Love at First Sight - By B. J. Daniels Page 0,34

Baxter the wrong way. But Jack never thought it would come to this. Without a word, Jack handed over his badge and laid his pistol on the captain’s desk.

“If you don’t stay out of this, I will fire you and have you thrown in jail,” Baxter threatened. “I don’t want to see your face again for two weeks. Now get out of here.”

Jack left. He’d have to be more careful so Baxter didn’t see him, but he definitely wasn’t going anywhere. He was going to find out who’d tried to kill Karen. But first he had to find out where Baxter had her hidden.

He passed Denny who gave him an I-told-you-so look before going back into Baxter’s office. Jack waited for his friend outside the building.

“I can’t help you,” Denny said irritably, before Jack could even tell him what he wanted. He kept walking. “Baxter’s pulled me off the case.”

“What?” Jack stumbled and had to hurry to catch up with his partner. Baxter had sounded as though he was going to let Denny stay on the case. What had changed his mind? Jack had a feeling it was his fault. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s not your fault.” Denny glanced over at him and slowed his pace a little. “You still have a job?”

“For the moment,” Jack said. “I need to know where Baxter’s had Karen taken.”

Denny shook his head.

“I’m worried about her, Denny. Baxter is too busy trying to be politically correct and not upset Vandermullen and his strong political ties. I’m afraid someone’s going to mess up and Karen’s going to pay for it.”

His partner slowed to a stop. He looked back to be sure they hadn’t been followed. “Come on.” He took Jack to an out-of-the-way bar up by the old railroad depot.

Al and Vic’s was a narrow, dark bar with a zigzag of dark and light tile on the floor and a couple of pool tables in the back. Denny led him to an end stool away from the other customers, who all seemed to be older regulars.

“You’ve always bucked authority, but this case isn’t the one to cross Baxter on,” Denny said quietly. “He’s afraid of the bad publicity, not to mention the grief a man like Dr. Vandermullen could heap on him. Baxter’ll have your badge if you don’t leave this alone.”

Jack knew what his partner was saying was true. “I’ll have to take my chances.”

Denny stared at him wide-eyed for a moment then laughed and ordered them both drafts. “What has this woman done to you?”

Jack wished he knew. He waited until the bartender slid the beers in front of them before he tried to explain it to Denny—and himself. “The first time I saw her, something struck me about her.” He laughed. “Struck me like a bolt of lightning.”

Denny chuckled. “What? Love at first sight? You have to be kidding.”

“More like cursed at first sight,” he said, shaking his head. “I swear, Denny, from the moment I laid eyes on that woman, everything…changed. I don’t know which end is up.”

Denny only stared at him.

“I know you think I’m crazy.”

Still his friend said nothing.

“The question is, are you going to help me?” Jack asked.

Denny sipped his beer. “You’ll get us both fired, you know that?” He took another drink. “I’ll see what I can find out.”

“Thanks, buddy. I owe you.”

“Yeah, and I think this is the way you’re repaying me for all those practical jokes.” He got up to leave but then hesitated. “You’d better figure out what the deal is with you and this woman and soon. A cop can’t afford to be walking around not knowing which end is up, you know. Not even one on suspension.”

Jack nodded.

“Give me an hour. Where can I reach you?”

“Right here,” Jack said.

IN A ROOM on the top floor of a small brick hotel overlooking the Clark Fork River and the city carousel, Karen thumbed through the last book of mug shots she’d been given. After a while all the photos of the men had started to look alike. She glanced at her guards, two uniformed officers playing cards, the reality of her situation never more clear—or painful.

She felt truly afraid for the first time and alone even with the officers there. The full impact of what had happened earlier had finally hit her. Someone had tried to run her down in the street. Tried to kill her.

And now Captain Brad Baxter had ordered her into protective custody, pending a psychiatric evaluation. She doubted he really thought her