A Killer's Agenda Read Online Free PDF Page B

at the woman in front of him. Beneath the casual jeans and sweatshirt she wore, he saw what he hadn’t before. The jeans hugged a petite but definitely shapely form and the green eyes that met his gaze steadily were surrounded by thick lashes and high cheekbones.
    He regrouped. “I’m sorry. There’s obviously been some mistake.
    I was looking for the Alex Leahy who owns the detective agency in town. I was given this address by the answering service.”
    He saw the woman give the younger man a pointed look and he
    straightened, leaving them alone. She swung her gaze back to him.
    “You haven’t made a mistake. Alex stands for Alexis. I own the agency in question.”
    So much for Kevin’s recommendation, he thought impatiently.
    He needed someone with at least as much experience as he had.
    Not a just out of diapers novice.
    “I assure you, Mr. Norton, I have been out of diapers for a very long time now. I prefer silk teddies as a matter of fact.”
    Shocked, he could only stare at her for a moment. Had he said what he had been thinking out loud?
    “Actually, you didn’t,” Alex said frankly, her smile totally confusing him. “Why don’t you join me in the kitchen and perhaps you can give me an idea of why you need a private investigator while I finish dinner.”
    “Perhaps I should return at another time. I certainly didn’t intend to interrupt your dinner.”
    She waved the apology aside with a careless toss of her hand.
    -36-
    A Killer's Agenda
    “Nothing around this house is formal, Mr. Norton. Guests at
    dinner time are par for the course. I don’t normally mix business with home life, but my parents are on vacation so I’m temporary boss for a few weeks.”
    He followed her into the kitchen, immediately feeling the sense of family that flowed throughout the room. He inhaled the rich smell of food permeating the air.
    “Please sit down and have dinner with us if you haven’t already eaten. It’s nothing fancy.” She moved toward the stove, waving in the general direction of the table. “Meet Bradley Norton,” she said to Alicia and Alan.
    “Have a seat,” Alan said, motioning toward the empty chair
    across from him.
    He started to shake his head and then thought better of it. His stomach was already reacting to the enticing aroma of the sauce sitting in the middle of the table.
    “As long as you don’t mind.”
    “Heck, the more the merrier,” Alan said, twirling a huge helping of spaghetti around his fork. “Kind of lonely around here without the whole crew anyway.”
    “There are more of you?”
    “Sure are,” the pretty girl at his side said, her blue eyes
    scanning him from top to bottom thoroughly. “I’m Alicia and this is Alan. Aside from Alex here we have twin brothers who are away at the moment. Not to mention Mom and Dad.”
    He started to push his chair back, becoming more
    uncomfortable with interrupting what was obviously family time. “I really think this is a bad…”
    “Eat,” Alex said firmly, putting a heaping plate in front of him.
    -37-
    Anita Whiting
    The battle of wills was apparent. Green eyes locked with his own for a split second and, after just a moment of hesitation, he found himself relaxing against the back of the chair and grabbing a fork. As Alex took her seat, he took his first mouthful. He couldn’t mask his sheer enjoyment of the spicy taste.
    “I gather you like spaghetti?”
    “When it tastes like this, absolutely.”
    She was silent while he ate but that didn’t prevent her sister and brother from asking questions. It was only after he mentioned that he owned a security company that she put it all together, however. Bradley Norton, wealthy entrepreneur, son of Andrew Norton. Old money. Lots of old money.
    “If you’re finished, Mr. Norton,” she said, standing and taking her plate to the sink, “why don’t we go into my father’s study and discuss why you’re here.”
    “I would appreciate that.”
    Alex caught his look and allowed a