Golden Lies - Barbara Freethy [54]
"I don't think he'll have any trouble finding someone."
Paige looked up as Riley entered the kitchen, a grim expression on his face. "The house is a mess. It will take some time to clean it up. I think you should stay here for a while, Grandma. And I definitely don't want you in the house tonight."
"Surely they've taken what they wanted," Nan replied.
"They may have been interrupted when you came home."
"What do I have that anyone would want so badly?"
"There may be another dragon. Paige and I have been doing some research, and we've found information about two dragons that connect together, and they both look like the one you had. Someone might think you have the other dragon, too."
"I'm sure I don't. We cleaned out the attic last week, Riley. You know that."
"But no one else does. Why didn't you turn on the security system when you left the house?"
"I only went to the store. I thought I'd be gone for just a few minutes. And it's broad daylight. I thought burglars usually came at night."
"You should turn it on every time you leave, no matter what."
"I'll do better, Riley, I promise."
"And you'll stay here with me today and tonight," Millie said, returning to the room.
"I don't want to impose on you and Howard," Nan protested.
"You could never do that. We'll go shopping. You've been wanting to walk down Union Street. And tonight we'll have dinner and then you'll keep me company while Howard plays on that computer of his. I'll be glad to have the company."
"Then it's settled," Riley said.
"I'll still need to get some clothes. I don't have anything with me."
"I'll go with you to the house. We'll get whatever you need."
"Riley, the police are still there, aren't they?" Nan asked.
"Yes, but—"
"Then I'll be fine. I'll go over and talk to them. I won't stay there alone. Once they leave, I'll come back here. You and Paige can go on and do whatever you were doing."
He frowned. "I hate for you to see your house that way, Grandma."
"I've already seen it, honey. It was a shock, I'll admit, but it is what it is, and not looking at it won't make it go away."
"I'll come back later and clean it up for you."
"Don't worry about that. It's nothing that can't wait. Maybe after we go to Union Street, Millie and I will drive out and see your grandfather. I want to ask him if he's been calling the house." Nan paused. "Thank you, Paige, for keeping me company. I'll pray for your father."
"I'd appreciate that," Paige said, getting to her feet.
"You take care of yourself, and don't let Riley boss you around too much."
"Don't worry. I'm used to bossy people," Paige said with a smile. She followed Riley out to the street. It bothered her to see the police car in front of Nan's house. She was a nice lady. She didn't deserve to have trouble like this.
Riley opened the door for her, closed it, then walked around the car to slide in behind the wheel. "Thanks for staying with my grandmother."
"It was no problem. Her house was in bad shape?"
"Ripped apart. Even her china was broken."
"It seems so pointless."
A lot of life is exactly that—pointless. Just crazy people doing crazy things."
She wondered if he was talking about someone in particular. "Is it possibly your mother is involved in this?"
He sent her a sharp look. "What did my grandmother tell you?"
"A little about your past. Doesn't it bother you— not knowing if your mother is even alive?"
His eyes turned a cold, dark blue. "None of it bothers me anymore. I turned that page a long time ago. And I'm not turning it back."
"But the emotions aren't gone—the disappointment, the bitterness, the hate, maybe even the love— they're still there, aren't they?"
"Save the psychobabble for your own shrink, princess. I don't need my head examined by a rich girl who has no idea of the way I've lived."
"And you have no idea of the way I've lived," she retorted.
"I have a pretty good idea. I've seen the family mansion. It must have been rough growing up with your own bedroom,