by Leona Karr
“Poor little tykes. Lost babes in the woods, they be, for sure.”
“Of course, Mark will have to try to find help the first thing, or he’ll have to send them someplace else.”
“Not to one of them child care agencies!”
“I don’t know, Mom. I guess it depends upon how quickly I can locate their mother. Anyway, I’ll be home tomorrow when things are under control here. I’ve got a pile of work to do at the office first, but I’ll give you a call.”
“You’re going to be all right, aren’t you? I mean, spending the night in some man’s apartment? He’s not the kind to take advantage, is he?”
“No, Mom. I’m perfectly safe.”
When she went back into the living room, he was standing at a window, looking out at the Denver skyline. She came up beside him and he gave her a questioning look. “Everything set?”
“Yes, my brother-in-law will drop off the bag. You have a live-in nanny ‘til tomorrow morning,” she said briskly. “After that, whatever arrangements you make for the children will be your decision.”
“I don’t know what the hell to do.” He ran a worried hand along his chin. “This loft is no place for kids even if I get a lucky break and can hire another satisfactory baby-sitter. And I worry about how safe they’ll be here if someone wants to get to them. Can we believe Timmy? Was this guy, Dirk, really in the crowd, or just part of a little boy’s paranoia? I’ve racked my brain and I don’t remember my brother ever mentioning someone by that name. If Jason knew the guy, I haven’t a clue whether it was business or pleasure.”
“Maybe neither.”
“None of this makes one damn bit of sense.”
Kerri had to agree with him. Be careful what you wish for, she reminded herself. She’d been bored with her usual clientele, but she hadn’t expected anything as bizarre as this case. “If the children’s mother doesn’t want to be found, it could take weeks, even months to get a hot trail.”
“And what happens to the kids in the meantime?”
That was the jackpot question. Kerri didn’t have an answer.
When Harry arrived with her overnight case, they exchanged a few words at the door, and he said in a low tone, “If this guy gets out of hand, call me.”
“I will,” she whispered back. She appreciated the big-brother concern, but she knew Mark only wanted her volunteer help with the children. He didn’t have designs on her romantically, and she was glad, she told herself. She ignored a spurt of feminine vanity that mocked her overnight stay in his bachelor pad, so different from how it might be if she were, say, Ted’s neice, Lisa.
When she returned to the living room, she bid him good-night, even though she still hadn’t finished her drink. She was afraid that if she lingered any longer, the conversation would get personal, and he might get the wrong idea.
“I’ll carry your case up.” He motioned for her to mount the circular stairs in front of him, which was a mistake, he soon realized. The view of her rounded bottom and graceful legs was tantalizing enough for any red-blooded man’s hormones. He was totally aware of her on a sexual level that took him by surprise. As a confirmed bachelor, he’d been content with casual relationships that demanded little from him except a good time. He knew all the warning signals when a woman was beginning to get too serious, and he made a quick exit before any commitments were made. Maybe he was a coward, but he wasn’t good husband material, and he knew it.
He quickly set the case down at the top of the stairs. If Kerri were anyone else, he might have lightly kissed her good-night and thought nothing of it, but in truth, he didn’t know how to relate to a woman whose deep reservoirs of strength, integrity and loyalty would, undoubtedly, demand the same from the man who loved her. After a moment of awkward hesitation, he said lamely, “I hope you sleep well.”
“I’m sure I will,” she said rather primly. Why was he standing there, looking at her like that?
“Thanks for being here,” he murmured and he knew he wasn’t only referring to her help with the children. Strangely enough, there was more than just gratitude in his emotions at that moment.
“Good night, then,” she said quickly, conscious of some undefined energy radiating between them. “If I know kids, we’ll all be up bright and early in the morning. I’ll give the baby a bottle if she wakes in the night.”
He smiled wryly. “I’d volunteer, but I don’t think the baby deserves a repeat of my first attempt. If there’s anything else, I’ll do my best.”
