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Qui
She turned to face him, feeling a bit shaky. The fear must have been broadcast in her eyes, because Qui
"Your apartment is safe, Audie. That place is a fortress."
She nodded. She knew Lakeside Pointe was a forty-six-story citadel. Her neighbors were the kind of people who demanded their privacy and security and were happy to pay dearly for it. Her mother had been one of those people, and along with the column, Audie had inherited the $6 million condominium that overlooked Lake Michigan and the Gold Coast.
"It's the rest of your life that concerns me," Qui
"I like it that way. I refuse to let these letters take away my privacy. And I don't want a bodyguard or some cop following me around, if that's what you're getting at."
Qui
She shook her head slowly and emphatically. "No way in hell."
"Just until September twenty-second. To be on the safe side."
"No! That's… " She waved her hand, thinking. "That's a month away! There's no way you are going to follow me around for a month, Qui
He shrugged. "Detective Oleskiewicz then."
"Well-"
"But you should know that Sta
How extremely vulgar he was. So why was she laughing? It had to be the brogue he'd slipped in for effect, and she couldn't stop giggling to save her soul. Several moments went by before she reclaimed her composure. "You're disgusting, Qui
"Thank you, lass."
She stood up from the chair and glared down at him, seeing that he now gri
"There will be no kissing, are we clear on this?" She put her hands on her hips. "I regret that kiss. You're delusional if you think I'm interested in you, Detective, so don't grin at me like that. I think it's best to be honest about this from the begi
"Honesty is good."
She made an impatient clucking sound, abruptly turned to go, and caught the buckle of her sandal on the chair leg. She toppled over and went belly-down on the shiny linoleum, giving Qui
He came behind her and grabbed her by the waist, pulling her to her feet. She slapped his hands away and walked out in a huff, not looking back.
Qui
"Jee-ay-sus," he whispered to himself.
Audie decided to walk from the station to her office, taking a detour along Michigan Avenue. She needed the exercise. She needed to take in big gulps of heavy, humid Chicago summer air. She needed to get a grip on herself.
There was something about Qui
The problem was, she wasn't revolted and she wasn't complaining. In fact, the man sent chills through her. Qui
Audie sighed-this was going to be a long month.
She stopped at the corner of Michigan and Chicago Avenues to wait for the light. There were nearly 3 million people in this city, and one of them wished her harm. Qui
She glanced quickly at the sweaty faces so near her, yet so far away, absorbed in their own i
She'd be damned if she'd stand around waiting for something awful to happen on September 22. Of course nothing would happen. She refused to even think that way.
Audie crossed the street and picked up the pace. She probably should call Drew to tell him about all this nonsense. She should probably call her brother anyway-it had been at least a couple months since they'd spoken. His latest divorce should be final now, if she remembered correctly.
Audie stopped at the Tiffany's window just to look and to catch her breath. She'd been power walking, it seemed, and her reflection in the dark glass showed sweat pouring down her neck and sticking to the silk blouse.
She crossed the street and walked down Chestnut, smelling the Indian food from the Bombay House and suddenly realizing she was ravenous. She would just run up to her office and get her wallet and-a man was waiting for her on the stoop.
"Hello, Autumn."
"God, Russ! You scared me to death!"
"What a coincidence, then, because you are scaring the living hell out of me lately-do you realize we've got just over a month to renew your contract? Do you realize how many millions of dollars are involved? Do you have a good reason for not returning any of my calls? And why is a police detective harassing me?"
"Wow. Already?" Audie looked up into his gunmetal gray eyes filled with impatience. She pushed past him and bounded up the marble steps to the massive oak-and-leaded-glass doors.
"Just now on my portable," he said, staring at the phone in his palm. "He said he wants to question me about some letters or something. What's this all about, Audie?"
She shrugged, holding the door open for him. He stepped up into the dark, cool foyer and looked down at her. "God, what have you been doing, playing soccer in your skirt? You're dripping wet."
"It's hot, Russ. I sweat when it's hot. I'm a warm-blooded creature, unlike you."
He started up the steps in front of her, ignoring her insult. When they entered the reception area, a blast of icy air conditioning pummeled them and Audie sighed with relief.
"I see he's found you." Marjorie smiled at the two of them and handed Audie a few phone messages. "I made some fresh-brewed raspberry iced tea; would anyone care for some? Next month's columns are all done, Audie, and I need to know if they're good to go. I also need you to OK the travel schedule-it's on your desk. And I just ordered sandwiches for all of us. Will that be all right?"
"Yes," Audie muttered, staring back at Marjorie. "To everything you just said."
"So the syndication numbers are way up over last year-sixty-seven new U.S. newspapers and twelve international. I think it's the modern, sexy twist you bring to the whole concept. I really do. Book sales are steady. Oh, and the feedback is very positive on the new publicity shot-they're going to start sending it out on the wire next month. I think you look fabulous with your hair down."
"Great." Audie fumbled around under the haphazard stacks of paper on her desktop, looking for any stray Tylenol packets. She found one beneath an empty Fritos bag, which she crumpled up and tossed in the wastepaper basket across the room.