She Who Dares, Wins (10 page)

K
ATIE HAD ALWAYS
prided herself on keeping her emotions in check, but it was difficult where Mac was concerned. He was incensed that she thought he'd slept with Megan. She'd never been more relieved in her life when she discovered Mac spoke the truth—everything about his posture, mannerisms and face told her that. So did her gut.

Still, she had to make sure. “Would you be willing to submit to a polygraph?”

Mac leaned back with his arms against his chest. “Right now I'm angry you'd even ask, but yes, if it were necessary I would agree to the test. I'm telling you the truth.”

The man was furious with her, but she couldn't let her personal emotions get in the way. Oh, who was she kidding? She'd messed this one up from the get-go. It didn't get any more unprofessional than sleeping with the client. Katie had been consumed with disgust and jealousy, and had jumped to illogical conclusions.

Once she stopped being blinded by all the silly emotions, she could see from his body language that he told
the truth. Before he'd leaned back in the chair, his upper body, arms and chest had been open to her. There hadn't been any unusual ticks or twitches around his mouth when he spoke to her, and he'd stared directly into her eyes, his gaze never wavering.

“Thank you for your honesty,” she said.

“That's it? A thank-you,” Mac said angrily.

“Yes. The questions had to be asked, no matter what you think. The girl allegedly had a history with a professor at this school. If you'd had an intimate relationship with her it would explain why she, or someone near her, is seeking retribution.”

“You're talking about her problem with Caroline,” Mac said. “That's why I steer clear. I was on the inquiry board. The dean insisted, or I would have had nothing to do with the mess. Her father made a huge endowment to the school, which is why she is here. She's a confused, flaky young girl. It's obvious she has an aptitude where her studies are concerned, because her grades hold up. But her behavior is bothersome. I suggested the dean expel her, but as is usual with him, he was worried it might bring adverse attention to the university. There was also the question of what would happen to the endowment. The dean is all about appearances. He couldn't have that.”

“The incident was six months ago, but Megan is a freshman.”

“She began at the university the first summer term,” Mac answered. “Her only class was Professor Carson's. The inquiry panel decided Megan had developed an unusual attachment to her instructor, and created these fantasies. This happens a great deal when young people are away at school for the first time and haven't learned
how to socialize yet. Unfortunately for me, it's my turn this semester. Lucky me.”

“Did she know you wanted to get her expelled?”

Mac didn't bother to look at her. “I honestly have no idea. Since it didn't happen, I assume not. You'd have to ask the dean.”

“I will,” she said. “Well, thank you for your time, Professor. I need to speak with the dean now.”

Mac moved quickly to block her exit. “I think you owe me an apology, Katie.”

“I refuse to apologize for doing my job, Professor Douglas. Now, if you'll excuse me.”

“No, I'm not going to excuse you. What is this? Why are you acting this way? It's as if you're another person.”

“I assure you, Professor Douglas, this is who I am. The woman who spent the last few days with you is an anomaly. Perhaps since this was my first trip, I had the same problem as Megan. I developed an unnatural attachment to the first person I met.”

“That's it,” Mac said through gritted teeth. “You are not going to turn what we have and make it something ugly. I won't let you.” He pointed a finger at her forehead. “I'm not sure what's going on in that brain of yours, but you're wrong, Katie. Our relationship is not a mistake.”

“Relationship? Please. I've known you for a few days. There's no relationship. It was a casual fling, Mac, and now it's over. Excuse me.” Katie's gut churned with the lies she told. No one had ever meant more to her than Mac, but she couldn't risk letting this go any further—even if he hated her. The idea tore at her, but she had to do what was right for both of them.

She moved past him and opened the door. This time he let her pass. Katie didn't like leaving him angry, but it was better this way.

Though she would never tell him, their time together was no mistake. As he had said, they had been some of the best days of her life. But once she solved the case, she'd have to leave. Better to make the break now. She also needed her focus. Questioning the girl was her first priority.

Katie pushed back all the emotions, especially the ones causing the tears to brim. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath before pushing the button for the elevator. Long ago she'd learned how to push the emotions down deep. A Bronx detective often came across some of the worst crimes humanity had to offer. To stay sane, one had to learn how to compartmentalize the events and make it a part of the job. Though Mac was impossible to compartmentalize, she had to try.

