Check Mate by Beverly Barton Read Free Book Online Page A

didn't intend to waste her time with the standard hypnosis tricks. With a stubborn, self-confident man like Jake, she would have to use drugs if she hoped to achieve the desired effect. But first, she had to set the stage for ABC Amber Text Converter Trial v ersion, http://www.processtext.com/abctxt.html
    Jake, and to make it look totally real for Burgess and Lester.
    After placing the medical bag on her neatly made twin bed, she opened the satchel and prepared two syringes. The first medication would calm Jake, relax him into a state of drowsiness. The second was a top-secret drug—secret to Burgess and Lester.
    After securing the blinds over the windows, Mariah turned on the two fluorescent lights that she'd arranged on either side of the desk. The lights weren't too dim nor were they too harsh and would be conducive to helping Jake relax. After that, she set up the portable CD player and popped in a tape she had prepared that repeated a lulling instrumental tune, the beat mimicking the rhythm of the human heart at approximately fifty-five beats per minute.
    With the room set for her patient, she walked to the head of the stairs and called, "Burgess, please turn the thermostat down by ten degrees. I want the upstairs to be slightly cooler than normal. If you two get chilly, just put on your coats."
    "Yes, ma'am," Burgess replied. "Are you ready for Ingrain now?"
    "Give me a couple of minutes, then bring him up."
    Everything was as ready as it could be—everything but her. She'd never done something like this and wasn't sure just how good an actress she was. This is a part of your job, she reminded herself. You'll do what you have to do.
    Mariah rushed into the bathroom and closed the door. After using the facility, she washed her hands and took a good, hard look in the mirror. Did she look as scared as she felt? No, she didn't. Thank goodness. It wasn't as if she hadn't been involved in numerous difficult and dangerous assignments—she had. But this one was different and more difficult than she'd anticipated. Because of Jake Ingram. She certainly hadn't expected to be instantly attracted to the guy. More attracted to him than she'd ever been to any man, especially on such short acquaintance.
    Just remember that what you're doing will, in the long run, save Jake's life.
    When she emerged from the bathroom, she met Burgess and Jake in the hall. For some reason Jake didn't look like a condemned man, and he should. Damn but he was arrogant self-assured.
    "Bring him into the bedroom and sit him in the chair at the desk," Mariah said.
    Burgess nodded, then prodded Jake, who obediently went into the bedroom and sat down in the chair. He sat with his back straight, his chin tilted, appearing totally unafraid and just a bit too confident to suit Mariah. He was up to something, had some devious plan in the back of his brilliant mind. She hoped he didn't do something stupid, something that would necessitate Burgess and Lester playing rough. A major part of her job was to keep Jake alive, and unharmed if at all possible.
    "Jake, I'm going to give you an injection," Mariah said. "Please, roll up your sleeve."
    He glared at her, then looked pointedly at the hypodermic syringe she picked up out of the medical bag. "Mind telling me exactly what's in that thing?"
    "It's simply a mild solution that will help you relax," she explained.
    "And that's it? Just a little something to put me in the mood?"
    "Yes, something like that." Mariah picked up on the double entendre, but knew Burgess hadn't. Neither Coalition bodyguard had any idea that something highly sexual and extremely personal was going on between Jake and her.
    And she intended to keep it that way. Business first, then if they both came out of this alive, there might be time for Jake and her to explore their mutual desires.
    Jake rolled up his sleeve and held out his arm. So compliant. So agreeable. Didn't the man understand that he was as susceptible to the effects of medication as