A Worthy Suitor by Jennifer AlLee

Author:Jennifer AlLee
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin

Chapter 9

The holding cell of the county police department made Albert yearn to be back in the Tuxedo Park stables. At least the stall he’d fallen asleep in had been empty. And clean. And had only smelled of horses.

Had it only been three days ago that he’d been frustrated about juggling his work, raising support for the competition, figuring out how to tell Gwen about Rachel? Looking back, it all seemed so simple. Now he was facing bogus charges of burglary and assault. He’d been publically humiliated, providing grist for the rumor mill and essentially guaranteeing that no one in Tuxedo Park would want to be associated with him, let alone be represented by him in Saint Louis.

But his two biggest concerns were the women in his life. Was Gwen all right? Had Matilda given her the message, and if so, had she understood it? If she had, then the woman he was in love with would be meeting the woman he’d been hiding. Ironically, that might mean the safest place for him would be right where he was, behind bars.

The door at the front of the holding area opened, producing the now-familiar squeal of hinges desperately in need of oiling. A man in a slightly worn day suit entered, followed by a uniformed police officer. The man in the suit kept his eyes forward, blatantly ignoring the insults and slurs that were hurled from the incarcerated on either side of him. The officer, however, seemed to enjoy not only disciplining the behavior, but encouraging it. He ran his baton across the bars as he walked by, adding to the cacophony and managing to smash the occasional knuckle in the process.

Finally, the man in the suit stopped in front of the crowded cell. “Albert Taylor.” He looked squarely at Albert, not hesitating to wonder which one he was.

Albert rose from the bench and approached the bars. “I’m Albert.”

“I’m Detective Sutter. I’ve got a few questions about your case.” He turned to the other man. “Officer Wyatt, we need to move him to an interrogation room.”

The officer looked at Albert and nearly growled. “Step back, then.”

Albert barely jumped back in time to avoid getting hit with the baton. One of the other men who had moved to the bars wasn’t so lucky. He howled and backed away, holding his hand to his chest. Albert could see blood beginning to ooze through the fellow’s fingers.

Detective Sutter frowned, but held his tongue. When the cell door was open, Officer Wyatt motioned to Albert.

“Out with ya, now. I don’t have all day.”

Albert was tempted to ask the officer how many more fingers he had to bash with his club in order to fill his daily quota. Instead, he hurried through the door, careful to keep his hands close to his body. As soon as he was clear, the officer slammed the door and locked it.

“This way.” Detective Sutter took a firm grip on Albert’s upper arm and led him back down the hall. Once

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