“Where did you hear the rumors of the book?” Sam asked.
“Like I’m going to tell you that,” Nick muttered.
Sam took the aura-suppression device out of his pocket.
Nick looked bored. “The rumors cropped up in the usual places online. Tell him, Abby.”
Abby folded her arms. “There are chat rooms where collectors and dealers exchange gossip and leads. I haven’t had a chance to check out the usual suspects lately, because I’ve been preoccupied with my own problems. Guess I’d better visit some of the online sites.”
“What have you heard about the collectors who are after the encrypted book?” Sam asked.
“Damn it, who is this guy, Abby?” Nick demanded.
“The name is Sam Coppersmith,” Sam said.
He was still trying to get past the comment about not looking like Abby’s type. It occurred to him that no one would think it odd if a cat burglar fell from a tenth-floor balcony while engaged in an act of breaking and entering. Stuff happened. Abby, however, would probably not approve of that disposal plan. She clearly had a history with Nick Sawyer. So did Newton.
“Coppersmith.” Nick frowned. “Name rings a faint bell. How did you find Abby?”
“She found me,” Sam said.
“You’re a talent of some kind.” Nick gave him an accusing look and then turned back to Abby. “You never trust strangers.”
“Sam was referred to me by Thaddeus,” Abby said. “Or maybe it would be more correct to say that I was referred to Sam. Either way, Thaddeus vouched for him.”
“Okay, so Webber approved him. That still doesn’t explain what he’s doing here in your apartment at two o’clock in the morning. You never let your dates stay over.”
Abby flushed. “I thought I made it clear, Sam is not a date. My arrangement with him is strictly business.”
“You never let clients do sleepovers, either. What the hell is going on here, Abby? Why did Webber send you to him?”
“If you must know, Thaddeus thinks I may be in some danger because of that book you’re looking for,” Abby said.
“Damn it, I knew this had something to do with that lab book. You should have come to me.”
“I’ve been a little busy,” Abby said. “Someone is blackmailing me.”
“Shit,” Nick growled. “Who?”
“That’s where I come in,” Sam said. “I’m going to find the bastard.”
Nick frowned. “But you’re after that old lab book, aren’t you?”
“That, too,” Sam said. “But the two projects go together.”
Nick looked at Abby. “Sounds like you’ve fallen into the deep end.”
“Yes,” Abby says. “It appears that is the case.”
“There are some real sharks out there. Are you sure you trust this guy to take care of you?”
“Yes,” Abby said.
Sam told himself that he should take heart from that simple response.
“What is the bastard using as the extortion threat?” Nick said. “You’ve always been squeaky-clean. You don’t even get parking tickets.”
“He knows about my time at the Summerlight Academy and why I was sent there, and he knows who my father is. You know what would happen if my past suddenly became an issue in the media. It could ruin Dad’s chance at the reality series.”
“Screw it,” Nick said. “Let your father take care of himself. You don’t owe him or anyone else in that family a damn thing. They don’t deserve your loyalty. Hell, even if they knew that you were trying to protect them, they wouldn’t appreciate your efforts.”
“It’s not just about protecting them,” Abby said. “We’re not entirely certain yet, but it looks like the blackmailer may know exactly how I took down Grady Hastings in Mrs. Vaughn’s library. If he knows what I can do with encryption energy and decides to fire up rumors about me in the chat rooms, he could destroy my business.”
“Okay, that would not be good,” Nick said. “But according to the rumors, this lab book is attracting some dangerous collectors. I don’t want to see you get hurt.”
“She won’t,” Sam said. “That’s why I’m here.”
“I’ll be okay, Nick,” Abby said. “I think you’d better leave. It’s late.”
“All right, I’m going.” Nick gave Sam one last glare and then turned back to Abby. “But promise me you’ll call me if you need backup.”
“I will,” she said. “By the way, please use the stairs on your way out. I don’t want any of my neighbors to wake up and see you climbing past their balconies from this floor. I’ve got my reputation to consider.”
“Yeah, right.” Nick coughed. “I, uh, left some of my stuff out on the balcony.”
“Get it,” Sam said. “And then go.”
Nick pretended not to hear the order, but he went out onto the balcony and collected the rock-climbing equipment. When he came back inside, Sam followed him down the short hall and into the small foyer. Newton accompanied them.
Nick opened the door. The outer hall was empty. He gave Newton one last pat and then straightened to give Sam a hard, cold look. He lowered his voice.
“If anything happens to Abby, I’ll be holding you responsible,” he said.
“Understood,” Sam said. “Believe me, if I thought she would be safer far away from this situation, I would have arranged that. But running wouldn’t do her any good. Problems like this tend to follow a person. And even if you escape for a while, they’re lying in wait when you return.”
Nick thought about that for a few seconds. Then he nodded. “You’re right. Guess that makes you her bodyguard.”
“That’s pretty much what it comes down to,” Sam said.
“That gadget you used on me is sort of impressive. Can I assume that you’ve had some practical experience in the bodyguard business?”
“I’ve done some occasional consulting work for a private firm that gets most of its business from a government agency.”
Nick widened his eyes. “You’ve got experience as a consultant? Gosh, darn, that sure makes me feel a whole lot better. Which government agency are we talking about? The post office?”
“Close enough. Time to leave, Sawyer.”
Nick looked down at Newton. “At least you’ve got Newton to help you.”
“Right.”
Nick narrowed his eyes. “Don’t underestimate the dog. Or Abby.”
“I won’t.”
Nick went out into the elevator lobby and vanished into the emergency stairwell.
Sam closed the door, threw the dead bolt and looked down at Newton. “Just you and me, pal.”
Newton looked hopefully at the leash hanging on the coat tree.
“Forget it,” Sam said. “It’s two o’clock in the morning.”
He went back into the living room. Abby was in the process of closing the sliding glass door. The chilly breeze stirred the wild curls of her hair and caused the hem of her robe to flutter around her ankles. She had very nice ankles, Sam thought. Dainty, feminine, sexy.
Abby got the door locked and turned around to face him.
“So do you date a lot of cat burglars?” he asked, before he could stop himself.
Abby made a face. “That is not amusing. But just to be clear, Nick and I never dated.”
“Why not? Seems like you two have a lot in common, what with being in the same business and all.”
Why was he pushing her like this? he wondered. They had more important things to talk about, such as the lab book. But he knew the answer. He had been feeling increasingly territorial all afternoon and evening. Watching Sawyer come through the balcony door and then act as if he had every right to do so because of his personal relationship with Abby had triggered some very primal responses.