The Marriage Profile by Metsy Hingle Page A

made a mental note to put a call in to a friend he had at the capitol in Austin and ask him to run Bobby’s name through the system.
    â€œThings sound pretty busy,” Angela said, breaking into his thoughts. “I should have taken my car and gone to seethe Carsons and Luke on my own instead of taking up your time like this.”
    â€œI offered to take you, remember?”
    â€œI know, but it’s pretty obvious that you’re needed back in town.”
    â€œThe town will survive without me for a while,” he told her, and flicked on his turn signal as he headed for the exit lane. “Besides, I didn’t want you talking to the Carsons or Luke without me there.”
    â€œWhy not?” she asked, and he didn’t miss the sharp note in her tone.
    â€œBecause I didn’t want you saying anything to them about your pal Ricky Mercado’s theory that little Lena is his sister’s kid. And judging by your questions to Luke, I can see I was right to be worried. That is where you were heading with that line of questions about the woman he spent the night with, isn’t it?”
    â€œYou heard Luke. He said the woman reminded him of someone he used to know.”
    â€œHaley Mercado died in a boating accident four years ago,” Justin pointed out as he turned onto Angela’s street.
    â€œBut from what I understand, the body that was found was so badly decomposed there was no way to make a positive ID. And there were no dental records or other means to prove it was Haley.”
    â€œAnd you don’t know that it wasn’t Haley,” he argued.
    â€œAre you going to sit there and tell me that you don’t think it’s even a possibility that the woman was Haley?”
    â€œYeah, I think it’s a possibility that the woman was Haley. I also think it’s a possibility that she wasn’t. So until we know otherwise, we deal in facts. And the fact is that as far as either one of us knows, Haley Mercado is dead.”
    â€œSince when did you become such a close-minded stuffed shirt, Wainwright?”
    The accusation hit home. Justin swung the truck into her driveway and slammed the gearshift into Park. Then he turned to face her. “Maybe since I watched Luke’s guilt over that accident nearly eat him alive. Or maybe it was when I saw him and Flynt and Spence Harrison and Tyler Murdoch go through that circus of a trial for Haley’s murder. Or maybe it was after their acquittal when that psycho Frank Del Brio vowed to get his own justice for Haley’s death.”
    â€œBut—”
    Justin got in her face and dropped his voice as he said, “You’re the one who’s supposed to be the psychic, Mason. All I have to work with is my gut. And my gut tells me that if that little girl is Haley’s, there’s a real good chance that Del Brio’s behind her kidnapping.”
    â€œBut if you think he’s the one who has Lena, then we know where to look. All we need is a search warrant for his home, for his business.”
    â€œWe can’t get a warrant without some evidence.”
    â€œWell, I can get one,” she informed. “Let me make a call—”
    He caught her wrist when she reached for her purse in search of her cell phone. “Listen up, Mason. You aren’t going to call anyone. And you aren’t going to say a word about any of this until I say so. Understand?”
    She jerked her wrist free, tipped up her chin. “I don’t take orders from you, Justin Wainwright.”
    â€œOn this you do,” he told her, and damned if he didn’t think she looked beautiful with temper heating her cheeks and sparking in her eyes. “There’s no way I’m going to let you put two people’s lives at risk.”
    â€œIf you’re talking about you and me—”
    â€œI’m talking about Luke Callaghan and his little girl. If Luke thinks Del Brio has his daughter,