Catching the Bad Guy (Book Two) (Janet Maple Series) Read Online Free

please don’t make me think that I’ve
overestimated you. Do you have what it takes to get the job done?”
    As Alex looked into Finnegan’s eyes,
which had turned into mere slits, he knew that his prospects were hanging by a
thread. This was his chance, but it could also turn out to be his undoing.
Judging by the way Finnegan and Andrews planned to dispose of Janet, they would
not think twice about doing the same to Alex. In an instant Alex made his
decision. “Yes, sir, I most certainly do. I realize that ability to make tough
decisions is part of being a manager, and I can make these kinds of decisions,
sir.”
    The next day, Alex got Andrews’s job.
His first decision as the group manager had been to downsize Janet. At least he
did not have to tell her himself: Human Resources did the dirty work for him.
Getting to the top was not for the squeamish.
    Several weeks later, Alex found out from
Andrews that Nicholas Borrelli, the owner of Borrelli Capital, had given
personal loans to half of Washington. Needless to say, Borrelli was getting off
the hook.
    Alex cracked his knuckles. For reasons
he did not know and had no wish to find out, Muller had Finnegan’s protection.
Alex’s task had been made clear to him. He was to ensure that the individuals
responsible for the investigation were either frightened into silence or dealt
with accordingly, meaning fired. Alex had already requested background files on
all of his subordinates, and Janet Maple’s file, along with that of Dennis
Walker, were right at the top of the pile.
     
    ***
     
    Alex’s handsome—yes, despite his base
nature the man was handsome—face materialized before Janet’s eyes: the magnetic
look of his dark eyes that could morph from passionate to persuasive to
humorous to impenetrable in a matter of seconds, the perfectly chiseled
structure of his V-shaped nose, and the sensual curvature of his lips. Yes,
Alex was a very good-looking man. From the taut musculature of his body to his
confident stance, everything about him exuded an aura of success. The only
trouble was that Alex was determined to succeed by any means possible. It had
taken Janet almost five years of her life to learn this simple truth. By the
time Alex was through with her, she was unemployed and alone.
    Her job at the Treasury gave her a
chance to turn over a new leaf in her life. But just as she thought that the
past was safely behind her, all of her efforts were in danger of being
vanquished by Alex’s demonic hand. Yes, the man truly was the devil incarnate.
Janet decided that this was going to be Alex’s new nickname. But even devils could
be exercised with holy water, and this time Janet was not going to surrender
without a fight.
    Janet’s ruminations were interrupted by
Dennis Walker poking his head through the doorway of her office. “Are you going
to the staff meeting?” he asked.
    “What staff meeting?”
    “The staff meeting with our new boss.
Don’t you check your emails?”
    Janet turned her attention to the
computer screen and saw a slew of unread emails. One of them was a staff
meeting request from Alex. The meeting time was five o’clock. What kind of a
jerk would schedule a staff meeting for five o’clock? The answer was simple:
Alex Kingsley. “Crap. I was hoping to get out of here early today.”
    Dennis’s eyes narrowed. “Is there
something you’re not telling me?”
    “What do you mean?”
    “You’ve been avoiding me all day.”
Dennis took a seat in a chair that stood across from Janet’s desk. “Now, are
you going to tell me what’s going on, or do I have to pry it out of you?”
    “Nothing is going on,” Janet snapped.
She was not going to let Dennis Walker interrogate her. “We’d better hurry or
we’re going to be late for the staff meeting.”
    “Some thank you I get.” Dennis shook his
head. “Had it not been for me, you would have blown the meeting altogether.”
    “Thank you, Dennis.” Janet rose from her
chair and grabbed