1.
The drive to Angie's seemed to take forever but Matt knew it was only a few minutes longer than normal. The time of day made it busier with school buses, cars and lorries all heading to their places of work while he was trying to go against the flow of traffic. He was never really worried about Angie. She was the most together and capable woman he had ever met. Knowing she would probably be amused by him rushing to look for her or at worst angry at him for panicking he tried to put all the thoughts of what could possibly have happened out of his mind, at least until he pulled the car outside of the apartment. He pulled the Porche into the reserved parking bay near the apartment building before killing the engine. Nerves hit him as he realised his business partner, his best friend was very likely in danger. Or ill. Or worse. He shook his head, forcing him to concentrate on what he was about to do.
"Angie, be ok." He stepped out of the car before jogging to the main entrance of the apartment block. The fear in his stomach hitting him as he realised the elevator was out of order. Glancing towards the stairs he swore under his breath before running towards them, hoping his fitness from the days in the hockey world would help him reach the third floor without his legs or his lungs letting him down. He sent up a silent prayer to whatever Saint looked after ex-hockey players turned private detectives that his friend was ok and that she would be pleased to see him.
xxx
Angie was not happy. She was far from happy. The whole night had been a complete waste of time. Now she was in more trouble than she had been since the time she had been arrested by mistake for accidentally getting involved in espionage. She kicked out at the door in frustration as she tried and failed to free her wrists.
"Angela Susan Everett." She mumbled under her breath. "Do not even think about it."
She stopped kicking the cupboard door, listening carefully as she tried to make out what the sound was that had just caught her attention. Breathing heavily she couldn't fight the fear that the men who had broke into her apartment had come back to finish what they had started.
"ANGIE" She closed her eyes as a familiar voice yelled her name. She kicked the door again. "ANGIE!"
"IN HERE!" She kicked the door again as he finally got into the apartment. Minutes later he was pulling open the closet she had been locked inside.
"Hey." He knelt and began untying her. "You ok? Angie?"
"Yeah." She nodded. "Yeah."
"Really?"
"No." She blinked back a tear, not sure if it was from relief that Matt had found her or that she had let two hired thugs ransack her home. Matt pushed the fear down into the pit of his stomach. "I will be."
"Who did this?" Matt frowned as she took a deep breath. "Angie? Who did this?"
"Carver." She bit her lip. "I can't prove it but it was him."
"Who?" Matt rocked back on her heels as he saw genuine fear in his friend's eyes.
"Trust me, Matt. You don't want to know."
"Oh I think I do. I really think I do."
She sighed, knowing that if nothing else her best friend deserved an explanation.