blush (Westbrook Series) by Mitzi Vaughn

leave in a while.  Most of our staff has been at Westbrook for a long
time.  We are all like a family there.  I don't think any of them would be this
malicious."
    Chloe and Brandon agreed.
    "What about from your past?"
    Missy exhaled, "I don't really talk to anyone
from my past other than my mom every now and then.  She is an alcoholic who is
usually in and out of rehab.  My dad left her when she started drinking and
quit taking care of him."  Missy rolled her head around trying to relieve
the tension in her neck then went on, "He is a drunk.  A very angry and
selfish drunk.  I haven't heard from him since I ran away when I was sixteen. 
He left my mom a year later and never looked back.  I heard he remarried a
woman from Jersey though."
    Mark contemplated what she had just told him. 
"Alright.  I will look into it.  Let me know if you think of anyone
else."
    Brandon stood and shook Mark's hand.  "Thank
you so much man.  I am so sorry for hitting you at the bar.  We've been friends
a long time and I hope I didn't ruin that."
    "Never.  We are all good."
    Brandon and Missy dropped Chloe back off at the Westbrook
building's parking garage and watched her get into her car.  They knew they
would have to take special precaution in every move they made.  Brandon didn't
plan on letting Missy out of his sight.  He also thought about hiring someone,
maybe a bodyguard for her.  He knew she would not approve of it, but he was
definitely going to look into it.
    "Missy, I don't mind giving him the money. 
Your safety is much more important to me."
    "No.  No more talk of giving him money.  We
can't let him take advantage of us."
    Nothing else was said on the drive home.  The wheels
were spinning in both of their minds.  What could they do and how would they
pull it off.  Missy was glad she thought to call Mark.  She liked the side of
Mark she saw tonight.  She could tell why Brandon had become friends with him. 
The fact that tonight gave them all a chance to clear the air was nice too. 
    The next morning Brandon arranged for someone to
watch Missy at all times until this ordeal was over.  The guy was ex-military. 
Brandon had worked with him before and he had always done an excellent job.  He
waited until noon and put a call into Mark to see if he had found out anything
about who might be after Missy.  When Mark returned his call, they didn't seem
that much closer.  "Her mom is out of the state in a rehab.  She's
actually doing very well from what I found out, but she hasn't left the
property.  Her dad did remarry.  He is in Chicago.  He's been in and out of
jail for possession.  The guy's got a real big meth problem.  Other than that I
couldn't dig up much.  When he called, was it on your cell or the office phone?"
    "The office."
    "I'm going to come over and work on your
phone.  Maybe we can get a trace on the guy.  Go have lunch and I will meet you
at your office this evening."
    "Sounds great."
    Missy had been trying to get some work done all
morning, but with everything going on she was having trouble keeping her head
in the game.  She was happy to get her mind off of things when Brandon came to
take her to lunch.  Maybe a bite to eat would help.  They headed to a
nearby sushi bar.  It was one of Missy's favorite places to eat.  She loved the
food.  The modern fusion decor was beautiful.  They had luscious green bamboo
and decadent aquariums with the most vibrant fish. 
    "Mark called.  He's going to come put a device
on my phone at the office to record and trace the calls coming in.  If the guy
calls again, maybe it will help us find him."
    Missy looked everywhere but at Brandon; she was
tired.  She was having difficulty turning her brain off  last night so sleep
was pretty much out of the question.  Finally she spoke, "Did he say
anything else?"
    "He said your mom is in a rehab out of the
state.  Says she's doing real well."
    Missy's mom had been in and out of several