Katie rubbed the ache in her stomach, which was rivaled only by the one in her heart. She wished the idea of leaving Mac and London behind didn't make her feel this rotten.

 

W
HEN
K
ATIE EXPLAINED
to Mrs. Gates her reason for wanting to see the dean, he was called out of his Regents meeting. The investigator warned him of her suspicions. He was disturbed and grateful at the same time to have some kind of lead on the threats.

“I should have expelled the young woman as Dr. Douglas suggested.” The dean led Katie into his office.

Katie knew exactly why he hadn't expelled the girl, but she didn't say anything.

At the door he asked Mrs. Gates to check the girl's schedule and have her sent to his office.

“I'd appreciate it if you'd let me question the girl,” Katie said. “I'm trained in these situations, and it might help her, even though I'm a stranger, to relate to a woman. I can tell you I don't believe she's in this alone. But we have to be very careful if we're going to get her to admit her accomplice.”

“Yes, of course. I'll be here in observation capacity only. I appreciate your quick work with this. What was it that clued you in to the girl?”

Katie didn't want to confess she'd seen the file—no use getting Mrs. Gates in trouble for helping her out. “I observed her in the classroom with Professor Douglas. He tried his best to keep a professional distance, but she kept invading his personal space. She also asked for personal tutoring, even though he told her several times that there were study groups.”

The dean shook his head. “He should have told me she'd become a nuisance. She's been warned. We were more than lenient after that last escapade. Luckily for Professor Carson, we were able to keep things quiet. That sort of thing doesn't help the adult in question, even if they are exonerated.”

“Oh, so there is a link to Professor Carson,” she said, acting surprised. “I wondered.”

The dean smiled. “Mrs. Gates tells me everything, Detective. She sent me a note, so I'm aware you read the file, even though I'd warned you it was confidential.”

Katie smiled back. “Well, subterfuge isn't my favorite thing, but it was necessary. I had the feeling the cases might be related.”

“Dean, the student you asked for is here,” said Mrs. Gates over the speakerphone.

“Send her in, please,” the dean instructed.

The girl walked in, visibly upset. Her hands were shaking as she moved toward the dean's desk.

“Megan, please have a seat,” the dean instructed.

The young girl eyed Katie before sitting down, her lips turning into a straight line.

Katie held out her hand, and the girl took it. “Hi, I'm Katie. I'm helping out with something and I wanted to ask you a couple of questions.”

The girl looked from Katie to the dean. “She's American. What is this?”

The dean leaned forward to say something, but Katie held up a hand to stop him. “I'm here working a very special case.”

Megan chewed on her lip. “What does that have to do with me? I don't know anything about a case.”

Picking up her notebook, Katie wrote down the girl's name. When she glanced up, Megan was even more nervous. “Actually, Megan, I believe you do. Unfortunately, I think someone may be using you. Maybe someone who may even want you to take the fall for them.”

“What do you mean?” the girl asked.

Katie cocked her head. “There have been some attacks on a certain professor, one you know quite well.”

“Who?”

“Professor Douglas, your environmental science teacher.”

Surprise flashed across the girl's face, then worry. “What do you mean someone tried to hurt him?”

Katie pursed her lips. “I can't give you specifics, but the last incident landed the professor in the hospital.”

The girl shook her head. “No, I like Dr. Douglas. I wouldn't do anything to hurt him.” She looked to the dean. “I know you think I'm crazy, but I'm not. I'd never hurt anyone.”

The fear in the girl's eyes confirmed for Katie exactly what she'd suspected. This girl hadn't been the one to hurt Mac directly, but she might have knowledge of who did.

Katie reached across the chair and patted the girl's hand. “Stay calm, Megan. We aren't accusing you of anything, I promise you that.”

The girl's eyes became wild. “Do I need to call my family's barrister? I swear to you I had nothing to do with this—” She stopped talking and sat back in her chair.

A strange look passed over the girl's face. “No, it couldn't be,” she said.

“Someone asked you to do something, Megan. Who was it? And what did they want?”

