Free Fools Rush In by Ginna Gray Page A

when Erin responded with a quick, defensive tilt of her chin he bit off the tirade. Gripping the steering wheel more tightly, he stared straight ahead, his jaw clenched. She had the uneasy feeling he was grinding his teeth.
    At the next intersection Max turned onto a side street and pulled over to the curb. He doused the lights and shifted the car into Park but left the engine running. Turning sideways, he crooked his knee on the seat, draped one arm along the back and the other over the steering wheel and fixed his gaze on Erin. In the dim light from the street lamp she could see that his handsome features were etched with concern, his blue eyes intent beneath a worried frown.
    "Erin, you can't be serious," he said in a more reasonable tone. "Whatever's going on, these people aren't playing games. You could find yourself—"
    The buzz of the car phone cut him off. He snatched it up with a terse "Yeah. Delany."
    He listened intently to the person on the other end of the line, and as she watched his expression harden, Erin grew more and more tense.
    "I see. Okay, thanks for the information. Oh, and keep this under your hat until I check it out, okay?"
    Max hung up the phone and gave Erin a long, thoughtful stare. "That was Charlie. It seems that the brake line on Elise's car had been cut."
    Erin felt suddenly weak and cold, as though all of the blood had been sucked out of her body. She'd had a hunch, of course, that the near tragedy had been no accident, but to have her suspicion confirmed was chilling.
    "Not quite all the way through," Max continued. "But close enough so that the first time you stepped on the brake you ruptured the line. After that, all it took was a little more pressure to empty it. By the time you got to the first curve all the fluid was gone."
    Clasping her hands together in her lap, Erin struggled to subdue the quivering sensation in the pit of her stomach. "I see," she said in a shaky voice that was little more than a whisper.
    "You have to give up this idea of finding Elise yourself," Max insisted. "It's just too dangerous."
    "No," Erin replied at once, shaking her head. "No, I can't do that."
    "For Pete's sake, Erin! What does it take to convince you? There's already been one attempt on your life because someone mistook you for Elise. Don't you realize that that's why she called and warned you to stay away? Because she was afraid this very thing would happen?"
    "Of course I realize it. But that doesn't change anything. I still have to find her and help her if I can."
    Frustrated, Max sighed and looked at her in amazement. "Lord, woman, do you always rush in where angels fear to tread?"
    A weak smile claimed Erin's mouth. "So my family tells me."
    When Max made a harsh sound she placed her hand over his, where it lay knotted in a tight fist on the back of the seat. "Oh, Max, don't you understand? Elise isn't just my sister. She's my identical twin, and she's very dear to me. She's also soft and... well... fragile. The thought of her alone and terrified is more than I can bear. I have to do what I can to help her.
    "It will be all right, I promise you. I left a message for my brother, explaining what was going on. He was with the FBI for years. When he catches up with us he'll know what to do."
    Max did not look reassured. "I don't suppose there's anything I can say that will make you change your mind?"
    Gazing at him regretfully, Erin shook her head.
    "That's what I thought." Max looked away and stared into the darkness beyond the pool of light spilling from the street lamp, then turned back to her and heaved a sigh. "I probably need my head examined, but... okay. Where do you suggest we start?"
    "We? But—"
    "If you think I'm going to let you handle this alone, you're crazy."
    Erin was touched, and a part of her—the cowardly part— very much wanted his help and support. Still, she couldn't in good conscience involve him, especially since he claimed to have no personal relationship with Elise. "Oh,