Fatal Charm
Aimée Thurlo

www.millsandboon.co.uk

To Karen Fiss—There are no bats in her belfry, but there are most certainly rats in her basement.

CAST OF CHARACTERS

Amanda Vila—She was not only risking her heart. She was risking all she held dear.

Tony Ramos—His charm could be fatal, in more ways than one.

Ricky Biddle—He was always there to help whenever there was trouble.

Raymond Atcitty—Loyalty and duty were more than words. But how far would he go to protect a friend?

Ron Vila—He traded love for money, but what else would he risk?

Katrina Clark—She’d protect her boss’s interests one way or another.

Bernice Goldman—She loved Amanda like a daughter and would protect her at all costs.

Contents

Prologue

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Prologue

Lynn Ramos heard the screen door slam behind her as she walked outside onto the moonlit porch. She’d meant to adjust that annoying spring latch many times, but had never quite gotten around to it. Quickly, she glanced down at the soft bundle in her arms. The baby stirred, yawned without opening her eyes, then drifted back to sleep. Lynn smiled, relieved. Six-month-old Carmen could sleep through most anything.

Lynn drew her daughter closer, protecting her from the winter evening as she walked around the Bureau sedan to their own car. She fastened the baby into the car seat, then glanced back through the kitchen window. Tony was still on the phone. Everything in their lives always seemed to take a distant second to his career in the FBI. As usual, that had been the focus of their argument tonight.

Lynn drove down the narrow two-lane highway, tears streaming down her face. She wondered if Tony had even noticed she’d left. The thought that he might not have noticed cut deeply. She stared ahead stubbornly, turning onto the mountain road that led toward her sister’s house.

As she followed the sharp curve in the road, she heard something shift on the floor of the car. Lynn glanced down for an instant and saw a paper sack jutting out from beneath the front passenger’s seat. Without taking her eyes off the road, she reached down. As she picked it up, a small stuffed raccoon fell out of the sack, tumbling onto the seat beside her.

Lynn recognized the toy she’d meant to pick up for the baby. Her throat tightened as she realized Tony had made time to go by Toy Mart and buy it for Carmen. A rush of warmth swept over her, dissipating her anger. Tony’s dedication to his job was infuriating at times but, in her heart, she knew that he loved her and Carmen deeply.

Lynn took a deep breath and let it out slowly. Her hair-trigger temper had certainly been working overtime tonight. What on earth had she been thinking? She watched the snow flurries pile up on her windshield, then get swept to the side as the wipers kept up their steady rhythm. She should have never gone out on a night like this.

Hearing the soft gurgling coming from Carmen, she turned up the heater a click, making sure the car stayed warm enough for the baby.

“Okay, little girl.” She smiled, looking at her daughter in the rearview mirror. “Mom blew a gasket, as usual, but we’re going back home now.”

Lynn began searching for a place to turn the car around. Narrow shoulders plagued this mountain highway east of Santa Fe. She slowed down, pumping the brakes carefully on the icy road as she rounded a switchback curve, careful to avoid picking up more speed than was safe for this stretch of pavement.

Suddenly, out of the gloom ahead she saw a pair of blinding headlights coming straight at her. The driver was on the wrong side of the road!

Lynn pulled the wheel hard to the right, barely missing the other car as it shot by. She fought the steering wheel and brake, trying to bring her car back under control on the glaring ice covering the road.

Lynn screamed as the car skidded off the pavement and hurtled down the hillside into a dark abyss. Something smashed against the windshield, and she was instantly covered with chunks of glass. The car plunged into a steep ravine, flipping end over end.

As the car finally came to a stop, Lynn struggled to hold on to consciousness, but it was a losing battle. One by one, her senses began to fail. First, she couldn’t feel anything, not even the cold. Then silence enveloped her as if her ears were stuffed with cotton. As her sight gave way, surrounding her with a soupy blackness, she tried to reach out and touch the car and panicked as she realized her arm wouldn’t move.

Then, suddenly, the darkness lifted, and a sense of peace filled her. There was no reason to fear. Her child would be all right. Freed, she surrendered to the light.

* * *

FLASHLIGHT IN HAND, the solitary man staggered drunkenly down the snow-covered slope toward the car. What had he done? The cold wind stung his face, sobering him up.

Though he didn’t want to climb down into the arroyo, something compelled him to keep going. He slowed down, trying to stay on his feet, but the going was icy and rough, and he kept slipping and falling.

If there really was a hell, he was sure the Almighty had reserved a special spot for him. He should never have taken that first drink tonight, much less the fourth. Or was it fifth? He knew better. But it was too late to think about that now. He had to concentrate on damage control.

Maybe there was still a way for him to get out of this mess without losing everything. One thing was clear, there was no way he could report the accident. The police would smell the whiskey on his breath three miles away. They’d jail him, and he’d be ruined.

As a sliver of moonlight edged out from behind the clouds, he saw the car clearly for the first time. Dear God, nobody could have survived that! It was right side up, but the top was caved in like a soda can that had been stomped by a heavy boot.

He turned around, ready to climb back out, when he heard a soft mewling cry. A cat? He glanced around, trying to clear his thinking, but his thoughts seemed strangled by the thick cobwebs the liquor had left behind. He stood motionless and listened, still not wanting to approach the car. If the driver, by some miracle, was still alive, he’d phone in and report the accident anonymously.

Hearing the soft cry again, he forced himself to go closer to the wreck. The body of the driver was slumped to the right of the steering wheel at an odd angle. One look told him she was dead.

His attention shifted as he heard the cry again. It was coming from the back seat. Aiming the flashlight beam, he saw an infant in a car seat. An embroidered blanket lay on the floor beside her. The child’s pink-and-white sleeper was covered with tiny cubes of glass, but she appeared unharmed, except for a few slight scratches on her face.

His gut tightened. This was the last thing he needed. Unless he got the kid out of there, she wouldn’t have a chance. The cold would finish what the accident had started. He went to the rear door, grabbed the handle with both gloved hands, and pulled hard. His feet slipped on the frozen ground, sending him sprawling backward. He fell hard into the snow.

All he wanted to do was get out of this place, but he couldn’t leave the baby. He staggered back to the door and stared at the child inside. The baby’s gaze seemed focused on the beam of his flashlight, and strangely enough, she’d stopped crying.

He glanced around. No help was in sight; it was up to him. The driver was dead, and the snow was intensifying. It would be hours before help could arrive. What the hell was he going to do?

Almost as if guessing his thoughts, the baby reached out with one tiny hand, her fingers opening and closing, seeking contact. He watched her, avoiding her touch, trying to decide on a course of action. As if suddenly impatient, the baby let out a long wail.

“Shut up, kid.” He held his hands over his ears. His head felt as if it were exploding, and the high-pitched crying was torture. Why did this have to happen to him?

Then abruptly the child stopped crying and stared at him, expressionless. That scared him into action. He pulled at the broken window and managed to break away most of the remaining glass. As he brushed the baby’s face with one finger, he realized the child was ice-cold. Leaning through the opening, he quickly freed her from the car seat.

The infant made a soft, gurgling sound and then smiled.

“You’re a smart little cookie, aren’t you?” he muttered, picking her up and maneuvering her through the window.

The child’s eyes closed, but he knew she’d be okay. All she needed right now was to get warm. The heater in his car would take care of the problem. His gaze drifted to the body of the woman behind the wheel. He couldn’t help her, but he’d take care of her baby. He owed her that much.

He reached into the car one last time for the baby’s blanket and wrapped it around her. Then he placed the child inside the folds of his jacket and began to plow back up the hill, ignoring the torrent of snow stinging his eyes. There was only one way for him to protect himself and still keep the kid safe. He knew exactly what to do, and he would do it.

Chapter One

May—Three years later

Amanda Vila stood by her window, watching the children playing outside in the shade of the large cottonwood. The bells of St. Francis Cathedral, in the heart of Santa Fe, mingled with the happy squeals and laughter of the preschoolers outside.

Starting this day-care center had taken all Amanda’s savings, and then some. But it had been worth it. She was finally back home, her business was thriving, and for the first time in over a year, she felt on top of the world.

She watched her own daughter outside, playing with the other children under the watchful eyes of her staff. She was proud of Los Tesoros Day School. When she assured parents that her day-care center was the best around, she knew it was no idle boast. She’d worked hard to make it a place she felt safe entrusting with her own treasured child.

Hearing her door open, Amanda turned around just as her assistant and friend, Bernice Goldman, came into the room.

Bernice was fifty-five. Her salt-and-pepper hair made her look slightly older, but she refused to color it, stubbornly maintaining she’d earned each and every one of her gray hairs. Life hadn’t always been kind to Bernice, Amanda knew. A lifetime of struggles had imprinted a certain harshness on her features, but that always disappeared in a burst of warmth the second she smiled.

“Mail came,” Bernice said. “All of it is routine, except this,” she added, placing a padded envelope on Amanda’s desk. “It was marked Personal.”

Amanda glanced at the hand-lettered envelope, noting there was no return address. “Strange,” she said and started removing the staples that sealed the edge. “I hate things like this that come out of nowhere. I’m always certain it’s going to be bad news.”

“I’ve known you all your life. I even baby-sat you when you were your daughter’s age. You’re pretty tough. You’ll handle whatever life throws at you.”

Amanda extracted a small white sheet of paper and a cardboard box, the kind inexpensive jewelry comes in. Scanning the typed note quickly, she glanced up. “We’ve got trouble, all right,” she said, brushing back a strand of her shoulder-length brown hair. “You know Tony Ramos?”

“The guy who got fired from the FBI after his daughter was kidnapped a few years back?” Seeing Amanda nod, Bernice shrugged. “Of course. Everyone does. He’s some sort of self-appointed vigilante nowadays. Wasn’t he thrown in jail recently?”

“He’s been released. He must have come by here last week,” Amanda said. “I saw the updated computer-generated image of his daughter on our bulletin board, which means he found a way to get in again. You’d think he’d understand why I left word for him to simply mail the flyers and not drop them by in person. We can’t have someone like him coming around when children are here. Parents would get worried. Let’s face it, he was fired from the Bureau for excessive force, and now with that arrest for brawling in a bar, it’s obvious he’s living on the edge. His reputation is gone.”

