Free Damsel in Danger (Danger Incorporated Book 1) by Olivia Jaymes Page B

around him, knocking them over effortlessly. Jason didn’t know her well but already she was important to him. She meant something, although he had no clue exactly what. Or even if he was in any shape to find out.
    But he liked her.
    She made him laugh and she made him think.
    When she touched him her fingers felt like flames licking the flesh and made it hard to breathe.
    Lust or something else didn’t change the mission.
    Keep Brinley Snow safe. And alive.

Chapter Ten
    ‡
    B rad Enright was everything Roger Gaines wasn’t. Handsome, fit, tanned, charming, and successful. From the little Brinley knew of Roger it was difficult to imagine the two men being friends. They seemed to have nothing at all in common.
    “How long did you know Roger?” Jason asked as they settled into Enright’s large and extravagant office. Dressed in an impeccably cut blue suit, expensively styled dark hair, and diamond cuff links, Brad was the epitome of the prosperous businessman. Their research had revealed that the dealership had been in the Enright family since the 1940s with Brad taking the helm a few years ago when his grandfather retired.
    Showing off blindingly white teeth, Brad smiled as he unbuttoned his suit jacket and settled into the huge black leather chair. “Since kindergarten. The teacher put us in alphabetical order and there was no one in the class who started with ‘F’. The rest is history. Of course I haven’t seen much of Roger these last few years. I’ve been busy here.” Brad picked up a glass statuette from his desk and held it up proudly. “We’re the number one dealer in luxury automobiles in the state of Montana. Say, what do you drive? You know your vehicle says a lot about who you are. What statement do you want to make, Mr. Anderson?”
    “I’ll have to give that some thought,” Jason answered smoothly when Brinley might have stomped on the man’s shiny black shoes. He seemed awfully happy despite losing a close childhood friend. “So you’ve known Roger since kindergarten but you haven’t spent much time together lately. When was the last time you saw him?”
    Brad sat back and gazed off into the distance for a moment. “I guess it was about six months ago. My daughter had her second birthday and Roger came to the party.”
    “Did you notice anything strange?” Brinley found herself asking, only to be on the receiving end of a quelling look from Jason.
    Oops. I was supposed to be quiet.
    “About Roger?” Brad chuckled and began to play with a couple of paper clips on the desk. “Roger has always been a little strange. Smart but strange. But I guess he was acting weirder than normal. He was pale like he hadn’t seen the sun in months. He didn’t bring a gift which I thought was kind of rude. Well, at least my wife Trudi thought it was but it didn’t surprise me all that much. But the strangest thing was all he could talk about was murder. The guy was obsessed. From what he said he hung around other people just like him. They talked about blood spatter and autopsies. My mother-in-law said she found him gruesome. The way he was that day? I can’t say I blame her.”
    “Was he always like this?” Jason asked, leaning forward. “Had he always fixated on murder?”
    “Hell, no,” Brad declared, shaking his head. “Roger was a normal kid. We built forts and played baseball. Ate popsicles and rode bikes. Nothing unusual. Shit, he lettered in three sports in high school. He dated the prom queen and was valedictorian of our graduating class.”
    That didn’t sound like the slacker who lived in filth in his brother’s bonus room over the garage.
    “When did Roger change?”
    Shrugging his shoulders, Brad shifted in his chair. “I’m not sure. In college, I guess. He got more and more involved with life on the Internet. That’s where he met his latest girlfriend. He talked about her at the party.” Brad tapped his pen on the desk. “What was her name? Let’s see… Anita-something.