“It’s possible. Are you requesting police protection?”
Matt restrained a laugh. He liked the detective and thought Layne felt the same, but her overall opinion of the Carrollton Police Department wasn’t high. Anyway, there might be jurisdictional issues since she didn’t live or work in Carrollton.
“I have my own security staff, Detective Rivera. My people will be looking after Ms. McGraw. I just thought you should know what happened.”
“Thanks. Ask the officer taking the incident report to send me a copy.”
A few minutes later a vehicle came down the road, lights flashing. Matt watched Layne lift her chin as it pulled in behind the Mustang.
She was really something.
Her parents must be blind if they were disappointed in the woman she’d become.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
LAYNE’S COLLARBONE ACHED as she watched the deputy sheriff measure the skid marks on the road and take pictures. Then he used a knife to scrape gray paint from the dented fender of the Mustang into an evidence bag.
The sound of metal on metal made Layne wince.
Both Matt and the deputy had tried to get her to wait in the patrol car, but she’d refused. When they were finally finished, Matt drove to her house and her mouth tightened as she saw a tow truck in front of it.
“You didn’t,” she said.
“No, I didn’t. My security chief probably ordered it, thinking you’d want your car fixed as soon as possible.”
“Yes, but I’ll have to make an insurance claim and get estimates and all sorts of stuff. And in the meantime, I have to get to work and the supermarket and everywhere else.”
“I’m sure that’s taken care of, too.”
Layne spotted a sporty-looking Volvo and her eyes narrowed. “I’m going to ignore the tow truck and that expensive status car in my driveway.”
“Volvos are really safe.”
“I know. That’s why Uncle Will always got one for Aunt Dee to drive. But I’ll rent whatever car is covered by the insurance company.”
Matt released a heavy sigh. “Do you know how difficult you are?”
“I believe in taking care of myself.”
“Call it whatever you want, but think about using the Volvo. It’s not a big deal—we have a fleet of vehicles to use when needed. Besides, you said the Hudsons gave you the Mustang. Think how much it would upset your aunt to see the dented fender. This way you can just say you had car trouble.”
“I have to tell Aunt Dee. She’ll be more upset if she finds out on her own.”
“It still would be better for her to hear about the damage than to see it and imagine what happened. So just use the damned Volvo,” he said with obvious frustration.
It was true about Aunt Dee, but that still didn’t mean she could accept. From what Layne knew about his former lifestyle, she suspected Matt had been surrounded by people so rich they didn’t think about who was paying for what. She also guessed there had been a good number along for the free ride. Matt might be used to that, she wasn’t.
Anyway, accepting that kind of favor from Matt was a slippery slope. Layne wasn’t sure what was at the bottom of that slope, but she believed in being self-reliant.
She got out of the Mustang, ready to continue the argument, when a tall man stepped from a blue Dodge Dakota parked on the street. He was darkly attractive and nodded to her as he approached.
“Hello, Miss McGraw, I’m Riley Flannigan, part of the Eisley security team. The chief asked me to come over. He mentioned you were upset about your Mustang getting hit.”
“Yeah, I lost my temper and used language that should make me blush.”
Riley Flannigan gave her a lazy grin. “That’s all right, I’m a man who appreciates feisty women, but I’m sorry about your car.”
“Not as sorry as the person responsible will be when they’re caught, I assure you.”
“Like I said, feisty.”
She laughed and his grin widened.
* * *
MATT WAS UNACCOUNTABLY annoyed at Riley’s not-so-subtle efforts to be charming, and even more irritated when he saw the subtle shift in the security operative’s stance at the sight of Layne’s brightest smile. It was the one that took over her entire face and Matt had only seen it a couple of times himself.
“Layne, Mr. Flannigan is going to be on the team watching your house,” he interjected. “There’s another team assigned to your aunt. They’ll make sure she doesn’t see them until you’ve had a chance to let her know they’re there.”
“It’s okay to have them watching Aunt Dee’s house, but I don’t need anyone watching me.”
“Let’s talk about it,” urged Riley. “We’re on staff, so it isn’t as if Matt will be paying extra to have us here. Besides, how else can I get to know you?”
Matt snorted and Layne hit him with her elbow, probably the way she’d try to put her big brother in his place.
Hell.
She couldn’t possibly like Riley, could she?
“Mr. Flannigan won’t be coming inside, he’ll be located in a van on the street,” Matt said, but no one paid any attention.
Just then a large German shepherd jumped through the window of Riley’s truck and padded over to where they were standing. Toto ignored Matt’s outstretched hand and planted his butt at Layne’s feet, looking at her expectantly.
“What a beauty,” she exclaimed, kneeling to rub his ears and run her fingers through the thick fur around his neck. “Is he yours, Riley?”
“Yeah, but sometimes I think Toto owns me. Especially when I haul his fifty-pound sacks of food into the house.”
“Toto?” Layne tipped her head back and smiled again, full force, and Riley crouched next to her, ostensibly to pat Toto’s flanks.
“Yup. As a scruffy puppy he looked like Toto in The Wizard of Oz, so I went with it. Who’d have guessed he’d turn into this?”
