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Monday started out like any other workday for Sady. In the morning CJ dropped a file on her desk with a smile. "If you want to be an investigator, then get used to it. You've got two more years of this before you can apply for your license. Read through all the reports, initial them, and fill out anything that needs to be documented. Have the final summary ready for Amanda to scan and file in the morning."
Sady focused on the report, then had lunch by herself at a diner down the street. As she ate, she found herself looking around suspiciously at the other diners. A little shiver ran down her spine, and she couldn't shake the feeling that she was being watched. When she got back to the office, she stood near the front window for a few minutes, watching the pedestrians. "Hiding from someone?" Matt joked. "Or looking for someone?"
"I don't know. Both, I think," she replied before going to her office.
He followed her. "CJ and Harry are out checking on a new case, and Amanda's leaving early, so we close up tonight."
"Fine," Sady said with a wave of her hand. "Now go away, so I can get my work done." Matt left, but she didn't finish her paperwork. She couldn't get her mind off the odd feeling that lingered. It wasn't until Matt interrupted her at closing time that she realized she wasted the whole afternoon.
"Aren't you done with that thing? How much longer will this take? I don't want to be here all night," he scolded.
"You act like I can't be trusted," she complained. "I've worked late by myself in the past. I think I can manage to set the alarm, lock the office, and drive home safely. Now get out of here before I call Amanda to kick you out. And don't even think about saying 'don't forget to'," she continued. His brows dropped as she took the words out of his mouth.
"Fine, just... Never mind," he griped, as he left the office through the back door. Sady locked it with a laugh.
She sighed and shook her head to clear it. Now, because she'd wasted the afternoon, it meant a late night. She worked until the report was complete. With a yawn, she dropped the folder on Amanda's desk and headed to the back door. She set the alarm, then stepped out into the steamy night air. Whew! She was glad Justin, her Mustang, had a good air conditioner. Looking around first to make sure she was alone, she walked to her car, digging through her bag for her keys.
Sady heard the sound behind her a second too late. "Drop your bag, slowly." Sady did as she was told, lowering her bag to the ground. She kept her hands up and her back to the man who tipped her bag and dumped the contents onto the ground. He nudged the contents with his foot.
"Is this the only bag you carry?" he asked.
"Who are you- the bag police? Did I commit a fashion faux pas?" Sady expected him to take her wallet, the keys, and Justin. What was he after?
"Don't get smart. Just answer the question," he snapped, sounding impatient.
"I'm a woman. Do you really think I only have one bag?" Sady asked.
"Is this the one you used over the weekend?" he asked.
"Yeah." Sady decided she'd better not get too mouthy, so she bit her tongue. This guy didn't seem stable.
"Where's my stuff?" he asked.
"I'm pretty sure you have the wrong person, pal. I don't even know what your 'stuff' is, let alone have any of it," Sady assured him. He grabbed her arm and spun her around. He was wearing a face mask and Sady couldn't make out his features.
"No, you're the one. I saw you take it," he insisted. "You have something that belongs to me, and I've come to get it back. Unless you've already sold it. In that case, you've got a problem." At Sady's confused look, he grumbled.
"Maybe if you tell me what you're missing I can help you find it," she offered. He didn't like her offer, and he twisted her arm behind her back. His mistake. Daria Bennet had showed her how to get out of that move, and she did so. A twist, a sharp kick, and a fast grab to a vulnerable pressure point had the masked attacker on the ground before he knew what happened.
"Lady, you're nuts!" he yelled as crawled from her.
"I'm specially trained in deadly forms of self-defense, so why don't you crawl back for another round?" She was talking to the air. The guy jumped to his feet and ran. She might have self-defense training, but she was still shaken from the encounter. After locking herself in the office she called the Knights and the police.
Harry and CJ arrived before the police which didn't surprise Sady. They checked the surveillance camera that was above the back office door, but they couldn't make out the identity of the assailant. The police took her statement but there wasn't much else they could do. After the police left Sady told Harry and CJ her suspicions about being followed.
CJ glanced at Harry and said, "I'll call Matt to have him check her apartment."
"How come he still has a key?" Sady asked indignantly.
"For times like this," Harry said. "Your uncle wants you safe."
CJ was on the phone with Matt for a long time. After disconnecting she said, "No one has been in your apartment, as far as he can tell. The security guard told him someone tried to deliver flowers to you earlier and got quite upset at not being able to take them straight to your door. The guard insisted the flowers be left at the desk. Matt's getting a description from the guard. I guess you know what this means?" she asked Sady.
"I might as well just put a sign up in your guest room with my name," Sady moaned.
"And you might as well leave your car here," CJ suggested. "You can ride into work with us in the morning."