“Major change here. I don’t know why I didn’t notice it before. Look. All the earlier books were done in pencil, right?”
He nodded. Not that he’d have noticed if she hadn’t pointed her family’s quirk out earlier. Experts at crosswords did them in pen with no fear of mistakes.
“But here-there’s a mix of pencil and pen.” She studied the book for a second and grabbed another, glancing through it. “This one, too. Look.”
He was beside her in an instant.
“Here. Black ink instead of pencil. I don’t know why I didn’t notice it first time around.”
“I missed the change, too.” He skimmed the pages of the remaining books. “Same with these.”
“This is it, Kane. It’s what I was looking for. It’s my aunt’s clue.”
“What?”
“It was her way of letting us know she wasn’t doing this willingly, Kane. I’d bet my life on it.”
He closed his eyes at the thought. He was getting damn tired of her life being on the line. She didn’t need to remind him. “Okay, let’s say you’re right.”
“I know I’m right. When the guy grabbed me the other day, he mentioned money and when he called he mentioned the books. These books.” She drew a deep breath. “Not only do they have the names, which is incriminating enough, but maybe he knew Aunt Charlene was dropping clues.”
“Possible,” Kane muttered.
“So tell me why we can’t find a trace of the money,” she said with frustration.
“There’re plenty of places to hide cash without the accountant knowing,” he said. “Offshore accounts, for one. Without a number they’re untraceable.”
“But this guy seems to believe I know where the money is. Why?”
He shrugged. “Impossible to know what they’re thinking. But they do want their take. Any clue in those books where the money could be hidden?”
She shook her head. “Just the names. No phone numbers, either, since these are all letter puzzles.”
He shrugged. “The money is something we might never find. Unless things unravel well at the end. My guess is the men in those books contacted someone at Charmed!, not vice versa. Too risky the other way. Your uncle probably took the calls.”
“My uncle?” A grin edged the corners of her luscious mouth. “That means you believe me-Aunt Charlene was being used or threatened.”
“Like I said, anything is possible, sweetheart. But the lists are extensive. At the very least, she knew what was going on.” He hated like hell to remind her, but he didn’t want her hurt more in the end because she hadn’t considered the possibility.
She folded her arms across her chest. “That doesn’t mean she was a willing participant. I believe she had no choice.”
Kane didn’t know what to believe other than the fact that Kayla believed in her aunt. Hell, he didn’t blame her. If he’d had even one person to rely on in his life, he wouldn’t want to give up hope, either.
He glanced at Kayla. He wanted to believe in her. But his job required proof. They didn’t know what the change from pencil to pen meant. Maybe they never would.
She wasn’t ready to count the older woman out yet. Kane groaned, wishing for her benefit she wasn’t so naive. And yet that was what he loved about her…
Kane coughed.
“Are you okay?”
He forced a nod and mentally changed topics. “Whoever these clients contacted, they probably paid cash, your uncle supplied the women, took his share and cut his partner in on the rest.”
“The man we want.”
“Or woman,” Kane reminded her. “Remember the Mayflower Madam, for starters.”
She nodded. “They also want the books, which means these books.” She lifted one in her hand.
“Your uncle’s leverage,” Kane said. “With these in his possession, your uncle was guaranteed his take.”
She glanced at her watch. “It’s been hours since the last call.”
“It’s a waiting game. The more time that goes by, the more nervous you’ll get. They hope.”
“Well, they’re right. I’m more than nervous. Just the thought of what could have happened, terrifies me.”
“You’ve realized how dangerous it would be to get even more involved.” Fear released its hold. He exhaled a rush of air, the first easy breath since she’d announced her plans in the captain’s office hours earlier. “Don’t worry. Reid won’t mind,” he went on. “We can work around it, use a decoy. Just remember, when he calls, keep him talking. Maybe we can trace it. Agree to a drop, not a face-to-face meeting and-”
“I haven’t changed my mind.” She interrupted his instructions in a soft but determined voice.
“But you just said…”
“I admitted I’m afraid. I’m human. So sue me. But I haven’t changed my mind.”
“If you’re shaky, it’ll show. Things could get messy. Go with your gut.”
“I am and my gut tells me I have to do this.”
“Dammit, why?” He slammed his hand against the end table beside his chair until it rocked on unsteady legs. He’d roared. She didn’t flinch. Not a sign he was even close to convincing her to opt out.
“Look.” He braced his hands on his legs and leaned forward in his seat. “There are experienced people to do this for you. No risk. Why not take advantage?”
She ran a hand through her hair. The soft strands fell back around her face, creating a vulnerability he knew was part real, part illusion. This woman was tougher than the softness on the outside revealed. It was just a part of why he was drawn to her.
“It’s my life that’s been turned upside down and I want to be the one to get it back.” She met his gaze. “Like you, I’ve been taking care of myself longer than I can remember. It’s not in me to give up the job to someone else, even when it gets tough.”
“Dangerous,” he countered.
“Whatever.”
“You’d be relinquishing the job to professionals. There’s a difference.”
“Not to me. I gave up a decent job, with a decent salary and dreams of finishing school to run this family business. Because, despite it all, I love my family. Now I find out it might be a front for an escort service. Am I the only one who doesn’t miss the irony here? I have to see this through to the end. And I have to clear my aunt’s name.”
In her voice, Kane heard the same determination he felt on every case. In her eyes, he saw the same need to accomplish a goal. He respected it enough to want to know more. “Just what irony are you talking about?” he asked quietly.
She rose from the couch and crossed the room until she stood beside him. Her scent worked against his restraint, tantalizing his senses, seducing his soul.
“It’s proof,” she whispered. Meeting his gaze, she lifted her hand, then let it drift downward, boldly outlining the rounded swell of her breast and the generous curve of her hips. Her nipples pressed taut and rigid beneath the cream-colored T-shirt she’d changed into before dinner.
His mouth grew dry, his palms damp. Wanting Kayla wasn’t new. It was as much a part of him as breathing. But right now, it was damned inappropriate. His brain registered the fact his pulsing body seemed determined to ignore.
With great difficulty, and even breathing, will-power won out. “Proof of what?” he asked in a hoarse voice.
“This.” Her hand traced her curves once more. “This is an illusion.”
“A beautiful one.” One that tormented him on a minute by minute basis.
Thinking back to their first meeting gave him a clue as to what she meant now. He recalled her inability to accept a compliment and her immediate withdrawal whenever he stared too long, or got too close. He’d gotten past those barriers, but not without effort.
He glanced at the body made for sin. “But it’s not what counts,” he said.
“You’re the first person to recognize that.” Appreciation lit her gaze and a warm smile lifted her lips. The knowledge that he could touch her on such a fundamental level pleased him.