Temperature's Rising (33 page)

How did she know? She was going to drive him crazy.

“Be careful. It’s sharp.”

“Ugh, I hate knives.”

“Tell me again why you became a cop?”

“Very funny, Conor.”

The ropes binding his left arm loosened. He kept still.

If they happened to glance his way, it would appear as if he were still bound. A few seconds later and one arm was free.

“I have-a to take a . . .” George cleared his throat. “I mean, I gotta take a leak. I’ll check on the prisoner.”

“Yeah, yeah.” Al waved him away with a look of disgust on his face.

Sweat beaded Conor’s brow. He hoped Jessica would have the sense to get the hell out of there if George spotted her. With one arm unbound, he’d be able to hold them off long enough for her to escape. He hoped.

“You are not-a so smart as you think-a, eh?” George spoke in a loud voice. In a whisper, he continued. “I will-a not let them kill-a you,
mio amico.
You helped me with-a Trudy and I do not-a forget my friends.” Good old George.

“Are you awake-a, Conor?”

“Yes, I’m awake-a . . . awake.”

“I will slip-a you the knife to cut-a the rope.” Turning sideways, he glanced back toward Al and his family, then spoke in a louder voice, “Everything is fine. He’s still unconscious.”

“Just do your business and get back to work. I want to leave in the next thirty minutes.” Al looked disgusted that he’d gotten a smudge on his suit and seemed more worried about brushing it clean.

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“Yes, sir.”

George slid his hand inside his pocket and pulled out a switchblade. Keeping it close to his side, he pushed the release button. The blade jumped out, gleaming as it caught the overhead lights.

“Run like-a the wind,
mio amico.
Do not look back.” Keeping his gaze on the truck being loaded, George dropped the knife.

Conor inhaled sharply and jerked his legs apart. The point imbedded itself in the wooden seat of the chair, landing a hairsbreadth from making him a soprano. Like a tight wire that’d been twanged, the knife quivered for a few seconds before coming to a halt. A bead of sweat trickled down his face.

George sauntered away without looking back.

Snickers came from behind his chair.

Damn it, this wasn’t funny. He eased his hand away and cut the other rope before closing the knife and slipping it in his pocket.

“Do you realize what will happen if you’re caught?” His words came out harsher than he’d intended.

“You worry too much.”

“Will you please call for backup?”

“If you’ll quit interrupting me. What do you think I’m doing back here? Twiddling my thumbs?” He opened his mouth, then snapped it closed. Arguing with her would only make matters worse. Besides, he didn’t think he’d win.

“Five-twenty-five to five hundred, give us five minutes, then join the party.”

As soon as she let off the mic, he realized her mistake.

Static from the radio echoed across the cavernous room.

Al whirled around.

Chapter 21

“Run!” Conor breathed as Al slipped his hand inside his coat. “For God’s sake, Jessica! Get the hell out of here while you have the chance!”

“I’m not leaving you.”

Too late. Al brought out his revolver. Glancing from side to side, he made his way across the room. Conor kept still so he wouldn’t realize the ropes were cut.

“Who’s there?” Al yelled.

Barry, George, and their father all looked toward Conor.

Barry set a box down and picked up a crowbar that leaned against the side of the truck. As he approached Conor, he slapped it against the palm of his hand.

“Now what?” the old man asked.

“I heard something.” Al never took his eyes from Conor’s face. “I see our guest is awake.”

“You probably just heard him,” George supplied.

Al shook his head. “No, it was a scratchy noise.”

“I knew from the start there was something sleazy about you,” Conor spoke loudly, hoping to distract him.

“I’m surprised Jessica didn’t pick up on how worthless a human being you are.”

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“Not exactly worthless.” Al preened. “I’ve made quite a haul from my export business. And how much easier can it be to case a joint when Jessica’s the one showing the property? Of course, we robbed other houses so there wouldn’t be a pattern.” He laughed gleefully. “But she was nice enough to supply me with plenty of information.

Even told me Daddy was getting close. I didn’t realize he was
this
close, though. But then, you apparently haven’t informed him we’re closing shop, either, or they’d be all over us by now.” He frowned as he dusted a speck of dirt from his white suit.

Stall them. Keep them talking until backup arrived, and he and Jessica might just make it out of this in one piece.

