Page 10 of The City That Care Forgot

“Hear me out,” she said. “I don’t like being out of control, and I’ve never had much faith in my fellow man. In my world people don’t just do things for others out of the goodness of their hearts. But money, honor and pride are always important. Especially in my family. So it makes sense to hire you and your agency to track down the list and protect me when I hand it over to the FBI. There’s no reason I’d have to testify. I have no knowledge of any business dealings my father had going and don’t care to. We’d have a binding contract until I feel I’m in no further danger. And if you do happen to be working for my Uncle Angelo, just know that what I plan to pay you for your services will be far more than anything he could ever dream to offer you. Uncle Angelo doesn’t hold the strings to the Valentine bank accounts since my father’s disappearance. I do.”

Shane clenched his jaw and the throbbing pulse in his neck told him just how pissed off her proposal made him. He’d been through horrors she could never dream of, serving and protecting his country while watching his friends die. Did she think he knew nothing of honor? Of pride? But then he closed himself off to his anger and analyzed the real reason for being so upset, just as he’d been taught to do in the Marines. Yes, he was offended that Rachel didn’t trust him more, but he could hardly blame her for that when he hadn’t trusted anyone but himself in the last two years.

The problem was that he wanted her. All of her. He wanted to know everything about her. What made her tick and what made her laugh. And how her body would feel wrapped around his in the middle of the night. And if she paid him for his services, then his pride and honor would be at stake. Two things he’d never been able to compromise. Which meant that Rachel Valentine was off limits.

“Fine,” he agreed. “But you’ll have to be satisfied with a verbal agreement. Organization at my office is a little spotty right now.”

ChapterFour

Rachel breathed easier for the rest of the trip to Dallas. She’d found comfort in Shane’s anger. She needed a clear head now more than ever, and keeping Shane Quincy and his scorching kisses at arm’s length was exactly what she needed to get through this ordeal with a clear head and an unbroken heart.

The rain had disappeared as soon as they’d crossed the border into Texas, and the sun was shining brightly despite the briskness in the air. They’d stopped at Walmart just before lunch, and Shane had run in and grabbed her some clothes and a pair of shoes. She’d changed in the cab of the truck while Shane had switched license plates with the car next to them.

“So where are we going to get the list?” he finally asked. “Did you send it to a friend down here?”

“No, I sent it to a lawyer who tried to prosecute Dad several years ago. I figured it would be safe in his hands. He’s stuck with client privilege since I pay him a retainer. I think it would be best for both of us if we could get the list without having to go to Chicago. Angelo has eyes and ears everywhere, and they’ll know the moment I step foot into the city.”

Shane knew she spoke the truth. The farther they could stay from Chicago, the safer they’d be. “It was a smart plan. Very smart,” Shane acknowledged. “I’ve got a couple of pay-as-you-go cell phones in the bag. Grab one and give the man a call. Let him know we’re coming to see him.”

Rachel’s own cell phone was still back in her apartment, so she had to do an online search to get his number. She wished now she would have thought to grab it before Shane had thrown her out the window. It had all her important contact information in it.

She waited patiently for the operator to connect her to the law offices of Decker and Marsh. It was just after three o’clock in the afternoon, and she hoped she’d be able to catch him in his office.

“Decker and Marsh,” a perky receptionist answered. “How may I help you?”

“I need to speak with Galen Marsh. It’s urgent.”

“Mr. Marsh isn’t taking calls right now. Can I take a message?”

“This is Rachel Valentine. I believe Mr. Marsh will take time to speak with me.” Rachel heard a rustle of papers over the line and a few whispered voices. It must have been a new girl in the office.

“Hold please,” the perky voice said.

Easy-listening music came over the line, and she waited less than a minute before her attorney answered the phone.

“Rachel,” Galen Marsh said, his voice cracking. “Where have you been? I haven’t heard from you in months.”

Something was wrong. It was impossible to ignore the nervousness in his voice. Galen Marsh hadn’t been thrilled when she’d “put him on her payroll” as he liked to call it. He never let an opportunity pass to remind her where she came from and that he thought no more of her than he had of her father. In Galen Marsh’s eyes, anyone with the last name of Valentine should be locked behind bars. But it hadn’t stopped him from taking her money. And despite his personal feelings about her family, she knew he wouldn’t compromise his career by betraying her trust. It was just like she’d explained to Shane. Money talked, and there was such a thing as honor among thieves.

“What’s going on, Galen?” Rachel asked, cutting right to the chase.

He sighed over the other end of the line, and she could imagine him shifting his considerable bulk behind the polished wood of his antique desk and reclining back in his chair. No doubt if he could have lifted his feet from the floor to the desk, they’d be propped there.

“You’ve got quite a few of your people looking for you, Rachel,” he finally said.

“What do you mean, my people?”

“Your family. They seemed worried about you. Wanted me to let them know where to find you.”

“You didn’t tell them, did you?” she asked, panic evident in her voice.

“Of course not. Anyway, it’s not like you’ve been keeping me up to date where you’ve been hiding.”

“What’s the problem then, Galen? And keep the lawyer speak to a minimum. Just the truth in a hundred words or less.”

“It’s just that they somehow found out that you’ve hired me.” His voice had turned whiny and it was everything Rachel could do not to cringe at the petulant tone in his voice.

“And that bothers you because if they were able to find out I’m a client, then others might be able to find out as well. Am I right?”

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