Magnum Force Man Read online

  He turned to stare into the flames. “I don’t like memories.”

  Claudia’s heart beat so hard against her chest, she could hear the echo in her ears.

  I don’t like memories.

  What on earth had happened to him?

  And why did she have an irresistible urge to kneel beside him on the floor and wrap her arms around him?

  Why, suddenly, did she want to save him?

  This made no sense. She could feel compassion without chucking her common sense. He was still a stranger and she still had to protect herself.

  And as for the needles…an escapee from a psychiatric ward might have such memories, mightn’t he?

  She bit her lip. “I can understand why you may not like memories,” she said softly. “But if we’re going to figure out why you’re here and why you think I need saving, then we need to know if there’s anything else you can tell me.”

  He stared into the fire for a long time, and then his gaze lifted. “Coronet Blue.”

  “I’m sorry?”

  “That’s what I remember,” he said. “Coronet Blue.”

  And then, quite unexpectedly, he smiled.

  Chapter Eight

  Claudia decided the best thing to do was call it a night and figure things out in the morning. Her interrogation had accomplished nothing. If the man really did have amnesia, he needed to be under a doctor’s care. There wasn’t anything she could do for him and her questions might just upset him.

  Though he didn’t seem upset at the moment. Not with that smile he’d just flashed. It was a little sly, a little knowing, as if he were enjoying a private joke. At her expense.

  Claudia didn’t care for that.

  Which was yet another reason why she had no intention of closing her eyes while he was in her house. She would not rest easy until Jack Maddox—if that was his real name—was out of her life for good.

  “I think—”

  Before she had a chance to finish her thought, he said, “I’ll stay out here. If that’s permitted.”

  Permitted?

  The way he spoke was yet another intriguing piece of the puzzle, as was his ability to anticipate the direction of her thoughts. She’d been on the verge of suggesting that he take the bedroom, but once again he’d interpreted her intention before she had a chance to say anything. His insight was uncanny. Disturbingly so.

  “Maybe you should take the bed,” she said. “You need your rest.”

  “Why? I’m not hurt or sick.”

  Well, except for that amnesia thing.

  But come to think of it, the bedroom door did have a lock on the inside, so maybe that arrangement was for the best, Claudia decided.

  “If that’s the way you want it. Hopefully, by morning you’ll have remembered something else.” As she spoke, she moved around the room, gathering up the flashlight, her handbag with her cell phone and wallet inside, her laptop and, of course, the gun. The only thing left of any real value was her desktop computer, and somehow she didn’t see him grabbing that up and making a run with it through the rain.

  His dark gaze tracked her every move. When she had everything she needed, he held out his hands. “Do you want to bind them again?”

  She gave it serious consideration, but obviously it hadn’t done much good the first time.

  “You don’t need to worry,” he said solemnly. “I won’t let anyone hurt you.”

  He said it so convincingly, she almost believed him.

  And she had to ask herself, Now who’s the lunatic?

  At the bedroom door, she glanced back. He was sitting exactly where she’d left him before the fire, but rather than staring into the flames, he was still looking at her. His intense focus made her tremble, although she wanted to believe it was just the cold.

  “See you in the morning,” she said.

  “Good night…”

  “Claudia.” Too late, she realized that she probably shouldn’t have told him her name, but if he worked for the men who wanted her dead—or even for the government—her identity was obviously no secret.

  Back in Chicago, she’d gone by C.J. Her given name was Claudia Janelle, but she’d never used it until she moved here. Even after all this time, she still wasn’t used to it.

  “It doesn’t suit you,” he said.

  She frowned. “Why not?”

  “It’s an old name.”

  “I wouldn’t mention that to Claudia Schiffer if you happen to run into her.”

  “I won’t,” he said solemnly.

  She shook her head at his apparent oblivion to her pop-culture reference. “Whatever. The name suits me fine. I have an old soul.”

  With that, she opened the bedroom door and went inside. Locking herself in, she leaned against the door, shivering in the cold.

  This was so not how she’d planned to spend the night. Actually, her nights took very little planning because they were all the same. Dinner alone by the fire or, in warm weather, on the deck. Then she would listen to some music or watch a little television. Surf the ’Net, read a book, work into the wee hours. Anything to eat up all those long, lonely hours.

  If nothing else, tonight had been a break from the relentless tedium her young life had become.

  Placing the gun and laptop on the nightstand and her handbag on the floor, she used the flashlight to locate spare linens in the closet. Then getting the bed all set up the way she wanted, she cocooned herself in the cover.

  With the flashlight off, the room was pitch black. The night seemed to close in on her, and Claudia lay there for the longest time, staring into the darkness and willing her eyes to remain open, no matter how heavy her lids became.

  Chapter Nine

  The click of the lock sent a deep shudder through Jack. He knew that sound, and a claustrophobic dread descended over him as he threw off the cover and got to his feet.

  He went first to the front door to make sure he wasn’t locked in. When he drew it back, a burst of cold, wet air rushed over him, and he stood for a moment, staring out into the dark and listening to the sounds of the receding storm.

