Showdown in Mudbug (Ghost-in-Law, #3)(60)

“But you don’t think he’s involved with the kidnapping?”

“I don’t see how. He’s not the kind of guy you’d trust with delicate work.”

Zach nodded. “I don’t like the Hebert angle of this one bit. I don’t care what Sonny said to night. He could just as easily change his mind about you tomorrow morning and alert his guys by cell phone. You won’t have any idea he’s coming.”

Raissa waved a hand at the computers. “That’s why I’m always prepared.”

Zach ran one hand through his hair, his emotions warring inside of him. Finally, he said, “Maybe you should talk to Agent Fields. See what the FBI is offering.”

“No way.”

“But—”

“I’m not cutting out of here until this is over.”

Zach could have sworn his heart stopped beating for just a moment. Moron. You always knew she’d have to leave. But had he? Had he really given any thought to what would happen to Raissa when the case was over? And when had it become important? He was attracted to her, and he admired her, and worried about her, but that was all. Right?

“Zach?” Raissa’s voice broke him away from his thoughts.

“Huh.” He looked at Raissa. “Sorry, I was thinking.”

“Obviously. You didn’t hear the last two things I said. Well, did you figure anything out during all that thinking?”

“No,” Zach said, “not really.” Except that he’d complicated his personal life right along with his career, all with the same woman. It had to be some kind of record.

“Well, I say we call it a night and start on this again tomorrow when our brains aren’t fried.”

“Sounds good to me.”

Raissa gave him a sexy smile and started unbuttoning her shirt. “So let’s see what I can do about that ‘fewer clothes’ thing you mentioned earlier.”

“Raissa, what exactly are we doing here?”

Raissa stopped unbuttoning her blouse and looked directly at him. “I thought it was obvious.”

He stared at her—the black lace of her bra peeking out the top of her partially unbuttoned blouse—and his mind warred with other parts of his body that were far more powerful. “You’re right,” he said, and took over on the buttons where she’d left off. Raissa knew exactly what he was asking, but she’d intentionally avoided the question. For that matter, he’d allowed it. He opened her shirt and pushed it over her shoulders.

But they were going to have to talk about it sometime. Sooner would probably be better than later.





Bright and early Friday morning, Chuck and Lila stood in front of the clinic. Chuck punched in Hank’s cell-phone number for the fourth time in the last ten minutes, but Lila could hear the call go straight to voice mail.

“I’m sorry,” Chuck apologized. “I just don’t know what’s keeping Hank. He’s usually so punctual, and he always calls if anything comes up.”

Lila frowned, trying not to think of all the wrong reasons for Hank to be late for their meeting. She didn’t want to believe his change was temporary. Surely, something had delayed him, and he’d be there soon. “That’s okay. Maybe we should just start the walk-through without him. I’m sure he’ll be here soon.”

Chuck nodded and reached for the door. He stopped short when he realized it was already unlocked. “What the heck?” He turned the knob and pushed the door open. “Hank? You in here?” He looked back at Lila. “Let’s go check.”

They stepped inside and Chuck called out again, “Hank? Where are you?” Nothing. Chuck walked down the hallway of the clinic, checking in the rooms as he went. Lila followed behind.

“Chuck?” A voice yelled from the front doorway.

Chuck turned around and saw his assistant foreman, Jimmy, standing in the doorway. “Yeah, Jimmy, we’re back here. Looking for Hank. You seen him?”

Jimmy walked down the hallway to join them. “Nah, but I just got here. Had a flat on the truck this morning. Musta picked up a nail.” Jimmy pointed to the back of the clinic. “Hank was working on a set of cabinets in the last office when I left yesterday. He’s probably got his iPod playing and can’t hear you.”

“Maybe so,” Chuck agreed, and headed for the back office.

Lila hurried after him, hoping the explanation was that simple and that benign. Chuck stopped short in the doorway. Lila inched to the side of him and peered into the room. It was empty, but something was wrong. She took it all in—the tools left out on the floor, the table saw that was still plugged in. She started to take a step into the room and her foot brushed against something on the floor. She looked down and realized it was an open can of stain.

“This isn’t right,” Lila said.

“No. It feels all wrong,” Chuck agreed. He nudged the can of stain with his boot. “That stain has been open for a long time.” He pointed to the top of the ladder in the corner. Hank’s wallet and keys were perched on top where he always placed them. “Jimmy,” Chuck called out. “You see Hank’s truck out there?”

Jimmy opened the back door and looked outside. “Yeah, it’s here. Same exact place it was yesterday. Weird.”

Chuck backed out of the office and motioned for Lila to follow him. “We’re going outside, and I’m going to call the police. Don’t touch anything, okay?”