My Sister's Keeper

by Curry, Edna

“Bachelors learn to cook if they want to eat anything besides take-out food.” He grinned at her, poured her some coffee, served up the food and sat opposite her.

  “Oh?” So he was a bachelor. She shouldn’t even wonder about his marital status. She didn’t have time for getting involved with anyone right now. Even someone as good to look at as he was. She couldn’t help it if all those lean muscles, rugged features and short, dark hair made him look just like the hero in the book she was writing. How had that happened?

  “I hope you don’t mind, I took the liberty of making myself at home in the kitchen? I found stuff in the ‘fridge, so I assumed it’s what you usually eat.”

  “I don’t mind. But I hardly ever eat more than toast for breakfast. I’d gain a ton if I ate like this every day.”

  He shrugged. “You’re skinny. A few extra pounds wouldn’t hurt.”

  Flushing, she stared at him, and then sipped some coffee to ease her dry throat. The man certainly didn’t mince words. Carefully, she asked, “You think I’m skinny?”

  Chagrin slid over his face. “I didn’t mean it as criticism. I meant you don’t have to diet. I mean, you’re not fat.”

  A burst of laughter sprang from her lips. “Quit while you’re ahead, Luke.”

  He grinned, a relieved look on his face. “I guess. I usually put my foot in my mouth.” They finished eating in silence, and she refilled their coffee cups.

  Jessie cried and Candi went to get her. “She didn’t sleep long. I may as well give her a bath now. I hope she’ll nap again later.”

  Candi got out the little tub she’d bought, partially filled it with warm water and bathed Jessie. Luke leaned against the counter, watching her and handing her things before she even asked for them. Honestly, the man was accommodating. Or was he making sure she was doing it right?

  She stole a glance at his rugged face. Her pulse sped up at the tender way he looked at Jessie. She turned back to Jessie and wrapped her in the large towel, carefully drying all the little folds and creases in her soft skin.

  He said, “I took the liberty of replacing the screen and checking around the outside of the house for any evidence of the burglar this morning.”

  “Did you find anything?”

  “No. But he was most likely the same person who followed you earlier yesterday. The cars were similar anyway. I can’t be sure, of course.”

  “Person?” she asked, picking up a clean diaper.

  He nodded. “Not sure if it was a man or woman. I thought it was Jolene at first, but she wouldn’t have tried to break in.”

  “Jolene?” She stopped drying Jessica and stared at him. “Of course it wasn’t her. Jolene would have just rung the bell and come in to talk to me. She wouldn’t need to steal Jessie. She’s her mother; with the right to take her anytime she wants.”

  “True. And I’m pretty sure the person I chased last night was a man. So that leaves us with the option of George or one of his friends.”

  “Or maybe it was just a plain old burglar.”

  He nodded. “That’s possible too, of course.”

  Her hands stilled and she turned to stare at him. “But you don’t think so.”

  He shook his head. “Coming on the heels of yesterday’s break-in while you were out, it would be quite a coincidence.”

  “And you don’t believe in coincidences.”

  “No, Candi. I don’t.”

  She sighed and began dressing Jessie in a soft yellow one piece sleeper, thinking she needed to put things in the washer so they’d have enough clean clothes. She’d never realized babies went through so many outfits in one day. She brought her mind back to what Luke had said, and frowned.

  “I don’t understand why they would want to take Jessie. I mean, a baby needs a lot of care. It seems to me she’d be more trouble to them than help.”

  Luke nodded. He refilled his coffee cup and leaned against the counter, sipping the hot brew. “If the man did intend to take Jessie, he must know how to contact Jolene. He’d have to have some way of letting Jolene know he had her baby, to get Jolene to do his bidding. So he must have her cell phone number, or know where she is.”

  Candi tossed him a quick glance. “I don’t think Jolene has a cell phone. When she called, she said she was calling from a pay phone and wouldn’t give me any number. I wish I did have one, so I could tell her to come get Jessie, or to stay here with me and take care of her. I need to get back to work. Cleaning up after the burglars has already wasted hours I should have been writing.”

