The Legacy: A Kimberly & Sykes Mystery Novel Read Online Free Page A

inches and just as quietly descended back into its hidden home. Lauren was still smiling when she caught Sykes’ amused face watching her through the rear view mirror.
    “Nicely done,” she remarked.
    “Please sit back and put your seat belt on Ms. Kimberly. If you wish to watch the TV, or have a beverage, you will find the remote in your left seat pocket and drinks are in the cabinet in front of you.”
    “I’m surprised Mr. Smith is letting me ride in such luxury. He sounded quite – should I say – ‘imposing,’ on the phone last night.”
    “Oh, he’s all right. Don’t let that put you off. He’s a very reasonable man.”
    Just mentioning Smith’s name caused Lauren’s anxiety to come jolting back. “I’m a bit nervous actually. He seems to think I can help him find some equipment my father had in his possession before he died but, to be honest, I wasn’t close to my father and don’t have a clue where these items might be.”
    “Well, I’m sure it’ll all get sorted out when you talk to Mr. Smith.” Sykes paused before adding, “He was an interesting guy your dad.”
    “You knew him!”
    “Of course. I met your dad many times over the last year or so. He talked highly of you.”
    Lauren fell back into her seat, all the breath taken out of her. Her eyes moved swiftly around the interior of the limousine without seeing anything. That her father talked about her just seemed contrary to Lauren’s understanding of him. Mike Kimberly never took the time to call her, yet, he talked about her to other people? For Lauren, there was a disconnect here that she couldn’t reconcile.
    Sykes had no idea how shocking this news was to her and Lauren felt exposed as he looked at her through the rear view mirror. Lauren wanted to say something to mask her sudden silence but when she looked up to catch his eyes, he was looking at her quizzically. The words on her tongue failed to materialize. Averting her gaze, she looked out into the darkness. It was a few minutes before she felt able to talk.
    “I’m sorry. That’s surprising to hear. My father wasn’t one to hand out compliments, and he never had too much to say to me. It’s weird to hear he talked to other people about me, especially in glowing terms.”
    “He talked about you much more than often and was very proud of you.”
    Lauren’s mind flashed on her father; driven, intelligent, intense, and all the time working on some wild and crazy idea. Mike Kimberly had so many inventions that were ‘going to make them rich’ that he never seemed to notice she was around. How could he possibly talk about her in glowing terms when he barely knew she existed?
    “My father was more interested in designing the world’s best mousetrap than he was in paying any attention to me or my mum. Lauren looked up and saw Sykes’ head gently nodding. She wasn’t one to talk to strangers about personal matters and was surprised that she had said so much. Especially under these bizarre circumstances. Lauren gently scolded herself.
    “I don’t even know where you are taking me,” she said to change the subject.
    “I’m taking you to the corporate offices. They are on the top floor of the New Focus building downtown. We’ll be there in about ten minutes Ms. Kimberly. Mr. Smith is expecting you at 6:45pm,” he said looking at his watch, “and we will be there right on time.”
    Still feeling discombobulated, Lauren settled back, folded her arms on her lap, and tried not to think about her father. She wanted nothing more than to tell Smith face-to-face that she had no idea where his missing items were. Then she would turn around and go home. The sooner she could do that, the sooner she could revert to her normal life and push all thoughts of her father out of her mind.
    “This is it,” Sykes said as he turned into an underground car park. “You’re here Ms. Kimberly.”
    Sykes drove into a car elevator and pressed buttons on the dashboard. Within a couple of