Tears brimmed in the girl's eyes. “She told me that
he
was the one bothering
her.
That if I kept an eye on him and let her know his schedule, then she could avoid him. She promised to help with my expenses if I could get hired as his lab assistant. My dad is paying my tuition, but after what happened last summer, he made me move out of my flat and he's cut off all my charge cards. I'm a prisoner at home. She told me she understood and—”

“Who offered you money to spy on Dr. Douglas?” Katie cut her off. She could tell the person had played some serious mind games with the poor child.

“You aren't going to believe me if I tell you,” she said, glancing at the dean. “But I swear I'm telling you the truth.”

“I'll believe you.” Katie pulled Megan's attention back to her.

There was a long pause. The girl took a deep breath and closed her eyes. “She'll just deny it again. I can't believe I fell for her tricks. I love her very much, and this is the way she treats me?”

She took another deep breath and let it out slowly. “We had a fight and she almost got me chucked out of here. I just wanted to show her she couldn't kick me around. That's why I filed the complaint. We made up months ago. When she asked me to keep an eye on him, I was trying to protect her. I thought he was trying to find out about her research or something. She's very protective of her work. I thought it was weird, but it's hard for me to tell her no.”

This time it was Katie who was surprised. “Megan, open your eyes. I need you to say the name.”

“Caroline Carson, my lover. She's the one who asked me to spy on Dr. Douglas.”

T
HE AFTERNOON TURNED
into a whirlwind of activity. Much to the dean's chagrin, Katie insisted Scotland Yard be called in so they could file formal charges. Caroline had tried to kill Mac. Justice would be served.

The investigators asked Katie to come to headquarters while they questioned Caroline. She'd expected them to ignore her once they had the facts, but she'd forgotten the power of Stonegate. Her agency had been involved in several high-profile cases over the years, and had garnered the respect of Scotland Yard.

Katie had to give it to Caroline—she held up under some rather intense interrogation. There was a moment when Katie worried they'd have nothing more than Megan's testimony, which would be thrown out by any decent judge after her problem with the school. All Katie had was circumstantial evidence, but it was enough to warrant a search of Professor Carson's home.

That's when the detectives made the discovery sealing the case. A neighbor had lent the professor his car, and was still angry she'd wrecked the bumper. The paint on the bumper matched Mac's car. The friend said Dr.
Carson had borrowed the car on the nights in question, and she'd given him money to get it fixed. He just hadn't had the time.

After that, Caroline was processed and had no chance of bail, since she'd nearly killed Mac on two occasions. When the officers asked her why she'd done it, she replied, “He didn't deserve the funding they gave him. That money should go to my work—it's more important. I could save the world one day.” It was the dumbest excuse for attempted murder Katie had ever heard. Mac could save the world, too, and research funding certainly wasn't worth killing over.

The woman was obviously crazy. She had absolutely no remorse in regard to her attempted murder of Mac. If Katie hadn't been on the other side of the glass, she might have throttled her. The idea of someone hurting Mac was more than she could handle.

Katie wished she could put the case behind her, but something niggled at her brain. She'd missed something somewhere. All the pieces didn't quite add up, but there were two signed confessions from Caroline and Megan that proved otherwise.

You're trying to find a reason to stay.

Back in her hotel room, Katie packed her bag for her trip home the next day. Mac had left one of his T-shirts in the bathroom and she held it close, sniffing his scent. The look on his face when she'd left the conference room would haunt her. She wished they'd parted on kinder terms, but it was better this way.

She was curious as to how he had taken the news. It was cowardly, but Katie had asked the dean to explain everything, while she went to headquarters. In truth, she'd been in a hurry to catch a ride with the officers,
but part of her was relieved she didn't have to see him again.

All she wanted to do was throw her arms around him and kiss the man senseless until he no longer remembered her harsh words from earlier in the day.

That's not going to happen.

Taking out the few clothes she had in the closet, she folded them and placed them in her bag. It was surreal—she'd be home in twenty-four hours. So much had happened. Every time she looked at the bed her stomach tightened with need as she thought about Mac's hands on her, and the way his touch sent shivers down her spine. The man's tongue—

Stop it. Think about something else.

Katie wondered what he was doing. Even though she'd solved his case, she wouldn't blame him for still being angry with her. However, she really had been doing her job when she'd asked those questions. She couldn't go into that interview with Megan without all the facts. Although she'd lied when she said what they'd done was a mistake and she had a feeling Mac knew it.

