Trumped Up Charges by Wayne Joanna

Author:Wayne, Joanna [Wayne, Joanna]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Romance, ROMANCE - - SUSPENSE, Contemporary
ISBN: 9780373696932
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2012-12-31T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

“Uncle Quinton?”

“In the flesh.”

Alana squealed and came running toward him, hurling herself into his arms. “I can’t believe you’re here.”

“Seeing is believing.”

“You’re supposed to be dead.”

“Just a bad rumor.” He whirled Alana around a few times and then set her back down.

Sam joined them. Unlike Alana, he was speechless for a minute. And suspicious. “Man, this is weird.” He turned to Matilda. “Mom?”

“It’s your uncle Quinton, all right. I was about to tell you when he rang the doorbell.”

“You knew,” Alana asked.

“She just found out,” Quinton said. “And I just got back to Dallas.”

Sam still looked a bit skeptical. “Where have you been for the past five years?”

“Laying low. I’d gotten into a little trouble and had to leave town fast. Didn’t want any of you getting dragged into it.”

“But Mom said there was a funeral in Vegas,” Sam said.

“It was a case of mistaken identity. But never fear, I’m back now. You’ll see lots of me from here on out.”

Matilda stood quietly, arms folded while Quinton made getting reacquainted with her children a celebratory occasion.

“How can you be so calm, Mom?” Alana asked. “It’s like your brother came back from the dead.”

Quinton threw an arm around Matilda’s shoulder. “Your mother’s a little upset with me because I haven’t been in touch for so long. But she’s plenty glad to see me, aren’t you, sis?”

“Elated.” Her attempt at enthusiasm fell flat.

“I love surprises,” Alana said. “And having you home is the best surprise of all. There’s warm chocolate chip cookies and milk waiting in the kitchen in your honor, Uncle Quinton. Just like a party.”

“Bet he’d rather have a cold beer,” Sam said.

“You know it.” Quinton laughed and he and Sam exchanged a couple of playful jabs. “But I can’t stay but a few minutes and I need to spend them talking to your mother in private.”

“You just got here,” Alana complained. “You can’t just turn around and leave.”

“We’ll have plenty of time to talk later. I’m going to be around so much that you’ll get sick and tired of me. Your mother and I are going to be teaming up in a little business venture.”

“You have to promise,” Alana said.

“It’s a definite promise.”

Matilda fought the dread as Alana went in for another hug and Quinton and Sam exchanged several playful arm punches.

Quinton waited until they could hear loud hip-hop coming from the back of the house before he reached over, grabbed Matilda’s wrists and pulled her close. The move was intimidating. His hold was so tight that spirals of pain radiated up her arms and to her shoulders.

“You’ve been busy, sis, talking to cops, doing your best to pin that kidnapping on me.”

“I didn’t go to the police. Detective Lane came to me. I had no choice but to answer his questions. But I swear I didn’t blame anything on you.”

“Tell that garbage to someone stupid enough to believe it. I’ve got friends who don’t lie to me, and they say cops are stalking them like rats after cheese, telling them they’ll be in big trouble if they don’t cooperate.

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