Wildest Hearts

should be in charge around here,” she said very carefully, “what are you proposing that we do now?”

    Oliver did not like the expression in her eyes. “Annie, your brother didn't mean to imply that he didn't trust you.”

    “Don't you think I know that? But he sure as heck doesn't believe I'm capable of handling this thing on my own, either.”

    “Why would he think you could?” Oliver asked calmly. “You haven't had any more experience in dealing with industrial espionage than you've had with running a corporation the size of Lyncroft. You did the right thing when you turned everything over to me.”

    She chewed on her lower lip. “Did I? Somehow it all seems to be getting extremely complicated.”

    “I know you're upset, but this isn't the time to start having a lot of second thoughts.”

    “I know.” Annie watched him from behind lowered lashes. “We're in this together, aren't we?”

    “Yes.” He wondered what she was thinking now. Perhaps she was beginning to regret the hasty marriage.

    “So what are we going to do about Barry Cork?” she asked bluntly. “Fire him?”

    “I don't think so. Not just yet.” Oliver glanced at Bolt. “It's always better to know your enemy before you make decisions. We'll do what your brother intended to do. We'll give Cork enough rope to hang himself and in the process maybe we'll find out who his new client is here in Seattle. That information might be useful in the future.”

    Annie ran a hand through her hair, creating further havoc among the golden brown curls. “It's hard to think of Barry Cork as the enemy.”

    “You haven't had much experience identifying enemies.”

    Annie gave him an odd look. “You know something, Oliver? There are times when I can see why you make people nervous.”

    “But I don't make you nervous, do I, Annie?”

    “No.” There was a touch of defiance in the single word.

    Oliver glanced at Bolt and silently indicated the door. Bolt got up without a word and left the room. Oliver allowed the silence to fall as the door closed behind Bolt.

    Annie started to get restless after less than a minute. She shifted position, sliding one ankle onto her knee. The nails of her right hand tapped out a meaningless rhythm on the arm of the chair. Then, with a small exclamation, she shot to her feet and stalked across the room to the rock garden.

    “I suppose you'll assign the robot to watch Barry?” Annie asked, her back to Oliver.

    “Bolt is good at surveillance work.”

    “He certainly gets to keep his skills sharp working for you, doesn't he?” Annie's voice turned brittle. “Lots of work within the family to occupy him in addition to keeping an eye on your business competition.”

    Oliver abruptly realized the leaps her agile, unpredictable mind was making. “I didn't assign Bolt to watch you while I was out of town.”

    “You obviously knew right where to find me.”

    “Not because Bolt had followed you around while I was gone. I found you by calling Ella, your shop clerk. She guessed you'd gone after the elephant.”

    Annie glanced at him quickly, her eyes searching his in the shadows. “Is that the truth?”

    “I may not be as communicative as you would like on occasion, but I have never lied to you and I never will.”

    She stared at him for another minute and then something within her seemed to relax. “I believe you.” She turned back to study the darkened rock garden.

    “What's wrong, Annie?”

    “Everything. I've been worried enough about Daniel as it is. But I thought I was handling it. I thought I was doing what needed to be done to hold things together until he got back.”

    Oliver contemplated the blank computer screen. “You mean you thought that by marrying me you assumed you had taken the necessary steps to protect Daniel's company and his child.”

    “Exactly. And now this stuff about Barry comes up.” She waved a hand vaguely in the direction of the notebook computer. “Something more is going on than we first thought, isn't it?”

    “Maybe.”

    “What do you mean, maybe?” Annie dug the toe of her shoe in the fine pearl gray sand, marring one of the carefully raked lines. “Those notes Daniel left for us put a whole new perspective on his disappearance, don't they?”

    “Not necessarily. We don't know if there's any connection between Barry Cork's little espionage sideline and your brother's disappearance. In fact, I think it's highly unlikely that there