Trace of Fever - Lori Foster [114]
Helene barged in minutes later with a paper in hand. Usually picture-perfect from her hair to her shoes, she looked less pulled together today. Besides her lank hair and her eyes dark with exhaustion, her sleeveless, pullover blouse had a few wrinkles, her split skirt was askew, and her shoes didn’t quite match the ensemble. She looked…more average than not, a regular woman instead of a live fetish with evil intent.
When she found Trace standing there by the windows, she paused. Her worried gaze went to Murray—and she knew she’d just stepped in it.
Helene wasn’t dumb, just insane.
“Yes, Helene,” Murray told her with a heavy dose of apathy. “You’re in trouble.”
Trying to brazen her way through, she waved a paper. “I have something important to share with you.”
“Really?” He turned to Trace. “And she looks so anxious to share. I suppose we can wait for our little disciplinary hearing, can’t we?”
Hiding his frustration, Trace said, “Your decision, as always.”
Murray left his chair and circled around to the front of his desk. He leaned back on it, arms crossed over his thick chest. “All right, Helene. Let’s hear it. And it better be good.”
Triumphant, she held out the paper. “The paternity results are in. That little fraud is not your daughter.”
Trace was so stunned that he didn’t know how to react. Murray seemed even more thrown, proving that he had believed Priss to be of his blood.
Neither of them reached for the paper.
“It’s true,” Helene declared. “I swear.”
Softly, Murray said, “I’ll be damned. I bought her act completely.”
“But it was an act.” Slapping the paper down on the desk beside Murray, Helene presented the epitome of false sympathy. “She was trying to use you, Murray.” She stroked his goatee, the back of his head. “She wanted to take advantage of you, to take your money and your possessions. The evidence doesn’t lie. She’s not related to you in any way.”
Frowning in distraction, Murray set her away from him and looked at Trace. “What do you think?”
He thought Priss had dug a very deep hole for herself, and now, for him, too. “Maybe you ought to give Priscilla a chance to explain.”
Helene bristled. “Why are you deferring to him? I have the proof! Who cares what he thinks?”
“I do, obviously.” He swept her away from him and gave his attention to Trace. “What’s the point in that?”
“It could be a true misunderstanding instead of a deliberate ruse.” He leveled a look on Hell. “And I’d double-check the results myself before taking her word for it.”
“Bastard!” Hell launched at him, but Trace easily caught her arm and pinned it painfully behind her back.
Near her ear, uncaring of Murray’s audience, he whispered, “I’m not drugged now, Helene, so don’t even think about it.” While she struggled futilely, gasping in pain, Trace conferred with Murray. “Think about it. Helene has proven herself untrustworthy. Instead of going to Priscilla as you gave her permission to do, she came to me. Priscilla is now missing, and suddenly Helene has these results?”
Murray rubbed his chin, pulled at his goatee thoughtfully. “It does seem rather convenient, doesn’t it?”
Helene gasped again and went still. “No!”
Was it possible that Murray actually wanted Priss to be his daughter? More likely, he was just taken off guard at having his plans—whatever those plans might be—thwarted by a possible sham.
Was Priss capable of that much duplicity?
Helene struggled anew. “He’s lying!”
Uncaring if he hurt her, Trace tightened his hold. “Wouldn’t you rather know for sure?”
Eyes narrowed, Murray moved closed to them. “You know, I believe you’re right, Trace.”
There was so much finality in Murray’s voice, Trace could guess what would probably happen to Helene now. He released her and stepped back.
Babbling, pleading, she threw herself against Murray. “You can’t believe him, Murray. You can’t!” She kissed his face, his fat neck. “Baby, you know I wouldn’t lie to you.”
Gently, Murray cupped her face. “Oh, I think you’re most capable of anything, my dear. Most capable. I believe, as Trace suggested, I will have the results checked