Thread of Suspicion. Susan Sleeman

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СКАЧАТЬ and in answer to your unspoken question, the town house belongs to my sister, Natalie.”

      Ugh! She’d known him for only a few hours and yet he seemed to think he was always right. So confident. Everything she was attracted to in a man. Sure, he was good-looking—fit, muscular with a swagger that spoke to his self-assurance—and she’d have to be blind or near death not to react to him. But men like him were off-limits for her. He was too much like her ex-boyfriend, Paul. She’d found his confidence attractive, too. Until six months ago, when he’d gone all controlling and stalker on her. She wouldn’t put herself through that ever again. Not for any man.

      “You can go on in,” she said, trying to sound unaffected by anything he said or did. “I’d like to do a quick inspection out here.”

      His brow went up in question, and he held his position.

      She’d have to explain if she wanted him to go inside. “I need to see if there are signs of a break-in. If your computer was used without your permission, they would’ve had to break in or access your wireless connection from close by.”

      “I hadn’t thought about that.”

      “That’s why I’m the private investigator and you’re the client.” She kept her voice free of the sarcasm that wanted to creep in. “I’ll be just a minute.”

      He nodded but stopped mid-nod when a flash of pain darkened his face.

      “You should take something for the pain,” she suggested.

      He straightened his spine. “I’m good.”

      Right. Mr. Tough Guy. “It’s not a sign of weakness to accept help, you know.”

      “Come in when you’re finished,” he said, changing the subject. After a protracted look, he went inside and closed the door.

      “Fine, be in pain, then,” she mumbled as she often had when her stubborn brothers refused to listen.

      She shone her flashlight over the property, checking the windows for pry marks. She continued around the home, catching a welcoming wave of light spilling from floor-to-ceiling windows in the backyard. As she glanced into the family room, she spotted Luke leaning against a counter in the adjoining kitchen, talking on the phone. Even if he hadn’t just told her that the town house belonged to his sister, the feminine decor screamed he wasn’t the owner. She was certain he wouldn’t abide floral prints of any kind in his home, and she had to admit neither would she.

      She finished circling the town house and stood in the driveway, making a quick sweep of the neighborhood. A security camera on the home across the street pointed down their driveway, which meant Luke’s place would show up in their footage and it might prove useful.

      Useful if she cleared Luke’s name and if she found herself searching for another suspect, she reminded herself as she headed for his front door.

      Since he was expecting her, she didn’t knock but entered the two-story foyer with an open staircase. Through the rich mahogany banister she could see the family room and the adjoining kitchen island.

      “Luke,” she called out.

      “In the kitchen,” he responded.

      She found him still resting against the counter, his phone to his ear. He held up a finger and told the person he was talking to that he had to go.

      “That was my sister, Natalie.” He stowed his phone. “I figured you’d want to look at her computer, too, so I got her permission.”

      Not something a man with a secret to hide would do. Was he really a ruthless traitor and he planned to set up his sister? Or could his sister be behind the sabotage?

      “Did you find anything outside?” He pushed off the counter, coming closer.

      She took a step back, garnering a quirk of his eyebrow. So what if he knew she was being cautious? He was a former SEAL. He could end her life in a moment if he so chose.

      “There were no signs of forced entry, but the people across the street have a security camera pointed in the direction of your house. If I determine a break-in did occur, we may have the suspect on video.”

      “They’re good friends with Nat, so I’m sure they’ll share the video if we need it.”

      “Good to know,” she said. “I’d like to look at your computers if you’ll show me where to find them.”

      “This way.” He led her toward the back of the house.

      She crossed the gleaming wood floors and shook her head as she imagined this big hunk of a guy trying to get comfortable on his sister’s dainty sofa and chairs in the family room. He stepped through French doors into an office with an ornate desk sitting in the middle of the room and white bookshelves circling the perimeter.

      “The laptop is Nat’s. She lets me use her old desktop.” He gestured at an older model computer, the monitor sitting by a pricey ultrathin laptop.

      Dani’s gaze flew to his face. “You don’t own your own computer?”

      “No.”

      She watched him carefully, looking for a hint of deception. “Kind of odd for a guy who owns a technology company not to have a computer.”

      He lifted a shoulder in the briefest of shrugs. “The world needs computers, but I’d rather my life was free from things I can’t control.”

      So he was a control freak like her twin brother, Derrick. Not the only one in her family, but he was the worst when it came to her. Balking anytime she did anything the least bit risky and if he didn’t get his way, losing his temper. As a result, she pushed harder. Even going into law enforcement when a career in information technology was her first dream.

      She dropped onto the desk chair as Luke grabbed a straight-back chair. He turned it around and straddled the seat. “Will this take long?”

      “Depends on what I find.” She booted up the computer and the laptop.

      As she worked, she could feel his eyes on her. She didn’t look at him but watched the screen wake up, then called up the needed information. She ran through several screens but found she couldn’t concentrate with his piercing eyes tracking her every move.

      She looked at him. “This would be a lot easier if you didn’t stare at me like that.”

      “Sorry,” he said, looking sheepish. “It’s just you’re nothing like I expected for a computer guru.”

      “Is that so?” She appraised him.

      “I expected someone like Tim and the rest of my programming staff. You know...kinda geeky. Wearing a T-shirt with an odd saying that only computer professionals understand. Shy, not real good with people. Not someone like you with your...your...well, you know.” His face turned the color of a ripe tomato, so out of character for the charmer she’d seen so far.

      She’d had this same discussion a hundred times with other people and knew he meant she was fashionably dressed and attractive. Not that she was conceited, but she’d been told enough times that God had blessed her with above-average СКАЧАТЬ