Rescuing A Runaway Bride (9 page)

Tad set his attaché case in the corner, and then dropped down into a chair. “What makes you think there’s anything going on? This is my family’s cabin after all. I’m here on vacation.”

Jake chuckled. “
Boy,
does that ever sound familiar.
Seems to run in the family.”

Samantha chose to take the high road and ignore Jake’s comment.

Tad frowned at her. “What are you doing here, sis? Grayson’s been pretty tight-lipped about the whole thing.”

“I’m here because I want to be and Grayson can go screw himself.”

“So it’s like that, is it?” Tad questioned, scowling. “I’ll kill the bastard.”

“You’ll have to stand in line for that privilege,” Jake said, shoving a mug Tad’s way. “But first you’re going to tell us what you’re doing here. And spare me any of your cock-and-bull stories. I know you’re not here on vacation. I intercepted your email about the drop.”

Tad gulped. “I don’t know what you mean.”

Jake slanted a pointed look at the attaché Tad had leaned against the wall. “How long have you been stealing from your father?”

Samantha tensed, dreading her brother’s answer. She glanced at the attaché he’d brought with him and her heart sank. At his continued silence, she turned to glance at Tad. His outrage seemed to evaporate right before her eyes. He now looked like the scared kid he was.

“This is the first time.” Tad’s voice broke. “I promise.”

“I find that hard to believe. The losses have been going on for the past six months, ever since you joined the firm in fact.”

Tad gulped. “I swear this is the first time. And, anyway, I didn’t really steal anything.”

Jake shook his head. “Oh sure, you were going to sell false information.”

Tad nodded. “That’s exactly what I was going to do.” He got up and retrieved the attaché, opening it to pull out a manila envelope. “I swapped the file they wanted.”

Samantha noticed Jake’s intrigued expression and felt hope bloom back to life. Her faith in her brother’s innocence wasn’t misplaced, after all.

He handed the envelope to Jake. “I was trying to buy some time. I thought maybe if I could catch the blackmailer, I could turn them in.”

“Blackmailer?”
Jake said tightly.

Samantha gasped. “You’re being blackmailed? Why?
About what?”

Tad shook his head. “Not me. A friend of mine is being threatened. I’ve got to help her. I’m her only hope.”

“Her?” Jake asked dryly.

“Who is she?” Samantha asked.

“I promised I wouldn’t tell.”

“You don’t have any choice,” Jake said flatly.

“You can’t make me talk. I don’t care what you do to me, Ramsey.”

Samantha shook her head. “Can’t you see, Tad? The best way to help your girlfriend is to let a professional take care of it. Even if you don’t like Jake, you must agree he’s good at his job.”

Tad hesitated a moment, then sighed. “She works at Logan Industries. Her name is Jennifer Mitchell.”

The name sounded familiar. Samantha racked her brain for a face to go with it. Oh yes, she’d met a Jennifer a few weeks back when she’d visited her dad. She was cute and blonde, just her kid brother’s type. “Uncle Delbert’s new secretary? I had no idea you two were an item.”

“Nobody does. Jenny wanted it to be our secret.”

Jake frowned. “So, what does this alleged blackmailer have on her?”

“It’s all a big misunderstanding.”

“Of course it is,” Samantha broke in, ignoring Jake’s raised brow. Couldn’t he see a gentle approach would work best? She reached out to touch her brother’s hand. “We only want to help. Answer Jake’s questions, okay?”

Tad nodded and leveled a defiant glance at Jake. “She took some petty cash, but she was going to put it back soon. Honest.”

Jake frowned.
“How much?”

“Seven thousand dollars.”

“That was fast. She’s only worked for the firm for three months.”

“She had car problems, and she needed quick cash. She meant to put it back, but now it’s too late for that.”

“Is it, Jake?” Samantha cast a curious glance his way. He was the head of security. Didn’t he have some leeway over things like this?

Jake’s jaw firmed. He glanced resolutely at Tad. “I’m not making any promises, but we may be able to work things out. We’ll deal with it when we get back to town. That’s the best I can do.”

Tad nodded eagerly. “I never thought to ask. I didn’t think.”

“That the goon would understand,” Jake said dryly.

“Yes, well.” Tad turned to look at Samantha. “That still leaves the matter of the man you’re supposed to meet, Tad, if he actually shows up. Are you sure you don’t know who you’re dealing with?”

“Jenny said she didn’t have a clue
who
it was. Otherwise, I would have punched the sucker out.”

“Right.”
Jake nodded.

“Oh, great,” Samantha said with a frown. “Don’t you two know violence never solves anything?”

“I could call Jenny and ask again.”

“No, I don’t want to tip anyone off.” Jake’s jaw tightened. “Someone served you up like a fall guy on a silver platter. I think it’s important to play this out.”

“What do you mean served me up as a fall guy?” Tad scowled.

