by Lynsay Sands
She nodded. "I get so tired of men who pretend to want a relationship when all they really want is sex. Especially when that's all I'm interested in," she lied glibly.
"Really?"
Perhaps that had been overdoing it, she thought. The man looked truly shocked. But she'd pledged herself to this now. Leaning against him, she toyed with the top button of Dirk's shirt and continued. "Certainly. Relationships are a pain. Besides, I like my life the way it is. Who needs a man cluttering up things? I just like to cut loose and have some hot, sweaty, dirty sex once in a while." She did her best to look like someone likely to indulge in "dirty sex" and was now grateful that her hair was a mess. Jane was sure she looked dirtier with knotty hair. Makeup might have helped, too.
The thought was lost with a grunt as she found herself suddenly pushed back against the kitchen counter. Dirk was plastered against her like a clingy shirt. The counter at her back pressed into her, hard, and she felt rather like warm soft cheese being squeezed out the sides of a sandwich. It seemed Dirk didn't think she needed makeup.
She wasn't sure if she was glad about that or not. It was good that she didn't have to work too hard to keep his interest; she didn't know if she had it in her to work very hard. She kept hearing his voice say "ditz" in her head. And "all women want my bone."
"Not here," she said as he began to gnaw on her neck. "The others."
"Yes, here. Now. I want you." It seemed he was into the kinky possibility of getting caught. She should have known.
"Oh, sorry! I just thought I'd nip in for some more coffee."
Jane breathed a sigh of relief as Daniel walked into the kitchen. He beamed at them, apparently oblivious of Dirk's scowl. It seemed Dirk liked the possibility of being interrupted, not the actual interrupting. So sad, Jane thought grimly as she went back to rinsing dishes.
Daniel moved to the coffeepot and proved to be in a chatty mood. He stood there sipping his coffee and ignoring Dirk's fulminating glares, yapping away about this and that and sundry. Dirk suffered through it until Tinkle came trotting back into the kitchen, heading straight for his leg. He then muttered he was going outside, circled the island in an effort to confuse and lose the amorous Yorkie, then hurried back out onto the deck. The dog followed in hot pursuit.
"I can't believe she peed on me but seems to love him," Daniel said with disgust as he watched the pair leave.
"Believe it. She tinkles on all the best people. I use her as an initial judge of character. If she likes you, it's a sign for me to look out. If she tinkles on you, I can pretty much count on your being an okay guy."
"Really?" He brightened.
"Really." Jane turned back to the sink and the last few plates.
"I hope I was reading the signals right and you were happy to be rescued." Daniel moved closer so that he could talk softly and not be overheard.
"Oh, yes. I'm happy he's gone. He's a pain."
"Well, he does seem to come on strong--but I can hardly blame the guy." He ran one finger lightly along her arm. "You're a very attractive woman."
Jane sighed impatiently and turned to eye him. "It's the perfume."
Daniel blinked. "What?"
"You're not really attracted to me, Daniel. You're hitting on me because of the truth serum perfume. It has too much pheromone in it," she explained. Then she muttered under her breath, "I really have to shower soon."
Daniel burst out laughing. He stifled his mirth when Jane turned an unamused look on him. Apparently realizing she was a tad testy, he cleared his throat and said, "It isn't the perfume, Jane. It's you."
"Yeah, right." She turned back to the sink with a snort. "Four men have hit on me in the last twenty-four hours. I haven't had four men hit on me in the last two years."
"You aren't normally a field agent, are you?" he asked with amusement.
"No. I work in development. I make weapons and stuff," she admitted.
"Like the perfume."
"Yes." She scowled at him. "But why do you say I'm not normally a field agent? Is it so obvious?"
"It wasn't until you said it was the perfume making men attracted to you. If you were a field agent, you'd be used to it and know it wasn't the perfume."
"It isn't--"
"I suppose you must work neck deep in gadgets in some stuffy little hole in the basement of a building."
She bristled. "It isn't in the basement. And if you're suggesting I never see men, there are some there."
"All of them neck deep in gadgets, as oblivious of the women around them as you are of the men."
"I..." Jane stopped. Okay, so she had been a little oblivious. "So?"
