The Armstrong Assignment (A Janet Markham Bennett Cozy Thriller Book 1) by Diana Xarissa (books for 10th graders TXT) 📕

had to work his butt off to keep their businesses afloat while Neil wallowed in his heartbreak. He gave Kaytlyn a generous settlement, one she didn’t deserve, because he was still crazy in love with her.”

“So you don’t think that Neil is behind the attempts on Bobby’s life?”

“I would hope that he’s smarter than that,” Dixie replied. “He needs Bobby far more than anyone else does.”

“You’ve now eliminated all of the possibilities,” Janet pointed out.

Dixie laughed. “There’s always me,” she said. “And there have been plenty of times when I’ve thought about killing that man. Bobby Armstrong can be the most annoying man on the entire planet, and I should know because I’ve been married to plenty of annoying men.”

The pair had meandered through the streets, but they were now only a few paces away from their hotel. Dixie stopped and looked at Janet.

“I hope you know that I’m not serious. I love Bobby more than I’ve ever loved anyone else and I would never do anything to hurt him. I suppose that’s why I haven’t pushed any harder for a wedding ring. I’m not a very good wife, really. Maybe we’re better off staying as we are, whatever that is.”

“I hope the police can work out who’s behind everything that’s happened to Bobby,” Janet said.

Dixie nodded. “He said he was pushed today. I believe him. I just wish I’d been watching everyone else. He had two bodyguards with him. Someone must have seen something.”

“There were just too many people around,” Janet replied. “Maybe he was pushed by someone who was simply trying to get past.”

“Are you going to see him tonight?”

“I am, just in case he needs anything translated to his nurse.”

“Please tell him that I love him,” Dixie said, as tears filled her eyes. “He won’t see me. He said he isn’t seeing anyone aside from his bodyguards. Of course, I’ll see him at the meetings tomorrow, but that isn’t the same.”

“I’ll pass the message along.”

“Thank you. I should be grateful that he’s keeping everyone out. That should keep him safe. I, well, I just want to hug him and spend some time with him. I should go to the Bahamas, or maybe I should look up one of my ex-husbands. That would be diverting.”

Dixie sighed and then turned and walked into the hotel. Janet took a moment to take a few deep breaths before she followed. Edward was standing in the lobby.

“Hi,” he said softly.

“I was just breathing in Paris,” she explained.

“And now we have to go and talk to Mr. Jones,” he told her.

“I have to go and see if Bobby needs anything.”

“After we’ve spoken to Mr. Jones. He gets priority.”

“Why?”

“Because he has a gun and Bobby had to leave his in Texas,” Edward replied, winking at her.

Janet was still chuckling as Edward led her into one of the ground-floor conference rooms. Mr. Jones and Christopher Porter were sitting at the table.

“This assignment isn’t meant to be fun,” Mr. Jones snapped at Janet.

“Oh, dear, I’m afraid I must be doing it all wrong, then,” Janet replied. “I don’t think I can spend time in Paris and not enjoy myself.”

Mr. Jones glared at her. “Your job is to protect Mr. Armstrong.”

“I’m doing my best to protect him from getting served food he doesn’t care for and I’m going to do what I can to help him not get cheated in his business deals. Physical protection, though, is another job altogether.”

“One that my agents don’t seem capable of managing,” Mr. Jones snarled.

“Bobby was the one who insisted on going out into the crowded streets against Edward’s advice,” Janet said angrily. “If my life were at stake, I’d listen to the people who’d been hired to protect me.”

“You were advised not to get involved in this case, and yet here you are,” Mr. Jones replied.

“My life isn’t at stake,” Janet replied with a wave of her hand. “I’m the hired help. These people aren’t interested in me.”

“You spent a significant amount of time with Mrs. Davidson tonight,” he countered.

“She needed to complain about Lucy to someone. Lucy spent most of dinner complaining about everything. They were both simply taking advantage of the fact that I’m a new person who hasn’t heard their stories before. I doubt either of them will speak to me again after tonight.”

“Tell us everything that was said tonight,” Mr. Jones said.

Janet swallowed a sigh. She slid into a chair and took a deep breath. Half an hour later, she let out the sigh. “And then Edward met me in the lobby,” she concluded.

Mr. Jones looked up at her. “You’ve clearly done this before.”

Edward chuckled. “She’s been involved in a number of criminal investigations in the past few years.”

“Yes, I read the file,” Mr. Jones replied.

“I have a file?” Janet demanded.

Mr. Jones looked up from his notes. “If you remember anything else that was said, even if it seems insignificant, tell Edward. We have other things to do.”

He got to his feet and walked to the door. Christopher followed.

“For the record, I still don’t want you involved in this,” Mr. Jones said as he reached for the doorknob. “But you did good work tonight.”

The two men were gone before Janet could reply. She looked at Edward. “He’s terrifying.”

Edward chuckled. “You don’t act as if you’re frightened of him.”

“Then I’m a better actress than I’d realised.”

“I’m a very lucky man,” he said as he pulled her close.

“Don’t you forget it,” she replied before he kissed her.

As they stood up to go, the door suddenly swung open.

“He was going to take you both off the case tonight,” Christopher said as he shut the door behind himself. “The only reason he didn’t was because Janet was out. Now