Read Dangerous to Know for Free Online

prior to World War I. White-painted bricks set in intricate patterns decorated its caramel-colored facade, and gleaming marble columns rose in majestic splendor at the colonnaded entrance. A stately, liveried doorman marched forward to open her door, but before he reached it, Maggie was already out of the cab and rushing for the entrance.
    She thrust a wad of francs into his gloved hand, asked him to take care of the fare and add a substantial tip, and hurried inside. Wrought-iron elevator doors clanged shut behind her as she waited, foot-tapping in impatience, for the old-fashioned cage to take her to the fifth floor. She had barely thrust her room key into the lock when her door flew open and a hard hand yanked her inside.
    Years of intense training kicked in immediately. Without thought, without hesitation, Maggie swung at her attacker.
    Luckily, Doc had undergone the same training she had. He threw up an arm to deflect her blow just in time, then hauled her inside and slammed the door.
    â€œWhat in the world—?” she exclaimed in astonishment.
    Frustration, and an emotion Maggie couldn’t quite identify, blazed in his gray blue eyes as he swept the sitting room. She knew he was searching for a place where they could talk undisturbed. A place where he could be sure they wouldn’t be “overheard” by the anonymous individual who’d reserved this opulent, high-ceilinged suite for Meredith Ames in the first place.
    â€œIt’s clean,” she told him, still stunned by his uncharacteristic behavior. “I cleared it this morning.”
    Using the electronic “sweep” Special Devices had designed to fit into the handle of her hairbrush, Maggie had surreptitiously checked for bugs and hidden cameras when she first arrived.
    She’d found one, a sophisticated listening device that she’d foiled with a simple countermeasure. The small gadget looked like a travel clock, and would filter a conversation just enough to make the words indistinguishable. It would also drive any listener batty with the effort to make them out, the chief of Special Devices had informed her smugly.
    Doc, however, didn’t appear particularly gratified by the knowledge that they could talk in the open.
    Although dressed in a conservative business suit of fine gray worsted, his powerful body radiated a fierce, controlled tension as he swung Maggie around to face him. His dark brown hair, gleaming with subtle mahogany tints, lacked its usual neat style. In fact, it looked as though he’d thrust his hand through it. Several times.
    â€œControl is checking the license tag. Claire should get back to us in five minutes or less,” he informed her in a low, ominous voice. “Which means you have exactly four minutes and fifty-nine seconds to tell me just how Paige Lawrence got into the picture. And what do you mean, she got picked up by mistake? By whom? When? Dammit, Maggie, how in the hell did you get her involved in this?”
    Maggie took an involuntary step backward as Doc leaned over her. She’d never seen him like this. And she’d never realized just how intimidating he could be when all one hundred and ninety pounds of him emanated a cold, hard fury.
    â€œI didn’t get her involved,” she protested. “Well, I did, I suppose, by encouraging her to buy an outfit similar to mine. That must have been what caused the mix-up. That, and our coloring. But…” She craned her neck back and stared up at David in utter perplexity. “But…”
    â€œBut what?” he snarled.
    Enough was enough. This was her partner, for heaven’s sake. She would trust David Jensen with her life. She’d done just that, in fact, one hot, muggy night in Malaysia, two years ago.
    â€œBut what’s with this ‘Paige’ business?” she retorted. “You say her name as if you know her.”
    His smoky eyes narrowing to dangerous slits. “Of course I