Free Calculated Revenge by Jill Elizabeth Nelson

with a couch, a couple of stuffed chairs and a modest-size, flat screen TV. The décor was tastefully simple in a country theme.
    He turned toward his hostess. “I warn you, I’m downright dangerous at Chutes and Ladders.”
    “I’m very afraid.” She laughed, motioning him into a small, neat kitchen. The game was set up on the table, and Briana was already perched on a chair.
    “You sit there, Mr. Ryder.” The little girl pointed to a chair on her right. “And Mama there.” She pointed to the opposite seat. “And I get to go first.”
    “Of course.” Noah slid into his assigned place. “Princesses always go first.”
    The little girl’s blue eyes danced, and Laney sent him a look he’d trade an arm and a leg to keep on seeing. A half hour later, after the princess triumphed at the game and was put to bed, Laney brought a cup of coffee to him where he sat in one of the stuffed chairs in her living room.
    She eased onto the end of the couch closest to his chair, cradling her mug. “I suppose we need to get down to business. First of all, I’d like to assure you that I’ve spoken to my dad, and he’s more than glad to pay whatever your rate is.”
    Noah suppressed a sigh. He hated to start in with this bad business again. But then, that’s why he was here. “Don’t give my fee a thought at this point.” He took a drink from his mug. She made good coffee. “I’ll hammer that out with your father at an appropriate moment.”
    Laney nodded. “Fair enough. I suppose my part is to answer your questions. What would you like to know?”
    “First of all, I’d like to be as assured as I possibly can of Briana’s safety.”
    “I’m with you on that.” Laney sipped her brew.
    “Getting her out of here might be the best option. Is her father around? Maybe he could take her.”
    She snickered and shook her head. “I have no idea where Clayton is. We haven’t seen him since Briana was two months old.”
    “I’m sorry.” Was he really? The little leap of glee in his gut said no. He hid his reaction by focusing on another swallow from his cup.
    “It’s for the best, really.” She set her mug on a trivet on the side table. “Clay and I were frivolous college kids when we met, fresh out of high school. We fell madly in love—or so we thought—and pretty soon Briana was on the way. She wasn’t in our plans, but I couldn’t think of her as a mistake. Clay did.” She scowled. “Marrying me was his attempt at honor, I suppose, but he bailed after two months of being trapped in the trials of infant care. End of story.”
    “His loss.” Noah crossed an ankle over his knee. And some other lucky man’s gain. He kept that part to himself.
    Laney blushed and glanced away. “The only place I could send Bree that I’d feel comfortable is my parents’ home in Louisville, Kentucky.”
    Noah nodded. “I think you should both go.”
    “Both? But I want to help you with the investigation.”
    He frowned, evil memories crowding his head about that other time his client got involved. “The best thing you can do is find a safe hidey-hole and let me figure out who this guy is.”
    “Without distractions.” Her gaze was frank and direct, not offended.
    He answered with a thin smile. The lady was sharp and level-headed.
    She frowned but nodded. “I suppose I can understand that. I just want this guy caught and put away so I can take a deep breath again.”
    Noah nodded, a weight leaving his chest. Laney wasn’t going to argue. Renee would have given him twenty reasons why she needed to get in on the action, and look what her enthusiasm got her—an early grave. But then, she hadn’t had a daughter to think about, and life had taught Laney caution at an early age.
    “Tell you what,” he said. “You lay low here for the next few days until school is out. You can finish your evaluations and make sure Briana gets her work done.” He polished off his coffee and set the mug aside. “I checked with the