or the pair breathing down my neck—and what to do about Adela, not forgetting a burnt-out shell of a house and an exploded car.” He’d ignore the scars on his thigh and arms for now. Not that they didn’t worry him. The last time he’d scarred was after a beating when he was mortal and another man’s property. But at least these new ones were fading, if slowly.
“See to the girl. She’s right in your pocket, so to speak. If Adela’s pal is anywhere near as practical as she is, she has insurance. Once you get that sorted out, Adela can come and stay with Heather and leave you to hoodwink the FBI.” He paused while Toby hoped his phone wasn’t tapped. “Want me to come out there, old chap?”
It was a generous offer. “I’ll let you know if I need you. I won’t ask you to get a safe conduct from Vlad unless we have to. In fact, heck, if I do need backup, I’d better call on him first anyway.” No point in treading on toes if he didn’t have to. He was already here as a grace-and-favor visitor.
“Yeah! No point in ruffling our Romanian friend’s bat wings. Call me if you need me, alright, pal?”
Toby agreed he would and hung up. He did need to call Vlad, he supposed, though how to explain the chupacabra, he had no idea. First, he’d take Kit’s advice and see to the girl.
Laura Fox had a rotten night. Her patient slept like a baby while she fretted and paced. Talk about a fiasco! Well, most of it. Getting caught with her hands in her employer’s files was darn good reason for dismissal and if she wasn’t supremely lucky could get her blacklisted with all the local agencies. There was a lesson here about heeding her own conscience. Seeing Toby Wise in the altogether was the only bright spot in the fiasco, and she’d been too shocked and shaken to fully appreciate the opportunity. More fool her. Trouble was she’d genuinely liked the man. Okay—tell the truth—she had a bit of a crush on him. Attractive, a perfect gentleman through and through, and his smooth voice and lush Brit accent had curled her toes on more than one occasion. Not that now was the time to dwell on the decidedly erotic dreams he’d featured in.
She’d messed up. It was her own doing. She’d explain why she was searching through his private papers and leave and hope he let it go at that.
She was still trying to figure out why she felt this compulsion to tell him everything, when he opened the door.
“How’s Piet?”
“He had a good night.” She took a step toward Toby. “I need to talk to you.”
“Yes.” He nodded. “Let’s go in the kitchen. No point in waking Piet.” He held the door for her and she walked down the hall to the kitchen. “Have a seat.” He held a chair for her.
His courtesy made her action seem even sleazier than ever.
She sat, took a deep breath and looked straight into his dark eyes. “Mr. Wise…” How the heck was she to start?
He smiled. “You were going to explain what you were doing in my study.”
She did. Against all caution and her own sense of discretion, she told the lot. Everything. Her father’s depression after her mother died. How he let the paper go until it was on its last legs. The financial backing from a new partner. Her own personal dislike for said partner, and now, her father’s near-panicky insistence she take the job here and find “something” so he could write up an exposé of wrongdoings at Connor Inc.
It came out in a rush. Tired, she took another deep breath and listened to the clock on the wall tick away the minutes while she waited to be fired.
Toby Wise frowned. “Interesting. Would you like a cup of coffee, Laura?”
Was he kidding her? Was it a Brit custom to offer coffee before firing employees? “Coffee?”
“Why not? I want to talk to you, and I don’t doubt you could use the caffeine after a long night.”
She could use a stiff drink more, but she could hardly ask for gin when she was about to be unemployed, and she did have to drive home. “Er…thanks.”
“Milk, sugar?” he asked as he filled two mugs from the full carafe under the automatic coffeemaker.
“Both, please.” He took his black and had to have a throat of steel. She watched his Adam’s apple bounce as he swallowed coffee too hot for her to even sip. He set his mug down on the table with a soft thud.
“Laura, don’t look so worried. I’m not going to eat you—or sack you, come to that. But I do insist you answer a few questions.”
“Okay.” Or so she hoped. At least she still had a job. Incredible, really. “What do you want to know?” Whatever it was she would answer truthfully. She couldn’t lie to him.
Where to start? He couldn’t hold her under mind sway forever but he had to know who was investigating him and why. “Do you work for the FBI, Laura?”
Her green eyes widened. “No!”
That was clear enough and he detected no sign of prevarication in her mind. “Who really sent you to pry, then?”
“Dad.” Bore out what she’d said earlier. “He wants a big scoop for his paper.”
“What paper is that?”
“The Dark Falls Weekly News.”
Interesting coincidence. A small, local weekly, no doubt. “Why pick me?”
The skin between her eyebrows creased and she shook her head. “I don’t really know. I think it was the new owner leaning on him. He’s an odd man.” And the mention of him caused her to tense her shoulders. Interesting.
“What’s his name?”
“Axel Radcliffe.”
By Abel and all his creation! It couldn’t be! Too much of a coincidence! But she wasn’t lying. He was certain of that and…He was losing his hold on her mind. Concentrate. Focus. Get the facts. “When did he buy the paper?”
“About six months back. He offered to buy a half share. If he hadn’t, I think it would have folded. Seemed a godsend at the time but now I wonder.”
So did he, but on slightly different points. “Where does this Radcliffe chap live?” Investigation was in order.
She scowled. No other word for it. She frowned and bit her lip. “With Dad!” The fact obviously distressed her. “He was staying in a bed-and-breakfast at first, then moved in. It’s a big house and I don’t live there anymore, but they are never apart. It’s creepy. Dad’s almost scared to cross him.”
It was more than creepy. He had to investigate this and keep Laura as far away as possible. “Were you planning on seeing your father today?”
“No, I was going to call him if I found anything.”
Fair enough. “Tell him it wasn’t possible. Piet had a restless night and there was a visitor in the house, and I came in late.” All true.
“I will.” Her eyes were clear and honest. No wonder she’d done such a lousy job of spying. Devious just wasn’t in her. “But Dad…?”
“That’s okay. I want you to help me find out why this Axel Radcliffe wants to learn about Connor Inc. and me. Tomorrow I’ll find something for you to take to keep them satisfied a little while. Won’t be much but should keep them off your back for a few days.”
Sheer relief shone across her face. “You really mean it?”
“Most certainly, I do. I want to know why he finds us so fascinating.” Not that he couldn’t make an educated guess. If the annihilated and unlamented Laran Radcliffe had kin hereabouts, they had trouble.
As if he didn’t have enough on his plate already.
“Oh! Thank you!” Laura reached over and grasped his hands. Hers were warm and living and he fought the urge to mesh fingers.