Baby, Oh Baby! (25 page)

Henry nodded. "He's fishing, Annie. Dragging a net, trying to see what muck he can rake up. What worries me most is that this guy is not above baiting some hooks and dragging those as well."

"Surely no one would believe Pearl and Myrtle!"

"Maybe not by themselves. But if he's offering bribes, it's only a matter of time before he finds a few takers who'll substantiate their claims."

"I don't know anyone who would betray me for a bribe."

"It doesn't have to be anyone you know. He just needs to find someone who'll claim they saw you leave your baby unattended in your car, or someone who'll say he saw you strike Madeline across the face, or—"

Annie raised her hands to make him stop. "Please. I can't bear to even hear those things. To think I might be accused of doing them to my baby ..." Annie's voice shook. She twisted her hands in her lap. "Henry, what can I do?"

"Well, for starters, I thought we'd investigate this investigator. If we can discredit him, it'll go a long ways toward discrediting any information he gathers. I've already made a phone call to another P.I. in Tulsa who owes me a favor. He's digging up all he can about the illustrious Mr. Hawk."

"What about trying to discredit Jake? I'm sure he's the one who hired him."

Henry shook his head. "I did a little checking into his background when you first told me he was Madeline's father, and he looks solid as a rock." Henry wheeled his chair closer. "My advice, Annie, is still the same. You need to work out an amicable custody agreement with him."

"I thought I was. I mean, I thought we were getting along. This is coming out of the blue."

Henry slowly shook his head. "Try again, Annie. The best thing you can do is work this out with Jake."

"The best thing I can do, Helen, is put as much distance as possible between myself and Jake." Annie pushed a pink teddy bear into the black duffel bag she was packing on the floor of the nursery. Madeline handed her a large Winnie-The-Pooh doll, thinking the packing was a game.

It had been only twenty-four hours since Annie had learned about the private investigator, but it seemed like a lifetime ago. The discovery had turned her entire world down.

Helen watched her from the rocker, her eyes mourn- ful. "But, Annie—this is your home!"

"This might be my home, but Madeline's my child. If it comes to losing one or the other, it's no contest."

Helen nodded sadly. "But, Annie—this is so sudden! And New York is so far!"

"That's the idea." Annie pushed a striped zebra into the bag, then reached for a green gorilla. "The farther away I am, the harder it'll be for Jake to get his hands on Madeline."

"You hated living in the city before."

"I know. But I hate the idea of sitting here, being a sitting duck, all the more. And New York is where I can make the most money."

She'd called her old boss at the ad agency, and he'd jumped at the chance to rehire her. Next she'd called an old friend, who'd offered to let Annie and Madeline stay at her place while she searched for an apartment.

Helen's forehead creased with worry. "Annie, is this really a solution? Running away seldom is."

Annie pushed a lock of hair from her eyes. "I know. But the ranch is barely breaking even. If I'm earning a salary, I'm in a better position to fight this thing financially. And if I've moved out of state to take a well-paying job, Jake can't claim I moved just to avoid him or because I'm unstable."

Helen sighed and slowly nodded. "I can't say I wouldn't do the same thing if I were in your shoes." The grandfather clock in the foyer chimed twelve times.

Helen rose from the rocking chair, leaning heavily on her cane. "I've got to go. Ben is driving me to Tulsa this afternoon for a follow-up appointment with my doctor. What time does your flight leave tomorrow?"

"Three in the afternoon." Annie rose and walked her friend to the door. Madeline followed along behind.

Helen turned at the door.. "I'm going to miss you, Annie."

"I'll miss you and Ben, too." Annie .gave her a tight hug. When she pulled away, both women's eyes were wet.

Helen wiped her cheek and pasted on a warm smile. "I'll come by tomorrow morning to help you finish packing."

The doorbell rang the next morning as Annie dabbed a. blob of applesauce off Madeline's chin. "Come on in, Helen," she yelled. Madeline banged her covered sip cup on her high-chair tray, splattering drops of milk everywhere, then laughed delightedly at her handiwork.

Annie eyed her with mock exasperation. "You really want to put me through my paces this morning, don't you?" Annie turned toward the sink to grab a dish towel.

"Ink! Ink!" Madeline yelped, her chubby legs kicking the high chair excitedly. "Ink! Ink! Ink!"

