Bachelor By Design: Bachelor By Design / Too Hot For Comfort. Kay David

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СКАЧАТЬ he asked, bending down slightly, but still unable to gauge her expression. “Do you see anything under there?”

      She shot out from under the staircase and jumped to her feet. “I certainly do. The dust bunnies have been breeding like rabbits.” Then she glanced at her watch. “Time to go! We don’t want to miss our reservations.”

      Her false cheeriness confirmed for him that he hadn’t imagined it. “It’s still there, isn’t it?”

      “I didn’t see anything out of the ordinary.”

      With a sigh of resignation, he lay down on the floor, grabbed the bottom edge of the staircase and pulled himself underneath it. His head screamed at him with every movement. But his eyes saw everything clearly. Taped to the underside of the stairway in a sealed Ziploc gallon bag were dozens of sparkling loose diamonds, all shapes and sizes. Even in the dark the jewels winked at him like stars in the sky.

      The next moment Chloe slid in beside him, her back on the floor, her head right next to his. She tilted her gaze toward him. “I can explain.”

      He couldn’t wait to hear it. Would she tell him the truth or make up an elaborate lie? And would he be able to tell the difference? “Go ahead.”

      She hesitated. “All right, I can’t explain. But that doesn’t mean there’s not a perfectly logical explanation.”

      “Such as?”

      “Such as…these aren’t what they look like.”

      “They look like flawless diamonds worth thousands of dollars.”

      “They could just be really good fakes. Sometimes you can hardly tell the difference.”

      Trace stared at the bag, considering her argument. He supposed they could be fake, but that brought up another question. “If that’s true, then why did someone go to all the trouble to hide them?”

      “Well…maybe someone is fencing them as the real thing. They do look authentic.”

      “There’s one way to find out.” As soon as he said the words he felt her stiffen beside him.

      “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

      He turned slightly to get a better view of her face. “You haven’t even heard my idea yet.”

      She scowled. “I can make a wild guess. You want to take them to a jeweler so he can examine them and give us his expert opinion. Or did you have something else in mind?”

      “No, that about sums it up. At least then we’d know what we’re dealing with.”

      “We?” she echoed, her tone slightly sarcastic. “This isn’t your problem, Callahan. This is my house. My staircase.”

      “Your diamonds?” When she didn’t deny it, the hairs prickled on the back of his neck. He hadn’t even considered Chloe might be involved in something shady. He suddenly wondered why he’d been blind to that possibility. Was it the way she looked? Talked? Kissed?

      He closed his eyes for a moment, not wanting to think about that kiss. It confused him too much. Made perfectly clear issues suddenly cloudy.

      “They’re not my diamonds,” she said firmly. “But this is a family problem. I’d rather you didn’t become involved.”

      “It’s too late. I became involved the moment your brother conked me over the head. And now we know why. He didn’t want me to find the stash.”

      “That’s pure speculation,” she replied, although she didn’t sound too convinced herself. “Why wouldn’t he…I mean, whoever hit you, just take the diamonds and run?”

      Trace shrugged. “Maybe he heard you coming and panicked. Or maybe he thought he’d killed me and panicked. Criminals aren’t always logical. Or smart.”

      “Believe me, I know.” She turned her face to him. “So now what?”

      They were lying so close together that he could feel her soft breath on his cheek. “We call the police.”

      Chloe immediately wiggled out from beneath the staircase. Trace followed her, moving more slowly. She was pacing back and forth across the living room by the time he got to his feet. He watched her for a moment, then he walked toward the telephone.

      “Wait,” she cried, reaching out to stop him.

      He turned to face her. “Chloe, I know you’re upset. I know you don’t want to face the facts about your brother. But shielding him won’t help him. Ramon will just dig himself deeper and deeper into trouble.” He took a step closer to her. “I’m furious with Ramon for knocking me out, but I could probably deal with him one-on-one and leave the police out of it.”

      He steeled himself against the way her brown eyes filled with hope. “But the diamonds are another matter. We’re talking about a possible felony. We don’t have any choice but to turn him in to the authorities.”

      “You’re right.”

      He blinked, surprised at her easy capitulation. He turned toward the telephone once again.

      Chloe whirled in front of him, effectively blocking his path to the phone. “But we don’t have to turn him in yet. I still don’t believe Ramon hit you, but…” Her voice trailed off and a spark of anger flashed in her eyes.

      “You do believe he stole the diamonds?”

      “Yes.” She threw her hands up in the air. “Why couldn’t he have started small? A gold bracelet here, a semiprecious stone there? Instead he steals enough diamonds to land him in prison for a lifetime!”

      “Wait a minute,” he interjected, slightly confused. “Did Ramon tell you he planned to rob a jewelry store?”

      “Not in so many words. But I could see the warning signs.” She looked up at Trace. “Why didn’t I try harder to stop him?”

      “You can’t blame yourself.”

      “Yes, I can,” she countered. “I promised my mother I’d look after him the first time she went to prison. And I’ve tried to keep that promise ever since.”

      His gut clenched at her words. She’d only been twelve years old and already taken on the responsibilities of an adult. “Ramon is a man now, not a little boy. You’re not responsible for his actions anymore.”

      “He’s still a little boy inside. Sensitive and impulsive.” She laid her hand on his chest. “Let me find him. Let me try to convince Ramon to turn himself in. They’ll go easier on him then.”

      He shook his head. “The police could be on his trail right now. I’ll bet they’re definitely on the trail of the diamonds. If they find them here, you could be considered as an accomplice.”

      She tipped up her chin. “I can take care of myself.”

      Trace knew it wasn’t a bluff. From the sound of it, she’d been taking care of herself since she was a child. But this was serious. Still…he couldn’t quite resist СКАЧАТЬ