by Kaylea Cross
“Maybe the best way to get to Rose would be through cousin Kate,” Aileen mused, bringing Keelin back to the present.
“Kate’s the veterinarian in South Dakota,” Keelin recounted. “You’ve actually met her?”
“Years ago, when she was passing through Chicago and looked us up,” Skelly explained.
“We’re not close,” Aileen added, “but we’re friendly. “We write a couple of times a year and call at the holidays. I’m afraid she’s our only connection to Aunt Rose.”
“Then let us hope that she’s as close to her mother as you are to your father.”
They had little more time to plot and scheme before Aileen had to give her regrets. A client was due any moment. Hugging Keelin and extracting a promise that she wouldn’t leave the city before they all had a proper dinner together, Aileen flitted back to the clinic.
And Keelin’s thoughts were already flitting back to her other, more pressing concern. But what to do about it? When Tyler had left her hotel suite in the early hours of the morning, he hadn’t exactly been in an expansive mood. He’d said nothing about follow up. He’d said nothing about seeing her again that day, a fact that inordinately bothered her.
She guessed it was up to her to pursue the truth…with or without Tyler’s cooperation.
As they left the cafe, she asked, “Skelly, would you be willing to do a bit more research for me about Tyler Leighton?”
“Sure, cous. I’m glad you’ve decided to proceed with caution. What kind of info do you want?”
“Anything you can find about his business associates.”
“Within L&O Realty?”
“That, too, of course. But I was thinking more on the lines of an unhappy competitor. Someone who might be holding a grudge against him.”
Skelly unlocked the car door for her. “You think his daughter’s being held for ransom could be part of a business war?”
… let him know what it’s like to have someone else on top for once…
The words from the dream echoing in her head, Keelin nodded and she slipped into the passenger seat. “Could be. Or it could be more personal. I don’t want to overlook any possibility. I fear we don’t have much time to find Cheryl.”
Skelly started the engine and pulled the vehicle from the parking spot. For once, he didn’t have much to say, merely turned on the radio to a soft rock station that played tunes from the seventies. Keelin rested her head against the car seat and let her mind drift.
Images of Tyler Leighton floated through her head. She concentrated on his various moods. Angry. Worried. Devastated. She wanted to see a smile lighting up his handsome features, happiness radiating from him. She wanted to see his daughter safely in his arms.
Halfway to her hotel, Skelly said, “I hope you know what you’re doing, getting so involved with people who don’t mean anything to you.”
But Tyler did mean something to Keelin. Or at least he was beginning to and not only because she was attracted to the man physically. Despite his caution with her, Keelin was convinced Tyler would do anything, put himself in any danger, to rescue his child. She admired that kind of selflessness, something she had been lacking in the case of Gavin Daley. And Tyler’s deep feeling for family so like her own touched her.
While Skelly wasn’t a bad sort, Keelin suspected her cousin had never been the type to put himself out on a limb for someone else.
“We’re all responsible for each other,” she reminded him, echoing their grandmother’s sentiments. “If you spotted a stranger on the street being attacked, wouldn’t you help?”
“Sure. I’d call the police. They’re trained to handle violent situations. If I stuck my nose in where it didn’t belong, I’d probably mess things up.”
No surprise there.
“But the authorities might be too late,” Keelin argued. “Or unwilling to believe you. There are times when, knowing someone is in trouble, you’re compelled to act.”
Because not acting could haunt one for the rest of her life, as she well knew.
“You’re a better person than I am,” he said caustically. “But that’s okay. What would the world do if everyone was like me?”
Act selflessly in another’s behalf, Moira’s legacy had charged.
Sadly enough, Keelin couldn’t see Skelly living up to their grandmother’s finest dreams for them. She feared that, unless he had a change of heart, he would follow in their parents’ footsteps and never find the personal happiness every human being deserved.
NO SOONER HAD KEELIN STEPPED FOOT in the lobby of her hotel, when she saw Tyler Leighton waiting for her. Her mouth went dry and she noted the funny feeling in her chest. Popping out of a wing-back chair, he appeared drawn. Grim. And very, very determined as he closed the gap between him to intercept her.
“We have to talk.”
Taking her elbow, he guided her to the elevators. His touch, while not rough, was unyielding.
“I’m not trying to get away from you,” she murmured and used her free hand to press the call button.
A flush darkening his features, he let go. “Sorry.”
Before Keelin could ask him to explain what had happened, a ding signaled a set of doors opening. They entered the empty car together. Tyler waited until the doors closed and they started their ascent.
“It arrived with this morning’s mail.”
Her pulse lurched. “The ransom note?” Somehow, she’d imagined him receiving it at home.
“No postmark, though. Someone hand-delivered it.”
The way he was looking at her, she had no question as to whom he included among the suspects.
“You were with me this morning until you left for your office.”
“Actually, I stopped home to change first.”
“But I wouldn’t know that, would I?”
“Aren’t we a bit defensive? I made no accusations.”
“We are beginning to know your expressions like the back of our hand.”
They locked gazes in silent struggle, only releasing their hold on each other with the opening of the elevator doors.