“It isn’t a coincidence I’m here, kid. Logan Industries has been plagued with a loss of technology for the last six months. We were closing in on the culprits when your friend Jennifer was blackmailed and you were set up to take the fall. The question I’m asking now is by whom?”

Tad shook his head. “I can’t believe it. You must be mistaken.”

Jake picked a paper off the counter. “It’s here in black and white. Whoever it was sent copies of your email to me.”

Tad’s jaw dropped as he scanned the paper.
“But who?
Why?”

“It could have been someone trying to divert suspicion. Or it could have been someone who’s out to hurt you or your father.”

Samantha felt chilled by Jake’s grim deduction. It was true. Setting Tad up for a fall would be the perfect way to destroy their father. But Jake wouldn’t let that happen. He was too good at his job to let the crooks slip away. She had complete faith in his abilities but now saw that it went farther, he cared personally for her family.

Tad went pale. “What can I do to help?”

“Cooperate.”

Samantha nodded. “Yes, listen to Jake. He’s the only one who can untangle this treacherous mess.”

“I guess so,” he said with a sigh.

Jake cued his pager letting out a crackling sound that had Tad jumping and in a moment there was a knock on the door. “Want me, boss?” Hunter said, stepping into the room.

“Yeah we need to have a strategy session,” Jake said.

“That’s right. We’ve got some work ahead of us.” He glanced from Samantha’s open gaze to Tad’s suddenly cautious one. His gut told him Tad was telling the truth, but he wouldn’t be completely crossed off the list of suspects until his story was checked out. In the meantime, Jake intended to keep close tabs on him. He couldn’t afford to drop the ball now and let down his guard.

He’d take whatever steps he needed to solve the case. Hopefully, by the time he was done, Samantha would still be by his side. In addition to the allegiance he felt for his boss, this went deeper than his loyalty to Logan Industries. He wanted to stay right here and teach sweet Samantha all the love lessons she could handle, and then some. He’d come to a startling realization last night. He needed her like a thirsty man needed water. And in spite of their age and class differences, he intended to go after her.

Tad frowned. “What kind of strategy session?”

Jake turned his focus on Tad. It was too great a coincidence that blackmailing was going on alongside industrial espionage. He wasn’t sure how, but instinct told him the crimes were linked. While Tad viewed Jennifer’s actions with a loving eye, Jake had to be more critical. She might not be the victim Tad thought she was. Time would tell, but until he knew for sure he had to insure Tad’s cooperation. “We need a long-range plan, Tad.”

Tad’s jaw tensed.
“Such as?”

“Some of the things I need to do during this investigation may upset you, but I’m going to need you to step back and give me a free hand.”

“You’re talking about Jenny, aren’t you? I’m telling you right now, she would never have set me up.”

“Probably not, but her role in this has to be examined.”

Tad sighed. “I suppose, but you’ll be wasting your time. You haven’t changed your mind about giving her a break, have you?”

Samantha shook her head.
“Of course not, Tad.
When Jake makes a promise, he keeps it.”

Jake felt bolstered by her fervent approval. “No, I haven’t changed my mind. In the meantime, we’ve got the drop to deal with.”

Tad nodded. “Right, I’ll go ahead with it as planned.”

“No, it’s too dangerous.” Samantha looked at Jake.

Jake was relieved to see she was turning to him for backup.
“I agree. I’ll make the drop instead of you. We’re about the same build. If they actually show up, the crook won’t be able to tell the difference in the dark.”

Samantha nodded. “I don’t like the thought of you risking your neck any better, but at least you’ve got some experience. I’m just hoping the creep won’t show up. You don’t think he will, do you?”

Jake was buoyed by her faith in his expertise.
“
Probably not, unless they arranged for another patsy to complete the scam.
They’re probably watching and freaking out because Tad came here early. I’ve got to convince them I believe you’re guilty, which brings me to the second part of our plan. Tad, I’m afraid you’re going to have to go to jail.”

“What!” Samantha
cried out
. “That’s out of the question. You said he was innocent. How can you, in good conscience, put him behind bars?”

Jake’s jaw tightened at
her appalled gasp.
She still didn’t trust him, but then he hadn’t given her much reason to.

Tad leaned forward. “Actually, he’s probably right. With me out of the picture, they might drop their guard.”

Samantha bit her lip as she slanted a worried glance Tad’s way. “Are you really okay with this?”

Tad nodded. “I want this whole mess cleared up. I think I can trust Jake not to betray me.”

She turned to Jake. “All right, go ahead and call. But, please, I don’t want Dad to find out about this until we know who’s really behind it.”

“No problem. Kathy will work with us to help us cover our tracks.” Jake dialed the phone and was patched through to Kathy, who was out on patrol.
“Yeah, Kathy, Jake Ramsey here.
Say, we’ve got a situation here we need your help with. No, Samantha’s okay. It’s something else. Okay, we’ll see you.”

“When’s she coming?” Tad asked.

“She’ll be here in about ten minutes. I’m afraid you’ll have to spend the night in jail to make it convincing.”