Scared Stiff by Annelise Ryan Read Free Book Online Page A

you wanted to read them.”
    I’m surprised, even though I suspect he made the copies so quickly only so he would have an excuse to venture out and find us. “Good detective work, Hurley,” I say. “I’m sure it wasn’t easy tracking us down here, and so quickly, too.”
    For a second Hurley looks guilty, making me suspect that Izzy was right—Hurley was watching me to see where I’d go, and who I went there with. Then Hurley shrugs. “It wasn’t that hard,” he says with great nonchalance. “This is the closest bar to your office so it made sense to look here first.”
    “Well, thank you for these,” I say, folding the envelope full of letters and tucking it into my purse. And though I know I’m being petty, I can’t resist tossing off one last jab. “But really, couldn’t it have waited until morning?”
    “It could have but I also found out a few things about our chief suspect that I thought you might be interested in,” Hurley counters.
    “Such as?”
    He shrugs and tips back his chair, his hands laced behind his head. “I can’t elaborate right now.” He glances around but avoids looking at William. “This is too public a place, with too many ears.”
    William blushes a bright shade of red, and I can’t tell if he’s embarrassed, angry, or both. Guilt washes over me as I realize I set William up for this, and I feel a sudden surge of anger, part of it aimed at Hurley, part of it at myself.
    “Seeing as how you’re busy, I guess it will just have to wait,” Hurley says, dangling the bait a little closer. “Unless you can free yourself up tonight.”
    William looks down at his shirt and starts plucking away at imaginary lint with a ferocity that’s frightening. “I . . . I can leave, if you like,” he stammers.
    He looks so wounded, so pathetic, that I hate myself for what I’ve done. And Hurley’s smug expression is just screaming at me for a slap-down.
    “That’s okay,” I say, shooting a scathing glance at Hurley. “It can wait.” I reach over and place my hand on William’s arm. “What do you say you and I go back to my place for a nightcap?”
    William’s jaw drops and his plucking fingers freeze on his sleeve. Hurley leans forward, the front legs of his chair meeting the floor with a loud thump . I hear Dom mutter, “Whoa!” under his breath. Izzy doesn’t say a word, but it’s obvious from his expression that he’s amused.
    William finally snaps his mouth closed, swallows hard, and says, “I’d love to.”
    “Good.” I push my chair back and stand. “Gentlemen, if you’ll excuse us. Izzy, I’ll see you in the morning. Is eleven-thirty okay?”
    “That will be fine,” he says, his eyes twinkling.
    Hurley opens and closes his mouth like a fish out of water, but says nothing. I smile at him and then crook my arm at William. “Shall we?”
    William almost trips over his own feet in his rush to get to me. He takes my arm in his and I can feel him trembling as he leads me out of the bar. I start to have second thoughts about what I’m doing, and pray I haven’t gotten myself into a situation I can’t get out of gracefully.

Chapter 9
     
    W hen we reach the parking lot I ask William, “Do you mind giving me a ride home? I don’t have my car.”
    “Of course.”
    He is a perfect gentleman, opening the car door for me and making sure I put my seat belt on. I note that his car is a Toyota Prius and my estimation of him, and his financial status, jumps up a notch. I’m starting to think I didn’t give the guy a fair shake when he climbs behind the wheel and says, “There’s some mouthwash in the glove box. Can you get it out for me?”
    I do so, then sit and watch, stunned, as he gargles and spits out his window. I half expect him to offer me a slug but realize that this sharing of germs is probably high on his list of phobias. Then I consider telling him I have a canker sore or some other infection, in hopes of warding off any attempts at a kiss.
    My house