Semiautomatic Marriage (17 page)

“All right, I won’t, but I don’t like the idea of tagging around after you all day.”

His expression softened. This flare of independence was one of the things he loved about her. She wanted to be her own person no matter the circumstances, and he wouldn’t want to force her into a role that would crush that. At the same time, he intended to keep a tight rein on her activities.

“Why don’t you spend the day with Della?” he suggested. “After all, if I weren’t in the picture, that’s what you’d naturally be doing to get a feel for the company.”

“She probably thinks I’m some kind of a dimwit, spending my time shopping with Lisa and sleeping late in the mornings,” Carolyn lamented.

Adam grinned. “Exactly. By now Della’s anxiety about your taking over should have worn off. Her defenses will be down, and no telling what you’ll be able to learn.”

“I don’t even know what I should be looking for. None of this is in my area of expertise,” she reminded him. How could he expect her to function as his trained investigative partner?

“For the moment just be aware of the way Della relates to different people. If you pick up any inconsistencies, make a mental note of them.”

“Inconsistencies like what?”

“Relating to someone in a way that is outside normal work interaction. Whoever is orchestrating this black-market fraud within the company isn’t doing it alone. It’s too big of an operation and too complicated.”

If the evidence against Horizon hadn’t been so conclusive, she would have argued that the company was innocent of any wrongdoing. More than anything she wished that Adam was wrong, but there was no discounting his conviction and determination. He’d lost someone he loved, and others would die if they didn’t bring the guilty ones to justice.

She firmed her chin. “All right. I’ll do my best. I’ve depended on my intuition about people more than once.”

They entered the building together, and for the benefit of any peering eyes, he gave her a hug and said, “See you in a while, darling.”

He blew her a kiss as he took the elevator up to the second floor, and Carolyn was smiling when she reached Della’s office. She warmly greeted the secretary sitting at an outer desk.

“Hello, I’m Carolyn Lawrence. Is Mrs. Denison in?”

“I’m sure she will be for you, Mrs. Lawrence. Just a moment and I’ll buzz her.”

Della must have already been on her feet when she heard who was waiting to see her, for her door jerked open only a second later. “For heaven’s sake, Carolyn, you don’t need to be announced. Why didn’t you use the connecting door between the offices?”

“I haven’t been to my office yet,” Carolyn confessed. “I’ve been out buying a car.” She knew she
was deliberately fostering the impression that Adam wanted Della to have of her. Pleasure-seeking. Unmotivated. Dragging her feet about assuming any responsibility in the company.

“Well, come in. I was just having a little conference with Cliff, but we’re almost through.”

Carolyn’s sense of well-being instantly dissipated as Cliff rose from a chair in front of Della’s desk and gave her that knowing smile of his. “Good afternoon, Caro. Did I hear you say you’ve bought yourself a car?” He winked. “A Cadillac, no doubt, complete with all the bells and whistles.”

“Sorry to disappoint you, Cliff,” she replied without elaborating. It wasn’t any of his damn business what kind of car she bought. Turning to Della, she smiled apologetically. “Sorry to interrupt. If you don’t mind, I’ll just sit quietly while you take care of business.”

“Of course.” Della motioned to a leather chair in the conversational grouping of furniture that was some distance from her desk and where Cliff sat. Then she took some papers from her desk and leaning over his shoulder, talked quietly to him.

Their voices were muffled, and Carolyn had no idea if they were talking about the papers or about something else. When the intercom buzzed, Della listened and then said to Cliff, “Excuse me a minute. I have to confer with my secretary.”

She left the office, it was obvious to Carolyn that whatever Della needed to say to her secretary, she didn’t want to be overheard. Cliff got up from his chair and sauntered over to where Carolyn was sitting.

“How’s the pretty little rich girl doing?” he
asked in that affable way of his. Only the glint in his eye told her there was a hidden agenda in his question.

“The same as always,” she answered pointedly. “Nothing’s changed really. I guess I could wake up tomorrow and go back to my old life, if that’s the way things turned out.”

“That would be a real shame. I’d sure hate to see you dragging a lot of old baggage around.”

