Read Online Point of No Return by Rita Henuber - Free Book Online Page A

information was emailed to you Friday.” Bristol said nothing. “Is there a problem?”
    Bristol’s eyed shifted to Verna, who’d returned to her place behind the desk. Honey mirrored the look and found the woman’s gaze fixed on Bristol.
    “Mr. Bristol?” Honey withdrew her hand. “Is there a problem?”
    “No. No. ” The man shifted his weight from one foot to the other and rubbed the back of his neck. One more quick glance at Verna and he coughed. “I wasn’t here Friday. Took a long weekend. Haven’t gotten to all my mail today.”
    “I can wait while you read my info and go over what the review entails.”
    Another glance at Verna. What the fuck? Honey stood still.
    “It’s the same as always?”
    “I don’t have the earlier reviews.” True, she didn’t. “I didn’t want to read them and have my own review possibly colored by anything previously noted.” True, she didn’t. “I was told there have been a few updates as to what I’d be looking at.”
    Bristol unabashedly stared at the ribbons on her uniform blouse. The colorful pieces of cloth were a guide, for those who knew how to read them, to where you’d served and what you’d done. She’d carefully reduced hers to display what every person in the military would wear. There was little to indicate where she’d served, certainly not her purple heart or expertise with a pistol and rifle. He gave her a smug smile and turned, walking back the way he came. Bristol stopped at the door and shot her a look. “You coming?”
    “I wasn’t aware I was asked to follow.”
    His lips moved. The word wasn’t audible but fuck wasn’t all that difficult to lip-read.
    “My office is this way. We can talk there.” He swept a key card through a device on the wall to the right, pushing through the door without waiting for her answer. She gathered her briefcase to follow and stopped. The door was now closed and the corridor beyond, big enough to drive a truck through, was empty. Honey looked to Verna, who made a face and tsked. A moment later there was a buzz and the door lock clicked.
    “Second door on the right,” Verna said dismissively.
    Honey found the door ajar. Her light rap against the door frame was answered with an unintelligible mumble she took as approval to enter. She stepped into a large windowless I-am-the-boss office. Oversized cherrywood desk. Matching bookcases and bar and dark leather everywhere . Desktop, chair, visitors’ chairs and a small sofa. At least the rug wasn’t leather. It was caramel color. Very thick and expensive-looking. She wasn’t sure if it was the scent of leather or testosterone she caught. “Nice office,” she said politely.
    “Thanks.” Bristol perched on the edge of the desk, one boot planted on the floor, the other dangling. His folded arms strained the sleeves of his shirt. The watch he wore cost more than most people’s cars yet somehow, on him, it looked cheap. Kara’s rough-edged description of him was spot-on.
    “You know the last person they sent to do this was a woman.” He locked a cold gaze on her. “She died.”
    It wasn’t the words but the way he said it that sent her evolutionary early-warning system clanging. “Yes. I was told she and her husband were in a car accident.” She watched for any reaction and thought he was doing the same with her.
    “Coffee?”
    The switch in subject and tone was jarring. “Yes, please. Black.”
    “Verna,” he yelled, “two coffees, black. Have a seat,” he said to Honey and motioned to the chairs.
    She sat and placed her briefcase on the floor. “I’d like to get to the reason I’m here. Let’s start with any questions you have.”
    Bristol looked down on her with an arrogant smile, enjoying his position of power. “Why did DoD send somebody like you—” He paused presumably for effect—“to do this job?”
    Before Honey could answer, Verna entered with a tray of steaming cups. She served Bristol, who took his and went to the chair