Come Hell or High Desire Read Online Free PDF

court that high fallutin’
     belladonna who was a visiting professor at North Dakota State? Sang opera or something.
     I met her once at a banquet. Prissy as all get-out. He never did marry her, though.
     Wait! Ann…was she?” Agnes blinked, then smiled, nodding and posturing like a rooster
     in a henhouse. “ Ah. John and the opera diva ate supper before they said grace. Happens to the best of
     ‘em. But, don’t you worry, the family secret is safe with me.”
    Sloane snorted. And safe with her bridge club, and her knitting cronies and…
    Zack elbowed Sloane. “Listen, Mrs. Bailey, have you spoken with Ann today?”
    “I haven’t seen her since yesterday when that storm was rolling in. I saw her looking
     out her front window when my son, Baker, picked me up.”
    “So, that would have been about six-thirty? Did you see her later, too, when you got
     home from your son’s?”
    “I’d say more like seven. And no, I didn’t see her later. She wasn’t home. I noticed
     right away that only the front door light was on. She usually has them all on. And
     I mean every last light. Real wasteful-like, you know.” Agnes sniffed, and Sloane
     felt Zack go very still.
    “Do you remember what time you got home?” he asked.
    “Maybe around ten. What’s this about, anyway?”
    “I’m just taking care of a few things for Ann. I appreciate your time,” he said.
    After Agnes returned inside, Zack stepped away from Sloane. “I’m sure Ann’ll show
     up soon.”
    She wondered if he was reassuring her or himself. “No you’re not.”
    He jammed his hands in his pockets in a gesture she was coming to realize he used
     when he was disconcerted. “It’s a good thing you own your own business because you’re
     not only bossy, but nosy as well.”
    They observed each other for a few moments. Important moments. See-under-the-skin
     moments. People often attack when they feel most vulnerable. Funny how so many of her mother’s words were coming back to her today.
    He apologized, and though his jaw was still set, his eyes had softened. “I’m used
     to working alone.”
    “Working alone isn’t always good for a person.”
    He arched a brow. “Oh, I don’t know. Beats getting tangled up in other people’s BS.”
    “That’s not only a lousy attitude, but one guaranteed to make you lonely.”
    The warmth seeped from his eyes, leaving her strangely sad.
    “Probably.” He turned toward Ann’s front door. “If you want to take a look around
     for that rhino, now’s your chance.” They had started up the walkway when a thud and
     shattering glass rang out from the garage.

Chapter Five
    Damn cat. Zack wondered how he could have forgotten about Ann’s scrawny tom. He and Sloane
     had entered Ann’s front door that he’d left unlocked and hurried through her massive
     kitchen into the garage to find the trash can upended with colored glass, white plastic,
     and a mish-mash of garbage strewn across the concrete floor. The cat perched on the
     lone intact bag, staring at Sloane. When Zack shooed him away to chuck the bag in
     the can, the tom sashayed over to Sloane to rub against her golden legs.
    “Naughty kitty, look how dirty you are. Ann’s going to scold you for sure.” She scratched
     his head as his motor sawed.
    “He doesn’t belong to her.”
    “Why’s he here then?”
    “How should I know? When I broke in earlier, he was just here.”
    Sloane’s hand paused on the cat’s back. “ Broke in? I thought you had a key.”
    “I didn’t stop home to get it.” Which was dumb because he needed to let the dogs out
     pretty soon.
    She frowned. “Oh, look, the poor thing only has two claws in his right front paw.”
    “No wonder he’s so scrawny. Can’t hunt.”
    She raised an eyebrow. “This is a real drawback if he’s an outside cat and can’t properly
     defend himself.” She continued petting the cat. “So, when was the last time you spoke
     with Ann?”
    “Last night after the storm.