One Stubborn Texan - Kara Lennox 2 стр.


Sydneys face grew warm as she realized shed been staring at him rather rudely.

Is something wrong with the coffee? he asked.

Hmm?

You did say cream, right?

Oh. She took another sip, wondering at her lack of composure. Its very good, thank you. He was probably used to women staring. What red-blooded woman wouldnt stare?

He took a long sip of his own coffee. Well? he said, sounding more bemused than impatient. He gazed at her, waiting. His eyes were a vibrant sky-blue, deep and unfathomable.

Wrap your mind around your business, Syd. The firm I work for, Baines & Baines, she began, specializes in matching up unclaimed property with the rightful owners. I believe Ive found a small sum of money that might very well belong to you.

Small, huh? Do you always travel all the way from New York for small sums of money?

Actually, I was visiting an aunt in Austin, Sydney said smoothly even as she upped her respect for Russ Kleins intelligence. He wasnt some country bumpkin she could easily dazzle. But I thought I could take care of this while Im here. If you could answer a few simple questions, we might be able to settle this matter and you could have a check in your hands very soon.

Whats in it for you? Russ asked. His tone wasnt exactly confrontational, but neither was it warm and friendly.

Baines & Baines works strictly on a commission basis, which means you wont owe us any money until we recover funds for you. If youre the person Im looking for, you simply sign a contract authorizing me to claim the funds on your behalf and entitling the agency to a percentage of anything we recover.

How big a percentage? Russ asked suspiciously.

Ten percent. Its actually quite low. Most other P.I.s in this business charge far more. In this case, Sydney had deliberately decided on a low commission, not wanting to take the chance of another investigator undercutting her.

Not that any other heir-finders were on Russs trail. Shed happened, quite by accident, onto the information that had led her here. A very different case had taken her to Las Vegas, where shed been checking into the legality of a certain contested marriage that had taken place in a wedding chapel now known to have performed numerous fraudulent weddings. Shed nearly fainted when shed stumbled across Sammy Oberlins name. For years, investigators had been trying to track down Sammys mysterious son, known only as Russell. But only Sydney had the lead-the name of Sammys first wife, Winnie, never legally married to him, who may very well have borne him a son.

The trail had led to Texas.

Russ made no comment. He simply studied her every bit as frankly as shed done him. Her face felt warm, but maybe it was simply being too close to the stove. It wasnt as if shed never received attention from a handsome man before-though not lately. For the past few months, trying to take care of her fathers agency, as well as her own business, shed barely had time to brush her teeth, much less nurture a social life.

Finally Russ spoke. As far as I know, I havent misplaced any money.

Thats the thing, she hurried to explain. Most of my clients dont realize theyre due some money. Sometimes its a bank account thats been forgotten or a utility deposit. But most often, I search for missing heirs. Sometimes when people die with no will or an old or bad will, its a real chore to locate the heirs.

Are you saying someone died and left me some money? He didnt look as pleased by that possibility as most people were.

Sydney didnt answer his question. Instead she said, Its not prudent for me to reveal too many details until we have an agreement.

Oh, I get it. Youre afraid Ill cut you out.

Yes, exactly. Hed figured out her game pretty quickly. Mr. Klein, I deal in information and information has value. Surely you can see I wouldnt have much of a business if I gave away information for free.

He continued to scowl suspiciously at her. She hadnt yet seen him smile.

I provide a service, she continued, trying to make him understand. I reunite people with money and property they never even knew about. And for that, I charge a fee.

Finally, his frown faded to something more like thoughtfulness. She released the breath shed been holding. Maybe shed gotten through.

I dont begrudge your right to make a living however you see fit, he finally said. But I dont think Im the person youre looking for.

But you dont even know who Im looking for, she pointed out. What was the deal with this guy, anyway?

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But you dont even know who Im looking for, she pointed out. What was the deal with this guy, anyway?

Doesnt matter. I dont want more money. I make a comfortable income and I have everything I need.

For a moment, Sydney just stared. You mean, you wont even answer a few questions? Shed never had anyone refuse to let her hook them up with their money, not unless they already had an idea of where the money was. Most considered the sudden appearance of an heir-finder a gift from on high.

Im a very private person. I dont like people poking around in my personal life.

Just one question. Please. Is your mothers name Winifred? Or anything similar?

My mothers name is Vera.

