LITMIR.BIZ

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destroyed?”

      Mackenzie shook her head. “The equipment is ruined, but I have two sets of hard drives where the files are stored. One was here in the filing cabinet and that is probably completely destroyed, but I have a second set I keep in a safety deposit box at the bank. I update the files weekly in both locations. I’ve always done it that way—just in case of hurricanes or whatever. I’ve been playing with the idea of using cloud storage, but I’m still exploring that. I’m not convinced of the security.”

      Jake nodded and then motioned for her to wait when his cell phone rang. He turned to answer it, and her own phone rang at the same time. She recognized her parents’ number and hesitated. Could she handle a call from them right now? She hadn’t told them about the men breaking into her apartment yesterday, but it would be hard hiding the fire from them, especially if she wouldn’t be home for a while. She glanced at Jake, who was still deep in conversation, then back at her own phone, which was still ringing. Finally, she accepted the call.

      “Hello, Dad,” she said on hearing her father’s voice.

      “Mackenzie, I’ve got the best news for you!”

      “Oh, really? What’s up?” she asked.

      “Do you remember Miller from the advertising firm? I was talking to him yesterday and mentioned you were looking for a new job. He actually has an opening and would like to set up an interview! Isn’t that fantastic? All you have to do is give him a call.”

      Mackenzie’s heart plunged. Neither of her parents felt that making movies constituted a “real” job, and they were constantly sending their disapproval her way, along with various job offers that they felt would help her settle down and take life more seriously. Mackenzie loved them both dearly, but she wasn’t about to give up her production company. She enjoyed her work and found fulfillment in the process. Her parents, however, couldn’t seem to understand. She was convinced that they wouldn’t be happy with her career choices until she was locked into a nine-to-five schedule with benefits and a hefty retirement plan. After Jonathan’s death, their pressure had increased rather than lessened. She was now their only living child, so all their hopes and dreams rested heavily on her shoulders.

      “Thanks, Dad, but I’m doing fine with my current job. I’m really not looking for anything new right now.”

      “But it has a great starting salary. Don’t you want to at least talk to him about the opportunity? It might be too good to pass up. It’s entry-level, but it has some exciting possibilities.” The disapproval was heavy in his voice, and Mackenzie struggled with the desire to hang up on him. His censure was difficult to hear after everything else that had happened the last couple of days, and she was already stressed from being shot at again and having her belongings burned to a crisp. Not to mention the volatile relationship she had with Jake. She could usually handle her father’s criticism and take it with a smile, but today it seemed even harder than normal to keep the optimism in her voice. God, give me strength.

      She steeled her voice. “Dad, I’m sorry, but that’s really not the path I want to take right now. I’ve had a fire at my apartment, and most of my equipment has been damaged. I really need to work on getting my production company up and running again so I can meet my current contracts.”

      “A fire? Were you hurt?”

      “No, Dad, I’m fine, but like I said, I lost my board and audio equipment. It just happened, and the police and firemen are here right now sorting through everything. I really need to go so I can finish up with them and assess the damage.”

      There was a pause as her father absorbed everything, but then he pushed again. “Mackenzie, maybe this is the perfect time to talk to Miller after all. With your equipment damaged, it might be the best time to get a real job and put this filming behind you. You had a good run and worked on a few fun projects, but this job with Miller could turn out to be a great career. It has health benefits, a great dental plan...”

      Mackenzie’s head started pounding, and she rubbed her face absently. “I’m sorry, Dad, but the police really need to ask me some more questions, so I’d better go. I realize I’ve got a lot of work to do to rebuild my business, but that’s where I want to focus my time and efforts right now. If you run into Miller again, please thank him for his time, but I’m really not interested.”

      “All right.” She could still hear the disappointment that was heavy in his voice. “Where are you staying? Are you safe?”

      “Yes, Dad, I’m safe,” Mackezie answered, relieved that the conversation had shifted from her employment situation. “The US Marshals office here is helping me and has gotten me set up in a nearby hotel. I’ll have to find a new apartment, but I’ll let you know once I’m settled.”

      “All right, then. Call if you need us. We’ll come help you move if you’d like.”

      “Sure thing. I’ll let you know once I’ve decided where I’m headed. Bye, Dad.” She hung up and sighed. Her parents meant well, but they had never really understood her work and career choices. They thought making movies was a great hobby, but certainly not a full-time occupation. With every passing year, they seemed to get more concerned about her future, and nothing she told them ever seemed good enough to please them. She desperately wanted their approval but, at this point, she was unsure if she would ever actually get it. Their lack of support ate at her yet also drove her to prove them wrong and work even harder at becoming a success. She was going to make a name for herself in the film business, and one day, she would garner their support. She glanced back over at her ruined equipment. Right now, that day seemed very far away indeed.

       FOUR

      A hand on her shoulder brought Mackenzie out of her contemplations, and she turned to see Jake.

      “Good news. The local boys caught the two men that were shooting at us.” He showed her his phone, which had a mug shot of a man with dark hair and eyes. “Do you recognize this man?”

      Mackenzie shook her head. The man’s face didn’t set off any bells, but the emptiness in his eyes scared her. He looked like someone that would hurt her with no qualms whatsoever.

      Jake swiped the screen and showed her another picture. “What about him? Have you seen him before?”

      This man’s face was narrower, and he had a large mole near his mouth. His lips formed a menacing sneer.

      “Nope, I don’t know him. Sorry.”

      Jake nodded and stored his phone. “Okay. They’re running criminal history checks on them now. The first one I showed you is a known associate of Beckett’s. It’s likely that this is all tied together. All we have to do now is figure out how.” He reached down, grabbed her suitcase and then motioned toward the door. “Let’s get you out of here.” He walked her into the living room, and after updating the two policemen, took her arm and led her toward the car.

      “Will I be allowed back in there at some point to get the rest of my things?” Mackenzie asked as he opened the passenger door for her.

      “Sure, at some point. Both the fire department and the police have to finish their investigations first. It’ll take a few days. Hopefully, by then we’ll have a handle on what’s going on here.” He closed the door, put her suitcase in the back seat, walked around the car and got in the driver’s side. “Everything about your projects sounds innocuous, except for maybe the homeless children documentary. Tell me about that.” He started the engine and pulled out of the parking lot but looked over at her expectantly.

      Mackenzie waited a moment before answering, wondering if they were going to be shot at a second time. Part of her wanted to stay indoors, where it might be safer, but she quickly remembered that men had broken into her apartment. There was no guarantee she was safe anywhere right now. She glanced at Jake, who also was taking a good look around them with a wary eye. At least Jake was helping her, despite the animosity he had

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