The Sinister Touch by Jayne Castle Read Free Book Online Page A

was dialing 911."
    Zac did glance up at that, pinning her with grim eyes. "Did he see you?"
    "I ... I think so, but he must have heard you about that time and dashed out of the room. He was wearing a weird hood, Zac. It was very strange." Guinevere broke off as footsteps echoed on the old stairs.
    "I'll handle this," Zac said, getting to his feet.
    Guinevere nodded obediently. Zac was good at this sort of thing too.
    On the floor Mason groaned and opened his eyes. "Hell of a way to celebrate my first show."
    It was a long time later before Guinevere found herself alone with Zac back in her apartment. She was tense and troubled. Zac sprawled on the sofa, eyeing her as she stalked back and forth in front of him.
    "I don't understand it, Zac. Why didn't Mason tell the police about that incident with his painting last night? Damn it, he told me he'd filed a complaint. Or at least he implied he was going to file one. But tonight he didn't mention it. Instead he acted as if he'd just been unlucky enough to walk in on a routine burglary this evening. He didn't try to relate the two incidents."
    "I didn't hear you rushing to fill in the missing pieces," Zac observed quietly. "You didn't say a word about that pentagram or the canvas slashing, either."
    Guinevere threw up her hands in frustration. "Because I could see Mason looking at me, practically begging me to keep my mouth shut." She turned to glance at Zac accusingly. "And you went right along with Mason's limited version of the story too. Why?"
    Zac shrugged. "The same reason you did, I suppose. It was pretty damn obvious Adair didn't want to link last night's incident with tonight's, and even more obvious that he'd never mentioned the slashed canvas to the authorities. I could see him watching me as I talked to the cops, and I knew he wanted me to say as little as possible."
    "So you did."
    "I told them what I'd seen through your window tonight, which wasn't much. Hell, I didn't even get a look at the guy. He was long gone by the time I reached Adair's apartment."
    "But you knew about the pentagram and the slashing," Guinevere reminded him.
    "All right, so I decided to respect Adair's wishes and keep quiet about it. I'm used to dealing with clients who prefer not to involve the cops. I guess it's getting to be second nature to abide by the client's wishes."
    That much was the truth, Guinevere thought. Many of Zac's business clients had no desire to see their company's name dragged through the newspapers or to have any association at all with criminal activity, even though they were the victims. That's why they hired discreet security firms such as Free Enterprise Security, Inc. Precisely so that such unpleasant matters would be handled discreetly.
    "Are you saying Mason is now a client?" Guinevere asked brightly.
    Zac glared at her. "No, I am not saying that. I merely made the point that I'm used to working for people who don't want the police involved. Out of habit I respected Adair's wishes tonight. That's all there is to it."
    Guinevere sighed and sank down onto the opposite end of the sofa. "I wonder what this is all about, Zac."
    "Beats the hell out of me." One arm draped along the back of the cushion, he continued to watch her closely. "But whatever it is, I don't want you involved. I've told you that before, Gwen. I mean it."
    "Zac, Mason's a friend."
    "I thought he was just a ship passing in the night."
    "Well, it's more a case of a permanently anchored ship. With a porthole that looks straight into my porthole."
    "I've been aware of that for some time," Zac drawled. There was a short silence. "I heard him tell the cops that he'd been to the show at the Midnight Light gallery tonight with you and Carla."
    "So?"
    Zac exhaled heavily. "I shouldn't have chewed on you earlier this evening."
    "Is that an apology?"
    "Yeah."
    Guinevere risked a small smile. "I shall treasure it always."
    "You do that. I don't apologize very often."
    "I know."
    There was another short pause