  Satisfied there was no imminent threat, he closed the door and went to each window, assuring himself that there were no bars caging him in. He was still free.

  And he had found her. The girl inside his head.

  She was still in grave danger, but not tonight. He was with her now and he would do everything in his considerable power to keep her safe.

  If she would let him.

  That was the tricky part. She didn’t trust him and he couldn’t blame her for that. He was nothing to her, and there was very little he could tell her that would reassure her of his intent. But somehow he’d have to convince her just the same. He would have to make her believe him because her life—and his—depended on it.

  After a bit of foraging in the kitchen, he sat down at the table with an apple and a can of nuts he’d found in the pantry. He ate fast and after his appetite was somewhat sated, he prowled some more.

  It was odd that he could remember almost nothing of his past except for his name, and yet there were objects in Claudia’s house that he easily recognized. The computer, for instance. He knew something about that. And the remote control to the television set. He knew even more about that.

  Settling himself on the sofa, he tried to click on the TV, but the power was still out. Too bad.

  Because what he wanted to do more than anything at that moment was to watch his favorite episode of Starsky and Hutch.

  Chapter Ten

  Claudia’s eyes flew open. She heard voices coming from the other room.

  Someone was in the house!

  Someone besides Jack Maddox.

  He must have let them in. And maybe they were out there right now conspiring on how to kill her. Or which one of them would get to do it!

  Easing her legs over the side of the bed, she rose and grabbed her gun from the nightstand. Tiptoeing across the darkened room to the door, she checked the lock. It was still secu
re, but it wouldn’t take much to kick it open.

  She pressed her ear to the wood and listened. The voices were so low she couldn’t make out any of the conversation, or even how many were out there. But she was almost certain she could hear a female voice.

  And laughter. Canned laughter.

  Oh, for heaven’s sakes…

  He was watching television. The power must have come back on while she’d been sleeping.

  Claudia opened the door a crack and peered out. He’d moved from the floor up to the couch where he sat cross-legged with the blanket around him as he watched the flickering screen. He was so engrossed in whatever he had on he didn’t even notice when Claudia pulled the door open and stepped out.

  Slipping the revolver into the pocket of her sweater, she walked over to the couch. “What are you watching?”

  He didn’t appear to hear her at first.

  She took a peek at the screen. “Kind of late for The Brady Bunch, isn’t it?”

  He turned slowly and looked up at her with wide, innocent eyes. They were blue, she realized with a start. Earlier, the irises had appeared so dark, she’d thought them black, but no. His eyes were most definitely a deep, riveting blue.

  “I’m sorry. Did I disturb you?” he asked politely.

  The apology was so earnest, Claudia found herself rushing to reassure him. “No, it’s fine. After everything you’ve been through, I just figured you needed to rest.”

  His gaze had already returned to the screen.

  “You like TV, huh?”

  “I’ve never seen this show before,” he said.

  “You’ve got to be kidding,” she said in astonishment. “It’s always on rerun somewhere. And all the episodes are pretty much the same so you don’t have to be clairvoyant to figure out what happens.” She bent to pick up the empty teacup from the end table. “Marsha will come out smelling like a rose and Jan will somehow get the shaft.”

  “I’m not clairvoyant,” he said.

  “It was just a figure of speech. I didn’t mean to imply—”

  “I’m a pre-cog.”

  The teacup slipped from her fingers. The porcelain would have shattered against the hardwood floor if his hand hadn’t already shot out to catch it. Almost as if he’d known beforehand she would drop it…

  Her gaze lifted. “What did you say?”

  “I’m a pre-cog. It means I have the ability to—”

  “I know what it means,” Claudia said hoarsely.

  Suddenly, her head was full of flashing images. The way he’d anticipated her move toward the gun. The way he’d heard the teakettle before it whistled. The way he’d asked her about chamomile when she’d been on the verge of offering him some.

  And now the way his hand had sprung out to catch the cup before she dropped it.

  Anyone else would have looked for a more logical explanation. Fast reflexes. Twenty-twenty vision and keen hearing. An uncanny ability to read people. But Claudia knew from her work with Dr. Lasher that for some people, the ability to foretell future events was as real as their five senses.

  What she didn’t understand was how someone with this gift had ended up in her remote cabin. This couldn’t be a coincidence. Someone had sent him.

  She whirled toward the front door. Her first instinct was to make a run for it, but he was already there, blocking her way and she froze.

  He’d moved so quickly, the blanket had been left behind on the couch. He stood before her in all his naked glory. Any other time, Claudia might have appreciated the view, but suddenly she was more frightened than she’d been in a long, long time.

  “Who are you?” she demanded.

  “I’ve told you my name.” He took a step toward her.

  She pulled the gun from her pocket and drew a bead. “Don’t come any closer.”

  “I’m not going to hurt you. I came here to save you.”

