Hands On (11 page)

Dalton hesitated. Once again he hadn't followed procedure and informed his boss of his actions. Frank was a good guy. He wouldn't say anything, but Dalton didn't want to put him in the middle.

“Sort of.”

“You're not working on the Bask case anymore?”

“That's what this is about.”

Frank paused. “But you didn't tell the brass you went undercover and now you want me to get your info for you.”

“I didn't say that.”

Frank chuckled. “If you're worried about my pension, you should have thought about it before you roped me into helping you with that armored car heist arrest.”

Dalton winced. “They knew you had nothing to do with the surprise raid. I told them you thought I'd gotten clearance from the bureau.”

“Bullshit, Styles. They knew you weren't smart enough to have put that raid together by yourself.”

Dalton sighed. “Frank, you gotta quit trying to cover for me. You're too damned close to retirement to muck it up.”

“That's what Marie says. She told me I can't go
out and play with you anymore.” The older man laughed. “Hey, Marie, hand me that paper and pencil.”

“Tell her I said hey.”

“Hell, no, I don't want her to know it's you.”

Dalton smiled. There was a lot of truth in that sentiment. He'd known Frank's wife for almost ten years. He liked her a lot and he knew she liked him, inviting him over for most holidays, but she didn't want him getting her husband in trouble anymore. Who could blame her?

“Okay, shoot.”

“Two names. One is Simone Harding, about five-seven, auburn hair, green eyes, and I'd guess mid-thirties. She has a slight French accent but either it's phony or she's lived in the States a long time. She could have aliases, but I don't know for sure.”

“Hold on. I don't know shorthand.”

Dalton looked around as he waited for Frank to tell him to continue. Simone was probably just who she seemed to be…a pathetic lush looking for attention. But Cassie was right, she and Grant had no reason to be at the encounter. And this was supposed to be their second time? If they were really married, he hadn't met a couple less interested in trying to make their relationship work. It just didn't make sense.

That wasn't the only oddity that triggered his interest. There was a connection between Mary Jane and Simone he couldn't identify, as if Mary Jane had something over the other woman.

“Hey, you fall asleep, or what?”

Dalton switched the receiver to his other ear. “I take it you're ready.”

“Shoot.”

Dalton smiled when he heard Marie in the background telling him to stop using that word. They'd been married thirty-two years and seemed genuinely happy. He envied them. “Next is Grant Harding, dark hair, brown eyes, close to six feet, pushing forty.”

“Married to Simone?”

“So they say.”

“Ah. I'll find out. He's not French I take it.”

“Nope.”

“Any idea where he might be from?”

“Come on, Frank, if I knew that I would've given you the information. I haven't gone that soft working this friggin' fluff case.”

His friend grunted. “You got shafted. No question about it. Higgins shouldn't have stuck you with the Bask case. Political, that's all it is. I'm glad I'm getting out next year.”

“So is Marie.”

“Yeah, she says hi, by the way. She figured out it was you.”

Dalton checked his watch. “Sorry I don't have more for you to go on, but cross what I gave you with our lineup of grifters. Maybe we'll get lucky.”

“First thing in the morning. I'm surprised you don't sound too put out with this assignment.”

His first thought was of Cassie, knowing she was the reason. “I'm just trying to wrap it up and get Higgins off my back.”

“Ah, hell, boy, don't tell me you're starting to grow up.” Frank's uproarious laughter annoyed the hell out of Dalton.

“Could be. Scary thought, huh? Anyway, buddy, thanks, but I gotta get back.”

“Call me tomorrow afternoon and I should have something for you.”

“Thanks. Now, go kiss Marie for me.”

“Yeah, yeah.” He severed the connection.

Dalton hung up and got in the Jag but he didn't start it right away. He rested his head back and thought about Cassie. How could he feel as if he'd known her for a lifetime when they'd met less than a week ago?

Maybe because she didn't play games like some women did. She was out there with her opinions and observations, and she was comfortable with her body in a way he found totally sexy.

He remembered their parting words and smiled. Okay, so they had both engaged in a little game playing. He wondered when she'd figured out their room wasn't bugged. She was smart and had good instincts. She probably realized it wouldn't have been cost or time effective for Bask to have had the rooms bugged. He learned all he needed to know about each couple through the group and private sessions.