"So. It isn't the perfume," he said gently. Then he got a resigned look." There's something between you and Abel, isn't there?"
Jane's eyes went to his.
Daniel nodded as if she'd answered. "I thought so. Ah, well, he's a lucky man."
Spying movement out of the corner of her eye, Jane turned to see Lydia standing in the doorway.
"Is there any more tea?" she asked.
"In the pot on the table." Jane watched the blonde, wondering how much she'd heard. Then the peal of the doorbell distracted her from that worry. Jane dried her hands on a towel with a sigh. The entire neighborhood seemed determined to visit today.
"Good morning, Jane." Officer Alkars avoided her eyes when she opened the door. He was obviously embarrassed about his runaway tongue last night.
"Good morning, Officer Alkars."
"Colin," he corrected, then glanced down at the papers in his hands. He held them out. "I typed up your statement from last night and brought it over for you to sign--so you wouldn't have to come down to the station."
"Oh. That was nice of you." Jane stepped out of the way for him to enter, closed the door, then followed him into the kitchen. Lydia was just walking back out the French doors.
"You haven't remembered anything else, have you?" Colin asked.
Jane shook her head apologetically. "I don't think there's anything else to remember. I wish there was, but..." She shrugged. "I take it you haven't caught the driver of the car?"
"No. I've managed to cross two more couples off the list, though, and added a couple thousand."
"Added a couple thousand?" Jane asked.
"The gate was open last night. Apparently it was stuck."
"Stuck?" Jane echoed, wondering if Luellen and, Daniel had done that or if it was just luck.
"Yeah." Colin didn't look happy. "I should have realized when the ambulance didn't have to buzz to get in. It's happened before. Maybe half a dozen times. Still, it's pretty damned inconvenient that it happened last night. I have men going door to door asking people about it. I'm hoping to find out if it was stuck open before the accident, or after."
"Oh."
The sound of voices made the sheriff glance toward the open French doors. "Company?"
"Yes. The Braunsteins and the Ensecksis showed up for breakfast."
"They did, huh? I'd like to talk to them. May I?" He gestured toward the door and Jane nodded. There was little else she could do. She followed him out onto the deck.
A few moments were taken up with greetings; then Gran said, "A terrible thing about poor Mr. Parker. Have you any leads yet as to who hit him?"
"Not really. It seems the gate short-circuited last night and was stuck open for some time. It muddies the water some."
"It was probably just some kids out joyriding, then," Dirk commented.
"Maybe. Except they knew that this was the 'Goodinov house.' " He watched Dirk trying to push Tinkle away with one foot, and smiled. "You don't know of any reason why someone might want to harm your assistant, do you?"
Dirk stiffened. "I thought it was an accident. A hit-and-run. Are you suggesting it wasn't?"
"I'm not suggesting anything. I'm just getting all the facts," the policeman said blandly. "It was probably an accident. This road curves around; the driver might not have seen him until they were on top of him." He shrugged and turned to
Daniel and Luellen. "Mr. and Mrs. Braunstein, can you tell me what happened when you left the party last night?"
Jane's gaze shot to the couple, but they looked completely relaxed. Then again, she supposed they had nothing to worry about. Even if Officer Alkars did sort it out, they would hardly get in trouble for doing their job. The death had been an accidental result of Parker's escaping custody.
"We went home to bed," Luellen lied. "Between the move and the party it was a busy day."
Colin nodded, apparently having expected that answer. He glanced at Jane. "I'll be poking around in your trees for the next few minutes."
Jane nodded.
"We should get going." Daniel took Luellen's arm to urge her up.
"I guess we should too." Lydia stood and moved toward the front door. Everyone followed, but the blonde paused in the kitchen, forcing everyone to stop. "Abel, do you and Jane have plans for the day? If not, I was thinking Dirk and I might show you arou--" A knock at the door interrupted her. Everyone glanced curiously toward the sound.
"Excuse me." Jane wove through the crowd to answer it. She found Melanie Johnson on her front step, a plate of brownies in hand.
"Good morning," the woman said with a bright smile.
Jane promptly returned it. "Good morning. Come in." She stepped out of the way and Melanie walked inside, pausing in the kitchen doorway, obviously surprised by the crowd there.
