“I don’t plan to.”
He wanted to add something personal, but he had an instinctive reluctance to air his private business where the neighbors could hear. Besides, no doubt she’d demand that he say something spontaneous and from the heart.
While Kevin tried to figure out how to do that, she disappeared into the garage.
Retreating indoors, he registered the hollowness of his footsteps on the linoleum. The air hinted of Alli’s fresh scent and, when he went into the living room, he noticed her blankets lying forlornly on the floor.
In the entertainment center, a couple of DVDs jutted out from their orderly lineup and last week’s edition of TV Guide, which he would have discarded on Sunday if it hadn’t been hidden from view, stood propped against the set. A few minutes of picking up restored the house to normal.
Kevin could scarcely tell that anyone had been here. That should make him feel great.
Instead, it left him very, very empty.
ALLI OUGHT TO BE jumping for joy. She was back in her comfortably messy apartment, she had a laptop to work on, and an endless stream of Internet job sites awaited her.
She kept reminding herself how great it was to be free. Unlike other job seekers, she had nothing tying her down. Anywhere a likely prospect turned up, she could move in the blink of an eye.
Instead, she couldn’t concentrate. She missed Kevin’s house. She missed his teasing smile and the way they played off each other.
“Well, what did you expect?” she said aloud to the empty room. “That he was going to stand up to his entire family for you? And say what?”
She was the one who’d avoided any discussion about the future. And Kevin had reacted to the situation in accordance with his nature.
In other words, he’d gone back to being a lone wolf.
“Okay, so you made love,” she continued to her invisible audience. “And he said that changed things, and you started hoping he meant it. So what are you using for brains these days, recycled aluminum?”
Alli knew she was being irrational. She didn’t even want a wedding or a baby. True, she could definitely get used to having Kevin rumple her sheets. He looked so darn cute in the morning with stubble on his face and his usually perfect hair flopping onto his forehead.
And his arms around her felt safe and loving. A woman could nestle into a guy like that, and unbutton his shirt while she was doing it. Unsnap his pants. Tackle him onto the bed and…
Wait. Stop. Rewind to former scenario.
He was a louse. Not exactly a louse, but a disappointment. Like every other guy, he’d failed her in a pinch. Just because she’d insisted on keeping things light didn’t mean he had to disown her in front of his entire family—well, almost his entire family, except for his father and the dog.
How could she be such an idiot? She ought to be enjoying a time in her life filled with possibilities.
Like unemployment? Like running around the country scrounging for work?
Alli buried her face in her hands. The computer beeped a protest as her elbow hit the space bar.
“Even inanimate objects are turning against me,” she lamented. “I can’t stand this. There has to be somebody out there more miserable than I am.”
She picked up the phone and called Larry.
“The mood around here is what you might call Early Funereal,” he said. “Alternating with Advanced Hysterical. The police say Payne got the whole story wrong. None of the officers will admit having spoken to him except the watch commander who told him to call back in the morning.”
Alli relished every word. “I guess he blew it.”
“J.J. called Ned into his office this morning. Nobody could hear what they were discussing, but Ned’s been snarling at people ever since and J.J.’s pulling out what’s left of his hair. Rumor has it you called Ned last night. What gives?”
“I told him not to run the story.”
“You knew about it?” he asked in surprise.
“Sort of.” Alli wasn’t sure how much she dared disclose at this point. “Please don’t tell anybody.”
“Okay.” After a beat, he added, “No wonder you said it was better if I didn’t know what you were up to.”
“Believe me, I never planned this big a mess,” she responded. “I was trying to do the paper a favor against my own best interest, because there are other people I wanted to help. But the whole thing backfired.”
“Big time,” he confirmed.
“What’s Payne doing?”
“Keeping his head down. Nobody knows what’s going to happen, but according to one of the front-desk clerks, there’s been a parade of suits in and out of the publisher’s office all day.”
