Harlequin Intrigue, Box Set 1 of 2 by Delores Fossen Page A

marry her and be a father to Maddox.”
    â€œMaddox already has a father.” Laurel’s voice was hardly more than a whisper, but it was obvious Dorothy heard it loud and clear. She jerked back as if Laurel had slapped her.
    â€œIt’s true,” Theo said, his voice quiet, as well. “We’ll discuss it later, Mom.”
    Okay, so Dorothy didn’t know about Maddox’s paternity, but like Jax, she had no trouble putting two and two together. Except in Dorothy’s case, there was more disapproval than Jax had shown.
    A lot more.
    â€œLater,” Theo warned his mother when it appeared she was ready to launch herself at Jericho. He gently took hold of his mother’s arm. “Laurel’s tired and upset,” he repeated, as if making a point. “I can talk to her in the morning when her head is clearer.”
    Jericho tapped his badge, pulling the lawman card, and he put his gun back in his holster. “You’ll talk to me. And not in the morning. You’ll do it right now. Is Herschel behind the attacks?”
    â€œOf course,” Dorothy answered without hesitation. “Who else?”
    Jericho was thinking the
who else
could apply to the woman asking the question. And her hulk of a son. “If you disapprove of her father so much, then why insist Laurel marry Theo?” he asked.
    Dorothy gave him an isn’t-it-obvious? huff. “Because they’re right for each other, that’s why. And besides, even if Theo isn’t Maddox’s biological father, he’s been a father to him. He deserves to raise that little boy.”
    â€œTheo’s hardly seen Maddox.” Laurel went to Jericho’s side, stared at Dorothy. “For that matter, Theo’s hardly seen me over the past six months.”
    Six months? The more Jericho learned about this unholy union, the less he liked it. Soon, very soon, he’d want to know why Laurel had gotten involved with the guy in the first place.
    â€œTheo hasn’t seen Maddox or you much because he’s been working out of state, that’s why. And I’m betting Theo’s seen more of Maddox than his so-called birth father has.” With that zinger, Dorothy added a smug nod. No doubt to rile Jericho.
    It worked.
    However, Jericho reined in his temper so he could try to get some usable info from these two clowns. Except he realized it would have to wait a second or two when he heard footsteps. They weren’t coming from the break room but rather from the side hall where the holding cell was located. The man who appeared was wearing a pricey suit like Theo’s.
    DeWitt’s attorney, no doubt.
    â€œDid you get your client to talk?” Jericho asked him.
    The lawyer didn’t introduce himself, didn’t even spare Jericho a glance. “I’ve advised him to remain silent. If he’s smart, he’ll listen.” He went past Dexter and let himself out. He shut the door so hard that it shook the nearby Christmas tree and sent the sparse ornaments jangling.
    A moment later, Mack, the other deputy, came out from the holding-cell area. “DeWitt’s all locked up.” He volleyed his attention between Theo and his mother. “Want me to arrest somebody?”
    â€œNot yet. Maybe soon.” Jericho turned back to Theo. “Okay, I’ll bite. If you know Maddox isn’t yours, then why would you want to marry Laurel?”
    Theo looked at Jericho as if he’d sprouted horns. “Because I love Maddox and her, that’s why.”
    Maybe. But something about this felt as wrong as wrong could feel. “I don’t know all of what’s going on, but I suspect there’s either money or power involved. Money and power you’ll lose somehow if you don’t have your ring on Laurel’s finger.”
    Bingo.
    Dorothy got some fire in her dust-gray eyes. Theo’s teeth came together for a moment. Neither of them, however, jumped to