“Maybe it’s just a matter of his wanting to pin it up there himself to make sure it’s done,” Bernice suggested. “He goes to all the area day-care centers personally, I’m told.”

“I only wish I knew how he’s getting in here. Our staff categorically denies helping him, and I believe them. On the other hand, there are never any signs of a break-in, so that’s not the answer.” Amanda sighed. “Now I’ve got to contact him. Fate’s having a laugh at my expense. Can you bring me his latest flyer?”

Bernice left the office and came back a moment later. “Here it is. What’s going on?”

“I can’t tell you yet, but I will as soon as I can. Count on it.”

Amanda waited until Bernice had left her office, then dialed Tony Ramos’s number. Ramos’s voice was gruff. From the sound of it, she was willing to bet she’d awakened him even though it was almost noon.

Amanda quickly told him about the packet she’d just received. “The note says they have news of your child, and I was to contact you but say nothing to the police. That’s exactly what I’ve done so far. I figured you’d want to handle things yourself.”

“Correct assumption.” His voice had changed and was now completely alert. “I’ll handle it my own way. Anything else?”

“There’s a small box that came in the envelope. Shall I open it?”

“No, I’ll take care of that. I’m on my way over now,” he said.

“No. Let me meet you elsewhere.” Amanda’s thoughts were racing. Trouble seemed to follow Tony Ramos, and her business didn’t need his kind of publicity. “I’ll meet you in the little park north of the cathedral. How much time do you need?”

“Fifteen minutes.”

“I’ll be there.”

Amanda leaned back in the chair, trying to collect her thoughts. Why was she being used to contact Ramos? The only connection between them that she could think of was the flyer that he left here every few months. But he left an identical one at every other day-care center in the city, as well as many other places. Perhaps none of the other day-care centers could match the reputation for excellence hers had acquired. Or maybe it was just that hers was the largest ad in the Yellow Pages. At this point, it was just too hard to venture any reliable guesses.

Ten minutes later, Amanda picked up the envelope on her desk. As she started toward the door, the buzzer on her desk sounded. Ignoring it, she continued out to the reception area. “Whoever it is will have to wait, Bernice. I’ve got to leave right now.”

“No, you don’t. I’ve come to you,” a deep, masculine voice said.

Amanda saw the tall, dark-haired man stride around Bernice and come toward her. Nothing could have prepared her for the raw, muscled masculinity and vitality this man exuded when seen up close. For a moment, all she could do was stare.

“I was about to tell you,” Bernice said, “that Mr. Ramos had arrived.”

“We should talk privately,” Ramos said, then, maneuvering past Amanda, led the way into her office.

As Amanda watched, Tony stalked across the room and sat in the chair across from her desk. Anger and disbelief mingled disturbingly inside her. With great deliberation, Amanda walked around to face him but didn’t sit down. Trying to look as intimidating and commanding as he did, she leaned against her desk and regarded him boldly.

Instinct told her that he was a man who was used to getting his way. He lived in a world of violence where his wits and his fists were his two best allies. Amanda couldn’t afford to let him get the upper hand. She fixed him with an unblinking glare, and he gave her an arrogant half smile, as if he knew precisely what she was doing. Every inch of her body began to tingle. She felt as if lightning were about to strike.

“Mr. Ramos.” She forced herself to use that special tone she’d found particularly effective against people who challenged her authority.

“Please, sit down and relax,” he said cordially. “I’m really quite harmless.” Ramos’s voice was surprisingly soft. “You said you had something for me?”

“Mr. Ramos, I asked you specifically not to come here.”

“I was in the area, and I wanted to save your valuable time,” he countered evenly.

“I appreciate that, but you should have respected my position.” She slid the padded envelope over to him. “Here’s what arrived in our mail today.”

Ramos read the note, then pulled out the small package inside the envelope. As he opened the box, an infant-size gold ID bracelet slipped out. His hand shook briefly, then stopped.

The tiny bracelet had affected him, but he brought himself under control in the blink of an eye. Amanda couldn’t help wondering what kind of life would require that a man develop such complete emotional control.

“Exactly when did you get this?” His gaze was shuttered as he glanced up, his voice low and steady.

“Less than half an hour ago. I called you right after I read the note.” Amanda looked away from the coal black eyes that were now trained on her. Ramos’s attention made her feel nervous and self-conscious. She glanced back at him furtively, noting the way his shirt clung to his broad shoulders, accentuating his muscular build. Sensual awareness flickered to life within her. The unexpected reaction took her by complete surprise. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d felt the primitive surge of desire. She suppressed it quickly. This kind of hormonal rush was the last thing she needed now.

“Has anyone called you and followed up on the note since we spoke? I expect someone will call to confirm whether or not you received it.”

“I haven’t heard from anyone.” She could feel the anger he kept in check with his iron will. She suspected it wouldn’t take much to have it come crashing to the surface.

He studied the closed box. “This bracelet belonged to my daughter. I recognize the little nick over the letter C. My father inscribed it for her. His hands shook at the time. Parkinson’s,” he added, glancing up. His gaze drifted down her body, lingering for a moment on her throat, then her breasts, searching and gaining knowledge far too intimate for strangers.

On impulse, Amanda used the silence stretching out between them to study him as thoroughly as he’d done her. She had to fight not to smile when she saw the glimmer of surprise on his face.

Ramos quickly drew back into himself, growing somber. “After all these years, the kidnappers finally get in touch. But the real bottom line is that they’ve chosen to contact me through you. Why do you think that is?”

“Maybe they want someone less...shall we say, unpredictable to deal with? I’m known in this town and have a very solid reputation as a businessperson and an active citizen.”

“Meaning I don’t.” He smiled, but it never reached his eyes.

Amanda shrugged. “You asked for a guess. I gave you one.”

Tony’s eyes were as dark as a summer storm. Finally he moved over to the window and glanced at the children playing outside. “I hope you’re playing straight with me, Amanda.” His tone made his words half prayer, half threat.

The way he said her name made a shiver course up her spine. “I am.” An unspoken challenge charged the air between them. She tried to appear in control, but her heart was racing with excitement. “I’ve told you all I know.”

“Good, because I can be very unpleasant when someone crosses me.” Ramos turned and trapped her gaze. “Given a choice, that’s not the way I’d like things to be between you and me.”

Amanda forced herself to remain very still. “Tell me, Mr. Ramos, which part of that was a threat, the first or the second?”

The corners of his mouth twitched, but he didn’t crack a smile. “You don’t rattle easily.”

“I can’t afford that luxury. I run a day-care center filled with toddlers,” she said, reminding herself to stay cool. Despite his charm and soft voice, he was a man of violence. She couldn’t allow herself to forget that.

“I wish I could tell you that I know precisely what being around toddlers is like, but I can’t. My child is gone, and that’s a situation I intend to rectify, no matter who I have to walk over or how long it takes.”

Amanda heard, as well as felt, the steel-hard determination in his voice. She was a good judge of character and, right now, all her instincts were telling her that Ramos meant trouble. He would do whatever was necessary to get his child back, regardless of the consequences. She could understand that, even support it, but she had to make sure he didn’t run roughshod over her and jeopardize everything she valued in the process.

Tony eased the note and the box back into the envelope and picked it up by the edges. “I’ll be back after I run this by a few of my sources.”

“No, you won’t. You can call me here, but I do not want you coming by again. Is that clear? I won’t refuse to help you, though your reputation precedes you. However, I cannot afford to have the parents of the children in my care getting nervous.”

“The more people I make nervous, the sooner I get my little girl back,” he said coldly.

After Tony left, the room felt oddly empty. His intensity and rough manner should have repelled her, yet she couldn’t remember ever feeling so drawn to a man. Her body was still trembling with excitement. Tony Ramos exuded an aura of supercharged maleness that practically took her breath away.

Bernice knocked and came into the office without a pause. “Well?”

“He’s a bit cool and very forceful, but not as bad as his reputation makes him out to be. But then again, in his profession, I’m sure he’s learned to wear many masks. In this particular case, too, he’s fighting to get his child back. I’m sure he’s prepared to become whatever he needs to be to get her back. If Hope was taken from me, I know I would.”

Bernice gazed at her speculatively. “I know a bit about him, but it’s mostly from newspapers and gossip I’ve picked up. Are you interested?”

Amanda nodded.

“His wife was involved in a terrible accident three years ago, killed almost instantly. Ramos was the one who found her, but by the time he reached the accident site, his daughter had already been taken. A massive search got underway, but the accident took place during a winter storm so there were almost no clues. Heavy snowfall had obscured the tracks of the person who took his child.”

“He lost his wife and daughter at the same time?” Amanda’s stomach tied itself in knots. “That certainly explains a lot about him.”

“But not everything. There have been questions about Tony Ramos for a long time. He’s been more or less unemployed for the past three years, but his style of living hasn’t noticeably changed. He’s never short of money, it seems. And he hangs out with real scum—crooks and cutthroats of all sorts.” Bernice exhaled softly. “He comes in a nice package, but he’s bad news from what I’ve heard.”

“I don’t doubt it for a second. I still feel for him, though. What mother wouldn’t? I’ll do what I can to help, but I’ve got my own daughter to think about. I intend to keep my association with Tony Ramos as brief as I can—and as far from Hope as possible.”

Bernice stood as the phone on Amanda’s desk began to ring. “Amanda, one more thing. I’m not sure exactly what’s going on here, but I gather it has something to do with his daughter. If that’s the case, I wouldn’t wait for him to call the police if I were you. He may not, and you need to protect the center on this. If the newspapers ever get hold of this story, you’re going to want it known that you took all the proper steps.”

* * *

THE REST OF THE AFTERNOON went by with agonizing slowness. Amanda had expected to get a call from the police. The fact that none came made her think Bernice had been right to suspect Tony wouldn’t tell them. Uneasiness spread through her and she began to regret her agreement to let him handle things his own way. Tony was obviously unafraid to take the law into his own hands. The thought of him acting on his own, answering to no one and perhaps giving in to his violent side, frightened her. Foreknowledge meant she’d share responsibility for his actions.

