Well, hell. Who moved my building? she demanded.
If he answered her, she couldnt hear him-possibly because her right ear was abruptly crushed against his chest. His long arm tucked her against his side as he turned her around, steering her toward the brownstone. Shed have protested, but the truth was that shed have stumbled if he hadnt helped hold her up.
Still, she felt the situation needed clarifying. Look, she said, I dont do this. Ever.
Dont do what?
I dont fall in love with men who arent honest with me. Cripes, its hard enough for me to loosen up with men who are honest with me. Youre too far off my radar, Cord. Theres no reason youd normally be looking at me. So something isnt kosher. I feel it. I know it. So thats it. Im not falling in love with you. Itd be like getting a love note from a pistachio.
Huh?
You dont know the pistachio song? You want me to sing it?
No. Please God, no. Sophie, just concentrate on walking, okay?
Or I could sing the other song, about walking on the safe side of the sidewalk. About how shes afraid to trust anyone, even herself. Thats me. The untruster. The safe sidewalk walker. She repeated that phrase, charmed with herself. All those Ss and Ws. And she said them brilliantly. Several times.
Out of the complete blue, Cord suddenly lifted her in his arms.
What-
Shh. No more talking for you.
Well, the truth was, she was pretty darned exhausted. So she closed her eyes for just a second, thinking she just needed a moment to catch her breath.
Just before opening her eyes, Sophie felt the snuggly security of a warm, breathing body next to her. A male body. And so typical of a male whod gotten exactly what he wanted, he was purring loud enough to wake the neighborhood. Caviar, you know youre not allowed under the covers Her groggy voice trailed off abruptly. Caviar didnt seem to be the only male in her bedroom.
Cord looked downright silly, sprawled in her white wicker rocker with the flowery cushion. Hed taken off his shoes. His right sock had a hole. His hair looked raked by a tornado and his chin had sprouted a weed patch of whiskers.
He was also awake. Glaring at her with those sexy dark eyesalthough the shadows under his eyes were bigger than boats.
What on earth are you doing here? she said groggily.
You scared the hell out of me.
I scared you?
You had a ton of food, you know. A ton. I thought the wine would help you calm down. When we first left, I could see how shaken up you were by the break-in. And you only had half the bottle. It was just wine. After all that food. I take it you dont normally drink?
Is this your way of apologizing for getting me drunk? She peeked under the covers. Caviar looked up at her with sleepy eyes. Nothing else under there but her in all her clothes-except for her shoes-and the cat.
I didnt get you drunk. I was trying to be helpful, for Gods sake.
She leaned up on an elbow. Hed stayed there all night, just because he was worried about her?
But then the rest of life came back into focus. Daylight filtered through the north window, illuminating part of the devastation from the night before. Her tall, antique-white bookcase with the glass doors-hers, not part of the rental furniture that came with the place-was in shambles, glass panes broken, books spilled all over the polished plank floors. Her shoes and purses looked strewn from her closet by a drunk ogre on a binge. Drawers were askew, revealing bra straps and socks and an upended box of old letters. You were helpful, she said to Cord. I dont care if I had too much wine. I needed to get away from this for a little bit. But now
Now she had a monster mess-and a job-to attend to, and she assumed hed leave. Instead, when she got out of the bathroom, fresh showered, still pulling a purple sweater over her pounding head, Cord was still there.
She found him in the kitchen, by following the smell of fresh coffee and the sound of crackling eggs, but he stopped messing with the spatula the instant she walked in. Talk about an inspection. She felt examined, from her gray flannel skirt to the bulky fit of her purple sweater to her fresh-washed hair. His gaze narrowed on her face, though. You dont feel sick? he asked her.
Sick at the mess from the break-in, yes. Sick because of the wine, no. What?
He motioned her to sit at the table-where hed miraculously cleared a spot for a plate and fork, as if he owned the place. Next to the napkin, though, was a thick manila envelope. Dont touch it, he said. Im taking it to the police this morning. But I wanted you to see it first. It was in my brothers mailbox this morning.
She picked up the china cup of coffee at the same time she glanced at the envelopes contents. And then slapped down the cup abruptly.
Good grief, she said.
I didnt count it. I grabbed a paper towel so I wouldnt get my fingerprints on it. But as far as I can tell
These are hundreds of hundred-dollar bills. Holy cow. Holy smokes. There must be thousands of dollars in there.
Yeah. He let out an exasperated sigh. No note, no nothing to identify the sender. Looks pretty obviously like blackmail money to me. I dont know why else anyone would be sending Jon cash-not cash like this. And whoever the sender was, apparently he-or she-didnt know Jon was dead.