  She carried the sleepy baby to the bedroom and tucked her in, then picked up the full laundry hamper.

  “Let me take that,” he said. He carried it to the laundry area off the kitchen and set it next to the washing machine.

  “Thanks,” Candi said and began stuffing white things in the washer, sorting colored items for the next load.

  Luke watched. “What kind of writing do you do?”

  “I write mystery novels. I’m supposed to turn this one in to my editor in a couple of weeks and I haven’t figured out the end yet, let alone started doing the rewriting and polishing.” Panic knotted in her belly. She stared unseeingly at the budding crabapple tree outside the window. “I’d better try to find a babysitter for Jessie. I’ll never finish on time otherwise.”

  She measured detergent and dumped it in, started the washer and then headed back to her office.

  Luke followed, looking thoughtful. “What if I stay here with you and help with Jessie? If you wouldn’t mind?”

  She spun around and gazed at him in surprise, then shook her head. “I can’t ask you to do that.”

  “You’re not asking, I’m offering. My boss wants me to stay near you in case the guy tries again, or Jolene comes back. I can protect you better from here than from across the street.”

  Candi chewed her lip. What would Gram say if she knew a good-looking man was staying with them? Come to think of it, Gram would probably approve. Mom was the one who wouldn’t.

  Hmm. So, she wouldn’t tell Mom about it. She had to work, didn’t she? Besides, the idea the man who’d tried to break might return to try stealing little Jessie again turned her stomach over.

  Was it only yesterday she’d first met her niece? It didn’t seem possible that the cute little tyke had wormed her way into her heart so fast. But she had. So now, she had little choice but to accept Luke’s offer of protection. She’d never forgive herself if anything happened to Jessie while the baby was in her care. She nodded. “All right.”

  “Good,” Luke said in a relieved tone of voice. “How about the security system we talked about?”

  Candi frowned. She stepped back into the kitchen and refilled her own coffee cup. “Oh, yes, I almost forgot. I‘ll find someone in the yellow pages right away.”

  “I called a friend and got a couple of recommendations for you. They’ll come and give you estimates later today if you give the okay. Here are the numbers.” He reached in his shirt pocket and handed her a slip of paper.

  “Thanks.” She took the numbers and headed to her office. She was surprised to find both companies recognized her name, had been expecting her call and were very accommodating, saying they could do the work immediately.

  Obviously, Luke’s friend had powerful connections. She suspected without those connections, she’d have been given an installation date weeks away. Well, after last night’s scare, she’d take any help she could get.

  After making the calls, she went back to the kitchen to tell Luke the companies had said they’d send someone later today to give her an estimate on the cost.

  “I’ll see them and tell them what is needed,” Luke promised.

  “Thanks. That would really save me time.” She chewed her lip in consternation. Was she depending on him too much?

  Maybe. But he seemed to know more about such things than she did. She could research it on the internet, of course, but she couldn’t afford the time that would take. Why not take advantage of his help? After all, h
e’d offered, hadn’t he?

  After all, the FBI had a stake in catching these guys, too. The knot in her stomach tightened. Would allowing him to help her actually end up hurting her sister? On the other hand, Jolene had gotten herself into whatever this mess involved, hadn’t she?

  With a sigh of resignation, Candi opened the computer file of her book and lost herself in it. Vaguely, she heard Jessie cry and Luke’s deep voice rumbling in answer. When she immediately quieted, Candi knew he was handling Jessie’s needs all right. Ditto for the doorbell. Luke answered, and he didn’t demand her presence, so all was well.

  Time flew. Once he interrupted her with a cup of coffee and a sandwich. He sat in a chair and drank his own coffee while she ate.

  She asked, “Are you coping with Jessie okay?” A soft smile lit his tanned face, bringing an answering curve to her own lips. The tough agent definitely had a soft spot for the infant.

  “Of course. She’s a very good baby. Only cries when she wants to eat or have her diaper changed.”

  Candi laughed. “Sounds like she has you trained, already.”

