The Lieutenant by Her Side by Jean Thomas

Author:Jean Thomas
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2012-08-27T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 11

Mark found a scrap of plywood in one of Clare’s closets just large enough to fit over the opening in the French door where the pane was missing.

It would have to do until Clare could get a glazier in here, he thought, tacking the piece to the frame. Mark would also recommend that she add some sturdy bolts to all the doors and windows, ones that couldn’t be easily reached from the outside no matter what panes of glass were removed.

By the time he was finished covering the opening, Clare had the coffee made and ready to pour into the mugs she’d set out on the breakfast bar in the kitchen. The eastern sky was brightening when they perched on stools across from each other.

“Thank you for fixing the door,” she told him.

She didn’t thank him for the polo shirt he’d pulled over his head, but he could see her eyeing it with a certain relief.

Lecher that he admittedly was where this woman was concerned, it pleased him the sight of his naked chest apparently disturbed her on a level that—

Stop it right there, soldier. You’ve got other business to attend to here.

He hadn’t forgotten that, but he waited until he’d swallowed his first satisfying mouthful of the steaming coffee to engage in the serious talk he’d promised her.

Lowering his mug, Mark leaned toward her with an earnest “The plywood might keep the squirrels out, but it isn’t going to prevent that bastard from getting in here again.”

“You think he’ll come back.”

“He wants my amulet, Clare, and from what we know about him, he’ll go to any lengths to get it.”

“But he wouldn’t try to enter the house in broad daylight.”

“Not likely, but even with the patrols Martinez promised us we can’t spend another night here. It’s too dangerous.”

She nodded solemnly. “You’re right. I knew it even before I called the police. I just didn’t want to admit out loud that I would have to leave my home, find somewhere else to stay until this whole mess is cleared up.”

“We have all day to decide where we’ll go.”

She was quiet for a moment. He watched her over the rim of his mug, wondering what she was thinking. She started to lift her own mug and then stopped, shuddering visibly.

“What is it?” he asked her.

“I just had an image of that brute stabbing you with his knife.”

“But he didn’t.”

“No, you prevented that. But he came close to killing you, and if he’d had a gun instead of a knife— Mark, why didn’t he have a gun?”

“Probably got rid of it after killing Boerner to avoid the possibility of it being traced back to him.”

Clare nodded, silent again. This time she was relaxed enough to drink her coffee. He could tell, though, that quick brain of hers was busy again between sips.

“You know we could go back to my apartment tonight. Even if he did learn that’s still my current address, being on an upper floor makes it secure. Plus it has a stout lock and—”

She went blank again in midsentence.

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