Silver Linings

hanging around with Abbott for too long. The man has poisoned your mind against me.”
    Mattie took a deep breath and asked aloud the question that was screaming in her mind. “Just where is Hugh and his friend Silk?”
    Rainbird smiled at her over the rim of his glass. “Now, that, Miss Sharpe, is what I am hoping you will tell me.”
    She stared at him, open-mouthed. “You mean you don't know, either?”
    “I'm afraid not. And the whole thing is getting to be something of a problem. I never did like having Abbott running around loose. The man's too damn unpredictable. Always does things his way instead of the military way. That was one of the reasons I had to…” Rainbird smiled again. “Never mind. That's ancient history.”
    “Well, you've gone to a lot of trouble for nothing, Colonel Rainbird. Because I have no idea where Hugh is. And I wouldn't tell you if I did.”
    “Then we shall just have to put out the word that you are here with me and wait for him to come and collect you, won't we?” Rainbird's blue eyes glinted. “Howard will show you to your room now. You may change for dinner.”
    Mattie's chin lifted. “I should warn you I don't eat meat.”
    “Excellent,” Rainbird said with a smile. “Neither do I. Gave it up some time ago along with cigarettes. Do you know, I believe we are going to discover a great many things in common, Miss Sharpe. It has been a long while since I have had the pleasure of entertaining an intelligent, attractive woman. And knowing you are Hugh Abbott's will make it all the more interesting.”

CHAPTER

Eighteen

    It was too much to hope that she would be shown to the master bedroom suite. Mattie thought of the secret panel behind the elegant bathtub and sighed. Hugh had said there was more than one emergency exit in this house. She surveyed the room that had been assigned to her.
    It was as lovely as every other room in the gracious white mansion. The windows all opened onto the veranda and a view of the ocean. The walls were strips of white marble interspersed with sparkling mirrors. Mattie tentatively pressed on a few of them to see if by chance Cormier had built one of his escape routes in this room. She had no luck, either in the main room or in the adjoining bath.
    That meant her only hope for escape was to finagle a way into the master bath. Mattie's heart sank as she realized that was probably going to be a lot easier to do than she might have wished. She had seen the look in Rainbird's eyes and knew what he intended. Before the night was over, he was going to drag her into the bedroom suite, if only for the pleasure of raping Hugh Abbott's woman.
    Mattie opened her suitcase slowly and examined the contents. Too bad she had not had a chance to go shopping with Evangeline before leaving Seattle. It looked like the blue and white striped silk camp shirt and prim little navy-blue skirt were going to have to serve as her seduction outfit.
    She stood in front of the mirror for a minute before leaving the room and unbuttoned the silk shirt a little lower than she normally would have. Then she took her hair down and brushed it out so that it danced around her shoulders. It made a lot of difference, she realized. She reached for her makeup kit, wishing Evangeline were there to give advice.

    Dinner was served by Howard, who looked exactly the same as he had when he'd greeted Mattie at the door, except that he'd draped a white linen napkin over his arm. It didn't quite go with the gun on his hip, Mattie thought.
    She was seated at the end of a long, thick glass table supported on four legs fashioned of carved white stone. Rainbird was seated at the opposite end. He was wearing a white dinner jacket and a black bow tie. Paul Cormier's beautiful crystal, silver, and china glittered on the table, reflecting the candlelight.
    “No need to look uneasy, Miss Sharpe.” Rainbird sounded amused. “I assure you, I am not planning to poison you. Enjoy your meal. Howard is an excellent chef. Cooking is one of his many areas of expertise. He is a very versatile young man.”
    Howard glowed under the praise and watched anxiously as Mattie sampled her rice pilaf. She looked up and saw him watching her.
    “It's wonderful,” she said honestly.
    “Thank you, ma'am.” Howard inclined his head.
    Rainbird's mouth lifted slightly at the corner. “I'm sure you've made his day, Miss Sharpe. You may leave us now, Howard. I'll call you if we need anything.”
    “Yes, sir.” Howard