Amanda picked up the phone ready to call the police, then set it back down. She wanted to give him a chance to play it his way. Any parent searching for his or her child deserved that much. More important, at this point, he was only checking with his sources. The police certainly hadn’t helped him much, judging by the results. Her gaze fell on the photo of Hope on her desk. She couldn’t even imagine being without her daughter, living in that uncertain limbo Tony had dwelt in all this time. She’d give him a chance, but if by tonight she hadn’t heard from the police, then she’d step in.

Several more hours crept by before Amanda finally cleared her desk, ready to leave. It was almost five, time to pick up Hope in the nursery and go home. The time she spent with her daughter in the evenings was her favorite part of the day, and thanks to Bernice, she now had even more time. Bernice had taken over the job of staying late and locking up after all the children were gone.

Amanda stepped into the outer office and spoke to the older woman. “Hope and I will be going now. We’ll see you tomorrow.” As she reached the door, the telephone rang. Amanda stopped and waited, wondering if the police had finally decided to call.

“It’s for you,” Bernice said, putting the caller on hold. “The voice sounds funny somehow. It’s a woman, I can tell that much, but she won’t identify herself. She says it’s urgent. I tried to put her off, but she says she knows you’re still here.”

“I’ll take it in my office.” Puzzled, Amanda returned to her desk and reached for the phone, identifying herself quickly.

“I’m the one who sent you the bracelet,” the woman answered, her voice pitched higher than ordinary, like an audio tape playing at the wrong speed. “Now listen carefully, because I won’t be on long. Tell Ramos I know where his kid is. I will give him the information, but first I have certain chores for him. He can start by going to the FBI office here in town and getting a copy of the file on the Henderson case.”

“But he’s not an agent anymore,” Amanda countered, wondering how any local person could be unaware of that, as she wrote the woman’s demands down on a notepad.

“He’s still got connections. He’ll manage. Just tell him he’s got two days to meet my first demand, or he can kiss his kid goodbye forever.”

“Why don’t you deal directly with him? Why are you telling me?”

“You’re our ace in the hole in case we need someone to put a leash on Ramos. You see, we know all about you, too, Ms. Vila. You’re the perfect choice, because you have a secret...and something to lose.”

“What do you mean?” Amanda silently denied the words had any connection to her life as she struggled to understand the woman, whose strange voice was clipped and harsh, probably because it was being electronically disguised.

“We know your daughter was adopted, and that you’ve tried to keep that from everyone. If you don’t do whatever we say, we’ll make sure you regret it. We can alter adoption records, even make sure that the age-progression software Ramos is using starts producing an image that looks just like your kid. We can set it up so that there’ll be no doubt in his mind that she’s his little girl. Once he’s convinced, it won’t matter what anyone else thinks or says. Official approval or not, you know he’ll stop at nothing to take her away from you.”

That threat had the ring of truth. Having met Tony, Amanda couldn’t deny it. She felt her blood turn to ice. “Breaking into the state’s computers can’t be easy. How do I know this isn’t just some kind of bluff?”

“Check it out. We’ve set up a little demonstration. There is no longer any computerized record of your daughter’s adoption. We’ve eliminated it from the data banks completely.”

“I still have the original documents,” Amanda answered, unable to suppress the fear that came through in her voice.

“Nothing exists in the computer’s memory to back them up. Ramos could claim they were phony.”

“You’ve obviously been digging deeply into my life. Why? What do you want from me?”

“Just do what you’re told and don’t go to the police, not unless you want to be responsible for the death of his child, and the loss of your own. And don’t even think about running. If you do, we’ll make sure Ramos tracks you down wherever you go. In the end, we’d be off the hook, he’d have your child, and you’d have nothing.”

“Blood tests would prove my daughter isn’t his,” Amanda argued back angrily.

“And not yours, either. Are you willing to give up the girl to a welfare agency while the courts decide the case? That could take months, years maybe. I’ll bet the press would like to know about it, too. Imagine how a story like this could affect your business. Who’d trust an accused baby snatcher with their own precious darlings?”

“You’re bluffing,” Amanda uttered in disbelief.

“Check the state computer for the adoption records if you doubt us. We’re very capable of backing up our threats.” The line went dead.

Bernice walked into the office and gave Amanda a startled look. “You’re white as a sheet! What’s going on?”

Amanda’s hand shook as she hung up. “Does your friend still work for Social Services?” Amanda asked.

“Sure. She’s been there for years.”

“I need a favor. I was hoping to keep this story from you. In this situation, knowledge is dangerous, but I need your help and you have a right to know.” After telling her friend about the kidnapper’s threat, she dropped back into her chair.

“How could they know Hope was adopted? The only ones who knew were Ron, his sister, you and I, and a few clerical workers at the agency who handled the adoption. If I remember correctly, Ron made you promise never to tell anyone. He was always afraid that the child’s father would return to harass his sister about giving up Hope for adoption. Did you change your mind and confide in anyone else over the years?”

Amanda shook her head. “Of course not. I would never have risked it.”

“Maybe the birth father is behind this scam, or at least in league with the people responsible. Somebody obviously talked to the woman who called.”

“Maybe. First things first, though. Get hold of your friend and have her search the computers. See if the adoption record is still there. I have to know if it’s just a bluff.”

Bernice glanced at her watch. “I may still catch her. She usually works late. I’ll be back in a minute.”

Amanda sat down to wait, then, on impulse, decided to call Ron. She’d need to know if he’d told anyone about the adoption, and also to find out all she could about Hope’s birth father. It would definitely be tricky. She couldn’t afford to tip her hand. If Ron knew the whole story, it was possible he would insist on getting involved. Yet she knew he’d be doing it out of pride—not love for his daughter—and that meant he would be willing to take the kind of risks she’d never condone. He’d likely complicate things rather than solve them.

Gathering her courage, she dialed her ex-husband’s office. Katrina, his longtime paralegal assistant and secretary, answered the phone.

“Hello, Katrina? This is Amanda. I’d like to speak to Ron, please. It’s important.”

“He’s with a client, Amanda. I’ll take your number and have Mr. Vila return your call.” Katrina was cold and excessively polite, as she had been ever since the divorce. She made it a point to be difficult whenever Amanda called. Katrina was undoubtedly acting on Ron’s instructions.

“Sorry, Katrina, this can’t wait. Tell Ron it’s about Hope, but it doesn’t concern his money or his time. That should put his mind at ease.” Amanda couldn’t understand why Katrina was so loyal to Ron. It certainly wasn’t because of a romantic attachment. In two years of marriage, Ron had proven to be the most unemotional man Amanda had ever known.

Katrina put her on hold without another word. After five minutes, just when Amanda was getting really angry, Ron picked up the line. As usual, Ron seemed more annoyed than pleased to hear from her. After a curt greeting, he urged her to get to the point.

“I need to get in touch with your sister,” Amanda said, “but I don’t have her telephone number.”

“Why do you want to talk to Louise?”

“Hope has a little friend who’s adopted, so Hope is now filled with questions of her own. I thought this was the perfect time to start introducing Hope to the idea that she’s adopted, too. But I don’t want to do it if there are still problems with her birth father.”

“Louise hasn’t heard from that guy in years. In fact, last Christmas when I saw her, she said he’d moved to Mexico. Louise is married now, so don’t go calling her and dredging up the past. Her husband doesn’t know about the baby. Besides, don’t you remember that you and I agreed not to tell anyone Hope was adopted? Try to keep your word for the sake of my sister, and leave me out of it, too. I’ve got important work to do.”

She heard a click, then a dial tone. Some things never changed. To Ron, Hope had never ceased to be a reminder of his inability to father a child. Frustration and anger rippled through her, making her insides tie into a knot.

When Bernice finally came into Amanda’s office twenty minutes later, Amanda scarcely dared to breathe as she waited for the news.

“There’s no record of the adoption,” Bernice said in a muted voice. “Everyone was gone, so Jenny was able to access several different data banks. She checked everything she could think of, but the adoption records are just not there. They must have been erased somehow.”

Amanda felt the blood draining from her face. “Then it’s not a bluff. They’ve tampered with the state records.”

“So what now?”

“I call Tony, pass on their demands, and keep quiet about the rest. For now, that’s the only thing I can do. I don’t want to risk losing my daughter, even if it would only be for a while.”

“You’re a fighter, Amanda. You won’t be able to stand this for long. When your patience runs out, what will you do?”

“I’m not sure, but I do know I can’t just sit back and trust this caller to keep her end of the bargain. I’ll need some leverage of my own sooner or later.”

Amanda managed to keep her hands from shaking as she finished dialing. To her disappointment, she only reached Tony’s answering machine. Frustrated, she decided to leave a sketchy message and wait to give him the details later. They were in this together now, though for different reasons; allies, yet not.

As she finished speaking to the machine, she considered giving him her unlisted home number, but then decided against it. She didn’t want him calling her at home, possibly frightening Hope. “I’ll call again later so we can discuss this at length,” she added.

Bernice watched her. “You’ve got to talk to someone...the cops or a lawyer. You can’t handle this by yourself.”

“I can’t go to anyone yet. And you can’t say anything, either. Promise me. I’ve got to have something on these people in order to safeguard Hope and myself. The only way I can get that is to play along for now.”

“I understand, but—”

“No, no buts. This is the way it’s got to be.”

Bernice nodded. “I’ll do everything I can to help you. I don’t know how much good I’ll be, but you won’t go through this alone.”

Amanda toyed with a pencil on her desk, trying frantically to get a handle on the situation. “Wait a second. Did you tell me the caller knew I was here?”

“That’s what she told me.”

“How could she know that—unless she’s watching?” Amanda walked over to the window and pulled the curtain aside to glance up and down the street. Finally she allowed the curtain to fall back into place. “There are cars parked all the way down the street as usual, but I didn’t see anyone sitting inside one.”

“Maybe they know your car.”

“I suppose that’s possible.” She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I’m going outside to take a look around. I don’t want to leave here with Hope and have someone follow me home.”