Besides, Bask's typical M.O. meant that he never stayed in one place long. Generally less than a year, long enough to woo some unsuspecting woman and then take off with the goods. Two of the couples had been through this encounter week twice. Obviously he
had his sights on one of the wives, assuming Simone wasn't involved with the scam. If so, that left Zelda.

Kathy was a poor target. It was obvious she wanted too much to please Tom. It was also obvious she loved the guy.

Cassie still remained a good candidate. The thought irked him. Just thinking of her alone with Bask made Dalton want to punch the guy in his pretty boy face.

He started the Jag, even angrier with himself for allowing that kind of emotion in. He couldn't afford to think of Cassie as anything but a partner. Like he'd think of Frank.

Yeah, right. He was in so much damn trouble, he better wrap up this case quickly. In the meantime, he'd sleep on the floor.

“M
ORNIN
',” C
ASSIE MUMBLED
as she rolled onto her back and stretched her arms over her head.

Dalton smiled. She wasn't really awake yet. He'd turned off the alarm two minutes before it was supposed to ring, but she must have heard him moving around.

He pulled the sheet up to her shoulders just in case her nightshirt had ridden up during the night. Bad enough he'd let himself climb into bed beside her two hours ago, he didn't need to test his mettle any more.

Her eyes drifted open and then closed again, and she made a soft whimpering sound that put his mind on a totally different and dangerous track. He slid out of bed.

At the sudden movement, she opened her eyes again, and then raised herself on her elbows. “What time is it?”

“Seven. You still look tired. Didn't you sleep well?” He'd worn a pair of sweats to sleep in, and now he pulled on a T-shirt.

She blinked a couple of times and her sleepiness started to clear. So did her memory of last night, judg
ing by the accusation entering her yes. “I waited up for you until after midnight.”

“Yeah, well, I had trouble finding a payphone that worked.”

Not only did she look at him with disbelief written across her face, but also she looked disappointed.

“Okay, that's a lie.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “I drove around for a couple of hours.”

She arched her brows and waited expectantly.

What? She wanted more of an explanation? Shit. “I'm a coward, okay? I didn't trust myself to come back here too soon.”

“Why?”

It was his turn to stare in disbelief.

“Why do you think?”

“I asked first.”

“So it's okay for you to have second thoughts but not me?” He smiled to take the sting out of his words when her expression fell. “Or do you just want to hear how beautiful and tempting you are?”

She sank down, pulled the covers over her face, and muttered a muffled, “I do not. I know what I look like in the morning, and it ain't pretty.”

“You are so wrong.” He tugged at the sheets, but she wouldn't let go. “You have to come out some time.”

“No, I don't. I'm playing hooky today. I'm going to tell Mary Jane I'm sick and need to stay in bed, and then I'm going to sleep for five blessed more hours.”

“Right, as if you're not the least bit curious about this birds and bees excursion.”

She pulled down the sheets. “What do you think that's about?”

“I have no idea.”

“Those people are nuts. It's probably just another way to get us away from the house.”

Dalton smiled at the way her hair tangled only on one side and tended to stick up. She had a couple of black smudges under her eyes but they were only noticeable because her skin was so smooth and flawless. “Or a way to cause friction between the couples.”

“I don't get it. How can anyone believe that what we've done could help get a marriage back on track? I mean, the open discussions are good, but even they aren't facilitated correctly.” She shook her head. “These aren't stupid people. Most of them are educated and affluent enough to be savvy.”

“Desperation.”

“To hold on to the marriage?”

“They aren't thinking clearly, and it takes only one partner to be charmed by Bask into signing up.”

“That's so sad.”

Dalton went to the closet to get some clothes. She'd never been married. She didn't understand how vulnerable a committed, forever-do-us-part relationship made a person. How good sense flies out the window, and you think and do things you'd never have dreamed possible.

Nasty business. Somebody ought to write about
that
in
Bride's Magazine.
He poked through his suitcase, not anxious to resume a conversation about the subject of marriage. He sure wished he knew what today's
activities were about since he'd only brought two pairs of shorts.

“Dalton, are you coming out sometime this decade?”