“Suits” translated to lawyers. LeMott’s, Graybar’s or the newspaper’s? she wondered. Probably all three.
“No matter what happens, I doubt I’ll be rehired,” she said gloomily.
“I wouldn’t recommend popping in here today,” her friend concurred. “Obviously, the paper’s going to have to run a retraction. J.J.’s put a couple of other reporters on the story to try to fix things.”
There went what remained of her exclusive, Alli thought. She wasn’t putting a lot of confidence in Brad’s promise to notify her first of any major developments. “I’m sure they’ll do a competent job.”
“We heard someone fired shots at you,” Larry added. “I tried to call earlier but your phone was turned off. You weren’t hurt, were you?”
“I’m fine.” Except for a broken heart and a cloudy future, she mused. “I turned off my phone while I was being interviewed at the PD.”
“It’s weird that the same guys who went after Payne went after you too,” her friend commented. “Uh-oh. Ned’s glaring at me through the glass.” A clear divider separated the photo department from the newsroom. “He’s paranoid about people being on the phone unless he knows who they’re talking to. I’d better go.”
“Catch you later,” Alli said, and rang off.
She’d expected hearing about the chaos in the newsroom to make her feel better, but it didn’t. She wished she could be there with her friends, helping fix things and joining in the gossip.
“Find a job,” she muttered. “Get a life.”
For the next hour, she researched via Web sites and updated her résumé. At last, driven into the kitchenette by hunger, she heated canned soup in the microwave.
While she was eating, the phone rang again. Alli’s heart leaped. She didn’t want to hope she’d hear Kevin’s voice on the other end, but she did.
Her spirits sank when a female voice asked for her. “This is me,” she replied.
“It’s Betsy Vickers,” said her caller. “I got your number from Mom at the office. Please don’t tell my brother I called.”
“Okay.” Curiosity tugged at her. “Can I help you with something?”
“First, I want to apologize. We didn’t mean to barge in on you. We were just worried about Kev.” She sounded nervous.
“I understand.” Alli waited impatiently, sensing more to come.
“Also, I’ve been worrying about this blackmail business with the orphanage that was in the paper today,” Betsy added. “Mom mentioned you were looking into the situation, but she didn’t know any details and she doesn’t dare bother Kev about it. I hoped you wouldn’t mind if I asked you.”
“Why?” Alli inquired.
“You met my friend Tara Durban, right?”
“Sure.” She had a clear recollection of the blonde who’d put them on track to the Reverend Weatherby.
“I was afraid her adoption might be in danger. She and her husband have waited so long for this.”
“From what I’ve heard, the orphanage is in the clear.”
“I hope so. Their marriage isn’t…well, they’ve had a few problems. Money trouble, I guess, and who knows what else. Tara said R.D.’s been acting secretive. She hopes a child will bring them closer.”
R.D. The initials rang a bell. Alli’s heart nearly
skipped a beat. Maybe the name Rita had heard wasn’t Ardee, after all.
It might be a coincidence. Or it might not.
“Betsy,” she said. “I have a small favor to ask of you, too.”
“Sure, I’d be glad to help. What is it?” her caller asked.
“Tell me about Ralph Durban.”
Chapter Seventeen
Returning to work that afternoon helped Kevin take his mind off how empty his house felt without Alli. After sorting through the new jobs that had come in, he called Mary Conners to tell her Costa Buena had dropped the accusations against the orphanage.
“You mean we’re safe?” Judging by her tone, she could scarcely believe it.
“Your adoption was legal. You don’t need to worry.”
She released a long breath. “I can’t tell you how grateful I am.”
“I’d recommend you contact the police to offer testimony as a victim. However, it’s up to you.” Kevin gave her Brad’s name and phone number, adding, “He’s an old friend.”
She took down the information. “I might get in touch if they don’t have enough other witnesses, but right now I want to move on with my life.”
