“Since there was no plan A or plan B,” he answered matter-of-factly.
The light turned yellow and I pressed the gas. “Okay, okay. Do you want to know what was in there or not?”
“Of course I do. Were the drugs still in there?”
“No, I looked everywhere. There were those crystals on the floor in one of the cabinets but nothing else. However, I found a note in there, and it was from my sister to me asking me to meet her. Michael must have gotten to it before me.”
There was knock on his door. “Meet her where?”
“At some address at One Park Lane.”
“Hang on,” he told me.
The rain started to fall harder and I turned the windshield wipers up. “Okay,” I said.
“Put him in the conference room and see if he wants some coffee, I’ll be right there,” Logan said to who I assumed was Sheila, his receptionist. “I’m back. Sorry about that.”
The car in front of me came to an abrupt stop and I slammed on the brakes. The car behind me honked.
“Where are you, Elle? Are you okay?”
“Yes, it’s just raining so hard I can’t see two feet in front of me, but I’m almost to the boutique.”
“Take it easy, okay? I don’t want anything to happen to you.”
“You’re sweet, you know.”
“Now, you’re pushing it.”
I laughed. “You are. Are you ready for the address?”
“Yes, shoot.”
“It was Six-fifteen One Park Lane.”
“That was one of the three buildings that cokehead pointed out to Miles.”
All the spots were taken near the boutique and I found myself weaving up and down the side streets. “I want to go with you when you go,” I said.
“No way.”
I decided to give in and pay to park in a lot. I hated the high cost and very rarely did it, but the rain was cause enough to splurge. The lot I found was farther away from the boutique than I would have liked, considering I didn’t have my rain boots. “Logan, please.”
“No, Elle. Let Miles go with me and then I’ll bring you there later if there’s anything to see.”
I switched the ignition off and fumbled for my debit card. “Do you promise?”
“Yes.”
My bags were on the seat beside me and I pulled them onto my shoulder. “Oh, by the way, Clementine loved her new Rosie.”
“Did she call her that?”
The lot was deserted. Everyone must have been waiting out the storm indoors. I opened the door. “She did.”
“She’s the sweet one,” he joked. “Listen, I have to go. I’ll call Miles after I meet with this client and let you know what we’re doing. I have a few other things to fill you in about.”
Water swooshed across my shoes with my first step onto the pavement and I swiped my card to pay the hefty twenty-dollar parking fee. I knew better than to complain to Logan about it because he’d offered more than once to pay the yearly astronomical fee for the parking lot just around the corner from the boutique.
I started to move faster. The quiet of the normally bustling streets of Boston was eerie. “Logan, one more thing.”
“Yeah, sure, what is it?”
“It’s probably nothing, but when I opened the back door this morning to leave, it was covered with hundreds of black rose petals.”
“Where are you?” he asked, panicked.
He took me by surprise and I stuttered. I wasn’t exactly quite sure.
“Where are you?” he was yelling.
“I’m walking on a side street, heading toward the boutique.”
It sounded like he was moving. “Listen to me and don’t argue. Get back in the car, lock the doors, and come straight here. I’ll meet you outside.” The wobble in his voice told me to listen.
My legs buckled beneath me. “You’re scaring me.”
“I’m headed outside. I want you in your car and driving—now! Are you at the vehicle yet?”
The rain was coming down so hard it was whipping against me and it was hard to see. “No, I just turned back.”
“Reschedule my clients for the day,” I heard him say.
“I’ll call you when I’m in the car,” I said.
“No! Stay on the phone with me.”
My heart was beating erratically. “It’s just ahead.”
“Okay, keep walking as fast as you can.”
Panic like I’ve never felt gripped me. I hit the key fob and unlocked the door as fast as I could. “I’m getting inside. What’s going on?”
“I’ll tell you when you’re safely inside and the door is locked.”
“I’m in,” I said, my voice nothing more than a whisper.
“Start driving. I’m outside waiting for you.”
That woodsy, pine-like smell was still in my car. It was stronger than ever now and it no longer smelled like the outdoors, but more like the expensive aftershave I can remember my father wearing on special occasions. I wanted to gag. I couldn’t stand it.
Just as my head turned to see what it could possibly be, an arm came around and covered my mouth. Terror plagued me. I tried to scream, but all that came out was a muffled sound. My eyes darted to the rearview mirror. There was a man wearing a black ski mask in my backseat. Icy blue eyes were all I could see.