"Then let's get down to work."
Two hours later, the meeting was over and Cassie was alone. While the session had indeed gone well, and she was ecstatic with the price he'd
given her, she couldn't settle down. Her insides were one lump of nerves.
Austin hadn't returned from the hospital. Had Mr. Stanfield suffered
serious injures? Could he have died? Her heart almost stopped at that
thought.
Something had to be keeping Austin. She could either call, or she could go there herself.
Deciding the latter was the best option, she grabbed her purse and was
about to open the door when it opened in front of her.
"Oops," Cassie said, jumping back, her pulse rate escalating as she and Austin almost bumped heads.
"Close call." He grabbed her shoulders, steadying her. His hands on her, combined with his intense stare, set her face on fire. If only he wouldn't look at her as if he wanted to ravish her on the spot, she could handle him.
She stepped back, then turned and walked to her desk, standing behind it as if using it for a protective shield. She hadn't fooled him. His trademark smile told her that.
"Hey, rest easy," he said, his features suddenly sobering.
Cassie's eyes flashed.
"Under the circumstances, that's not possible."
"Mr. Stanfield's not seriously injured."
"That's a relief."
"His daughter arrived before I left, so both of them are in good hands.
Plus, the doctor on call is one of the best."
"You assured them the hotel would cover all expenses?"
"Despite what you think, I've been around the block a few times."
She pursed her lips.
"I didn't mean to insinuate" -- "Yes, you did. But that's okay. I fullyexpected to be raked over the coals about the accident, but first, Ihave to tell you something."
"Can't it wait?"
"No, dammit, it can't."
"Then what?"
"I know who kidnapped Tyler and it wasn't Lester or anyone associated
with him."
Cassie gaped, and she fought to digest what he'd just told her. When she
could find the breath to push the words through her quivering lips, she stammered, "Who ... who was it?"
"Randall Lunsbury, my attorney."
She gave him a dumbfounded look.
"I know how you feel."
"You don't have a clue how I feel," she lashed back harshly.
"You're right. I don't have a child, so I can't know."
"But why?" Cassie's voice turned shrill.
"I mean, I don't get it."
Lester hadn't taken Tyler? Her mind reeled from shock. What was going
on?
"It's a long story, so you'd better sit down."
Weakly, Cassie sat in her chair, while Austin continued to stand in
front of the desk, his features contorted. She swallowed against thepanic that constricted her throat and stared at him, her eyes wide andquestioning.
"First off," she asked, "is this the man who's in charge of the land deal?"
"One and the same."
"Oh dear."
Austin rubbed the back of his neck.
"Randall's big into cocaine and women. Because of that, he was desperate for money."
"Maybe I'm dense or just not thinking straight, but how could he
possibly think taking Tyler would help his cause?"
"He was planning me to get to your family and their money--your mother's money, to be exact."
"I can't even comprehend that."
"It gets more bizarre." "Go on," she said, feeling her temples begin to
throb.
When Austin finished telling her about the man Randall had hired and the toy train car he had recognized, Cassie's head was spinning and she was sick to her stomach.
"Are you okay?" Austin asked.
"No."
"I don't suppose you would be. I'd say I was sorry, but you wouldn't
accept it."
Her eyes blazed, and she stood.
"You're damn right, I won't."
"Well, at least you should feel some relief it wasn't Lester."
She couldn't dispute that point. Though, while he might not have been
involved in that particular incident, she still didn't trust Lester,would never trust him. For the time being, however, he and his croniesseemed to be behaving themselves, j "Also, you have to be relieved that Randall's fidgeting in a jail cell even as we speak."
"I don't buy that." Cassie's tone was as cutting as a whiplash.
"I.
imagine another sorry lawyer has already sprung him."
"Maybe, but he won't stay sprung. He confessed to the cops. I heard that confession with my own ears. You can bet he's a dead cert for some kind of prison time."
"I wish I had your confidence. My faith in the justice system is nil.
If they'll let Lester out, then Randall's really sitting pretty."
"It'll be a cold day in hell before he walks."
"We'll see." Even if Randall did time, that wouldn't make what she and
Tyler had gone though any less traumatic. The scars were deep and oozing.
"I take full responsibility for what happened."