Beneath the Badge by Rita Herron

Author:Rita Herron [Herron, Rita]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2008-12-12T23:00:00+00:00

GUILT NAGGED AT TAYLOR as Hayes parked in front of Link Hathaway’s Spanish mansion. What would Hayes think if he knew he was about to meet his grandfather?

The man who had insisted Margaret give him away. The man who’d lied to her and assured her that Hayes was happy and lived with a loving family.

The man who had enough money that he could have kept Hayes, even if it meant raising him by nannies. The man who probably wouldn’t want anything to do with Hayes now.

Link was a formidable man. Driven by guilt over a teenaged pregnancy, Margaret had always had a difficult time standing up to him.

Margaret pulled into the six-car garage, and Hayes parked in front of the impressive mansion, a frown marring his face as they walked up the tiled path to the arched doorway. When they entered, his gaze swept the interior, a scowl deepening the grooves around his mouth as he assessed the imported chandeliers, two-story winding staircase and Spanish decor.

“Mr. Hathaway likes history,” she said, earning a sideways look of disdain.

Margaret appeared through a set of double French doors and glanced at Hayes with such longing and pain that Taylor’s heart clenched.

“Father’s in the study, Taylor. Ranger…H-Hayes,” Margaret stammered. “Would you like to sit on the veranda? Elda can bring you something cold to drink.”

“I’ll wait here,” Hayes said, shoulders squared.

She shot a nervous glance toward Taylor, then nodded. “All right. Make yourself comfortable.”

He gave them both a look that said that was impossible, and Taylor’s stomach churned. As soon as they entered Link Hathaway’s office, Taylor sensed he was angry. That perhaps he even knew the reason for this meeting.

But how was that possible? No one knew about the file but her….

Unless the man who’d killed the private investigator had found the files. Would he phone Link if he had? Maybe for blackmail money?

“Father, I just discovered the truth about my baby,” Margaret said in a surprisingly strong voice. She dropped the folder from the private investigator onto her father’s desk. He glanced at it then up at Margaret, and slanted a furious stare toward Taylor.

“Don’t you think we should discuss this in private?” he said sharply.

Margaret shook her head. “Taylor knows everything, Father. She hired a private investigator to find my son. The file came from him.”

His thick gray brows drew together as he scowled. “You should have minded your own business, Taylor. Are you trying to ruin my daughter’s happiness?”

“I thought I was helping her,” Taylor said.

“She knew I wanted to know more about my baby.” Margaret folded her arms. “Why did you lie to me, Father? Why did you tell me he was in a happy home when that file proves otherwise?”

Link paced the room, agitated. “I did what I thought was best to protect you and your future.”

“But my baby suffered,” Margaret cried. “And he was, is, your grandson. How could you leave him in a bad situation when we could have taken care of him so much better?”

Link Hathaway’s nostrils flared.

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