used.
Bad sign.
“Stop.”
Torie turned to Paul, reacting as much to his firm, irritated tone as she did to the word.
“What?”
“What are we doing here that’s a matter of life and death? Who is Carlos, and what or who is he hunting?” Paul ticked the points off on his fingers. “Oh, and last but not least, what the hell do you have to do with it?”
Torie looked at Pam, who managed to look sheepish. Dev had crossed his arms over his chest and was looking amused, but was apparently just as interested in the answer as Paul was.
When she shot a questioning look Pam’s way, her friend shrugged. “I hadn’t had a chance to explain to Dev either. I just told him where to meet me. Carlos nearly took Dev out with a baseball bat before we got him to listen.”
“I thought you said he was reliable?” Torie was aghast. First her cousin was attacked because of her, now this.
“He is, but he’s nervous now. There’s been a lot of…” Pam glanced at Paul. “Snooping around. Neighbors and stuff.”
“Torie, who the hell is Carlos, why is he looking for someone out in the dark, and why are you—” he turned a hot, angry look toward Pam—“involved in finding someone a home? For money?”
“It’s not what you think.”
“I sure as hell hope not, because what I’m thinking could get you twenty-five years in jail.”
“No, it’s—”
There was a banging from the back of the house, and within seconds, the door to the living room burst inward. An excited Carlos bounced into the middle of the fray. Torie barely recognized the suave restaurateur in the mud- covered, wild-haired man standing before her.
“Pam, you must, oh—” He stopped at the sight of Paul in his city lawyer suit, and Torie in her business attire.
“Carlos, this is my friend Torie, the one I told you about. And this is her…friend, Paul.”
“You, I recognize you.” Carlos looked at Paul. “You’re a lawyer.”
“Yes.”
“I hate lawyers.”
“So do I,” Paul said, his tone flat, with no hint of humor.
Carlos stood for a moment, considering. Then smiled.
Then laughed.
So did Dev.
Pam rolled her eyes, but Torie smiled. Male bonding was weirder than anything women came up with.
“Where is he?”
“Come, I’ll show you.”
She moved to follow, but Paul blocked her way.
“You are not going anywhere until you answer my questions.”
“I’ll back you up on that,” Dev said, stepping up beside Paul. “I think we’d better hear this story from the beginning.”
“There’s no time,” Torie said, attempting to push past them.
“No.” Paul’s voice was stone hard, and she could see Dev taking on the same stance.
Chapter Eight
“Oh, for heaven’s sake,” Torie began.
“It’s a dog,” Pam snapped. “Now get out of the way.”
Together the two women pushed passed the gaping men to follow Carlos through the house, out the back door, and into the darkness.
“Well, damn,” Paul said. He turned to Dev. “Did all that cloak and dagger talk sound like they were talking about a dog?”
“Hell, no.”
“Jesus, she drives me insane. You coming?”
“No.” Dev grimaced. “Not this mission, Kemo Sabe. I’ll do more harm than good.”
Paul grinned, suddenly struck by Dev’s posing for Pam. “Not all that well yet, huh?”
Dev read exactly what Paul meant, and laughed. “Good enough for some things, eh? But not for chasing wily animals in the dark, you know? The stitches don’t come out till next week.”
“Got it. I better go if I want to keep up,” Paul said as he was moved toward the door.
