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    the carafe on the table beside the bed.
    She took a small sip. “Where's Rye?”
    “In the waiting room.”
    Jenna squeezed her eyes shut and forced herself to
    continue. “I walked into the room, flipped on the light
    switch. There was a man hanging from the ceiling. I saw
    his tongue...” Her hand trembled, sloshing water onto the
    blanket. “I must have passed out.” She put the glass on
    the table, brushed at the spilled liquid on the soft cotton
    and wrapped her arms around herself. “Who found me?”
    The detective, busy writing notes on his pad, didn’t
    look up. “Security personnel. They were near your barn,
    heard your scream and called 911. How well did you know
    Dimitri Manos?”
    “I knew who he was. We'd say hello in passing. We
    weren't friends. I didn't do business with the man.”
    Dr. Haynes came over to take her pulse. “I think
    that's enough for now Sergeant Hills. My patient needs
    her rest.”
    Hills placed his hands on the arms of the chair and
    heaved his ample body to an upright position. “I may have
    more questions.” He glared at her. “Don't leave town.”
    Jenna groaned. This was like a scene from a third-
    rate murder movie.
    The cop fired another question. “Mr. Cameron told
    me he terminated Dimitri Manos yesterday and hired you
    as his replacement.”
    “That's true.”
    “Strange,” Hills murmured. “I'll be in touch.” He
    saluted, took one more step towards the door before
    pivoting. Reaching in his pocket, he removed a piece of
    white paper and handed it to her. “This mean anything to
    you?”
    She took it with shaky fingers. “Win, ransacked,
    sluttish, maniac...” Jenna frowned as she read the words
    aloud. “No. Should it?”
    The cop retrieved the note. “It’s a copy of what was
    found in the deceased's pocket.”
    Dr. Haynes followed the detective from the room.
    Jenna listened to the hum of the blood pressure machine
    and stared at the green curtains. The cuff on her arm
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    Dead Heat
    tightened again. She'd forgotten to ask Rye how he knew
    she was here. Get serious, Jenna. By now the entire
    racetrack is probably buzzing about where you are and
    why. She had a sudden urge to leave before she lost her
    mind. She threw off the blanket and swung her legs over
    the side of the bed, holding onto the edge of the mattress
    for balance. The Velcro made a loud tearing noise as she
    tore the cuff from her arm. Now to find her clothes.
    Dr. Haynes stepped in and glared at her. “What do
    you think you’re doing?”
    Jenna’s heart jumped. “I want to go home. Where are
    my clothes?”
    The doctor frowned. “I don’t think so. I’m admitting
    you. I understand you live by yourself. You shouldn't be
    alone, so you'll stay here for at least twenty-four hours.”
    She set her jaw. Jenna's childhood nickname hadn't
    been Mule for nothing. “I know my rights. You can't force
    me to stay in this hospital.”
    The doctor's face turned ruddy. “Technically, that's
    true, but...”
    Rye poked his head between the folds of the curtain.
    “What’s going on?”
    “Mr. Cameron.” The doctor released a sigh and
    peered at him over the rim of his glasses. “Maybe you can
    talk some sense into this young lady. She insists on
    leaving, and it’s my recommendation that she stay.”
    “What did the X-rays and scan show?” Rye asked.
    “Nothing, actually. But with this type of injury...”
    “I’ll make sure she’s not alone.”
    Jenna couldn’t believe it. Rye Cameron offering to
    baby-sit?
    Dr. Hayden appeared doubtful. “Are you sure you
    want the responsibility...”
    “I'm sure.”
    “I don't need a damn babysitter.”
    Rye's eyebrows raised a few notches. “Where are your
    manners?”
    Jenna glowered. “I was raised by wolves.”
    His mouth turned up at one corner, and his blue eyes
    held her gaze. She squirmed, feeling like a bug under a
    microscope. She looked down at her hands to break eye
    17

    Pam Champagne

    contact.
    The doctor cleared