“What makes you think I am? I assure you that I cut myself loose from my past mistakes a long time ago. How about you, Cliff?”

The question was a subtle way of reminding him that blackmail could work both ways. She knew things about him he wouldn’t want spread around, and as far as she was concerned he had a lot more to lose than she did. Then a thought like electricity shot through her.

Maybe Cliff wasn’t thinking of blackmailing her for money, but for her silence! If he was connected with the black-market trade, he would use everything he could to keep her from blowing the whistle.

“I never was one for compromise, Cliff,” she warned him.

“That’s too bad, Caro.” He started to say something more, but Della returned to her office, and his mask fell back in place. He left the office a few minutes later.

The rest of the afternoon Carolyn observed Della working at the computer, talking on the phone to people Carolyn didn’t know and solving problems she didn’t bother to explain to Carolyn. Carolyn realized that if she was to get a handle on the finances of the company, she was going to have to spend time
looking over Della’s records. With her background, she’d be able to see for herself if the company was solvent. It was a little disturbing to realize how this one woman controlled so many areas. Carolyn couldn’t help but wonder if her grandfather had placed blind trust in Della Denison.

When Adam was ready to leave the business office, it was quitting time. His time with Susan had been about as productive as Carolyn’s. He’d observed the mechanics, but Susan hadn’t been very forthcoming about the details of the operation. Certainly he hadn’t been able to pick up any hints how false orders could be sent through the system.

They decided against going back to the mansion for dinner. Enduring another family dinner like the one the night before held no attraction. When Carolyn informed Della they’d be eating out, much to their surprise, she recommended a steak-and-lobster restaurant located in a small shopping area north of the city.

The drive along the waterfront was pleasant, and the food turned out to be everything Della had claimed. As Carolyn and Adam relaxed and enjoyed their meal, they deliberately avoided any stressful topic of conversation.

For a couple of hours they were just two people getting to know each other. After dinner they strolled along a pedestrian walkway lined with inviting stores.

“You could go inside and buy anything that strikes your fancy,” Adam reminded her.

“I’ve never been into stuff-ology,” she admitted. “I don’t have to own things to enjoy them.”

He grinned. “Somehow I don’t think that’s going
to change. But now you can buy gifts for other people. How about your friend Rosie?”

Carolyn’s eyes sparkled. “Wonderful idea. I’m going to buy her a music box. She used to drive me crazy listening to every one displayed in a store, knowing full well she couldn’t afford to buy any of them.”

They found a gift store, and Carolyn chose a miniature carousel with tiny pastel horses. Delighted with her gift, she slipped her arm through Adam’s as they retraced their steps to their car.

“How about going for a drive?” he asked as if the two of them were on a date. “It’s a lovely clear night. We might even park and count the stars.”

“Are your intentions honorable?” she asked with mock solemnity. He looked devastatingly handsome and sexy in his matching beige chambray shirt and trousers.

“Absolutely.”

“It’s a beautiful night,” she said. “Maybe we shouldn’t waste it.” She was surprised at her boldness. Flirting had never been part of her repertoire, and she felt a little nervous. What would she do if he thought she was coming on to him in a sexual way? Making out in a car when they had a huge bed waiting for them seemed utterly ridiculous.

They drove south for a few miles, and then Adam turned onto a small road leading to an elevated viewpoint area overlooking Puget Sound. Another car was parked there, but it left almost immediately.

A beach stretched at the bottom of a steep, rocky incline. As Adam turned off the ignition, Carolyn said, “I love the sound of the surf. Do you think there’s a way to climb down to the water?”

“Looks too steep, but we can check it out.”

They were walking hand in hand toward the edge of the parking area when it happened.

The sound of an engine roar behind them sent a warning. They swung around and saw a car was coming straight at them.

Blinded by the headlights, Carolyn screamed. Her legs wouldn’t work. Paralyzed, she stiffened against the impending impact.

At the last second Adam gave her a vicious shove.

Screaming brakes sounded in their ears as they tumbled head over heels down the rocky embankment to the water’s edge.

