A touch of love

by Conn, Phoebe

  'T just can't understand that kind of thinking. If it can even be classified as thinking rather than a stupid prejudice," he fumed. "If Gardner doesn't have an obstacle, then he'll just build himself one. I'm sorry I mentioned Shelley to him because he's as big a flake as Ricky Vance. He'll probably die a virgin and it'll be his own damn fault."

  Aubrey thought Jesse was taking her assistants' problems too seriously, and then wondered if he weren't creating a convenient diversion rather than expressing whatever doubts he might have about his involvement with her. As for herself, she harbored no doubts about them whatsoever. They were a fine, if not lasting match, and she intended to cherish every second they shared. She reached out for his arm and slid her hand down to his bruised knuckles.

  "It's a shame Gardner lacks your insights, but he'll have to make his own mistakes and learn life's lessons in his own way."

  "But he's not learning," Jesse argued. "He's stuck in his own stagnant pond. Trisha would have gone out with him if he had asked her today, but he didn't ask. Shelley's just as quiet and shy as he is, but he won't pursue her, either. The man's an idiot!"

  "You're not responsible for his choices. Let it go," Aubrey advised softly.

  Knowing she was right, Jesse reluctantly dropped the subject. "How did you get so smart?"

  Aubrey answered as Jesse turned into her driveway. "I learned the hard way. Just like everyone else. There's always the risk of being hurt whenever we care about someone else. Gardner's afraid to take that risk. It's a shame, really, because life doesn't amount to much if we care only about ourselves."

  "Well, I've never been one to choose the safe path," Jesse assured her.

  His eyes were aglow with a mischievous twinkle, but Aubrey knew better than to expect him to put his feelings for her into words. He was definitely a man of action, but she hoped before they parted for the last time, that he would finally hint at love.

  Between her passion for Jesse and her anxiety over meeting Harlan Caine a second time, Aubrey spent very little time sleeping Saturday night. When she awakened late Sunday morning and found Jesse nestled beside her, observing her with an amused smile, she quickly sat up. "From the width of your grin, I'd say you've either thought of a brilliant plan for dealing with Harlan Caine, or you're too distracted to care. Which is it?"

  Jesse reached out to comb her curls off her forehead. "You are most definitely a distraction, but I've not forgotten today's appointment. Because I think it's likely Caine will lay a trap, we're not going to let him lead the way. No matter what he suggests, we're going to veer off in the opposite direction. We're going to keep him between us, so a sniper, if he's hired one, can't shoot us without a grave risk of hitting him. We're also going to rush him through the site, so if he's timed an accident, we'll throw him off schedule."

  "We'll simply be the tourists from hell, is that it?"

  "Yeah. You could say that. There's some risk involved, but we'll already be on our guard around him, and we should be able to sense whatever trouble he might cause us before it happens."

  Frightened rather than reassured, Aubrey tried not to shriek uncontrollably. "Feeling uneasy around Caine, and being fast enough to sense and avoid danger are two entirely different things. I'll be happy to interrupt his conversation, and divert his tour so the route we follow is ours rather than his, but I wish we had a secret weapon or two just in case everything goes wrong."

  Jesse didn't appear the least bit concerned. "The way I took care of Ricky Vance didn't impress you?"

  Jesse's size and strength were not the issue in Aubrey's mind. "Oh, yes, it most certainly did, but the odds that you'll have to use your fists today are extremely remote. Do you remember the Russian defector who was murdered in London with the poison-tipped umbrella? It's the possibility of something that bizarre that scares me, not that Caine will challenge you man to man."

  Jesse gave her a quick kiss, then rolled out of bed. "Maybe you ought to stay here, and then if I don't come back, you can call out the National Guard."

  He was such an impressive sight nude, that Aubrey had a difficult time focusing her attention on his face as he pulled on his Levi's. Then she eyed him with a roving gaze. "It would take more than a National Guard unit to replace you," she murmured in a husky purr.

  Laughing, Jesse crawled back upon her bed. "What a mind you have. Would you keep the troops to entertain you rather than send them out to rescue me?"