“If I need you, I’ll wake you up,” she promised.
“Who’s going to be asleep?” he muttered under his breath. With all he had on his mind, he’d be lucky to close his eyes before the sun came up.
He turned away abruptly, and went down the stairs before he made some kind of fool of himself. In the den, he slumped in his lounge chair. Tomorrow he would have to make some decisions. He tried to marshal his thoughts in the same way he would if he were handling a business crisis, but the strategy wouldn’t work. It wasn’t dollars and cents that were involved, but three little human beings who couldn’t be put in debit and credit columns.
He spent restless hours, going over everything, again and again. The children were no kin of his, but they were under his protection, and he wanted to do what was best for them. His brother had acquired them with his recent marriage, and there must be family members somewhere. All he had to do was find them. Once they located some relatives of the children, his responsibility would end. He wondered why the thought brought him no comfort.
THE BABY SLEPT through the night, and so did Kerri, but Mark had dark rings under his eyes when he joined her in the kitchen the next morning. He eyed Kerri’s tousled wavy dark hair, her pink robe, slightly open at the neck, and her lovely face, devoid of makeup. She looked appealing and beautiful, and her bright smile mocked his disheveled, disgruntled appearance.
He glowered at her as he made his way to the coffeemaker, grumbling, “Morning.”
“No need to ask how you slept,” she chided, putting down an empty nursing bottle and shifting the baby over her shoulder.
He didn’t answer. He’d have to admit to her soon enough that his sleepless night had netted him exactly zero when it came to any feasible plan for handling the crisis.
Kerri read his silence loud and clear. An idea had been surfacing at the edge of her consciousness like a sea creature poking his nose above the water’s surface, and she had begun to recognize it as the answer to a prayer. She decided to make a telephone call and test the feasibility of her idea.
“I’ll put the baby in her swing and see about some breakfast before the other two wake up.”
After depositing the baby in her swing, she went into the den and made her call. In a few minutes she was back in the kitchen with a smile on her face.
“Well, it’s all arranged,” she told Mark smugly. “I’ve found the perfect place for the children.”
He blinked, staring at her with heavy eyes, and an expression that betrayed his disbelief. How could she blithely announce the problem was solved when he’d looked at it from every angle and came up short? He wanted to believe her but was afraid to give in to the relief that was beginning to seep through him. “Are you sure?”
“Positive.”
“Where can they go?”
“I called my mother and she thinks it’s a grand idea that the children stay at our home until their mother comes back. They’ll be properly taken care of and spoiled rotten by her and my grandmother.” She grinned broadly. “Don’t you see? It’s a perfect solution.”
With an explosive laugh, he threw down the measuring spoon, spilling coffee grounds all over the counter. He couldn’t believe the flood of relief that flowed through him. His spirits soared like someone who had just received an unbelievable, wonderful gift. He didn’t understand his own feelings. It was a mystery to him how three little children had suddenly made everything else in his life seem insignificant Now he knew that Timmy, Patti and the baby woul
d be safe, and just as important, they would be loved and pampered. Being honest with himself, he knew he never could have turned them over to some uncaring, professional hands. “Hallelujah! You’re an angel!” he said, laughing.
“Shhh, you’ll wake up the children,” she protested as he grabbed her around the waist and swung her in a mad whirl.
“I don’t care, you wonderful angel, you,” he replied laughing.
“Stop, you’re making me dizzy.”
He set her down but didn’t immediately release the clasp of his arms around her small waist. As she lifted her laughing face to his, he kissed her. The contact was light, only a brush of his mouth on hers, but the sweet taste of her lips instantly fired his desire. He tightened his embrace, and would have kissed her again, ardently fueled with a lover’s touch, but she quickly put her hands against his chest, and pushed her body away from his.
One look at her questioning face and he knew that the kiss had startled her as much as it had him. The spontaneous, carefree moment was gone, and he cursed himself for having ruined it.
