< > denotes thoughts
italics are flashbacks
AJ McGregor
"There’s a message for you Mr. Roberts." His secretary, Susan, said as he walked toward his office. Thomas Roberts forced a smile and took the paper from her. She smiled sympathetically back at him. The elderly woman fought the urge to pull the poor man into a hug. Lord knows he’s seen better days.
Tom ran a hand through his dusty blond hair barely missing the look Susan gave him. With his blue pin-stripped suit and crisp shirt with the red tie he looked as though he could be on the cover of ‘GQ’ instead of ‘Business Today.’ There was a faint shadow of a beard across his face that always came in the late afternoon. On the outside he looked calm and composed but on the inside all of his emotions were in turmoil.
Weeks of sleepless nights, and vainly hoping were finally taking it’s toll on the thirty-five year old. Two weeks to the day that his ex-wife had called him frantically changing his life forever.
Tom had just gotten out of a meeting with is advisors about his assets. He never thought that he would need and accountant to manage his estate. But, his small computer firm had turned into the next Microsoft, which left him with more money than Bill Gates ever had. The ringing of his phone pulled him out of his thoughts. He reached across the desk, idly wondering where Susan had run off to.
"Tom Roberts" he said as he brought the phone to his ear, cradling it between his head and shoulder. Crying was his only reply. "Hello?" His face was confused with the lines drawn up tightly. Then he registered whom the crying was from. With a sigh he sat in his black desk chair. "What is it Ellen?" His ex-wife. The love of his life that he had caught in bed with his best friend. The same woman that had promised to love him and only him forever.
"Tom…Oh God…What have I done?" By now Tom was confused even more. She never called him anymore and he saw her even less. "Tom it’s Casey." Now Tom’s breath was gone. He felt as though someone had just hit him in the stomach with all their power. Casey, his 6 year old little girl. She was perfect, little red ringlets that went down to her waist and freckles everywhere you look. "She’s gone. Someone took our baby…" He was greeted with more sobs. Then the phone was taken from he hands and Mike started to talk to him.
"Tom, you better get down here. The cops are asking for you and, Tom, there’s a ransom note for you." Said Tom’s ex-best friend. "Tom are you there?"
"Tom?" He whirled around to the person calling his name. Susan. She smiled slightly. "I called out to you but you kept walking away." God, she reminded him of his own mother. So caring and sweet.
Tom smiled and replied, "Sorry, I was thinking about…things." By now neither of them where smiling anymore.
"That’s all right. I was going to tell you that there was a Detective," she looked down at the paper in front of her. "AJ McGregor in your office waiting to see you." With that she turned to walk back to her desk.
"Thanks Susan." He called out to her retreating plump form. <AJ McGregor, recommended by all the cops I know as a specialist in kidnappings and serial killers. I hope the guy didn’t have to wait long. > He swiftly walked into his office and was greeted with a sight that he would never forget.
Leather boots were perched on his desk. They led of to the greatest pair of legs that were also encased with leather. He couldn’t see the face because the chair blocked it. <What the Hell? > "Excuse me, but I believe you have the wrong office." He said as he moved over to the phone to call security. As he walked around the desk he was met with the most luminous pair of green eyes he had ever seen. They made him stop dead in his tracks and stare. They were bright green and had flicks of gold running through them. That wasn’t what stopped him. It was the look behind them. The look of barley concealed energy and a lot of power. Whoever this woman was he did not want to tick her off.
He slowly stood up to his 6’1" and what he hoped intimidating size. She didn’t bat an eye. Now he could get a good look at her. She had auburn colored hair that she had cut to two inches below the shoulder and was lightly layered and feathered around her face, making her look softer. Those same eyes had thick black eyeliner and a dark purple eyeshadow. Her make-up was light and flawless. Her top was dark red and tight, but not obscene. He could see her small breasts rise up and down with every breath she took. Add that to the leather duster that went down to her ankles and she was a very intimidating looking person.
"I wouldn’t do that if I were you, Mr. Roberts." Her voice was smooth and soft but at the same time confident and sexy. They sat and stood there for a minute. Him trying to decide if she was dangerous or not. She sat there with casual indifference clearly written on her face. "I don’t know about you, but I’m a busy person. I don’t have time to play ‘who has the bigger dick’ games with you." She said, taking her feet off of the desk and turning to face him completely. "Do you want to get down to business or not?"
Tom finally pulled his thoughts together. "What business? I don’t have any business with you." He managed to look her in the eye without cowering under her gaze. < Definitely powerful> he thought, as she sized him up as well. "I really think you should leave. I’m expecting someone and you’re not him." Tom said; turning back towards the door he didn’t know was closed. Silence greeted his remark. When he finally reached the handles, her voice stopped him cold in his tracks.
"You have him."
