Be Mine Forever. Rosemary Laurey

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      She drew back the curtains on sky as gray as her mood last night. As she watched, the first drops of rain hit the glass. So much for climbing cliffs today. Perhaps she’d drive inland to Eugene, or browse the bookstore she loved in Florence, or just stay in and finish the novel she’d started on the airplane.

      She glanced at the book with a blue and yellow design on the cover and realized it had been moved. Looking around, she noticed details she’d been too weary and wound up last night to catch: one of the hangers in the closet was a little askew; even the underwear in her drawer was more neatly folded than she ever left it. That was the giddy limit! She’d come all this way to warn her father someone was trying to rip him off, and what did he do? Brush her off while someone searched her room! Who? She couldn’t picture Laran poking through her panties. She shuddered and laughed simultaneously at that image! Had to have been eager, helpful Alan. The damn sneak! She was tempted to complain to Dad. Let him know Laran’s stooge did a piss-poor job.

      Why waste her breath? Dad wasn’t interested in what she thought, and she wasn’t staying here so Alan could count her Tampax in his spare time. She’d planned on visiting Heather. She’d arrive a couple of days early.

      That decided, Elizabeth showered fast, wondering if they’d checked out her body wash and loofah, and dressed, before repacking. Leaving her case upstairs, she went downstairs for caffeine and toast.

      Alan, the presumed sneak, arrived as she was spreading the local marionberry jam on toast. Was it her imagination, or did he look shifty as he said good morning and helped himself to coffee? Maybe he was trying to decide if she had the black or the pink bra on this morning. She was tempted to tell him and wrap the other one around his neck. “I wasn’t sure what Dad does about breakfast these days.”

      “He has it in his suite, as does Mr. Radcliffe. I take them up coffee and cereal and fruit about eight.”

      It was only just after seven. “I’m glad I didn’t wait.” She took the second slice and buttered it.

      While Alan left to do whatever a good little spy did in his master’s office, Elizabeth reached for the phone. Might as well let Heather know she was coming. Given the time zones between Oregon and Chicago, Heather would already be at school, but she’d leave a voice mail.

      “…a damn nuisance!” She almost hung the phone back up at her father’s voice, but her own name caught her attention. “I sent Lizzie to get her involved. I wanted it on the record that she’d been there. How the hell was I to know she knew that much about computers?” If he’d been to her graduation, he would have.

      “What are you doing about it?” an unidentified male voice asked.

      “I can’t have her broadcasting this. It would kybosh the entire operation. Laran is taking care of her.”

      It seemed a leaden fist clenched her heart, lungs, and mind. Her pulse raced, her chest heaved, and her sweaty palms almost dropped the receiver. Whatever was going on in Devon was deliberate, and downright crooked. She had made the right decision to get out of here, and she intended to do it before Laran could “take care of her.”

      She set the phone back, as gently as her shaking hand permitted, left her half-eaten toast and coffee on the table, and fled to her room. Bag over her shoulder, suitcase in hand, she crept down the back stairs. They were dusty and unswept. Obviously unused these days. Good. That diminished her chances of running into Alan. The stairs came out to a small hallway between the kitchen and the garden door. With no sight or sound of anyone, she grabbed her chance, opened the door, and raced the few yards to her rental car. Throwing her suitcase in the back, she started the car and was down the drive in seconds. She headed for Florence, passed through the waking town, and sped on. As she approached Eugene, she took the interstate and headed north for Portland. It was another three hours, but if Laran was after her, he’d expect her to head for Eugene. Plus, Portland offered many more chances of finding a flight. A half hour later she stopped for gas and coffee and called Heather. She caught her home, playing hooky.

      “I needed a day off, Lizzie. Only way I could get my paperwork done. So I called in sick.”

      Heather would never change. “Get well fast. I’m on my way. I’ll let you know the flight number when I get a ticket.”

      “Something’s wrong, isn’t it?”

      “Yes. Very. I’ll tell you when I get there.”

      “How long has she been gone?”

      Alan Grant took a slow breath. Deep doo-doo was putting it mildly for where he stood right now. “I don’t know exactly, Mr. Connor.” He didn’t even want to look Mr. Radcliffe in the eye—he gave him the creeps. “It can’t be more than thirty minutes. I left her drinking coffee and reading the newspaper. I came in here to send the faxes you left and download e-mail. When I went back to get another cup of coffee, her car was gone.” By the look on both their faces, he’d be lucky to only get sacked.

      The two men exchanged glances.

      “The airport?” Mr. Connor asked.

      Mr. Radcliffe nodded and looked at Alan. “Take the Taurus to the airport. Find her but don’t let her see you. You understand?”

      Alan nodded. “Yes, sir.”

      “Discover where she’s going, what airline, and what flight. I’ll expect that information within the next two hours.”

      “What if she’s already left, sir?”

      “I hope for your sake she hasn’t.” Laran replied.

      “Yes, sir.”

      “Her incoming flight and car rental information are on the desk,” Mr. Connor added. “That may help you.”

      Alan Grant grabbed them and ran. It was a good hour’s drive into Eugene.

      Piet Connor sat down behind his desk. “Think he’ll find her?”

      “Let’s hope he does. If she decides to share her little discovery with the FBI, you’ll be facing a long prison term.”

      Piet’s head jerked up. “I didn’t set this racket up!”

      “Agreed, it was my brainchild, but do you think any mortal law enforcement agency will be able to put me in jail?”

      “You expect me to take the rap for the whole operation?”

      “No, I expect you to deliver me Elizabeth. I’ll make sure she remembers nothing to tell.”

      “You were supposed to do that last night!”

      “Unfortunately, she was wearing silver. Even I have my limitations.”

      “What the hell do you mean?” Piet took the call from Alan but switched to the speakerphone to share the bad news with Laran. “Christ almighty! This is Eugene airport we’re talking about, not LA! You have to find her!”

      A slight lift of his eyebrows was Laran’s only reaction. Piet knew better than to think he wasn’t worried.

      “Mr. Connor, she isn’t here. She hasn’t turned the car in. I’ve gone through СКАЧАТЬ