He wished her well and rang off. If only his own life could be sewed up so tidily, he mused. Why had Alli given him the cold shoulder this morning? And why did it make him feel bereft?
He refused to call her. She’d disrupted his life so thoroughly that he needed time to adjust to her absence. Maybe they should meet after a few days, when, with luck, they could settle into a less intense relationship.
But they wouldn’t have the chance if she zoomed off to Texas. He didn’t understand her hurry. She was too impulsive, which meant he ought to be glad to let her go.
But he wasn’t.
The phone rang in the outer office. A moment later, Heloise came in. She hated using the intercom.
“It’s Miss Gardner,” she said formally.
Kevin’s mood lightened. “Thank you.” He waited until she closed the door to answer. “Hi.”
“I know who Ardee is,” Alli said without preamble.
Her husky voice tickled his nervous system, even though he knew this call wasn’t personal. “Oh?”
“It’s Ralph Durban.” Score one for her, he thought. “He’s in financial trouble and he probably learned about the orphanage’s problems when he researched it for him and Tara.”
“You win the brass ring.” Seeing the perils ahead, Kevin added, “The paper can’t print this information yet. It would be obstruction of justice.”
“I haven’t got a paper,” Alli reminded him. “And I haven’t received any official attribution, either, just a hunch.”
“What are you going to do about it?” He hoped she’d have the sense to leave the heroics to the police.
“Since I guessed the important part, how about telling me the rest?”
He figured he owed her that much, but only as a friend. “It’s strictly in confidence.”
“You ought to know by now I’m smart enough to realize that,” she grumbled.
“Sorry. It’s the ex-cop in me.” He hoped Brad never found out what he was about to reveal. “The police already had Ralph under surveillance for suspected embezzlement.”
“Of what?”
“Funds he’d been handling for some clients. The minute he makes a wrong move in the extortion case, they’ll nail him.”
“Have they figured out how he got the data on the parents?” she demanded.
“Not as far as I know.” That was the big question mark for Kevin, too.
“Well, I have.” She stopped.
He knew she was waiting for him to ask how. Frustrating her seemed more entertaining than appeasing his curiosity, so he said, “You ought to tell Lieutenant Zucker.”
“No offense, but he’d screw things up,” she responded.
He bristled but tried not to show it. “How did you reach that conclusion?”
“Because the cops will never be able to prove a connection. Even if they guess who Ralph must have swiped the names from, they’ll get stonewalled.”
Much as he wanted to argue, he’d developed a respect for Alli’s effectiveness. “Who is this connection?”
“If you want to find out, you’ll have to help me.”
Uneasiness pooled in Kevin’s stomach. “Help you do what?”
“I need some muscle,” Alli said.
Aside from the insulting reference to him as mere brawn, he objected to her putting herself in the line of fire all over again. “You’re not crazy enough to go after Ralph!”
“Certainly not. I’m going to confront his source.”
“Wasn’t this morning’s shooting enough for one day?” Worry for her safety sharpened Kevin’s tone.
“Why do you think I’m calling you?”
Although he had way too much work demanding his attention, and furthermore disliked the idea of serving as Alli’s enforcer, Kevin couldn’t allow her to face a possible felon unaided.
“Tell me what you suspect,” he said. “If I concur on your approach, I’ll help you.”
“It’s not up to you to sit in judgment. You should help because, until this case is resolved, we’re partners!” she retorted.
“If we’re partners, level with me.” He considered his logic impeccable.
She apparently didn’t. “Meet me in front of Dr. Graybar’s office in ten minutes,” she snapped, and hung up.
Kevin smacked one hand onto the desk so hard his palm stung. Papers scattered into the air and coffee slopped onto his mouse pad.
In flew his mother. “What’s going on?” She surveyed the mess. “This isn’t like you, Kevin.”
“What isn’t?” he muttered.
“Acting emotional.” She collected the fallen papers. “I’ll fetch a towel for your desk.”
