Free Blackmail by Robin Caroll

on that. I just know she’s nothing but a gold digger, ready to bleed my father dry.”
    â€œAnd you also know the choice is your father’s, not yours. He’s a grown man and has to live with any decisions he makes.”
    â€œI realize that. I told you I’m working on it, but right now, we have to focus on the problems at the company. That’s where I can help my father.”
    Jon sighed and typed in notes on the computer. “Okay. Come see me Monday morning at nine.”
    â€œThanks, Mr. Garrison.”
    Jon replaced the receiver, closed the computer file and glanced at the case folder open on his desk. At least Lance was trying to rebuild his life, mend his damaged relationship with his father, no matter his reason.
    Which was more than he could say for Caleb Frost.
    Â 
    She looked like a day-old gar that’d washed up from the bayou.
    Sadie stared at her reflection in the mirror, taking in her bloodshot, puffy eyes and pallor. Some signs of stress and sleep deprivation, makeup just couldn’t hide. She made a face at herself and tossed the powder brush into the basket on the bathroom counter before moving to the kitchen.
    Pouring herself another cup of coffee, she glanced out the window. Caleb stood at the curb, waiting for the bus with two other neighborhood high-schoolers who attended the summer session. She tried to ignore the pain over Caleb’s mood this morning. She’d questioned him about his outing last night, but he’d been nothing but evasive. Honestly, she hadn’t had the energy to keep trying to get details out of him. A root canal sounded more appealing. Besides, she had more suspects she needed to check into.
    The other boys horsed around while Caleb bobbed his head to the music from his earbuds. The summer school minibus turned the corner. Sadie lifted her cup for another sip, but froze as her heart jumped into her throat.
    One of the boys shoved the other into the road, just as a car gunned the engine to pass before the flashing lights danced on top of the bus. In a flash, Caleb grabbed the boy by his backpack and jerked him free from the path of the car, tossing him to the ground just as the bus skidded to a stop.
    Thank You, Jesus!
    She nearly dropped her cup, ready to bolt out the door and check on Caleb. But her brother gave a hand up to the boy now flat on his back in the grass. Together, the three boys crossed the street to clamber onto the bus.
    Tears welled in her eyes. Caleb had just saved that kid’s life. He’d thought quick and acted faster. Amazing. Despite his attitude around her, Caleb had a good heart. Sadie turned from the window and clicked off the coffeepot. She’d known her brother had some good in him. This was proof.
    With a smile on her face, Sadie gathered her purse and briefcase. Even though work would be a beast today with the media, Deacon and her own exhaustion, Sadie was filled with happiness. Deep inside, Caleb had grown into a young man of integrity. She’d just have to break down his barriers where their relationship was concerned. Hope widened her smile. They would make this sibling relationship work. It would just take a little more time for him to learn to trust her.
    Buzzzzzzzzzzzz!
    She started. Who could be ringing her doorbell? She shouldn’t even be home this late in the morning, but Deacon had said she could come in late. She’d stayed at the office until nearly midnight last night on the phone with the major networks in New York and the company’s lawyers, fighting to do as much damage control as she could. On top of that, she’d gone over every single personnel file of the workers who were laid off. She’d verified alibis, confirmed those who had moved away, and now had a list of five men who’d risen to the top of her suspect list. She’d also filed the form online for the federal grant application. If Deacon could get some help with the cost of cleanup, maybe