Placing the last article of clothing on top of the pile, she closed her bag. Her plane didn't leave until noon the next day. She planned to follow up with the investigators before she left this evening, and then she'd get to the airport early, to give herself extra time.

Katie flipped on the television and sat down. She tried to examine her feelings, something she didn't do often. But she couldn't get a handle on the way she felt.

“I get this way every time I solve a case,” she said
out loud. “It's the letdown after the adrenaline rush. Perfectly normal.” Pushing the off button, she stood.

A workout might help her burn off the extra energy. She unpacked and changed quickly. Just as she was about to leave, her cell phone rang.

“Ms. McClure, this is Roland. You helped me with the investigation this afternoon.”

“Hi, Roland. I was going to come down and see you in a few hours to make sure we'd tied up all the loose ends.”

“Yes, uh, I'm afraid we have a problem.”

“What's going on?”

“There's been another attack on Professor Douglas. A hit-and-run. I'm heading to the crime scene now. I thought you might like to meet me there.”

Katie's breath caught in her throat.

Mac. No.

“Is he…” She cleared her throat. She couldn't bring herself to say
alive.
Tears brimmed as she reached for her purse.

“The officers on scene say he's dazed but okay. He's being checked out now. It looks as though he was on his way to see you—he's only two blocks from your hotel. Witnesses say the dark sedan was behind him and he never saw it coming. Luckily he was near a post and the car was moving slowly. He took a pretty nasty fall.”

“Give me the address and I'll meet you there.”

Mac was alive. She inhaled and then blew out the breath quickly.

Someone had tried to kill him. It wasn't over yet.

Guilt assaulted her. She should have listened to her gut and followed her instincts. He could have been killed tonight.

She ran the two blocks to the crime scene. Roland was there already and he motioned her under the tape. She saw Mac sitting in an ambulance and wanted to go to him. He was pretty banged up, with a cut above his eyebrow and several cuts on his gorgeous mug.

But Roland guided her to the skid marks. “It looks as though the driver didn't see the post until it was too late. From what we understand Mac had just stepped past it when the car hit the post and then grazed him. As you can see, the skid marks are quite short, which means the vehicle wasn't going very fast.”

Katie forced herself to focus on Roland's words, but more than anything she wanted to wrap her arms around Mac. He could have died.

That was something she wouldn't have been able to handle. It had nothing to do with him being a client, and everything to do with how much she cared about him.

“That doesn't make sense. If it were a hit-and-run, surely the car would have been moving much faster,” she reasoned.

“Yes, it is a puzzle. The witnesses say the car was definitely headed toward the professor, and at the last minute it swerved, hit him and then sped away.”

“What about the cameras?” London was known for having most of the streets covered.

“We'll have to check that, but two of the witnesses have given us the license. We're tracking it now.”

“It hit from behind, but did Mac see anything?”

“I haven't had a chance to interview him yet. I wanted to wait until you arrived.”

She glanced over at Mac. He was watching her with a wary look. He had to be disappointed in her. She'd almost gotten him killed. She'd failed to do her job.

“I'd like to speak with him now,” she said, “before they take him to the hospital.”

The investigator nodded.

As they moved closer Mac continued to watch her. She could feel her cheeks reddening.

“Mac, are you all right?” She put a hand on his shoulder. When he didn't shrug away she felt relief.

“I'm fine. I'd like to go home now.”

The emergency tech shook his head. “We need to take you to the hospital, sir, for scans.”

“You told me I didn't have a concussion and I told you, it was nothing more than falling to the sidewalk. My face and hands took the brunt of the fall.”

“Mac, we should be cautious. You
were
hit by a car,” Katie said, forcing herself not to take him into her arms.

“I've been through worse and I know my body.” He pushed away from the medical team. “I'm fine, gentlemen. I appreciate your looking out for me.”

He turned to face Roland. “You had some questions for me?”

Roland ticked off a list of questions and Katie listened to Mac's answers carefully. He hadn't seen the driver or much of anything, since he'd been hit from behind. When Roland finished his questions he turned to Katie.

“Are you going to resume his protection?”

“Yes. If that's all right with him?”

