Train From Marietta by Dorothy Garlock

for her, but he did. A woman like her in the hands of a man like Hayden was something he didn’t want to think about. Unless they got to her in time, Hayden would either kill her or ruin her for life.
    He couldn’t very well refuse to help. It would only take a few days out of his life, and it might mean hers.
    Tate drifted off to sleep still thinking about the woman’s clothes, her clear blue eyes, and the contents of her spilled bag. He could almost smell the fragrance that drifted up from the soft underwear.

Chapter 8
    W ILLIAM JACOBS TURNED IN HIS SWIVEL CHAIR and looked out the window. Rain streaked the glass as a peal of thunder rolled across the city. But the rotten weather did nothing to dampen his mood. He could hardly keep the smile off his face.
    Pulling a sheet of paper from his breast pocket, William felt a thrill at its words, even though he had already read it a dozen times. The telegram he had received from Edwin was the news he had been waiting for. They’d been able to take Kate without any trouble. What a stroke of luck!
    Thoughts that he had been suppressing for years now swam around in his head, intoxicating him with their promise.
    It won’t be long now until I’m in complete control of Tyler-Jacobs Steelworks. People in the highest social circles in the city will accept me! John Tyler will be back at the steel mill in Pittsburgh where he belongs! He doesn’t know how to play the game. He doesn’t know which politicians to butter up, which bankers to flatter. He’s in for the shock of his life; he’s going to lose everything to William Jacobs, his business partner!
    William’s thoughts began to wander toward how he was going to word the next ransom note when the telephone rang.
    He picked up the receiver from the cradle. “Jacobs,” he said gruffly.
    “Hello to you, my clever man.”
    “Oh. Hello, dear,” he said, pleased when he heard the soft, caressing sound of her voice. It surprised him that she would call at the office, because they had planned to meet later. He listened to her for several minutes, then said, “Now, dear, I promised I’d be there, so I will.” He cocked his ear toward the door. He heard footsteps coming toward his office and became instantly alert. Cupping his hand over the mouthpiece, he talked into the receiver in low tones.
    “Everything’s going just the way I planned. Before you know it, it’ll all be over,” he said with a snort. “How would you like to have that mink coat we saw in Macy’s department store window? We’ll figure out how to explain your having it. Couldn’t you say that stingy old father of yours gave it to you? No?”
    More steps echoed from the hallway, closer than before.
    “Well, if that won’t work, how would you like a piece of jewelry from Tiffany’s instead?” William continued. “I’d really rather you have the mink coat. You’d be so beautiful in it. You’d be the envy of every woman you know. Hell, you’d be the envy of every woman in the city. I can hardly wait to show you off as mine.” The steps came to a halt at the closed office door. A light rapping sounded against the door frame.
    “Better go now. Meet you at the same time. Good-bye, dear. I love you.” As he hung up the phone, he said, “Yes?”
    The door opened slowly, and John Tyler stepped into the office. “Busy, William?”
    “No. No, of course not. I was just confirming an order. Come in.”
    The man who sat in front of William’s desk bore little resemblance to the man who had been his business partner for the past five years. John Tyler looked as if he had aged ten years since a few days earlier. His eyes were bloodshot, and heavy dark bags hung beneath them. His hair was disheveled, and his clothing looked just as unkempt. William would have sworn that the man hadn’t slept in a week. He looked as if he was at the end of his rope.
    After they had chatted for a moment about business, William asked, “Are you all right, John?”
    Silently,