Chapter Three

Isabelle sat behind her polished oak desk, finishing off her coffee while staring intently at the case report Josh had told her about the night before. The sunlight streamed through the blinds on her window, turning the side of her face pale gold. Her black hair was tied up in a ponytail yet still grazed her shoulder. Her moss green eyes were focused and her brows furrowed as she read the report. Josh was right. The case was complicated. Maggie turner, 30 years old, mother of Jasmine Turner, 7 years old. No picture. Husband-Frank Turner-was murdered in their apartment and the wife was the sole suspect. Only problem was, the woman denied it. It was surprising that the cops hadn't come to arrest her as their 'guy', but it was only a matter of time. A private investigator had been hired to help her gather evidence on the case. Her eyes narrowed at the thought of that. She knew she needed one for this case but still, she didn't like them one bit. She was just going to have to suck it up and bear with it. Her vacation depended on this case.

"Hey Isa. How's it going?"

Isabelle raised her head to see her secretary close the door and walk in. Kenzie Sharpe was a woman who believed she was born for the fashion and sex. Yeah, sex. Dressed in a tight fitting cherry red gown which stopped halfway up her thighs and accentuated her figure with impossibly high heels and makeup done so artistically, she looked like the perfect model. Isabelle just sighed

"How do you think it's going? Terribly, of course. And you know that's hardly the dress code for work. At this rate, Josh is gonna query the both of us"

"You knew what you were signing up for when you hired me" Kenzie said, her lips curving up. Isabelle reclined in her chair and closed her eyes. Kenzie tsked and sat down on one of the seats opposite Isabelle.

"Josh's been particularly hard on you, making you work like this. I'd rather throw myself off a cliff than do this. It's your fault though for being so damn perfect."

"Thanks for your words of comfort Kenzie. They really help. Did you give Katherine those files?"

"Oh, yes I did" Kenzie said, sitting up and smiling, "She said to tell you that she hates you and you're a gnat assed bitch AND that you should go to hell because the devil is the only one who deserves to be gifted with an ass like you."

Isabelle raised an eyebrow and smiled.

"Deep words. So touching. I think I should take a tutorial from her on the art of cursing. Did you bother telling her that Josh sent it and not me?"

"Not at all." Kenzie said cheerfully.

"Ah. I just remembered. How was your date with that uh, fireman?" Isabelle asked, her brow still raised as she watched Kenzie's eyes turn dreamy.

"It was the best date I've had in a long time. He took me to this fancy place, uh, 'The Diner'. It was awesome, yeah, the food was great. He also told me a lot about himself but that wasn't even the best part. After dinner, he took me to his apartment. Isa, believe me when I tell you that he does know how to keep a woman engaged. His hands, they were everywhere. Just thinking about it makes me so... Anyways, I surely will be meeting him again."

"So he's a keeper. Good for you. Just don't scare him away with your obsession with sex." Isabelle said, chuckling.

"And you, Isabelle Anderson," Kenzie said, her red coated lips curving down, "Aren't getting enough of it. I've told you this a thousand times."

Isabelle rolled her eyes. She was low on her sex drive but she'd be damned if she admitted that to her nosy secretary.

"Thanks mom but I don't think I need you to regulate my sex life. By the way, I don't need it at the moment."

Kenzie rolled her big baby blue eyes dramatically, the way she was fond of.

"Course you do. Everyone does. Give you a lot more energy to get on."

"That's not what the nuns think. By the way, I have all the energy I need here." Isabella said, tapping on her empty coffee cup. "I think you should be the one to take it easy."

"Say what ever you want, girl. I'm just telling ya-"

"A bit more sex would to me good." Isabelle finished for her. Kenzie nodded.

"If only you'd actually take my advice. Oh!" Kenzie exclaimed, as though remembering something. "I forgot to tell you. Josh asked me to call you. I think your client is here."

Isabelle shot up so fast, her chair almost toppled over.

"Why didn't you lead with that?!"

"I'm sorry. I totally forgot"

"You know, you'll be better off at the theater." Isabelle said already at the door.

"I've told the judges that so many times. They just don't realize my potential."

"I swear Kenz, I'll deal with you later."

Muttering curses to herself, she left the office.