A Bid for Love by Rachel Ann Nunes

already. I would have if I hadn’t been at the hospital.”
    “So where’s the Buddha?” Laranda’s voice rose sharply.
    “Relax. I said I didn’t pick it up. The auction security will hold it for me until tomorrow morning, and then I’ll put it in the hotel safe.”
    “Are you okay?” Laranda’s question came so belatedly that Jared knew his welfare was only of secondary concern to her.
    “Actually I’m not. I’ve been beaten pretty badly, or maybe I would fly home tomorrow just to give you your precious Buddha. As it is, I don’t think I’ll make it.”
    “Yes, you should rest,” Laranda said. “Stay until Wednesday. I’m really sorry this happened.” Her voice did sound sorry, and Jared silently forgave her earlier preoccupation with the Buddha. After all, her profit on the statue would bring them both a lot of money. “But hurry home,” she added. “I need that Buddha before any more of your friends drop dead and keep you there even longer. What kind of friends do you have, anyway?”
    Jared stifled a sigh. “That reminds me. I met a woman here who knows a lot about Indian art. She thought there was something odd about the Buddha. It could be there’s something fishy about this deal.”
    “She must be wrong. We bought it from a reputable firm, and—”
    “Even so, while I’m here maybe I should check it out.”
    “Don’t. It’s better to wait until our lawyer can be present. Besides, it just so happens that my buyer is an expert on the subject. She’ll soon tell us if there’s a problem.”
    Jared shrugged, though Laranda couldn’t see him. “Whatever you want. It’s your Buddha.” He looked up to see two men from hotel security and the night manager hovering by the door. “Well, I’ve got to go. I’ll see you Wednesday afternoon.”
    He hung up the phone and began to answer questions. The men appeared shocked as he told his story, including the part about the black sedan following him from the store. The manager wanted to call the police, but Jared shook his head. As he’d been speaking, he’d realized that the men who had attacked him had been professionals. Though nothing in his room was disturbed, he knew it had been methodically searched just as surely as he had been attacked.
    Belatedly, he began to worry about Cassi. She’d been with him most of the evening, and it was entirely possible that the hook-nosed man and his companion had been the ones following them in the black sedan. They might suspect that the Buddha was with her, and that meant she and the children were in danger. Jared felt sick at the thought.
    “Of course we won’t charge you for your stay here, and we’ll move you to another room,” the hotel manager droned on anxiously.
    “That’ll be fine,” Jared said. “But I need something from the hotel safe.”
    “Now?”
    “Now.” Jared’s voice was determined. His attackers might come back for Cassi or for him, but he would be prepared.
     

 
     
     
     
     
     
    CHAPTER TWELVE
     
    The room seemed strangely empty after Jared left. While Cassi had said good-bye to him at the door, Scotty had finally given himself up to sleep, and she was alone. Switching off the TV, she went to phone Linden, recalling how he had told her to find out who bought the Buddha, but not to contact the person. His tone had implied danger of some sort. She’d remembered this warning when Jared had been sitting on the couch with her. A chill had run up her spine, and she had wanted him out as quickly as possible so she could call Linden for more information.
    She wondered if Jared could be part of something sinister, or even dangerous. Seeing him with the sleeping Sandy and remembering his help at the hospital, she didn’t want to believe it, but there was definitely something strange about the Buddha and how people were reacting to it.
    “Hello?”
    “Hi, Linden. It’s me, Cassi.” Cradling the phone between her shoulder and ear, she pulled the fruit and yogurt from