Rogue Diamond (30 page)

An old Charles Bronson movie was on, and she was struck by t
he
si
milarities between the rug
ged movie star and Nick. Not in looks, especially, for Nick was taller, not as leathery, and better looking. Still, Nick did have that scar on his cheek, giving him an appealing ruggedness. The two men moved their bodies alike in an ambling gait, maneuvering broad shoulders as well as long legs. They were both men of action; both had a wide-legged masculine stance that caught a woman's eye. Neither were slick or smooth, but both possessed a take-charge attitude. She stared at the screen, spellbound. Why hadn't she trusted Nick to remain in charge of the search for Jenni? If she had, she wouldn't be here tonight.

"Your undiv
ided attention would be appreci
ated."

"What? Oh, Nick—Jack, sorry," she fumbled inanely. "I was just . . . the movie reminded me of something." She pushed the off button, blacking the screen. "What did you find out?"

"Not much. We'll have to pool our resources to break this case open." He paused to take a
si
p of double Scotch and to remove his tie. "But I'm convinced, if your information is accurate, we can find that kid for you, Alex." His tux jacket joined the tie across the back of a chair.

"If my information is accurate?" she snapped, now fully awake and leery of what article of clothing he would remove next. "Of course it is! I've been throu
gh it! I know every exacting de
tail. By God, Jack, you promised! Don't try to back out now!"

"All right, all right, Alex. Take it easy." Jack slipped the first two shirt buttons open, to reveal
his
sexy
male
chest, and joined her on the sofa. His fingers dug into his shirt pocket. "Tonight what I managed to come up with is a lawyer's name. This man works out of a legitimate office in Ohio. It's been rumored for years that he's involved with such shady deals as this, but no one has been able to pin anything on him. Now, maybe we can."

Alex's hand shook with excitement as she took the slip of paper from Jack's hand. This name meant the pos
si
ble end of the long search for Jenni. "Jack, h
ow can I thank you? This is won
derful. It's something po
si
tive. A link."

"Well, as I said, it's a start in the right direction. My opinion is that by working with the FBI, we'll be able to track her down for you. Whether you'll want to keep he
r at that time, is another ques
tion."

"Oh, no, Jack. There's no question about that. I want her!" Alex rose and walked to the sleek mahogany dining table. Digging in
si
de her purse, she pulled out the yellow sheet of legal-
si
zed paper, filled from bottom to top. She handed it to J
ack. "Here's my part of the bar
gain." The verb
alized part, she thought misera
bly.

Jack took the paper and scanned it. Listed were the names
of the bar, the pharmacy, drug
gist, restaurant, codeword, methods of travel— everything Alex could remember about her day in Jessup.

A certain light filled his eyes as he read. "My God, Alex! I can't believe it! You are amazing! Cabbage Patch Dolls! This is . . . this is just great, babe!" He took her in his arms and pulled her close for a kiss. The act of placing his lips on hers elicited no
response from Alex, neither in
viting warmth nor cool rejection. Nothing. She remained still, compliant and pas
si
ve, willing to play the game out to its conclu
si
on. After all, she'd made a deal.

Jack broke free from the kiss and stepped away. "It's all right, Alex. Obviously, this has been a hectic week for you. Go on home and get some rest. I'll work on this tomorrow and we'll get on this case first thing Monday morning."

Her eyes widened. "Jack?"

He nodded and winked. "For old time's sake, babe. Go on."

Relief flooded her entire being and Alex tried not to show the joy she felt. Instead, she just smiled.

"It doesn't take a genius to see that it's over between us, Alex. I'm sorry, but it's true."

"I hope we can still be friends, Jack."

"Of course we will. Why, with this information you've given me, I'll be at the top
of the gover
nor's list. It'll boost my career tremendously, Alex. I'm gratef
ul to you, babe. I'll always re
member it. And when this is all settled and you're ready for a job, let me know. I'll get you something exciting, anywhere in the state."

"Thanks, Jack.
" Impul
si
vely, Alex stepped for
ward and kissed his cheek.

"Hey," he grinned. "That's more warmth than I've felt from you all night!"

She grinned back. "If this leads to finding Jenni, you ain't seen nothin' yet
.
I'm afraid I'll be hugging everybody in
si
ght!"

"I hope I'm around when that happens."

"I won't forget all you've done, Jack." She smiled wistfully, picked up her purse, and headed for the door.

"Hey, Alex, do you think I should take you home? This is pretty hot information. It might not be safe for you to be out alone."

"Don't be ridiculous, Jack. What could pos
si
bly happen? I'm just parked on the corner under a
light, and I only have to go a few miles to Carol's house."

"You staying with your old friend, Carol Weymeyer? I remember her from ASU. Well, okay." Althou
gh he nodded, there was a reluc
tance in his voice.

"Thanks, Jack. For everything."

"See you Monday."

Alex's heart sang
with joy as she rode the eleva
tor down
si
x floo
rs. Her thoughts turned unavoid
ably to Nick and she wished with all her might she hadn't left him in Mexico. She wished she could share this moment with him. When all this was over, maybe she'd go back to Hermo
si
llo as Carol suggested and demand some answers. By then, maybe she would know her own heart.

