White Lies by Linda Howard Read Free Book Online Page B

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cardboard box tucked under her arm, she laughed out loud from the sheer joy of
being unemployed, of being able to put that look of panic in Farrell Wordlaw's
eyes. It was almost as good as if she had been able to strangle him. And now
she was free to return to Steve, drawn by the powerful compulsion to be with
him that she could neither understand nor resist.
                  She had come up on a commuter flight, but
because of the amount of luggage and personal furnishings she was taking back
to D.C., Frank had arranged for her to take a charter flight back, and she was
pleasantly surprised when he met her at the airport. "I didn't know you
were going to be here!" she exclaimed. He couldn't help smiling at her.
Her eyes were sparkling like the ocean, and the lines of tension were gone from
her face. She looked as if she had thoroughly enjoyed walking out of her job,
and he said as much.
                  "It was...satisfying," she admitted,
smiling at him. "How is Steve today?" Frank shrugged. "Not as
well as he was before you left." It was damned strange, but it was true.
His pulse was weaker and faster, his breathing shallow and ragged. Even though
he was unconscious, the man needed Jay.
                  Her eyes darkened with worry and she bit her
lip. The urge to get back to Steve grew more intense, like invisible chains
pulling at her.
                  But first she had to get settled in the
apartment Frank had gotten for her, something that took up too much time and
ate at her patience. The apartment was about half the size of her place in New York , really only two rooms—the living room and
bedroom. The kitchen was a cubbyhole in a corner, and there was a crowded
little alcove for dining. But the apartment was comfortable, especially since
she planned to spend most of her time at the hospital, anyway. This was simply
a place to sleep and have a few meals.
                  "I've arranged for you to have a
car," Frank said as he carried in the last case. He grinned at her
surprised look. "This isn't New York . You'll need a way to get around." He
produced the keys from his pocket and dropped them on the table. "You can
come and go at the hospital as you like. You have clearance to see Steve at any
hour. I won't be around all the time, the way I have been, but whenever I'm
gone another agent will be on hand."
                  "Are you going to the hospital with me
now?"
                  "Now?" he asked, looking surprised
in turn. "Aren't you going to unpack?"
                  "I can unpack later tonight. I'd rather
see Steve now."
                  "All right." Privately he thought
the plan was working a little too well, but that couldn't be helped. "Why
don't you follow me in your car, so you can get used to the streets and learn
the way to the hospital? Uh...you do drive, don't you?"
                  Smiling, she nodded. "I've only lived in New York for the past five years. Everywhere else
I've lived, I needed a car. But I warn you, I haven't driven very much in that
time, so give me a chance to get used to it again." Actually, driving a
car was a lot like riding a bicycle: once you had learned, the skill wasn't
forgotten. After taking a moment to familiarize herself with the
instrumentation, Jay followed Frank's car without difficulty. She had always
been a steady, deliberate driver; Steve had been the daredevil, driving too
fast, taking chances.
                  It wasn't until she stepped into his hospital
room and approached the bed that she felt a knot of tension deep inside begin
to loosen. She stared down at his bandaged head, with only his bruised, swollen
lips and jaw visible, and her heart slammed painfully against her ribs. With
infinite care she laid her fingers on his arm and began talking.
                  "I'm here. I had to go back to New York yesterday to pack my things and quit