Rattled (6 page)

Tiger grumbled.

“It is indeed. Because I have to put up with all the complaints. It’s really fun when the parents get involved. It is my fault their precious darling doesn’t know how to use an alarm clock?” She rolled her eyes and Tiger gave a mewling grunt.

Erin washed her cereal bowl and left it in the drying rack. She checked that Tiger had plenty of food and water and turned to him again. “Why do I put up with this?”

Tiger gave a questioning mew.

Erin paused to scratch his chin. “Yeah. Because I don’t have any choice right now. But just you wait. Things are going to change.” Tiger followed her as she retrieved her waist pack and made sure she had her keys. The book was already hidden in the best place they could think of, back on the shelf in plain sight. “I’m going to drive in today. I think that’s reasonable, don’t you?”

Tiger made an encouraging mumble. Erin bent to stroke his back. “I don’t know how you are as a protector, but you’re certainly a better conversationalist than most men.” He hopped up to the windowsill and purred as she headed out the door.

Erin hurried past open doorways in the Humanities building. If anyone saw her, they’d want to ask questions and examine her injuries. She had on slacks and a long-sleeved shirt, despite the heat, to cover the bruises and scrapes on her arms and legs, but she couldn’t hide the splint and bandage on her hand. She didn’t even bother to try plastering makeup over the raw skin on her face. It would probably look worse and delay the healing.

She blew out a breath when she reached her office door. She’d made it that far unnoticed. As she fished out her keys, she could hear footsteps approaching from around the corner. She quickly unlocked the door, slipped inside, and closed it behind her.

Something moved behind her desk.

She gasped. “Mitchell!”

He smiled from her office chair. “Erin! There you are.”

She leaned back against the door, waiting for her nerves to settle. “What on earth are you doing here?”

“Waiting for you, of course.” He glanced down and she was almost sure his hands were moving on her keyboard, but her computer monitor blocked her view.

She started around the desk. “What made you think I’d be coming here?”

He rose from her chair, blocking her view of her computer, and came toward her with his arms outstretched. “I figured you’d be in sometime today. Guess I got lucky.”

She stood stiffly as he put his hands on her hips. He bent to kiss her, but she turned her head so he got only her cheek. “How did you get in?”

“The door was unlocked. I had a few minutes free, so I thought I’d wait here, in case you came by.”

Erin always locked the door behind her when she left the office and double-checked by turning the handle. Of course, it was possible that the cleaners had neglected to lock it or that her boss had come in to look for something in her absence. She decided to let it go, rather than start an argument she couldn’t win.

“You’re looking better,” Mitchell said. “Come to lunch with me and tell me how you’re feeling.”

“No thank you. I really want to get this work done.”

“Surely no one expects you to get back to work so soon after your accident.”

“You expected me to be here.”

“I know your work ethic. But I’m sure it can wait.”

“Not long, it can’t. Grades are due this afternoon. Anyway, I don’t feel like going out in public with my face looking like this.”

“It’s not that bad. You’re beautiful, as always.” He brushed his fingers down her cheek. Erin resisted the urge to back up. If Mitchell wasn’t part of the attack on her, she didn’t need to insult him. If he was, she didn’t want him to know she suspected him. But she now saw what Camie meant by calling him too slick.

“Please, I just want to get this done and go home.” She tried to look weak and fragile. “I’m so tired. And my head.” She lifted a hand limply to her brow.

“Poor baby!” He put his arms around her. “You have been through a lot. I hope your injuries won’t interfere with your summer plans.”

“I don’t know,” she whispered. “I’m just so tired. I may need a couple of weeks before I’m really back on my feet.”

“Perfectly understandable.” He tipped her head back, his fingers smooth on her jaw, and smiled into her face. “I hope you’ll allow me to come by and look after you.”

Erin managed to smile in return. “Thank you, but I think I’ll head to my mother’s for a week or two, as soon as I get everything squared away here.”

