To Catch a Thief by Sherryl Woods Page A

the suspicion behind it.
    “Then I’d say that leaves the law. Are you an attorney, Mr. O’Donnell? And if you are, what business could you possibly have that concerns my daughter?”
    “I never said—”
    “Let’s get serious,” George said, leaning forward. “Your being here is no accident. You’re not a tourist. Your bumping into Gina way out here, when it just so happens that the two of you live in New York, is no coincidence. The way I figure it, you’re either stalking her or she’s in trouble. Which is it?”
    Rafe admired the man’s blunt assessment. He had a feeling that under other circumstances, they could get along very well. “I think you should discuss this with Gina, not me.”
    “The only person I’m going to be discussing anything with is the sheriff, if I don’t get a straight answer in the next ten seconds.”
    Rafe nodded, accepting the fatherly concern and the determination he saw on George Petrillo’s face. “Okay, then. I’ll tell you as much as I can. I came out here because of your daughter. I’m handling a case involving her business partner. I thought Gina might have some information.”
    “Does she?”
    “She says she doesn’t.”
    “Then go home, Mr. O’Donnell. If Gina says she doesn’t know anything, then she doesn’t know anything.”
    “I wish I could do that, Mr. Petrillo, but I can’t. Your daughter is my best link to Roberto Rinaldi. Sooner or later they’re bound to be in contact.”
    “And when they are, I’m sure she’ll let you know,” her father said. “Gina’s an honest, law-abiding citizen. That’s the way we raised her.”
    “As reassuring as it is to hear you say that, it’s not good enough.”
    George frowned. “You’re not suggesting that my daughter is mixed up in whatever this Rinaldi fellow did, are you?” There was a sudden flash of alarm in his eyes. “Did he kill somebody? Gina’s not in any danger, is she?”
    “No, it’s nothing like that, I assure you.”
    “Then what are you suggesting that my daughter’s mixed up in?”
    “I’m not suggesting anything. I’m just saying that I can’t leave here until I know more than I know now.”
    George Petrillo sighed. “If this is all about some legal difficulty my daughter and her partner might or might not be in, what the hell was that kiss at the house all about? Was that just some sneaky tactic to try to get her to talk?”
    Rafe felt his cheeks burn. He should have known better. Not only had his behavior been unprofessional, but both of those kisses they’d shared had been in plain view of Gina’s neighbors or her family. The very least he could have done was to exercise more discretion.
    “Actually, that was a mistake.”
    “Which time? At the rodeo or at the house?”
    “Both times, to be perfectly honest.”
    “Then I suggest you keep your hands to yourself fromnow on. I don’t want to hear any more about any so-called mistakes. This isn’t New York City, where two people can get away with anything. Around here there are reputations to be considered. Eventually you’ll go on your way, but Gina has to live in this community.”
    “I thought Gina lived in New York.”
    “This is her home. New York is where she works,” her father said, making the same distinction Gina herself had once made. “Keep that in mind.”
    “I’ll do my best,” Rafe promised.
    George bobbed his head, clearly satisfied that he’d put Rafe on notice. “See that you do,” he said as he jammed his hat on his head and strolled away, pausing for a minute to share a joke with Stella before heading for the door.
    After he’d gone, Rafe muttered a sharp expletive. Why was it that every time he was around Gina, her friends or her family, they wound up asking all the questions? He hadn’t been on the defensive so much since he’d discovered in the middle of a trial that his client had been lying to him about almost everything except his name. And he didn’t like the feeling any better