Truth Or Lies. Kylie Brant

of a man who meant to stay awhile. “I’ll admit that you don’t have LeFrenz hiding in your bedroom. I’m even willing to bet that you spent the night just as you claim. But there’s still the little matter of Jonny’s fixation on you.”

      He must have read the impatience and frustration on her face, because he went on, “You may not know him, but I do. He’s a two-bit dealer who has always managed to avoid hard jail time.”

      “I’ve treated dealers before, Detective. I’ve also worked on murderers and child molesters.” Her voice was stony. “We provide care to anyone who needs it, whether they’re upstanding citizens or not. I’ve never had one of them contact me outside the hospital.”

      “After last night, the stakes are even higher for LeFrenz,” he countered. “Besides the death of that kid he sold drugs to, he’s going to face life or execution. The State of Louisiana doesn’t take well to cop killers. So he’s automatically more dangerous, because he’s got more to lose than usual if he gets caught. He also has a very powerful friend. It took money to arrange that escape. You have to wonder who wants him out of police custody and why.”

      “This is all very interesting,” she drawled, in a tone that said it was anything but. “But it has nothing to do with me. If LeFrenz has that much at stake, the last thing he’s going to do is come out of hiding to contact me. I was cooperating with your interrogation. He’s got no reason to trust me.”

      “You’re thinking logically, in terms of what makes sense to you. You’re not thinking like a man who has always taken everything he’s ever wanted. One who sees no reason to deny himself anything.” He gave her a moment to digest that before adding, “And based on the way he acted at the hospital, what he wants right now is you.”

      She rubbed her arms, where an involuntary shiver had prickled her skin. Tremaine was reaching, she told herself firmly. He had no evidence to suggest such a thing, only supposition. But she couldn’t shake the idea that twice today she’d had unwelcome visitors in her apartment. If LeFrenz wanted to, what would prevent him from being the third?

      As if he’d read the thought, Tremaine said, “You need to call a security consultant and take a few extra precautions around here.”

      “I will.” She meant it. And if the extra precautions kept her father from entering her apartment illegally, she’d consider that a bonus.

      “Good. You need to be careful at the hospital, too. Do you drive?”

      “Of course.”

      “Start taking taxis. It’ll be more expensive, but at least you won’t have to worry about having a stowaway waiting for you in your back seat or about having to cross a dark parking lot at night.” His tone was brisk, as if handing out such stark advice was commonplace for him. “Don’t go anywhere alone, and when you’re home, don’t let anyone in. I’ll still be working the case, so I’m not going to be able to look out for you around the clock.”

      “That’s okay, I’ll…” His meaning hit her then, and she swung around, narrowed her gaze at him. “Who asked you to look out for me?”

      “No one. But I’m going to be sticking close, in any case. I’m betting that sooner or later, LeFrenz is going to come looking for you. And when he does, I’ll be around to nail him.”

      The sheer audacity of the statement had her gaping at him, while a little sprint of alarm tore up her spine. “If you think I’m going to live my life under armed guard because of some crazy intuition of yours, you’re seriously deluded.”

      He gave her a crooked smile, further distracting her. It softened his face, lent it the charm she knew he was capable of and almost diminished the resolve in his expression. Almost. “Relax, it won’t be for long. Just until LeFrenz is picked up again.”

      “No,” she pronounced firmly, with a sense of déjà vu. Was it only twenty minutes ago that she’d been telling her father the same thing? “I’m not going along with this, and there’s no point, anyway. I’m rarely home. Even if LeFrenz did come calling, he probably wouldn’t find me here.”

      “Your father did.”

      Her mouth opened, snapped shut again. The irrefutable logic of the remark elicited a snarl of feelings best left untangled. Steering clear of them, she reached for calm. “Look, if LeFrenz is as smart as you claim, he’s got to realize that you’ll be expecting him to show up here. Which means I’m the one person he’ll steer clear of.”

      Judging from the unyielding expression on his face, he remained unconvinced. “I didn’t say he was smart. But he is an arrogant punk who’s gotten away with murder. He’ll contact you all right, eventually. And when he does, I’m going to be here.”

      His words and the accompanying visual image sent a sneaky blade of panic slicing through her. It was ironic that that the thought of being accosted by an escaped suspect had less impact than did the thought of spending days in Tremaine’s presence. “That won’t be necessary. If I should hear anything from LeFrenz or see anything suspicious at all, I’ll call you right away.”