  Aubrey struck a sultry pose. "Possibly, so you don't dare go without me."

  Turning serious, Jesse left the bed a second time. "I

  keep a knife in my right boot. Don't block my way if it looks as though I might need to throw it."

  He left her bedroom with a proud swagger, and Aubrey did not waste her breath urging him to be cautious. She prayed Harlan Caine wasn't crazy enough to try to make them disappear on a sunlit afternoon, then wished she knew how to throw a knife, too. She threw back the covers and wondered what she ought to wear. By the time she joined Jesse downstairs, she had become positively inspired.

  "My God. You look like Little Bo Peep."

  Aubrey had caught her curls atop her head and donned a white blouse with puffed sleeves and a bodice richly adorned with tucks and lace. She turned to show off the generous folds of her blue floral skirt, then stamped her feet and clapped her hands in a graceful imitation of a Flamenco dancer. "Close enough. I've worn this outfit to parties whenever I needed a costume. Once I called myself Doris Day, and another time said I was one of the dancers from the musical "Oklahoma!

  "Today, I'm just padding out my silhouette so I'll make a difficult target. I've read men used to fight duels in baggy suits for the same reason. I hope you're planning to wear that gorgeous fringed jacket."

  As usual Aubrey was full of surprises, but Jesse considered her idea too good to pass up. "I hadn't considered that, but now that you've mentioned it, I certainly will."

  He reached out to take her hand and spun her around. "Let's just dance our way through the construction site, and Caine will surely think we're too addled to cause him any problems. Usually all I have to do is use a thick accent and people mistakenly believe I'm not too bright, but I think we ought to go all out today."

  Aubrey relaxed in his arms, but she did not forget their true purpose for a single second. She didn't like to think

  I

  of herself as a tasty morsel, but bait was all she really was. ''Let's decide right now that you'll keep an eye on Caine, and I'll watch for something, anything, peculiar at the site."

  "All right, agreed."

  Neither of them felt like eating, but thinking they should, each drank a glass of juice and ate a piece of toast before they left. Aubrey had a floppy straw hat, and while she wasn't comfortable wearing it in the truck, she plunked it on her head as soon as they reached Harlan Caine's office. On Sunday afternoon, the parking lot was empty except for a cream-colored Cadillac Seville, but she scanned the wooden building, searching for any sign someone else might be lurking nearby.

  "I want you to wait here," Jesse ordered. He dropped his keys into Aubrey's hand. "Hang on to these in case you have to get out of here fast. I'll tell Caine it would have been silly for us both to make the trek to his office to announce we're here, so if he planned to nab us when we arrived, he can't. When I come back with him, I won't agree to riding in his car no matter how politely he offers, but of course, you should appear to go along with his invitation. Now give me a smile."

  "I thought I was smiling."

  "Not quite." Jesse bent down to kiss her, then ambled off toward the stairs leading up to Harlan Caine's office. He turned and waved when he reached them, then disappeared into the stairwell.

  Aubrey had brought the tiny tape recorder again, but couldn't bring herself to record her impressions as yet. She knew Harlan Caine was evil, and she was scared to death. She had gum in her purse and was still unwrapping a piece when Jesse reappeared with the developer.

  "Would either of you like some gum?" sh
e asked.

  Jesse reached out his hand, but Caine just shook his head.

  "It's nice to see you again, Ms. Glenn/' Caine stressed warmly. "We're only a few blocks from the site, and there's no reason to take two cars. Let's go in mine."

  Aubrey shoved the gum into her mouth, and began to chew. She hadn't popped gum since high school, but thought the rude habit inspired now. "That's kind of you," she replied, and started toward the Cadillac.

  "Darlin', you know I won't be comfortable in Mr. Caine's car. I'll either have to fold up my legs, or crush my hat and neither will make for an enjoyable ride. We'll just have to follow in my truck."

  "Suit yourself," Caine offered agreeably. He was dressed in Levis and a pink knit shirt which showed off his muscular build as well as he had intended.

  Aubrey removed her hat, and climbed up into the truck. "Did Caine say anything interesting?" she asked.

