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them,” she answered, looking down at her hands.
    “When combined, they cause delirium and amnesia.”
    “You’re telling me I was drugged?”
    “Your symptoms point to it.”
    “Carl drugged me?” Claire blinked back tears and absorbed the implications. “No. I refuse to believe it.” She turned her focus on Jason. “You knew the whole time?”
    “Claire —” Jason said, but was cut off when Snyder asked, “Do you know of any reason why your husband would go to such trouble?”
    Suddenly, it was all too much. She couldn’t stay here a moment longer. “Take me home,” she demanded of Jason while abruptly getting to her feet. “I don’t want to hear any more.”
    “I’m sorry if I upset you, ma’am,” Deputy Snyder said, adding as she started for the door, “I know this can’t be easy to hear, but I’d still like to ask a few questions.”
    She was almost out of the room when he said to Jason, “Well, that went real smooth. See if you can get her back in here. As it stands now, there’s no proof that a crime has even been committed, and without her cooperation, my hands are tied.”
    Once outside, Claire felt Jason’s presence behind her before he spoke.
    “Are you sure you don’t want to tell me what’s going on? I promise you, I only want to help.”
    Her fingers dug into her palms until the sharp pain registered. She inhaled and uncurled her fingers in an effort to relax.
    “How can I tell you when I don’t know myself?”
    “Then let’s go back inside and use the deputy to find out.”
    “No.” She sighed. “I only want to go home.”
    “Come on,” he said as he grabbed her hand and pulled her toward his car.
    Claire obediently followed and slid into the front seat of his Mercedes after he opened the door. She stayed silent as he climbed in beside her, started the car, and backed out of the space. When he turned the opposite direction onto the main road, heading south away from Miami, she spoke up.
    “I thought you were taking me to my car.”
    “Not just yet.”
    “I want to go home,” she said through clenched teeth.
    Undeterred, he met her gaze. “When’s the last time you ate?”
    “That’s hardly your concern. Now turn around.” She crossed her arms and jutted out her chin, refusing to let him take charge again.
    “You’ll like this place,” he said, ignoring her protests and flashing that innocent, boyish grin she was becoming all too familiar with. “Antonio’s promises great food, as well as atmosphere. It’s worth the drive, especially when life’s overwhelming.”
    In minutes, they turned into a parking lot hidden behind live oaks and lots of greenery. The restaurant, a liberal description, sported a large weathered deck hanging over the water. The place appeared to be fairly small and run-down, a local dive. Definitely not a tourist hangout.
    Jason opened Claire’s car door and helped her out. Then he grabbed her hand, tugging her with him toward the entrance and giving her no option but to tag along.
    Her annoyance at his taking over vanished the second she stepped inside as the scent of baked bread, tomato sauce, garlic, basil, and other spices assaulted her nostrils. A growling stomach knocked out the last of her resistance. It had been too long since she’d last eaten.
    “Okay. I could be persuaded to eat,” she murmured. Dinner did seem like a good idea, but only because she was suddenly ravenous.
    The overbearing man would soon learn she wasn’t about to bend on anything else.

Chapter 6
    “What the hell are you thinking, screwing up our plans like /that?” The woman stormed into the hotel room, pushing past Carl Carter when he opened the door. “You are such a moron. You can’t even do one thing right. How could you be so stupid?”
    “I did everything just like you told me, so if anyone’s stupid, it’s you.”
    Carl shrugged nonchalantly, unconcerned with the enticing woman’s furious expression. He had his own agenda, and it didn’t