"Oh! I guess everyone beat me here." The author laughed, then turned back to Jane. "Here. This is for you: a little welcome to the neighborhood."
"Oh, thank you." Jane accepted the brownies with a smile. Then her good manners kicked in and she asked, "Would you like some coffee?"
"Oh, no, thanks. Actually, Brian and I were just heading down to the flea market. I only stopped in to see if you wanted to join us."
"The flea market?" Jane echoed with interest. "Yes. They have them every weekend. I thought it would be fun to poke around and see if there are any bargains. But I guess you have company."
"Oh. They were just leaving; that's why we were all standing in the kitchen. But the flea market sounds..." Jane's enthusiastic grin died. It sounded like fun. But she wasn't here to have fun. She'd have to find an excuse. "I'd like to, but Gran..."
Gran what? There was no reason Maggie Spyrus couldn't wheel around a flea market. Abel stepped in to rescue her. "Gran mentioned earlier that she was rather tired after traveling and the party yesterday. She wants to spend a nice quiet day at home."
Good one, Jane thought. But he wasn't finished.
"It's okay, though, Jane. You go have fun with Melanie. I can look after Gran." His gaze went to Dirk and Lydia as he spoke, and Jane knew he'Teally meant that he would watch the monitor. Which was really sweet of him, but it was her responsibility. She would feel too guilty to enjoy the market anyway.
"Why doesn't she just come, too?" Lydia said. "We could all go. The flea market was what I was about to suggest when Melanie knocked."
"That sounds delightful," Gran announced, rolling in from the deck. She'd obviously been listening in.
Jane frowned. If Lydia and Dirk were going to the market, someone really should go with them. But that still left the house to be watched. Unfortunately, Jane realized, she hadn't told Gran that Robert Ensecksi had arrived. Before she could think of a way to stall the plans in motion, Lydia was at the front door.
"Great. It'll be fun. Dirk and I will go get his car and come back. We can ride down in a parade. Come on, Dirk." Lydia urged her brother out. Jane stared after them, something about the blonde's expression bothering her.
"It seems silly to take so many vehicles. I know you need the van to transport Maggie," Melanie said to Jane, then turned to Luellen to say, "But why don't you and Daniel ride with us?"
Luellen smiled. "That would be great."
"Come on, then. We're only two houses over. See you in a few minutes, Jane."
The moment the door closed behind the last of their unexpected guests Jane said, "We have to think up an excuse for why I can't go."
"What? Why ever not?" Gran asked with amazement.
"Because someone has to stay and review the tapes from this morning and watch the house this afternoon."
"But Dirk and Lydia won't be there."
"But the father may be," Jane explained, then quickly related the bits of conversation she'd caught between Dirk and Parker last night and that between Lydia and Dirk afterward. She could tell from Abel's expression that he'd forgotten that conversation, though he had the excuse of the knockout lipstick to blame. She'd barely finished when the doorbell rang again.
"That was fast," she said with exasperation.
"Just tell them I'm tired and you're staying with me," Gran suggested. "Abel can go and--"
"Abel is staying," Abel interrupted. "Jane was up most of the night watching the monitors. I'll stay and watch them today. She deserves a break."
"You're such a good boy, Abel," Gran said.
Jane was surprised by the fondness in the old woman's voice, but she didn't know why. She herself was growing rather fond of him too.
Jane answered the door. It wasn't Melanie or Luellen. Her uncertain gaze slid over a woman dressed in a white blouse and pants. Not a Sonoran, obviously. "Yes?"
"You're much prettier than your picture, Jane." The woman smiled and held out her hand. "I'm your new nurse, Nancy. Y sent me."
Chapter Seventeen
"Lock the door."
Jane felt herself stiffen at the order from the woman who strode past into the house. It seemed Nurse Nancy thought she was in charge of the show now. The problem was, she might be. Jane locked the door and followed her into the kitchen.
"Gran, Abel, this is..."
