drove the five blocks before pulling up in front of a brick building.

Jack made a note of the name of the apartment complex so he could come back tomorrow. He was anxious to get back to the hotel so he could take another look at those payments to Violets, LLC. Now that he had a pretty good idea that money had something to do with Sam Dennison’s mistress, he might see something he hadn’t noticed before.