Read Online BREAKING STEELE (A Sarah Steele Thriller) by Ellie Aaron; Ann Patterson - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Ellie Aaron; Ann Patterson
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leave a mark,” he said. I tried not to smile.
Joshua came to the desk and I handed him a list of things to do. I didn’t want to take him with me to Williams, Inc. I told myself it was because he had a lot of things to do here, but I knew it was really because I wanted him out of the limelight, to keep him safe.
I shoved the file in my briefcase and turned to leave. Dan was still blocking the door.
“Was there something you needed?” I asked with as much respect as I could muster. Which wasn’t a whole lot.
“I need updated,” he said. “This case is blowing up in our face, literally.” He looked down on me with a serious frown. That’s why I hated being short—everyone looked down on me. “What kind of evidence did you find at the barn? What plans do you have today? And why were you at the police station early this morning?”
My eyes widened, trying to look sincere. “I will catch you up on this case. On everything. But I really have to go right now, I’m late for a meeting with Hannah Williams and those aren’t easy to come by.” I held his gaze.
He sighed and stepped away. “Fine. But call me once you’re driving and fill me in, okay?”
“Okay,” I promised.
Joshua followed me, but I held a hand up. “You stay here. I’ll catch you when I’m back.”
His brow creased in worry and he opened his mouth to protest. I turned and walked out the door before he said anything.
Chapter 19
THE DRIVE FROM THE office to the Williams, Inc. building took just over fifty minutes. It was located out of town past the airport heading toward the foothills. I’d called Dan and told him everything, which meant he had more questions than ever. Just like I did. What I realized as I told him about the flowers was that I didn’t want to go home again. They knew where I lived, and my place wasn’t exactly an insurmountable fortress. My mind whirled, wondering where I should go. I must’ve wondered out loud because Dan said, “You can stay at my place.”
I curled my nose in disgust, but said sweetly, “No, thanks. If they could find my home, they could find your place. I’ll figure something out.”
And then I saw the place I was looking for. “I’m at Williams, Inc.,” I said, “I’ll catch you later.”
“Be careful,” he said in a fatherly tone.
I almost said, “whatever,” but then thought better of it and said, “I will.”
I stopped at the gate, which was a good mile from the main building. I could see the white, gleaming buildings in the distance shining like diamonds against the sagebrush.
Williams, Inc. had over four thousand employees; it brought a huge amount of income into the valley and was good for everyone. They also were working on new battery technology. If they could create a battery that lasted three times as long, just imagine what that would do to the auto industry. Cell phones would run for days on one charge, electric cars would take over and the oil crisis would be over. The world had high hopes for Williams, Inc. And I was trying to take down the CEO,which didn’t put me on very good standing with a lot of powerful people.
The rent-a-cop was darkskinned from the hot summer sun and had a smooth, baldhead and mirrored sunglasses. I thought he looked just like one of the DB on Reno 911. He approached my car and I rolled down my window.
“I am Sarah Steele, the ADA.” I waited a moment and said. “I have an appointment with Hannah Williams.”
“Hold on.” The short man took off his glasses and picked up a black phone and turned to me. The guard booth was about six-by-six and had a small TV in the corner with a view of the turnoff from the main road.
I waited and wondered if I was going to strike out. Was I too late? I could pretend to be a cutthroat lawyer if I needed to, but it was more show than anything else.
“I’m sorry,” he said. “But you’re too late.”
I couldn’t stop now. “No way. I need to see Williams today. I’m late because her
Joshua came to the desk and I handed him a list of things to do. I didn’t want to take him with me to Williams, Inc. I told myself it was because he had a lot of things to do here, but I knew it was really because I wanted him out of the limelight, to keep him safe.
I shoved the file in my briefcase and turned to leave. Dan was still blocking the door.
“Was there something you needed?” I asked with as much respect as I could muster. Which wasn’t a whole lot.
“I need updated,” he said. “This case is blowing up in our face, literally.” He looked down on me with a serious frown. That’s why I hated being short—everyone looked down on me. “What kind of evidence did you find at the barn? What plans do you have today? And why were you at the police station early this morning?”
My eyes widened, trying to look sincere. “I will catch you up on this case. On everything. But I really have to go right now, I’m late for a meeting with Hannah Williams and those aren’t easy to come by.” I held his gaze.
He sighed and stepped away. “Fine. But call me once you’re driving and fill me in, okay?”
“Okay,” I promised.
Joshua followed me, but I held a hand up. “You stay here. I’ll catch you when I’m back.”
His brow creased in worry and he opened his mouth to protest. I turned and walked out the door before he said anything.
Chapter 19
THE DRIVE FROM THE office to the Williams, Inc. building took just over fifty minutes. It was located out of town past the airport heading toward the foothills. I’d called Dan and told him everything, which meant he had more questions than ever. Just like I did. What I realized as I told him about the flowers was that I didn’t want to go home again. They knew where I lived, and my place wasn’t exactly an insurmountable fortress. My mind whirled, wondering where I should go. I must’ve wondered out loud because Dan said, “You can stay at my place.”
I curled my nose in disgust, but said sweetly, “No, thanks. If they could find my home, they could find your place. I’ll figure something out.”
And then I saw the place I was looking for. “I’m at Williams, Inc.,” I said, “I’ll catch you later.”
“Be careful,” he said in a fatherly tone.
I almost said, “whatever,” but then thought better of it and said, “I will.”
I stopped at the gate, which was a good mile from the main building. I could see the white, gleaming buildings in the distance shining like diamonds against the sagebrush.
Williams, Inc. had over four thousand employees; it brought a huge amount of income into the valley and was good for everyone. They also were working on new battery technology. If they could create a battery that lasted three times as long, just imagine what that would do to the auto industry. Cell phones would run for days on one charge, electric cars would take over and the oil crisis would be over. The world had high hopes for Williams, Inc. And I was trying to take down the CEO,which didn’t put me on very good standing with a lot of powerful people.
The rent-a-cop was darkskinned from the hot summer sun and had a smooth, baldhead and mirrored sunglasses. I thought he looked just like one of the DB on Reno 911. He approached my car and I rolled down my window.
“I am Sarah Steele, the ADA.” I waited a moment and said. “I have an appointment with Hannah Williams.”
“Hold on.” The short man took off his glasses and picked up a black phone and turned to me. The guard booth was about six-by-six and had a small TV in the corner with a view of the turnoff from the main road.
I waited and wondered if I was going to strike out. Was I too late? I could pretend to be a cutthroat lawyer if I needed to, but it was more show than anything else.
“I’m sorry,” he said. “But you’re too late.”
I couldn’t stop now. “No way. I need to see Williams today. I’m late because her
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