“Thanks.” Rising, he noticed a wet patch of fabric clinging to his thigh. On top of everything else, now he had a coffee stain to show for his ill temper. “I have to meet Alli,” he said. “She’s likely to get killed.”
“Then why are you still here?” demanded Heloise.
He didn’t stick around long enough to formulate an answer.
WHEN KEVIN PULLED INTO the parking lot, Alli’s spirits lifted. She’d never been a coward, but even she found the prospect of marching into the office of a doctor who hated her guts intimidating.
Besides, it excited her that he’d come when she asked. It meant…actually, she didn’t know what it meant, but it felt good.
“Glad you showed up,” she told Kevin as he joined her on the sidewalk. “What happened to your pants?”
“You’re bad for my wardrobe,” he muttered. “And my temper.” He shrugged. “I don’t know why I’m here. My case is wrapped up except for the final report.”
“You’re here to see justice done,” she told him. “Besides, you’ll be helping Brad, in the long run.”
“He may not think so when he finds out we acted without consulting him,” Kevin pointed out.
“You didn’t act. I did,” she said. “You’re along for the ride.”
“And to provide the muscle.” He gave her an ironic smile.
“I was speaking figuratively, but I like the literal aspect, too.” As she rubbed her hand over his forearm, memories tingled to life of his powerful build poised above her in bed.
She hoped for a rematch, and soon. Assuming they were still speaking to each other when this was over.
“Let’s get this show on the road before somebody builds a planter around us and adds fertilizer,” Kevin grumbled.
She should have known better than to expect romance from the dour detective. “Nicely put,” Alli said, and entered the building ahead of him.
On the third floor, they faced rippled-glass doors bearing the doctor’s name. “Hold on,” Kevin said.
“Why?”
“You haven’t told me precisely who or what you suspect.” He slanted her a dark look. “We’re going to be intruding in th
e office of a guy who may already plan to sue us, not to mention that we’re interfering with a police investigation. I have a right to know the details.”
If he hadn’t acted so arrogant on the phone, she’d have told him earlier. “Okay.” Alli had promised to keep Betsy’s part in this a secret, so she weighed her words. “According to a source, Ralph cheated on his first wife. In fact, Tara’s the one he cheated with.”
“How does this affect the adoption business?” Kevin asked.
“It shows his character,” Alli explained. “Based on that, I drew the conclusion that—”
A noise from within alerted them barely in time to step aside. The doors parted, ushering out a young woman. Standing in plain view inside the office, Binnie Reed spotted them through the open doorway.
The counselor’s jaw tightened in anger. Alli knew she had to act in a hurry or lose the opportunity to press her cause. Leaving the explanation unfinished, she launched her way inside, with Kevin right behind.
Binnie quivered with rage. “Call security,” she told the receptionist.
“You don’t want to do that,” Alli advised. “It would be better if we talked in private.”
“Nobody’s talking to anybody. You’re leaving,” came Dr. Graybar’s deep voice as he joined them. In his white coat, with a patient’s chart in one hand, he might have stepped from a TV screen.
The receptionist hesitated, one hand on the phone.
Alli hated to make a scene in front of the patients. “Honestly, we should talk somewhere else.”
“What’s the point? Everybody who hasn’t read this morning’s newspaper has heard about it,” the doctor answered bitterly.
“You’ve made a hash of my reputation entirely without cause. And now we’ve got to deal with this terrible situation at the orphanage. Heaven knows what’s going to happen.”
“It’s been resolved,” Alli said. “The orphanage is cleared.”
He regarded her suspiciously. “How do you know?”
“The Reverend Weatherby told me. You can check with him yourself.”
His scowl softened. “Well, that’s good news. Now, what do you want?”
“We came here to talk to Ms. Reed,” she told him.
After a moment, the doctor gave a curt nod. “You’ve got five minutes,” he said, and led the way to the conference room.
The Baby Scheme Page 20