  He nodded, pulled some papers from his shirt pocket and handed them to her. “These are the estimates from the security companies. They’re both good companies. Both can install them tomorrow, since it’s a rush job. Which do you want to accept?”

  Confused, she said, “I don’t know anything about security systems. Do you?”

  “Yeah, I do.”

  Relief surged in her at his assurance. “Well, which is better?”

  He tapped a long finger on one of the papers. “I’d pick this one.”

  “Fine.”

  “Great. I can call him if you’d like.”

  She smiled and nodded. “Thanks. Tell him to put it in as soon as they can and I’ll pay for it.”

  “Okay. How’s the book coming?”

  “Slowly,” she said with a sigh. “Are you sure Jessie isn’t too much trouble?”

  “She’s a doll.”

  Candi laughed. “Yes, she is. I wonder where her mother is.”

  “Me, too. I hope she’s okay.”

  Candi’s head snapped up and her smile disappeared. Fear dried her throat. “Do you have any reason to think she isn’t?”

  He ran a hand through his hair in a frustrated gesture. “No. It’s just that she’s evidently mixed up with some pretty bad characters. Sorry, I didn’t mean to worry you.”

  “Jolene never stops causing us worry.” She turned back to her computer, flexing her tired shoulder muscles.

  He nodded, then moved behind her and began a gentle massage of her shoulders. “Your shoulder muscles are all knotted up tight.”

  “I guess they are. Oh, that feels wonderful,” she said, closing her eyes in pleasure.

  He grinned and continued kneading the muscles in her shoulders with his strong fingers.

  God, that felt good. It was sending hot signals all along her veins. They seemed to settle in her lower midsection. With a start, she realized they were definitely feelings of desire for the man who was creating them. That would never do. She had to put a stop to it.

  “Thanks,” she said with a sigh. “I could let you do this all day. But I’d better get back to work.”

  “Sure thing.” He moved away, picked up the tray and left.

  Feeling unreasonably bereft, she willed her thoughts back to her work. In another minute, she’d forgotten him.

  ***

  In Las Vegas, George searched through his bureau and closets in his room at the Top Notch Casino Hotel. He was sure he’d put his pouch way back in the bottom drawer, behind a stack of pajamas.

  Even if his memory was wrong and he hadn’t unpacked it as he thought, it should have been in the suitcase he’d brought here with him. And it wasn’t.

  Had Jolene found it? She’d been pretty quiet and preoccupied lately, but he’d thought it was just worry about suddenly being responsible for a baby. She hadn’t made friends easily and had had no one to ask how to take care of the little girl. She’d spent hours reading that baby book she’d gotten.

  Then she’d said she wanted to go visit her mother in Florida for a while. Was she coming back? If not, women were plentiful here. He could easily find another.

  But had Jolene taken more than her clothes and her baby? If so, he’d track her down and make her sorry. He thought he’d scared her enough after she’d hocked the necklace he’d given her. But maybe not. He’d made it plain she should just ask him for money if she needed any, not sell his gifts. But who knew how the woman’s mind worked? Damn it, it was his own fault. He shouldn’t have given the necklace to her in the first place.

  He slammed the drawer shut, then another thought occurred to him. Maybe it wasn’t Jolene at all. Had one of his buddies been up here while he was setting up another pigeon? Maybe they wanted more than their usual cut?

  One way or another, he had to find out. Nobody crossed George Benders and got away with it.

  Chapter 5

  The next morning the workmen arrived to install the new security system. Candi happily closeted herself in her office, ignoring the noise. She’d always been good at sinking into her story and shutting out everything around her.

  An irritating noise broke her concentration. Realizing Jessie was crying, she jumped to her feet and hurried to the bedroom. From the desperate tone of her wails, Candi surmised Jessie had been crying a while.

  Yikes, she must learn to keep one ear open for the baby while she had Jessie in her care.

  Where had Luke gone? Why hadn’t he told her to listen for Jessie? If he wasn’t going to be there, he should have told her so she could have moved Jessie back to her office. The sounds of hammers and male voices echoed from the back of the house. Obviously, Luke was out there with the men from the security company.

