Cat and Mouse by Genella deGrey Page A

the last shred of willpower she had, even though the visual that flashed before her sent heat rolling over her skin.
    He had the audacity to chuckle again. “Come now. Indulge me.”
    One more whispered invitation like that and she’d succumb for sure. “That does it.” She tore away from him and scooped up her stockings, drawers and shoes from the floor. Just because he was big and strong and seemed to care for her didn’t mean she should follow her desires like some primate in the jungle.
    “Do not flee, my lady Harwood.”
    She spun to face him. “What? And sit here only to listen to your depraved suggestions?” Because I won’t be able to refuse you much longer. Wait… My lady Harwood ?
    At once Katrina realised that not only had he drawn from her this new interest in and craving for unusual pleasures, but he also knew certain things about her that she’d kept secret for months at the Den . Shite . In addition she’d practically fallen into an affair with him like some desperate widow. Well, this stops here and now .
    “You will allow me to leave or… I’ll—I’ll tell Brenner on you.”
    Maxwell clasped his hands and placed them behind his head. “What would you tell him? That I want to pleasure you?”
    Oh, God . Her knees went weak. After an indignant intake of air, she retorted. “No, that your name really isn’t Court and that you lied to him.”
    “I didn’t lie. Court is the first half of my last name, and I will get him into White’s tonight.”
    “Do you have any idea how dangerous these thieves are?”
    “I do. Do you?”
    She stomped her bare foot. “Don’t be ridiculous. Of course I do. I live here, remember?”
    “Were you aware that Brenner had Mr Lock murdered?”
    What ? Katrina dropped everything, reached out and held onto a nearby chair. “No,” she breathed her protest, as her mind whirled with the possibilities. Come to think of it, she wouldn’t put anything past Brenner. But still.
    “How could you possibly know such a thing?”
    “Before we retired to this room last night, I heard him murmur something as he passed me.”
    She thought back to when Maxwell had first met Brenner. “I don’t recall—”
    “He didn’t say it loud enough for anyone but me to hear. In fact, I’m quite certain he was talking to himself.”
    “What did he say?”
    Maxwell sat up. “Something to the effect of, ‘Poor dead Jimmy’. I heard him tell you Mr Lock left, not that he died. Susanna merely said he’d been beaten, it was you who informed me that your friend had been murdered.”
    Katrina stumbled forward and lowered herself to the bed. She buried her face in both hands to cover the pain that surely showed there.
    Jimmy’s sly grin flashed before her closed eyes. His young life had ended in violence and Katrina felt the loss keenly. She wept mutely, allowing the emotion to undo her at last. And for a long time, Maxwell stroked her back without uttering another word.
    * * * *
    They’d been sitting there for at least an hour if not two when Katrina heard Maxwell’s stomach growl and her own hunger reared up to greet his. She hoped Jimmy wasn’t watching her mourn from above. He never had allowed human weakness to interfere with his own life—and he’d likely scold Katrina for her tears. With shaking limbs, she pulled herself together and spoke, “Thank you for your compassion, Maxwell. I need to change and then we should eat.”
    “Yes. Of course.”
    She stood, re-gathered her discarded clothing and paused at the door. “It will be difficult for me to face Brenner after what you told me.”
    Maxwell was right behind her. “You will have to pretend you know nothing, for no other reason than to keep yourself safe. In the interim, I could do some investigating into Mr Lock’s murder. Perhaps I can find evidence against Brenner.”
    She turned and looked up at him. “How in the world would you do that?”
    “Well, I could begin with a search at the local funeral