“You mean other than him being part German shepherd and part horse?”
A chuckle came from the security expert and Matt gritted his teeth. He wasn’t paying Riley to flirt, and why hadn’t he been this pleasant to Tamlyn when she’d come to visit in the spring? Riley had gone all rock-jawed and secret-service-style impassive with Tamlyn.
“By the way, would you consider keeping Toto inside with you?” Riley asked Layne. “He wouldn’t be any trouble and I always keep a sack of food in the truck for him, so his meals are covered.”
Layne lifted an eyebrow. “I haven’t said yes to you guarding the house.”
“Yeah, but Matt will insist we spend the night out here whether you agree or not.”
Layne gave Matt a cool look while he glared at Riley. Since when was he the fall guy? Of course, Riley was just trying to jolly her into accepting the inevitable, but still.
“How about it?” Riley wheedled. “It would be a huge favor if you keep Toto—the security van is too small for a dog his size to be comfortable.”
Toto put a paw on her knee and let out an eager yip.
Layne’s smile brightened to megawatt candescence. “How can I resist an appeal like that?”
The warm approval in Riley’s eyes made Matt’s jaw clench. Layne had never treated him with the same sweet, flirty manner. Of course, it was best that she didn’t see him in a romantic way, but it was annoying nevertheless.
“Come on.” Matt helped Layne to her feet. “Let’s talk inside while Mr. Flannigan gets Toto’s food and leaves it on the porch, before getting settled in the van with the rest of the team.”
“I’ll see you later,” Riley assured Layne as she walked up the steps to her porch.
“Great.” She unlocked her front door and Toto slid into the house ahead of her. “Riley seems nice,” she commented to Matt.
“On
ly when he wants to be. Look, I’ve been intending to ask you about the sale of Hudson & Davidson. I got the impression there’s more to it than what you said.”
Layne sank onto the couch and tossed the envelope from Detective Rivera onto the coffee table. “Mr. Davidson claims that Aunt Dee’s share of the sale is zero, though he’s willing to give her twenty-five thousand as a token gesture. He sent her a letter citing things like the calculated damage to his good name and what he’d put out to replace the embezzled money, plus interest. He states that because of Uncle Will, the company’s worth dropped to a fraction of its former valuation following the scandal, and since he’s personally responsible for any restored value, the increase isn’t ‘accruable’ to her. He wants her to sign a separate agreement to that effect.”
“Your aunt needs to consult a lawyer.”
“Except his note tells her she needs to agree to his terms if she doesn’t want the whole thing getting stirred up again. He claims it will cost her thousands in legal fees and that she’ll just sully Uncle Will’s reputation more. Not to mention crashing the value of the company a second time so she still won’t get anything.”
Matt’s gut churned. Depending on how the letter was worded, his stepfather could be arrested for blackmail—emotional blackmail for monetary gain was still blackmail. But even if it was legal, his actions weren’t right.
Damn it all. This was the man who Matt had chosen as financial director of the Eisley Foundation...and the man who was married to his mother.
“Aunt Dee says Mr. Davidson is getting impatient now that he has an offer on the company,” Layne added. “If I prove Uncle Will is innocent she’ll feel free to fight him, but with everything dragging on, it’s getting hard to put him off.”
“Does your aunt have a copy of the sales agreement and the other document he wants her to sign?”
“I’ll have to ask. Probably.”
“Good. I want to go over them if she’ll let me.”
“Why not ask your stepfather for copies?”
“I don’t want Peter to know I’m looking at it,” Matt told her. He wanted to know exactly what his stepfather was up to without any attempt to clean it up or put a positive spin on the situation.
“Okay. I’ll ask Aunt Dee.” Layne’s eyes were closed.
“I’ll get out of here and let you rest. Call if there’s anything you need.”
“Besides a security van outside my house?”
“Uh, yeah, besides that.”
Matt checked the porch and saw a bag of dog food next to the door. He put it on the coffee table and said goodbye, though he wasn’t sure Layne was awake. She had to be exhausted after everything that had happened.
* * *
CONNOR DROVE TOWARD CARROLLTON, but before arriving in Dorothy Hudson’s peaceful neighborhood, he called the team watching the house.
Gavin Weis picked up the call. “Yeah?”
“It’s me. I’ll be there in a few minutes. Are you parked up the block? This is strictly covert until notified.”
“We’re north, on the opposite side of the street, one house down. You can pull in directly behind us without being in line of sight for the Hudson household.”
Connor turned onto Dot’s street. “How have you covered the backyard?”
“The place backs onto a canyon, with a wooded slope down to a creek. It’s unlikely anyone would approach from that direction, but we were able to install cameras while Mrs. Hudson was away. Someone will be watching from the van, and two others will watch the street, with a fourth to spell the rest. If she goes out, half the team will follow.”
“You’ll have to tag team in two vehicles for now. Mrs. Hudson’s niece will decide the best time to inform her that she’s under protection.”
“Gotcha.”
Connor stopped behind the surveillance van. “I’m coming in. Don’t shoot,” he announced and turned off the phone.