“I’m going with you.”

Amanda nodded then changed her mind. “Maybe I’m overreacting, but I’d rather you stayed here on guard. I don’t want to take any chances with the children.”

As she walked out of the building, she looked around cautiously. There were plenty of people just getting off work. She’d be safe.

The narrow cobblestoned streets adjacent to the Santa Fe Plaza made it difficult for anyone to hide. She passed a mural of Saint Francis of Assisi painted on the crumbling wall of an old adobe building. The saint’s ability to talk to the animals was a link between Pueblo beliefs and the modern-day Santa Fe natives, who saw their city as one in perfect harmony with nature. Trouble of any kind here seemed impossible, but the facts were inescapable.

As she headed back, Amanda noticed an off-white sedan parked in the shadows of a narrow alleyway. From there, the driver would have a clear view of the day-care center. Amanda allowed herself a furtive glance. There was definitely someone in the car, but the driver’s face was masked by long, sculpted shadows that made it impossible to distinguish facial features.

Amanda slowed her steps, trying to get a better look. Suddenly, the vehicle sped out of the alley, heading north, away from the center. The license plate was from New Mexico, but Amanda couldn’t make out the letters or numbers. She hurried back to the center.

She pulled Bernice into her office. “That person was definitely watching us,” Amanda said. “I wish I’d managed to get a look at the driver’s face.”

“Maybe you’re safer not knowing who it is,” Bernice said slowly.

Amanda felt her skin prickle. What on earth had she been drawn into? She thought of Hope and her heart began to hammer. No matter what happened, she had to find a way to keep her daughter with her, out of danger.

Amanda went directly to the phone and called the police. She reported the car she’d seen watching the day-care center, but she avoided mentioning anything concerning Tony or the kidnappers.

Bernice shook her head as Amanda hung up. “You should have told them the whole story.”

“I can’t. But this way at least, the police will keep an eye on the center, and make sure that creep stays away from here.” Amanda took a deep breath and gave Bernice a worried look. “It’s getting late, but I’m still not sure it’s safe to take Hope home.”

Bernice moved to the window. “You’ll be okay. That car’s long gone. Go home. Just remember my house is less than a mile away. If there’s a problem, come over immediately. Winston’s the best guard there is. He’ll make sure everyone’s safe.”

“Winston!” Hope, a small dark-haired girl with large brown eyes, ran through the open doorway and launched herself into Amanda’s arms. “Are we going to see Winston, Mommy?”

“Hello, Peanut.” Amanda gave Doris, the nursery attendant, a nod, assuring her that Hope’s unexpected entrance was okay.

“I like Winston, Mommy! He’s my friend.”

Amanda smiled. “Yes, I know.” Winston was Bernice’s gargantuan bullmastiff. When he stood on his hind legs, he could see over the top of Amanda’s head. Nobody ever gave Winston a hard time. Though the dog rarely growled, he had a habit of standing directly in the path of anyone he didn’t know and licking his chops, as if making dinner plans.

Amanda glanced at Bernice. “I may ask to borrow Winston before this thing’s finished.”

“Yippee! Winston can sleep over.”

Bernice laughed. “You’re welcome to him anytime.”

* * *

AS AMANDA DROVE HOME, her eyes continually darted to her rearview mirror. Nobody was following her, she was certain of that. She soon let Hope’s incessant chatter divert her fears and began to relax.

As her daughter sang a nursery rhyme, Amanda’s thoughts strayed to Tony. She’d be calling him tonight after Hope fell asleep. The prospect sent a rush through her. Although she told herself quickly that it was only the product of all the extra adrenaline still pumping through her, she knew there was more to it than that. Tony’s appearance in her life had reminded her that she’d suppressed her womanly needs far too long, concentrating solely on being a mom. That aspect of her feminine side she’d so neglected was starting to demand her attention.

Forcing Tony from her thoughts, she focused on enjoying the drive with her daughter. This was their time, and she wouldn’t let anything encroach on it.

As they left the city behind, Amanda felt more of her tension melt away. She liked country living. Her house was on the southern outskirts of Santa Fe, nestled in a rural area dotted with small, territorial-style adobe houses. Here, prices were more reasonable, and she could afford to give Hope a huge yard to play in.

“Mommy, look! We have company!” Hope pointed ahead.

Amanda felt her breath catch in her throat. A pickup was parked in the shadows of the Russian olives that grew wild along one wall of her house. If the driver’s intentions had been good, he wouldn’t have been hiding there. Sensing danger, she made a sudden change of plans.

“Hang on, Peanut. We’re not going home after all.” Amanda stepped on the gas pedal, shot past her house, and sped on down the road.

Chapter Two

Amanda’s car responded instantly, but the dirt road made high speed precarious, and the rear end of the vehicle fishtailed before Amanda brought it back under control. Fear slammed into her as she raced toward Bernice’s home. Phil, Bernice’s husband, would be there and so would Winston.

“Wow!” Hope squealed. “This is fun, Mommy!”

Despite the thick cloud of dust she left behind, she could see the pickup had shot out after them. She wasn’t sure what was going on, but there was no way she was going to let anyone catch up to her, not with Hope in the car.

Amanda followed the bend in the road, staying away from the edges where she knew the sand would be soft. She hoped the pickup would get bogged down, but the other driver stayed right with her. For the first time since she’d purchased her home, she regretted the distance between houses.

Suddenly, Ernestine, her nearest neighbor’s miniature goat, stepped out into the road.

“Hold on tight, sweetie!” Amanda pumped the brakes and turned the wheel sharply to the right, narrowly missing the animal.

Just then she saw a motorcycle ahead going her way. Amanda raced to catch it, recognizing the driver as Ricky Biddle, who lived about two miles farther down the road. He’d help her out. She honked the horn and saw Ricky turn his head, then start slowing down.

She came up behind Ricky, pulled over to the right and stopped, far more confident now that she wasn’t alone. As Ricky halted his motorcycle a short distance in front of her, the pickup pulled up alongside.

Amanda’s temper flared as she saw Tony step out of the pickup and walk around the front of the vehicle toward her. “Are you okay?” he asked.

“Mr. Ramos!” Amanda got out, anger spiraling through her, robbing her of breath. “I should have expected something like this from you!”

Ricky, a sandy-haired young man in his late twenties, headed toward Amanda, removing his red motorcycle helmet as he walked. “Is this man bothering you?”

Towering over Ricky, Tony transfixed the younger man with an uncompromising stare. Ricky took a step back, realized what he was doing, then held his ground.

“It’s okay, son. The lady’s safe with me.”

“I’m sorry, Ricky. I made a mistake. I didn’t recognize Mr. Ramos for a moment. I can handle this.”

Ricky looked at Amanda. “Do you want me to go find a cop?”

“No, that’s not necessary,” Amanda said, noting Ricky hadn’t offered to stay. Not that she blamed him. Tony’s face was set and he looked about as friendly as a stone gargoyle. “I’ll explain later, okay?”

Ricky glanced at Tony, then at the ground. “Um, okay, Amanda. Call me later. Do you still have my number?”

“Sure. It’s right by my phone,” Amanda said. “Thanks for stopping.”

“I’ll be home the rest of the evening. I’ll stop by later to check on you.”

“No, please don’t bother,” Amanda said, hating what she’d started. Ricky was a nice guy, but she didn’t want him hovering around, which he had a tendency to do. “I’ll be talking to you soon, okay?”

As Ricky restarted his motorcycle and rode away, Amanda glanced to make sure Hope was still safely in her car seat, out of earshot, then glared at Tony. “You owe me an explanation. What were you doing by my house? I don’t recall giving you my address.”

Tony looked at her and smiled. “I took it upon myself to find it.”

“You’re a pain in the neck, Mr. Ramos.”

“Call me Tony. Once you calm down, you’ll see you have no reason to be angry. We do have some very important business to discuss, and this is away from your day-care center. You said you didn’t want me going there.”

He was being so reasonable—and so polite—she felt outclassed as she struggled to keep her temper in check. “I’ll meet you back at my place.”

“Mommy, aren’t we going to go play with Winston?”

“Not now, honey. Maybe later.” Amanda tried to get her pulse to slow down. He was so charming, it was hard not to trust him. Yet no matter how controlled and well mannered he seemed to be, his reputation told a different story. She had to be careful around this chameleon-like man.

She drove home slowly, postponing the inevitable confrontation. By the time she pulled into her driveway, Tony was already there. She had no idea how he’d found her address, but she had to make sure he didn’t feel free to stop by whenever he wanted, bringing his problems here to her home. He was a man with a cause she could respect, but she would not allow him to compromise her daughter’s safety.

“I have to talk to this gentleman, Peanut,” Amanda said, taking Hope inside. “Will you go to your room and play for a bit?”

“Can I take some cookies?”

“One.”

“Two?”

“Ah, you’re learning all about counting, are you?” she said, smiling. “Well, I suppose two, but that’s it.”

Amanda took Hope’s hand in hers. Glancing back at Tony, she gave him the look, a warning for him to keep quiet. To her surprise, it worked as well on him as it did on the kids at the day-care center.

“I’ll get my daughter settled, then you and I will talk,” she said in a glacial tone.

As Amanda poured a cup of milk and fished two cookies out of the jar in the kitchen, Tony walked up to Hope and crouched down beside her. “Hi. I’m Tony. What’s your name?”

Hope smiled. “I’m not supposed to talk to strangers, and I don’t think Mommy likes you,” she said.

“You’re absolutely right on both counts, Peanut, but I need to talk to this stranger myself. Now here are three mini chocolate chip cookies for you to take to your room.”

Hope’s eyes gleamed as she noted that the cookie count had suddenly been increased. “Yeah!” She took the cookies and followed her mother out of the room.

* * *

TONY GLANCED AROUND the living room while he waited for Amanda to return. The woman had Spartan tastes. Everything was meticulously clean, but there wasn’t much in the way of furniture. A simple wood-framed sofa with plain off-white cushions stood in the center of the room. Two straight backed chairs that looked like something left over from the Spanish Inquisition had been placed across from it.

