THE BILLIONAIRE AND THE DETECTIVE

tyle home in an upscale development convenient to the freeway. ln reaso

attractive, upscale couple, who spent th

ing well, Mrs

k like

mpliment. She tired to recover gracefully. "After what you've been through, you're entitled to look a little frazz

nerves conveyed sound, Mrs Chamberses would have clattered

e, l'd let you pull out all

a was surprised to learn that she was a smoker. Although

th the discreet diamond studs in her earlobes, and repeatedly adjusted t

haven't gone through everything, but there were Dali and Picasso lithograph on the wall there. And in that niche there was an Erte sculpture we bought a

husband reached out a ta

. ln our house joe, and they've our things. Damn it, they stole my ca

bers, l kno

towards Ella. "Have you ev

nee a moment. "But I've worked plenty

ands, drew air in, slowly let it out. "I've got the s

go to a hotel. How much mo

estions. You said both of

e than a month. We went to the Starfire club with some friends." She spoke, as she rubbed soothing circles over the b

er than the two o

housek

so have the se

tered. "Oh listen, Carol's been cleaning for us

bers. Could l have her full nam

nything that struck a chord. But for the Chamberses it had been nothing more tha

plete as well as the insurance information. The crime scene unit was still working, but

dance down the street in little whirls and gusts. The neighborhood was hushed, t

s was going to turn up

ar, drinking what appeared to be cup of tak

r, Eric held out the half c

han

ou can have

e cup. "Detective, or rather Officer, y

s, m

eport on my desk b

his car. Ella sipped the black coffee,

. l can get a ride home i

e here." He opened the car d

alked around to the driver's side. "So, the perps picked the

me back to you." She shut her eyes, as she look

ake me feel, better. What

, some art, heavy jewelry, and som

us roadster,

ith less than five th

beast of a ride.

. "But don't these people h

ugh the wife didn't look quite so sure of that. Anyway, the point is they felt

rcled her head, cracking out the

ell then, we sh

ttle. "That's ve

nk that coffee or

l don't want anymore. i

ck, he thought. Fatigue had her unguarded enough to tilt her face toward him as she tire

exactly how they'd taste.

in neutral, engaged the emergency brake, then leaned ove

tly against his. Even as she swor

f, don't

when making love. l'm putting your seat back. lf you're going to sl

She thought. "l

shoved her back, and with a s

eping. l was j

ou're brain is dead." He glanced ove

urs have you

ead. You still asked me m

0am, that gives you twenty hours. Why don't yo

nant. She couldn't give her best to the job on a couple of hours slee

not safe without

h, that's right. Mr. Jones. Without my watchful eye, the city's in cha

e light and pulled smoothly to th

reached out for her

for the inside car handle. But he had the the

r myself or do l loo

ou look

am. So g

walk yo

Get a grip Mr." She mut

, then crossed the lob

nd my way

e you to y

a damn

ou irritable." He stepped

She jabbed the button

alling for me. Thank God

nd he closed a hand over her arm

not com

over my shoulder, dump you in bed and

ou must b

urry, the delicate ski

give me

t out of her pocket. "Am you

pulled the key back out of the lock, took her han

d nig

e lift." She closed t

m. Face that dangerous ought to be registered as a weapon. A wo

e as she tried off her shoes. She set her alarm,

instantl