You Can Run... by Carlene Thompson Read Free Book Online

gaze was taking in the glistening Georgian chandelier shining down on a large circular Oriental rug and the eight-foot-tall antique grandfather clock in the corner. She looked ready to bolt out through the massive, carved double doors. “Of course, Mrs. Hanson. We met briefly at Willow’s birthday party in June, but there were so many children around, I didn’t get a chance to talk with you,” Simon said graciously.
    Clarice finally glanced at him and tried to smile, but tears overcame her.
    Simon looked at Tyler. “Mr. Raines, you seem to be the calmest person here. Will you tell me what happened?”
    Tyler told him quickly, not elaborating, not going off on tangents, just concisely, as Simon liked. When he finished, Tyler added, “Mrs. Hanson can’t stay in her own home tonight. Your niece said she would be welcomed here.”
    “Mrs. Hanson is most welcome,” Simon said. If Diana hadn’t known Simon so well, she wouldn’t have noticed the forced steadiness of his voice. He was trying mightily not to betray his horror. In spite of everything, his sharp eyes had even taken in the woman’s infirmity. “Mrs. Hanson, we have a nice bedroom here on the first floor. Diana said it looked as if no one had touched it since the Middle Ages, and she redecorated it last year. It has an adjoining bathroom and a good view of the garden. I think you’ll be comfortable there.”
    “Oh, it sounds lovely,” Mrs. Hanson said, clearly intimidated by the size and formality of the house, “but I really hate to force myself on you.”
    “You are certainly not forcing yourself on me or Diana.” Simon managed a reassuring smile for the woman. “I suggest we all go into the library and have some brandy. This has been quite a shock.”
    “Thanks, sir, but I’m going back,” Tyler said. “They haven’t found the little girl.”
    Simon looked at him piercingly. “And you think you can when no one else can?”
    “I’d like to try.” Tyler’s voice was somewhat humble yet at the same time firm.
    Diana pulled away from Simon and faced Tyler. “I’m going with you.”
    “No, you aren’t,” Tyler said with authority. “You have to pull your nerves together.”
    “My nerves are just fine,” Diana argued, although she knew she sounded far from convincing. “If Willow is hiding in the woods, I’d have a better chance of finding her than you. She
knows
me.”
    Tyler tilted his head slightly, as if trying to make her see reason without offending her. “Even if you don’t realize it, you’re an emotional and physical wreck. I’m sure your uncle would agree that you need to stay here.”
    “Indeed I do,” Simon agreed, his voice brooking no argument. “Diana, Mr. Raines is correct. You will stay here with Mrs. Hanson and me.”
    “Oh,
men!
” Diana exclaimed, suddenly acting furious to hide the fact that what she really wanted was to sink to the floor and cry. “You all stick together.”
    “When we’re making more sense than the womenfolk, we certainly do.”
    “Womenfolk!”
Diana spluttered. “Uncle Simon, I have never heard you sound like—”
    “Like what?” Simon’s commanding voice and sharp green gaze deflated an exhausted Diana.
    “Like you just did,” she answered meekly.
    “We drove here in Diana’s car,” Tyler intervened. “Mine is back at . . . the scene. I’ll call a taxi.”
    Simon made a face. “Oh, nonsense. It will take forever for a cab to arrive on a Friday night. This city is disgracefully short of taxicabs. I have two cars and I’m not going to be using either one tonight. Take one of them.” Diana looked at him in disbelief. Was her great-uncle turning over one of his cars to this complete stranger? Apparently so.
    “We’ll worry about getting the car back here tomorrow,” Simon continued, not even glancing at Diana. “Frankly, at the moment I couldn’t care less if I ever get it back.”
    “I appreciate the loan,” Tyler said, “and I’ll make sure you get the car