The Abandoned by Amanda Stevens Read Free Book Online Page A

she squared her shoulders and marched inside before she could change her mind. In very short order, she was escorted to a small and rather antiseptic-looking office where she was told to wait for someone named Devlin.
    He appeared in the doorway a few minutes later, a tall, stylish man with dark hair and a face so pale and thin, one might even call him gaunt. Strangely, this only enhanced his attractiveness. Ree judged him to be in his early to midthirties, though when he turned his head a certain way and the light hit him just right, he could have been a decade older. His high cheekbones were sharply defined, his lips full and sculpted. When he walked into the room, the air seemed to collapse and Ree struggled to catch her breath. He had an almost palpable charisma, an intensity that was so deeply masculine, she found herself thinking of dark things. Inappropriate things. And that made her think of Hayden and she wished he was there with her.
    As the detective’s gaze collided with hers, Ree was reminded of something her grandmother had said about Amelia Gray: She has the kind of eyes that can see right down into your soul.
    That described this man’s gaze perfectly.
    Shuddering, she glanced away as he strode across the office and sat down behind the desk. “I understand you have information regarding Jared Tisdale’s murder.” His voice was rich and deep, and he spoke with the sensual cadence of the native Charlestonian.
    “I have information about Jared Tisdale,” Ree clarified. “I don’t know if it has anything to do with his murder.”
    Devlin pushed a recorder toward the edge of the desk. His hands were very graceful, she noticed. His fingers long and elegant—
    “If you have no objection…”
    She did, actually, but was too intimidated to say so. “No, it’s fine.” It was all she could do not to fidget under the man’s relentless scrutiny.
    “State your name, address and occupation,” he said.
    She started to speak when the door swung open and a man—another detective, she assumed—stuck his head in the office. “You’re needed outside.”
    Devlin scowled. “I’m in the middle of something.”
    “This can’t wait.”
    He shot Ree an apologetic look and stood. “Sorry. This shouldn’t take along.”
    She nodded and sat twiddling her thumbs for a few minutes until she grew restless and stood. Going to the door, she glanced out over the rows of desks and cubicles. She could see Devlin’s profile through a glass panel in an office across the room. Another man stood with his back to the glass as the detective who’d come for Devlin faced him. They appeared to be in the middle of a very tense conversation. Devlin seemed little more than a bystander, though Ree had a feeling that when he spoke, the other two would listen.
    The third man turned suddenly, and Ree stepped back, her heart thudding. It was Dr. Farrante.
    This was not good. This was not at all good.
    Clutching the strap of her messenger bag, she eased back to the door.
    “Can I help you?” A female officer walking by had caught Ree staring out over the squad room.
    She cleared her throat. “I’m looking for the ladies’ room.”
    The officer angled her head. “Back that way. Take a left.”
    “Thanks.”
    Ree kept walking, right on past the restroom, through the lobby, down the stairs and never once did she look back until she hit the parking lot. And only then when she heard someone call out her name.
    It was Hayden. He’d just gotten out of his car and was striding toward her. Relief washed over her and without thinking, she launched herself into his arms. He must have been caught completely by surprise, but he pulled her close without hesitation.
    “Hey, what’s wrong?”
    Ree pushed away just enough to glance over her shoulder. “I need to get out of here.”
    Nine out of ten men would have wasted time with more questions, but Hayden merely said, “My car’s right over here.”
    “What about mine?”
    “We’ll pick