He couldn't help but smile at her impatient tone. One thing about Cassie, you didn't have to guess where she was coming from.

“Good grief. How long does it take you to pick out clothes?”

He came out of the closet laughing. “Yep, you have the wife role down pat. On second thought, you sound more like a husband.”

“Don't be sexist.”

“Never.”

“Right.” She finger-combed her hair, tugging out the tangles. “You didn't tell me about last night.”

That was another interesting thing about Cassie. With the puzzling exception of her need for approval on the job, she wasn't just comfortable with her body, but with herself in general. She didn't have to look her best at all times. Practical. Simple. He liked that about her.

Linda had spent hours grooming herself, applying makeup, getting manicures and pedicures, the whole nine yards, and he'd always preferred the way she looked when she first woke up in the morning. But when he'd tell her that, she never believed him.

“I fessed up and admitted I drove around.” He shrugged. “What else did you want to know?”

Disappointment clouded her face. “So you really didn't check on a hunch?”

“Oh, that.” Dammit. He was losing it. His thoughts were too much about her and not the case. “Yeah. I called a buddy of mine, my former partner in fact, and he's running a background check on Simone and Grant.”

She nodded, clearly not surprised. “I figured. There's an odd undercurrent between Simone and Mary Jane. And then Bask pulled Simone aside last night. Something ain't kosher there.”

He grinned. “Spoken like a true, hard-boiled detective.”

“Hey, hey, no teasing the rookie.”

“Yeah, right, a rookie. As if.” He chuckled.

She gave him a startled look and then glanced away. “So I take it you'll have to call your friend some time today for the results?”

“Wait a minute…you really
are
a rookie?”

Her eyes grudgingly met his. “This is sort of my first case.”

That explained a lot. But now he was even more impressed with her calm and poise.

“Technically it isn't.” She made a sound of frustration. “I said that wrong. Technically it is my first case for this agency, but I've been in the business for a couple of years. Before, I was more of an assistant. I did the grunt work for this guy. He kept promising me I'd go solo but he never made good, and I finally got another job.”

“Well, it was his loss. You've got good instincts and you're composed under pressure. I'd never have guessed you haven't been in the field a while.”

Cassie's smile stretched so wide, it had to have set a record. “You'd better not just be saying that.”

“Why would I?” He shrugged. “But I gotta admit, I'm glad I didn't know this at the go.”

Her expression crumbled. “Because you wouldn't have trusted me to help with the assignment.”

“Probably not. But I would have been wrong, and it would've been
my
loss.”

She smiled again. “Well, you're right. It's Chet's loss now, the idiot.”

“Your old boss?”

She nodded and something in her expression told him he might even have been more than a boss. “He asked me to stay, started with the list of promises again, but I told him to shove it.”

“Good for you.” He wanted to ask about this Chet guy, but he wouldn't. None of his business. Just like his former marriage was none of hers. No sense opening a can of worms.

“I guess I'd better get my lazy butt up. Unless I can talk you into playing hooky with me.” She gave him a sly smile that was belied by her pushing the sheets aside and swinging her legs to the floor.

He knew he should've stayed in the closet longer. In vain he tried to look away. When she stretched her arms over her head, the hem of her nightshirt riding up almost to her panties, he had to give himself a good mental shake.

“I have another confession to make,” he said when she didn't seem in any hurry to get moving. “There
is nothing I want to do more right now than to crawl back into bed and strip you naked.”

She blinked. “Oh.”

“So I suggest you get your cute little fanny up and into the bathroom before we do something we'll both regret.”

“Speak for yourself.” She didn't budge. “You had second thoughts, huh?”

“Didn't you?”

She got out of bed, but then stopped at the bathroom door. “How are you going to make contact with your friend?”

“This afternoon we have another in-your-face session. I'll pretend to get steamed again and take another ride to cool off.”

Cassie grimaced. “I forgot about the group session. Maybe we should practice.”

He knew she was thinking about how he'd gone off before. “Tell you what, this time you take the lead and I'll follow whatever avenue you take.”

“I still don't know what to say.”

“Whatever the topic is, express your own opinions if that's easier. I'll ad-lib from there.”

“Hope it doesn't end up being too hot a topic.”

