Guarding Raine Part 45

A whole gallery of them is displayed on the wall over his desk in the living room.

" Mac mulled this over. " Did he mention them?

" Trey shook his head. " Not until I did.

But remembering what he told the one client, that he and Raine were real close, I wanted to see what he would say.

So I pointed to them and said something like, is that your girlfriend7 .

And, I'm not exaggerating, he actually blushed.

Stammered around a little bit and then muttered something about being really good friends with her.

" " I don't like it," Mac said narrowly. " It sounds as if he'sdeveloped a fixaticm on her." " But where's his motivation to harm her?" Trey asked. " It's not as though she rejected him, right?

Or did she?

" " I don't know, but I'll find out," Mac promised grimly. " Even if she did, though, why.

would Winters be the one who hung on to the letters that got turned over to the detective?

" Trey shrugged. " I never said I had the answers.

But I sure have lots of questions." " You and me both," Mac muttered. " Okay," Trey said, looking in hisnotebook. " You told me earlier that you wanted criminal checks onKla.s.sen, Winters and Jennings.

I did manage to get those done.

You won't believe what I owe the lovely young lady at the police department for her help.

" " Spare me those details.

" Trey grinned and continued. " There's nothing at all on Winters or

Jennings, but there is a record for a Joseph Jennings.

Sarah is apparently his guardian.

" " That's her brother," Mac said. " Raine said Sarah's been raising

him for the last several years.

" " Well, he's been in some trouble over the course of those years,"

Trey noted. " With the sheet he's got, the next time he strays over the line of the law, he's going to need a darn persuasive lawyer to keep him out of jail.

" Mac grunted. " What about Kla.s.sen?

" " No record of criminal activity, but I've been asking around topeople I know in the art world.

I keep coming up with that same rumor about him being short of money.

" Mac leaned back and stared into s.p.a.ce morosely. He couldn't helpfeeling as if they were spinning their wheels. What if it was, asRaine had said all along, a random crazy out there who had picked herout to be persecuted? He sighed and shook his head. Eliminate the obvious, that was their only choice. When they had Kylie Brant 155proof that those with access to Raine weren't guilty, then they wouldshift their focus elsewhere. h~ the meantime, he'd be with her everystep of the way~ keeping her safe. He'd make sure she was never alone. Until this was over. When he walked away, she would be very muchalone, in a way she hadn't been before this mess had started. And there was fro way he could make up to her for that. Mac walked Trey tothe door. He'd no sooner closed it behind his friend than Raine came down the stairs. " Who was that?

" She nodded toward the door. " Trey.

" She had that look about her again, the one that said she wasn't quiteready to deal with the details of the world. Something had interruptedher in the middle of her painting. He was getting to where he couldtell when she was distracted, her mind still on her work. She seemed a little far away, even when looking right at him. All her emotions were reflected in those large, expressive eyes. When she'd been arguingwith him earlier they'd been full of sincerity and, he feared, pain.And when he'd dried her off from her sho~ver yesterday morning, they'dbeen dazed with a desire so strong it took only the memory of it todraw an answering response from him. " I just remembered," she said,stopping in her descent down the stairs. " I have to go out tonightfor dinner with Andre and some art patrons.

It's a long-standing engagement.

I can't get out of it.

" " What's it for?

" One delicate shoulder rose. " It's just a way for Andre to stir thepot before the show.

He'll have invited several couples, all big spenders in the artcircle.

They'll also be issued special invitations to the exhibit.

I'm to appear and be pleasant and try not to drive business away.

" Her tone was wry. This was not an outing she looked forward to. But Andre was the quintessential agent, always looking for a way to expandhis artists' marketability. He was also a master of free publicity,and she wouldn't be a bit surprised to find a representative from anewspaper or a magazine there.

She suppressed a sigh. No, this was definitely not the kind of evening she looked forward to. She wouldn't blame Macauley for wanting to sitthis one out. " I take it this is important?

" She shrugged again. " It's a command performance, really.

Andre goes to a lot of effort to sell my paintings~ The least I can dois cooperate on the rare occasions he dresses me up and trots me out toprospective buyers.

" His mouth quirked in sympathy. Then he shocked her by saying, "

What time do we have to leave?

" " We?

You don't have to go, Macauley.

I wouldn't put you through it, believe me.

It's going to be dreadfully dull.

Since I don't have a car anymore"-- that thought made her frown " --I can call Andre and he'll pick me up.

" " I told you that you'll go nowhere without me.

" ~" I just thought,"

she said, her voice dwindling, "since Andre would be with me..."

Rather than tell her that Andrfi K!

as sen was one of the last people he'd leave Raine alone with right

now, Mac merely said, "I can't protect you if I'm not by your side. So what time do we have to be there?"

"We're due at Clancy's Restaurant at seven,"

she murmured.

He inclined his head.

"I'll have to stop by my place to change clothes, so we'll need to leave early."

He consulted his wrist.w.a.tch.

"Can you be ready in an hour? Or, better yet, just gather up what

you'll need and bring it along. That way we can change at the same time."

The thought of being in his apartment, both of them getting ready ~o go

out, together, Was filled with an alluring intimacy.

Her throat dry, she managed to nod.

When she turned to go upstairs he headed to the office.

Reaching the desk, he picked Up the walkie-talkie he used to

communicate with the men in charge of patrolling the grounds.

He told them his plans for the evening and arranged a signal of three short honks of the horn to announce his return home.

He wanted them to be ~ware, even in the dark, of the ident.i.ty of his

truck and the driver.

He didn't want any mixups He'd barely finished when Raine entered the room.

She was carrying a small suitcase and a garment bag.

It occurred to Mac that tonight would be the first time he'd seen her in a dress.

He was enough of a chauvinist to look forward to the sight with

antic.i.p.ation.

Raine finished d~essing in record time, and left the spare bedroom, She

freely admitted to herself the curiosity she was feeling about where Mac lived.