THEY MANAGED TO TRANSFER the children to Kerri’s home without a great deal of fuss. They left behind the baby paraphernalia that Cora had rented. Kerri knew that there were enough things stored in the old house to meet the needs of a half-dozen children of all ages. Besides, anything they didn’t have could be borrowed.
Cathy had been alerted to the new arrivals and was on the spot when Kerri arrived in her car with the baby and Patti, and Mark in his with Timmy. Kerri’s sister gave Mark a frank measuring once-over as he got out of his Buick Regal, and she whispered approvingly to Kerri. “Way to go, Sis.”
Kerri was in no mood to play games with her sister. Mark Richards was completely out of her league. This morning’s incident had proved that She was still trying to handle the intimacy of his kiss, which had threatened to level her defenses like those of any giddy adolescent. The playful twirling had turned into something else, and the sexual desire suddenly flaring between them had been as sharp as summer lightning. No telling what would have happened if she’d invited another kiss.
“What happened?” Cathy prodded, seeing the frown on her sister’s forehead.
“Nothing. Now, let’s get the kids settled,” she said shortly and plopped the baby in Cathy’s arms.
“What a darling,” Cathy cooed and was rewarded by Pammy’s toothless grin.
As Kerri lifted Patti out of the car, she murmured reassurance to the little girl, who had her thumb stuck in her mouth and was fiercely clutching Kerri’s hand. “It’s all right, darling. See, there’s Timmy. He’s going to stay here, too.”
Mark had kept his promise and bought the boy a baseball and bat. When Amy and Emily ran up to greet him, Timmy clutched his new possessions as if ready to defend them against all forces.
“We’ll play ball with you,” Amy offered, ever the sweet outgoing soul that she was. “We like to play catch, don’t we, Emily?”
A faint smile crossed Timmy’s narrow freckled face. The little girl’s welcome had hit a home run.
Kerri’s mother bustled out of the house, wiping her hands on her apron. She greeted Mark with a broad smile and waved away his thanks. “’Tis better that they be here while Kerri looks for their mama. A man’s apartment is no place for a baby and young’uns like these. Most men are all thumbs when it comes to child tending.”
“I couldn’t agree with you more, Mrs. Kincaid.” He grinned and gave Kerri a wink that said he liked her mother.
“Well, then, let’s get them settled,” Mrs. Kincaid said briskly. Like a mother hen, she picked up Patti, held her hand out to Timmy and shooed Cathy and the baby ahead of her into the house.
Kerri lingered with Mark on the sidewalk. “Thank heavens, the problem is settled for the moment,” he said. Then he shifted a little uneasily. “But I’m wondering how long I can impose upon your family. I hired you to find their mother, not take over the responsibility of her kids. If we don’t find her soon, what then?”
“Let’s don’t jump hurdles until we get to them. This could have a successful ending within a few days. And, of course, there’s always the possibility that Ardie will show up again to pick up her kids, full of apologies and explanations.”
“That doesn’t seem likely,” he said with frank pessimism. “If we only knew why she left, we’d have some clue to when she’s coming back.”
“True. And I’m not going to find anything out standing here chatting. Now that the children are settled you can get your life back on track. I’ll keep you updated on what progress we’re making.” She started to turn away.
“Kerri?”
She paused, and waited. “Yes?”
He hesitated. A shadow flickered in his eyes and then was gone. “It’s not important,” he said briskly. “We’ll talk later.”
All the way back to the office, she wondered what he was going to say. Was he wanting to dismiss what had happened in the kitchen, and assure her that a light kiss was not his invitation to a passionate affair? She felt like an idiot for having reacted so strongly, but he needed to know that she wasn’t open to the kind of dallying that he obviously enjoyed with Lisa. She wondered if good-morning kisses were routine with his overnight female companions. Cut it out, she told herself. Green is definitely not your color.
Kerri’s mood was less than harmonious when she reached the office and had to put up with Debbie’s eager curiosity.
