Here it was, the decision of total honesty that might make her look like an emotional basket case, or another kind of truth. “I saw a window of opportunity with a personnel change in the gift shop where I’ve been working.”
“A personnel change?”
Alice nodded. “We had a violent incident not too long ago, and it affected the person who ran the gift shop so much that she’s given her two-week notice. Since I planned on leaving anyway, I chose to do the same so that House Of Payne’s manager could prepare to bring in a new set of replacements.”
“The violent incident being that incident with Annalise Womack?”
“I really couldn’t say.”
Cap’s grin was sudden and surprising. “Very nice. I like your discretion. For what it’s worth, Richardson Womack is a good friend of mine, and after the security team briefed me on what happened with Annalise, I gave him a call to see how he and Annalise were doing. Long story short, Richardson was extremely impressed with you. In fact, the entire House Of Payne security team is impressed with you, and they’re a hard bunch to impress. They tell me you know how to keep a cool head while under fire.”
“I’m glad they think so.”
“The question is, do you think so? Can you keep a cool head at all times and under every imaginable scenario?”
She held back the automatic response to give it some serious thought. “I honestly don’t know if anyone can promise such a thing when it comes to every imaginable scenario. Are you aware of my family history?”
Cap tilted his head. “I’m assuming you’re talking about your father?”
She nodded. “Until that day, I’d never imagined that an otherwise-ordinary person could just snap like that, but it can happen. Worse yet, it can happen to anyone. That’s why I can’t promise I’ll always and forever keep a cool head during every scenario imaginable, because there’s no one on this planet who can promise such a thing. Or if they do, they’re lying to both you and themselves. What I can do is assure you that the idea of snapping under pressure has always been my personal nightmare, so it’ll always be the one thing I have on my radar. I don’t know if that puts your mind at ease, but I’m determined to never walk the same path my father did.”
Cap regarded her a long moment before nodding once. “Do you have any personal issues with having and using a gun?”
“I once had an ambition to join the Chicago P.D., so no. But I haven’t been on a gun range since I graduated and chose to help my foster brother start up his gym.” Bad decision on her part, but there was nothing she could do about that now.
Cap made a note. “You have an associate degree in Criminology, yes? Did you have any other interests?”
“Forensics, with a slant toward statistics.”
He lifted a brow. “Sounds like you had an eye on becoming an analyst of some kind?”
She shrugged. “I’m detail-oriented, so when I chose my course content, I went with what interested me the most.”
He made another note. “I’m told you actually like Luke Keyes? And by like, I mean you don’t want to murder him whenever he analyzes your lunch choices?”
Nothing could have held back her snort. “He’s a different kind of cat, no doubt about it. But I consider him a friend.”
“Excellent. Going into this interview, I already had Luke’s recommendation as well as the recommendations of the rest of the House Of Payne security team, so interviewing you was just a formality. I’m glad I went through with it, though, because I’m now more convinced than ever that you’re exactly what my firm is looking for. You have the education, the temperament and the physical training to be an asset to any security team, and you clearly work well with my people who like and respect you. When can you start?”
An internal quake nearly made her gasp out loud. “I’ve got the job?”
“You’ve got the job.” He stood and reached across the desk to hold out his hand. “Welcome to Private Security International, Alice Halliday.”
Fifteen minutes later, Alice was still in a daze as she made her way through the lobby of Private Security International, or PSI. It was a beautiful space, a converted Victorian-era warehouse with a soaring ceiling latticed with industrial-style ironwork, whitewashed brick walls and gleaming blonde hardwood floors. She was totally charmed by the mix of last century with new century technology, complete with smart-screen TVs, state-of-the-art metal detectors at every entrance to the building, and LED color-changing “healthy” halo lights overhead.
Cap Fogelmann definitely believed in going top-drawer when it came to his business, she thought, pushing through the glass doors that were undoubtedly bulletproof. Top-drawer facility and top-drawer personnel.
And wonder of wonders, that now included her.
She paused between thick concrete planters out front that kept anyone from ramming a vehicle through PSI’s lobby, and dug out her sunglasses just as the unmistakable rumble of a Harley hit her ears. In an instant, her heart shot off like a rocket before she consciously took in a calming breath and did a careful scan of the area. Don’t get excited, she thought grimly, while her pulse hammered in her temples. It was probably just a coincidence…
As she watched, Loki glided his Harley to a stop at the curb no more than ten feet away, and lifted his chin her way.
“Need a ride?”
Alice stared at him and wondered if she had missed something. The past twenty-four hours had been kind of a whirl, after all. Once Felix and Loki left, she’d immediately called PSI to set up a job interview, then emailed Scout her two weeks’ notice. Two weeks under the same roof with Loki was going to be a challenge, but she wasn’t about to leave the House in the lurch. She’d been on the verge of homelessness when Scout had given her a job. No matter how things turned out, she owed the House at least that much.
“Loki.” Though she told herself to keep her distance, her feet refused to obey that particular order, and carried her to stand no more than a few feet away from him. “What are you doing here?”
“Offering you a ride. Hop on.”
This time she consciously locked her legs in place. “How did you even know I was here?”
He nodded to a point down the street. “Tyr’s still got someone on you. We need to talk.”
“Why? Does it have something to do with Felix?”
“Fuck Felix. I spent last night alone in a bed that still smells like you. I don’t want a repeat performance tonight.”
Something clenched hard in her chest. Last night had been hell for her too, mainly because she couldn’t turn off the visions of Loki being carried out of the Lower Lower on a stretcher. “You don’t look like you’re any the worse for wear.”
His scowl was a sight to see. “You calling me a liar?”
“No, I meant… When people go to the Lower Lower, they usually have a bruise or two to show for it, at the very least. I’m relieved to see you don’t.”
“The Lower Lower.” For a moment he looked blank before he shook his head. “Fuck me. I totally forgot about wanting to go.”
He had to be kidding. “Seriously?”
“What can I say, you knocked that thought right out of my head by pulling up stakes on me. So in the end, I guess you got what you wanted.”