Haunting Rachel by Kay Hooper Page B

feel strange.
He isn’t Thomas. He isn’t! No matter how much he looks like him.
But those logical reminders did nothing to curb her growing desire to reach out and touch him.
    Unwilling to let a silence fall between them, she said, “Why did you leave the scene on Friday when I hit that tree? The paramedics told me only the highway patrol was there near the car when they arrived.”
    “You should have asked the highway patrol about me,” he told her with a touch of amusement. “When they reached the scene, they made everyone else stand back. You were in expert care and there didn’t seem to be anything I could do, so I left when I heard the ambulance coming.”
    She half nodded, then said, “Why did you come to myroom at the hospital so late? You did, didn’t you? I didn’t imagine it?”
    “No, you didn’t imagine it.” He hesitated. “I just wanted to make sure you were all right. Didn’t expect you to wake up, but you were obviously groggy and went back to sleep almost at once, so I didn’t stay.”
    “You came late. After visiting hours.” That still bothered her.
    “There were some things I had to take care of first,” he said rather vaguely, looking briefly down at his hands in a way that shuttered his gaze for a moment. “It was late when I finished up and got to the hospital. To be honest, I snuck in.”
    She thought his smile was very disarming. “I see. All right—Adam. I suppose all this makes sense.”
But it doesn’t, none of it does.
    “But you still have your doubts?”
    “Well, let’s just say it surprises me that Dad would have done business the way you say he did. However, you didn’t have to come and tell me all this, and I can’t think of any devious reason why you would have. And I imagine Nicholas will vouch for you.”
    A flicker of some emotion Rachel couldn’t read crossed his handsome face, but he merely said, “I’m sure he will. In the meantime, I just want to assure you that Duncan’s investment will be repaid as promised. By the end of the year, I believe.”
    Realizing suddenly that she had no idea, she said, “I suppose I should ask what kind of business Dad invested in.”
    “It was more a project than a business, initially. I had dreamed up an electronic gadget that would improve most manufacturing facilities. I had to get the design patented, a prototype built, and try to sell it. It was so successful that Iwas able to start my own electronic design and engineering firm. All possible due to the investment Duncan made.”
    “I’m sure he was pleased with your success. Dad loved to see people achieve their dreams.” Rachel started to rise to her feet. “How much was the investment, by the way?”
    Matter-of-factly, Adam replied, “Three million dollars.”

FOUR
    achel sat back down. “Three million dollars?”
    He nodded.
    “You’re telling me that my father invested three million dollars of his own money on a handshake?”
    Patient, Adam said, “I’ve already told you that, yes.”
    “You didn’t tell me it was three million dollars.” She was incredulous. “Adam, I’ve seen Dad’s bank records going back years. There was no unexplained withdrawal anywhere near that size, not five years ago and not ever. Every penny has been accounted for.”
    “I don’t know what to tell you. Except—as I remember, he transferred the funds to my bank from a Swiss bank account.”
    She blinked. “He what? He doesn’t have a Swiss bank account.”
    “He did five years ago. I was sitting in the room, admittedlya bit numb, but I remember the call clearly. He definitely called Geneva.”
    Rachel had passed bewilderment; now she felt distinctly unnerved, and not only because the image of her long-dead fiancé was sitting across from her. What would an honest businessman want with a Swiss bank account? And why had no sign of such a thing come to light during all the months countless experts had combed through Duncan Grant’s financial records?
    It naturally