Free Golden Lies by Barbara Freethy Page B

problems with their relationship; she didn't think Martin respected her, or perhaps it was just that his loyalties always seemed to lie more with her parents or her grandfather than with her.
    "I'm sorry, Paige," he said quietly, concern in his eyes. "I wish I could make this go away for you."
    Now she was sorry for being so annoyed with him. He was a good man. And he'd come running to the hospital as soon as he'd heard the news. "I'm just on edge." She pulled her hand from his and stood up. "I can't sit here. I'm going to take a little walk, see if I can find someone who knows something. I'll be back in a few minutes. Watch out for my mother, all right?"
    "Always," he said reassuringly. "And you, too, if you'll let me."
    That was a question she'd save for another day.

    * * *

    Riley ran into the police detective getting off the elevator. A short, squat, muscular man with thick brown hair and cynical black eyes, Tony Paletti was a third-generation San Francisco Italian and a fifteen-year veteran with the SFPD. Riley knew Tony from some of the events on which they'd coordinated security.
    "Hey," Riley said with a nod. "Are you working the Hathaway mugging?"
    "You know something about it?" Tony stepped off to one side to avoid an orderly pushing a wheelchair down the hall.
    "I was with Paige Hathaway when she found out about her father. Was he robbed?"
    "Looks like it. Wallet, money, credit cards are missing. Hathaway was in the wrong place at the wrong time."
    "Was anything else found at the scene?"
    "Like what?"
    Riley hesitated, debating the wisdom of saying anything, but then again secrecy would help the Hathaways more than his grandmother. "A statue that looked like a dragon?"
    Tony's eyes narrowed. "No, but do you want to tell me why you're asking?"
    "My grandmother found an antique statue in her attic. Hathaway's was appraising it."
    "And you think he had it with him?"
    "Possibly."
    "Is this thing worth much?"
    "Could be worth a lot, but we don't know yet."
    Tony took out a small spiral notebook and jotted down some notes. "I'll speak to Mrs. Hathaway. See if she knows what her husband was doing in Chinatown, who he might have gone to see. I need to drum up some witnesses fast. I already got a call from the mayor. The Hathaway family is very important to the city. They want his assailant behind bars ten minutes ago, if you know what I mean."
    Riley nodded, knowing the pressure the cops would be under to solve this case as soon as possible. By morning the press would be all over it, too.
    Paige came around the corner, startling him with her sudden appearance. She looked just as surprised to see him standing with the police officer.
    "Are you the officer investigating my father's attack?" she asked Tony.
    "And you are?"
    "Paige Hathaway. I'm his daughter."
    "I'm sorry about your father, Ms. Hathaway."
    "Thank you. Can you tell me any more about what happened?"
    "Not yet, I'm afraid. We're still investigating the scene. Do you know what business your father had in Chinatown?"
    "I have no idea."
    "Did he have friends there? Business associates?"
    "Probably both. My father specializes in purchasing Asian art. He has many contacts in the Chinese community."
    "Sounds like we'll need a big net. I'll need you to sit down with someone and give us a list of names. But right now I'd like to speak to your mother. Is she available?"
    "She's in the waiting room."
    Before Tony could move down the hall, the elevator doors opened and a uniformed officer stepped out. Tony walked over to greet him, and they began to converse in hushed tones.
    "What do you think that's about?" Paige asked Riley.
    "Probably your father's case."
    "I hope they caught the bastard."
    "If they didn't, they will," he reassured her.
    "They better. It's cold in here, don't you think?" She shivered, clasping her arms more tightly about her waist.
    Riley shouldn't have put his arms around her. He knew it as soon as her breasts brushed his chest. But it was too late