Private Scandals

shift, others coming on,people picking them up or dropping them off. Sometimes even tours.”
    “Busy place.”
    “Yes.”
    His eyes lifted to hers again, and she realized why they weren’t nondescript. He wasn’t simply looking at her: he was looking in. Finn had that ability, that same quick, scalpel gaze that cut right through into your thoughts. Perhaps that was why she found him reassuring.
    “Is there anyone you can think of? Someone you’ve rebuffed? Someone who’s shown a more than casual or friendly interest in you?”
    “No. Really, there’s no one I know who would keep doing something like this. I’m sure it’s a stranger—a viewer, probably. Otherwise I’d probably have noticed them taping me.”
    “Well, the way your show’s been going, that doesn’t narrow the possible suspects.” In an old habit, he doodled on his pad. The doodle became Deanna’s face, the frightened eyes and the mouth that struggled to curve up. “You do a lot of public appearances. Have you noticed any particular face that keeps showing up?”
    “No. I thought of that.”
    “I’ll take the tape with me.” He rose then, tucking his notebook neatly in his pocket. “Someone will come by for the notes.”
    “There’s nothing else, is there?” She rose as well. “There’s really nothing else.”
    “You never know what we might pick up from the tape. Sophistication of equipment or some small identifying sound. In the meantime, try not to worry. This kind of thing happens more often than you think.” And because she kept trying to smile, he wanted to reassure her. “You hear about the big ones, like that woman who keeps breaking into Letterman’s house, but the truth is, it’s not just celebrities who have to deal with obsessions. Not too long ago we had this woman focused on this stockbroker. Nice-looking guy, but no Adonis. Anyhow, she called him at work, at home, sent telegrams, leftlove notes under the windshield wiper of his car. She even had pictures of herself in a wedding dress that she had doctored with one of him in a tux. Showed it to his neighbors to prove they were married.”
    “What happened?”
    “He took out a peace bond on her, and she broke it by camping on his doorstep. She went in for a psychiatric evaluation. When she got out, she decided she wasn’t in love with the stockbroker anymore. Claims she divorced him.”
    “So the moral is, sometimes these things run their course.”
    “Could be. Thing is, some people don’t have as firm a grip on reality as they might. You’d probably feel better if you tightened up your security a little.”
    “I’ll do that. Thank you, Detective Jenner.”
    “I’ll be in touch. A real pleasure meeting you, Miss Reynolds, and you, Mr. Riley. I’ve spent a lot of time with the two of you in my living room.”
    “So, that’s that,” she said as she closed the door behind Jenner.
    “Not by a long shot.” Finn took her firmly by the shoulders. He hadn’t interrupted her interview with Jenner. But now it was his turn. “You’re not working late alone anymore.”
    “Really, Finn—”
    “That’s not negotiable, so don’t give me grief on this. Do you know what went through me when I saw you standing in the hall, terrified, fighting off Crowell?”
    “He was trying to help,” she began, then closed her eyes and sighed. “Yes, yes, I think I do know. I’m sorry. I’ll bring work home when I have to.”
    “Until this thing is resolved, you need twenty-four-hour protection.”
    “A bodyguard?” She would have laughed if she wasn’t afraid he’d take a chunk out of her. “Finn, I won’t work late in the building. I’ll even make sure I have a buddy when I go on any remotes or appearances. But I’m not hiring some thug named Reno to lurk over me.”
    “It’s not unusual for a woman in your position to hire private security.”
    “Whatever my position, I’m still Deanna Reynolds from Topeka, and I refuse to have some big-shouldered hulk frighten off the people I’m trying to reach. I couldn’t stand it, Finn. That’s just too Hollywood for me. I’m not taking this lightly,” she continued. “Believe me, I’m going to take very serious care of myself. But I haven’t been threatened.”
    “You’ve been spied on, followed, taped, harassed by anonymous notes and phone calls.”
    “And it frightens me, I admit it. You were right about the police. I should have called them before. Now that you have, I feel like the whole