Omens (Cainsville 1)

"Would you sit down?" I said. "Please."

He hesitated, then lowered himself to the sheets. "We need Chandler. He's out there."

"Out where?"

A wave, curt, almost annoyed. "Out there. Watching."

I shook my head. "He phoned in his instructions to Maria. I saw the call display. He's sitting at home, orchestrating all this."

"It was a cell phone. He's here. Keeping his distance but keeping control."

"How do you know that?"

Another flash of annoyance. Or maybe just pain. "Because I know what kind of man he is. He's here, and I would like you to get the hell out that window, so I can go find him."

I cast a pointed look at his leg. "Really?"

He grabbed a sheet and tore off a strip to bind it. "I'll be fine."

"Okay, so if I won't leave, I'm being stupid. If you insist on taking down Chandler when you can barely stand, you're being brave?"

"Olivia..."

"How about we call him. See what's what." I lifted my phone.

"I have his home number, not his cell."

"I saw it on the call display."

"And you

remember it?"

"Of course. I'm playing detective. The area code was 817. Is that his home number?"

He checked. "No."

I started to dial.

"No," he said, rising. "Let me--"

I shook my head. "I'm the client, remember?"

"I thought you were my partner."

"It varies depending on which best suits my needs."

"As either your lawyer or your partner, I believe I should be privy to your plan."

I told him. He adjusted it. I would have argued on one point, but there wasn't time.

When I called, Chandler's cell rang a few times--I didn't expect him to answer an unknown number. Then it went to voice mail.

"Hello, Dr. Chandler," I said. "This is..." I paused. Considered. "Eden Larsen. We need to talk."

Guinea Pig

Chandler listened to the message. Then he smiled. He could hear the desperation in the girl's voice, in the way she'd hesitated, barely able to get the words out. She'd kept her tone clear, trying to be brave, but she was trapped and she knew it. She wanted to negotiate. How quaint.