Free Switchback by Catherine Anderson

She wanted him to set her world right again, to put his arms around her, to hold her, to stroke her hair, to make everything better. It was stupid, ridiculous, childish, but she wanted it with such an intensity she ached. The fact that he was a complete stranger made that realization pretty scary.
    He seemed as uneasy as she with the feelings erupting between them. She was relieved when he broke the building tension by giving her shoulder a pat and standing.
    He gazed down the street, his expression thoughtful. “It’s scary to realize how close you came to trouble today. Before I ever got to the hospital, one of Lucetti’s men got near enough to you to go through your purse.”
    Until this moment, Mallory hadn’t thought of it that way. She had been in danger and hadn’t even known it. She threw an incredulous glance at the pile of junk from her purse. “I wonder why they wanted my keys? To strip the house? Steal my car?”
    â€œLucetti isn’t into small-time theft. My guess is, he wanted to get into the house to search for something. Or he thought you might have the key to something he needs opened.”
    â€œLike what?”
    â€œBeats me.” He turned and patted all his pockets. Pausing next to her, he said, “I need my lock picks. Be right back.”
    Lock picks? Mallory watched him lope to his car. After rummaging in his trunk for a moment, he returned, carrying a key ring with a number of small tools attached to it. She watched him select and try three picks before he found the right one. Seconds later, she heard the door latch assembly click.
    â€œDo you have any idea how much money we invested in that lock?” she asked.
    He smiled and pocketed the key ring. “If it’s any consolation, the average burglar probably couldn’t pick it. It’s a high-quality lock.”
    â€œWhich you just opened in a matter of seconds.”
    â€œDead bolts are a better investment. For night security, I recommend the type that locks from the inside and doesn’t have an outside keyhole.”
    She scooped everything back into her purse and stood, not at all sure she was pleased that he was so adept at breaking and entering, or that he knew so much about locks. What kind of man was he? As she walked toward the open door, she realized that it didn’t really matter to her what kind of person he was, not as long as he would help her find Emily. “I don’t suppose I should ask where you learned to do that.”
    He stepped back so she could enter. “Probably not.” Pausing behind her, he glanced around the large entry. She sensed a sudden wariness in him. “Come back out to the car a sec. I want to take another look for your keys. I need you to hold the light.” He motioned toward the porch. Once they were outside with the door closed, he whispered, “Another reason just hit me why he might have wanted your keys. To plant bugs. With your keys, they could get right in without alarming any of your neighbors by picking the lock or breaking the door.”
    â€œListening devices? In my house?”
    â€œI should have thought of it immediately. If he’s going to hold Em for ransom, he’ll want to be sure you don’t call the cops. The best way to do that would be to listen to everything you say. Which puts us in a spot. We can’t let him know who I am.”
    â€œWhy?”
    â€œI’m a professional. He won’t like me being in on this.”
    â€œThen maybe you’d better leave.”
    â€œNo way. We’ll just have to be careful.”
    â€œBut if he learns who you are, it could endanger Em.”
    â€œAnd if you do the wrong thing, it could endanger her even more. You need my help, Mallory. There has to be a way.”
    â€œLike what?”
    He thought for a moment. “We’ll be lovers.”
    â€œWe’ll be
what?
”
    He clamped his hand over her mouth, then slowly lowered it.