Wildest Hearts

chagrin. There was no way to explain that she didn't consider her position as Mrs. Oliver Rain as a permanent post yet. “I guess I haven't gotten used to the notion of being married to Oliver.” she murmured.

    “What an odd thing to say.” Raphaela headed for the door. “I do believe I could adjust quite quickly to marrying a fortune the size of Rain's. On the other hand, that probably wouldn't get me an invitation to the Shore's benefit, would it? Everyone knows that Paul Shore and Oliver Rain aren't on speaking terms.”

    The door slammed shut behind Raphaela. Annie watched her disappear down the street and wondered what everyone was going to say tonight when Carson Shore and Valerie Rain were seen together at the benefit.

    Oliver was going to be furious. He would no doubt view Valerie's actions as a betrayal of the family.

    Two hours later Ella got ready to go to lunch. “See you in half an hour, Annie.”

    “All right.” Annie waited until the door had closed before she took her purse out of the drawer.

    She had been thinking about the diskette all morning. Her imagination was still working overtime, concocting elaborate and chilling reasons to explain why her brother had left the diskette in the desk drawer.

    She took the small square object out of her purse and reread the message on the label….take it to Oliver Rain. He'll know what to do with it .

    Annie had an urge to hide the diskette somewhere other than her purse. Purses got snatched all the time in downtown Seattle. She'd had a short, brisk wrestling match with a would-be purse snatcher herself a few months ago. She'd managed to hang onto her bag, but it had been a near thing.

    She glanced around the shop. Her eyes fell on the cloisonné elephant. She remembered the hidden drawer in the base. It was the perfect spot. The diskette would be safe there for the rest of the day. Tonight when she closed up Wildest Dreams, she would retrieve the diskette and take it home to Oliver.

    Annie hurried across the room and pushed on one of the elephant's scarlet toenails. The secret drawer sprang open. The diskette fit securely inside. Annie carefully closed the drawer, feeling much better. The diskette was safe.

    At four-thirty that afternoon Annie got a call from a designer who was working on a Pioneer Square loft residence.

    “Can you come up and take a look, Annie? I think it needs a finishing touch from your shop. The address is just three blocks from your shop. I'll meet you at the lobby door and let you in.”

    Annie glanced at her watch. “Okay, I'll be there in ten minutes.” When she hung up the phone, she looked at Ella. “I should be back by five-thirty. If I'm not, go ahead and close up.”

    “Right, boss.”

    But Annie got seriously delayed with the designer when the client showed up and took an active role in the decision-making process. It was nearly six by the time she got back to Wildest Dreams.

    The minute she let herself into the darkened boutique she knew something was terribly wrong.

    In a glance she saw the cloisonné elephant with the diskette inside was missing.

    Annie forced herself to take several deep breaths in order to keep from dissolving into hysterics. When she could control her fingers, she frantically dialed Ella's home number.

    There was no answer. Annie slammed down the receiver and tried to think of the names of some of Ella's spacy friends. In desperation, she just kept dialing her home number again and again. After fifteen minutes, Ella finally answered. Annie didn't even say hello. “Where's the elephant?” Annie yelled into the phone when her assistant came on the line.

    “The elephant? What elephant? Annie, is something wrong?”

    “I can't find my elephant. The one with the scarlet toenails. Where is it?”

    “Oh, that elephant. I guess I forgot to leave a note. Raphaela has him. She made a last-minute decision. She's not using the paneled screen or the carousel.”

    “She's using my elephant?” Annie yelped.

    “Yeah. Anything wrong with that?”

    “Oh, my God.” Annie dropped the phone back into its cradle.

    One thing was clear. She had to get her elephant back tonight. And that meant going to the Shore's party this evening.

    Annie glanced at her watch. The benefit would be starting soon, if it hadn't already. She could hardly show up at the door dressed in slacks and a sweater.

    She tried to think. She would have to rush home to the penthouse, slip into a decent-looking