He frowned. “Don’t tell me you’re giving up your treasure hunt. You’ve been so excited about it.”

“The treasure can wait,” Erin said. “It’s been there for over a hundred years, so I imagine it will be there next month.”

“Of course.” He released her and paced the small office. Erin glanced down and noticed that though her computer was off, her monitor’s on light still glowed. She always switched it off at night.

Mitchell turned suddenly and crossed back to her. “Look, Erin, I need to talk to you about something important. About… about us.”

Good grief, he sounded like he was about to propose or something. She raised her hand to her head, which really was starting to pound. “Please, Mitchell, not now.”

“Before you leave town. Promise me we can have a long, quiet talk before you leave.”

“All right.” Erin started to move toward her chair, but he caught her arms. Inwardly, she groaned. Camie might say she should be pumping him for information, but she just wanted to be rid of him, finish her work, and get out of there.

He ran his hands up to her shoulders and back to her elbows. She didn’t bother to mention the bruises that throbbed under his touch. She looked into his eyes. She’d always thought them rather nice, a light gray that was almost silver. Now she remembered another pair of eyes, blue as the summer sky.

“I’m so glad you’re not badly hurt,” he murmured. “You know how I feel about you, right?”

Erin opened her mouth, decided she had no safe answer for that question, and closed it again.

Mitchell leaned closer, his breath against her cheek. “We could go away for a long weekend... get to know each other better.” He pulled her against him and pressed his mouth on hers.

Erin winced and kept her lips shut. Finally Mitchell pulled back, his eyes narrowed. Erin said, “I’m sorry, but my face hurts. And my shoulder, my ribs—please let go.”

He released her and stepped back. “Of course. I’m sorry.” He still managed a smile. “But you will see me again before you leave town, right?”

Hating to lie, Erin said cautiously, “I can’t think of one thing that would make me happier.” More like 100 things. She edged away from him and slid into her desk chair.

“Excellent. Until then.” He waved and left her office.

Erin fired up her computer. Everything looked normal, and her password worked like always. If Mitchell had somehow hacked in, would it leave a sign? Camie would probably know, but Erin figured it didn’t really matter. She didn’t keep personal files on her work computer.

She sighed, glared at her splinted finger, and tried to focus on her grading.

It didn’t take Erin long to finish inputting her grades, even with her clumsy finger. She shut down her computer—triple checking that everything was off—and pushed back from her desk. She unplugged everything and watered her plants, since she wasn’t going to be back for at least a week. She felt half-asleep and realized she wasn’t healed yet. She wanted a nap, but first she went to find Camie.

Erin crossed the campus, smiling at the sight of students lounging on the grass or hurrying along the walks. It wasn’t hard to guess who had finished their finals and who still had a few hours of misery ahead.

She entered the electrical engineering building, turned to the right, and pulled open the door of the machine shop. She heard the murmur of voices over the hum of equipment and searched for Camie among the lathes, drill presses, band saws, and other mysterious pieces of equipment.

She spotted Camie in the welding area, her head bent over a torch shooting flames. A man stood next to her. He had his back to Erin, but with a sinking feeling she recognized the golden blond hair and trim build. Mitchell.

Erin debated backing out the door, but at that moment Camie looked up at her and Mitchell turned. Erin sighed and approached them, pasting on a smile.

“Erin!” Mitchell said. “I didn’t think I’d have the pleasure of seeing you again so soon.”

Camie turned off the torch and put it down. Her face blank, she said, “Mitchell has just been asking questions about the treasure.”

He shrugged and smiled. “I had a little more time to kill, since you weren’t available. I was hoping to make sure you wouldn’t be overextending yourself anytime soon, after your accident.”

Out of his field of view, Camie rolled her eyes. She shuffled back a step and pointed at a piece of equipment sitting on the table. She mouthed the words “The Finder” and then made shooing motions behind Mitchell’s back.

