Free Lasting Pride (Pride Series Romance Novels) by Jill Sanders Page B

sit and wait.
     
    “Ric Derby,” he answered his phone. “Send her up please.” He knew that his smile got huge, but he didn’t care. He saw his sister’s eye brows raise in question. Then, Roberta walked into his office and he saw that she too wore a Cheshire grin.
     
    “Hello,” Rob walked into the room. “I didn’t mean to interrupt.”
     
    His sister stood and looked at the woman who had Ric grinning like a school boy.
     
    “Rob, this is my sister Katie. Katie this is detective Roberta Stanton. Rob is handling the case of my break-in.”
     
    “Hello, it’s nice to meet you. Ric has told me so much about you. Spring break?” Rob asked.
     
    Katie smiled and nodded her head. “Thank you for taking care of my brother last night.”
     
    Ric looked at his sister. The little brat knew too much, so he jumped in.
     
    “Have you eaten lunch yet?” His question was aimed at Rob, but his sister piped in.
     
    “Oh, what a wonderful idea. I’m starved. Roberta would you care to join us? I’d love to hear all about how you became a detective.” His sister reached over and took Rob’s arm, then started steering her towards the stairs.
     

    It was several hours later when Roberta let herself into her apartment. Jack came and rubbed himself all over her boots, no doubt wanting his dinner.
     
    Instantly her senses went on alert. Something wasn’t right. Pulling her service weapon out, she checked the place over. Nothing. Holstering her weapon, she stood in the middle of the room and scanned her living space. What could have caused her to be on alert? She wasn’t one to freak at the smallest things. She’d been alone for most of her life and wasn’t a girl who jumped at shadows. Something was out of place in her apartment. Jack, the cat seemed to think nothing was amiss, except for the lack of food in his bowl. Walking over, she started to get him a can of wet food, when she saw it.
     
    Something strange sat on her kitchen counter, right next to her answering machine. Walking over she picked up the small pin. Rolling it over in her hand, she knew for a fact that she’d never seen this pin before. It looked like a quarter, but on the back was affixed a small pin. The shinny silver front had a symbol that she’d only seen once before in her life. Rushing to her closet, she pulled out a box from the top shelf. It took some maneuvering, but finally the box sprung free from its spot wedged between two boxes of old shoes. Sitting down on the edge of the bed, she opened the box that held the last memories of her father.
     
    Digging around, she was beginning to think she’d lost it, when her fingers touched the small disc. Running her thumb over her father’s medallion, she held the matching pair side by side.
     
    Someone had been in her apartment. Who had it been? What did this mean? Why had they left this here? So many other questions ran through her mind.
     
    When Jack jumped up in her lap and rubbed his face on hers, she set the medallions down next to the box and went to feed the starving, ten pound feline.
     

    Rob was having one of those days she wished she’d stayed in bed. It seemed like nothing was going right. She not only wished she had stayed in bed, she wished that everyone would just leave her alone.
     
    Jack, had tripped her when she’d gotten out of bed. She’d ended up on the floor in a tangled pile, which he had taken as the perfect opportunity to come and lay on her chest, demanding more food. Then, her water heater pilot light had gone out, which of course, she hadn’t noticed until after she’d gotten naked and wet. She had just tolerated the cold shower, rather than running outside to relight it.
     
    On her drive into work, her car had acted up as well. It sputtered and back fired when she’d parked in the garage. Which had caused several people, who had been entering the building, to look over and watch her exit her car.
     
    But, the icing on the cake had been when she’d