He turned around, hearing Amanda’s returning footsteps on the baked-tile floor. Steely anger was clearly etched on her features.

“Mr. Ramos, how dare you show up here at my home? The fact that I’m willing to help you does not give you that right. And while we’re at it, how did you get my home address?” she demanded, searching his face with all the warmth she’d reserve for an insect that had crawled out of her cupboard.

“I have friends who help me from time to time.” He summoned his best smile, hoping to thaw her. Most women considered him handsome, and he wasn’t above using his looks to get their cooperation when the situation called for it. Considering how angry Amanda was, he certainly needed any edge he could get with her. “I’m not as impossible to deal with as you might think,” he said. “Why don’t you give me half a chance?” He kept his gaze steady, penetrating, and locked on hers, a gesture meant to disarm. He’d been told before that it packed a sexual wallop that made it particularly disconcerting to the fairer sex.

Amanda continued to glower at him, apparently unaffected. “Oh, I see. So you obtained my address behind my back and that’s supposed to be okay with me?”

So much for sexy looks. “Well, no, not exactly.” Tony gave her a chagrined half smile, and quickly changed tactics to reasonable concern and an apology. “I’m sorry if I’ve upset you, but after your last call, I felt it would be best for us to talk in person. I came by, saw that your home was secluded, and figured it would be okay for us to meet here. Everything would have worked out fine, too, if you hadn’t panicked.”

“So it’s my fault? You have a lot of nerve!”

Tony looked at her admiringly. She was beautiful in a girl-next-door kind of way, all gentle curves and softness. Right now, fury made her look radiant. Her cheeks were flushed and her hazel eyes sparked with life. “I don’t know how to make you understand,” he said in a conciliatory tone, or as close to it as he could ever come. “It’s obvious how devoted you are to your own daughter. Think how awful it would be for you if our positions were reversed.”

He deliberately moved closer to her, standing near enough to hopefully shake some of her self-assuredness. He knew he had to play on her emotions, because if she backed out now, he’d lose his only lead to Carmen. With that in mind, he glanced around. He needed ammunition. Spotting what he was searching for, he walked over to a shelf and picked up a Christmas photo of Amanda and Hope. He smiled sadly.

“Hope looks just like you. She has your eyes...and your smile. I envy you.” He saw her start to thaw.

Amanda moved to the sofa and motioned for him to take a chair. “I will help you, Tony, but if you continue to act like a Neanderthal, I’ll treat you like one, even if it means beating you over the head with a club to prove I mean what I say. Is that clear?”

He blinked. No one had spoken to him like that since Mrs. Trujillo in sixth grade. “Er...sure.”

Amanda gave him the details she could afford to divulge about the call she’d received, then told him about the car she’d seen near the day-care center. “I called the police to ask them to stay on the alert for that vehicle, but I didn’t tell them about you or the messages from the kidnappers. I just told them someone was watching the center.”

He nodded thoughtfully. “The kidnappers—and I think it’s safe to assume we’re dealing with more than one person here—left you no other option. You did what you had to do to protect the children in your care.”

“Right. So what’s next? Like it or not, we’re in this together. Is there any way to stop them? My life, by your standards, might be dull, but I like it. I want it back.” Amanda was determined.

“So you want to go on the offensive?” Tony asked, surprised.

“I didn’t pick on them, they picked on me. I don’t want any trouble with these people. They scare me. But if we go strictly by their rules, they have no incentive to keep their word. I don’t think we can afford to put any faith in their assurances.”

Tony watched Amanda carefully. Something about her had changed and instinct told him that it had something to do with the reason she’d been chosen as intermediary. “This goes beyond your trying to protect the reputation of your day-care center. You’re holding something back.”

“Don’t underestimate how much my day-care center means to me. By encroaching on it, they declared war.”

Tony watched Amanda. From her expression, especially her eyes, he could tell she was terrified of something. Yet she was not about to tell him what it was. He wouldn’t get answers by asking, either. Good thing he still had several tricks up his sleeve. “Their primary interest isn’t your day-care center. That stakeout was focused on you. I’d bet my last dime on it.”

Amanda shrugged, nervously searching for an answer. “It’s not your money you’re betting. That day care is part of me. The question remains. What are we going to do?”

“I want to attach a tape recorder to your phones, here and at work. If the woman calls again, I want to hear her voice, disguised or not.”

“All right.”

Tony studied her telephone. What he needed in addition to the recorder was one well placed bug hidden right in the middle of her living room—one she’d know nothing about. He had one in his surveillance kit in the car. A little gem like that would allow him to hear anything Amanda said, either here or in the adjacent room. A receiver and tape recorder hidden outside in the hedge would ensure it.

He turned around abruptly and caught the unguarded expression on Amanda’s face. She was frightened and trying hard to keep the lid on her fears. She was doing a pretty good job of it, too. He wondered what was going on inside her head. He had to know what secrets Amanda was keeping locked away—the stakes were too high to allow her any privacy. At the first opportunity, he’d set up his equipment and lay her life bare before him. As he contemplated the thought, it twisted in his mind. Passion sent a furnace blast of heat flashing through him.

Forcing the distracting thoughts away, he took out a tape recorder from his pocket and made a show of setting it up. He felt Amanda coming up behind him a few minutes later.

“What good will it do to use that little tape recorder? Surely you can come up with something more sophisticated?”

“Not without getting the phone company and local law enforcement involved.”

“You’ve decided not to do that, I take it.”

“I have a friend in the FBI, my former partner. He’ll help me and keep it unofficial.”

“Good.” She knew that there was no way he could elicit official help, but this way at least there would be someone there in case the kidnappers turned ugly. “You’re too close to this emotionally, and I have no experience with this kind of thing. It was a bad idea for us to try and handle this on our own.”

Tony sat down in one of the chairs. “I’ve dealt with this kind of animal before. Bringing the FBI or the police in officially is what will blow it. Believe me, that’s what happened before.” He remained silent, his bitterness hanging between them. Finally he continued. “After my daughter’s disappearance, the kidnappers contacted me within a day. The woman asked me for quite a bit of money. I didn’t have it, but I knew I could raise it one way or the other.

“While I was getting the money together, I continued to go after them through official channels. I was one hundred percent certain that I would succeed in getting my daughter back. I was well trained, with all the Bureau’s resources at my disposal. But something must have scared them away. They never called me back with instructions for the drop-off, and this is the first time I’ve heard from the woman since.”

“Did you ever find out why?”

“I always suspected a leak at the Bureau, though I never did find evidence to support it.” Tony shook his head, then met her gaze. “All I know for sure is that my daughter and my wife, everything that really mattered in my life, vanished. Carmen was only a baby, and it was snowing and very cold that March. I have no idea if Carmen is even alive. There’s no evidence one way or another. This is the chance I’ve been waiting for, and I won’t blow it this time.”

“I’m fighting for everything I value, too, Tony. If this situation became public knowledge, people would start wondering why the kidnappers chose me as go-between. You certainly did. I’m blameless, but the implications alone would ruin me. Without my income from the day care, I’d have nothing except debts. How could I support my daughter? We need trained people on this job, people who can be trusted and who can find answers fast. We can’t cover all the possibilities alone.”

“I understand you’re trying to safeguard your livelihood. But what about your husband, if you don’t mind me asking? Wouldn’t he take care of his own daughter?” As he watched Amanda, Tony sensed a battle going on inside her. She wasn’t just afraid of bad publicity.

“I don’t need Ron, and it’s a good thing. He never comes to see Hope, and he pays only minimal child support. He’s barely spoken to me since the divorce. You see, he didn’t want us to split up. It wasn’t because he loved me or Hope, or even because he wanted us to stay together as a family. It was just that he couldn’t stand the thought of publicly failing at anything. I was the well-dressed, attractive woman he kept on his arm to show off. Not having me there like a trophy hurt his pride.”

Tony watched her speculatively. She wasn’t asking for his sympathy, despite her bitterness. She was a strong woman. It would take one heck of a man to claim her heart now—she’d encased it so protectively in steel. Yet something told him that she’d be worth the effort. But he had other priorities now. He had to make sure he remained focused on finding the kidnappers. He needed all the information Amanda had, not just what she chose to give him.

Amanda stood and paced restlessly around the room. Finally she turned around and looked at him directly. “You frighten me, Tony. You want to find your daughter so badly, you’re not going to allow anything to get in your way. I won’t let everything I value become a casualty.”

Tony nodded. She was right to protect herself. The more he got to know her, the more he liked her. Under different circumstances, they might have been one helluva team. But he couldn’t afford to be a team player. “I will get them, Amanda. I won’t rest until I do.”

“How about this old partner of yours? How much can he help us now?”

“He’s going to be involved soon enough, one way or another. I can’t get the file they asked for without his help.”

Amanda walked to the portable phone on the wall and handed it to Tony. “Call him right now. Ask him to meet you here. If he’s going to get involved, I want to meet him. While you’re doing that, I’ll go check on Hope.”

Tony dialed Raymond’s number as Amanda walked out of the room. The die had been cast. There was no turning back now.

* * *

AFTER AN HOUR OF PLAYING with Hope and putting the whole kidnapping mess out of her mind, Amanda left Hope with her favorite video, a hot dog and fruit salad. This was usually their time together, and she hated leaving her daughter to her own devices. Yet, although she felt guilty, she knew this was the best way to handle the situation. After meeting both men, Amanda had decided she didn’t want Hope to spend much time around either of them. There was a darkness about them that spoke of a side of life where despair and sorrow were always the victor. She was determined to shield her daughter from people who might give her a glimpse into a world no child should know.

“Sorry to keep running out on you,” she said, returning to the kitchen. Tony’s ex-partner, Raymond Atcitty, a Navaho, appeared almost cherubic, with his round face and slightly protruding belly, but his eyes were hard and cold.

“There’s a state-of-the-art voice-activated tape recorder attached to your phone now,” Raymond said. “All you have to do is pick up the phone, and it will start recording. We’ll do the same for the one in your office. I’ll also get hold of one of those caller ID machines. Once we find the woman who’s contacting you, your part in this will be over. We’ll take it from there.”

