Read Online The Savage Heart by Diana Palmer - Free Book Online Page B

in the man’s hands and an almost imperceptible flutter of his eyelids. But it was enough. The man had recognized Tess’s name—and now he knew her “cousin” was a detective.
    Matt covertly scanned the office. First he spotted a fancycane in the umbrella stand, along with an expensive top coat on the rack. Matt was willing to bet that there was a sword in that cane. He had to fight down an impulse to go right over the counter after the man who’d wounded Tess. But he controlled himself. Not yet. Not until he had enough evidence to have the man arrested. He had to be able to prove that Collier had deliberately attacked her, and why.
    Collier finished tallying the cost of the telegraph and told Matt. He handed the man a bank note and waited for him to make change. Collier botched it—a sure sign of nerves—and had to count out the change again.
    He smiled wanly at Matt. “It will go off immediately, Mr. Davis.”
    â€œThank you,” Matt said. As he started to put the change in his pocket, he made sure that his jacket opened enough to give the man a look at the knife.
    Collier’s eyes widened like saucers.
    Matt’s chin lifted. His eyes narrowed. “Haven’t you ever seen a bowie knife?” he asked coldly. “I find it much handier than a pistol in my line of work.”
    The younger man couldn’t seem to stop staring. “Ever use it on anybody?”
    Matt’s thin lips tugged up into a cool smile. “Yes.”
    Collier averted his eyes. “Thank you for your business, sir.”
    â€œNot at all. I like to patronize friends of my cousin.”
    The man froze in place. “Friends?”
    â€œWell, not you, of course, Collier,” he added pleasantly.“But I believe your wife, Nan, is a friend of my cousin Tess.”
    The man hesitated and then turned around. He was noticeably paler. “Yes. Nan knows her. They go to those accursed women’s meetings together. You might as well know, I’ve discovered that Nan was sneaking out of the apartment on the two nights when I was at work, and I’ve forbidden her to attend any more meetings.” Brazenly, to Matt’s ear, he added, “There was a riot Saturday night, and those women were right in the middle of it. Everybody was talking about it. I’m very thankful that Nan was home with me when it happened, and that I didn’t let her out of my sight.”
    It was a long speech, calculated, Matt thought, to make him believe that Collier had an alibi for the time when Tess was stabbed. Matt didn’t buy it for a minute, but he wasn’t in a position to challenge the other man yet.
    â€œYou’re very lucky,” Matt agreed. His face went hard. “The same can’t be said for the man who wounded Tess. I’ll find him. And when I do, I’ll skin him alive.”
    Collier swallowed. “That wouldn’t be legal.”
    â€œWhat he did to Tess wasn’t legal, either. Only a coward attacks a woman.”
    Collier, visibly shaken now, said quickly, “I hope you’ll convey my best wishes to your cousin. And Nan’s best wishes, too, of course. I don’t know your cousin, but I certainly wish her no harm.”
    Matt said nothing. He merely stared. “I’ll tell Tess thatshe won’t be seeing Nan at any more meetings. She’ll be sorry, I’m sure.”
    Collier shifted restlessly and his face was sullen. “Some women just use those meetings as an excuse to play around,” he muttered. “Damned women. Always scheming.”
    Matt wasn’t about to get into any argument on that score. But he was grateful for the insight into why Collier might have attacked Tess. He tipped his hat mockingly. “Good day, Mr. Collier.”
    â€œGood day.”
    Once out of the telegraph office and across the street, Matt looked at Collier. He wasn’t sending the telegram. He was sitting at his desk with his