Wildest Hearts

if she had been wise to tell Joanna the latest news. Not that she'd had a lot of choice in the matter, she reminded herself. Joanna was engaged to Daniel and carrying his baby. She had a right to know whatever Annie and Oliver learned.

    Nevertheless, Annie feared that the latest uncertainties might prove to be too much for Joanna. Her future sister-in-law looked more weary and depressed than ever this morning.

    They were seated at a tiny table in front of a roaring fire. The old red brick walls of the café added a mellow, comforting feel to the high-ceilinged room. The place hummed with the conversations of Pioneer Square professionals and office workers on their morning coffee break.

    Coffee breaks were a serious matter in Seattle. No one drank instant anymore. Most people were convinced that one couldn't get a good cup of coffee outside of Seattle. It made for a booming business for establishments such as the one in which Annie and Joanna sat.

    Joanna cast an anxious glance around the room to make certain that no one was within hearing distance. She leaned forward. “For God's sake, we're talking about murder. You're telling me that someone tried to kill Daniel?”

    “It's a possibility.”

    “But it doesn't make any sense. Who would want to kill Daniel?”

    “The motive may have been revenge for something that happened five years ago.” Annie quickly explained the investigation that had led to the shoot-out in the warehouse. “Daniel was the one who found the proof of Gresham's gunrunning, according to Oliver. And he was with Oliver that night when Gresham got killed.”

    “Daniel never said anything to me about being involved in such a dangerous matter.” Joanna's voice had risen in a squeak so swiftly that it disappeared entirely on the last word.

    “You didn't know him five years ago,” Annie reminded her. “Still, if it makes you feel any better, he never told me about it, either. Probably a misguided masculine effort to protect the ladies from unpleasant news.”

    “What you're telling me,” Joanna said grimly, “is that what is happening now is all Rain's fault.”

    Annie straightened abruptly. “I'm not saying that at all. I'm just saying there may be a connection between Daniel's disappearance and the investigation he and Oliver conducted five years ago.”

    “Damn it, I knew Oliver Rain was dangerous. Everyone knew it. You should never have married him, Annie. Not even to save Lyncroft Unlimited.”

    “Please, will you take it easy?” Annie slanted a meaningful sidelong glance at the nearest table where a couple sat sipping espresso. “Everything's under control.”

    “Nothing's under control. This mess is getting scarier by the minute. Annie, I think you should file for divorce.”

    Annie was stunned. “Why on earth would I do that now?”

    “It's the only way to get rid of Rain. He scares me, Annie. He's made me nervous right from the beginning, but now he's really starting to scare me.”

    “Well, he doesn't scare me,” Annie declared. “He's got a few personal problems, I'll admit, but he's not dangerous. At least not to me or to you or to Lyncroft Unlimited.”

    “Listen,” Joanna said urgently, “I don't want you to take any more risks, do you understand? Something is going on here, something we don't know anything about. I think you should get out of the situation entirely and the only way to do that is to divorce Rain.”

    “I'm perfectly safe,” Annie assured her. She put down her cup and got to her feet. “Look, I'm sorry I upset you.” She belted her raincoat around her. “I just wanted to fill you in on the latest. But I don't want you to worry. Everything's under control.”

    “No offense, Annie, but that does not reassure me one bit.” Joanna got up and reached for her trench coat, which was hanging over the back of her chair. “What are you going to do now?”

    “First, I have to deliver this to a client in a law firm down the street.” Annie picked up the large glass parrot that was sitting beside the table. The parrot was wrapped in plastic to protect it from the rain. “Then I'm going back to my shop. I'll call you as soon as I have more news.”

    Joanna touched her arm. “Annie, please, think about what I've said. You're in over your head. I want you to divorce Rain.”

    Annie smiled reassuringly. “Don't you see? Oliver is not the problem. He's the solution.” She tucked the glass parrot under her elbow, pulled up the