Wanted (8 page)

“Oh, sure, it
was awhile ago so I guess I did forget.”

“It wasn’t that
long ago. Saunders, did you take those suits and badges?”

“I did not!
Tierney probably told you I was the one who was suspicious of those fake FBI
guys in the first place.”

“That’s true,
Kiel
.”
Tierney came close; wrapped her arm around his.

“She told me.
She also told me how those same two jerks showed up at Travers’ yacht, way out
in the ocean, not long after she talked to you.”

“Anybody could
have let them know where she was … her parents, her brother … he’s your best suspect.
He was always jealous of Tierney.”

“Ah, but you
see … she didn’t tell him where she was, or her parents, or anyone else … just
you! She thought you were the only one she could trust. But as it turns out …
YOU are the only one she can’t trust!”

“
Kiel
,
no!” Tierney cried.

Lu Jiang glared
at her husband; he avoided her eyes. “Ernie, what have you done?”

“Nothing, I
swear! You can’t believe this guy.”

“I knew it,
deep down inside, I truly did. But I wouldn’t let myself think it. I was
suspicious when you started hanging out at the studio, a place you hated. And
then a co-worker mentioned that two suits and some props had gone missing. She
was afraid she’d have to pay for them. I told her I would, that I had misplaced
them. What I can’t understand is why you would want Tierney dead? You love
her.”

“You love money
more, is that right, Saunders? You’re in debt, up to your skull! Too many
maxed-out credit cards, too many student loans …”

“Ernie, I
thought you always paid your own way!” Tierney said, trying desperately to hold
back a flood of impending tears. “I admired how you worked and struggled to get
what you wanted.”

“He only worked
to pay off the debts. The house, the loans, the credit cards … I begged him to
stop borrowing. I told him we could sell the house and make do with so much
less but he wanted to look prosperous, to impress people.”

“But I don’t
get it … how would killing me help you? Oh …” she paused, “was it because I
said I had named you in my will?”

“Did you,
Tierney?”

“Yeah,
Kiel
,
I did. A few months ago I was feeling really despondent. I actually went so far
as to make out a legal will at my lawyer’s office. In it, I left most of the
money I’ve received from the reality show to Ernie and Lu Jiang. It adds up to
quite a lot, thanks to endorsements and all. I had lunch with Ernie that day
and told him all about it. It never would have entered my mind that he’d use that
knowledge to plan my death.”

“But I didn’t!”

“No use denying
it, Saunders. I’ve got video of you stealing the suits and badges, plus …”
Kiel
looked at Tierney, “those two hired goons have been picked up in
Anaheim
.
Probably won’t take much persuading to get them to talk.”

Ernie bounded
for the nearest exit.
Kiel
ran after him; caught his collar and
dragged him back.

“This will never
hold up in court! You’ll see! I’ll be out in an hour! Nobody’s smart enough to
pull one over on me!”

The security
men took him away. Tierney’s tears could not be restrained; they billowed over
her cheeks, spoiling her mascara. Lu Jiang hugged her, turned them both from
the staring eyes and camera lenses.

“I’m sorry,
Tierney. I knew he was desperate. But I didn’t know he was capable of murder.”

“You have
nothing to be sorry for, Lu. I seem to be a magnet for this kind of crap. I
need to do a lot of soul searching, to figure out why.”

Kiel
put
his strong hands on her shoulders. “It isn’t you, baby. I don’t want you
believing that.”

“What else can
I believe?”

“That you’re
beautiful, and willful, and those two elements in one body can attract too many
of the wrong kind of people. It isn’t your fault. They can’t generate their own
sparkle so they try to steal some of yours!”

She peered
deeply into his cinnamon eyes; the love in them was unmistakable. She breathed
it in; let it fill her with strength and determination. She faced the camera.

“There you go,
people! A would-be murderer captured right before your eyes! Isn’t the internet
amazing?” She glanced around her. “I’m sorry I had to put the rest of you
through that, but I’m sure you understand.”

Aram
Evans stepped up. “Tierney, can we all get together at our house, to talk
things out?”