Tony studied the recording device, then stepped over to join them. “We have your word that you’ll keep this out of official channels?”

Raymond met his gaze and hesitantly nodded. “For now, I’ll let you call the shots. That’s all I can promise.”

Tony shot him an icy glare. “For as long as it takes.”

Raymond didn’t answer.

Amanda watched the Navaho. She had a feeling Raymond would blow the whistle if he felt that either Hope or she was threatened. She took comfort in that thought. Where Tony had an edge that came from his lawlessness, Raymond was methodical and, from all appearances, a careful man who did not believe in taking unnecessary chances. Protecting and serving the public seemed to be far more than mere words to him.

“We’ll be leaving now, Amanda, but don’t worry,” Tony said, “I’ve left a card on your counter with my home number and address, my pager number and my cellular. If you need to talk, just pick up the phone.”

Raymond walked back into the room. “Let me show you one more thing. You need to know where I placed extra tapes in case you need them.” He glanced back at Tony. “I’ll be with you in a minute.” Raymond reached into the drawer beneath the phone and showed her the tapes. “You’re all set. Just remember one thing,” he said, dropping his voice. “Be careful how you play things out. My old partner has had to contend with more pain than most of us. He’s on the edge. He’s been there for a long time. Just make sure he doesn’t get pushed out of control.”

As Amanda walked with Tony and Raymond to the door a car pulled up. Bernice quickly opened the rear door and Winston catapulted out. The bullmastiff bounded to the front door and stopped less than three feet in front of Tony.

Tony froze. Raymond backed up a step, but hearing the ominous throaty growl that came from the dog, stopped dead in his tracks.

“He doesn’t like either of you,” Bernice said pleasantly, walking up to the porch. “He always blocks the path of people he takes a dislike to. I wouldn’t do anything too quickly right now, gentlemen,” she added pleasantly. “And for your sakes, please don’t even think of sneezing. He might not understand.”

“It’s all right, Bernice,” Amanda said quickly, trying not to laugh. Both men appeared to have stopped breathing. She crouched and called Winston, but the animal continued to stare at Tony.

“Winston, heel!” Bernice said. The dog went to Bernice’s side, but his gaze stayed fixed on Tony. “I’m sorry, but as I said before, he doesn’t like you.”

“Occupational hazard,” Tony muttered, then edged around the dog, never turning his back. Raymond followed. “See you later,” Tony said.

Bernice waved at them sweetly. “Goodbye, gentlemen.” As the men drove off, she quickly turned to Amanda. “I came by to make sure you were okay, but I didn’t expect to find Ramos here with a friend. What the heck was that all about?”

As they stepped inside the house Winston loped past them running straight to Hope’s bedroom. The little girl squealed with delight. Used to this routine, and certain the child and dog would be safely occupied for some time, Amanda and Bernice went into the kitchen.

Amanda gave Bernice the latest news as she brewed a fresh pot of coffee and made a bedtime snack for Hope. “I’m terrified of going up against these people, but I can’t just sit tight and do nothing. If they make good on their threat I have no doubt I’ll have to fight Tony. If that happens, the more I know about him, the better off I’ll be.”

Bernice shook her head. “Amanda, listen to me. Ramos is nobody’s fool. The kidnappers wouldn’t be able to trick him into believing Hope was his for long. A simple blood test would establish the truth.”

Amanda placed two cups brimming with hot coffee on the table, then sat down. “The problem is, he would want to believe them. Given the lack of documentation at the state level, thanks to the kidnappers, he might not even stop to question it. At that point, he could do anything. He might even take off with my child. He’s already proven that the law is something he’s willing to bend to suit his own purposes.”

“But surely that’s a bit drastic, even for him,” Bernice said.

“Maybe, maybe not. He’s desperate to find his child. Who knows? And if he makes the authorities suspect I obtained Hope illegally, even if he didn’t take her, it might take months of legal action and cost me everything to get her back. And if word leaked out to the press, the publicity could damage my credibility as the owner of a day-care center. Even if that didn’t happen, there could still be a problem. When Ron and I took custody of Hope, we promised never to reveal that she was really his sister’s child. There could be problems in the family, especially since Louise’s husband knows nothing about the baby. And even though Ron told me his sister hasn’t heard from the father for quite a while, he could turn up and claim he wants her back, if only as a way to extort money from me.” Amanda shook her head. “I won’t risk it. I’ve got to stay one step ahead of everyone else.”

The quiet that descended over them was interrupted only by enthusiastic squeals from Hope, who was still happily playing in her room with Winston. Amanda rose to take her empty coffee cup to the sink, when suddenly a monstrous crash erupted from the front of the house. As a gust of wind blew through the kitchen doorway, Amanda heard Hope scream. Spikes of fear pounding through her, Amanda raced to her daughter.

Chapter Three

Tony sat sipping a cup of black coffee in the corner booth of the small café. Though most other people couldn’t read Raymond, years of practice had made Tony proficient at it. He knew without a shadow of a doubt that Raymond was really ticked off. “Buddy, I wouldn’t have asked if there was any other way, but I really need that file. It’s payback time.”

“Don’t pull that crap on me. You and I have been through a lot of close calls. I think the score’s about even,” Raymond answered through a clenched jaw.

“That’s true while we were both agents. But I wasn’t an agent last year, and if it hadn’t been for me, the perps you ran across in the parking lot of Santiago’s would have killed you.”

“Do you really think I’d be doing you a favor by loaning you that file? Think about it,” Raymond snapped back. “You, of all people, should know that it doesn’t pay to negotiate with kidnappers.”

The words hit him as hard as Raymond meant them to. Tony swallowed, but maintained his confrontational gaze. “Don’t become my enemy on this.”

“I’m not your enemy, you jackass.” Raymond leaned over and lowered his voice to a growl. “I’m only telling you what you already know. You need a few cards up your sleeve, and the only way you’ll get them is if we talk to the S.A.C.”

“The special agent in charge?” Tony looked at Raymond as if he’d lost his mind. “No way. After that fight we had right before I quit, he wouldn’t give me a glass of water if I were dying of thirst.” He leaned back. “You’re either with me or against me, buddy. That’s the way it’s got to be. I’ve never been convinced that it wasn’t a leak somewhere within the Bureau that made the kidnappers bolt.”

“I looked into that. You’re way off base there.” Raymond stared at him for several long moments. “I’ll get you something that looks real, but not the genuine thing. The substitute will have to be altered. Deal?”

“Okay, but I’ll have to see the original file.”

“I can arrange that, but you’ll have to come to my office tomorrow morning at six before anyone else gets there. The S.A.C. is at the Albuquerque office, but I still don’t want you to show up while the support staff is present.”

“I’ll be there.” Tony felt as if a great weight had landed on his shoulders. He knew what he had to do. Although he’d never betrayed a friend before, he had no choice now. He wouldn’t risk blowing everything by giving the kidnappers false information.

“By the way, once I get you inside, remember to duck your head. I don’t want your mug showing up on the surveillance cameras. All I’ll have to say then is that you’re one of my more nervous informants.”

“No problem.”

Raymond stared pensively across the room. “Have you considered the possibility that pursuing this lead could take you someplace you don’t want to go?” Raymond asked quietly. “Are you prepared to face the worst, if it comes to that?”

Tony met his friend’s gaze, using all the willpower he had to shutter his emotions. “You still don’t believe she’s alive.”

“No, I don’t. If she were, they would have used her before now.”

Recognizing the grain of truth in Raymond’s words made his gut clench, but he knew he had to see it through. “I’ve got to know either way.” Tony stood up. “One more thing. I’d like you to do a full background check on Amanda Vila.”

“Good idea. I was about to suggest it myself.”

As they reached the door, Tony’s pager went off. He glanced down. “It’s Amanda’s number.” Tony spotted a public phone near the cash register and went directly to it. Amanda picked up the phone on the first ring.

“Did you get a description of the car?” Tony asked after hearing her story. “Okay, don’t worry about it. Sit tight. I’m on my way.”

Tony glanced back at Raymond. “We’ve got trouble.”

* * *

TONY ARRIVED ALONE at Amanda’s less than fifteen minutes after her call. Raymond would come by shortly after handling a few necessary details. As he glanced around the living room, he measured the damage. The center of the wood-framed picture window that faced the front yard had been reduced to a pile of glass shards scattered over the tile floor. A large rock lay near the wall, where it had come to rest. The rough, porous surface of the volcanic rock left him convinced no prints could be lifted from it.

Tony glanced up at Amanda. Her face was gray, as if someone had dusted it with ashes, but she was still very much in control of herself. His admiration for her grew. “Do you ever have any vandalism in your neighborhood?”

Amanda shook her head but remained silent.

“Well, actually we do, but nothing like this,” Bernice volunteered.

“What do you mean?” Tony’s gaze fastened on Bernice. “If you know something, don’t hold back now.”

Bernice nodded, then continued reluctantly. “Last week someone slashed my tires. Right in front of my house, too. I thought it was Jerry, my neighbor’s son, since he and my husband had argued about his speeding down the lane.”

“Does he know you and Amanda are good friends?” Tony asked.

“Yes, but I doubt this had anything to do with that,” Bernice said. “It’s just too far a stretch.”

Amanda put her hand on Bernice’s arm. “I think the same would apply to us linking this to the kidnapper. It doesn’t make sense, not in that context.”

She started to say more, when a knock sounded on her open door. “Are you okay, Amanda?” Ricky Biddle came into the room. “I was out for a run, and I saw all the cars and the broken window.”

“Hello, Ricky.” Amanda forced a thin smile. “We’re all fine. Thanks for asking.”

“You’re going to need help fixing that,” he said, glancing at the smashed window. “I can call my brother’s hardware store. It’s late, but he’d open up for me. I’m sure I can get everything you need delivered, and we’d have a new window up in no time.”

Amanda looked tempted by his offer, but she hesitated. Tony watched her for a second, then his gazed shifted to Biddle.

