“How was your coffee break, Pat?” Mack inquired.
“Same as usual.”
“Really? Did you run into anyone interesting?”
Pat flinched.
Mack noticed the way Bob was looking at him and he smiled. He was sure Bob suspected that he was holding out on him and didn’t like it one bit. Mack felt a lecture coming on, and knew that Bob was waiting for just the right time to deliver it.
Pat didn’t answer Mack’s question. Once inside the building she headed for the bank of elevators. He reached out to hold the door open. Then he and Bob stepped inside, one on either side of her.
* * *
As Mack and Bob left the Townsend building Bob asked, “Where do you suppose Warren went? According to Connie Parker, his personal assistant, he should have been in his office.”
“I don’t know, but you can be sure of one thing. The man is devious. I’d go so far as to say dangerous. If I’m any judge of people, Nina Townsend didn’t waste any time calling him after we left her house. I’m beginning to wonder if they weren’t in on the killing together.”
“It would seem that a certain amount of circumstantial evidence is pointing in quite a few directions. Don’t you think it was strange that Warren didn’t leave word that he was leaving the office or when he’d be back?”
“Yes, I do. After questioning the Davises further, I believe their story. It looks like Warren’s perfect alibi isn’t going to fly.”
“He’s not the only one involved. We’ve yet to question Mr. Townsend himself. His secretary says he’s due back in the office tomorrow afternoon. He just returned from a business trip in Seattle.”
“I want to be with you when you question him.”
“Mack, I don’t think you—”
“Bob.”
“I thought I’d try. Let me drop you off at your house so you can pick up your car.”
* * *
All afternoon and well into the evening Toni went over every piece of information again and again.
“There has to be something.”
“What did you say, Toni?” Mariah walked over to where Toni sat hunched over her computer.
“Oh, nothing, just talking to myself.”
“You’d better watch that. You know what they say.”
“Don’t worry, I’m not crazy. I haven’t started answering back.”
Mariah glanced at her watch. “I want to check on my mother. She came back home early from visiting with my Uncle Juan. She was supposed to spend two weeks at his house. I called my uncle to find out why she had cut her visit short, but he couldn’t tell me anything. I hope she’s not sick. She didn’t sound like herself when I called her earlier. I’ll be back in a couple of hours if she doesn’t need me.”
“Stay with her as long as you need to, Mariah. I’m not some helpless little baby, you know. I am capable of fending for myself.”
“I know you are, but I hate leaving you here alone.”
“Go!”
With reluctance, Mariah picked up her purse to leave.
“Maybe I should call Mack.”
“No, Mariah. I’ll be all right. Really.”
“You’re sure?”
“Yes, silly, now go.”
Hearing Mariah talk about her mother made Toni think about her own, and how much she missed both her parents.
After an hour Toni called it quits on the computer and walked over to the phone. As she prepared to punch in her parents’ number, she thought she heard a noise and her heart raced. She listened again for the noise, but didn’t hear anything.”Mom—yes. Mom! Can’t you call me Toni? I know you think it doesn’t sound feminine. Is Daddy there? Yes. I miss you, too, Daddy. I don’t know when I’ll be able to come visit. Is retirement agreeing with you and Mama? That’s good. I’ll try. There was a mix up about that. No, it isn’t serious. I’m not their thief, and I’ll prove it to them. No, no, you don’t need to put off your trip. Yes, I want you to go. Okay. Yes, Mom. I love you too. Bye.”
“How touching.”
“Hank!” Toni whirled around and said in a strangled voice, “How did you get in here?”
“I coaxed a window open.”
“How did you find out I was here?”
“I saw you and that luscious female you were with entering the Coffee House from my office window. I’d know that sexy little body of yours anywhere. You were trying to pump Pat Davis for information, weren’t you? I figured the two of you must have had a nice talk. Since I wanted to know where you’d disappeared to, I got in my car and waited for you to come out. Then I followed you.”
“Why didn’t you call the police? I would have thought that it was an opportunity you couldn’t pass up. “
“What? And spoil my chance to sample what you’ve been giving Jessup, and probably Clifford too? Afterward I’ll take pleasure in turning you in.”
“You must be out of your mind,” she said, backing away. “I hate your guts. I’d rather cozy up to a boa constrictor.”
“You acid-tongued little bitch, I’m not giving you a choice. I’m going to make you pay for that insult, and all the other rotten things you’ve ever said to and about me.” He made a grab for her.
Toni tried to escape him, but he caught her. She struggled, kicking and swinging her hands and elbows, trying to disable him the way she had learned to do in her self-defense class, but he knew how to block her, and used his brute strength to subdue her.
He grinned triumphantly. “I’ve waited a long time for this, you haughty bitch. Thought I wasn’t good enough for you, didn’t you?” When he tried to punish her with his overpowering kisses, Toni jerked her head away.
“Looks like you’re going to have to wait a while longer, Warren,” Mack said from the doorway, his tone soft yet deadly.
Recognizing the threat in Mack’s stance, Hank relaxed his grip on Toni.
