Trail of Lies Read Online Free Page B

bit back the words, “Humor him and he’ll leave.”
    â€œMay I come in?” Daniel asked, nodding toward the sitting area visible behind Juanita.
    â€œI was getting ready to leave. I have to get dinner ready.” The housekeeper blocked the entrance into her suite. “I don’t understand what you think I know. I wasn’t here.” Sheshifted her gaze to Melora. “Was anything taken? Nothing was bothered in my room.”
    â€œNo, not that I can tell.”
    â€œWho left first, you or Mrs. Hudson this afternoon?” Daniel asked, scrutinizing the housekeeper.
    â€œI did with Kaitlyn. I had a few errands to run before the play date.”
    â€œWhat errands?”
    â€œPharmacy and dry cleaners.” Juanita glanced at Melora.
    â€œDid you talk to anyone?” Daniel shifted to hamper Juanita’s view of Melora.
    â€œJust the cashiers.”
    â€œDid you notice a white Honda Accord parked in this area when you left?”
    Juanita tilted her head to the side and thought for a moment. “No.”
    â€œNo one unusual around?”
    Juanita shook her head.
    Daniel withdrew a business card. “If you can think of anything that might help us find the man who broke in here, please contact me.”
    Pocketing the card, her housekeeper moved out into the hall and closed her door. “If that’s all, I’ve got dinner to cook.” She ambled toward the kitchen without giving Daniel a chance to say anything.
    â€œShe’s tough,” Daniel said with a chuckle.
    â€œYes, and observant, so if she said she didn’t see anyone, there wasn’t anyone out there.”
    â€œWhat time did you leave this afternoon?”
    â€œ1:00. My meeting was at 2:00 and since we’re a ways out of San Antonio, I needed to leave early. And I didn’t see anyone, either.” She trailed after her housekeeper down the hall, again feeling the Ranger’s scrutiny.
    â€œEither the man is good at hiding or he came after you left. Do you follow a certain routine?”
    â€œNo. This meeting, however, is public knowledge and so is my participation.” Remembering that the man had indicated he’d been waiting for her return made her fearful. Her hands quavered, and she had to curl them into fists to keep the Ranger from seeing her alarm.
    â€œBut the man wouldn’t know about your daughter and her play date?”
    The question brought Melora up short. She gripped the frame of the door that led into the kitchen. “So you think he either didn’t care my daughter would be home or he was watching the place?”
    Daniel skirted around her. “It’s a possibility we need to consider.” The pounding of her heartbeat nearly drowned out his next words, “I’ll keep you informed of my investigation.”
    In other words, he’d keep in touch, possibly come back to the house. Alert whoever was watching her. She wanted to tell him she didn’t want the case pursued, but there was no way she could tell him her reasons. She didn’t know what to do anymore.
    Why, Axle? Why did you get mixed up in something illegal? Those questions had rumbled around in her mind for the past two years, and she was reminded yet again that her judgment concerning her husband hadn’t been good. What had she missed? Why couldn’t she have seen what kind of man he really was?
    â€œMrs. Hudson?”
    Daniel’s voice, full of concern, wrenched her back to the present—a present filled with a Texas Ranger who asked too many questions.
    â€œAre you okay?”
    She blinked. “What do you think?”
    He peered over her shoulder at the housekeeper and moved close to her. “I think you’re scared and hiding something.” He tipped his cowboy hat. “Good day. I can find my own way out.”
    Melora watched the man stride away, his steps long, economical, as though he never had a wasted motion. Dressed in tan