“Why would the chief ’s daughter tell you anything?”

“Oh, she didn’t know she was giving away family secrets. But she was proud of her papa and the work he does. It only took a little nudging for her to ramble on about the burglars and the problems they were causing him. A little info here”—he shrugged—“a little there.” The box behind Conor’s chair tumbled over. He froze.

Al stepped to the side of the chair. His eyes narrowed as his grip tightened on the gun. “Come out from behind there!”

Conor’s guts twisted into knots. “You hurt her, and I’ll make sure you die a slow and painful death.” Jessica stood. “You really should pick up a little around here. It’s very dangerous having all these boxes in the way. Not to mention the dust.” How could she act so calm? Didn’t she know what could happen? Even if backup arrived in the next few minutes, bullets were bound to fly. “I told you to run.

Why didn’t you?”

She shrugged. “It’s only Al.” Her gaze raked over the TEMPERATURE’S RISING

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other man as if he were an ugly little bug she was about to squash. “Besides, when I run at night my heart rate speeds up and it’s hours before I can fall asleep.”

“Well, you’ll probably sleep good tonight—at the bottom of a river.” Of all the females, how the hell had he gotten stuck with her?

“Oh, Conor, don’t be so dramatic.”
Him
—dramatic! He clenched his jaw. He’d show her
dramatic
if they got out of this alive. “Jessica . . .”

“Shut up!” Al screamed, waving his gun between them. His right hand began to twitch. Conor took a deep breath, hoping Al’s condition wouldn’t spread to his trig-ger finger.

“Al, you don’t look so good.” Jessica clicked her tongue in feigned concern. “Your face is blotchy.”

“She’s right,” Winston pointed out unnecessarily. “You ain’t gonna throw up or nothin’, are you?”

“No!” Al’s voice hit a note high enough to shatter crystal. “Just shut up! I want everyone to shut up!”

“Hey, what’s that?” Barry bent and picked up the radio Jessica had kicked under the chair.

Al’s eyes bulged. “A police radio, you idiot.” His body began to shake so hard Conor expected him to break into small pieces any second. Oh jeez, and Jessica looked like she was ready to take them all on by herself. When she opened her mouth, he knew instinctively nothing good would come out.

“You’re going down, Al.” Jessica planted her hands on her hips and glared at the quivering leader. “You might as well give up.”

“It’s all your fault! My mother warned me about girls like you.”

“Too bad you didn’t listen.” Jessica smirked.

Al growled as he raised his gun. Conor jumped to his feet just as Jessica twisted her body and kicked. The gun 288

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flew out of Al’s hand at the same time Conor landed a thudding punch to the surprised man’s jaw.

“Look out!” Jessica cried.

Barry raised his arm, ready to bring the crowbar down on Conor’s head, but Jessica’s warning gave him enough time to jump and roll out of the way.

In a flash of movement, Jessica brought her arm down in a perfectly executed karate chop. Then, with well-placed aim, she kicked him in the balls. Barry doubled over, gasping for breath.

The old man grabbed her from behind. She bent and dropped to one knee. The elder of the Meredith clan flew over her shoulder, landing with a thud and a grunt.

“I’m your friend!” George’s high-pitched scream echoed through the warehouse. “I gave him a knife.”

“Chill out, George,” Jessica said.

Conor looked around him. Barry’s hands were between his legs and he was coughing. The old man looked dazed. And Al wasn’t moving. Okay, so maybe he’d done that one. At least he’d been good for something.

She could’ve at least told him she knew some defense . . . Visions flooded his mind. The chief had mentioned Jessica could handle herself. Angie had told him the same thing. Even Jessica had tried to tell him. He looked at her now.

She shrugged. “I tried to tell you, but you didn’t seem terribly interested.”

“But . . . but . . . this?” He waved his arm around the room.

“I had to protect myself. Growing up in a nearly all-male family can be hard on a girl. I took a few karate classes.”

“A few?”

She rolled her eyes toward the roof. “Okay, I’m a black belt.”

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He planted his fists on his hips. “This is information I think would’ve been nice to share with me.” Al staggered to his feet. With barely a glance, Conor turned and punched him in the face. With an expulsion of air, Al wobbled back to the floor. Damn, that felt good.

He faced Jessica again. “I might not have worried quite so much if I’d known that little fact.”