“Don't worry.” He sighed. “No more surprises.”

She started to enter the bathroom but then hesitated. “Dalton?”

Dread filled every pore in his body. Her tentative tone said it all. She was about to ask a question he didn't want to answer. He wouldn't discuss his mar
riage or Linda. The past was the past. The end. “Yeah?”

She didn't react to his impersonal tone. “I have a confession to make, too. Dammit, but I'm starting to like you.”

 

“I
HEAR Y'ALL
murmuring back there.” Mary Jane's disposition was a little too chipper for Cassie's mood, even more so than usual. “Don't worry. We only have ten minutes more of hiking.”

“Don't look so enthusiastic.” Dalton nudged her with his elbow. “Exercise is good for you.”

“I don't mind exercising. In fact, I actually enjoy working out. I just want to know what the hell we're doing in the middle of nowhere.”

“Me, too,” Zelda said, obviously having overheard. “This is ridiculous. It's getting frightfully hot and we still have to walk back yet.”

“Amen. Maybe we ought to start back now.” Cassie made a face at the back of Mary Jane's perky high-stepping. “Miss Sunshine probably won't even miss us.”

Zelda's eyes lit with hope. “Are you serious?”

Cassie peered at the thicket of trees ahead of them. They'd already plodded down a dirt road, trampled over shrubbery tall enough to scratch her legs and had to dodge two large tumbleweeds. As green as the grounds were at Back to Basics, the surrounding area was arid and undeveloped.

“I'm game,” she said, thinking she could do some
more snooping around. “I'm pretty sure I know the way back.”

“Honey…” Dalton took her arm. “You're the one who thought this week was such a good idea. I think we should stick with the program.”

“But Zelda's right. What is this stupid hike going to prove?”

He didn't answer, but nor did he have to. She saw in his eyes that it was important that they stay with the group.

She gave Zelda an apologetic look. “Sorry, but I guess my husband is right. This was my idea.”

“Well, this was my idea, too…the first time, anyway. But I'm sure sorry I ever met Mr. Blankenship.” Zelda stopped to mop her face with a white linen handkerchief.

Cassie waited for her but waved Dalton on when he slowed. He nodded, probably realizing Zelda may be more open to talking alone with Cassie.

“Why do you say that?”

“I don't know.” The older woman sighed. “He's got this way about him that makes it hard to say no.”

“To what?”

Zelda's gaze flew to Cassie. “Not that. I mean nothing immoral, if that's what you're thinking.” She lowered her voice and added, “Although my friend Maude and her husband attended the encounter week two months ago and she thought Mr. Blankenship had gotten awfully chummy with one of the other wives.”

“Really?”

Zelda gave a smug nod.

“That's interesting.” Cassie paused dramatically. “Do you think that's why he called Simone out of the dining room last night?”

Her features tightened. “Well, if he did, that one would be asking for it. I've already warned Harvey. He embarrasses me one more time with that tramp, and he'll be working for a living.”

The wheels started to spin in Cassie's head. Maybe Simone
was
working with Bask and Mary Jane. Maybe that was Simone's job…to break up couples. “How did you hear about this place? Your friend Maude?”

“We really heard about it together. Robert…” She blinked, looking a little embarrassed before hurrying on, “that is, Mr. Blankenship, was at a charity ball we'd both attended and we overheard him talking to a couple about the success rate of the new program he'd started, about how couples benefited from strengthening the marriage bond. Maude loves trying every new wave cure that comes along so she signed up right away.”

“How did it work for her?”

Zelda stopped to mop her forehead again, and Cassie waited with her. The others had already pulled way ahead, which was just fine because Cassie wasn't about to miss this opportunity to pump Zelda for information.

“I love Maude. I truly do. But the woman's a flake. She has too much money and too much time on her hands. Any distraction from life amuses her, so of course she loved the program.”

They continued walking and Zelda added, “Though
I must say, Mr. Blankenship was able to accomplish something I haven't been able to do. I've told Maude over and over again that she should find a charity that interests her and get involved. She subscribes to the notion that writing a check is enough.”

She paused to catch her breath and impatient, Cassie said, “And Blankenship has introduced her to a charity in which she's become involved.”