Sydney sagged. So he wasnt the right one. And your father? Whats his name? she asked, just to be sure.

Russs expression became suddenly fierce. I dont have a father. My mothers never been married.

Im sorry, I dont mean to be so nosy, but do you at least know his name?

He rubbed the tops of his thighs, looking out the window. She knew shed made him very uncomfortable, but she had to be thorough.

My mother slept with a lot of men, he finally said.

Im sorry, she said again. If Russ didnt even know his fathers name, it was doubtful the father even knew of his existence. Damn, shed been so sure she was on the right track. She had some other Russell Kleins to check out in neighboring towns, but this one had been her top candidate. He was the right age. Winnies son was most likely between thirty and thirty-three. If she couldnt find him in this general area, she would have to widen her search to all of Texas-or the whole darn country, if it came to that. But that would take time and time was a luxury she didnt have.

Im sorry you came all this way for nothing, Russ said, and he seemed to relax slightly. Could I buy you lunch? The Cherry Blossom Café across the street makes a mean chicken-fried steak, so at least you wont leave Linhart hungry.

She struggled to regain her equilibrium. No, thanks, she said brightly. Do you know any other Russell Kleins, perhaps relations of yours? Or any Winifred Kleins?

This town is full of Kleins. You cant hardly throw a rock without hitting one. But I dont know any others with the names you mentioned.

Well, if you think of anyone, would you let me know? And maybe you could ask members of your family if they know. Ill be staying at the Periwinkle Bed & Breakfast.

Youre staying here? he asked, surprised.

Im going to spend some time going over documents in your courthouse-birth and death certificates, property records, that sort of thing. Not all records are available online. Im also going to be tracking down a few more Kleins in neighboring towns.

You could still do with lunch.

She couldnt deny that the offer tempted her. But she was on a tight schedule. She couldnt leave her father alone for more than a couple of days, not when he was in such a fragile mental state. Although his depression had lifted somewhat, he still had bad days when he needed her close by.

I appreciate the offer, she said. Maybe another time.

She stood and picked up her things, keeping an eye on the dog, who was still watching her with unnerving intensity. She thanked Russ Klein for his time and headed for the door, deciding quickly on a new strategy. Oh, Mr. Klein?

You can call me Russ.

Russ, then. This sum of money were talking about. It might interest you to know that it runs into eight figures.

Russ Kleins jaw dropped and his eyebrows rose so high they almost met his hairline. Finally shed gotten a reaction out of him.

Thats ten million, she supplied.

I can count the zeroes. Ten million? Dollars? Thats what you call a small sum of money?

Call me if you have any ideas. She hurried out of the store, resisting the temptation to stay and press the matter. Let him sit on that information and see how long he claimed he didnt want or need more money. Maybe he wasnt the Oberlin heir. But she had this nagging sensation he knew something and just wasnt telling her.

Chapter Two

Russ blinked a couple of times as he tried to wrap his mind around ten million dollars. This had to be a mistake. Only one person ever in his life had that kind of money and there was no way

When his vision cleared, Sydney was gone. The jingling of the bell on the door announced her departure. He resisted the urge to chase after her and demand to know more. That was exactly what she wanted and he wouldnt give her the satisfaction. Instead, he moved to the window to watch her walk to her car.

She had quite a nice hitch in her git-along, as Bert would say. As she started to climb into her car, a gust of wind caught her hat and snatched it off her head. She pirouetted gracefully, managing to catch the beret with both hands just before it sailed out of reach. At the same time her eyes caught his and she tossed him a wave and a mischievous smile.

How had Sydney tracked him down? When Sammy had sent him and his mom away, hed done everything possible to erase every trace of their presence in his life.

A whine and the clicking of toenails on the wood floor brought Russs attention back to Nero. The dog was on his feet, sniffing furiously around the legs of the chair that had been Sydneys, then on the floor where her purse and briefcase had been.

Dont worry, Nero, shes gone, Russ said in a soothing voice.

The dog hardly looked relieved. He pressed his nose against the wood floor and traced an invisible trail that meandered toward the door, his floppy jowls puffing out with each breath. Then he stopped, sniffed mightily into the air and gave a sharp bark.

Whats wrong with you? Russ wondered aloud. The city girl had certainly played havoc with his own senses. Maybe her intriguing perfume, which lingered in the air, had upset Neros equilibrium, as well.

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