“My floor.” Keelin led the way to her suite. Once inside the sitting room, she asked, “So what did the note say?”
Tyler ran a hand through his perfect hair, leaving a mussed lock drooping over his forehead. He looked as exhausted as she felt. And distrusting.
“That I shouldn’t involve the police any further if I value my daughter’s life. And that the person would be in touch. How long before the next note comes, Keelin?”
She sat. “How would I know?”
“What? No more dreams?”
Irritation rising, she said, “I was busy this morning.”
“With?”
“Trying to get a family reunion together.” Not that she wanted to go into the problematic details.
His expression skeptical, he said, “Well, now you can come home with me.”
That gave her a start. Enter the lion’s den willingly? “Why should I?”
“You said you knew the others.” He paced the length of the room. “Since you never met Cheryl, you can get to know her by going through her things. And by sleeping in her bed.”
“Now, wait a–”
“You wait!” He stopped before her. “You told me yourself time was running out. And you can only connect with Cheryl when you sleep. Maybe being among her things…in her bed…will help.”
And being among Cheryl’s things and sleeping in the girl’s bed would put her in far too close a proximity to the father, Keelin thought. Even though she’d convinced herself that Skelly’s insinuation about Cheryl’s mother was the suspicious journalist talking, how could she know what Tyler might or might not do when crossed? He had a power about him that she couldn’t deny. But violence?
Pulse thrumming at the thought, she said, “I’m not certain that’s such a good idea.”
“Why is that, Keelin? Afraid?”
Of him? Definitely. Though Keelin suspected the thing she f
eared most was increased intimacy with the man. She didn’t want to consider the physical danger aspect.
“Your daughter’s somewhere in the city,” she hedged. “Better to stay as close as possible.”
“For whom?” He bent over her chair, grasping the armrests, his face practically in hers. “Cheryl or you?”
Realizing what he was suggesting, Keelin felt her irritation rise. Her temper might have a slow fuse, but he’d been striking matches since they’d met.
“I have nothing to do with what happened to your daughter,” she assured him yet again. He was so close she could feel his breath waft across her face. Her heart skipped a beat in response. “I was not even here in this country when she disappeared.”
“How do I know that? This family business thing of yours is pretty dicey, if you ask me.”
Placing her hand in the middle of Tyler’s chest, Keelin pushed. At first he didn’t budge. She glared at him, mentally willed him to comply. As if he read her determination, he finally gave way, and let her rise.
“Speak to my cousin Skelly.” Her turn to pace, to work off her growing aggravation.
“Right. The tabloid journalist. I can certainly trust him.”
If Keelin didn’t jump to Skelly’s defense, it was because Tyler had a point. Her cousin’s methods made her uneasy, and Tyler didn’t even know him. If only Skelly hadn’t done that sensational piece on Cheryl’s disappearance…then, again, if he hadn’t, she would never have identified the girl before it was too late.
“How’s this for a theory?” he went on, not bothering to hide his rancor. “Your cousin wanted a good story, something that would make his career. So he recruits you to help him. He tells you to pretend to have this power so you can feed me information.”
That he might be skeptical about her gift was one thing. But his continuing distrust of her motives made Keelin lose the temper she’d been hanging onto by a thread.
“I would tell you what you could do with that theory, but my mother raised me to be a lady. If you really think that I could choose to hurt a young girl – or anyone – then you’d best search for your daughter on your own!”
“Not when you can lead me to her!”
Tyler was standing over her, threatening her with his too-close presence. Part of her was afraid. Another part was seeing-red angry.
“Get out,” she said, far more calmly than she was feeling. She was trembling, her stomach knotting. “Before I ring the management to have someone throw you out!”
His glare intensified and Keelin’s throat went dry. She couldn’t swallow. Had she pushed him too far? Would he avenge himself in his anger?
When Tyler suddenly backed off, Keelin felt faint with relief. He crossed the room, his stride quick, and didn’t look back. The door slamming shut shook not only the walls, but her insides, as well. Her legs could have been made of rubber. She felt her way down into a chair.
She’d done what she had to, Keelin assured herself, heart still pounding.
Only…what about Cheryl Leighton?
Fearing that allowing her temper to get the better of her had sealed the girl’s fate, Keelin was sick inside.
Chapter Five
AS HE RACED OUT OF KEELIN’S HOTEL, Tyler’s insides were tied up in knots. What the hell had gotten into him? He hadn’t meant to screw things up when he’d gone back to face the woman, to try to figure out her true role in his daughter’s disappearance. But the longer he’d waited, the more out of kilter his thoughts had spiraled, until he’d been unable to control himself.
He had to face facts: he’d lost it.
He’d opened his mouth and had spewed out his worst fears at Keelin without thinking things through properly. If she were innocent – if – he’d put her off, perhaps for good.
And if Keelin were guilty, things might go worse for his daughter.
Either way, he’d been a fool.
But what to do to make things right?
Whatever it took, a small voice inside his head insisted.
