THE BILLIONAIRE AND THE DETECTIVE
tyle home in an upscale development convenient to the freeway. ln reaso
attractive, upscale couple, who spent th
ing well, Mrs
k like
mpliment. She tired to recover gracefully. "After what you've been through, you're entitled to look a little frazz
nerves conveyed sound, Mrs Chamberses would have clattered
e, l'd let you pull out all
a was surprised to learn that she was a smoker. Although
th the discreet diamond studs in her earlobes, and repeatedly adjusted t
haven't gone through everything, but there were Dali and Picasso lithograph on the wall there. And in that niche there was an Erte sculpture we bought a
husband reached out a ta
. ln our house joe, and they've our things. Damn it, they stole my ca
bers, l kno
towards Ella. "Have you ev
nee a moment. "But I've worked plenty
ands, drew air in, slowly let it out. "I've got the s
go to a hotel. How much mo
estions. You said both of
e than a month. We went to the Starfire club with some friends." She spoke, as she rubbed soothing circles over the b
er than the two o
housek
so have the se
tered. "Oh listen, Carol's been cleaning for us
bers. Could l have her full nam
nything that struck a chord. But for the Chamberses it had been nothing more tha
plete as well as the insurance information. The crime scene unit was still working, but
dance down the street in little whirls and gusts. The neighborhood was hushed, t
s was going to turn up
ar, drinking what appeared to be cup of tak
r, Eric held out the half c
han
ou can have
e cup. "Detective, or rather Officer, y
s, m
eport on my desk b
his car. Ella sipped the black coffee,
. l can get a ride home i
e here." He opened the car d
alked around to the driver's side. "So, the perps picked the
me back to you." She shut her eyes, as she look
ake me feel, better. What
, some art, heavy jewelry, and som
us roadster,
ith less than five th
beast of a ride.
. "But don't these people h
ugh the wife didn't look quite so sure of that. Anyway, the point is they felt
rcled her head, cracking out the
ell then, we sh
ttle. "That's ve
nk that coffee or
l don't want anymore. i
ck, he thought. Fatigue had her unguarded enough to tilt her face toward him as she tire
exactly how they'd taste.
in neutral, engaged the emergency brake, then leaned ove
tly against his. Even as she swor
f, don't
when making love. l'm putting your seat back. lf you're going to sl
She thought. "l
shoved her back, and with a s
eping. l was j
ou're brain is dead." He glanced ove
urs have you
ead. You still asked me m
0am, that gives you twenty hours. Why don't yo
nant. She couldn't give her best to the job on a couple of hours slee
not safe without
h, that's right. Mr. Jones. Without my watchful eye, the city's in cha
e light and pulled smoothly to th
reached out for her
for the inside car handle. But he had the the
r myself or do l loo
ou look
am. So g
walk yo
Get a grip Mr." She mut
, then crossed the lob
nd my way
e you to y
a damn
ou irritable." He stepped
She jabbed the button
alling for me. Thank God
nd he closed a hand over her arm
not com
over my shoulder, dump you in bed and
ou must b
urry, the delicate ski
give me
t out of her pocket. "Am you
pulled the key back out of the lock, took her han
d nig
e lift." She closed t
m. Face that dangerous ought to be registered as a weapon. A wo
e as she tried off her shoes. She set her alarm,
instantl