Tony could sense the guy was interested in Amanda and wanted to get her attention. Though it was perfectly obvious to Tony that Biddle wasn’t her type he decided to step in anyway. “Don’t worry, Mr. Biddle. Amanda will have plenty of help here this evening.”

Amanda shot Tony an angry look. “I can speak for myself.”

Tony clamped his mouth shut realizing he’d made a tactical error and hoping she wouldn’t invite Biddle in just to spite him.

Amanda glanced back at Ricky and smiled. “I appreciate your offer, but it’s really not necessary. I can tape something over the opening for tonight. There’ll be time for a thorough repair tomorrow during daylight. I’ll have someone come and fix it.”

“But...”

Tony approached Ricky, eyeing him carefully. The guy bugged him. His neat blue jogging suit had been chosen more for style than practicality, and if the guy had ever actually worked up a sweat in it, Tony would have been surprised. “Do you always go jogging at this time?”

“Oh, yeah. I work mainly in the mornings and goof off in the afternoon and evenings.”

“What do you do for a living, Mr. Biddle?”

Ricky gave him a suspicious look. “Who are you? The IRS?”

“It’s okay, Ricky,” Amanda said. “He’s a friend.”

Ricky’s shoulder sagged slightly. “I develop and program computer games. Have you ever played Cannibal Cafeteria?”

Tony stared at the guy, wondering what, exactly, he found so irritating about him. “No, I’m not much into games.”

“Well, Cannibal is one of the most popular simulations on the market,” Ricky said with a shrug.

“Did you happen to see someone hanging around here earlier, or maybe notice an unfamiliar car speeding down the road?”

“No, I wish I had.” Ricky glanced at Amanda. “I’ll come by and check on you every once in a while, if that will help.”

“Thanks, but it’s really not necessary, Ricky,” Amanda answered. “I’m sure this was an isolated incident.”

Tony watched Biddle. He was continually glancing around, unable to stand still, like some hyperkinetic kid. Tony schooled his face into polite neutrality and used his best authoritative tone. “Everything’s under control here, Mr. Biddle.”

Amanda led Ricky back toward the door. “Thanks for stopping by, Ricky. I’ll make sure to call you later, okay?”

“Do that.”

“Okay. It’ll be just as soon as I have a free moment.”

Once Ricky left, Amanda went over to Tony. “What exactly were you trying to pull? Didn’t you think I’d have enough sense to know that Ricky would be in the way if the kidnappers called?”

“I was taking charge of the situation before any problems cropped up.” That was only a partial reason. The fact was he didn’t want Biddle around Amanda, though he was at a loss to explain why he’d taken such an instant dislike to the guy.

Bernice began working pieces of glass loose from the window frame in preparation for covering the hole. “Ricky makes me nervous every time I see him.”

“He’s okay,” Amanda said with a thin smile. “He just tries too hard. The poor guy works and lives all alone. All he seems to have for company is that rottweiler of his. He’s probably just lonely.”

Tony shrugged. “Does he come by your house often?”

Amanda shook her head. “Not that it’s any of your business, but I haven’t encouraged that.”

Tony nodded, relieved to hear it. His possessive feelings surprised him. He certainly had no personal claims on Amanda. Yet somehow she’d managed to get under his skin in a way no one had for a very long time.

As Bernice left the room to find a broom and dustpan Hope came into the room. Amanda smiled at her reassuringly. “It’s okay, Peanut. I’ll be in your room in just a few minutes. Will you wait for me there?”

Hope nodded wordlessly then ran down the hall. Amanda’s gaze stayed on her as if she was torn between making her home safe for her daughter or rushing to her side.

Tony placed a hand on her shoulder, and as their eyes met, blood thundered in his veins. “Go take care of your daughter. I’ll clean up the glass.”

Tony bent down, gathering the pieces into his palm. He needed to put some distance between himself and Amanda. He was finally starting to hope he’d get his daughter back and his brain was going soft from the strain. The last thing he needed was any complications. He needed to stay focused on Carmen. That was all there was to it.

As Raymond’s car pulled up outside, Amanda returned and met him by the front door. With a wave of the hand, she invited him in.

“I stopped at a friend’s house and borrowed his caller ID device,” Raymond said. “Let me get it set up for you, okay?”

“Sure.” Amanda showed him to the phone in the living room.

Hearing footsteps and the clicking sound of a dog’s nails against the tile floor, Amanda turned around. Hope was standing in the hall wearing her pajamas, hanging on to Winston’s collar. The dog stared at both Tony and Raymond, then took a step forward, positioning himself in front of Hope.

“Mommy, come back. I’m scared,” Hope said, big tears running down her cheeks.

Amanda hurried over to put her arms around her daughter. “Don’t be. There’s nothing for you to be frightened of,” she said softly. “We’re okay, Peanut.”

As Tony looked from Amanda to her daughter, a knot formed in his gut. Amanda and Hope belonged together. The love they shared marked them as a family. They shared something he would have given everything to have—something he’d quite possibly lost forever.

A slow ache continued gnawing at his insides as he heard Amanda comforting Hope. To his surprise, he found himself walking around the dog, despite a throaty warning growl, and crouching down beside them.

“Hope, honey, please don’t cry,” he said gently. “Sometimes bad people act mean, but there are always good people around to make things come out okay.”

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Raymond’s surprised face and Amanda’s expression of disbelief. Even Bernice had stopped looking for glass and was watching him. Well, what the hell. They could think whatever they pleased. Hope had stopped crying.

“You’re a good guy?” she asked, looking up at his face.

“Yep, I sure am. Though sometimes people don’t know that right away.”

“Why?” Hope moved away from Amanda and toward Tony.

“I guess it’s because I’m not always polite and nice,” Tony said softly. “But if they look past that, they find I’m okay to have around.”

Hope smiled at Tony, then gave him a hug.

Tony saw Amanda’s jaw drop. He felt as stunned as she looked. “We’re friends?”

“I like you, Tony.” Hope disentangled herself and looked up at Amanda. “He’s not a stranger anymore. And he looked like he needed a hug. It’s okay, right? You told me that grown-ups need hugs sometimes, too.”

Amanda smiled. “It’s okay, Peanut.”

“Can we play?” Hope looked at Tony.

“In a little bit, all right? Let me fix this window for your mom first.”

Bernice moved next to Tony as Amanda took Hope back to her room, Winston by their side. “You may have convinced Hope and Amanda,” she whispered, “but I’ll be watching you, mister.”

No longer needed, Raymond excused himself and left. Bernice, on the other hand, seemed determined to remain as long as Tony was there. They worked side by side, removing every trace of glass and taping together pieces of cardboard shoe boxes to repair the window.

Tony finished the section he’d been working on, aware of the way Bernice was watching him out of the corner of her eye. When he glanced past her, he noticed Amanda was standing by the phone, lost in thought. “What’s wrong?”

“I think I should report this incident to the police. It’ll make it easier to file a claim with my homeowner’s insurance.”

Her unspoken question came through to him clearly. She didn’t want to jeopardize the situation if he thought this was connected to the kidnappers. But it was more than that, too. She was being careful around him, like someone would be around a ticking bomb. The knowledge knifed at him. It didn’t seem so long ago that people had turned to him for assurance.

“Go ahead and call,” he said. “It can’t hurt anything at this point, though I don’t think the police will be able to do much except file a report.”

Tony continued working with Bernice as Amanda called and answered routine questions over the phone. The bright patchwork of cardboard they had put together effectively covered up the hole.

“Well, it’s colorful, that’s for sure. I wish I had found some sturdier cardboard, but the shoe boxes will do for now,” Bernice said.

Amanda finally hung up the phone. “They said they’d be here in thirty minutes to take a report, but the officer said that they don’t generally have much luck tracing acts of vandalism.”

“That’s the same response I got when my tires were slashed,” Bernice said, shaking her head. “I guess all these cuts in the city budget are beginning to take their toll.”

Amanda saw Bernice glance at her watch and knew what was on her friend’s mind. “Why don’t you go home, Bernice? I know Phil’s going out of town tomorrow, and you’ve got things to do.”

“It’s just one of his overnight business trips. Why don’t you and Hope come over and keep me company?” Bernice asked.

Amanda shook her head. “I can’t. I’ve got things to do here.” She gestured to the front window.

“Then let me take Hope with me. She can sleep over. You know how much Phil and I like having her. And she loves having Winston sleep with her.”

Amanda laughed. “I can’t really say that’s a selling point with me, but okay. It’ll give me a chance to make sure I find all the pieces of glass.”

It only took a few minutes to pack an overnight bag for Hope. The little girl gave Amanda a hug and a kiss, then turned to Tony and gave him a hug, too. “Take care of my mommy, even if she’s crabby. She’s really nice, once you know her.”

Tony laughed. “I’ll do that.”

“You just mind yourself,” Bernice said, her glare icy as it focused on Tony.

Tony nodded, his expression neutral as he watched Hope, Bernice and the big dog walk out to the car. “That woman obviously doesn’t like me,” Tony said to Amanda as soon as they were alone.

“Do you blame her? She’s protective about me.” Her gaze strayed to the tape recorder next to her phone. “You should come with a warning label.”

“The choice to have you involved wasn’t mine.” Those words brought to mind the one question that continued to prey on his mind. Tony didn’t believe in coincidences, he never had. Amanda was tied into all this somehow, and he didn’t have much time to figure out what her connection was. Maybe the bug he’d decided to plant just as soon as he had time alone would reveal what he needed to know.

As Tony helped her search for stray pieces of glass, his eyes scanned the room, always vigilant. “You have a terrific kid,” he said, hoping to make Amanda relax. Maybe then she would lower her guard and reveal more about herself. He needed to get a handle on her that didn’t involve the one weak point he’d seen—her daughter. He and Amanda had one thing in common—their determination to keep children safe. He just didn’t bother to pretty things up with a lot of fancy, useless rules and regulations.

“Hope is a wonderful little girl,” she answered, “but she’s so very vulnerable. She needs protection and love. I intend to see that she gets both.”

She was warning him off, like a lioness protecting her cubs. She’d do whatever was necessary to keep him away from her child. In that one respect, they were more alike than she knew. “Hope is one very lucky little girl.”