Erin felt her eyes widen, then realized Mitchell was gazing at her, waiting for her response. She smiled and took a step closer to him. “That’s so sweet of you. I hope Camie relieved your fears.”

He glanced over his shoulder at Camie, who was leaning against the broad table in front of The Finder, her arms crossed. Camie’s smile looked about as friendly as a knife to the throat. “I told him everything was on hold until you’re completely better.”

Erin took Mitchell’s arm. “You see, I’m well looked after. And you know I’m not one to take chances.” She tried to lead him away from the welding area, but he held his place.

“I just worry. You’re so delicate.” He smiled and squeezed her hand on his arm. “I worry that Camie might forget you’re not as strong as she is and push you too far.”

Erin ground her teeth but kept her smile in place, though it felt like it was taking every muscle in her body to do so. “I appreciate your concern.” Camie was making strangling motions behind Mitchell’s neck.

Mitchell stroked her arm. “You need someone to look after you.”

No way was she going to answer that one. Her mind scrambled for ways to get Mitchell out of there. Say she was free for lunch after all? She didn’t think she could stand spending an hour with him.

She had to at least get him away from The Finder before he noticed it and started asking awkward questions. Maybe he wouldn’t have any idea what the boxy gadget did, and Camie could make up some nonsense. Erin certainly wouldn’t have known the difference. But Mitchell did work for a mining company, so he might have the technical background to recognize a radar unit.

If he thought her weak, she could use that. She leaned against him with a little moan. “Perhaps I’ve overdone it already today. Can you help me to that stool over there?”

Murmuring sympathy, he did so. At least she’d gotten him across the room.

Erin settled on the stool and blinked up at him in what she hoped was a delicate and feminine manner. “Thank you. Perhaps you could get me a glass of water?”

He turned toward the sink. “Oh, not that,” Erin said. “You know how awful the tap water is here. Full of nasty minerals.” She gave a little shudder.

“There’s a cooler down the hall,” Camie said. “Here, you can use my mug.” She thrust it at him.

“Why don’t you go,” Mitchell said, “and I’ll stay here with Erin. If she faints, I’ll be able to hold her better.”

“Oh no,” Camie said with wide eyes. “I’m not allowed to leave the machine shop unattended when people are in here.”

Mitchell sighed. “I’ll be back in a moment.”

As soon as the door closed behind him, Camie hissed, “You batted your eyelashes at him.”

“I did not!” Erin considered. “Did I?”

Camie grinned. “It was great.” She ran across the room, grabbed The Finder, and tucked it into a corner under the table. She crossed back to Erin, her eyes on the door. “He’s definitely acting suspiciously.”

“He was in my office when I got there. Said he wants to talk to me later.” Erin stuck out her tongue. “I’d ask him to take me home, just to get him out of here, but I’m afraid he’d want to help me inside. I don’t want him in my house.” She couldn’t entirely believe that Mitchell was dangerous, that the charming man who had entertained her over dinner might have anything to do with her accident or the burglary. But the thought of letting him in her house made her feel as trembly as she’d been acting.

Camie glanced at the wall clock. “When he came in, he said something about a two o’clock meeting. It’s almost that now.”

The door opened, and the women smiled as Mitchell joined them and handed the water to Erin. She took a sip. “Mmm, thank you. I’m feeling better already.”

“Let me take you home.”

Damn. “Oh, that’s all right. I want to rest here a little longer. Then I’m sure I’ll be fine.”

“You don’t want to be late for your meeting,” Camie said.

Mitchell glanced at his expensive watch and frowned. “I suppose I could be a few minutes late.” He gave Erin the wide, charming smile she was beginning to hate. “After all, what meeting is more important than your health?”

“Well aren’t you just the sweetest thing ever?” Erin gushed. She realized she had suddenly picked up a fake southern accent and warned herself to tone it down. “I would hate to make you late for an important meeting. I’ll just rest here for a little while. I promise, if I don’t feel well enough to drive, I’ll get a ride home.”