“Get your hands off her, Warren.” Mack advanced toward them.
“You’re not going to stop me from turning this little thieving murderer over to the police.”
Toni twisted out of Hank’s grip. Mack grabbed him, punched him in the face and then drove his fist into his stomach, forcing him to drop to his knees. Mack pulled his fist back to hit him again.
“That’s enough, Mack, let him go,” came Bob’s firm voice as he entered the room.
Mack hesitated, debating whether to hit Hank again, then released his quarry and went to Toni. “Baby, are you all right?”
“I’m fine, he didn’t hurt me.”
“I suggest we all take a ride to the station.” Bob glanced from Toni to Mack, then to Hank. “We can do this voluntarily or we can do it the hard way. If you want it official I can read you your rights and cuff you. Which is it going to be?” When there was no sign of resistance, he called for assistance with transport. Within minutes they were all on the way to the station.
* * *
Mack and Toni climbed into the backseat of the squad car.
“I could kill Warren for what he tried to do to you,” Mack ground out.
“So could I. He has to be the one who killed Frank Clifford.”
“It seems likely. I hope Bob arrests him because I won’t be responsible—”
“Forget about him. He’s not worth going to jail over.”
“I know you’re right, it’s just that—”
“Believe me, I know how you feel. There have been many times in the past when I’ve wanted to do the same thing. What do you think will happen now, Mack?”
“I don’t know, baby. We’ll have to wait and see.”
“How did you happen to arrive at the beach house, as they say, ‘in the nick of time’?”
“I saw you and Mariah leaving the Coffee House. I intended to ream you both up one side and down the other for ignoring my advice concerning your safety.”
“We didn’t ignore it. I didn’t leave Mariah any choice other than to do as I said.”
“And you expect me to buy that? Look,” he took her
hands in his, “I care about you and I don’t want anything to happen to you, all right?”
“I know, but we weren’t in any danger.”
“Not then, as far as you knew. Warren must have seen you from his office window. That must have been the reason he left his office in such a hurry. Bob and I had intended to question him.”
“You’re right. He did see us from his window. He told me so, which reminds me. Why didn’t you tell me he had been made the temporary CEO?”
“I meant to.”
“He’s been angling for the top seat, and it looks like he finally got his wish.”
“It’ll be a temporary position if he’s convicted of murder.”
“If he’s convicted? That’s a pretty big if.”
“You didn’t do it, and Warren’s alibi doesn’t hold water if Nina Townsend is to be believed. I think there will be an arrest soon.”
“I hope he’s the one arrested, not me.”
“The guilty person will be exposed, one way or another.”
“I want to believe that.”
“Then do,” he said, drawing her closer to his heart.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
“About your sudden departure from the hospital,” Bob said to Toni. He eased a lean hip onto the end of his desk at the station.
“I had to get out of there, the walls were closing in on me.”
“But that’s not the only reason you left, is it?”
“Bob, Toni’s had enough for one night. It’s nearly midnight. She wasn’t trying to escape. If she had she’d have been long gone by now.”
“And you would have no doubt helped her. Mack, may I remind you that this is a murder investigation? I could hold Toni as a material witness. I thought protective custody would ensure her safety during the investigation.”
“You can’t tell me you weren’t seriously considering detaining me on a more substantial charge, can you?”
“I don’t know what would have happened after I questioned you.”
“Come on, Bob, be straight with us,” Mack said in an annoyed voice. “You were as certain as Toni and I were that you were going to arrest her.”
“We’ll never know now. She left the hospital before I could do anything.”
“What now, Bob?” Mack asked.
“The way it looks there’s a chance a judge will say Toni and Hank Warren and possibly Mrs. Townsend were in some way in collusion on the killing. He may suggest detaining Warren and Toni and bringing Mrs. Townsend in for questioning.”
“Bob—”
“I won’t detain Toni, pending the findings from the coroner’s office. We should know something conclusive on cause of death by tomorrow afternoon at the latest. Until then, you can take Toni to your house. Returning to the beach house isn’t a good idea. I’ll have someone drive you back to get your car.”
“You’re going to continue posting your men at my house, I take it?”
“I have to, Mack, you know that.” Bob glanced at Toni, offering her an apology. “I’m sorry.”
“I’m no better off than if I was in jail.”
“What can I tell you?” Bob hunched his shoulders.
“Nothing,” Toni answered tiredly.
“After what you’ve been through, I agree with Mack that you should go home. If you want to file assault charges against Hank Warren you can.”
“I do.”
“Then follow me. I know, you’ll want to come with her, Mack.”
“You got that right.”
* * *
When Toni and Mack arrived at his house, she turned to him and smiled. “I’m glad you came to the beach house when you did.”
“Me too. By the way, where’s my sister? She was supposed to be with you.”
“She called your uncle earlier and found out that your mother had cut short her visit with them. After talking with your mother, Mariah was worried that she might not be feeling well or that something was wrong.”
“I’d better call and find out what’s going on. I don’t want Mariah going to the beach house alone.”
