Page 41 of Diagnosis Attraction

“Yeah.”

In the office, Elizabeth picked up some of the papers scattered on the floor and thumbed through them. “These are records of some of my clients.”

After righting the desk chair, she sat down and started to read one of the cases. “This woman was living in a flophouse in Baltimore. It looks like she came into the country illegally.”

“I know you want to understand what you were doing, but I think you don’t have time to read cases now.”

She gave him an exasperated look. “They could be clues to what was going on—when those thugs tried to grab me after the accident.”

“Maybe you can take some with you. We’ve got to get out of here fast.”

She nodded but didn’t move.

“There’s got to be something here,” she murmured as she looked around the shambles that had been her office. “Something they missed.”

“How do you know?”

She shrugged. “I just do. And maybe you can help me figure it out.”

Standing, she reached for Matt. Pulling him close, she molded her body against his as they stood in the middle of the mess. His arms stroked up and down her back, and while she held onto him, she felt the familiar merging of their minds that had so quickly become necessary to her existence.

Yes,he silently agreed.

She wanted to revel in the closeness she’d never experienced before meeting him, but she knew there wasn’t time for that now. What she had to do was search for the memories he’d brought back to her. Not something long ago. Something recent.

Eyes closed, she mentally looked around the room, trying to figure out what she couldn’t remember alone.

Her mental gaze shifted to the bulletin board. There were several whimsical things stuck to it, including a couple of greeting cards, a Mardi Gras mask, two cocktail swizzle sticks, and a key ring with a small flashlight attached.

Matt followed her thoughts as she stepped away from him and reached for the key ring. She had just taken it off the board when an unwelcome noise made them both go still.

In the quiet of the house, they heard a door open.

CHAPTER NINE

Matt froze. He’d known all along that coming to Elizabeth’s place was taking a chance, but he’d also been desperate to help her get more information about herself. Now it appeared that they’d run out of luck. He looked at Elizabeth, seeing the terror on her face—and the anger. These guys kept coming after her like relentless robot killers in a science-fiction movie, and now one or more were in the house.

Stealthy footsteps came slowly down the hall.

What are we going to do?Elizabeth asked.

Get out the escape hatch.

Thank God you thought of one.

He ushered Elizabeth behind him.

Climb out the window.

What about you?

I’ll block them, then follow. Head for the car.

He knew she wanted to argue about the hastily conceived plan, but she silently acknowledged there was no alternative.

Stepping around the file cabinets, she headed for the open window.

He pulled out the gun that he’d taken away from the guy they’d encountered out back. What had happened while theywere inside, exactly? Had Polly’s killer found his partner and set him free? Or had another thug shown up? And did whoever was out there know Matt was armed?

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