But even fully clothedwell, if you could call wearing a transparent robe fully clothedthered been a certain quality about her that surprised the hell out of him.
She was cute. Okay, cute and sexy as hell. And what a mouth. Not just the pink, pouty lips, but what had come through them. She seemed as open and honest and unpretentious as a daisy. Certainly not like any fugitive felon hed ever seen.
She was kind of hot, huh? LaJolla commented. Then he watched Heath carefully for a reaction.
Damn. This was an important case. The Thompsons were influential people. If he solved it, if he recovered the stolen painting, maybe he could put the past behind him. Focusing on Brenna Thompsons sexy mouth wasnt the place to start.
Heath turned into the alley behind the empty office theyd been using as a surveillance base. I dont think shes anything special.
Chapter One
It was November, and Heath Packer was sweating. It was only about seventy degrees, a temperature that would have been heaven in any other part of the country. But here in New Orleans, the air was still and the humidity hovering at a hundred percent. Plus, Heath was trapped in a car. Not even the tinted windows totally protected him from the suns warming rays.
Hed been surprised when Brenna and Sonya had taken off in the middle of the night. He and LaJolla had gamely followed them all the way to southern Louisiana, where the two women had checked into the humble Magnolia Guest House. He could only assume this trip had something to do with Marvin Carter.
Heaths research into the Marvin Carter case had yielded lots of fascinating information about Brenna. Since no one else at the Bureau was much interested in Carteras Brenna had indicatedHeath had taken over the case and combined it with the Thompson case. All indications were that Marvin Carter and Brenna Thompson were partners, while Sonya Patterson and Cindy Lefler Rheems were mere patsies. However, Heath had yet to put all the pieces of the puzzle together.
You havent done much surveillance in a warm climate, observed Grif Hodges, an agent out of New Orleans whod been brought in on the case, since it was now in their backyard. Mercifully, the humorless LaJolla had gone back to Dallas.
Grif, a New Orleans native, had on gym shorts and a T-shirt. Heath was stuck in his regulation dress shirt and suit pants, his jacket and tie ready in case he had to do anything official.
Theyd been parked on this street for an hour, watching Brennas room.
Finally, just as Heath was forced to crack the windows or suffocate, the women emerged. Sonya, as always, was dressed to the nines in a silk blouse, a coordinating jacket, slim black pants and spike heels. But it was Brenna who drew his eye. She wore overalls with a pink tank top underneath. Yet even in such shapeless clothing, there was no disguising her full breasts or rounded bottom. As she locked the door, she laughed at something Sonya said.
Heaths mouth went dry. Who could believe such a perky pixie of a woman could have pulled off a world-class heist? But the evidence couldnt be more clear.
As the two women headed off on foot toward the French Quarter, Brennas gaze swept the street. Heaths heart almost stopped beating when her eyes fixed on his car, and for a moment he was sure shed spotted him. But then she looked away and they continued down the sidewalk.
The agents prepared to follow Sonya and Brenna on foot, but the women turned into a tiny café at the end of the block.
Ill keep an eye on them, Grif offered. You see if you can get into their room.
Adrenaline pumping, Heath quickly located the Magnolias manager. The blue-haired lady who ran the guest house took one look at his credentials and had no problem letting him into Brennas room.
Ill let myself out and lock the door when Im done, Heath said in a no-nonsense tone when Madame Blue Hair lingered in the doorway, looking worried.
What do I tell them if they complain that someone was in their room? she asked.
They will never know I was here, Heath assured her, shooing her out the door. And I know you wont tell them, will you?
The room was small and spartan, with twin beds, a small table and chairs, a battered oak dresser and a noisy window air-conditioning unit. It looked as if each of the women had claimed a bed. The one by the far wall had only one open suitcase on it, a fancy brocade one, partially unpacked. Two matching suitcases were stacked in a corner.
The second bed was covered with wadded-up clothes. A plain black suitcase, also open, overflowed with what looked to be garments selected and rejected. Heath noticed the cream-colored silky tab of fabric peeking out. He couldnt resist pulling it out, recognizing it as the garment Brenna had been wearing when hed first confronted her. It was so delicate that he could ball it up and make it disappear inside his fist.
