Read Online Race Against Time by Kimberly, Kayla Woodhouse - Free Book Online

her eyes. “Okay then. Well, maybe there is a solution to this problem.”
    “Go ahead, I’m listening.”
    “I have a friend with the FBI.” She shuffled a few papers and eyed him from the corner of her slit lids. “I’ll still need you to sign this form for a regular background check.” A paper and pen slid in front of him.
    “I’m a bit confused. What exactly are you proposing?”
    “I’m going to call him and check into your story.” A pause rested between them.
    Was she waiting for him to tell her something different?
    “Do you mind?”
    Was she trying to scare him? Threaten him?
    “Not at all. I have nothing to hide.” He hoped his quick response would portray he was unafraid of her finding anything. But deep down, he knew there was plenty he kept hidden.
    “Good.” She stood. “Thank you for your time today. I’ll give you a call.”
    And with that, he was dismissed.
----
    ANESIA
    January 14
    8:00 p.m.
    The living room floor took the ferocious pounding of Anesia’s feet with not a creak or a groan. “I just don’t get it. Why would someone like that come looking for a job here?”
    Cole and Jenna sat on the couch saying nothing and watching her pace in front of them. As if it would be dangerous to their health at this point to interject anything. She cringed. Was she that bad? “Come on, guys. I need your input.”
    Jenna leaned forward. “Are you sure you really want it?”
    “Of course! That’s why I asked you to come over.” Ridiculous. Why wouldn’t she want their advice? She crossed her arms around her middle.
    “Anesia.” Cole’s steady voice calmed her a tad. “We’ve been listening to you rant for thirty minutes now—”
    “I am not ranting!”
    Cole laughed. “Yeah. You are.”
    She huffed. Could feel the knots tightening in her stomach.
    “Cool it and sit down.”
    At Jenna’s raised voice, Anesia stilled. Jenna never raised her voice to Anesia unless she wasn’t listening. Which she hadn’t been.
    She sat down.
    Cole leaned toward her. “Well, I think you’ve already figured out that this Sean guy was telling the truth. Sounds like Agent Philips didn’t have any problems with him. When will the official background check come in?”
    “In a day or two.”
    “Good. I’m glad he’s handling it. After everything that happened with Marc and AMI, I agree you need to be careful. The FBI has promised to help us, but if you’re going to be paranoid, that’s going a bit overboard.”
    She stood up and planted her hands on her hips. “Cole Maddox, you think I’m paranoid?”
    “No. We completely understand”—Jenna stood next to her and wrapped an arm around her shoulders, patting her in a no-we-don’t-think-you’re-crazy-please-calm-down-before-we-get-the-straight-jacket kind of way—“but I do think there’s something you’re not telling us.”
    “Yeah, she’s paranoid.” Cole ducked to avoid the pillow Anesia chucked at him.
    Jenna shot a look at her husband. “I’m gonna have to separate you two.” Her best friend turned back to stare into her eyes. “Spill it. What’s really going through that head of yours?”
    The leather couch squeaked around her as Anesia settled back into it. “God and I had been wrestling over a matter and then all this blew up in my face.” She fiddled with the ivory carvings on the coffee table.
    “Now we’re getting to the heart of things.” Jenna sat beside her.
    “I need someone here. Someone strong and trustworthy. Someone to live on the property. I still can’t believe that Zoya witnessed a murder. That she was shot at. But no matter how hard it is, I have to admit that I need someone here. Does that make sense?” Her fidgeting hands moved to the wooden udzih carved by her great-grandfather.
    Jenna nodded. Cole stared.
    “Ugh!” She threw another pillow at Cole. “You just don’t get it. Men!”
    Jenna laughed, patted her knee, and removed the caribou from her.
    Anesia tried again. “I’ve been strong on