She stared at him in shock.
But Cord wasnt through talking. Sophie, he said quietly, I need your help. I know the police will do what they can, but I just dont have total faith in their ability to figure this out-at least fast enough to prevent any more trouble. I have to find out what Jon was up to. I wish it werent your problem, but damn it, it is. Once they broke into your place, it became your problem, too. Youre not safe. I dont know how to make you safe until weve got an answer for this.
Two days could make an amazing difference. Her apartment was full of noise and laughter. Caviar had strategically located himself on top of the living room bookshelf, where he could regard the group of women with a slit-eyed, appalled expression. Down at coffee-table level, the remnants of a pizza, sodas and paper plates covered that space. The floor was more littered with cleaning supplies and trash bags than the cat could survive.
You guys are being so wonderful, Sophie said helplessly.
Oh, shut up, Soph. Youd do the same for us. Jan, looking like a moon goddess in a tie-dyed silver smock dress, had been the first to show up after work. Shed taken on the job of keeping everyone fed and watered-at least when she wasnt nosing around Sophies bookshelves and drawers and all. You know, if youd just give me a budget and some permission, I could turn this place into something else. Its got gorgeous architecture.
I think the last thing Soph is worried about right now is color schemes. Hillary had popped in after a shift at the hospital. Shed taken off her lab coat, revealing jeans and a white sweater. On her, the outfit looked runway-ready. Shed installed herself in front of Sophies computer, and was analyzing what damage the vandal had done to the files and records.
Well, I want to hear about Jons brother. Penelope, after spending a hard day doing the lobbyist thing-or so she claimed-was leaned over the couch from behind, rubbing Sophies neck. Sophies neck didnt actually need rubbing, but it gave Penelope something to do besides work. Is he as cute as Jon? How much time are you spending with him? What does he think Jon was up to? Is he single?
Well, I want to hear about Jons brother. Penelope, after spending a hard day doing the lobbyist thing-or so she claimed-was leaned over the couch from behind, rubbing Sophies neck. Sophies neck didnt actually need rubbing, but it gave Penelope something to do besides work. Is he as cute as Jon? How much time are you spending with him? What does he think Jon was up to? Is he single?
I want to hear what the cops are doing about this break-in. Jan tried to close up an overfilled box of books. Foggy Bottoms supposed to be safe. The real thieves are supposed to be in DC-or on Capitol Hill-not here. Its scary. You want me to stay here for a few nights, Soph?
No, no, Im fine. But I do appreciate all the help putting it back together. It would have taken me night upon night upon night. Sophie stood up, realizing all the knots in her neck were actually gone. Thanks, Penelope. Man, are you great at that.
I am, Penelope agreed with a frank laugh. Men love a good back rub. It was a skill I acquired early. Anyway, you know what I heard?
What? Jans head popped up from her box.
You know Athena Simpson? The woman senator from Arizona? I heard she broke down when she heard Jon died, closed up the office, just disappeared for a few days.
But shes married, Sophie said.
Jan exchanged glances with Penelope.
Cut it out, Sophie said crossly. I know married people have affairs. Its justshes a senator.
Yeah, well, everyone says her husbands gay. Not bi. Gay. So Im not throwing stones if she was sleeping with Jon on the side.
I wasnt throwing stones, Sophie said. I just
Youre just going to be naive until the day you die, Hillary said wryly, coming from the kitchen, wiping her hands on a towel. You had your hard drive copied, Sophie. Completely. And you had two corrupted files on there-but I dont think they were your work.
You could fix the corrupted stuff?
Yeah, no sweat. In another life, maybe Ill do surgery on electronics instead of people. Although, really, Sophie, your backup procedures are first rate. You could have done this.
Maybe, Sophie agreed. But I thought it would help to have another set of eyes. When I went through it all my current work seemed to be there. And thats just it, why would someone mess with my computer system if they didnt take any of the work? For that matter, why would anyone look on here to begin with? Nothing I do is remotely top secret.
Yeah, well, in Washington, even the whisper of something wicked is enough to start an avalanche.
But not from me. No one could possibly think I was an avalanche starter-Cord! All four women straightened at the sudden appearance of Cord in the doorway. I thought you were teaching tonight, Sophie said swiftly.
Canceled. In fact, I arranged for a free week, so I could concentrate on my brothers business. Ladies, I think I remember you allJan, Hillary, Penelope
Her heart seemed to hiccup. Theyd shared kisses now. Hed slept in her room. Theyd shared things, laughed together. She refused to be so preposterous as to believe it could be a love thing, but right at that instant, she knew she was in trouble. Heart trouble.