father almost died last night. How can you possibly think I'm involved in something underhanded?"
"Sometimes events get out of control. Things happen that aren't meant to happen. People considered friends, family, associates turn out to be enemies. And money, greed, desire can turn a man's head; or a woman's for that matter."
His eyes hardened down to cold, blue steel. She sensed he spoke from experience, that there was pain behind the harsh words, but she doubted he would admit that. A less vulnerable man she had yet to meet. But at the moment his vulnerability was the least of her worries. His stubborn pursuit of the truth might take her to a place she didn't want to go. Not that her father was guilty of anything. He must have had a good reason for taking the statue to Jasmine. He just needed to wake up so he could tell her that reason.
"I have to get back to the hospital," she said abruptly.
"Do you want a ride?"
She hesitated, part of her wanting to get as far away from Riley as possible, but it would certainly be more convenient to accept his offer. "Yes, thank you. Actually, if you could take me back to Fast Willy's, so I could get my car, I'd appreciate that. I'd like to go home and change my clothes before returning to the hospital."
"No problem. I'm parked in the Portsmouth Square garage just down the street."
She had to walk quickly to keep up with his long-legged strides. When they reached the square, she moved closer to him. The area was crowded with Chinese men, mostly older men, she realized as they headed toward the elevator leading to the parking garage under the square. Their voices were pitched high and loud, the unknown words of their language producing an odd kind of music. She felt suddenly and self-consciously blond, aware of the looks she and Riley were generating. This was not her world. She didn't belong here.
"Relax. At this time of day, we're fine," he said.
"I'm not worried."
"Sure you are."
"Well, it makes good sense to be cautious." She stepped into the elevator, the walls of which were covered with Chinese graffiti. It was probably a good thing she couldn't read the characters.
"Too bad your father didn't think the same way."
"My father gets wrapped up in what he's doing. He loses track of everything and everyone around him."
"Which would make him an easy target."
"Yes," she agreed, as they stepped off the elevator and entered the garage. It was dark and quiet down here, and her uneasiness increased. She was grateful to see Riley's black Jeep Cherokee parked in a nearby spot. The car was sporty, rugged, and unpretentious, very much like its owner. She got in, fastened her seat belt, and pushed down the automatic door lock.
Riley smiled at the action. "I won't let anything happen to you, Paige."
"Yeah, right. You and I are such good friends."
"You're very important to me right now."
"A means to an end. I figured that out awhile ago. Just get us out of here. I hate underground parking garages."
"Better?" he asked a moment later when they pulled out onto the street.
"Yes," she said, letting out a sigh. "It's been a long night."
"You should go home and get some sleep."
"I need to see my dad, to be there when he wakes up. I shouldn't have even come here, but I didn't want you to talk to Jasmine alone." Paige looked out the window, feeling calmer as Riley drove away from Chinatown, heading toward the Financial District. "It's amazing how quickly the neighborhood changes."
"And how little the neighbors mingle. You live only a few miles from here, yet you never come here."
"How do you know where I live?"
"I have my ways."
"I don't like my privacy being invaded."
"Well, I don't like the fact that my grandmother's dragon is missing. So we're even."
He had her there. "What about you? Where do you live? It seems only fair that I should know as much about you as you know about me."
"I have a condo south of Market," he told her.
"The new 'in' neighborhood according to San
"Sometimes events get out of control. Things happen that aren't meant to happen. People considered friends, family, associates turn out to be enemies. And money, greed, desire can turn a man's head; or a woman's for that matter."
His eyes hardened down to cold, blue steel. She sensed he spoke from experience, that there was pain behind the harsh words, but she doubted he would admit that. A less vulnerable man she had yet to meet. But at the moment his vulnerability was the least of her worries. His stubborn pursuit of the truth might take her to a place she didn't want to go. Not that her father was guilty of anything. He must have had a good reason for taking the statue to Jasmine. He just needed to wake up so he could tell her that reason.
"I have to get back to the hospital," she said abruptly.
"Do you want a ride?"
She hesitated, part of her wanting to get as far away from Riley as possible, but it would certainly be more convenient to accept his offer. "Yes, thank you. Actually, if you could take me back to Fast Willy's, so I could get my car, I'd appreciate that. I'd like to go home and change my clothes before returning to the hospital."
"No problem. I'm parked in the Portsmouth Square garage just down the street."
She had to walk quickly to keep up with his long-legged strides. When they reached the square, she moved closer to him. The area was crowded with Chinese men, mostly older men, she realized as they headed toward the elevator leading to the parking garage under the square. Their voices were pitched high and loud, the unknown words of their language producing an odd kind of music. She felt suddenly and self-consciously blond, aware of the looks she and Riley were generating. This was not her world. She didn't belong here.
"Relax. At this time of day, we're fine," he said.
"I'm not worried."
"Sure you are."
"Well, it makes good sense to be cautious." She stepped into the elevator, the walls of which were covered with Chinese graffiti. It was probably a good thing she couldn't read the characters.
"Too bad your father didn't think the same way."
"My father gets wrapped up in what he's doing. He loses track of everything and everyone around him."
"Which would make him an easy target."
"Yes," she agreed, as they stepped off the elevator and entered the garage. It was dark and quiet down here, and her uneasiness increased. She was grateful to see Riley's black Jeep Cherokee parked in a nearby spot. The car was sporty, rugged, and unpretentious, very much like its owner. She got in, fastened her seat belt, and pushed down the automatic door lock.
Riley smiled at the action. "I won't let anything happen to you, Paige."
"Yeah, right. You and I are such good friends."
"You're very important to me right now."
"A means to an end. I figured that out awhile ago. Just get us out of here. I hate underground parking garages."
"Better?" he asked a moment later when they pulled out onto the street.
"Yes," she said, letting out a sigh. "It's been a long night."
"You should go home and get some sleep."
"I need to see my dad, to be there when he wakes up. I shouldn't have even come here, but I didn't want you to talk to Jasmine alone." Paige looked out the window, feeling calmer as Riley drove away from Chinatown, heading toward the Financial District. "It's amazing how quickly the neighborhood changes."
"And how little the neighbors mingle. You live only a few miles from here, yet you never come here."
"How do you know where I live?"
"I have my ways."
"I don't like my privacy being invaded."
"Well, I don't like the fact that my grandmother's dragon is missing. So we're even."
He had her there. "What about you? Where do you live? It seems only fair that I should know as much about you as you know about me."
"I have a condo south of Market," he told her.
"The new 'in' neighborhood according to San
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