Tough As Nails. Jackie Manning

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СКАЧАТЬ of asking him to forward the photograph to the crime lab I use. We’ll get the results faster.” He glanced at her. “That is, if it’s okay with you.”

      “Of course.”

      “Jeffries will need your written authorization.” He pushed the standardized form across his desk at her. “If you’ll sign this, I’ll fax it right out to him.”

      “Great.” She picked up a pen, glanced over the agreement, then signed her name. When she sat back in her chair, he noticed her fingers were clenched. “I want to make one thing perfectly clear, Michael.” Her eyes were wide and serious.

      “My coming to you like this is strictly business. If we work together, I don’t want…” She ran her tongue along her lower lip. “What I mean is, I don’t see any reason to mention the past. I hope we can agree to this.”

      He felt a spark of anger. She really meant that she was able to put the past behind them, but she wasn’t so sure about him.

      Dammit, if she wanted it all business between them, then that’s what she’d get. “The past is forgotten.” He waved his hand as though brushing at a fly.

      She leaned back and crossed her legs. “Good. Now, I’d like to know what you’re planning to do.”

      He rubbed his thumb along the compact computer on his desk. “I’m expensive. I use the latest technical equipment, much of which is continually being updated by my team and me. I’ll assess your home, your office, then come up with a figure.”

      “I’m sure you’ll be fair.”

      “Bottom line is that I’ll do whatever needs to be done to see that you’re protected.”

      Her gaze leveled with his. “I want to be kept informed of what you plan to do, and approve any actions you take beforehand. Agreed?”

      He took a deep breath. She had no idea what she was asking. But he figured she needed to feel in control. “Of course,” he said finally. Somehow they’d work out the details. “In the meantime, I’ll need a complete list of your clients, plus a—”

      “That’s confidential information.”

      He glanced up from his notes to see her eyes snap with challenge. For a moment, he felt a touch of envy for those in her life she defended so staunchly. “Your clients are all suspects, Brianna. I wouldn’t be doing my job if I didn’t take that approach.”

      “I know my clients. Almost all are battered women. None of them would be capable of this.”

      Mike leaned back in his chair. “Sorry, but I’ll need to see that list.”

      She sighed. “If you insist, I’ll go over my client list with Dr. Cunningham. He deals more with criminal psychology. I’ll have him profile any of my clients whom he believes might be the stalker.”

      Mike’s gaze fell to the bearded man in one of the pictures on his desk. “That Cunningham?” he asked.

      “Yes.”

      “Let me know when you talk with him. I’d like to sit in—”

      “Mike, that’s impossible. My patients’ records are confidential.”

      He knew enough not to press her, but he’d see those records, with or without her help. He decided to change the subject.

      “First, I’ll take some measurements of your home and apartment—”

      “Why?”

      Was she going to challenge his every action? Damn, of course she was! They could never agree on anything.

      “TALON-6 needs to know the dimensions and cubic yards of space in each room.” He was pleased with the neutral tone in his voice. When she still looked confused, he added, “To determine the range for the audio and special listening devices we may need.”

      “Oh.”

      “I’d like to start immediately. I’ll schedule a complete debugging surveillance for phones and all vehicles. Do you want to start with your office or apartment?”

      “You can’t believe my apartment is…bugged. That sounds so dramatic.”

      “The stalker knows your schedule. These pictures prove he knows when you’re going in and out. We can’t leave anything to chance.”

      “Of course. Do what you must.”

      Mike turned the pages of the questionnaire that Brianna had filled out. “I see you haven’t been a recent victim of burglary. You haven’t experienced any unusual interference on radios or TVs, at home or at your office. You haven’t received any electronic gifts such as alarm clocks, lamps, boom boxes, CD players—”

      “That’s what I wrote on the form.”

      Her voice sounded tight. Although she was calm on the outside, he could sense she was wound tighter than a six-day clock. He wished he could make this easy but he couldn’t.

      “Gifts are an easy way for the stalker to get electronic equipment into your home or office without detection,” he said finally. “You’re certain you haven’t overlooked something?”

      She shrugged. “I’ve received flowers, presents for my birthday. The usual gifts from friends and colleagues. That’s all.”

      “I’ll want a list of all gifts you’ve received in the past twelve months.” He frowned at her look of dismay. “It’s important or I wouldn’t ask.”

      She brushed her hair from her face. “I’m sorry. I’m not making this any easier for you. I—I guess I’m still in denial.”

      “It’s perfectly natural, Brianna.” God help him, but he wanted to take her in his arms and kiss away the worried crease between her eyes.

      He forced his attention back to the form. She had checked off that she hadn’t had any recent repairs or redecorating done in either her home or office. He had other questions, but they could wait until she was less tense.

      “I’ll start by having security devices installed in the halls and entranceways to your office and home—”

      “But my apartment building already has surveillance cameras. The stalker got around them.”

      “My devices won’t be detected, and they are tamper-proof.” He glanced at his watch. “Ready to go home for the day? Or would you like to stop off at your office first?”

      “Michael, I have clients scheduled until four o’clock. Then I have a mountain of reports to finish. Can’t we wait until tomorrow?”

      He stood. “You don’t have to be at home while the equipment is being installed.” He grinned when she shot him another questioning glance. “We’ll go to your office. I’ll wait for you until you’re ready to go home.”

      She shot him a look of exasperation. “That’s not necessary. I’ll give you my key, and when you’re through with the apartment, you can drop it off with my secretary СКАЧАТЬ