Twist of Fate by Jayne Ann Krentz Page A

police car managed to stay within sight until Gideon had obediently walked up to the more active thoroughfare. It was a thoughtful gesture on the part of the Seattle police department but Gideon didn’t feel much like thanking anyone. He wondered how he was going to get rid of this restless, frustrated aggression. The hotel didn’t have a pool.
    The hotel did, however, have that nice lounge, Gideon reminded himself as he walked into the heavily carpeted lobby. Without any hesitation he started toward it. One hour and two Scotches later he left the padded stool to find the lobby telephones. There was no answer in Hannah’s apartment. Still partying. Gideon hung up and dialed the airline on which she was booked to Santa Inez. A man had a right to a decent vacation. There would be unlimited swimming available in the Caribbean.
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    H ANNAH KNEW she should have been more astonished to see Gideon pacing the departure lounge at SeaTac airport the next morning. She couldn’t quite figure out why she wasn’t. She must have spent too much of last night thinking about him. She collected her boarding pass from the agent and hitched the strap of the many-buckled leather flight bag over one shoulder. She put her weight on the cane and walked toward Gideon with a sense of inevitability.
    â€œI suppose you’ve got a good reason for being here.” She planted herself aggressively in front of him. She was wearing a swashbuckling military-style shirt and pants in khaki twill. The clothing had arrived the day before from the mail order house from which Hannah ordered most of her things. Her favorite two-inch wide belt of British harness leather completed the rakish look. The clothes gave her a sense of bravado she found useful around people such as Gideon Cage.
    He winced. “Could you keep your voice down? My head hurts like hell.”
    â€œHangover?”
    â€œDon’t sound so damned pleased.” He glanced pointedly at his watch. “Where the hell have you been? They’re already boarding.”
    â€œI’m not much good at rushing these days.” She tapped the cane on the floor to emphasize the reason. “And even when I am in good running form, I make it a practice not to run just because somebody else thinks I should. I’m perverse that way. I’d make a lousy corporate employee. You haven’t answered my question, Gideon. What are you doing here?”
    â€œWell, I didn’t come to wave goodbye.”
    â€œI’m not surprised. You don’t strike me as the sentimental type.”
    â€œHere, give me that.” He took the flight bag from her shoulder and reached down to pick up his own leather carry-on bag. “Let’s get moving. We’ve got a plane to catch.”
    â€œIsn’t this pushing your desire for guidance counseling a little too far? Gideon, I didn’t invite you along on this trip.”
    â€œOn the other hand, you don’t look real startled to see me.” He led the way toward the boarding tunnel.
    The man was a little too perceptive, even in his hungover state. Hannah trailed down the boarding ramp after him, aware that she was leaning too heavily on the cane. Her leg seemed especially uncomfortable and she guessed it was because she had spent too much time on her feet at the party.
    â€œHere,” Gideon said as he paused beside a row and began stuffing their flight bags into the overhead bins. “You can have the aisle seat. It’ll be easier on that leg.”
    â€œYour thoughtfulness overwhelms me.”
    â€œYeah, I thought it might.” He slid into the window seat and reached for her elbow as she lowered herself onto the cushion. “Are you okay? You look a little beat.”
    â€œSince mornings are my best time, I’m not likely to get much better as the day progresses.” Hannah leaned her head back and closed her eyes, buckling the seat belt blindly. “Talk, Gideon.”
    She had