Sizzle and Burn (The Arcane Society #3)(29)
Author: Jayne Ann Krentz

Zack examined the wine in his glass while he decided what to say next. As a matter of policy, J&J, like the Arcane Society community, kept a low profile where the general public was concerned. But Gordon was not a member of the general public. He and his partner had accomplished an amazing feat. Between the two of them they had somehow managed to accept Raine and her wild, disturbing talent. They had given her a family and a reasonably normal life instead of institutionalizing her. Gordon had a right to some answers.

“In most cases involving criminal actions, J&J operates as a regular investigative agency, calling in the cops when necessary,” he said quietly. “But there are some internal affairs that it handles on its own.”

“I don’t care if the Arcane crowd is some kind of secret society,” Gordon said. “No group is above the law. And I’ll tell you something else.”

“What’s that?”

“You break Raine’s heart, Andrew and I will break both your legs.”

Zack nodded. “Fair enough.” He contemplated the fire. “What happens if she breaks my heart?”

“Not our problem. You’re on your own.”

Nineteen

Cassidy Cutler stared at Bradley Mitchell, unable to believe her bad luck.

“What do you mean, Raine turned you down?” she said. “You told me there wouldn’t be any problem convincing her to help you with the Dellingham case.”

It was after nine o’clock. They were sitting in Bradley’s big black SUV. She had been waiting anxiously to talk to him all day but after he returned from Shelbyville he was immediately called out to deal with a shooting. By the time he finally showed up at the hotel where she and her assistant, Niki Plumer, were staying, she was seething with impatience.

The news that he had failed to get Raine Tallentyre on board with the writing project was the final straw. It had never dawned on her that he wouldn’t be able to persuade Raine to work with him again for the sake of the book. Who didn’t want fifteen minutes of fame?

Bradley turned in the seat to face her. He gripped the wheel tightly with his left hand. “It’s not my fault, damn it. When I found Raine in Shelbyville, some guy opened the door of her room.”

“She was with another man?” Cassidy pondered that complication briefly. “But I thought she went to Shelbyville to deal with a house her aunt left her.”

“That’s right.”

“How in hell did she find time to shack up with some stranger?” Cassidy frowned. “Or was it a man she already knew?”

“She said he was an old friend of the family but that’s hard to believe.”

“Why?”

He shrugged. “With her aunt gone, Raine hasn’t got any family left. I have a hunch she picked him up just to get some revenge against me. I think she got a kick out of throwing him in my face.”

“But she didn’t even know you were on your way up there to see her.”

Bradley rubbed his jaw with his right hand. “Coincidence, then.”

“I’m an author. I don’t believe in coincidences. Editors won’t buy them.”

“I’m a cop. I’m not big on them, either.”

Cassidy drummed her fingers on the seat. “This is a disaster. The psychic angle is absolutely perfect. My editor loves the idea. Niki has already started the background research.”

“The thing is, Raine doesn’t want any publicity,” Bradley said. “She’s afraid people will think she’s crazy if it gets out that she hears voices.”

She studied him in silence for a moment. He really was nice to look at. The light from the streetlamp revealed the exceedingly well-chiseled planes and angles of his face. His picture, alone, on the front of the book would sell out the entire first printing, she thought. The talk shows would love him. Damn, damn, damn. There had to be a way to salvage the deal.

“I’ll give her a fake name,” she said.

“I suggested that to Raine. She still wasn’t interested. She hasn’t ever wanted any of the credit for closing those cases. I told you, she doesn’t want people to wonder if she’s a wack job.”

“Great. Just great. A seven-hundred-and-fifty-thousand-dollar advance and a potential TV series in the toilet all because Raine Tallentyre is pissed at you.”

Bradley went very still. “You never said anything about a TV series.”

“My agent mentioned it today. I didn’t want to tell you about it until it’s a sure thing.”

“Damn,” he muttered. “A TV series.”

Cassidy thought about the problem some more. “All right, Raine doesn’t want the publicity. How does she feel about money?”

“Huh?”

“She’s a businesswoman. An entrepreneur. She must be interested in money. Did you ever pay her for the work she did with you?”

“How the hell was I supposed to pay her? Not like I got any bonuses for closing those cold cases. Besides, she never asked for money.”

“There’s a lot riding on this book,” Cassidy said. “Maybe I should point out the financial advantages to her.”

Twenty

The drive back to Raine’s condominium complex took about five short minutes. Zack didn’t try to break the silence in the car until he pulled into a parking space and shut down the engine. He folded his arms on the wheel and contemplated the lobby entrance.

“All in all, I thought that went well,” he said. Might as well go for a positive spin.

“Gordon threatened to break both your legs,” she said without inflection.

He grinned. “You heard that?”

“Yes.”

“He’s just looking out for your best interests. That’s what family does. Sometimes they screw up the job royally, but it isn’t for lack of trying to do the right thing.”

She shot him a speculative look. “Has your family ever screwed up that way?”

“Let’s just say they’re applying a lot of pressure at the moment. They want me to pursue a different career path.”

“You mean, they don’t approve of you working for J&J? I can understand that. Sounds like it’s risky work at times.”

“It’s not that so much, although Mom has never been happy with that aspect of my work. The thing is they all want me to go into the family business.”

“Ah, got it. The old tradition of following in your father’s footsteps.”

“My grandfather’s, in this case. Dad escaped. He’s a high-grade sensitive with a talent for strategy. He owns a law firm.”