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angrily.
    “I see.”
    “I’m sure you think you do. Call my private cell when you have news. I don’t want Chelsea or Rosa getting wind of this.” The bastard was paid well for his discretion. How dare the son of a bitch question him?
    Nick described the woman he wanted Jason to check out, told him the dates they were together. Then Nick lied, saying he and the doctor shared a mutual financial interest. He needed to know if the man could produce the financing their venture required.
    With that temporarily taken care of, Nick drank his tea, even though it was only lukewarm. He skimmed a few headlines in the papers Rosa had laid out, but found his attention drifting.
    “Screw it,” he said out loud. He brushed the papers aside in a heap, searching for the cell phone he’d used only minutes ago. After locating it beneath the cushions, he punched in Herbert’s number.
    “Yes, Mr. Pemberton?”
    Reliable as always. Nick could always count on the old guy, he’d give him that.
    “I’m ready to go home.”
    “Yes, sir. I’ll be waiting at the usual location,” Herbert replied.
    Nick grabbed his jacket from the back of the sofa, stuffed the phone in his hip pocket, and locked the door behind him. Rosa had a set of keys to his private office in case of an emergency, but she knew better than to enter without his requesting her presence. If he was gone and something occurred that she considered an emergency, she was instructed to call him immediately.
    Nick made his way to the elevator without encountering any of his office staff. He didn’t want to explain canceling the meeting to anyone. He had too much to consider.
    What if I do have cancer or some other life-altering disease?
    He’d survive because he was a survivor. This was just a blip on the screen of life. It wouldn’t surprise him at all if Warner was blowing a little smoke up his ass. He didn’t like the man, and he knew the feeling was mutual. Maybe he wanted to scare him, make him think twice about canceling any future appointments. But Nick knew Warner had scruples. He’d never resort to such ludicrous behavior just because he didn’t like a patient. Most likely, he had something that a few shots and a prescription would take care of.
    With that thought in mind, he stepped out of the elevator, then quickly made his way to the waiting Town Car.
    “Afternoon, sir,” Herbert said while opening the door. “Taking the afternoon off. Very good, sir.”
    Nick nodded, acknowledging the old guy but unwilling to ex plain his unusual change in schedule. Let him think what he wanted.
    His cell phone rang. Caller ID showed it was Jason.
    “What?” Nick barked.
    “Pleasant as ever, I see,” Jason replied.
    “This isn’t a damned social call. Just tell me what you found out.”
    Nick heard Jason’s hateful chuckle over the wires. This would be the last time he would use his services. He didn’t care if he was the best damned private eye in the world. In his opinion, there was al ways someone better. And he would make damned sure to find an agency that would put JV’s to shame.
    “ Nada to any sexually transmitted diseases. By the way, her name is Karen Hollister. Your buddy Evan Reeves is listed as one of the top oncologists in the country. Not yet a multimillionaire, but his finances are very sound. Investments are wise. Nothing fishy about either at this point. Do you want me to continue digging until I find something…unscrupulous?”
    Nick pondered the question. One never knew when you might need useful information; however, with the people in question, he didn’t need any more details about either of them. “No. That’s all.
    Send your final bill to my office. I won’t be using your agency in the future.” Nick flashed a sardonic grin. Too bad Jason couldn’t see him.
    “What?”
    “Good-bye.” Nick clicked the END button, preventing further conversation. Jason Vinery had just lost his biggest account.
    Herbert expertly maneuvered the