Part 17 (1/2)
”Did you find something?”
”Maybe. It'sa interesting. I'll check further.”
McPherson rolled his chair over beside John's and read the information on the computer screen. ”Huh.”
”Did you know him?”
”No, but we sure as h.e.l.l know his brother, don't we?”
”Wake up, honey.” Marc smoothed his hand over Karen's shoulder, cupping his palm over the smooth, cool ball of the joint. ”Here's a cup of coffee.”
She blinked sleepily. ”What time is it?” she mumbled.
”Not late. Seven-thirty.”
”Then why are you up? You said you don't have to go to work.” She pushed herself up in bed, yawning as she reached for the cup of steaming, fragrant coffee. The sheet slid to her waist, and Marc's hand almost automatically went to her bare b.r.e.a.s.t.s, stroking, rubbing her nipples. Karen leaned against him and nestled her head on his shoulder as she sipped the coffee, enjoying his fondling.
”I don't, but we do have to go to Columbus. I called the airline and got two seats on the ten-thirty flight.”
She was silent, a little frightened at the thought of returning to the city she had fled in fear only the day before. It had to be done, though. Marc could go alone, but she didn't want to be separated from him, and he seemed to feel the same way.
He tilted her head up and kissed her, long and slow. She was amazed at how relaxed she felt with him, how comfortable and secure. It didn't bother her that she was naked and he was clothed. They had just spent roughly eighteen hours in bed together, making love, dozing, making love. He had let her get up only to go to the bathroom. When she got hungry, he brought food to her.
The pampering had worked. She felt much better than she had the day before, not nearly as sore. She was well rested, and she was happy. She felt guilty for being so happy, because her father had been murdered a week before and her own situation was serious, but the giddy, light hearted sensation that filled her chest was undoubtedly happiness.
After all her anxious, uncertain over-a.n.a.lyzing before, she felt calm now, and confident. They had committed to each other, and she trusted him. She had no doubt they would soon be getting married; otherwise, he would never have made love to her without using birth control, no matter how good the lack of barrier felt or how tempted he was. Marc was infinitely responsible and reliable. He had shown her that in a hundred small, different ways from the moment she first met him. For the rest of his life, he would be there.
The strong coffee hit her system with a jolt of caffeine, stirring her brain to activity. She needed to shower and wash her hair; she wanted to put down the coffee cup and pull Marc down on the bed with her again, but she wasn't certain they had enough time. She slid her hand up his thigh to check out the situation.
''You're wasting your time,” he said ruefully. ”After last night, I couldn't get a hard-on now if my life depended on it.”
”Are you certain?” She found what she was looking for and began stroking him.
”Not one hundred percent certain, but fairly confident.” He grinned. ”Trust me, the two nights we've spent together are aberrations.”
Tilting her head back against his shoulder, Karen smiled at him. ”So what is your usuala”aha”level of performance?”
He laughed. ”Twice a day is plenty. Once is normal.”
”Every day?”
”If I say yes, are you going to hold me to that?”
”Rain or s.h.i.+ne.”
”In that case, yes. But if I'm tired, you'll have to do the work.”
”Oh, all right, if I have to.” She stopped teasing him and took her hand away. ”I'd better get ready. Want to shower with me?”
”I have breakfast ready. Eat first, then we'll shower.”
After breakfast, he called Shannon to let him know where they were going. ”I'm going to let McPherson know, too,” he said.
”Are you on to something?”
”Karen remembers getting a box in the mail from her father. We're going to see what's in it.”
”When will you be back?”
”Tonight, if we can get a flight. I didn't book a return ticket because I don't know how long this will take. Tomorrow for sure.”
”Okay. I'll keep an eye on your house while you're gone, in case any suspicious characters start nosing around.” He paused. ”Watch your a.s.s.”
”I will. I'll let you know when we get back.”
Then he called the number McPherson had given him, having decided to go with his instincts and trust the man. McPherson picked up on the second ring. ”Yeah.”
”This is Chastain. Miss Whitlaw is with me, and we're going to Columbus this morning to look at some papers of her father's that are in storage. I've notified Shannon, and he knows I'm calling you.”
McPherson snorted. ”Cautious soul, aren't you?”
”Cautious enough.”
”It's a smart thing to be. I'll get someone there to tag along behind you.”
”Tell me what he looks like, so I won't get nervous.”
McPherson paused. Marc had the impression he covered the mouthpiece. Then he said, ”Ah, okay. Tall, early to mid-thirties, dark brown hair, gla.s.ses.”
”Got it.”
”Hea”urn, he'll be wearing a Cincinnati baseball cap. Red. And, um, change the gla.s.ses to sungla.s.ses.”
Either the man who would be following them was standing right there in front of McPherson telling him what he was going to wear, or McPherson was making a list of instructions. Marc suspected the former, otherwise why cover the mouthpiece of the phone?
”Can he get there ahead of us?”
”No problem.”
”How will he spot us?”
”We have ID photographs of both of you.”
”That was quick.”
”As a fox,” McPherson said.