Tycoon by Joanna Shupe Read Free Book Online

But he chased me through the depot.”
    â€œA man chased you through the depot, which is why you attached yourself to my side on the platform?” She nodded. “And you have no idea why he was chasing you?”
    â€œBecause he wanted to catch me?”
    Ted’s face showed no reaction, his expression flat, yet she knew he was not amused.
    â€œClara, do not try and talk me in circles. This is serious.”
    Oh, she knew that. Edward Thompson had appeared quite serious when choking the life out of her manager.
    â€œWhat does the man look like?”
    â€œIf I tell you, do you promise not to go searching the train for him?”
    â€œIs that important to you, that I stay here?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œFine. I promise not to search the train for him.”
    She relaxed at the sincere declaration. Still, the less he knew, the better. “He is tall. Brown hair. He’s wearing a green and brown plaid suit instead of the usual uniform. Crooked nose.”
    â€œCrooked nose?”
    â€œYes, like it was broken and not set properly. He’s quite unattractive. And he’s a policeman.” She winced. Dratted runaway tongue.
    Ted’s brows slammed together. “A policeman? Just what are you involved in?”
    â€œNothing! He’s obviously mistaken me for someone else.”
    He stroked his chin, and the intense scrutiny of his sharp blue gaze caused her to squirm on the sofa. “You’re lying,” he finally said, then heaved a breath. “Is there any chance you’ll tell me the whole story, the truth this time?”
    â€œThat’s all there is to the story.” Another fib, but she wouldn’t fill in the details. The less he knew, the better.
    He shot out of his chair, his long strides taking him toward the door. “Where are you going?” she called to his back. “You promised to stay here.”
    â€œThat’s true, I did. But since you’ve lied to me a time or three, I feel no obligation to honor that promise.”
    * * *
    His mood considerably darker, Ted re-entered the vestibule adjoining his car. Cold air prickled over his skin, a reminder of the reality beyond the enclosed walls of the train. He’d suspected Clara was a fraud from the start, yet hadn’t given the initial impression much thought. Now that impression had taken root and was sprouting rapidly.
    Especially since a man as she’d described hadn’t been found on the train.
    There were few hiding places in the tight cars. Regardless, for more than two hours he’d searched for the supposed policeman that had scared Clara, but such a man had not revealed himself.
    The situation added up to one of two obvious conclusions: Either she’d lied about the policeman, or the policeman was trying hard not to be found. Neither of those thoughts comforted him. A woman did not get followed by a policeman across the country unless she was up to her neck in something illegal.
    He found her pacing inside the car. She whirled and leveled a finger in his direction. “You lied to me!”
    Had she been seething the entire time he’d been gone? He placed his derby on the table. “I apologize. I should probably tell you that I do not always play fair.” If he did, he certainly wouldn’t own one of the most powerful banks in the country.
    â€œI’m beginning to understand that. So what happened? Did you see him? Did he hurt you?”
    â€œNo.” He thrust his hands into his pockets and leaned against the sideboard. “A man such as you described could not be found on the train.”
    â€œI don’t know whether to be relieved you’re unharmed or terrified the man wasn’t caught.” She sagged onto the sofa, her skirts rustling. “I had imagined all sorts of awful things happening to you, and then the porter refused to let me out into the main part of the train. He said you told him to keep me here.”
    â€œYes,