Against the Night - Kat Martin

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He’s about as much a movie producer as I am.”

       “I kind of figured that, but it isn’t the point. The point is, my sister came to Los Angeles to try to get into the movie business.”

       “Gee, there’s a good idea.”

       “I know, but that’s what she wanted to do. So she might have believed Kyle Bennett could help her. If she was involved with him, maybe he had some part in her disappearance.”

       “Fine, I’ll talk to him.”

       “He isn’t going to tell you anything. He’ll be a lot more likely to open up to me than he will be to you.”

       “You’re a schoolteacher, remember? Not a cop. There is no way you should involve yourself in something like this.”

       “It isn’t as bad as it sounds. Babs knows Kyle’s address and what time I should be back. If I don’t get home when I’m supposed to, she’s going to call the police.”

       He just shook his head. “No way, no how.”

       She set the wineglass very carefully down on the coffee table and stood up.

       “You’ve been very nice, Johnnie. Especially considering the way I’ve behaved. Now I’d appreciate it if you would take me back to the club.”

       “Shit.”

       “I’m doing this. I’m going to find out what happened to my sister.”

       He set down his beer and slowly stood up from the sofa. He was a big man, powerfully built, intimidating just standing there in front of her. She forced herself not to back away.

       Johnnie looked down at her and his breath whispered out on a sigh. “All right. I’ll help you.”

       Amy opened her mouth to tell him she had changed her mind about paying him with sex, but he cut her off.

       “No strings,” he added. “I’ll do some digging, see what I can come up with. I’ll do what I can to find out what happened to your sister.”

       She started shaking her head.

       “What now?”

       “I need to be involved in this. I owe it to Rachael. I can’t just sit back and do nothing.”

       “Were you listening to what I said? You aren’t a cop. You aren’t trained for this kind of work.”

       “I’m keeping my appointment tomorrow with Kyle Bennett. I might find out something important.”

       His jaw clenched and unclenched. He must have noticed the mutinous set of her chin because he simply nodded. “Fine. You’re probably right about getting him to talk. But if I’m going to help you, we do things my way. Is that understood?”

       He was an investigator. He knew what he was doing. She gave him the first sincere smile she had felt all evening. “Understood.”

       “One last thing.”

       “What’s that?”

       “Sooner or later, I’m taking you to bed, but it won’t be because you owe me. It’ll be because the time is right and you want me as much as I want you.”

       Her stomach contracted. Just looking at him made her want him but she knew he was right. Her mind wasn’t ready even if her body was more than willing. She didn’t reply. God only knew what she might say if she did.

       “We’ll talk more tomorrow,” he said. “Right now, it’s time for me to take you home. I think we both know what will happen if we stay here much longer.”

       Ignoring a rush of embarrassment, Amy nodded and let him guide her out the door. Of all the endings she could have imagined for the evening, this wasn’t one of them.

       She wasn’t sure if she was relieved or disappointed.

      Five

      Johnnie backed the Mustang out of the garage and headed down the hill. A freakin’ schoolteacher. Jesus, just his luck.

       At least his instincts hadn’t been wrong.

       He shifted in the seat, trying to get comfortable. He’d had a hard-on nonstop since the first time he had seen Angel at the club.

       Not Angel, he corrected himself. Amy. Amy Brewer. Kindergarten teacher.

       Christ, how much worse could it get?

       “Nice car,” she said, drawing his attention back to the moment.

       “Four-hundred-twelve horses under the hood of this little beauty.”

       As they passed beneath a streetlight, he caught her soft smile. “When I was in high school, my dad had a Stingray. It was old, but it was hot. He was a mechanic, great with cars. Once in a while, he’d let me drive it.”

       “You like cars?”

       “I do…yes. I love speed. I like to go fast—when it’s safe. I like the sound a car makes when you step on the gas. I guess I picked it up from my dad.”

       His lips faintly curved. The lady was just full of surprises. “So, your dad still around?” If he was, the guy had to be crazy to let his daughter get involved in something as dangerous as this.

       “He died three years ago. He was cutting firewood. Tree split wrong. He was killed instantly.”

       He could read the sorrow in her face. “That’s too bad.”

       “My mom’s back in Grand Rapids. She didn’t want me to come out here.”

      Imagine that.

       “She’s afraid something will happen. She said losing one daughter was enough.”

       He tossed a glance her way as he made the turn off Laurel Canyon onto Sunset and merged with the traffic. “Your mother’s right. Snooping around the way you’ve been doing…that’s dangerous business, honey.”

       “Maybe, but so far I haven’t found out much of anything. I’m hoping tomorrow will be different.”

       “What time’s your appointment?”

       “Two o’clock at Kyle’s house. He lives in Bel Air so it isn’t that far a drive.”

       “Bel Air, huh? Pretty ritzy for a scumbag. You got a car?”

       “Babs is lending me hers.”

       “I need your cell number. Write it down on a piece of paper.”

       She pulled a pen out of her purse and scribbled the number on the back of a Kitty Cat Club napkin she dug out of the bottom.

       Johnnie pulled into the parking lot and stopped beside the rear entrance. “If Tate gives you any trouble about being out with a customer, tell him I’m helping you with a personal problem. He knows what I do for a living. That should be enough to keep him off your back.”

       “All right.” Amy handed him the napkin, opened the car door and got out. He rolled down his window as she walked around to his side of the car.

       “I’ll call you late morning,” he said, handing her a business card. “We need to work out the details before you go in. And I need to talk to your sister’s friend Barbara. Can you make that happen?”

       “Babs usually sleeps till noon, but I can get her up a little early.”

       “I’ll call, set up a place for us to meet.”

       She just nodded. “Thank you, Johnnie. I really appreciate this.”

       “Yeah, well, I’ll see you tomorrow.” He watched her walk into the club and realized it bothered him to think of her working in there. She was a schoolteacher, for chrissake. She shouldn’t be dancing naked in a goddamned tittie bar.

      

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