  “Stop saying that! I don’t believe a word out of your mouth. Someone sent you here. This can’t be a coincidence. You…me…here in the middle of nowhere? Someone planned this.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  “I know what a pre-cog is,” she said desperately. “I’ve studied precognitive abilities. I may be the only person in this whole area, in the whole damn state that wouldn’t blink an eye at your claim. And of all the cars on all the roads on any given night, you pick my car on this night to run out in front of. Why?”

  “I have to save you.”

  “I said stop it! Just tell me the truth! Why are you here?”

  “I came to—”

  “Don’t come any closer!” she warned when he took another step toward her. “I swear to God, I’ll put a bullet right through your chest.”

  “Claudia…please, listen to me…”

  The persuasive quality of his voice shook her. It seemed hypnotic, almost vampiric in its ability to seduce.

  The light from the television screen flickered over his naked body, and the dichotomy of light and shadow threatened to mesmerize her yet again.

  “I won’t hurt you,” he repeated softly. “You have to believe me.”

  And God help her, she wanted to. She really did.

  She drew a shuddering breath. “Just keep your distance.”

  “I can’t do that. You have to know something.”

  “I’m warning you…stay where you are…”

  But he moved toward her until he was standing before her. She was a tall woman, but he seemed to tower over her, and her knees suddenly weakened. She had the strongest compulsion to steady herself by placing her hands on his bare chest.

  She refrained, even managed to back up a step and keep the gun between them.

  He didn’t follow her, but instead lifted a hand to touch her cheek. “You know me,” he murmured.

  “I’ve never set eyes on you before tonight!”

  His fingertips slid down her cheek. “You know me.”

  “No.” But the gun dropped to her side as her other hand came up to close over his. Her whole body tingled at the contact, and the throb of her heart became a painful staccato against the wall of her chest. For the longest time, she stood with her eyes closed, drinking him in.

  She did know him. There was something so thrillingly familiar about the touch of his hand, the sound of his voice. The way he looked at her. Claudia had never seen him before tonight, but somehow, she did know him.

  She opened her mouth, whether to confirm or deny his assertion, she wasn’t quite certain. But just then, the front door flew open and she screamed.

  Instantly, he leaped in front of her, putting himself between her and the icy wind that swept through the cabin.

  And in that moment, Claudia had no doubt that if a gunman had stood in the doorway, Jack Maddox would have taken a bullet for her.

  THANKFULLY, THERE WAS NO gunman on the front porch.

  As it turned out, there was nothing at all but the wind. The lock must not have been fully engaged and a strong gust had whipped it open, although Claudia was usually very careful about making sure the premises were secured at all times. Still, she wasn’t infallible.

  And even though there had been no real threat, she couldn’t discount Jack’s actions. He’d been willing to put himself on the line for her, and now she couldn’t help but look at him in a different light.

  Of course, if he really did have precognitive abilities, it was possible he’d foreseen the outcome. He could have known before the door blew open that no one was out there. But Claudia didn’t think that was the case. His instincts had been real enough and so had his intentions.

  Besides, she knew from her work with Dr. Lasher that even the most gifted pre-cog wasn’t omniscient. He couldn’t know everything that was about to happen at every minute of the day. Most of the time, it took a great deal of focus and concentration. And right now, his focus seemed to be trained on her.

  While he closed and locked the front door, Claudia walked to the window, her gaze sweeping over the darkened landscape. Her ea
rlier uneasiness had abated somewhat, and now she felt the heavy cloak of exhaustion descend over her. If she was to have the physical and mental fortitude to deal with whatever the morning brought, she needed to get some rest.

  Oddly, where only a short time ago she’d been determined to remain awake with a stranger in the house, she could only think now of sleep.

  “It’s okay,” he said, his eyes fastened on hers. “I’m here. You’ll be safe.”

  The amount of comfort that statement gave her was something Claudia knew she needed to worry about, but didn’t.

  What a strange, strange night, she thought as she left the room and climbed back into bed.

  Chapter Eleven

  A few hours later, Claudia opened her eyes to a gloomy morning. Getting out of bed, she padded over to the window to glance out. The rain had moved on during the night, but the sky was still a dismal gray and high up in the hills, patches of fog hovered over the treetops.

  The house was warm now, but she still couldn’t help shivering when she thought of last night’s events. She’d brought a stranger into her house who claimed to have precognitive abilities. Who claimed to have turned up in front of her vehicle because he wanted to save her.

  From those who wish to kill you.

  Even if Claudia could believe any of that—and a part of her really wanted to—how had he known where to find her? Had his vision of her impending doom been that vivid? How was it that he could foretell the future of someone he’d never even met?

  She thought of the way he’d touched her face and her hand crept to her cheek. You know me.

  Yes, she thought. At that moment, I did know him, but how is that even possible when I never set eyes on him before last night?

  There was an explanation for their strange connection, but Claudia wasn’t so certain she wanted to go there.

  One theory regarding precognition suggested that time moved both forward and backward, in which case the predicting of future events was actually the recollection of things that had already taken place. Certain gifted people had the ability to tap into these collective memories, thus allowing them to see things before they happened in the present.