Jane stopped her introductions when Nurse Nancy held up a hand, for silence. She whipped out what looked like a lighter, but Jane knew it was an RF signal detector to check for bugs. The woman turned in a slow circle. After making a full revolution, she slid the device back in her pocket, reached into her purse, and took out several small acoustic noise generators. She set one on the kitchen counter, one on the hutch, and one on the table. Anyone who might be using listening devices on them would now find it more difficult. She nodded at Jane and said, "Right. It's clean. Talk."
"Okay." She gestured to Gran and tried to perform introductions again. "This is my grandmother, Ma--"
"Maggie Spyrus," Nancy finished dryly. "And this is Abel Andretti. I've read the file, Jane. There's no need for introductions. I want to know what's going on here. How hot is the situation?"
Jane struggled briefly with irritation at the woman's abruptness, then did her best to explain the past few days in a clear and concise manner.
Nurse Nancy didn't appear impressed. She listened with a bland expression, considered everything, then said, "I want you and Abel to go to the market. Maggie will stay here as my cover while I watch the house on the monitors and see what that old guy is up to."
Jane's gaze slid to her grandmother, worry gnawing at the pit of her stomach. She didn't trust this Nancy not to take off into the other end of the house and forget all about the old woman who was her excuse for being there.
"I'll take care of her," the nurse said as if reading Jane's thoughts.
"She doesn't need taking care of," Jane said a little stiffly. "She's mostly independent. She just needs help with...some things."
"I wasn't insinuating she's helpless," Nurse Nancy said coolly. "I would never make the mistake of thinking that. Even in a wheelchair she can probably run circles around me. Maggie Spyrus trained me."
"Yes, I did," Gran said in a neutral tone. Then she smiled at Jane. "I'll be fine. You two go ahead."
Jane relaxed somewhat, but not completely. She was a bit abrupt when she asked, "What is B.L.I.S.S. planning?"
"That's on a need-to-know basis, and you don't need to know."
Jane winced, finding a sudden sympathy for Luellen and Daniel that had been lacking that morning.
"Can you
fetch my cell phone, Janie, dear?" Gran asked sweetly. "I think I left it in my room, and it has Y's private number. She'll tell us--"
"All right," Nancy relented with a scowl. "My orders are to verify that Robert Ensecksi is indeed on the premises, to locate the satellite they intend to use, to find out how much security they have and how far along their plans are. B.L.I.S.S. can then decide whether to infiltrate or just go for a full assault," she announced. Then she added, "I'm the head operative, and you've been demoted. You're just the cover now. So go watch the younger Ensecksis."
Jane opened her mouth to snap a reply, but Abel grabbed her arm and urged her toward the garage. "Let's go."
"Just cover?" Jane snarled as they got into the van. "We were here first!"
"I know." Abel held out his hand. "Keys, please."
Jane handed them over, noticing only then that somehow she'd ended up in the passenger seat. Abel was driving. She didn't care. She was annoyed enough that it was probably better she didn't drive anyway. "I don't like her. She's a supercilious witch."
"I don't like her either. But it isn't just because she's demoted us." Abel started the van. "When she stated her objectives, she didn't mention my sister once. I don't trust her to care about Edie's wellbeing. You know?"
"Yes." Jane bit her lip. As long as she'd headed up this case, she'd been able to control the outcome somewhat. At least, she'd known that Edie's welfare would be taken into account. Nancy didn't seem to have such a concern. What was one life next to stopping world domination?
"It's okay. We're still in the game, whether they think so or not." Abel sounded grim as he pulled out of the garage. Two cars were already waiting on the road at the bottom of the driveway. Lydia and Dirk were in a small red sports car. A black Jeep was the second vehicle, holding the Johnsons and Daniel and Luellen.
Jane was silent as Abel pulled out to follow the Jeep; then she remarked, "Something she said bothered me."
"What?"
"About finding out how much security the Ensecksis have. That hadn't occurred to me. I mean, no one has shown up on the recordings and--"
"We only installed the cameras and microphones yesterday, Jane. More may show up today," he pointed out.
"Yes, but..." She paused again to order her thoughts. "Last night I watched the monitor for a while. Nothing was happening. The Ensecksi house was dark and silent except for Dirk's snoring."
"He snores?" Abel seemed pleased to learn the man had a flaw.