“I think you better be going, don’t you? The police will be arriving soon.”

“I can handle them. I’m here with your permission.”

“Yes, but I’d rather not have anyone link you and me, particularly with you here at this hour. This police department is a small one and rumors travel fast. Two of the parents at the day school are cops, and I don’t want them to get wind of this.”

Amanda’s telephone rang just as she finished speaking. Tony felt the hair on the back of his neck stand on end—a sure sign he’d learned never to ignore. “Remember to write down the number that flashes on the caller ID,” he said, automatically moving toward the extension. “The system will store the number in memory, but it’s better to have a hard copy.”

She glanced at the number marked Pay Phone that appeared on the LED display. She jotted it down.

With a nod, Tony picked up the extension at the same time Amanda did. The electronically altered voice had the same effect on him as fingernails on a chalkboard. He heard Amanda argue briefly as the woman moved up the deadline they’d given him to get the file. Now she wanted it by the end of tomorrow. Amanda protested, but the woman hung up abruptly.

Amanda gave the phone a hostile glance, then slammed it down. “So much for trusting them to keep their word.”

“I had a feeling she’d call tonight and find some way to keep the pressure up. These variations of routine and changes of plans are meant to keep us off-balance. This person knows what she’s doing.”

“Can you get the file they want?”

“I think so.” Tony dialed Raymond’s direct number. “Track this pay-phone number, will you?” he said without identifying himself. He read out the number, then added, “Use my cellular when you call back.” Tony hung up and glanced at Amanda. “I’m going to take the tape with me—”

Flashing red lights suddenly could be seen through the smaller side windows that hadn’t been broken. Amanda’s eyes grew wide. “It hasn’t been twenty minutes! What a time for them to become efficient! Now what?”

“I’ll duck into your garage and wait there. My pickup’s in your driveway, so with luck, they’ll assume it’s yours,” he said, deciding to leave the tape where it was for now.

Through a crack in the door, Tony watched Amanda greet the officer and usher him inside. The officer stepped in, looked around, and then asked her a few routine questions meant to give him some leads. Getting nothing useful, he held out the report while she signed it.

“I’m afraid that we have very little to go on,” he said. “Our chances of catching the person or persons connected to this are slim.”

“I know,” she admitted.

“We’ll increase patrols in this area, and if you have any more problems, give us a call.”

Tony waited until Amanda closed the front door before coming out. His patience was strained to its limit. Glancing out the front door to make sure the officer was gone, he went to his car and retrieved his cellular phone. He joined her back inside a moment later.

Amanda gave him a worried glance. “What if Raymond already called you?”

Tony shook his head. “It takes longer than that to track down a number, particularly at this time of night. We have a few minutes more to wait.” He walked to the tape recorder and rewound the message. “Help me listen for background sounds. See if there’s anything significant.” In his own mind, Tony blocked out the dialogue, concentrating. Finally he shut off the recorder.

“All I could hear was what sounded like traffic,” Amanda said.

“Same here.”

His cellular phone rang just as he finished speaking. Raymond confirmed that the number matched a pay phone and gave him an address. “Let me go over there,” Raymond said. “Maybe I can dust for prints and get something.”

“No, no way. They may be watching the booth, waiting for my next move. They expect me to have some contacts. Finding out I traced the call shouldn’t come as too big a surprise. Seeing me there won’t be, either. On the other hand, having my former partner show up might scare them off. I don’t want them to know you’re involved. And, again, don’t tell anyone at the Bureau about any of this. We don’t know who might feed information to these bastards,” Tony said, writing down the address. “I’ll take care of this. All I need you to do is meet me tomorrow so we can go to your office, as we agreed.” Once again, regret flooded over him. His planned betrayal could cost him the best friend he’d ever had.

“I’m going, too,” Amanda said, looking at the address he’d written down.

“Why? There’s no reason for you to come.”

“That address is about a block from my day-care center. If someone’s throwing rocks at my house, they might have done something worse at the center. Don’t try to talk me out of it. I’m coming,” she answered flatly.

Tony decided against arguing. The lady had a mind of her own. If he said no, she’d probably just follow him. He didn’t really have a choice, and at least this way he could keep an eye on her. He’d find out nothing useful unless she relaxed. Maybe pretending to confide in her would help.

As they got underway, he glanced over at Amanda. He had to find some way of getting her to lower her guard around him. “I don’t think we’re being followed, and that’s a good sign. I don’t expect to find anything at the phone booth, but I’ve got to make a show of going there to look around and dust for prints. These people will expect me to have a few tricks up my sleeve and connections to check out things like fingerprint records. If I don’t act as they expect, they’ll get nervous, thinking I’ve got some master plan in the works or something.”

“I wonder how they’ll react to my coming along?” Amanda’s voice was hesitant, as if she had suddenly become unsure of herself.

“How else could you keep an eye on me?” Tony suggested, watching her reaction carefully.

Amanda glanced at him, startled. “Does an intermediary do that?”

“Sometimes.”

Tony gave her an appraising glance, then focused his attention back on the road. He could see the lines of worry that sharpened her face in response to the thoughts she was keeping hidden from him. Amanda seemed determined to keep him at arm’s length, though he was doing his best to disarm her. He knew women found him attractive, and he’d always managed to get what he wanted. Until now. He fought the urge to pull over to the side of the road and kiss her until she went soft in his arms, her reserve shattered.

The thought suddenly gave way to another realization. That impulse had nothing to do with finding a key to making Amanda more cooperative with his investigation. Exasperated with himself, he clenched the steering wheel tightly.

“You don’t allow yourself to need anyone, do you?” he asked.

She shrugged. “Certainly not people I don’t know.”

“Like me?”

“All I know about you is that in one day you’ve turned everything in my life upside down.”

She had a point. “If you want to know anything about me, ask.”

He saw the questions crossing her face. She studied him for a moment, then with a more guarded expression, shook her head. He couldn’t be sure, but her reluctance made him think that she’d decided making him angry was not to her best advantage. “You’re a man of secrets,” she said. “I know the type, believe me. I could ask you a million questions and never get any genuine information.”

“Your ex was like that?” he asked, neither confirming nor denying her accusation.

Amanda nodded. “After we’d been married a while, I realized we never really talked about things that mattered. He never shared anything that was important to him or wanted to talk about what was important to me. His job was far more interesting to him than I ever was.”

That last line, so close to what his wife, Lynn, had said to him so many times, stung, flooding his brain with bitter memories. “Some men don’t always know how to show or even talk about what they’re feeling. It doesn’t always come to us as easily as women want.”

Amanda gave him a long, guarded look. “Well, at least you’ve told me something about yourself, though in a roundabout way,” she said.

Tony realized that, if anything, his being open had made her more suspicious of him. Regret filled him as he acknowledged that, had circumstances been different, he would have wanted her to know him, just as he would have wanted to know her—in every possible sense. Aware of the danger of entertaining those thoughts, he drew back into himself. Nothing could get in the way of his finding his daughter and punishing the creeps who had taken her away from him.

Tony pulled up next to a public phone beside a convenience store. “Wait for me here.” Tony retrieved a fingerprint kit from the back seat and walked up to the booth. Though he went over every inch of it, there were no prints. It had been wiped completely clean. As he turned to look back at her, he saw Amanda coming out of the convenience store. Muttering an oath, he rushed up to her. “What are you doing?”

“Making myself useful. I went inside to talk to the clerk, thinking he might have seen something.”

Tony transfixed her with his coldest glare. “You know absolutely nothing about questioning a witness! You may have ruined any chance we had.”

“He didn’t see anything,” Amanda protested.

“And I supposed you asked him really nicely?” he scoffed.

“Of course I did. I wanted him to help me, not call the police! Being polite doesn’t hurt,” she argued.

Tony stared at the ground, trying to control his temper. “Intimidation works better, particularly with a reluctant witness.” Though he forced his tone to remain calm, he saw the cautious look that flickered in Amanda’s eyes. Her inability to predict his reactions seemed to frighten her at times, though she tried to hide it. The problem was, he didn’t particularly like having her treat him like a wild animal, afraid of the violent nature that so many believed was part of him. “Calm down, Amanda. I know what I’m doing.”

The young man inside seemed annoyed when Tony forced him to put down the mystery novel he was reading. Unable to elicit any satisfactory answers, Tony slammed his fist down hard on the counter, picked up the novel, and tossed it across the room. The startled clerk sat up abruptly.

“Now that I’ve got your attention...” Tony purred.

“Look, man, I don’t know nothing. I’ve been reading. An entire army could have used that booth.”

Tony leaned toward him menacingly. “Try harder. From what I can tell, you have a clear view of the booth.”

The young man slid off his seat and took a step back. “Look, I’m just here to pick up some extra cash in the evenings. It’s quiet, so I use the time to read and relax. I’m not concerned with what happens outside unless it disturbs our customers.”

Amanda followed Tony as he stalked back to the pickup. “I gather you found no fingerprints?”

“They cleaned the booth until it shone,” he growled, disgusted.

Tony glanced around. After business hours, this neighborhood was like a cemetery. There were two cars parked inside a private parking area next to a government building ahead. One, a cream-colored four-door, reminded him of his first Bureau car. He smiled, recalling its habit of breaking down. Silently he wished the owner of the sedan better luck than he’d had.

“Let’s go try the front doors on that building,” he said. “They’ll probably be locked, but it’s worth checking out.” After finding the building sealed up, they walked back to the pickup. “Let’s drive around the area a bit.”

“What are we looking for?”

“Basically I’m going through the motions in case they’re watching, but who knows? We might get lucky. Keep your eyes open. Maybe we’ll find a street person who caught a glimpse of our caller. Anything.”

Конец ознакомительного фрагмента.

Текст предоставлен ООО «ЛитРес».

Прочитайте эту книгу целиком, купив полную легальную версию на ЛитРес.

Безопасно оплатить книгу можно банковской картой Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, со счета мобильного телефона, с платежного терминала, в салоне МТС или Связной, через PayPal, WebMoney, Яндекс.Деньги, QIWI Кошелек, бонусными картами или другим удобным Вам способом.