Free Fools Rush In by Ginna Gray

this bad earlier. Someone has been here."
    Max grew instantly alert, his body braced as though for battle. He dropped Erin's suitcase and pulled her behind him. "Stay here." His sharp gaze darted about the room as he gave the terse command.
    "Where are you going?"
    "To search the rest of the apartment. Whoever did this might still be here. If you hear anything, I want you to run like hell."
    Erin leaped forward as though someone had touched her with a cattle prod. "Oh, no you don't!" she cried. "You're not leaving me behind." She scuttled up as close to Max's back as she could get, grabbed a handful of his shirt and hung on tight.
    "Erin, do as—"
    "Forget it, Delany. Where you go, I go."
    Max glared at her over his shoulder, but Erin stuck out her chin and met the look with stubborn defiance. After a moment he bit off a curse and, muttering something under his breath about willful women, led the way.
    A thorough search produced nothing other than the discovery that the rest of the apartment was in the same state of chaos as the living room.
    "Whoever did this was looking for something."
    "But what?" Erin asked shakily, still hovering close to Max as they surveyed the wreckage in the bedroom.
    Max shrugged, his expression grim. "Who knows? Could be they're afraid that Elise got her hands on some incriminating evidence. Or maybe they were just looking for a clue as to where she's gone."
    "Then you do believe that I told you the truth? That Elise saw something she wasn't supposed to, and her life is in danger?"
    "Yeah, I believe you. Finally," Max said in a voice that was harsh with self-condemnation. "And so will the police when they get a look at this mess."
    He started for the bedside table and the phone, but Erin grabbed his arm with both hands, stopping him. "No! You can't call the police!"
    Max looked astounded. "Erin! What the devil's the matter with you? We have to report this," he insisted, waving his arm at the wreckage. "And once you tell them your story, they'll find Elise for you."
    "That's what I'm afraid of."
    "What?"
    "Max, when I suggested to Elise that she go to the police, she became hysterical. She insisted that someone on the police force was involved, and she made me promise not to contact them."
    Max hesitated, frowning.
    "Please, Max," Erin pleaded, clutching his arm. "We can't. Elise was terrified. Don't you see? If she's right, we'll only be making things worse for her."
    Expelling a heavy sigh, Max raked a hand through his hair and dragged it down the back of his neck. Looking up, he scowled at the ceiling as he massaged his taut muscles. "All right. We'll do it your way. At least, for now. But we're getting the hell out of here. And don't argue," he commanded as he took her arm and marched her toward the door. "If you think I'm going to leave you here, think again. This place isn't safe. Whoever did this might decide to come back for a second look."
    It gave Erin the creeps to think about some faceless criminal invading her sister's home, going through her things, and she didn't argue when Max hustled her out of the apartment.
    In the car it was a different matter.
    "I have to find her," Erin stated the instant Max turned the key in the ignition.
    "We'll talk about it in the morning." He glanced over his shoulder, then pulled away from the curb. "After you've had a good night's sleep we'll discuss this whole thing with clear heads and decide on the best course of action."
    "No, Max, I—"
    "If you're going to tell me to take you to a hotel, think again. You're coming home with me."
    "You don't understand. I don't want to go to a hotel. I have to start looking for Elise. Right now."
    Max shot her a hard look. "I assume you're talking about hiring a private detective," he said cautiously. "Please tell me I'm right."
    "No. I'm going to find her myself. The fewer people involved, the better."
    "Oh, God."
    This time the look he flashed her was one of extreme irritation. "Dammit, woman—" he began, but