Living On The Edge. Susan Mallery

on. They just grumble. There have been a couple of lawsuits, but they always get dropped.”

      She wasn’t painting a picture of a very nice guy, Tanner thought. How had Hilliard swept her off her feet?

      She leaned forward and rested her forearms on the table. “How is that man? The one who works for you and was injured.”

      Concern darkened her eyes and pulled at her mouth. Tanner didn’t want to think about Kelly or the fact that the kid might not recover. He didn’t want to have to make that phone call to his family or miss the kid himself.

      “Holding his own. He survived the surgery.”

      “I’m sorry he was injured.”

      “You didn’t shoot him.”

      “But it’s still—”

      He didn’t want to talk about it so he said, “If your theory of Hilliard kidnapping you for the ransom money is right, then he’s got to be pissed he missed out on his twenty million.”

      She perked up. “He didn’t get the money?”

      “I had it intercepted and returned directly to your father. Last I heard, it was already back in his account.”

      “I’m glad,” she said fiercely.

      “What would he need the money for?”

      “Gambling debts.”

      “He’s not in that deep.”

      “How do you know?” she asked.

      “I checked.”

      “Then I don’t know. Is he buying someone off for something? Maybe he stole the technology he’s claiming as his own.”