Carolyn Arnold - McKinley 03 - Money is Murder by Carolyn Arnold Read Free Book Online Page A

beyond them, to her desk, back to him.
    “I don’t see why it would be. Let me call him.”
    “If it’s all right with you, we’d like to see ourselves up.”
    Beverly lowered the receiver, a coy expression on her face. “It is your company after all.”
    “Could you kindly point us in the direction of Robert West’s office?” Sara adjusted her purse and smiled.
    “Sure, I can.”
    She directed them up the elevator to the twenty-seventh floor, explaining the top three levels belonged to the acquisitions executive team.
    The set-up for Robert’s office was much the same as Edward ’s with a front desk for his receptionist and a filing area. A woman in her early twenties watched them approach. Her smile didn’t strike Sean as sincere and he passed a quick glance to Sara. He noticed her smile was subdued. The cool reception wasn’t lost on her either.
    “May I help you?”
    “We’re looking to speak with Mr. West,” Sean said.
    “Mr. West is out at the moment. I can leave word that you were here.” Her hand held a pen readied over a notepad.
    “Actually, we’re the new owners and it’s rather important that we speak to him. Sean McKinley. This is Sara.”
    “Daniela. My apologies. I didn’t know. I wasn’t here yesterday. I was home sick with the flu so I missed the meeting in the conference room.”
    “I hope you’re feeling better now,” Sara said.
    The woman turned to her. “I am. Thank you. As I said, Mr. West isn’t in, but I can leave a message for him.”
    “Do you know when he’ll be back?”
    “He’s at a breakfast meeting trying to woo a client.”
    “Interesting. A breakfast meeting.”
    “Oh, you’d be surprised. These men are used to being wined and dined, but they are early risers, so a nice homemade-type breakfast, especially if they are traveling, is just what the doctor ordered.”
    “I see.” Sara turned to Sean. “That is awfully disappointing though. We were hoping to speak with him.”
    “You never said when he’d be back,” Sean interjected.
    Daniela glanced at her monitor and then to her notepad. She leaned in toward them. “I’m not sure.”
    “He’s not at a business meeting is he?” Sara asked.
    Daniela pulled back and a deep breath heaved her chest. She shook her head. “You actually just missed him. I’m sorry I lied to you. He told me to tell you that.”
    Sean and Sara turned to each other, then back to Daniela.
    “Why would he do that?” Sara asked.
    “I’m not sure. Please believe me. I wouldn’t be avoiding you two. You seem real nice.”
    “Sean? Sara?”
    They turned to see Edward Cranston.
    “Well, it seems like everyone knows we’re in the building.” Sean extended his hand.
    “Good day, McKinleys. I wasn’t expecting you. Thought you’d be headed back home.”
    “Actually we were looking to speak with Robert West.”
    Edward placed a hand on Sean ’s shoulder, guiding him to the hall, and Sara followed.
    “I’m not sure what you’d want with Robert. He’s just a glorified salesman.”
    “We just have a couple questions for him,” Sean answered.
    “Come with me.” Edward gestured, with a waving hand, for them to follow.
    They loaded onto the elevator and Edward pressed thirty. When the doors opened, Sean expected they ’d go right toward his office, but instead Edward took them left.
    “Where are we going?”
    “You’ll see.” Edward reached into a pocket and took out a keycard. He slid it through the lock on an office door at the end of the hall. “Here, go on in ahead of me.”
    The space was double the size of Edward ’s—the furniture plush and new, speaking to the taste of a younger generation. Windows banked the back wall and the view was splendid.
    “It’s like heaven in here.” Sara turned when Edward shut and locked the door. “Where are we?”
    “This was Cindy’s office.”
    There was a blanket of silence that lasted a few seconds. Edward walked behind the desk, pressed a button, and a computer