CHASING TROUBLE

movement-sensor alarm in the house had been put on at nig

the ceiling in the corner of the sitting room. "Burglars have to be a bit more hig

d? Or do you intend to wait until the police arrive? I called them before c

asked with a r

eplied C

adversity. Although he very much doubted that a real burglar would have stopped to chat like this, let a

u lie you tend to bunch yo

clenched fist, carefully unclenching it before adding, "I

n top of his other black-denim-covered knee with a distinct lack of concer

me?" she said. "You are

a key, r

w it was under the pl

was there? It might also be an idea, when you go to bed at night, to read something a little less..." he picked up the book and read the first paragraph, "...grap

at!" Caroli

h the book out of his hand and thrust it behind her back, bef

returned that fi

n at his reply. "Surely you

"That isn‟t going to

police g

intedly, before continuing softly, "I ass

d to leave the house before the police got here. The fact that she'd had no phone upstairs with which to call the police was irrelevant; he shou

ou didn't break a window to get

milk bottle when I was getting it out of the fridge." He scowled darkly. "A pie

n had been taking a milk bottle from the fridge in the first place... "You don't ser

was tired and still thirsty, and, amusing as this woman undoubtedly was, he was tired of answering her questions. Espe

ing impatient as the redhead imme

a cup of the tea I was maki

making a cup of tea?" s

ised dark b

ly for escapism!" she snapped defensively, as his earlier remark a

tle I just read, I should think they mi

ght red at his obvious

allway to the kitchen, to lift the teapot and pour himself a cup of the dark liquid that was no doubt completely stewed by

owed him to the kitchen and was now s

As he had suspected, it was slightly bitter. "Well, what?" he sn

" she repeate

erisively. "Obvious

y she had ever had, but a burglar wouldn't have stopped in the kitchen to make himself a cup of tea befor