Mack reached for the phone to call his mother. As he spoke, Toni noted the concern in his face. He was a magnificent specimen of manhood and as sexy as all get out. In other words, as Pat had once said about him, he was a hunk. She knew he cared about her, but did he actually love her? She knew he desired her, but desire wasn’t love. They were good in bed, but being compatible physically didn’t insure that it was love. Toni didn’t want to think Mack had only fallen into lust when she had fallen in love.
“Share the load.”
“What?” Toni said, jolted out of her momentary reverie.
“There’s something heavy preying on your mind, and I don’t think it has anything to do with the situation you’re in.”
“How’s your mother?”
Mack grinned. “Changing the subject? All right, you’re obviously not ready to tell me what’s bothering you. My mother is fine. She just wanted to get back home to have a certain Latin gentleman call on her, according to what Mariah said.”
“From what I’ve heard about your mother, she deserves a good man in her life.”
“I see that Mariah’s been flapping her gums again.” He laughed. “The man who marries her will have his hands full.”
“He’ll have someone special.”
“Like I have.”
“Mack—”
“I happen to love you very much, Antonia Carlton.”
Toni’s heart leapt into her throat at Mack’s declaration. She’d hoped for this.
“Aren’t you going to say anything, sweet Toni?”
“I love you, Mack, with all my heart.”
“I knew that.”
“You did? When did you realize that you loved me?”
“From the moment you opened your eyes after you’d fainted in my office.”
“But you never said—”
“I was waiting for the right moment, but it never came and now—”
“I’ll probably go to prison.”
“No, you won’t,” he said vehemently.
“Mack, how do we know that?”
“You’re innocent of both charges, and we’re going to prove it.”
Toni took his hand in hers. “Mariah was right.”
“About what?”
“She said I was lucky that I had you in my corner.”
“I always knew that sister of mine had a good head on her shoulders. Now,” he said pulling Toni to her feet, “I’d like to celebrate.”
“And how do you propose doing that.”
“By having a love festival.”
Toni frowned in confusion. “A what?”
“Festival. And I don’t mean with food.”
“Then what?” She flashed him her most innocent smile.
“Come on and let me show you.”
Mack lifted Toni into his arms and carried her into his bedroom. He slowly undressed her, taking in every nuance of her softly curving body.
“You’re beautiful, Toni.”
“I’m glad you think so.” She gasped when his fingers found her nipple and traced a circle around the aureole.
“I love you,” he said softly and kissed her deeply.
When she felt Mack’s hand sear a path down her abdomen and onto her thigh, Toni thought that her legs would collapse and she eased his hand away. And with trembling fingers she helped Mack out of his clothes. At last he stood magnificently naked before her. A sigh left her lips at the sight of him.
“I want you, Mack, and I can’t wait,” Toni said, her voice husky with passion.
“As I want you. And you don’t have to wait, baby.”
Mack lifted her onto the bed and joined her. He worshiped her body with his hands, his mouth, his mind and his heart.
Toni did the same, reveling in the taste of his mouth and the touch of his fingers on her flesh. She moaned her pleasure when he moved to unite them.
Mack found himself losing control and spiraling
into oblivion, taking Toni with him.
* * *
Later, as they lay in each other’s arms, Toni noticed how quiet Mack had become.
“What is it?”
“You’ve restored me,” he said in an awed voice.
“Restored you? How?”
“I never thought I’d fall again.”
“In love, you mean?” She snuggled closer.
A look of tender love came into his eyes. “Yes.” He kissed her forehead. “Seven years ago I thought I’d fallen in love. Her name was Linda Hutton. She was involved in one of the cases I was working on, and she used my feelings for her to get me to help her escape punishment.”
“Is she the reason you left the police department?”
“Yes. You see, I convinced the D. A. that she wasn’t an integral part of a scam to swindle old people out of their property, that she was merely an unwitting accomplice. You can’t know how badly I felt when I found out she had been lying to me, using me all along. I vowed to never trust another woman. My sister and mother and Rachel being the only exceptions.
“I couldn’t face anyone I knew for a long time. As an officer of the law it was my job to protect and serve the people. Instead I let them, and myself, down.” Mack paused, reaching inside himself to compose his emotions. “I resigned from the department and got a degree in finance, specializing in financial investigations. Then I opened my own business.”
“Where do I stand in your scheme of things?”
“You’re now at the top of my list of trusted women, Toni.”
“Oh, Mack. You don’t know what it means to me to hear you say that. I won’t betray your trust. I am innocent, you know.”
“I believe you are.”
She lovingly caressed his cheek. “I also have a confession to make. You’ve restored my faith in love. Before I met you I had no one special in my life. I purposely let my work become my panacea. It worked pretty well most of the time, but there were times when I longed for that special closeness my parents share. I wanted to one day have what they have. I knew I’d recognize that special kind of love once I found it. And I vowed to never let it get away from me. I have that with you, Mackinsey Jessup.”
His warm affectionate smile enveloped her in his spell.
“I guess that means that you don’t need further proof?”
The Perfect Frame Page 18