On the way back to his office, Tyler considered his dilemma from every angle, and only one plan came to mind. After giving her enough time to cool off, he’d have to seek Keelin out once more. He’d have to apologize, to admit that he’d been an ass, to tell her that his worry for his daughter was so great that he was having difficulty getting a proper handle on things.
And then he would have to charm her.
Normally, the thought of romancing an attractive woman would be more than amenable. He was no more immune to Keelin than she seemed to be to him. At times, the chemistry between them had been palpable.
But the idea of getting closer to his daughter’s kidnapper made the bile rise to his throat.
And if Keelin were genuine and only trying to help…how could he live with himself then?
He’d find a way.
His daughter was the only thing that mattered, Tyler reminded himself. His soul, after all, had already been damned years ago.
So he would do it, charm Keelin, make her want to please him. He didn’t know whether her motives were feigned or true. If he waited to find out, it might be too late. That he might trick a woman who was innocent of anything but wanting to help him was a chance he had to take.
He’d learned to live with the unspeakable once.
The second time would be easier.
KEELIN COULD HARDLY CONCENTRATE on the computer screen and the article
Skelly had retrieved about Tyler’s recent successful bid to renovate an old theater into a multi-use arts space. Their earlier fight had been replaying through her head ever since, had kept her from catching up on that lost sleep.
She blamed herself for letting things get out of hand.
Tyler was far too emotionally distressed to be sane. She should have side-railed his anger rather than fueling it. Normally a congenial person, who would do anything to avoid a fight, she couldn’t say why she’d been so contentious.
“I found several more instances when Nate Feldman lost lucrative contracts to L&O Realty.”
Skelly’s voice snapped Keelin back to the research done at her request. Now she was feeling guilty at her disapproving thoughts concerning her cousin. She’d asked for a favor and he hadn’t hesitated to come through for her, even if he had insisted a research assistant had done the work while he’d videotaped this afternoon’s show. She didn’t care how he’d accomplished the task, he’d responded to her need. Perhaps he wasn’t as removed from responsibility toward his fellow human being as he would like her to believe.
“I still cannot fathom how quickly you journalists find information,” she marveled as he sat in a vacant chair and wheeled closer to her.
“Thank the computer age.”
“No, thank you.”
Skelly seemed a bit flustered, as if he didn’t know how to respond. Perhaps he wasn’t used to gratitude, Keelin thought. He certainly seemed more comfortable with conflict and pessimism. An outgrowth of his career choice? she wondered. Or had he merely been born with a negative view of life?
“Anyway, Nate Feldman is definitely Leighton’s chief business competitor,” Skelly was saying. “Whether or not he holds a grudge at losing is another question.”
“Did you find anything to link him to Cheryl?”
“Not directly, but hold on. Scoot over a bit.”
Keelin did as he asked, and Skelly moved in on the computer. He sped the mouse around its pad and his fingers over the keyboard, and the images on the computer monitor changed nearly as quickly.
A moment later, they were looking at another page of The Chicago Tribune, this in the Chicagoland section. The headline indicated a christening of a factory building converted to mini-mall in the Clybourn Corridor. Keelin recognized the event from the video footage in her cousin’s report the day before. Skelly used the mouse to mark the accompanying photograph, then hit a few more keys.
A blink and the picture exploded outward, filling the screen.
Tyler shaking hands
with the mayor was the focus of the photograph. Cheryl stood slightly behind her father, nearly out of the frame. And on his other side, between Tyler and the mayor, standing some distance behind…
“Feldman?” Keelin murmured, tapping the image of the balding man.
Skelly nodded. “That’s him. Odd that he showed for a celebration of a job he lost, don’t you think?” He scooted his chair back and faced her. “He may not even have spoken to the girl, but he obviously knew about her.”
“Surely Tyler would have realized as much. Odd that he never mentioned Feldman.”
Or perhaps Tyler had been waiting for her to do so. Would he have considered that further proof of her perfidy? she wondered.
“Maybe it never occurred to him that a business rival would be involved,” Skelly mused.
“Perhaps,” Keelin agreed. “Did you learn anything personal about Feldman? Anything about his character that would make him capable of using a child to punish a competitor?”
“I can give you tons of facts and figures about the man, but without hitting the streets and interviewing people who know him, it’d be impossible to analyze him personally.”
And Keelin couldn’t ask her cousin to take the time from his work to do so. Another solution came to her. “Tyler has a private investigator trying to find Cheryl.”
“Checking out Feldman might be a productive use of the man’s time.”
“I’ll suggest as much.”
If Tyler would speak to her, given the way they’d parted earlier. Hopefully, he would still be in his office. Whatever his reaction might be to her unexpected appearance, Keelin knew she had to brave facing him.
And this time, she would not let Tyler Leighton get under her skin and derail her from her purpose.
TYLER BROODED IN HIS SHADOW-FILLED OFFICE. He’d spent the latter half of the afternoon calling the Hotel Clareton in an attempt to charm Keelin into forgetting his earlier accusations, but she’d up and disappeared on him.
He was so frustrated that a knock at his door made him grouse, “What is it?”