Chapter Eleven

Carolyn landed on her back in the cold, wet sand. Stunned, she saw the stars in the sky whirling like an off balance top. Everything had happened so fast that for one incoherent moment she thought she must be dreaming, but her bruised body assured her she was fully conscious.

When she heard Adam groan, all doubts faded. Gasping for breath, she pushed herself into a sitting position. Every inch of her battered body ached. Gingerly she moved her legs to make sure that nothing was broken, and then her frantic gaze swept the narrow, rock-littered strip of sand. The sound of the surf muffled the direction Adam’s groans were coming from, and she couldn’t see him.

“Adam! Where are you?” No sign of him on the narrow strip of sand as she got unsteadily to her feet. He must have been caught in the rocks and not fallen all the way down to the water’s edge.

“Adam!” Brushing strands of sandy hair away from her face, she searched the rocky incline. At first she didn’t see anything in the light-and-dark pattern of tumbled rocks, but as her anxious eyes continued to scan the slope, she saw a slight movement.

Heedless of her bruises, she clamored upward. She heard his groans before she reached him. He was lying between two boulders that had stopped his downward plunge, and one of them had been dislodged and was lying right on top of him. His groans were efforts to get the large rock off him.

Between the two of them, they were able to move it and send it tumbling down the slope to the water below. Bending over him, she ordered in a tone that brooked no argument, “Don’t move.”

She checked his pulse. Its steady rhythm was reassuring. Her hands moved quickly over his hips, legs, arms and head. No outward signs of injury.

“What hurts?”

“What doesn’t?” he answered as he sat up, then assured her he was all right. She let out a sigh of relief. No broken ribs.

He asked anxiously, “What about you?”

“Oh, I made it all the way to the bottom and landed on some soft sand. Piece of cake,” she lied, trying not to wince every time she moved. She looked upward and silently groaned.

“Do you want to wait awhile before we climb back up to the car?”

She shook her head. Strained muscles only tightened up as time passed. She hated to think what their bruised bodies would feel like in the morning.

Her voice was rather shaky as she asked, “Do you think it’s safe?”

He knew what she was asking.
Did he think someone stuck around, waiting to finish the job?
The sound of screeching brakes still echoed in his ears. Obviously the plan had been to run them over with a car, and Adam doubted that the assailant had stuck
around, because anyone with a gun could have picked them off already.

“Yes, I think it’s safe,” he said, and prayed to God he was right.

The climb up the rocky slope wasn’t as excruciating as either of them feared. It was a miracle they’d come out of the ordeal with only scratches and bruises.

When they reached the top of the incline, Adam stood protectively in front of Carolyn as he surveyed the parking area.

Empty except for their car.

He listened for any hint of an idling engine, but only faint night sounds and the hum of distant traffic met his ears.

“Okay, let’s do it.” He nodded to Carolyn and they ran across the open space to the safety of their car. As soon as they were inside, Adam started the engine, turned the car around and headed back toward the center of the city.

Carolyn just sat there in a kind of blessed shock. It had all happened so fast she was still trying to collect her thoughts and emotions.

“Did you have any glimpse of the car at all?” Adam asked.

She shook her head. “There wasn’t time.”

“Those damn headlights blinded us the minute we turned around. The only thing I’m sure of is that it was a car, not a van or truck.”

“We have to tell the police,” Carolyn said. She hated the thought of being in the public eye, but what choice did they have? Someone had tried to kill them.

“No,” Adam said. “We don’t want to bring the local law enforcement into this.”

“But—” Carolyn started to protest.

“The local authorities could blow our cover. Division of authority results in chaos most of the time, and there’s no way to bring local law enforcement into this without complicating our federal investigation at Horizon. My boss would have my head if I invited that kind of a leak about my undercover status.”

“But how can we keep quiet about this?” Her voice rose. “We can’t just ignore it.”

“I have no intention of ignoring it,” he answered patiently. “When something like this happens, it’s a warning signal. We’ve got to move faster.” He gave her a searching look. “You said nothing happened with Della this afternoon.”