Private Scandals

nearly lifting her off her feet. “I don’t believe you.”
    “I don’t give a damn what you believe. I don’t have it.” More furious than frightened, she struggled against him. “Can’t you understand I didn’t care enough to keep it? You weren’t important enough.”
    “Bitch.” Too incensed to think clearly, he dragged her toward his car. “You won’t hold that file over my head.” He grunted, his wing tips skittering on the pavement as he was yanked from behind. He went down painfully, bruising his hip and his dignity.
    “No, Tim, don’t.” Though she was shaking, Deanna grabbed her driver’s arm before he could haul Marshall to his feet and knock him down all over again.
    Tim adjusted his bulky coat, seeing Marshall was quelled. “You okay, Miss Reynolds?”
    “Yes, I’m fine.”
    “Hey!” A baseball cap shielding his eyes, a camera on his shoulder, Joe raced across the lot. “Dee? You okay?”
    “Yes.” She pressed a hand to her temple as Marshall got to his feet. Perfect, she thought. Pictures at ten. “Yes, I’m okay.”
    “I was just pulling into the lot when I saw this guy hassling you.” Joe’s eyes narrowed. “The shrink, right?” He slapped a hand on Marshall’s chest before Marshall could step toward his car. “Hold on, pal. Dee, you want me to call the cops, or should Tim and I just show this creep what happens to men who push women around?”
    “Just let him go.”
    “Sure?”
    She looked into Marshall’s eyes. There was something dead in them now, but she couldn’t find any pity. “Yes. Let him go.”
    “The lady’s giving you a break,” Joe muttered. “If I catch you bothering her again, I won’t be so nice.”
    Silently, Marshall got into his car. He locked the doors, fastened his seat belt, before driving out of the lot.
    “Are you sure he didn’t hurt you, Miss Reynolds?”
    “No, he didn’t. Thank you, Tim.”
    “No problem.” Tim sauntered proudly back to the car.
    “I wish you’d let me punch him.” Joe gave a regretful sigh before looking back at Deanna. “Spooked you, huh?” He glanced at the camera on his shoulder, grimaced. “I got so pissed I didn’t get any tape of it.”
    That, at least, was something. “I guess there’s no point in my asking you not to mention this in the newsroom.”
    He grinned as he walked her to her car. “No point at all. News is news.”
     
    She didn’t want to tell Finn, but they’d made a deal. No holding back. She’d hoped Finn would have to work late, but as luck would have it, he opened the door and greeted her with a long, sloppy kiss.
    “Hiya.”
    “Hi yourself.” She rocked back on her heels and gave Cronkite the caress he was whining for.
    “We had a change in schedule, so I got home a little early.” The change in schedule had been canceling all of his appointments and spending his afternoon with Jenner reading through Beeker’s files. “Made dinner.”
    Cooperating, Deanna sniffed the air. “Smells great.”
    “New recipe.” With one brow cocked, he tipped a finger under her chin. “What?”
    “What, what?”
    “You’re upset.”
    She scowled and pushed his hand away. “Damn it, Finn, that’s irritating. Don’t you know a woman likes to think she has some mystery?” Still hoping to stall, she peeled out of her coat and hung it on the hall rack.
    “What happened, Kansas?”
    “We’ll talk about it later. I’m starving.”
    He merely shifted and blocked her path. “Spill it.”
    She could argue, but since an argument was precisely whatshe was hoping to avoid, what was the point?
    “Will you promise to hear me out and not overreact?”
    “Sure.” He smiled at her as he swung an arm around her shoulders and led her to the steps. They sat together near the bottom landing, with the dog happily at their feet. “Is it about Angela?”
    “Not directly.” She blew out a long breath. “It was Marshall. He sort of ambushed me in the parking lot.”
    “Ambushed?”
    His icy tone alerted her. But when she looked up at Finn, his eyes seemed calm enough. Curious, a little annoyed, but calm. “Just a figure of speech. He was upset. You know I haven’t returned his calls.” When Finn said nothing, she let the rest tumble out. “He was just angry and upset, that’s all. About that. And about the files Angela had sent to me. I told you about them. Marshall has it in his head that I kept them. Of course, with the investigation going on he’s worried.