Only one person got Madeline that excited. Annie turned around, a feeling of dread in her chest, to see Jake standing in the kitchen doorway, grinning at the baby.

"Good morning, sugar." He crossed the room and kissed the baby's plump cheek, then straightened and smiled at Annie. "Morning, Annie."

No man had the right to look so handsome. Against her will, she felt a flash of attraction, His gaze was so direct, his smile so sincere that it disarmed her. If she didn't know better, she'd never believe he was plotting behind her back to steal her child.

Annie realized she was standing like a statue, staring at him, a blue dish towel in her hand. She shouldn't let on that she knew about the detective, she thought. "Good morning. I, uh, wasn't expecting you." She quickly knelt and began wiping up the splattered floor.

"I have a meeting later in Bartlesville, so I thought I'd swing by." Eyeing her quizzically, he grabbed a paper towel and knelt beside her to help. "What's with all the suitcases in the entry hall?"

Annie kept her head down as she rose and turned to the sink. "Nothing."

"Sure looks like something to me."

Annie rinsed'out the dish towel, trying to decide what to tell him. She didn't expect to be able to hide from him. She did, however, hope to get out town before he discovered her plans. If he found out she was leaving, he'd try to find a way to stop her.

Jake looked at her warily. "Looks to me like you're planning a trip."

There was no point in denying it. The suitcases were irrefutable evidence. "Oh—well, yes, I am. I'm, uh, going to California for a few days to visit an old friend."'

"Looks like you've packed enough to be gone a month or two."

Annie shrugged. "I've never been a light packer. I've always thought more is more."

"Madeline's going, too?"

"Of course."

"Where in California?"

"Oh, the, uh, southern part."

Jake's eye's narrowed. "Where, exactly?"

"Ummm ..." Oh, dear. If she told him the name of a town, he was likely to check it out. "It's a little town. I can't remember the name of it. My friend is picking us up at the L.A. airport."

Jake's lips flattened. His eyes were skeptical. "This is kind of sudden, isn't it?"

"Umm, yes. My friend's, er, brother died. I'm going for the funeral."

"Is that right."

"Yes."

"That sounds a little different from just going for a visit."

"No" She was speaking too fast and sounding defensive. She needed to slow down, to act casual. "I mean, not really. I'm going to visit her." Annie turned to the sink, unable to look him in the eye. "To—to comfort her."

"You're a rotten liar, Annie. What's really going on?"

Something in her snapped. She whirled around and faced him directly, her hands on her hips, the towel still in one hand. "Why don't you tell me. "

"Tell you what?"

Annie slapped the towel . down on the counter, anger and indignation rising inside her. "I know about the private detective, so you can cut the wide-eyed, innocent act."

"Detective?"

"Yes, detective."

His brow furrowed, and his dark eyes looked so baffled that for a moment. Annie almost thought she herself must be mistaken.

Almost, but not quite. `I suppose you have no idea what I'm talking about," she scoffed.

"You're right about that."

"Oh, please." Annie rolled her eyes.

"Come on, Annie. What the hell is going on?"

She put her hands back on her hips. "I suppose someone else hired a private detective to try to bribe my pediatrician's receptionist into releasing Madeline's records. Not to mention snooping around all over town, spreading tales about how crazy I am and how I call my alpacas Dalai Lamas and think they talk like Mr. Ed." "What?"

Annie blew out an exasperated breath. "Oh, you're good. You're very good. You'd have a bright future in Hollywood." She pointed to the door. "I want you to leave."

"Not until I figure out what the deuce you're talking about."

"You know good and well what I'm talking about." "All I know is what you just told me."

"Well, then, I'm afraid I'll have to leave you in ignorance. If you have any further questions, you can talk to my lawyer."

"I'd love to. What's his name?"

The request caught Annie up short. She hesitated, but only for a moment. What the heck—let him talk to Henry. At least then he'd know she didn't intend to take this lying down. Besides, it would get him out of here and give her a chance to get to the airport.

"Henry Marlow."

Jake whipped a cell phone out of his pocket and flipped  it open. "What's his number?"

"He can't be reached by phone."

Jake cocked a leery eyebrow. "And why is that?" "Because he's in a nursing home."

