The Bride Wore A Forty-Four by MAGGIE SHAYNE Read Free Book Online

hear
you and come running. Just give me a second." She looked up, then
carefully clasped the rope in her hands, pushed off with her toes,
and began to swing. It was a pathetically small arc, at first but
she swung farther with each repetition until finally, she managed
to grab the boot between her feet. She swung back toward Marshall
and tossed the boot to him.
    It landed right at his feet with a small
thud.
    She let her swinging subside and balanced on
her toes once more.
    Marshall stood the boot upright with his own
feet then began to move his chair. He had to go slowly, a little at
a time to avoid making a lot of noise. But bit by bit he managed to
turn his chair around.
    "Your left hand is four inches above the
boot," Kira told him.
    "Okay." He pushed with his feet tipping the
chair back onto two legs.
    "Almost," she said. "Another inch."
    He tipped further, hell, he was going to go
over.
    But he didn't. His fingertips found the edge
of the boot, running along the inside. He finally located the
hidden pocket and pulled out the blade. He found the button. The
blade popped open, as he lowered his chair to the floor again.
    "Now," she told him, "don't try to free your
wrist. You'll never be able to do it." She eyed the knots, the
ropes. "Looks like he looped your wrist then wrapped the rope
around the back of the chair, ran it to the other side, around the
back, around the other wrist. If you can cut that rope..."
    He twisted his wrist in an impossible angle,
found the rope with the blade and began to saw. Kira held her
breath. Finally, the rope gave way. He dropped the blade, then
fumbled with the rope, tugging until his hands were free.
    "Hurry, Marshall, they'll be back."
    He nodded, grabbed up the blade, making quick
work of his remaining bonds. Then he moved to her, reaching up
above her. He had to stand very close to reach the rope that was
looped over the beam. Very close. His body was touching hers, as he
slid the blade over the rope, sawing. She felt the give when the
rope was severed and finally lowered her feet to the floor. God it
was a relief not to be on tiptoe.
    She brought her hands down, rubbed her
wrists, then looked up to see Marshall staring at her, and was
reminded that she was damn near naked. He, she thought hadn't
forgotten it for a minute. "You're not a wedding consultant are
you?" she asked.
    That drew his eyes up to hers. "No."
    "Peter said DEA?"
    "Yeah."
    "He called me your partner. Just what kind of
partners are we, Marshall?"
    His eyes grew darker, she thought before he
averted them. "We'll have time for this later." Turning, he
snatched the leather pants from the corner, the tank top, the
jacket. "Get dressed," he said, handing them to her. "And make it
quick."
    She nodded. Her questions needed answers, but
not at the risk of their lives. She pulled on the pants and tank,
stuffed her feet into the boots and kept the knife in her hand. The
jacket, she tucked under an arm, because it was faster than putting
it on. Marshall took a step toward the door.
    She touched his shoulder, stopping him.
"There was a guard outside the other room when I came in. I imagine
he's outside this one by now. Let's try the window."

    He nodded, and they crossed the room,
stepping lightly, to stare out the dirt-streaked window. The broken
fire escape was far to the left. Too far to jump for it. Before
Marshall could say anything, Kira had spun around to the chair and
was unwinding the ropes from it. She tossed him one end. "Quick,
tie this to something solid."
    He didn't hesitate, but quickly knelt and
knotted the end of the rope around the base of the old-fashioned
iron radiator beside the window. While he did that she wrestled the
window open.
    'They're coming," he told her.
    She looked up fast and heard the heavy
footfalls in the hallway. "Hell, we're out of time."
    Marshall held on to the rope. "Get on my
back."
    "You can't hold us both."
    "I'll have to manage," he said, climbing out
the window, feet braced on the