Midas Murders [Book 3 of the Katherine Miller Mysteries] by Janet Lane-Walters Page B

through the gap. Once my eyes had adjusted to the gloom of the interior, I saw a cot and what looked like a heap of blankets—or a body. I tapped on the glass. Had I seen movement?
    For an instant I considered calling the men. Before I acted on that thought, I decided to see if there was another door. After stepping back onto the walk, I made my way along the broken flagstones to the rear of the house. I found what I'd been seeking. I paused then turned the knob. To my surprise the door swung open. With no more than a second's hesitation, I decided to enter.
    "Kate, where are you?"
    Lars’ shout made me jump. I grabbed the frame and willed my pounding heart to quiet. “Around back. The door's open. I'm going in to look around."
    "Kate, no.” Both men shouted the order.
    The command arrived a moment too late. I was already inside. Light filtered from outside and revealed a table and two chairs against the side wall. Were they the ones Lars had remembered?
    Draped over one of the chairs was a fur coat. Though I didn't recognize the coat, the clinging sweet scent of Bonnie's perfume was clear. Yes, I thought. She was here.
    The light from the kitchen door failed to penetrate the darkness in the hall. I stumbled over the sill and nearly fell. A musty odor filled the air. A sneeze exploded. I leaned against the wall and waited for my eyes to adjust. A thin band of light slid through the gap in the shutter.
    "Bonnie?” My voice was muffled by the thickness of the walls.
    The lump of blankets moved. Without another thought I strode to the cot and pulled the rough wool blanket away. Bonnie stared at me. White cloth had been jammed into her mouth. I pulled the wad free and dropped it on the floor. When I saw the way her arms had been bound to her body with wide strips of adhesive tape, I knew the origin of the bruises on Lars’ upper arms.
    "What...I thought...Th...thanks.” Bonnie clamped her lips together. She tried to rise.
    "I'll help you sit and remove the tape.” I slid her legs over the edge of the cot. I frowned. Not a hair was out of place. If I'd have been beneath that blanket, I'd have emerged looking like a bag lady.
    "Kate, where are you?” Lars called.
    "In the front room. I've found her."
    "Daddy,” Bonnie called.
    I found the end of the tape and soon had Bonnie's arms free. “Thank heavens they didn't apply the tape to your skin. You may have bruises like your father did.” Though I wondered if she would. The binding hadn't seemed that tight.
    Lights flashed on. Tears blurred my vision and I blinked them away.
    Lars appeared in the doorway. “Honey, are you all right?"
    "Now I am.” She scrambled from the cot. “Daddy, how did you find me?"
    She bumped against me. I lost my balance and landed on the cot.
    "Rafe found your car while he was looking for the place where I'd been held."
    "My car...but...Why was he looking for that place?"
    "Your brother asked him to."
    She shook her head. “How did my car get here? I was in the parking garage near the office when I was attacked.” She took a deep breath. “How did you know I was in this dreadful place?"
    "We didn't. I recognized the grillwork on the gate and then the house,” Lars said. “Rafe was trying to locate the owner and get permission to search. We noticed Kate had vanished so we looked for her. You'll have to thank her for barging in."
    "Already did.” She stood in the circle of Lars’ arms. “I was so scared. Aunt Katherine, you were very brave. What if someone had been here?"
    "I would have screamed."
    Her voice seemed louder than her usual dulcet tones. Was the volume caused by excitement, relief, or was she warning someone? She didn't sound like someone who'd been frightened. She sounded like a child who'd successfully pulled a prank on her elders. Silently I chided myself for allowing the dislike that had blossomed since my arrival to sit in judgment.
    Rafe crossed to the cot and held out his hands. “Do you always act on