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share, Max. I don't mean to sound like I'm picking on you; I just despise seeing people taken advantage of. Especially when they have nothing to begin with," she added. "I don't know how Rawlins lives with himself, and I don't know how he continues to get away with it."
    "I can show you when we get to my place."
    "How much farther?"
    "It's only a few more miles. You're not really going back to that motel, are you?"
    "I've already rented the room."
    "Did you leave your things there?"
    Jamie hated to tell him she'd been afraid to leave her stuff behind for fear someone would break in and steal it. "No, everything I have is in bags behind the seat."
    "Would you reconsider staying at my place if I told you there were no strings attached? And that I'm willing to share what I have regardless of whether you agree to work with me or not?"
    "Why would you do that?"
    "I keep telling you, I'm a nice guy."
    Jamie raised an eyebrow. "And I'm your ticket to get to Harlan?"
    "I'll have to admit you look pretty good in that outfit. I keep hoping you'll fall out of that top. And, yes, I think Rawlins noticed."
    "Darn right he noticed. As a matter of fact, I'm meeting with him tomorrow to work on my, um, problem."
    "No kidding? What's he going to do, ask the good Lord to send down a lightning bolt when you try to enter a shopping center?"
    "Not exactly."
    Max looked at her. "You're blushing, Jamie. What's up? I can tell when you're keeping something from me."
    She would have to tell him the truth sooner or later. "Max, what I told the congregation and what I told Rawlins were two different things."
    "I'm listening."
    "I had to say something that would get his attention."
    "I'm still listening."
    "I told him I was a sex addict."
    "You did what!"
    "It was the only way. How else do you think I managed to get a personal invitation to his home for private counseling?"
    Max did not look happy. "Let me get this straight. You're going to Harlan Rawlins's home without backup,
knowing
full well that he's somehow involved with the mob? Not only that, we already know he has a weakness for women, and you've told him you're a sex addict. Great idea, Jamie. Why don't you throw a little meat to a lion while you're at it? Dammit!"
    "I wouldn't go if I weren't convinced it was safe. I'm sure he has plenty of staff on hand, not to mention his family."
    "You don't know what you're up against. By now Harlan and his mob pals know the man they hired to take me out is dead. The fact that the hit man, Vito Puccini, didn't get the job done will make them even more determined to succeed. They may have already hired someone else to take me out. They could be searching for me at this very moment."
    Jamie remained silent.
    "The bottom line is we need to work together on this for both of our sakes," Max said. "So what's it going to take to convince you?"
    Jamie knew he had a point, but she wasn't going to give in that easy.
    "First, admit that my plan could work."
    Max glanced over at her. "I'm not saying it's a bad plan; I'm saying you need backup. You really need to see what I have on Rawlins. Then you'll understand why I feel the way I do."
    "OK, I'll see what you've got."
    "Take a right at the next road and drive until you see the cabin. There aren't any other houses nearby."
    Jamie turned down a dirt road where
No Trespassing
signs made it plain visitors weren't welcome. A minute later, she pulled into a driveway beside a rough-hewn log cabin. She looked around. "Where are the security cameras?"
    Max smiled. "You won't find them. You'll know if somebody comes near the property because it'll set off an alarm inside."
    "Loud enough to give me heart failure?"
    He chuckled. "No, just loud enough so you can hear from any of the rooms."
    Jamie climbed from the truck and opened the tailgate so Fleas could jump out. He whizzed on the nearest bush and followed them inside the cabin. It was cool. The scent of wild-flowers rode on a breeze coming through the living room windows.