  Candi picked up the baby and cuddled her, talking softly. Guilt bit at her stomach. She’d relied on Luke, but Jessie was her responsibility. She’d neglected her niece to work. Get your priorities straight, girl, she scolded herself.

  She talked to Jessie as she changed, fed her and rocked her for a while. She was so tiny and sweet. Big blue eyes watched Candi intently as Jessie sucked her bottle. Candi ran a finger along her soft hair and down her chubby cheek. The milk gone, she put the baby against her shoulder and patted. Jessie gave a loud burp and snuggled closer. Candi laughed and carried her and her playpen into her office. She’d laid her down when Luke rushed in, white-faced.

  “Candi?”

  She put her finger to her lips and whispered, “Shh. I just got her to sleep.”

  Glancing down, he saw Jessie in the playpen and sagged against the doorframe. “Oh, God. You have her.”

  She whispered, “Yes. She was crying. Why didn’t you bring her in here or tell me to listen for her when you went outside?”

  “I’m sorry. One of the men had a question. I thought I’d be right back but one question led to another. When I came back in and her crib was empty—”

  “You thought she’d been taken, just like I did yesterday.”

  He swallowed hard, closing his eyes. “Yes. I thought I’d messed up again.”

  She frowned. “Again?”

  He straightened, looking chagrined. “Never mind. The important thing is, she’s okay. I’ll keep a closer eye on her.”

  Candi sighed. “I’ve been taking advantage of your help. Go ahead and do whatever you need to so we get the security system up and running as soon as possible. Jessie will sleep for a while. She’s fine in here with me.”

  “You’re sure?” His face had regained its color.

  “Of course.”

  “All right. I need to make some phone calls and go online. Tell me when she wakes up and I’ll take over.”

  Candi nodded. Luke disappeared, leaving her wondering what that had been about. She trusted her precious little niece to a man she knew little about. But if he worked for the FBI, he had to be reliable, didn’t he?

  Still, what had he meant by ‘a
gain’? Had he messed up before? What had he not told her?

  ***

  At the Top Notch Casino in Las Vegas, owner Allen Henderson looked out over his domain. A haze of cigarette smoke hung over the noisy room where rich and well-dressed men and women tried their luck at the gambling tables.

  The noise level from the clink and rattle of coins into metal trays had lowered over the years, he thought with satisfaction. A good many people used credit cards and tickets in the machines now, instead of actually feeding them coins. But some customers still insisted on doing it the traditional way, so he kept some machines set up to work either way. He didn’t care how they gave him their money, as long as they did.

  A regular customer at one of the poker tables caught his eye. George Benders. He leased one of the hotel suites year-round so he must have plenty of money. He’d been here off and on for most of the past year, and gambled regularly.

  George was of medium build with a muscular body and looked sort of debonair. He had brown hair with a mustache and short beard, though he was going bald on top. He had a charming manner so women usually flocked around him.

  A good looking, young bleached blonde stayed in his suite with him. They had a new baby, according to his employees’ grapevine. He frowned, realizing he hadn’t seen the young woman lately. And George had had a different woman on his arm every night this week. Not his problem. Lots of his customers came to Sin City for a wild fling. He didn’t want to know about their personal lives.

  Allen moved on in his nightly tour of the main floor of the casino. He liked to keep an eye on those who patronized his tables regularly and recognized others after years of working in this business.

  Some people visited the hotel often, others he might never see again. He’d learned which ones had lots of money to spend. With some exceptions, most dressed in expensive clothes and jewelry. With almost eight hundred rooms and a constant turnover of guests, he found it impossible to keep track of them all. Allen paced on to the next section, greeting those he recognized and nodding at others.

  The unusual number of robberies lately bothered him. He liked handling problems with only his own security force. Bad publicity was just that: bad for business. Word traveled fast. People stayed away from hotels in which they didn’t feel safe. His influence at keeping problems out of the papers could only reach so far.