He put it back where hed found it. He wasnt here to entertain fantasies. He went through Brennas suitcase first, finding nothing but clothing, shoes and toiletries. Next he checked the dresser drawers. The ones on Sonyas side were filled with neatly folded clothes. Brennas were empty. Likewise the closet featured several color-coordinated outfits, dainty sweater sets and tailored pants with designer labels. No clothes that could possibly belong to Brenna.
He checked the bathroom. One set of cosmetics lined up precisely, all the same brand, all looking as if they had just been pulled from the department store display case. On the other side of the sink, mismatched drugstore makeup and toiletries spilled from three different zipper cases.
He checked everywhere. Nothing incriminating. No phone numbers or addresses or mysterious business cards that might explain Brennas presence in New Orleans. Definitely no stolen oil paintings.
He went back to Brennas suitcase and felt all around the inside. A suspicious thickness caught his attention. He realized there was a hidden zipper that had escaped his notice during the first inspection. He unzipped the secret compartment and reached inside.
Holy cow. Cash, enough to choke a rhinoceros. Now, this was interesting. Brenna had told him that Marvin Carter had stripped her clean, that she was destitute. He quickly counted it. Close to twelve thousand dollars.
He heard footsteps just outside and hastily returned the cash to its hiding place. When someone fitted a key into the door, he did the only thing he could think ofhe darted into the closet. This search wasnt precisely illegal, because the manager had let him in. But it wasnt a hundred percent defensible, either. Besides, he didnt want to tip his hand yet. If Brenna knew she was under surveillance, she would never lead him to Marvin Carter and the stolen painting.
The door opened, and he expected to hear the womens voices. Instead he heard a man say a curt, Thanks, and the door closed again. What the hell?
Heath opened the closet door a crack. A wide-shouldered man in a leather jacket had his back to Heath. He was looking around the room, not touching anything. Could Heath possibly be this lucky? Had Marvin Carter just dropped into his lap? If he could capture both him and Brenna, surely one of them would flip on the other.
But when the man turned, Heath could see he looked nothing like the photos hed seen of Marvin. This guy had shaggy blond hair, a square chin and chiseled cheekbones, nothing like Marvins soft features and trim, dark hair.
But when the man turned, Heath could see he looked nothing like the photos hed seen of Marvin. This guy had shaggy blond hair, a square chin and chiseled cheekbones, nothing like Marvins soft features and trim, dark hair.
Unlike Heath, the newcomer spent little time on Brennas things, focusing instead on Sonyas suitcase. He methodically checked the contents, then put everything back just as he found it.
A noise at the door startled the intruder, and he froze. Another key scraped in the lock. This place was Grand Central Station.
Suddenly the blond man wrenched open the closet door and lunged inside, closing the door just as Brenna and Sonya entered.
I cant believe you forgot the money, Sonya was saying. How embarrassing.
I got used to you paying for everything with your Visa, said Brenna. At least they didnt make us wash dishes.
Yeah, well, we better return pretty quick with some cash. I didnt like the way that waiter was looking at us.
Right about then, the blond man realized he was not alone in the closet. But he displayed unbelievable control, because he didnt make any noise except for a slightly audible intake of breath.
Who the hell are you? Heath whispered, pretty sure the women couldnt hear him over the drone of the air conditioner.
I was about to ask the same thing, the blond man said.
Wait, said Sonya. Im going to hang this jacket up. I dont need it. And she swung open the closet door.
She opened her mouth to scream, but she stopped herself as her shocked gaze locked on the other man. John-Michael McPhee, what are you doing in my closet?
Brenna joined her at the closet door, equally surprised. Agent Packer?
Heath was going to have to do some fast talking to get himself out of this one. He exchanged a glance with the other man as they both stepped out of the closet. And for one brief moment, he felt they were in sync. Neither of them was supposed to be here, and theyd both been caught. And unless Heath missed his guess, McPhee had some law enforcement training.
He sensed an ally.
And speaking of allies, where was Grif? If hed been keeping his eye on the women, he would know by now Heath was caught in here. Then he saw a face at the window. Grif caught his eye, smiled and waved, then disappeared. Apparently Grif had read the situation accurately, saw there was no immediate danger and had decided not to interfere.