Mac shrugged as if he was indifferent, but she saw the look of anger in his eyes. He wasn't happy with her, and she couldn't blame him.

“If you need anything else from him, you can contact
me on my cell,” she said. “Mac, are you sure you don't want to go to the hospital?”

“Yes,” he growled.

She gave him a tight smile. “Roland, do you think one of your men could take us back to my hotel?”

The investigator waved over one of the other officers. “Take Ms. McClure and Professor Douglas where they need to go. Do not tell anyone where you are going and watch for anyone who might follow,” Roland ordered. “In fact, take a roundabout way, so you can make sure no one is behind you. Understood?”

The officer gave a quick nod and ushered them to his vehicle.

In the backseat they sat in silence as Katie watched out the windows to make sure they hadn't been followed. “Don't drop us off in front—take us to the parking-garage elevator,” she instructed once they'd reached the hotel.

The garage would be a safe place for the drop, and then they could take the service elevator up to her floor.

As soon as they were in her room, Katie dumped her purse on the desk.

“Would you like some tea or coffee? Are you hungry?”

“I'm fine.” Mac sat down on the couch.

There was more silence.

Katie sighed. “The investigators are following up on the license. Hopefully, we'll have a lead soon. Do you know if Caroline was dating anyone in particular?”

He shrugged. “I spend most of my time in the lab, so I don't pay much attention to that sort of thing. To be honest, before that party the other night, the last time
I'd even seen her was a few months ago in the faculty lounge. If I remember correctly she was dining alone, as was I.” He didn't bother to look at her, only stared straight ahead.

Katie bit the inside of her lip. The situation was intolerable. She'd messed up, but she couldn't stand the idea of him being mad at her.

“Mac, I screwed up. You could have been killed. Just say it.”

He glanced up at her with an incredulous look on his face. “You think what happened tonight is why I'm mad?”

“Why else—Oh, this afternoon.”

“Yes, Katie, this afternoon.” He stood.

She motioned him back to the couch. “You were hit by a car an hour ago—you really should sit down. In fact, I'm worried about you—”

“I told you I'm fine and you're avoiding the truth. I'm furious that you think I'm the kind of man who could sleep with one of his students. You have to know the very idea is so abhorrent to me I can barely stomach it.”

She did know it.
Now.
“Look, you're right about part of that. I could have handled it better. I jumped to some conclusions before I had all the facts. If I'd talked to the girl first, we would never have had that conversation.”

“You really don't get it, do you?”

“What? That I should have known someone else was after you? That Caroline had another accomplice? That I should have listened to my instincts and followed up when all the pieces fell too neatly together?”

“Katie, I care about you, and why you wouldn't trust me.”

“You should care that someone is still trying to kill you. I could have protected you tonight if I'd been smart enough to follow up. As for earlier today, well, I might have mentioned I haven't had the best luck with men. We've also had the conversation about my trust issues. I've never hidden the fact that I don't trust anyone.”

“That's a ridiculous way to live your life, Katie. You can't spend the rest of your days worrying how someone is going to hurt or betray you. You'll end up bitter, never happy.”

That stung.

“Let's face facts. I am always going to second-guess motives, be curious about what is going on around me and thinking the worst about humanity. I've been out there. I've seen what happens in the real world. You're so isolated and protected in your lab that you don't have a clue. And, Mac, you're gorgeous, intelligent and quite possibly saving the world. You aren't exactly Katie McClure dating material.”

Mac frowned. “What does that mean?”

“It means you're too good to be true. So I was looking hard for an imperfection. I jumped to a conclusion I shouldn't have earlier. How many times do I have to apologize for that?”

“Katie, I don't want your apology. I want you to trust me. To know that I would never do anything like that, or anything to harm you.”

She rubbed the bridge of her nose. “Mac, this will be easier if we—I…” She wasn't sure exactly what it was she wanted to say. “I need to stay objective, and I can't do that if we continue our, um, relationship. I fully admit that I care about you, but I still have a job to do. I have to keep my distance.”

Mac scoffed. “You're impossible. I'm going to bed.” He grabbed his backpack and headed for the guest room.

“Mac, it's only seven,” she said softly.

“Yes, and it's been one long, awful day. Hopefully, the police will find out who was trying to kill me tonight, and you'll be rid of me for good.”