"Your attorney is in a nursing home." He shook his head, his gaze incredulous. "And you think I'd need to hire a private eye to prove you're nuts?"

Annie experienced her first real moment of doubt. "What's the name of this nursing home?" Jake demanded.

"Shady Acres."

Jake strode across the kitchen with unerring certainty, straight to the drawer where Annie kept the phone book. He pulled it out and looked up the number, then grabbed the phone and punched some buttons. He spoke to a nursing home staff member, and within minutes, had Henry on the phone.

"Mr. Marlow, this is Jake Chastaine. I understand you represent Annie Hollister." There was a brief pause. "Yes, that's right. The DNA results were positive." Another pause. "That's not why I'm calling. I'm here at Annie's house, and she's very upset about some business involving a private investigator. I've tried to tell her I knew nothing about it, but she wouldn't listen. She suggested I call you. Can you tell me what's going on?"

A longer silence. "I assure you, I never hired Mr. Hawk."

Tires crunched in the driveway. Jake strode to the window and peered out, the phone still to his ear. "Can you describe him? A man has just pulled up in Annie's drive, and I have a hunch it's our boy."

Jake thanked Henry and hung up, then turned to Annie, who was lifting Madeline from the high chair. "Well?" Annie asked.

 Jake's mouth was set in a grim line. "Looks like Mr. Hawk is paying us a little visit. Better let me handle him."

Annie eyed him warily. "Why? So you can stage a cover-up?"

His eyes flashed with annoyance. "So I can get to the bottom of this. Keep Madeline out of sight, would you? I don't know what this jerk might try."

Alarm shot through Annie. Clutching the baby she hurried to the dining room, where she could listen without being seen. She heard the doorbell ring, heard Jake open the door. She peered around the corner and saw an overweight man in his mid-fifties standing in the doorway.

"I hope I'm not disturbing you," the man said, baring yellow teeth in a smile. "I'm here about your poop." "My what?"

"I saw a sign that says you sell 'paca poop." "Oh. Uh, yeah."

The man's eyes darted around. He craned his neck, trying to peer into the house. "I'm interested in buying some. How much poop is in a peck?"

"Huh?"

"The sign says `Pick a Peck of 'Paca Poop.' "

"Oh. Right." Jake looked the man up and down, his eyes skeptical, his gaze raking over the man's cheap blue suit. He stepped forward, blocking the man's view of the interior of the house. "You don't look dressed for scooping it. This is a you-scoop-it operation."

The man backed up and gave another horsey smile. "I see. Well, I guess I'll have to come back later. While I'm here, though, would you mind if I walk around and take a look at the animals?"

Jake stepped out onto the porch with the man, closing the door behind him. Annie hurried to the window, where she had a clearer view.

"If you're so interested in the alpacas," she heard Jake say, "I'm sure you'll want to see the Dalai Lamas, too."

The man froze. He stared at Jake, his eyes cagey.

"No?" Jake growled. "Well, how about the Dolly Partons?"

Before either Annie or the man knew what was happening, Jake had grabbed the man's arm, twisted it behind his back, and bent him over the porch railing.

"Hey! Hey! Ouch! Let me go!" the man yelped.

"I know who you are, Hawk." Jake's voice was low and menacing. "And you're not going anywhere until I find out is who hired you."

"Hey, stop! You're hurting my arm."

"I'll hurt more than that if you don't tell me who hired you," Jake snarled. "Who was it?"

"T—Tom M—Morrison. At Morrison and Chastaine."    1~

Jake muttered an oath. "What are you doing here?"

"Just checkin' things out." The man squirmed. "Come on, man—I told you what you wanted to know. Let me go!"

Jake loosened his grasp so abruptly the man nearly    ~! fell over. Straightening, the P.I. turned frightened eyes on Jake.

Jake pointed to the man's vehicle. "Get in your car and get the hell out of here, and don't even think about coming back. I'm the Chastaine in Morrison and Chas-tame, and you can consider yourself fired."

The man raced to his car, climbed in, and sped away, gravel flying beneath his tires.

Jake stormed back into the house, his face a mask of anger. Annie followed him to the kitchen and watched him pick up the wall phone.

"Who are you calling?" she asked.

"Tom."

"Why? To cook up some other scheme to prove I'm unfit?"

"Annie, I swear I didn't know."