An Heiress on His Doorstep. Teresa Southwick

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СКАЧАТЬ and someone will be out tomorrow to take a statement.” He looked at Jordan. “Or I could drive her into town and leave her at the station.”

      Jordan stood. “Then that’s probably the best thing to do.”

      “Absolutely not,” Audrey said.

      “But, Mom, the department has resources—”

      Audrey shook her head. “Not the kind she needs. That institutional, bureaucratic little office won’t give her the feeling of safety and security necessary for her memory to return.”

      “You’re very kind, Mrs. Patterson,” Jordan said. “I’ve burdened you enough already.” But she hadn’t burdened him nearly enough, she thought, meeting J.P.’s narrowed gaze.

      “Nonsense, dear. Frankly, I was wondering how I was going to keep myself entertained. My condo is being painted, and J.P. insisted I stay with him while the work is being done.”

      How about that? The man was nice to his mother. But even serial killers had redeeming qualities, and she wanted her pound of flesh for what Harman Bishop and J. P. Patterson had put her through.

      “Mom, if she wants to go, I’ll be happy to take her into town.”

      “Really, J.P., you rescued this young woman only to dispose of her at the sheriff’s office? She called you her hero. That doesn’t seem especially heroic to me.” She looked at Jordan. “My dear, you can’t remember who you are or where you live. Rick Michaels is an exceptional sheriff in the finest tradition of Texas lawmen. But, as with most men, he has the sensitivity of a gnat. You’re concerned about putting us out and that’s very sweet. But this place is big enough to put up several professional sports teams. I think we can handle you for one night. Maybe by morning you’ll have your memory back.”

      Jordan glanced at J.P. who looked as if he would rather eat glass than have her stay. He was good. What an act. Academy Award material. And it made her furious. She’d been put out and put upon with this farce. Surely there was some law against staging a kidnapping. He’d portrayed the rescuer, but he was part of this conspiracy. She’d wanted to make a statement; she’d hoped to embarrass him in front of the sheriff. She’d been frightened to death and held captive by a wimpy little twit who caved at the first sign of trouble. And J. P. Patterson had gone along with the manipulation. What kind of man would do a thing like that?

      She wanted to beat him at his own game; she wanted it bad. Sticking around until tomorrow would give her an opportunity.

      “Thank you, Mrs. Patterson. I’d be happy and very relieved to accept your generosity.”

      Chapter Three

      J.P. studied the slender wrist with the handcuff attached. Audrey had suggested he figure out a way to remove it while she found some clean clothes for their guest.

      The stranger looked around the room. “Nice kitchen. Lots of counter space with that island in the center. The granite countertops are really beautiful. The different shades of brown and beige are a nice complement to the floor tile.”

      “I’m glad you approve.”

      “And this,” she said, studying the oak table and eight chairs set in the bay area. “This looks like an antique. Did it come with the house?”

      “It’s old. It belonged to my great-great-grandmother.”

      “It’s in wonderful shape,” she said, rubbing her hand over the wood surface. The cuff scraped against the edge and she quickly grabbed it. “Sorry. I’ll be glad to get rid of this.”

      He picked up the bolt cutters he’d found in the tool-shed. “Okay, give me your hand.”

      “I’m going to pray you didn’t mean that the way it sounded.” Big, beautiful brown eyes stared at the large tool in his hand. “You’re not going to cut off my hand with that, are you?”

      His gaze lowered to the button on her silk blouse that held the material together over her firm breasts. “I’m going to cut off the cuff, unless you’ve got a key tucked away somewhere.”

      The idea of fishing for it sent a shaft of heat straight to his groin. He didn’t trust her as far as he could throw her, but, unfortunately, that didn’t shut down his appreciation of her attributes.

      “Regrettably, when the kidnapper pealed rubber on the highway as he drove off, he didn’t toss me the key.”

      “A simple no would suffice.”

      “We’d all like things we can’t have. For instance,” she said, “I’d like whoever’s behind this kidnapping in these cuffs.”

      “Me, too.” He met her gaze and waited for her to blink. She didn’t.

      “He probably didn’t pull it off by himself,” she said, with what seemed like studied casualness.

      “I came to the same conclusion.”

      “Really? How about that? We agree on something.”

      He was just sliding the bolt cutters beneath the circle of metal on her delicate wrist when he looked up and saw her smile. He was struck by the fact that she was quite remarkably beautiful. As those shock waves hit him, his hand slipped.

      She snatched hers back. “Are you sure you know what you’re doing with those things? One of us could get hurt.”

      “This isn’t rocket science,” he snapped, annoyed with himself for the lapse.

      “Neither is kidnapping. What do you suppose the penalty is for abducting someone against their will?”

      “Penalty?”

      “Yeah, as in it’s against the law. And when a person breaks the law, there’s a cost for it. Like jail time,” she added.

      “I suppose so.”

      “And what about accomplices? Coconspirators?”

      What the hell was she doing? Was it like hiding in plain sight? Throw him off her trail by discussing the transgression? “What about them?”

      “Do you think the punishment for a crime is as stiff for the brawn as it is for the brains behind it?” she asked sweetly.

      “I have no idea. What do you think?”

      “I think everyone involved should pay big time.”

      “Me, too.” He let out a breath and started attempt number two to slide the bolt cutters beneath the circle on her arm. This time he didn’t make the mistake of looking at her.

      “So you think jail time is appropriate?”

      He kept his eyes on the metal. “Whoever hatched a kidnapping scheme to swindle money and anyone who goes along with said scheme should be locked up. And the key thrown away.”

      The cuff was closed as far as it would go, but her wrist was so slender he easily had enough room to get the jaws of the tool between the metal and her flesh. The inside of her arm was pale, a stark contrast СКАЧАТЬ