“Why do you have Todd’s numbers?” she asked curiously.
“I might have known you’d ask,” he muttered.
“Well, why do you?”
“Because he’s helping us locate Sykes. He has some good contacts we’re using.” He kissed her again, scratched Midas behind the ears, then was out the door and gone.
Daisy climbed slowly out of bed, her legs protesting. Midas went over to examine the big wet spot on the bedspread, and she hastily grabbed him, setting him on the carpet. He followed her to the bathroom, nosily sniffing around as she washed off.
Embarrassed by the thought of the motel maids finding the bedspread in that condition, Daisy industriously worked at the spot with a wet washcloth and a hand towel until she was certain nothing would show when the spot was dry.
Her first wet spot, she thought, staring at the dark circle. She hoped it was the first of many, because she wanted Jack Russo to be the father of her children.
It remained to be seen whether or not he wanted the same thing. He hadn’t run when her mother had made that pointed comment about the kind of mother-in-law she was, but then he wouldn’t, not with a murder investigation going on and her to protect. He wasn’t a man who shirked his responsibilities.
She really should have made him stop, she thought as she dressed. She didn’t want him to marry her because she got pregnant; she wanted him to love her. This time it would probably be okay—the timing wasn’t right—but Mother Nature had a way of playing tricks and she wouldn’t breathe easy until she got her period.
She sat down and looked around the motel room. As motel rooms went, she supposed, it was nice. It was larger than normal, maybe because it was one of the rooms for people with pets. There was a recliner for sitting, a round table with two chairs, and a tiny refrigerator with a four-cup coffeemaker sitting on top. The bathroom was functional but unremarkable.
Now what?
On impulse, she got out the phone book and looked up Sykes. She didn’t know this particular Sykes’s first name or where he lived, so there was no point in the exercise, but she looked at the list of Sykeses and thought about calling each one. She could say something like, “Mr. Sykes, this is Daisy Minor. I hear you’re trying to kill me.”
Not a great idea. What if he had Caller ID? That would tell him where she was.
She didn’t normally watch much television, but there was nothing else to do. Midas had decided to have another snooze; when he woke, she would carry him out again, but how much time would that occupy? She picked up the remote, settled in the recliner, and turned on the television.
She didn’t like waiting and doing nothing. She didn’t like it at all.
At least her family was out of reach. Daisy knew she would have been a nervous wreck if Jack hadn’t gotten them out of town. Her mother was sure to call this evening to reassure herself Daisy was all right, and she’d be worried when there was no answer. On the other hand, Jack seemed to think of everything, so he had probably given her mother his cell phone number or another way she could check.
But what about Jack? She went cold. It was no secret they were involved, not after the way he had sat beside her in church. What if Mayor Nolan heard the gossip and told this Sykes to go after Jack as a way of flushing her out of hiding?
She made a dive for the telephone and called Jack’s cell phone. He answered after one ring. “Russo.”
“You have to be careful, too,” she said fiercely.
“What?”
“If the mayor finds out we’re involved, that makes you a target just the way my family was.”
“There’s a difference between your family and me.”
She loved them all, so she couldn’t see this difference. “Such as?”
“I’m armed.”
“Just be careful. Promise me.”
“I promise.” He paused. “Are you all right?”
“Bored. Hurry back with those books.”
Daisy fretted after she hung up, pacing around the room. She hated being stashed here out of the way, not knowing what was going on, not being able to help. It wasn’t in her nature to just sit and wait. Once she identified a chore or a problem, she couldn’t rest until it was handled.
Something had to happen soon, or she’d go crazy.
Jack frowned as he broke the connection. Daisy already sounded restless, which wasn’t good. He needed to know she was doing exactly as he’d told her; he needed to know she was safe so he could concentrate on finding Sykes.
The call he had received right before Daisy’s had him worried, though. One of his detectives had gone out to the Nolan place, but Mrs. Nolan hadn’t been there. They hadn’t located her yet. If Kendra Owens had gossiped about that phone call, it could already have gotten back to the mayor.
The little hairs on the back of his neck were standing up again.
TWENTY-THREE
Nadine hesitated in the doorway of Temple’s office, her indecision plain on her face. He looked up, irritated. He’d been on edge all day, waiting to hear from Sykes, wondering if he’d already accomplished the mission. The phone call from Mr. Phillips hadn’t been a joy, either. People who disappointed or ran afoul of Elton Phillips wound up dead. If Sykes didn’t succeed this time, Temple knew he’d have to do something to placate Phillips. Kill Sykes, maybe. The prospect of killing Sykes worried him, because Glenn Sykes wasn’t a fool and he wouldn’t be an easy man to kill.
Nadine still lingered in the doorway and Temple snapped, “For God’s sake, Nadine, what is it?”