Within moments o
f leaving the secure build
ing where Jack lived, Alex knew she was being followed.

CHAPTER
SI
XTEEN

Alex could hear him, sense him, feel his ominous power, before she actually saw him. She glanced quickly over one shoulder and caught
si
ght of a hulking form mo
ving along the semi
-
lighted
si
de
walk. He wore a
dark
suit and a fedora pulled down over his eyes. And he was mas
si
ve.

She con
si
dered running back to Jack's secure building but her follower was too close now and stood between her and the building. She could scream, but there was no one on the street after midnight. Her best bet was to dash for the van parked at the corner. It seemed a mile away.

Just as Alex broke into a sprint, she heard her name called. "Alex! Wait!"

But she didn't. Adrenaline pumped through her veins, supplying a surge of fright-engendered energy that spurred her on.

Suddenly, steely arms clamped around hers, pinning them to her
si
des. Alex fought like a wildcat. "Let go of me!" She kicked. "You brute!" She twisted in his grip. "Turn me loose! Help!" she screamed.

"Senorita, please! Shut up!"

Alex froze stock-still. She recognized that voice, the distinctive Mexican accent
.

"Alex, it's
Jose
!" he grated against her ear.

She slumped against him, faint from relief and gushing adrenaline. "
Jose
? You scared the hell out of me!"

"Sorry, senorita." He pushed her into the van and slid his con
si
derable bulk in the driver's seat. "Didn't mean to scare you. I tried to get your attention to identify myself and I didn't want to attract the attention of others."

"Then you shouldn't have grabbed me like that." Alex pressed a hand to her pounding heart.

"I see that now," he admitted with a wry smile. Some fighter, this woman of Nick's, he thought.

She leaned over to get a closer look at him. "Why are you wearing that ridiculous suit and hat,
Jose
? And where is your magnificent mustache?"

He grinned proudly. "This is my new disguise. Don't I look respectable in a three-piece suit? We had to get out of Mexico quick. Too hot! Now we're waiting for things to cool down."

"
Jose
, I don't understand. Do you mean—"

"Nick will explain." He started the van and proceeded through town.

"Nick? He's here? In Phoenix?" Her racing heart almost lurched into her throat.

"Yes. He wants to see you, senorita."

"He does? I'm
surprised. I thought he'd be fu
rious because I took off without telling him, and in his van."

Jose
nodded. "He was."

"What's he doing here in Phoenix?"

"I told you, Alex. It got too hot in Mexico. And he wanted to find you before . . . before you did anything else.
Besides we came to get our van.
"

"What do you mean, it's too hot in Mexico? And how did you find me here?"

"Through
your friend,
Carol."

"How did you know about her? Did you follow me there?"

"No. We knew about her in Mexico. Through your
email
s."

"You intercepted my
e
mai
l?" Alex bellowed in
dignantly. "How dare you!"

He shrugged. "In the line of duty, of course."

"Duty? What duty?" she demanded, furious at the inva
si
on of her privacy.

"Nick will explain," he said again.

Alex stewed quietly for a moment, trying to gain control o
f her anger and decide what war
ranted the intru
si
on of one's mail. "You've been following me tonight,
Jose
?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"For Nick."

"Then you know where I went? And why?" She realized it didn't look good that she had emerged from Jack's apartment.

"You went to the Hilton and talked to Jack Kingsley, aide to the governor,"
Jose
droned. "Later, you met him at his apartment."

"It isn't the way it looks,
Jose
. He's an old friend."

"And lover."

"Not any longer. All that is in the past."

Jose
shrugged ponderous shoulders. "It doesn't matter to me, senorita."

"I know how you work,
Jose
. You report everything to Nick. And I want to set the record straight. Jac
k gave me some valuable informa
tion tonight that will be helpful in the search for Jenni. I have the name of a lawyer in Ohio who takes these kids
and sells them to desperate cou
ples. Then he l
egalizes this whole sordid bu
si
ness. He may even know where Jenni is at this very minute!"

Jose
pulled to a stop in front of a modest motel. "Nick will be
very
interested to hear this."

"He's in there?" she asked incredulously, and suddenly felt reluctant. "Are you sure he wants to see me? After . . . everything?"

"Yes. Very much."

"
Jose
?" She looked at him he
si
tantly. "I ... I don't know if I want to go in there. You see, I . . . that is, I
don't think I should start some
thing again that can't be finished."

"He in
si
sts on seeing you, senorita. You must go. . . ."
Jose
paused. He didn't want to sound too emphatic with this strong-willed lady but he remembered Nick's ranting and raving about Alex on the entire trip from Hermo
si
llo, how he'd fluctuated between insane worry and vicious anger that she would put herself in such dangerous
si
tuations. Oh, yes, El
Capitan
was
si
ck ... in the heart. And she definitely would see him if
Jose
had to force the issue.

"
Jose
, maybe I shouldn't—" Alex was torn.