Mercy

CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

Daddy took the news much better than John Paul did. Michelle's brother wanted to get in the pickup, hunt down the bastard,

and blow his head off. He wasn't in the mood to listen to reason, and he didn't give a hoot about the law.

"If you know he's the man behind this, then take him out before he has another chance to kill her," he demanded.

Theo wasn't fazed by John Paul's fury. "I can't prove it yet. It's all circumstantial," he explained. "Which is why I have to go to New Orleans."

John Paul looked as if he wanted to hit Theo. Michelle got between the two men and tried to make her brother calm down.

The doorbell rang, interrupting the argument. While Daddy went to let Noah in, Theo said, "We hang tight."

"What the hell does that mean?"

"It means you can't shoot anyone."

Theo turned to Michelle. "Promise me you won't leave The Swan until I get back. No ifs or buts about it. I don't want to be worrying about you…"

"Okay," she said. She patted his chest and stepped closer. "You be careful too."

"If there's any trouble, you do what Noah tells you to do. John Paul, you watch your father's back. Got that?"

Her brother stopped arguing and gave an abrupt nod. Noah was standing by the front door talking to Daddy. The FBI agent hadn't bothered to shave and looked scruffy in torn jeans and a faded blue shirt. She went to greet him. She could certainly understand Mary Ann's interest. There was an element of danger about the man that made women want to run from him and try to rehabilitate him at the same time.

Those blue eyes penetrated as he said, "I heard you had a busy night dodging bullets."

She couldn't resist. "I heard you had a busy night too."

"Yes, I did. Your friend told me to tell you 'hey.' I think that means 'hi,'" he said, grinning. "I sure didn't have much fun this morning, though. You'd figure a man on vacation should be able to sleep in. Where's Theo?" he asked.

"He is on the porch with John Paul. Through the kitchen," she said.

Noah headed that way, but she stopped him when she said, "Will you please do me a favor?"

"Sure," he said. "What is it?"

"Put up with my brother."

Noah laughed. "I can get along with anyone."

"Want to bet?"

It was too bad she hadn't wagered money because she would have won. Less than three minutes had passed when the shouting started. Her brother was doing most of the yelling, but Noah was keeping up.

Theo came into the kitchen with Noah's car keys. Michelle winced when she heard her brother call Noah a grossly obscene name.

Theo heard it too. Grinning, he said, "I knew they'd get along."

Her eyes widened. "You call that getting along?"

"You don't hear any gunshots, do you? Noah likes your brother."

Then she heard her brother threaten Noah. His vocabulary was not only colorful, but creative. After that, Noah threatened

John Paul in his own rather colorful and creative way. His threat would ensure John Paul would never father children.

"Oh, I can tell he likes him a lot."

"The two of them have a great deal in common. What'd I do with my glasses?"

"They're on the table. Exactly what could they have in common?"

"They're both mean as snakes," he said as he picked up the glasses and folded them.

"Noah's not mean. He smiles all the time."

"Yes, he does," he agreed. "And that's what makes him more dangerous. You don't see it coming until it's too late. Some of the stories I've heard about him from my brother are chilling, which is why Noah's going to be watching out for you."

He draped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her along to the front door.

"You haven't told me why you need to go to New Orleans."

"I'm going to check out some things," he said, which really wasn't an answer to her question.

He leaned down and kissed her. It was a quick brush of his mouth against hers, and it was thoroughly unsatisfying in her opinion. He must have thought so, because after he let go of her and opened the door, he roughly pulled her into his arms and kissed her again. This one was vastly different.

Smiling, he pulled the door closed behind him. Michelle stood by the window watching until Theo had driven away. He had John Paul on his guard looking out for Daddy, and Noah was supposed to baby-sit her. Who was going to watch out for Theo? She shook her head. No worry, she told herself. Detective Harris would make the arrests any minute now.

What more could happen?