Free Renee Simons Special Edition by Renee Simons Page B

him head on, a less than enjoyable prospect and considerably more dangerous than living only doors away from Ethan.
    "Maybe you shouldn't go at all. I’ll take Mrs. Willis with me. She can pack your things while I handle the paperwork."
    She stood up. "I wouldn't be comfortable having someone provide a screen for me, but I will check out of the hotel and move here. After I've called Drew."
    She caught him at his word processor, but he listened attentively to her narrative. "Would calling the hotel help?" she asked after she finished.
    He confirmed her worst fears. "It may be too late. They probably know my address here and by now have your number plates. These people are pretty good at putting two and two together, aren’t they? I doubt there's much we can do to keep them away. But stay with my brother. You're my eyes and ears."
    "Who's only managed to make a bad situation worse."
    "I disagree. Keep on and I'll talk to you soon."
    She cradled the receiver and turned toward Ethan.
    "So he's all caught up, then?" he asked. She nodded. "What did he say?"
    "He’s worried about you."
    Ethan took some of the dishes into the kitchen and she picked up the rest without bothering to decipher the strange expression that washed across his features.
    Two hours later Ethan's friend, Pete Mosher, came over in a pickup and dropped them off at the side entrance of the hotel. "I'll cruise around for a few minutes and meet you where the delivery trucks unload." He jerked his head to indicate some vague spot ahead of them but she caught the twinkle in his eyes. "Make it quick."
    He was gone before they'd cleared the hotel's revolving door. "Your Mr. Mosher seems pleased with himself."
    Ethan chuckled. "I don't know anyone who loves an adventure more than Petey."
    "He thinks this is fun?"
    "Not us being in trouble, but outsmarting the bad guys gets his juices flowing. When we were kids, he always took the most chances and thought up ways for the 'Three Musketeers' to rid the world of its scoundrels."
    "Who was the third member of the trio?"
    "Eric Delavan. For Eric and Pete, having a real-life quest brings back a simpler, happier time."
    They were in the elevator now, heading up. "And what about you?"
    "I'm just glad to have them on my side."
    "They're not the only people on your side, you know."
    He gave her a look filled with skepticism. "Besides you?" They left the elevator and hurried through the thickly carpeted hallway to her room. "Can I help with anything?"
    She shook her head and packed her bags. "Besides me," she said, picking up his thought. "And you know who I'm talking about. Why are you so unwilling to believe your brother wants to help?"
    "Those two blokes and I were inseparable through a lot of my childhood. We kept in touch all the years I was away. Andy made choices that didn't include me. He cared about no one but himself."
    "All I know is, he's here now and he cares. You'd do well to remember that."
    Before leaving the room, she checked the drawers, the bathroom and under the bed but found nothing. Downstairs, the desk clerk and the manager assured her Mr. Caldwell had called and "everything is under control."
    "Has anyone made inquiries about me? Of any kind?"
    "Only Mr. Caldwell," the manager said.
    "Not to my knowledge," the desk clerk added.
    Less than reassured, she nodded and joined Ethan, who waited with one of her bags by the side door. Pete pulled up to the curb as they got there and left as they belted themselves in. "Where to next?" he asked.
    "I'd like to move my car closer to the house," Jordan said.
    "There's a lot a couple of blocks away," Ethan said. "I know the owner."
    Pete followed her in his truck and Ethan introduced her to the owner of the small parking lot. With the car tucked into a back corner, they said good-bye to Pete and went to the house.
    As they rounded the top end of the park, she pointed to one of two statues standing at either end. "Is this guy with the globe Columbus ?"
    "Yep."
    "And the