“You were worried? About me? Why?”

“I think you know why.” He pulled her into his arms and gazed down into her face. He loved Jessica with all his heart, and he wanted her for his wife, but did she feel the same way? He hesitated.

The warehouse doors banged open. Officers spilled into the room. Jessica stepped out of his embrace. A cold chill swept over him. Was she rejecting him?

“Jessica, are you okay?” The chief rushed to his daughter’s side.

She turned. “Sure, Dad, never better.”

“Good job, both of you.” Her father beamed, slapping Conor on the back and hugging Jessica to him. “I knew you could do it.” He sneered at the burglars. “Get these maggots in handcuffs and loaded in the cars.” Conor willed Jessica to look at him, but she refused to meet his eyes. He couldn’t let her go. He wouldn’t. He took a step toward her.

“Conor! Tell-a them I helped you to escape. I am-a your friend.” George’s voice raised an octave with each word.

Conor glanced over his shoulder. Two officers were handcuffing George. “Hey.” He nodded toward the little guy. “Could you take it easy on him?” They didn’t have to know it was Jessica who cut the ropes. George’s heart had been in the right place. The poor guy looked scared out of his wits. He’d make sure the courts went easy on him. He might even get proba-290

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tion. He’d be in enough trouble when Trudy got hold of him.

Something occurred to Conor. “Hey, George, do you know anything about the items that were taken from the mayor’s house?”

“The jewels, they were-a fenced.” So they
were
the burglars. “What about a tape?” Maybe if the video was returned, the chief ’s job wouldn’t be on the line.

“The only tape we have-a . . .” He shot a glance toward Jessica. “Excus-a, it is not-a so nice a tape. If-a you know what I mean. It was-a in the mayor’s vault with-a the jewels. We shoved everything-a into the sack and it-a went, too.” He stood a little straighter. “I know a little about-a filmmaking. I’ve been in the movies myself-a. This one is very, very poor quality.”

“Where would that tape be?” the chief asked.

“In-a the glove compartment of the truck.”

“You don’t think the mayor has a secret life? You know, that he might have made a dirty . . . uh . . . .” her words trailed as she glanced at both men. “That would explain its importance, since this is an election year.”

“My job was on the line because the mayor was caught with his pants down?”

“Literally, I believe,” Conor commented.

“But you can’t be sure it’s the mayor,” Jessica put in.

“There’s only one way to find out.” With purposeful strides her father strode to the truck and yanked the door open. After rummaging around inside, he slammed the door and joined them, tape in hand.

“We’ll take it back to the office and see exactly what’s so important it almost cost me my job.” His expression was grim.

“There is-a VCR and TV in-a the room at-a the back,” George supplied.

They looked at each other. Without speaking a word, TEMPERATURE’S RISING

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all three moved to the rear of the warehouse. Once inside the small office, Conor turned the TV on while the chief slipped the tape into the machine.

The screen went from dark to light. A man and two women were in bed together, but they weren’t sleeping.

“I’d say that’s the mayor, but neither of the women resembles his wife.” Jessica stated the obvious. “This tape is a little more upscale than the last one I watched, though.”

Frowning, the chief reached across and snapped the TV off. “And since when did my daughter make a habit of watching porno films?”

“All in the line of duty, Dad.”

“Humph!”

“What are you going to do now?” Conor asked.

“I’m not giving the tape to the mayor, if that’s what you’re asking. He’s been a thorn in the city’s side for some time. Changing the zoning laws so his friends could open their sleazy businesses. Always been too wily to get caught. I think this should put a stop to him.”

“Good for you, Dad.”

“Well, that about wraps this case up. I guess you’ll be glad to get back to your own homes.” His eyes filled with warmth when he glanced at his daughter. “I know you’ve never wanted to work as a cop. I appreciate what you did for me.”

Here it comes
, Conor thought. She’d tell her father just how much she hates law enforcement. His gut wrenched with pain. He didn’t want to lose her.

“Actually, Dad, I enjoyed it. In fact, I was thinking maybe I didn’t give it a chance. Like everyone has told me, what I did could’ve happened to anyone. Maybe wearing a skirt isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, either.” She looped her arm through her father’s and started toward the door. “What do you think about me becoming an undercover cop? I have the skills . . .” 292