“Just the
family, sure; but there will be no Dr. Lenz, or Istvan, or cameras!”

“Whatever you
say! We’ll see you there later.”

She blushed as
he kissed her cheek. Her mother did the same. Dennis shrugged at her; the
closest thing he’d come to actually showing her affection in a very long time.

“There’s hope
for us yet!” she sighed.

They all began
to leave. Istvan stood, looked at her solemnly, realized that there was nothing
between them. He shook her hand and
Kiel
’s in a surprising
gesture of maturity then walked away.

Once they were
alone on the set, Tierney grabbed
Kiel
for a long, loin-stirring
kiss.

“Um, keep that
up and we’ll be giving your fans a real show!”

She giggled.
“I’m not willing to go that far to keep you safe. Or am I? But, really, do you
think Slater and his thugs will bother us?”

“I don’t think
they’ll want to chance it.”

“I have a way
to make sure,” she smiled. “Bodey, is the feed still live?”

Bodey Gillette
hurried up to her, his cheeks beet red. “Sure, you want to say something else?
Before you do, I want to tell you that I’m ashamed of my actions. I do care
about you, Tierney, but I had no right to make threats or treat you like a
possession. Dr. Lenz is going to help me sort things out …”

“I’ll bet he
is! Just watch your wallet! Turn on that camera, please?”

He checked the
connection, made sure she was still being seen by millions of people.

“Okay, you’re
on!”

Tierney kissed
Kiel
in front of the camera then she leaned in close. “The emails are ready, Mr.
Slater,” she hissed. “It’s your move.”

Kiel
grinned as she flipped off the camera and kissed him again.

“What the hell
was that about?” Bodey wondered.

“Don’t you love
it when people get cryptic?” Tierney smiled.

THE END

My Email:
[email protected]

I have several other romances
available:

Addicted To Him –

In this sexy mystery Tegan St. Clair works in a florist
shop in Burbank, and fantasizes about her dream man, Fleet Westcott, the
billionaire film producer who owns the studio across the street, never
imagining that she could ever meet him in real life. Then Fleet steps out of
her dreams and into her bed, and she is swept up in a passion so electric it
leaves scars. But Fleet is a complicated man, with some dark, dangerous
secrets. Can Tegan find the courage to save him, even if it means her own life
is on the line?

Addicted To Him is a SHORT novelette. It has sexual
situations.

~

Catching Moonlight –

In this sexy fantasy Toby Styles heads out to
Greece
after learning she has inherited an island estate, Moonsea, from a father she
never knew existed. Once there she falls in love with the beauty of the island
– and she loses her heart to the beautiful young man who lives like a recluse
in the moon temple on the cliffs. Dio excites her like no one ever has before –
but he carries a tragic burden that could destroy any chance they have for
happiness. Can Toby find a way to break the bonds that hold him – without
losing him forever?

Catching Moonlight is a SHORT novelette. It has sexual
situations.

~

A Billionaire For Breakfast –

In this sexy mystery Tess Jenkins impulsively agreed to
join Kylie Preston on a hunt for billionaire husbands in the
Cayman Islands
.
But she had no idea what kind of trouble they’d get into – or that she’d fall
head over heels for a gorgeous beach bum named Angel. But is he all he seems to
be, or someone completely different?

A Billionaire For Breakfast is a SHORT novelette. It has
sexual situations but absolutely NO BDSM.

~

Losing Control –

In this sexy mystery Candy company heir Taury Trahern is
everything twenty-two year old Fawn
Hamilton
has ever dreamed of
and more. He’s tall, blond, blue-eyed, and shaped like a Greek god. Just the
sight of him leaves her breathless. But she’s been through too much – the
heartache of infertility, the devastation of divorce, and the sorrow of losing
her beloved grandmother. Will Taury’s devotion give her the strength to believe
in love again?

Together they will face tragedy, danger from unexpected
places, and the chance of financial ruin while exploring the heights of a
passion so hot it sizzles!

Losing Control is a complete novel with a HEA. It has
sexual situations.