Lie to Me Read Online Free PDF

“I wasn’t aware Mack Ellason was a female.”
    “Does it make a difference?”
    “No.” He tossed the scandal sheet back on her desk. “That thing in your lap licking a paw—at least I think it’s a paw—what the hell is it?”
    A genetically spliced creature their ancestors created for the fucking fun of it. It was a cross between a kitten and puppy. “A kippy.”
    Stone eyed Retro like he expected the pet to tear his face off any second. “They were outlawed. What, fifty years ago?”
    “I didn’t make it.” She rolled her eyes. “I found her at a dig site. Or she found me a couple of years ago. I logged her in legally, and no one challenged my ownership. I’m guessing she bred naturally, but I can’t confirm that.”
    Giving the thing a cautious eye, he grunted, and glanced at a guard, probably his mental note to double check the filing on Retro. “Maybe no one challenged your ownership because none wanted it.”
    “Or maybe it’s because it’s not so weird for an archeologist to own something from the ancient world.”
    Another grunt sufficed as Stone’s reply.
    “Her name’s Retro. She’s super sweet.” As if to prove her right, the fur-ball began to purr. At least what Kella called purring. It was more a cross between purring and growling.
    “Retro’s an odd name.”
    “She’s historical and outdated, so Retro is a perfect name.” No one could argue that logic.
    Absentmindedly, her fingers slid through the fur, and the purring grew louder. Retro tilted her fur-puffy head toward Kella’s digits begging for more attention in a particular spot.
    Satan strode toward her—his human name was James Monroe, but he was Satan in disguise, and he served as Stone’s very intuitive bodyguard. “I’d purr too if she rubbed me like that.”
    What a pig ! Kella glared at James, eliciting a chuckle from him.
    Really wishing Stone would sit, she pointed at the chair opposite her. “Regent?” Her neck ached from craning her head back to look at him. And damned if he hadn’t turned out better looking than she’d anticipated. Not that she wanted to go running back home to him. Okay, well she did, but she wouldn’t because being owned hadn’t been her goal in life then or now. When he remained standing, she decided to move the conversation forward. “How may I be of service?”
    He placed his gloves on her desk and fingered a metal wind-up toy in the shape of a dog. “If you don’t mind me saying, you don’t sound very Northern, Miss Ellason...or is it Mrs.?”
    “I’m single, and I’m not from the North. Would you care to see my papers?” Her benefactor had paid a small fortune for her paperwork so she knew they’d stand up to his inspection.
    “No need.” He made a waving motion with his hand as if she offered them to him. “I’m searching for Mark Evans. Know where I can find him?”
    “No. I deal with his associate, Kris Stoddard. I don’t contact her, she contacts me.”
    His dark eyebrows flashed upward.
    She asked, “Does something surprise you?”
    “You didn’t deny knowing them. I’m not used to straight-shooting, Miss Ellason.”
    “Call me Mack.” Why’d she make that offer? She didn’t want him calling her anything. Instead, she wanted him out of her office, out of her Quadrant, and hopefully he’d already forgotten Kella Starke existed. Regardless of her hope, she knew he hadn’t forgotten his only wife. “I have nothing to hide. Mr. Evans isn’t my biggest client. I only have dealings with his associate when he wants me to keep an eye out for something.”
    “How do you contact him when you locate the item?”
    “I don’t. As I said, they contact me. I might hold onto an item for months before I hear from them again.”
    Stone finally sat in the chair across from her desk. He leaned forward and hooked hair behind an ear. Something about the movement reminded her of the boy she’d known from when they’d grown up together. Not wanting to remember those