The Consequence by Karin Tabke Read Free Book Online Page A

“I’m sorry, Simon. Sometimes my stupid insecurities get in the way of my manners.”
    “Don’t be sorry, Kat. We’ll talk about it one day, I promise,” he softly said then walked over to where he had tossed his cell earlier. “I need to jump on that subpoena.” He made a few quick texts, and then said, “I need to go for a few hours. While I’m gone I don’t want you to leave this apartment. Pack your bags and when I return, you’re going home with me.”
    “I appreciate your concern, Simon, but I’d rather stay here tonight. I have a meeting with Veronica first thing in the morning, and a few errands to run if I’m going to make lunch with you and Olivia.”
    His eyes narrowed.
    “
If
the invitation is still open.”
    “Of course it is.”
    He moved back to the kitchen table and asked over his shoulder as he sat down at her laptop. “Other than the USB where else do you have those text files?”
    “My cell.”
    “Nothing here on your laptop?”
    “Just my research notes and personal stuff.”
    “I want you to back up everything on this lap top then destroy the hard drive and your cell too.”
    “Why?”
    “Because I don’t want your cyber footprint anywhere near those texts.”
    “But—”
    His green eyes flashed fire. “No buts, just do it.”
    “Simon, you’re scaring me.”
    He stood and grabbed her by the arms. The hard angles of his face tightened. “You should be afraid, this information has global implications. If anyone knew you had this information, you’d be dead.”
    “I don’t understand. It’s just research to help sick people that he’s stealing and selling.”
    “And some of that research can kill millions with a single germ.”
    She gasped. “The bacterium lab break in?”
    Simon nodded. “There’s more but I can’t get into that right now, Kat. Just trust me when I tell you to destroy the hard drive and your cell.”
    “How do I do that?”
    “Get a drill from Rosie’s husband and drill the drive a few times, you can fry your phone or short it out.”
    “Okay.”
    He caught her up in his arms and kissed her soundly. “I won’t be gone long, but I’ll call SFPD and have them send over a uniform to keep an eye on your building while I’m gone. Don’t open the door to anyone you don’t know.”
    “I won’t.”
    Then he was gone.
    An hour later, with her laptop backed up on several flash drives, Katy strode down the hallway with it under her arm and knocked on Rosie’s door. When there was no answer, she frowned. That was odd. It was ten o’clock on a Sunday night. Usually the two of them were holed up in their living room watching
Law and Order
reruns.
    As she was walking back to her apartment, the elevator dinged as her floor number lit up. Her heart rate accelerated. Instinctively she knew it wasn’t Rosie or Elliot and it was too soon for Simon who didn’t have key to the front door of the building. She ran to her apartment door and hurried in just as the elevator doors opened. Body shaking, she watched through the peephole as Evan stepped out. Clasping her hand over her mouth to keep her surprised gasp quiet, she shivered.
    He looked leaner. Meaner. A stranger.
    Her heart hammered against her rib cage. What did he want? Did he know she had stolen his texts? How did he get up here?
    Ugh, he still had the key to the downstairs door.
    When he knocked on her door, she jumped.
    “Katy?” he called when she didn’t open it. “It’s Evan. You remember me, don’t you?” His voice was rough, confident, and not very nice. It made her skin crawl to think of what she allowed this man to do to her.
    He knocked again, louder. “I know you’re in there. Open up, it’s vital that I speak with you.” Impatiently, he shifted from one foot to the other.
    Why wouldn’t he leave?
    Hugging the laptop to her chest, Katy choked back a gasp when she realized that Evan knew where she left her spare key in the planter by the elevator.
    He realized it the moment