Zinnia Read Online Free PDF Page A

concealed his rage and frustration behind a calm emotionless mask of polite interest. It was not easy.
    â€œDon’t play the innocent, Mr. Chastain. Mr. Fenwick is a client of mine. He told me that he was negotiating with you for the sale of an old journal that he had discovered. He said you wanted it badly.”
    â€œI do,” Nick said very softly.
    Zinnia Spring’s fingers clenched more tightly around the strap of her shoulder bag.
    So much for the expression of polite interest, Nick thought. His determination to get his hands on the journal was obviously leaking through the mask. He watched Zinnia narrow her very fine, very unusual, very clear eyes. He had never seen eyes quite that color. For some reason the odd silvery blue fascinated him.
    â€œMorris also told me that he had informed you that he had another potential customer for the journal,” she said pointedly.
    â€œHe did.”
    â€œAnd now poor Morris has vanished.”
    â€œDefine vanish for me, Miss Spring.”
    She glared. “I can’t find him. We had an appointment this afternoon at his shop, but when I got there the door was locked. Morris never forgets appointments. He’s a mid-range matrix-talent. You know how they are. Obsessive about details.”
    â€œObsessive? You’ve had a lot of experience with matrix-talents, then?”
    She shrugged. “More than most people. But, as I’m sure you’re well aware, no one’s had a lot of experience with them. They’re not only quite rare, they’re reclusive, secretive, and a little odd. They don’t like to be studied.”
    â€œJust because most of them won’t consent to be guinea rat-pigs in some university research lab doesn’t mean they’re odd.” This was ludicrous. Nick could not believe that he was allowing her to goad him like this. He breathed deeply, centering himself. “It just means they value their privacy.”
    â€œMr. Chastain, I am not here to debate the oddness of matrix-talents. I’m here to retrieve Morris Fenwick. Hand him over.”
    â€œTell me, Miss Spring, what, precisely, caused you to leap to the conclusion that I’ve got him stashed away somewhere in the casino?”
    â€œI suspect that you were afraid poor Morris would try to drive up the price of the journal by starting a bidding war between you and his other client. So you grabbed him with the goal of intimidating him into accepting your offer.”
    â€œAn interesting assumption.”
    Her mouth tightened and so did her elegantly sculpted jaw. “Poor Morris knew that journal was extremely valuable to certain parties. He told me that he had it hidden in a safe place until he could complete the negotiations and close the sale.”
    â€œDo you always call him ’poor Morris’?”
    She frowned. “Morris is delicate. Most matrix-talents are. They don’t function well under stress.”
    Nick was torn between disbelief and disgust. “In your considered opinion?”
    â€œI told you, I’ve had more experience with matrix-talents than most of the experts. Morris is a gentle soul who is consumed by a passion for antiquarian books. He will become frantic if you apply the sort of pressure tactics to him that you were obviously using on that poor Mr. Batt who just left.”
    Nick managed, barely, not to grind his teeth. “Let me get this straight. You think I kidnapped Fenwick because I was afraid I couldn’t outbid my competition. Presumably I’m holding him hostage until he turns over the journal.”
    â€œWe won’t call it kidnapping if you release him at once,” she said smoothly.
    â€œYou’re too kind.” Nick got to his feet and stalked around the vast desk. He watched Zinnia’s face as he moved toward her. She tensed but held her ground. The bright, fierce challenge in her eyes intrigued him.
    He knew who she was, of course. He had recognized the