Read Online Dangerous to Know by Merline Lovelace - Free Book Online Page A

“This is now.”
    Meredith hesitated, then made a small gesture that encompassed the elegant suite. “Do you think your average American tourist can afford to stay at the Carlton or shop on the Croisette?”
    Paige glanced around, taking in the opulent furnishings and the huge vases filled with freshly cut flowers that were scattered on every level surface. Her work as a technical librarian involved her more with research in engineering and the applied sciences than with general references, but she’d studied enough source-books in college to recognize a few of the priceless antiques that graced the sitting. A beautiful rosewood secretaire, its roll top inlaid with an intricate mother-of-pearl woodland scene, sat in one corner. The ornate, marble-topped table set against the opposite wall was Italian, she guessed, as was the massive gilt mirror that hung above it.
    No, she acknowledged heavily, your average American tourist couldn’t afford this suite.
    Still, Paige refused to accept that Meredith and David, her David, shared an illicit relationship. “You may be a…a call girl, but I don’t believe David’s one of your customers.”
    An understanding smile tugged at the other woman’s full lips. “No, he’s not one of my customers.”
    Paige stared at her for a long moment, and then her eyes widened in startled disbelief. “Good heavens, you’re not trying to tell me he’s your…your pimp?”
    Half groaning, half laughing, Meredith shook her head. “Women at my level of the profession don’t have pimps. Our clients are referred to us by reliable sources, and usually contact us over the phone, which is where the term came from in the first place.”
    Paige chewed on her lower lip, thinking furiously. She might be naive, and a little timid on occasion, but she wasn’t stupid.
    â€œI don’t believe it,” she said flatly. “There’s something else going on here, something you won’t tell me. Either of you.”
    The other woman hesitated, then gave a small sigh. “Look, I’m not cleared to tell you anything. Obviously you realize you’ve stumbled into the middle of something Doc and I are working on together. All I can say is that it’s dangerous. Very dangerous.”
    Meredith threw a quick glance over her shoulder as a soft knock sounded on the door. She rose, her hand slipping into her pocket. Paige’s eyes widened at the faint outline of a gun she saw in the lavender silk. Open-mouthed, she watched Meredith glide to the door on bare feet, not making a sound, then peer through the peephole.
    Her shoulders lost their coiled tension, and she opened the door for David.
    â€œWe’re okay,” he said quietly. “It cost me another fifty francs, but I verified that our pal Henri didn’t disclose anything to the chauffeur other than the fact that he brought an Americanwoman back to this hotel. Apparently the driver still thinks it was Meredith Ames who went into the sea.”
    â€œWe’re close enough in appearance,” Meredith said. “Maybe we can still pull this operation off.”
    â€œWhat operation?” Paige asked.
    David walked to her side. “You aren’t cleared to know. Tell me, did anyone besides this driver get a good look at you before you nose-dived into the bay? Anyone on board the yacht?”
    â€œI don’t know. There were some people—crewmen, I think—on the back deck. But I didn’t see anyone else.”
    â€œWe’ll just have to chance it,” Meredith said quietly to David. “We’ve taken greater risks before. Or we can take the chauffeur out for a little while.”
    â€œRight.” He gave Paige’s hands a little squeeze. “Come on, let’s get you out of here. I’ll take you back to your hotel so you can get your things.”
    â€œMy things?” she asked,