The Hot Ladies Murder Club. Ann Major

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СКАЧАТЬ he said in a mild tone. “So, on a hunch, I got here as fast as I could…just in case…you were being followed and your daughter was at risk.”

      “You are not, let me repeat, not a Good Samaritan. You keep a string of pneumatic blondes on the—”

      His face darkened. “I never heard that word before.”

      She paled. “I do not believe you have even one drop of decency in your blood.”

      “I think you’re running scared…which makes you vulnerable—”

      “What would it take to get you out of my life?” she whispered.

      “You could settle with the O’Connors.”

      “Never in a million years.”

      “You’re going to regret that decision,” he said.

      “No, you’re going to regret getting high-handed with me.”

      “If you go to trial, there’s a chance some juror might find your face familiar, too. His memory might prove better than mine.” She trembled when he looked directly into her eyes. “Who are you? Why did you dye your hair? Who the hell are you running from?”

      She felt faint. His face blurred. She couldn’t endure another moment of this. “Nobody.”

      “Mrs. Smith?” He smiled. “Like I said, you’re one lousy liar.” His expression was intense. “You’re from the UK.”

      Somehow she found her voice. “What?”

      “Your daughter has the accent. You can hide it. She can’t.”

      Hannah felt light-headed as he slid a brown hand into his hip pocket and took out his wallet.

      Her mother and grandmother were both Americans. So was Georgia’s real father. Hannah was good at accents and was careful about vocabulary. How difficult was it to change lift to elevator or bonnet to hood or loo to rest room?

      Quickly, he handed her his card. “Call me if you change your mind about settling.”

      Mute with too many out-of-control emotions, all she could do was glare at him.

      “And something else you might want to consider—if you settle, I’ll make sure nothing about the case makes the papers.” His uncanny black gaze focused on her lips.

      “The papers?”

      “You must be new here. Big settlements are news. And if this case makes the papers here, the news just might reach London.”

      She winced, remembering too well what it was like to live in the blinding glare of paparazzi.

      “Mommy!” Georgia began honking the horn.

      “Who the hell are you running from?” he repeated softly.

      “At the moment—you.”

      “I’ve seen your face somewhere. I’ve got a detective doing research.…”

      “You what…”

      “You heard me. It’s in your best interest to settle—fast.”

      She blanched. “Stay away from me and my little girl or you’ll be sorry.”

      “Is that a threat, Mrs. Smith?”

      “Absolutely.”

      He laughed. She threw herself inside her car, slammed the door, jammed her fists down onto the door locks.

      He leaned down. Because she was curious, she lowered her window.

      “I’d like to follow you home. That tire might—”

      “Not your problem.”

      “I could be held liable since I fixed—”

      “Good—then I’ll get to sue you!”

      “I’d settle in a heartbeat.” The bright afternoon sun slanted into the garage and made a golden aura around his black head and broad shoulders. He was handsome, but he’d made her so angry she was shaking.

      “Move, before I back over your toes.”

      She turned around to make sure Georgia had her seat belt on. Then crossing herself, she stomped on her accelerator so hard, thick black fumes plumed out of her tailpipe, as she sped away.

      Georgia and she drove in silence for a while.

      Settle? Hannah was so upset, she forgot her fear. I’ll be damned before I make one more bargain with the devil.

      Georgia’s clear, piping voice from the back seat suddenly broke into Hannah’s thoughts. “Mummy, me hungwee.”

      Georgia had begun reverting to baby talk when they’d moved to Texas.

      “Mommy, remember? And no baby talk, darling.”

      The Big Burger sign winked invitingly from the next corner.

      “I said me hungwee.”

      Hannah’s heart softened. Because she felt guilty for having dragged Georgia halfway around the world, she pulled into Big Burger way too often.

      With a show of determination she kept driving. “Remember, darling, last night, how we made that vow—no more burgers, that we’d try that new salad bar on the island, the one Taz likes.…” Taz was their next-door neighbor. They were supposed to go to dinner with Taz tonight.

      Hannah could see Georgia’s head whip around in the rearview mirror when they passed the Big Burger sign.

      “I want a big burger and double fries. But…but after tonight…after tonight…” Her coaxing voice was sly. “Then I’ll promise…to eat with Taz.”

      “Darling—Mommy said no.”

      It was a word she’d said numerous times that day.

      Not wanting to alarm Hannah Smith, the watcher held back, keeping her ancient Mercedes barely in sight until she headed onto the causeway that went out to the offshore island where she lived. Soon lines of orange barrels and flashing lights narrowed the road to two lanes. Traffic soon slowed to a slug’s pace.

      Concrete walls hemmed her in. On one side of the roadway lapped the gray waters of the Laguna Madre. The bay was to the left. Extra-tall telephone poles marched beside the causeway toward the intercoastal canal. The tide was so low, clusters of white pelicans walked about in the water wade-fishing. The exposed mudflats and oyster reefs made the air reek with the stench of rotting sea vegetation.

      When she crossed the bridge over the intercoastal canal, his bloodshot eyes lifted to his rearview mirror. That same white car that had been behind him since he’d left Campbell’s parking garage was still there.

      The big Harley roared onto the causeway. СКАЧАТЬ