  Jesse started his engine, and then slammed the truck into first gear. Without an audience, he had no need to affect a southern accent and used his normal voice. "If by 'interesting' you mean incriminating, no, he didn't. The gum's a nice touch, by the way."

  Aubrey rolled her hat brim in a frantic clutch, and wondered why she had ever thought confronting Harlan Caine was wise. "We should have called the police."

  "I had no idea you were so nervous. I'm really looking forward to this tour. You want to just throw up on my boots, and I'll tell Caine you overdid it at brunch?"

  Aubrey glared at him. Caine had greeted her in a relaxed and friendly manner, but she was far too anxious to drop her guard. "Let's save that one for another time. Even in this frilly blouse I feel as though I have a target painted on my chest."

  "Remember what I said about staying close to Caine?"

  Aubrey nodded. "I remember the plan. I just wish we had an idea of what his is."

  Just as Caine had reported, the construction site was less than a mile away. The wooden frames outline half a dozen buildings clustered around a central courtyard and parking lot. A large sign proclaimed it the future home of the Northridge Fitness Complex. The architect's name and Harlan Caine's were featured in bold script beneath an impressive illustration of the completed project.

  "It doesn't look far enough along for anyone to find the necessary cover to shoot us," Aubrey whispered.

  The plumbing and aluminum air-conditioning ducts were in place, but Jesse agreed they didn't offer much in the way of cover. "Let's just keep our eyes open," he cautioned. He took his time leaving the truck, then swung Aubrey down to her feet. "It sure is a beautiful day for sightseeing," he called to Harlan Caine.

  "That it is. I'm sorry we're not further along in the construction, but things will go quickly from here on. What makes this project unique is its focus. The first building, the largest, is the gym. I'll unlock the security gate, and we can take a closer look at it. The swimming pool is already in."

  Aubrey moved to Caine's right, and nearly struck him in the eye with her elbow as she adjusted her hat. "I'm so sorry. How clumsy of me. Is the gym going to be used by both men and women?"

  Harlan unlocked the padlock and pulled open the gate in the chain link fence. "Yes, of course. It works well to mingle the sexes. If fact, a great many people belong to gyms simply to meet people of the opposite sex rather than to workout seriously. We'll offer everything from aerobic classes to weight training, so we'll have plenty of options for everyone. The beauty of this place is that we'll have shops selling sports equipment, clothing, and shoes in the

  same complex. We'll also have a restaurant which will specialize in delicious, low-fat healthy foods, and a facility for day care which will be staffed by credentialed teachers rather than mere babysitters/'

  His pitch well rehearsed, Harlan moved at an easy pace as they walked toward the gym. "With hours stretching from 6:00 a.m. until midnight, fitness should be within everyone's reach. Not that you two appear to need help in that area, but exercise is vital for staying in shape once you reach your goals/'

  "I couldn't agree more," Aubrey enthused. There was something different about the developer's manner that day, and it took her a moment to realize he was far more relaxed than during their previous meeting. He was wearing a sickeningly sweet cologne, but she refused to be repelled by it and stayed close. As they crossed the construction area, she stepped around a pile of rubble, and took note of a stack of lumber off to their right.

  She heard Jesse ask a question about security for the site, and Harlan Caine's praise for a private security patrol. She turned her back to the men for a moment and concentrated solely on the unfinished buildings. There was the scent of raw wood and trampled earth, mixed with the faint aroma of oil from a nearby generator.

  Traffic was light on the road behind them, and the pervasive atmosphere on the lazy afternoon was tranquil. If Harlan Caine had laid a trap, it wasn't here. And while relief flooded through Aubrey, she felt the sting of frustration, as well. She had told Jesse from the outset that she lacked the requisite skills to solve baffling crimes, but she hated to let him down.

  She smiled shyly as she turned toward him, and he winked at her. The gesture brought an amused chuckle from Caine, but he continued praising what he was certain would be a successful venture. Jesse rushed him through

  the gym and along the other buildings just beginning to take shape.

  "I'm awfully fond of frozen yogurt," Jesse exclaimed. "Is one of these places going to sell some?"