“Hey,” Gavin said as Connor opened the door and stepped in. Shandra Mason waved vaguely. She was wearing a pair of earphones, her gaze fixed on a monitor, split into four images. Ed Nelson lay on a bunk over the driver and passenger seat, reading.
A pot of coffee sat by the compact sink and Connor poured himself a cup. “I want a video conference with the other team,” he ordered. A moment later an interior picture of the van assigned to Layne McGraw’s house appeared.
Riley was nearest the video camera, his feet up and a cowboy hat tipped over his eyes.
“Wake up, Flannigan,” Connor ordered.
“I’m awake,” Riley replied without moving a muscle. “What’s the chance of something happening? You didn’t give me much except that someone tried to run Matthew and his passenger into a ravine. I presume they were after the lovely Ms. McGraw, rather than Matt.”
“As far as we know, that’s the situation.” Connor paused, debating how much to say. “Both the aunt and her niece are potentially at risk. It could be a murder someone hopes to keep covered up.”
Riley lifted his hat and looked directly into the camera, a wintry expression in his eyes. “They’d better hope I’m not around if they try something.”
Connor smiled a brief, humorless smile. “Same here. Now brief me on the setup there.”
* * *
LAYNE WOKE A few hours later, stiff and sore. It was mostly from her awkward position on the couch, but getting slammed around in the Mustang hadn’t helped any.
At least her aunt wasn’t expecting an update on the trip to the police station and wouldn’t have to be told about the Mustang right away. Layne hadn’t wanted to raise her hopes again, so she’d kept it quiet that they were meeting Detective Rivera. She would tell Dee everything, and would also have to ask about the paperwork on the sale of Hudson & Davidson, but it could wait for another day.
An unexpected yip from Toto made Layne jump; she’d forgotten about the German shepherd. “Poor boy, you’re probably thirsty.”
Groaning at her uncooperative body, Layne got up and filled a large bowl with water. Toto lapped a small amount and then she let him outside. He hurriedly did his business in the front yard and returned, settling quietly on the floor by the couch, ears high and alert.
In all honesty, Layne felt relieved that Matt’s security people were watching the house. She wanted to believe that there was nothing suspicious about the cable repairman and that no one had tried to get inside, yet there was a part of her that kept wondering.
She looked down at Toto. There were tons of things to do, but she hadn’t slept well lately. Surely it would be all right if she crawled into bed for another nap.
“Toto, will you wake me up if you need to go outside again?”
He let out a small yip.
“That sounds like yes to me.” Layne climbed the stairs and dropped onto her bed with an exhausted sigh.
* * *
MATT WAS WORKING at his office in the late afternoon when a reminder popped onto his computer about having lunch the next day with his mother and stepfather.
He frowned.
With everything going on he didn’t have time to play “let’s pretend we’re a normal family,” and he especially didn’t want to do it with Peter. Quickly he sent an email to his stepfather’s address—his mother didn’t use computers—apologizing that he couldn’t make it. But not five minutes after he’d sent the message, his private line rang and the caller ID showed it was Peter.
Matt lifted the receiver. “Yes, Pete?”
“Son, I just got your message. Are you sure you can’t come tomorrow? I hope it isn’t because of that business with William’s niece.”
Matt thought about Layne’s face when she’d looked at her damaged Mustang, along with the concern he felt for her safety.
“Actually, it is. Layne and I were nearly run off the road this morn
ing, and it wasn’t an accident.”
“That’s terrible.” Peter sounded appalled. “Are you all right?”
“We’re fine, just some bruises,” Matt said, his irritation growing. Peter didn’t get it. Layne and her investigation weren’t the problem and he couldn’t pretend her away. She was just doing what the police and D.A. and the rest of them should have done back in December when everything had blown up in their faces.
Yet in a way, Matt knew he was mostly angry with himself. He’d been so focused on getting out of Hudson & Davidson and taking over the Eisley Foundation, there was no way to be sure he hadn’t missed something he should have seen.
“Er, yes...naturally I’m glad Ms. McGraw is all right, as well,” Peter assured him hastily.
“I expect to spend the day with her working on the case,” Matt said. “Besides, I’d be lousy company for Mother with so much on my mind.”
“She wouldn’t care, but I’ll explain.”
“Thanks. I’ll probably see you on Wednesday or Thursday, unless you won’t be in this week at all?”
“No, I’ll be there.”
Matt got off quickly, scowling. He’d liked his stepfather a whole lot better before meeting Layne.
* * *
TWO HOURS LATER Matt was in the penthouse, working through a new stack of reports, when the intercom from his private parking garage buzzed.
“It’s me again,” Peter said through the speaker. “Do you have a minute?”
Matt gritted his teeth. His stepfather was the last person he wanted to see, but it wouldn’t be tactful to send him away. “Sure, I was in the middle of paperwork and could use a breather.” He got up to ring Peter in.
A few minutes later his stepfather was sitting on the couch, looking distinctly uncomfortable. Curiously, he handed over a bag from a store called the Carrollton Reader.
“I can’t give Layne an employee roster—it wouldn’t be legal. But I thought she might like to have the Hudson & Davidson Employee Cookbook. It’s being sold in local bookstores to raise money for the employees’ charity drive.”
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