She felt stupid.
Mike’s forehead knit as if he felt angry as well as concerned. He glanced at Daniel then back to her. “Why didn’t you come to me, Janine? I take threats against the colonel seriously.”
Relieved he didn’t follow the sheriff’s lead in blaming her for Pinky, she said, “I didn’t want the police involved.”
“I’m a friend, too.” He sounded hurt.
Catching herself pulling her hair, she dropped her hand onto the desk. She toyed with a paper clip. “I didn’t want the colonel to know. He doesn’t need the stress. It’s a private problem. Was a private problem.”
“Colonel?” Helmsley asked.
“My father, Colonel Horace Duke. I thought I could handle this on my own.”
“You could have been killed.” Mike turned a heated glare on Daniel. “Your little plan is stupid, sir. And dangerous.”
Daniel arched an eyebrow. His expression remained otherwise neutral. “Seems to me my plan is working out exactly the way I intended. What do you know about erotomania, Sergeant?”
Mike and the investigator exchanged a puzzled look.
“It’s a mental disorder,” Daniel explained. “A delusional fixation on another person as a love object. Read love letters written by thirteen-year-olds and you’ll get a glimpse into the kind of thought processes we’re dealing with. Except this guy is an adult and he’s willing to act out his fantasies. If you guys intend to catch Pinky, you need to get educated.”
“Are you a shrink?” Mike was openly hostile now.
“Just a regular guy who’s devoted the past five years of his life to stopping stalkers.” He grinned at the investigator. “And no, you guys haven’t heard of me. I keep a low profile. No press, no advertising. If you want to check me out, contact Gail Porter with the El Paso County district attorney’s office. She’s referred several clients to me.”
“I don’t know if you’re qualified or not,” Mike said. “I know for darned sure you’re endangering your life. Not to mention Janine’s life!”
“I’m doing nothing illegal.”
“Interfering with an investigation and obstructing justice are illegal.”
Daniel showed both palms. “I’m not doing either of those. You guys have my blessing to arrest Pinky. You won’t hear a peep out of me.”
“Mike,” Janine said. “Mr. Helmsley. Mr. Tucker is not the problem. Pinky is. I apologize for not calling you, Mike. In hindsight, you’re absolutely correct. But, I suggest we focus on the matter at hand and worry about who is right or wrong later.”
“Ma’am, Mr. Tucker,” Helmsley said, “stalking is against Colorado law. No offense, but civilians aren’t qualified to handle these matters.”
“No offense,” Daniel said smoothly, “neither are the cops. Pinky isn’t your run-of-the-mill firebug. He’s seriously disturbed, but he’s smart.” He jerked a thumb at Janine. “Here’s an intelligent woman. She deals with a large staff. She knows people. But Pinky sat in this office, interviewed for a job and fooled her completely. He’ll fool you, too.”
Helmsley smiled, close-lipped. “Obviously you’ve never sat across the interrogation table from me, sir.”
Daniel chuckled. “Obviously you’ve never dealt with an erotomanic stalker harboring sociopathic tendencies who uses anonymity as a weapon. Pinky isn’t scared of the cops. You’ll never rattle him.”
Janine massaged her aching temples. An island, she thought She’d buy an island and post a huge sign saying No Testosterone Allowed. “Gentlemen! Stop the bickering. It’s going nowhere. I and everyone at Elk River will cooperate fully with the police investigation.”
She found a list she’d created yesterday. She handed it over the desk to the investigator. “Here are the names of the people I’ve hired in the past six months. Mr. Tucker assures me that Pinky began working here during that time. As for Mr. Tucker, he’s staying.”
Seeing Mike forming a protest, she held up a hand and shook her head firmly. “Your goal is to arrest Pinky. Mine is to protect my father. I fail to see where our goals are incompatible.”
Mike cast an unhappy glance at Daniel. “Provoking Pinky is a mistake, Janine.”
“He’s already provoked. If Mr. Tucker is dumb enough to set himself up as a target, then I will let him continue for as long as it keeps the colonel safe.”
“Dumb?” Daniel mouthed silently. He made a face at her.
“I also ask that you gentlemen cooperate with me. As far as anyone else is concerned, Mr. Tucker is my boyfriend. Nothing more.”
She ended the interview. After she saw them out of the office, she pawed through her desk drawers in search of aspirin.
“So you think I’m dumb, huh?” Daniel asked, grinning.
“I hold serious doubts about the intelligence of anyone who paints a target on his forehead. I wish you wouldn’t fight with the police, either. Especially Mike. He’s an old friend.” She swallowed two aspirin then chased them with a slug of coffee.
“Your friend doesn’t know what he’s dealing with.”
“He’s an experienced law officer.” She stared glumly at her telephone. The message indicator flashed.
“As long as they don’t get in my way.”
The door opened and Kara poked her head inside.
“Knock first,” Janine snapped. She pressed a fist over her pounding heart.
“Sorry. Are you okay?” She flashed an adoring smile at Daniel.
“I’m busy right now. What do you want?”
Kara made a hissy noise through her teeth. “You don’t need to bite my head off. I just wanted to tell you breakfast is ready. Chef made those caramel rolls you like so much.”
Janine laid her head on her folded arms. Frazzled nerves or not, she had no right to take it out on her sister.
“I’m sorry,” she called, but Kara was already gone. Rolling her eyes in self-disgust, she rose. Daniel’s too-bland face annoyed her. “In case you were wondering, the answer is Yes, I’m always a grump. Especially in the morning.”
“I wasn’t wondering. But thanks for the warning.”
“Are you always this chipper and perky?”
“Without fail.”
In the family dining room the heady aroma of freshly baked bread filled the air. The comfortable room and mouth-watering scents soothed her frazzled nerves. Her appetite roared to life. Seeing Kara acting extra careful, her shame deepened. She hated her hot temper and tendency toward snappishness. She worked hard at allowing petty annoyances to roll off her back, she longed for sweet serenity,
