Chapter 2 - page 2

Their faces were mere inches apart. “No one steals from me and gets away with it.” His voice was a low grumble, barely concealing his veiled threat. “No one.”



Jenson McMillan trembled with rage and indignation. His words were forced from between clenched teeth. “It isn’t stealing if it is my idea; my work!”

Peter’s eyes flashed dangerously, “You work for me. I own you; I own your work.”

“You don’t own me. No one fucking owns me!” Jenson’s nostrils flared, his hands clenched into fists, his knuckles white with tension.



Peter's voice lowered gaining a mocking tone. “You’d like to think so, wouldn’t you? I own this town and everyone in it.” Jenson didn’t respond, but his breathing was shallow and came faster as his anger rose. The blonde swallowed hard past the lump in his throat. Peter noted the aggressive change in his stance and mocked him. “You wouldn’t dare.”

Jenson’s blue eyes grew ice cold. “Wouldn’t I?”



“You’d like to think you’re man enough, but we both know better. I’m Peter fucking Hamilton and you’re… nothing.” He spat the last word as if it were distasteful. Peter smirked and leaned closer. “Is that fear I smell?” Peter shifted his head so his cheek was inches from Jenson’s jaw and inhaled deeply.  Peter's voice lowered ominously. “Mmm, I believe it is.”

----

Hector sipped his coffee and set the cup down slowly watching Jenson’s far off look. “So, did you?”



Jenson smirked bringing his attention back to the present. “Hit him? Hell yes.” He took a drink of his coffee before elaborating. “I thought for sure I’d see jail time, but for whatever reason…” Jenson stared in his cup and shrugged a shoulder. Jenson explained, “I came up with an idea for our scientists. He took it, he made millions.”

“And you got nothing.” Hector whistled low. “That must have been hard to take.”

“Kicking his ass and not being able to tell anyone was hard to take.” Jenson ran his fingers through his sandy blond hair. “There apparently is a clause in my contract that I didn’t even notice. He was right. My work during my tenure with Hamilton Industries belongs to Hamilton Industries including any and all new work that I develop. In the end I was compensated. No where near the amount Hamilton made, but he ‘rewards employees’ to keep their loyalty.”

Hector frowned watching the muscle in Jenson’s jaw clench. The detective said, “You know he’s deceased.”



It was a statement, not a question yet Jenson nodded silently. “I saw it on the news this morning. Elissa told you about my meetings with Hamilton.” When Hector nodded, he dropped his gaze back to the cup in his hand. “I figured that’s why you’re here. How’s Elissa?”

“She’s fine, why wouldn’t she be?” Hector slowly raised his own cup to his lips still watching Jenson.

“No reason.” Jenson pushed the spoon around in the cup staring at it, but not seeing it. “Her boyfriend is suddenly a suspect in one of her homicide investigations, I’d think she’d be remotely concerned but she hasn’t called me.” He pulled something from his pocket, a small black velvet box and set it on the table. He stared at it for a long time before speaking again. “I guess now would be a bad time for me to give her this.”

Hector choked on his coffee. “Is that…”



“Ayup, bad timing, huh?” Jenson pushed his chair back, snatched the box off the table and stuffed it back in his pocket as he stood. He paused before walking off and told Hector, “If you need me, I’ll be sticking around town. I watch enough cop shows; I know the drill.”

Chapter 3