he doubted that this psycho would actually do more than harass her, Roman could never rule out the possibility that Baird meant what he said. If so, Brittany Langford needed help, and she needed it now.
“What are you thinking?” she asked in an anxious voice.
Roman closed the file, schooling his features to show no emotion. “I need to do a little preliminary work first. Are you going home to stay?”
“Yes—”
“Then expect me around seven and we’ll talk.”
“All right.” She got to her feet. “I—I’ll see you then.”
He watched her progress from the room, unconsciously admiring the singing lines of her body while he put everything back in the drawer. With a swift motion he closed it, a little too soundly because it drew Parker’s attention.
“Find what you were looking for?”
“Heaven forbid, I did,” Roman ground out.
“It’s a mail harassment case, nothing more. One of these days the guy will give up.”
That’s why you never made chief, Parker.
The man despised private investigators, especially Roman, the outsider from New York City. But he didn’t have the courage to call him something uncomplimentary to his face.
“Just doing my job according to Hoyle.”
Roman knew his response would pass over the top of Parker’s head. Maybe in six months he’d figure it out. By that time, Brittany Langford could be in serious trouble if her tormentor had the potential for menace.
Once he returned to his office, Roman would fax Pat Flaherty in New York. Pat and he had been partners way back when life had been vastly different, when Roman was still full of noble ideas about changing the world...
The cocky Irishman was still on the force and had active contacts who could put out feelers on Glen Baird in a matter of minutes. Roman had one concern at the moment. To find out if Baird still resided in Wisconsin.
CHAPTER TWO
WHEN the doorbell rang a little after seven, Brit knew it was Lieutenant Lufka. For some unaccountable reason, her heart began to hammer. She’d been counting the minutes until he arrived, wondering what conclusions he’d come to about her case.
Oddly enough she’d been loathe to leave the police station. To leave him. He engendered such a strong feeling of safety, she found that she didn’t want to be out of his sight.
After one brief meeting it was ridiculous to feel that way, but she couldn’t help it. The situation with Glen Baird had been going on almost a month. Her nerves were shot. It was heaven to be able to pour out her fears to someone like the Lieutenant who protected people for a living.
She hurried across the living room and opened the door to her condo. He nodded with a hint of a smile, making her feel a little breathless.
“Come in.” She stepped aside as he entered, then shut the door behind him. He brought the faint nip of the Fall night air with him. It mingled with the scent of the soap he used, bringing her to a strong physical awareness of him.
Startled by this reaction, she knew she sounded too brusque when she asked him if he’d like a drink or coffee.
“Maybe later,” he murmured, taking the upholstered chair opposite the velvet couch after she sat down.
Brit clasped her hands nervously. “Did you find out any new information?”
He nodded, sending her a penetrating glance. “You have every right to be alarmed.”
She had trouble swallowing. “So what are you saying?”
He eyed her soberly for a moment. It made her heart skip a beat. “You’re paying me your hard-earned money. This means I have to call the shots as I see them without wasting any time.”
She could read between the lines. Perspiration broke out on her hairline. “I’m in danger, aren’t I?” Her voice shook.
“It’s only a feeling on my part, but I believe you could be.”
Brit moaned and stood up, rubbing her arms with her hands to get the circulation going.
“I’ve done the preliminary work. There’s no warrant out for his arrest in any of the counties in the State of Wisconsin. But he does have a long history of disturbing the peace, disputing with his neighbors, torturing animals who’ve had the audacity to cross his path.
“He was recently fired from his job for creating trouble with other employees and damaging some merchandise in the warehouse where he worked. His last known address was a trailer court in Madison, but he moved out of there a week ago and drove off in a vintage maroon van with everything he owned.”
The Lieutenant had learned that much already? Brit was in awe of him, and more horrified than ever to think that lunatic wasn’t anywhere to be found.
“I have a plan, Ms. Langford, but we’ll have to move fast.”
Her fear was so great, she could scarcely form words. “What plan?”
He stared at her through narrowed eyes. “The one you put into play when you sent him that postcard. In my opinion, you were given the wrong advice. But since it’s a fait accompli, we’ll turn it to our advantage.”
She shook her head. “I don’t understand.”
“It’s a long shot. But if my hunch is right and he’s headed here, we’ll be able to catch him and prevent him from doing this to anyone else. If I’m wrong, and he’s just another loser who has finally tired of sending you letters because he’s become obsessed with someone else, then no harm has been done. Either way you’ll achieve peace of mind, which is my job to give you, leaving us both satisfied.”
Peace of mind...
That meant everything. That’s why she’d sought a private investigator in the first place, wasn’t it?
Her womanly intuition told her that if this man couldn’t provide it, no one could.
She lifted her head and faced him squarely. “Since those letters started coming, I have to admit I haven’t felt safe. Until something’s done about him, I’ll never feel safe again.”
A strange silence filled the room. He rose to his full height, his intelligent eyes with their black lashes never leaving hers.
“No plan is infallible, but the one I’ve conceived guarantees I won’t be leaving your side until the culprit is caught, or goes away for good.” He paused. “For this assignment, I’m going undercover as your husband.”
A thrill of emotion totally foreign to Brit shot through her body. She started to tremble.
His dark brows knit together. “Before you fall apart on me, hear me out.”
“I’m
