Read Online Timewatch by Linda Grant - Free Book Online Page B

her and walked with her down the long hallway, carpeted with a heavy maroon plush carpet that hushed their footsteps. They passed little tables holding expensive-looking vases filled with hothouse flowers and gilt-edged mirrors that reflected their passing.
    â€œSo what do you want to do tomorrow, Laney?”
    â€œShop. I want to get something for your birthday, which is coming up soon, and I think I know exactly what to look for.”
    â€œNot by yourself.”
    â€œOh, Dad, I’m not a kid anymore!”
    â€œWe could go together.”
    Laney shook her head. “What kind of surprise would it be if you saw what I bought for you?”
    â€œThen take J.J. with you.”
    â€œBut he’s such a kid! You trust him and not me?”
    â€œJ.J. is only two years younger than you, and besides, this is your first time in San Francisco. There’s safety in numbers. Go ask him.”
    Laney grinned at him. “I already did. I just knew you would have a fit if I went by myself and you’d worry all the time.”
    â€œThat’s my girl. Why don’t you and J.J. have lunch with Gerry and me?”
    â€œI don’t think so, Dad.”
    â€œOkay, but don’t spend too much on my present. You’ll need your money later for college.”
    â€œOkay, Dad, but I’d like to get a swimsuit, too. That is, if I can find one that looks good on me. I’ve put on a few pounds here.” She slapped her thighs. “Why did I have to get Mom’s build? It looks great on her, but big hips and a fleshy bod went out in the fifties.”
    â€œYou look marvelous to me, kid. Besides, how you look isn’t the most important thing.”
    At the door to her bedroom, he gave Laney a hug and said, “You’re a great kid—a fantastic trumpet player, a swimming champ on your high school team, and smarter than your old man.”
    â€œOh, Daddy, how you exaggerate!” said Laney, rolling her brown eyes expressively and giving her shoulder-length light brown hair a toss.
    â€œLook who’s going to college in the fall—on a scholarship, no less.”
    â€œFour years,” moaned Laney, “and then off to more school to learn how to be a vet.”
    â€œYou’ll love it. Think of all the people you’ll meet.”
    â€œI can hardly wait!” said Laney, her eyes dancing with excitement.
    His spirits rose. Maybe his streak of bad luck had come to an end. He had a gut feeling, the kind he used to get in ’Nam—they called it situational awareness—before the action would heat up that something very important was going to happen, something that would change their lives forever.
    Even though he wanted very much to tell his daughter how much he loved her, he felt awkward about sharing his feelings.
    So he contented himself with saying, “Time for your beauty rest, Laney. Tomorrow’s shaping up to be pretty busy.”
    â€œAnd don’t worry about me, Dad. After all, I’ll have my trusty sidekick with me.”
    Laney planted a firm kiss on his cheek. “Have fun!” she called out, throwing him a teasing look.
    His little girl was definitely growing up, Dan mused as he went into his bedroom. He felt restless, though, and started pacing around the room. The notion wouldn’t go away that someone was trying to take out the Morgans. He hadn’t mentioned this to anyone else; he didn’t want to scare them.
    Could someone be trying to make some quick bucks by killing Caleb? But that didn’t make any sense. Holding him for ransom would be the way to go—unless someone had a definite grudge against him. But why wait until his relatives were with him?
    No point trying to hash out the problem now. He was too beat. Quickly shucking his clothes, he fell into bed and yawned hugely. San Francisco was turning out to have more excitement than he’d bargained for.

CHAPTER 9
Carlo Hauptman
San Francisco, St.