Your mother sent me to find you, Sonya, McPhee began. Youre supposed to be at Elizabeth Arden.
Sonya sank onto her bed and folded her arms. Im not a child. I can come and go as I please.
Not when your moms footing the bill, you cant. She got the Visa statement. There were charges from all over Texas and Louisiana. She was afraid youd been kidnapped.
That does not explain why you broke into my hotel room.
Brenna pointed at Heath. And it doesnt explain what hes doing here. She fastened her icy blue eyes on him. I bet youre not even FBI.
Heath quickly produced his Bureau identification, which Brenna inspected thoroughly, as if she would know real credentials from fake ones. I saw this guy coming into your room, he improvised. At first I thought he was your runaway fiancé. I came in thinking I would make an arrest.
He glanced over at the other man, who amazingly did not contradict him.
So youve been following me, Brenna said on a rising note.
Heath saw no way out of this. Yes, I was following you. I thought you might be protecting your fiancé. Its a perfectly natural assumption. Romeo con men often inspire loyalty in their victims.
So you feel you were perfectly justified entering our room without our permission, Brenna said, looking at first one man, then the other. We could have you arrested, she said, jabbing her finger into McPhees chest. Then she turned back to Heath. She almost jabbed him, too, then stopped at the last minute, as if shed thought better of it. And you. Unless you have a search warrant, I could have your badge.
The last thing Heath needed was someone trying to get him fired. After his troubles in Baltimore, he was already skating on thin ice. Supervisory Special Agent Fleming Ketcher would have kittens if he knew Heath had been caught in an iffy search.
McPhee, obviously not intimidated by Brennas bravado, ignored her and sat on the bed next to Sonya. I was worried about you, thats all, he said, his voice soft. I really did believe someone might have kidnapped you.
Sonya was unaffected by his attempt to mollify. The only person you care about is yourself. If anything happened to me, youd look pretty bad.
Sonya, you know thats not true. Tell me whats going on.
She considered her reply for several long seconds. Brennas an old friend, a sorority sister. Brennas eyebrows flew up, but she said nothing. Pretty soon Im going to be an old stodgy married woman, Sonya continued. Mother had the wedding under control. I just wanted to have some fun, get it out of my system.
Sonya was lying through her teeth. It sounded like she hadnt admitted to anyone shed been snookered by a con man. In fact, it appeared as if this John-Michael McPheea family friend?and Sonyas mother believed she was still engaged to Marvin.
Heath wasnt going to rain on her parade. That was for her to sort out with her family. His concern was Brenna, the depth of whose involvement in Marvins various schemes was yet to be determined.
McPhee seemed to be evaluating Sonyas explanation. But it was hard to tell whether he believed her or not. Finally he said, Sonya, you need to come home. Your mothers not well.
Sonya rolled her eyes. Mothers never well. Shes the biggest hypochondriac Ive ever known.
Shes not kidding around this time. Shes in the hospital. Shesshes had a heart attack.
Brennas hand went to her mouth in alarm, while Sonya went white as a marble statue. Oh, my God, she murmured. Is she okay? John-Michael, tell me the truth.
Shes stable. But you need to come home. Now.
She nodded. Ill get packed. Would you wait for me outside, please? Ill only be a minute.
McPhee hesitated, then nodded. He stood, gave Heath a skeptical look, then held out his hand. John-Michael McPhee. Thanks for not shooting me.
Heath took the proffered hand. Heath Packer. I usually ask questions first, then shoot.
As Sonya threw clothes into her suitcase, McPhee headed for the exit. Brenna opened the door for him, giving him an unmistakable warning look. Then she transferred her attention to Heath. You, too.
I need to talk
Get a warrant.
Oooookay. At least she wasnt on the phone to his boss. Yet. Fleming Ketcher would not find this situation amusing.
ONCE THE INTERLOPING MEN were safely outside and the door closed, Brenna turned to Sonya. Who is that gorgeous guy?
Sonya continued packing without looking at Brenna, her movements sharp and ultraefficient. Hes my bodyguard.
Brenna couldnt help it. She laughed. You have a bodyguard?
Its my mothers idea. Ive told you shes a bit over-protective. After what happened to my father, can you blame her?
Brenna sobered at the reminder. So your mother doesnt know about Marvin being a con man?