Page 46 of Knight of the Sword

It seemed her hands shook a little as she opened the filing cabinet. Michael watched her. He’d followed the Hummer yesterday, not totally surprised they had headed for Sophie’s. At first, he’d assumed they were picking up extra clothes for Sophie, although that didn’t explain why Morgan would be with Robert. When they’d left the house empty-handed, though, he realized that they had probably come for the dragon. Robert had seen Pendragon. Had Sophie asked her ex to pick up the dragon? But, if that were the case, why didn’t she just take Pendragon with her in the first place?

It was all confusing. And Morgan being mixed up in it set his nerves on edge. He had never trusted her.

As a precaution, though, he’d taken Pendragon to Stephanie’s. No one would connect the temp agency with what had been going on. She eyed Michael with suspicion when he told her she was better off not knowing anything. She’d only relented about keeping the dragon when Michael told her he was tied in to Sara’s disappearance. And Pendragon was under strict orders to not speak.

The door to the clinic opened and shut. Janie’s eyes went round while Allison groaned. Morgan glanced up and her face turned ashen.

“Where’s my wife?” Robert asked as he stalked to the front desk angrily.

“I don’t know,” Allison said.

“I was asking him.” Robert pointed to Michael.

Michael kept his face impassive. Did Robert really not know where Sophie was? Or was this a ruse to throw everyone off track? He wouldn’t put it past the man.

“She should be at home,” he said neutrally.

“You know damn well she isn’t!”

“I do?”

Robert took a deep breath and spoke in more modulated tones. “I went by to check on her yesterday. There was no one there.”

Michael shrugged. “Maybe she didn’t want to let you in.” He glanced sideways at Morgan who was concentrating on making entries in the computer. “Can’t blame a handicapped woman for not wanting to be alone with an ex-husband.”

“I wasn’t…” Robert paused for the merest fraction of a second. “I wasn’t going to harm her. I’ve never laid a harsh hand on her, and she knows that.”

So he wasn’t going to admit that Morgan had been with him. That was interesting in itself. But, if Sophie wasn’t at Robert’s—and why would Robert be here if he already had Sophie ensconced at his home?—then where was she?

Chapter Thirteen

In the end, it had seemed easier to leave than try to convince Michael to stay away from her. Sophie settled into the silk-covered chaise in one of Mr. Smith’s guest rooms and propped her leg up.

“Is there anything else you need right now?” Mr. Smith asked.

Sophie glanced at the frosty pitcher of iced tea and the Waterford crystal glass sitting on the mahogany Chippendale side table. A silver tray of dainty, crustless sandwiches rested beside it along with a smaller plate of petits fours. “I’ll be just fine. I just want to thank you again for sending someone to get me.”

“Think nothing of it, my dear. Princess loves you.” He smiled as the small dog jumped up to curl into a ball next to Sophie. “I think you made a wise decision to come here. Even if your ex-husband isn’t as revengeful as you think, it would hardly be proper of Michael to move in with you for a month. Ladies still have reputations to protect.”

Sophie smiled at him. He might be an eccentric, but he had old-fashioned chivalry in his heart. Of course, if Mr. Smith knew about those exotic dreams of having Michael’s naked body pressed up against hers, cock hard, he might not think her virtuous at all.

“Still, I wish there were some way I could pay you,” she said.

“Nonsense. I’m glad to be of service. I’ve arranged for a physical therapist to come every morning so you won’t have to go out. Christina will be your personal maid. You have simply to page her with that electronic thing there.” He waved his hand at the small remote. “She’s been relieved of duties so she can attend solely to you.”

“I’m not used to having a maid,” Sophie said with a smile. “You’re being so kind to me. I hate to ask for one more favor, but it’s important.”

“Of course. What is it?”

“I know Benton told Michael I wasn’t here when he called, but he really can’t know that I’m here. Robert will probably hire a detective to follow him, so it’s safer for Michael if he doesn’t find me.”

Mr. Smith frowned. “I really didn’t care to have Benton lie to him when he called here, but I agree. If we can throw Robert off the scent, so to speak, then he won’t follow you once you start the search for the Sword. And,” he added in a more serious tone than Sophie had ever heard him use, “perhaps we can throw Adam Baylor off your scent as well.”

****

An exhausting seventy-two hours later, Michael was still no closer to finding Sophie than he had been the day she disappeared. Even Brianna could not find her with the Sight.

After leaving the clinic, Michael had spent that first day tailing the ex-husband. The guy had returned to his office, then went to lunch and spent the afternoon in court. He’d taken some blonde with Playboy boobs out to dinner and spent the night at her place. So much for Robert’s sincerity in wanting Sophie back. But the man had gone to his house this morning and Michael was headed home.