imagining things. The past couple of days had been difficult as her father wouldn’t allow her to return to her apartment or go to work, making her stir crazy and probably sending her imagination into overdriv e. Joe seemed harmless enough.
She understood the danger, but it didn’t make living under this monstrous roof any easier. To her, it seemed as if everyone here had their own lives, and if they all happened to be around a six p.m., they congregated for dinner. John showed up every couple of days; her father left the house by six; her mother busied herself with all her affairs. Even living alone hadn’t felt so lonely.
“Ms. McDermot t, it’s lovely to make your acquaintance. However, I must say I wish it was under different circumstances.”
Ruby smiled. “I d o, as well.”
“I would like to introduce my assistant, Thomas,” Joe said. “I can assure you he can be trusted, Mr. McDermott.”
“Of course,” Ruby’s dad said, shaking Thomas’s hand. “Let’s head into the library, shall we?”
Her father led the way. Joe Smith and Thomas followed, and Ruby brought up the rear. As they entered the double doors, she glanced around at the impressive room, and frankly, her favorite place at her parents’ house besides the barn. Two walls held floo r- t o- ceiling bookcases, every inch filled with books. Her father, an avid reader, had never liked the idea of reading on a device. He preferred the weight of the pages in his hands, reading fiction, books on leadership, money management, the global warming debate, the scientific makeup of the Earth itself … really, anything that piqued his interest at the moment. He’d passed down his love of books and knowledge to her, and oftentimes, they’d read the same book and have lively discussions afterward.
“I like a well-read man, Mr. McDermott,” Joe said. “And I can see that these books aren’t for show. The small creases in the spines are a dead giveaway.”
Her father chuckled. “Yes, I do love to read. That’s just one of the things Ruby and I have in common, righ t, honey?”
Ruby nodded and sat down on the black leather couch while Thomas and her father took the other one. A small, glass coffee table littered with magazines and an empty coffee cup separated the sofas. Apparently, her father had kicked out the housekeeper from his private sanctuary again yesterday, a common occurrence.
“Well, Ms. McDermott, again, I’m terribly sorry for your scare. However, I want to assure you that my company is dedicated to solving this problem with the utmost professionalism and confidentiality.”
“We appreciate that, Mr. Smith,” her father said. “I’ve always worried that something like this would occur, but now that the problem has landed directly on my doorstep, I want swift, precise action taken.”
“Of course you do, Mr. McDermott. That’s exactly why you called me.”
Ruby sat back against the couch, the cool leather chilling her through her shirt. She still didn’t understand what ‘swift, precise action’ meant. Her father hadn’t involved the police, so no one would be jailed. What would become of her attackers if caught? And honestly, did she really want to know?
“Now, Ms. McDermott, I was hoping you could tell us about your kidnappers, and be very specific. In my business, we thrive on details. The mor e, the better.”
She nodded and ran her hand through her hair. She told Joe how she’d taken Midnight out for a ride and what happened once they arrived at the creek.
“Did you notice anything strange? Did something not feel right to you?” he asked.
She shook her head. “No. Everything was normal. I’ve taken that same ride dozens and dozens of times, and—”
Just then, her mother breezed into the room. “I’m so sorry I’m late,” she said.
Ruby rolled her eyes, knowing her mother had been ready an hour before Joe and Thomas showed up, and she’d simply wanted to make a grand entrance and really be
She understood the danger, but it didn’t make living under this monstrous roof any easier. To her, it seemed as if everyone here had their own lives, and if they all happened to be around a six p.m., they congregated for dinner. John showed up every couple of days; her father left the house by six; her mother busied herself with all her affairs. Even living alone hadn’t felt so lonely.
“Ms. McDermot t, it’s lovely to make your acquaintance. However, I must say I wish it was under different circumstances.”
Ruby smiled. “I d o, as well.”
“I would like to introduce my assistant, Thomas,” Joe said. “I can assure you he can be trusted, Mr. McDermott.”
“Of course,” Ruby’s dad said, shaking Thomas’s hand. “Let’s head into the library, shall we?”
Her father led the way. Joe Smith and Thomas followed, and Ruby brought up the rear. As they entered the double doors, she glanced around at the impressive room, and frankly, her favorite place at her parents’ house besides the barn. Two walls held floo r- t o- ceiling bookcases, every inch filled with books. Her father, an avid reader, had never liked the idea of reading on a device. He preferred the weight of the pages in his hands, reading fiction, books on leadership, money management, the global warming debate, the scientific makeup of the Earth itself … really, anything that piqued his interest at the moment. He’d passed down his love of books and knowledge to her, and oftentimes, they’d read the same book and have lively discussions afterward.
“I like a well-read man, Mr. McDermott,” Joe said. “And I can see that these books aren’t for show. The small creases in the spines are a dead giveaway.”
Her father chuckled. “Yes, I do love to read. That’s just one of the things Ruby and I have in common, righ t, honey?”
Ruby nodded and sat down on the black leather couch while Thomas and her father took the other one. A small, glass coffee table littered with magazines and an empty coffee cup separated the sofas. Apparently, her father had kicked out the housekeeper from his private sanctuary again yesterday, a common occurrence.
“Well, Ms. McDermott, again, I’m terribly sorry for your scare. However, I want to assure you that my company is dedicated to solving this problem with the utmost professionalism and confidentiality.”
“We appreciate that, Mr. Smith,” her father said. “I’ve always worried that something like this would occur, but now that the problem has landed directly on my doorstep, I want swift, precise action taken.”
“Of course you do, Mr. McDermott. That’s exactly why you called me.”
Ruby sat back against the couch, the cool leather chilling her through her shirt. She still didn’t understand what ‘swift, precise action’ meant. Her father hadn’t involved the police, so no one would be jailed. What would become of her attackers if caught? And honestly, did she really want to know?
“Now, Ms. McDermott, I was hoping you could tell us about your kidnappers, and be very specific. In my business, we thrive on details. The mor e, the better.”
She nodded and ran her hand through her hair. She told Joe how she’d taken Midnight out for a ride and what happened once they arrived at the creek.
“Did you notice anything strange? Did something not feel right to you?” he asked.
She shook her head. “No. Everything was normal. I’ve taken that same ride dozens and dozens of times, and—”
Just then, her mother breezed into the room. “I’m so sorry I’m late,” she said.
Ruby rolled her eyes, knowing her mother had been ready an hour before Joe and Thomas showed up, and she’d simply wanted to make a grand entrance and really be
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