Free JAKrentz - Uneasy Alliance by User Page B

note and got to his feet. When Abby failed to move he frowned warningly. "Don't dawdle, honey. We've got a long drive ahead of us."
FOUR
    « ^ »
    A bby sat tense and withdrawn as Torr guided the BMW out of
Portland going east along the interstate that paralleled the mighty
Columbia River. For several miles the river formed the border between the states of
Washington
and
Oregon
, cutting a majestic swath through a spectacular gorge. The densely forested mountains rose skyward on Abby's right and the river surged toward the ocean on her left. It was a wonderfully scenic route and at any other time she would have been thoroughly enjoying herself. But today being on the floor of the gorge gave her a sensation of being trapped.
    Or perhaps it was the knowledge that she was confined in a car with a man she barely knew, a man who was trying to take over her life, that gave her the trapped sensation.
    Then again, maybe being a victim of blackmail always made you feel that way. Her fingers clenched into a knot in her lap.
    "I'd tell you to stop worrying except that I don't think the advice would do much good," Torr mused as he glanced at her hands.
    "You're right. I've never been in a situation like this in my life. I'm furious and I'm scared and I feel so awfully helpless. What if my idea doesn't work?"
    "Oh, I think whoever it is will follow you. We left enough of a trail. Between meeting your neighbor in the hall and leaving a message with my answering service, it should be easy enough for anyone to figure out we're at my cabin near the
Columbia River gorge. We didn't exactly make a secret of our exit."
    Abby chewed on her lower lip, remembering the conversational way Torr had told her neighbor they were off on a trip. Mrs. Hammond's alert gaze had flashed to Abby and then back to the solid dark-haired man who stood by her side holding a suitcase.
    "Excellent idea, if you ask me," Mrs. Hammond had volunteered. "I'm nearly eighty years old and I can tell you right now that if I had the first thirty years to do over again, I'd make a few interesting memories for myself. Have a good time, Abby dear. He looks like he can take care of you." The tiny woman beamed up at Torr. "Don't let her scare you off, young man. She's really much softer than she makes out at times."
    "I'll keep that in mind," Torr had murmured obligingly.
    "Lovely day for a drive," Mrs. Hammond had said, beaming.
    "We thought we'd head for my place overlooking the
Columbia."
    "Up near the gorge? Wonderful country!" Mrs. Hammond had enthused. "Whereabouts?"
    Torr had smoothly given the name of a small community and smiled blandly at Abby. "Ready to go?"
    "Yes." Impulsively Abby had turned toward the older woman. "Mrs. Hammond, I wonder if you…"
    "Don't worry about your plants, dear. Between Bonny Wilkins and myself we'll see to them. Run along now."
    And Abby had allowed herself to be escorted into the elevator and out to the waiting BMW. There had followed a quick stop to Torr's house, a stark modern structure that she'd had no time at all to investigate. Torr had packed a bag with his usual efficiency and they had been on their way before Abby had seen anything other than the coldly contemporary black-and-tan decor of the living room.
    "Abby," Torr said, interrupting her thoughts. "The real problem isn't whether or not the blackmailer follows you and shows himself. The problem is dealing with him when he does."
    "I know," she answered, sighing.
    "What did you plan to do then?" Torr pressed gently.
    "I don't know! Torr, I can't even imagine what the person could want from me. I mean, I'm reasonably successful but I'm certainly not rich. There is no way I could give the blackmailer huge amounts of money."
    "If he or she is a small-time sort of blackmailer, the demands will probably be correspondingly small," Torr asserted, shrugging.
    "You don't seem overly concerned about them," she accused.
    "The size of the demands? I'm not. You're not going to pay off, so it