Read Online Haunting Rachel by Kay Hooper - Free Book Online Page B

later your car smashes into a tree.”
    She felt a chill, but even so had to object. “What would he have to gain? Graham, he
told me
about the money he owes Dad. Why would he have done that if he wanted to renege on the debt?”
    “Rachel, you have only this man’s word for it that a debt exists.”
    “But why would he—”
    “Think about it. What better way to ingratiate himself into your life than by claiming that your father helped him when he was down on his luck. That he’s so grateful your father’s
investment
let him turn his life around.
And
by telling you he’s going to pay you three million dollars by the end of the year.”
    “What could he hope to gain by lying about those things?”
    “You’re an heiress,” Graham reminded her bluntly. “Worth a hell of a lot more than three million dollars.”
    “So he cut the brake line on my car? That is what you’re implying?”
    “What I’m
saying
is that his story is damned suspicious, especially following what looks very much like a manufactured accident. Rachel, given where the accident happened—had to happen—the chances were good you wouldn’t be driving very fast. It wasn’t likely to be a serious crash. He could have planned it that way.”
    “But why?”
    “As a distraction, a diversion of your attention. Or mine.”
    After a moment, Rachel shook her head. “That’s too Machiavellian for me, Graham. A possibility only a lawyer could consider.”
    He didn’t smile. If anything, Graham’s grimness increased as he slowly realized something. The crash might have put “things” into perspective for Rachel, but something else had happened since then. She was … waking up. Coming out of the deep freeze where Thomas’s death had left her. Her features were more animated than he could remember seeing them, her smile quicker, and even her voice held more life.
    It was a subtle change—but it was a definite change. A hint of more changes to come. And there was only one reason for it that he could think of.
    Adam Delafield.
    If Graham had been a man given to shouting and throwing things, he would have done so then. All his patience. All his undemanding, understanding friendship, his help and concern for Rachel all these months, and none of it had so much as chipped her frozen serenity. Then came Adam Delafield, looking, apparently, like Thomas Sheridan’s twin—and Rachel was thawing.
    Keeping his voice level, Graham said, “There have been more involved plans to gain a fortune, Rachel. Plenty of them.”
    She stared at him for a moment, then shook her head. “No, I don’t believe that he’s—what? Trying to sweep me off my feet? Marry me before I discover he’s a con artist?”
    “It’s been done before.”
    Rachel couldn’t help but laugh. “That’s absurd! Graham, I’m not an idiot. Nor am I so trusting that I’d giveanyone power over me unless I was absolutely certain that power wouldn’t be misused.”
    “How’s he supposed to know that? Until he gets to know you, I mean.”
    “And I thought
my
imagination was working overtime when I was so sure I’d seen Thomas.” She shook her head again, this time bemusedly. “Yours is really overactive, you know that?”
    Graham’s mouth firmed stubbornly. “Maybe so, but humor me. I’m going to have him checked out, Rachel. His background. Find out if there’s really a company out in California.”
    Her first impulse was to tell him not to, but Rachel knew it would be the sensible thing to do. And since she had just claimed she wasn’t foolish, she could hardly object to a sensible and responsible precaution.
Because he’s not Thomas, after all.
    “Fine,” she said. “And you might want to check first with Nicholas, since they’re old friends.”
    If Graham had expected an argument, it didn’t show; he merely nodded. “I’ll get right on it. But in the meantime, do me a favor? Park your car in secure places and stay away from Adam Delafield?”
    “I’ll be