Sensual Confessions - Brenda Jackson [87]
She shifted in her seat and noticed the she had everyone’s attention. “Mac and Peyton didn’t trust him and suggested that I meet him in a public place. I picked a well-known restaurant downtown, but I didn’t know that Mac still had misgivings about him. She and Peyton had made reservations at the same restaurant and got a table not far from ours.”
She drew in a deep breath. “To make a long story short, when my back was turned, Belton slipped a date-rape drug into my drink.”
“The bastard!” said Alex, to everyone’s surprise.
Blade and the others understood Alex’s outburst had to do with a situation involving Christy a few years ago.
“Lucky for me, Mac and Peyton saw the whole thing before I drank anything. They called the police, and Belton was arrested and sent to prison. He was given four years, but only served two.”
“So you know for a fact that he’s out of prison now?” Ashton said.
“He’s supposed to be. I got a letter from the parole board a few years ago saying he was being released two years early for good behavior.”
“Have you seen him or has he tried contacting you in any way?” Drake asked.
“No, the last time I saw him was in court—the day he was sentenced.”
“Okay, what about male friends?” said Alex.
“There’s only Frederick.”
“Frederick?” Ashton asked.
“Yes, Frederick Damon Rowe. We call him FDR. We started working at my family’s law firm on the same day and became best friends.”
“When was the last time you saw him?” Alex asked.
“I saw him when I was home visiting my family about three weeks ago. He calls periodically to check up on me, and even comes to visit me. However, he’s been busy lately and hasn’t had a chance to get away,” Sam said.
“Are there any other names that come to mind—male or female—that you feel I should check out?” Alex asked.
Sam shook her head. “No, I can’t think of anyone.”
“What about cases you’ve handled? Anyone that you’ve really pissed off?”
She shrugged. “There’s always one or two, but none that I think would want to retaliate.”
Alex smiled. “Share the names with me and let me be the judge of that. And I would like a list of the names of all your employees.” He closed his notepad. “How soon can I get it?”
“I can fax that information to you when I return to the office Monday,” Sam said.
“Good. I have some free time between assignments. I should have some information for you in a couple of weeks.”
“That soon?” she asked.
Alex smiled. “Yes. I have contacts, and usually they’re not only efficient, they’re fast.”
“When will you be returning to Oklahoma, Sam?” Ashton asked.
“Tomorrow.”
“What about protection for her until I find out something?” Alex asked, turning to Blade.
Blade smiled. “She’s with me, and I don’t plan on letting anything happen to her. Trust me.”
Blade opened the door to his condo and stood back and let Sam enter first. She glanced at him when he followed her inside and shut the door behind them. “I’m glad that’s over,” she said, tossing her purse on a table.
“It wouldn’t surprise me if he contacts us sooner,” Blade said, removing his tie. “Alex is good at what he does. And like he said, he has good contacts.”
Sam sat down on the sofa, kicked off her shoes and crossed her legs. Blade watched her every move as he went behind the bar. “Would you like something to drink?”
“Yes, please. A glass of wine would be nice.”
“A glass of wine coming up. It’s a beautiful night. Would you like to sit outside on the balcony?”
“Yes.”
“Why don’t you go ahead and I’ll follow shortly with the wine.”
“Thanks.”
He tracked her with his eyes as she walked barefoot toward the French doors. The dress she was wearing, a yellow, tiered silk number, looked good on her. It wasn’t too short, but showed off her beautiful legs. He had noticed a number of men at the party admiring them. He had told her before leaving for the party and again on the drive back home just how good she looked in that dress.
He finished pouring their drinks and moved to join her outside. When he opened the French