“Tell me all,” she bubbled. “I called your house early this morning and your mother said you spent the night at Mark Richards’s place.”
Kerri silently groaned.
“Did you really spend the night in that hunk’s apartment?”
“The baby-sitter fell down some stairs and ended up in the hospital. Someone had to help out with the kids.”
“Where did he sleep? Where did you sleep?” Her sparkling eyes added, Together?
“Sorry to disappoint you, Debbie, but there was absolutely no undercurrent of romance.” Thinking back, she was almost certain she had misinterpreted the tightening of his embrace and the near capture of her lips for a different kind of kiss. She certainly wasn’t going to toss Debbie any romantic bones to chew on. “Strictly business. Now, let’s see what you’ve got?”
“Not much. I did obtain Jason Richards’s driving record and a copy of the California report about his fatal accident It’s on your desk. I’m still working the marriage bureaus. If we only had the woman’s given name, we’d be off and running.”
Kerri sighed. “I know. Ardie is most likely a nickname. I checked a name book and found Ardith, Ardella, Ardene, Ardin, Ardine, Ardis, Ardel, Arda and several more. We’ll have to keep on Jason Richards’s records until we can get a more complete name for the missing woman.”
Kerri went into her office, and carefully looked over Jason Richards’s accident report, which listed address, location of accident, time and verification of a singlecar accident and death at the scene. On an impulse, Kerri called the California Highway Patrol and was put in touch with the officer who made out the report. She identified herself and refreshed his memory about the accident report.
“Yeah, I remember that one. Why the interest?”
“I’m trying to locate his widow. There wasn’t a name or address for her in the report you sent me.”
“There wasn’t? Well, I guess next of kin was notified through his business office. I’m sure they can help you.”
Not according to Jeff Elders, Kerri thought. “I was just wondering if there was something more you might know about the accident that wasn’t in the report,” she persisted.
“Sorry I can’t think of anything. He was alone. The car went right off an embankment on Highway 101. Could have been going too fast, lost control of his car.” The officer was abruptly silent, and Kerri felt that he was holding something back.
“Anything else?” she prodded.
He hesitated a second longer and then admitted, “I remember now. At the time I wondered if so
me car had forced him off, but we didn’t have anything to go on. Without any evidence, we had to close the file.”
Chapter Six
Kerri stared at the phone a long time after she’d hung up from talking to Officer Rossi. The policeman’s words brought a cold prickling at the nape of her neck like one caused by an unseen draft.
I wondered if some car had forced him off the road.
Until that moment she’d only been interested in Jason Richards’s accident as a possible means of locating his widow. Now her mind began to whirl with other stabbing questions that might very well hold the answer to the disappearance of the children’s mother. If Jason had been a victim of foul play, was Ardie Richards in the same danger? Or was there another side to the coin? Maybe the woman had somehow been responsible for what happened to her new husband and was on the run. Had she abandoned the children to save them, or to save herself? And if she was on the run, who was threatening her? If Timmy’s remarks could be trusted, there was a connection between the man, Dirk, and Mark’s brother. Did that fit in with Ardie’s disappearance somehow?
Kerri leaned back in her chair and stared at the ceiling until she was satisfied with what her next move should be. Then she pushed the intercom. “Debbie, book me on a late afternoon flight to Los Angeles. And make hotel reservations at the Windhaven Hotel for a couple of nights.”
“Single or double?”
Kerri laughed. “You never give up, do you?”
“Nope. Someday you’ll prove me right.”
Kerri debated calling Mark and telling him what she’d learned about his brother’s death, but decided against it. At this point, there was nothing to be gained by stirring him up. The police had not found any evidence to prove anything amiss. As far as they were concerned the matter was finished, and she had no intention of second-guessing the police. That wasn’t why she had decided to go to Los Angeles. She wanted to talk to Jason’s co-workers and see if she could uncover some kind of lead to the woman he had married.
