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.He would hate being caught unprepared almost as much as he hated the knowledge that their pursuer had escaped without a trace.Maggie had a fairly good idea how he was berating himself right now.But there was more than anger in his tense body.Something was wrong, Maggie realized.Behind her the door creaked open.“You’re free to go, miss.” A female officer in a starched uniform held out Maggie’s handbag.“And here’s someone who’s been missing you.” With the slightest curve of her lips, the officer slid the yipping puppy into Maggie’s arms.“Poor Max.”“Poor, nothing.The brute nearly took off my thumb.Still, a bit of milk and a bone should soon put him to rights.And a bath wouldn’t hurt.”Maggie felt a rush of pleasure as the cold, wet nose pressed against her neck.She looked up as Nicholas Draycott walked toward her, worry in his eyes.“What a night.How are you holding up?”“Other than the fact that my stockings are history and I probably look like a zombie, I’m fine.So is Max.” She gave a crooked smile.“Jared doesn’t look so good though.Thanks for coming down to bail us out.”“Actually, Jared had that fairly well in hand.I’m merely here to lend moral support.”“Fools,” Jared muttered as he crossed toward them.“They still don’t believe anyone else was there.Do we need pictures to convince them?” He lifted Max from Maggie’s arms and shook his head as the puppy nuzzled his neck.“Down, you filthy creature.” Stroking Max’s head, Jared strode off to confer once more with the man at the constable’s desk.Maggie watched a white-haired man walk through the back of the station.He signed a paper and then crossed the hall toward the door.“He’s someone important, isn’t he?”Nicholas said nothing.“You’re not going to tell me?”“All I can say is that your father’s disappearance left unanswered questions.Your encounter tonight seems to have reopened many of them.”“So this is about me?”“You are part of it.”“They still haven’t found the driver?”“I’m afraid he made a clean escape during all the fuss.Very professional.”“What about the tracks from the backhoe?”Nicholas shrugged.“Then what about the security guard? He saw no one?”“Only you two.” Nicholas rubbed his neck, frowning.“Unfortunately, he’s a family man with eight years on the job.The police are inclined to believe him.”Maggie fought a wave of anger.“Someone had to be driving that backhoe.When he lifted the pipe he could have killed us.How do they explain that?”Nicholas watched Jared arguing with one of the constables.“The construction people say that they’ve been having trouble with that particular backhoe.Lights shorting out, motor stalling—that sort of thing.”“The last I heard, motors didn’t start themselves.”“You know that and I know that.Unfortunately, there is little more we can do without concrete evidence.”“Would a videotape of Jared and me lying dead beneath a backhoe do well enough?”Nicholas looked grim.“Jared and I will see that doesn’t happen.”Maggie shoved her hands deep into her pockets, hating the fear that threatened to choke her.“How do you know this has anything to do with my father? Jared was there, too.Maybe this man had some old grudge and I just happened to get in the way.I wouldn’t be surprised if Jared MacNeill has a whole address book full of people who’d like to run him over with a backhoe.”Nicholas didn’t move.“What makes you say that?”“Something in his face.He’s always watching other people and scanning the street as if he’s waiting for something to happen.Something bad.”“A good description.” Nicholas smiled grimly.“He’d be irritated as hell to be caught so accurately.”“You didn’t answer my question.Why are you both convinced that this has to do with my father?”“Information to that effect has been received.A government investigation has been initiated.” The viscount looked down with distaste at the cup of cold tea in his hands.“Initiated by whom?”“I can’t answer that.”“Then tell me about Jared.Who is he?” Maggie felt an odd tightening in her throat.“What is he?”The cup tipped.“He’s someone who wants to help.We both are.” Nicholas nodded his head slightly as the man with white hair strode past, his bearing erect and military.“I’m starting to wonder if staying in London is a good idea.New York was noisy, but at least demented strangers weren’t trying to run me down.”“Don’t you want to catch this man?”Maggie gnawed at her lip.“I have no evidence to show that my father is not dead, Lord Draycott.For me that’s all that matters.I think it might be best for everyone if I leave.”Nicholas watched the man with white hair hand a card to the officer at the outer door.“If you left England now, it might be … misconstrued.”Maggie stiffened “Misconstrued how?”“When your father disappeared, a fortune in gems went missing.Some of those gems were on loan from your government, but some were part of a traveling collection taken from the royal family’s own vaults.I think you can understand why there is still a feverish curiosity about where those stones ended up.”“So it all goes back to the missing jewels.Funny how my father always turns up as the villain.” Maggie rubbed her throbbing forehead.Her shoulder was on fire, and she was drifting into complete exhaustion.“There’s no point in discussing it.I want to go back to my hotel.Or am I still being held for attempted theft of a rusting forklift truck?”“You’re free.” Jared appeared beside her, his eyes dark and angry.“We both are.”“I suppose I should be glad for small favors.” Maggie had to fight the urge to brush Jared’s cheek.He looked edgy, his nerves stretched taut.“Nicholas is right, however.” Jared glanced at Nicholas.“Leaving England now wouldn’t be the wisest idea.”“What do you mean?”“Marston is expecting you,” Nicholas said flatly.“It’s the best place for you right now.”“We’ll leave as soon as she checks out of the hotel.” Jared gave a distracted look at Max, who was once again drooling on his bow tie.“Down, Max.”Maggie didn’t move.She wasn’t a puppy or a chess piece to be pushed around on a board, no matter how nicely they might arrange it.“You mean back to the abbey?”Nicholas cleared his throat.“Think it through.Whoever was driving that backhoe is still wandering free.It will be a great deal harder for him to reach you at the abbey.”Something cold skittered over Maggie’s neck.“Not there.”“It’s not open for discussion,” Jared said flatly.“I’m taking you back for your clothes, and then we’re leaving.” He looked tired, Maggie thought.Worse than tired.His face was pale and drawn, and he moved restlessly with every breath, as if he was struggling to keep his control.Maggie started to protest, then gave up.For now she needed to do exactly what they said.Even if going back to those tall granite walls was nearly as frightening as being pursued by a backhoe.~ ~ ~“Nice hotel.” Jared studied the plaster dangling from the elevator wall.“Great atmosphere [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]