Free Countdown by Fern Michaels

others’ that if we somehow managed to run aground, we’d call on you girls. If you need more than that, you’re out of luck, I’m afraid. It’s the best I can give you right now.”
    Maggie nodded. “I’m good for now with what you’ve told me. Does the case you’re on have anything to do with that slew of pictures Ted and Espinosa sent me? It’s Lieutenant Governor Sandford, right? You’re gonna take him down and are using his wife, Fiona, as bait, right?”
    Jack was shocked. He almost jumped out of his skin when Hero leaped onto his lap and started to purr.
    Maggie laughed out loud at the expression on Jack’s face. “Now be nice to him.”
    “How’d you figure it out?” Jack asked as he reared back as the cat tried to climb his chest.
    Maggie made a disgusted sound deep in her throat. “I’m a reporter, for crying out loud. I sense things, feel things, and my gut kicks in. It’s what I do. It’s in my blood. You guys are going to nail that slum landlord, right?”
    Jack gave up being surprised. “Sandford got away with it the first time around because he’s wealthy, his family is powerful, and he’s the lieutenant governor. If the law won’t step in, then we’ll do it for them. We’ve got a plan, and we’re going to make that skunk wish he’d never been born.”
    “Your . . . ah . . . plan . . . that isn’t like that pumpkin plan you had back in Utah when things went to hell, is it?”
    Jack grimaced. “Damn, am I ever going to live that down? In the end, it worked. But to answer your question, our plan is foolproof. Trust me.”
    In spite of himself, Jack found that he was stroking the skinny cat’s head. Hero purred so loud that Jack laughed out loud. “Cyrus is going to pitch a fit when I get home and he smells this cat on me.”
    Maggie giggled. “Into each life a little rain must fall. Suck it up, big guy.”
    “I gotta go, Maggie. Listen, for whatever it’s worth, I’m glad you’re on board.”
    Maggie reached for the cat and cuddled it close to her chest. The little animal felt warm and safe in her arms. “Me, too, Jack. Me, too.”
     
     
    Maggie rolled over and groaned. What was that noise? The phone? The doorbell? She squinted at the red numerals on her bedside clock, which read 4:58. It was the doorbell! Who rang someone’s doorbell at this time of the morning? An emergency? Cops? What? She swung her legs over the side of the bed and raced from the room and down the hall. She took the steps two at a time and almost threw herself at the door. She didn’t even bother to check the peephole to see who was on the other side of the door. She swung it open, and barked, “What? Do you know what time it is?”
    Ted didn’t say a word; he kicked the door shut with his foot, grabbed her and kissed her until her teeth rattled. When he broke away, he stared down at Maggie, and said, “Say something, or I am outta here forever, and this time I mean it.”
    “Do that again, that thing you do with your tongue,” was all Maggie could manage to say. Ted obliged.
    When they broke apart the second time, Ted took charge. “It’s too cold in here. I’ll make a fire, you turn up the heat and make us something to eat and lots of coffee unless you want to skip all that and we head to the second floor now. ”
    Maggie blinked. Who was this guy who was suddenly in charge of her life? Whoever he was, she decided in that moment that she liked him. She turned and galloped up the steps, Ted right behind her. She flew to the bed, jumped on it as she was ripping at her pajamas. “What’s taking you so long?” she yelled as Ted tripped over his own feet.
    The yellow cat hopped up on the bedroom chair and curled into a ball as he tried to shield his ears from the wild whooping sounds that filled the room. Eventually, he fell asleep when the room turned quiet.

Chapter 10
    Jack Emery laughed out loud when he walked out his front door at six o’clock with Cyrus to see the Post van parked in