  "Yes. In addition to the restaurant, we'll have a cafe which will carry nutritious snacks, juices, and yogurt. There will be umbrella tables scattered around the courtyard for those who'd like to relax outside."

  Aubrey took note of the hazards at the site. The ground was uneven. Nails were sprinkled over the dirt, and there was an occasional oil slick, but certainly no imminent danger she had overlooked. Still taking care to avoid complacency, she moved away from the men, and then came back, before darting away in another direction. Finally, she reached into her purse and handed Harlan a business card.

  "The mind and body must be in balance for optimum health. Once this wonderful facility opens, it will be a perfect location for one of my creative imagery seminars. Why don't you give me a call, and we'll schedule one. You might make attendance available as a prize to the first fifty or so who join the gym."

  For a brief instant Harlan appeared surprised, then he responded with a near blinding smile. "Excellent idea, Ms. Glenn. I'll keep you in mind."

  "Yes. That's where I belong," Aubrey teased with a gentle sway that sent her full skirt into a twisting swish. "I'm sorry we had to meet under such difficult circumstances, but let's not let that prevent us from having a profitable association in the future."

  The developer grasped her hands between both of his. "Certainly not. I envy you, Jesse. Ms. Glenn is a remarkable woman."

  The instant Caine touched her, Aubrey was filled with a dizzying sense of doom. She quickly broke away and

  grabbed hold ofjesse's arm to steady herself. Jesse was solid and warm, but she feared it would take several minutes for the despair Harlan Caine had caused to fade.

  Jesse backed away with Aubrey in tow. "Yes, she sure is. I hope you'll forgive us for rushing off, but Aubrey has such a full schedule we have to make every spare minute count/'

  "I understand." Harlan walked along with them back to the gate. He quickly reattached the heavy padlock, then bid them a final good-bye and waved as he headed toward his car.

  Jesse kept smiling until the Cadillac Seville pulled away. "I can feel you shaking. Here, just get in the truck, and we'll be home before you know it."

  Aubrey removed her hat before getting in, then waited impatiently for Jesse to climb behind the wheel. "I didn't sense any danger here until Caine touched me. And then, well, I came close to throwing up right there."

  Jesse reached out to give her hand a comforting squeeze. "Caine was different today. He was too confident if you ask me. But the real question is, why? Has he dismissed us
as a threat, or cooked up something diabolical?"

  "I've never touched a murderer before meeting him, so I can't say if the horrible sensation I got when he touched me is from what he's done, or what he intends to do to us. Either way, I don't want to be near him again. But what have we really accomplished today, other than satisfy our curiosity that Caine really is a developer?"

  Jesse shrugged. "I'll grant you this looks like a dead end—"

  "I wish you hadn't used that term."

  "Whatever. It's only a temporary setback. I heard you tell Shelley that there's no seminar scheduled in the coming week. Do you have something else planned?"

  Aubrey's mind refused to consider the coming week. She simply sat and stared out the window as Jesse turned onto the freeway. She had learned so much about herself in recent years, and had reveled in the resulting confidence she had gained. Now the pleasant world she had built for herself was suddenly atilt, and she didn't know how to set it right.

  "Next week?" she finally mumbled.

  "Yes. If you've nothing to do, I thought maybe you'd like to come home with me. It might help us to get away. Perhaps we'll find a new perspective on things."

  "What things?" Aubrey asked, unclear about whether he was referring to Harlan Caine, or to what they meant to each other. When he didn't answer immediately, she turned toward him. In that same second, the truck's rear window was shattered by a single shot, bits of broken glass flying into her hair and spraying Jesse's shoulders.

  Jesse had been struggling to put his feelings into words, and caught off guard, he cursed his own stupidity as he fought to remain in control of the Chevy. He saw a gold Corvette speed by on his right, and turned hard to cross two lanes to give pursuit.

  "Are you all right?" he screamed.

  Aubrey looked down, fully expecting to find her blouse soaked with blood, but it was as snowy white as when she had pulled it from her closet. She raised her hands to her hair, but they came away clean, as well. "I guess so. Are you?"