Tracie Peterson by Entangled Page B

phone in her bedroom but found no one on the line.
    “Hello?” she repeated before hearing the distinct click that signaled disconnection.
    Deciding it must have been a wrong number, Cara shrugged off her clothes and pulled on pajamas and a robe. There was still time to look over some paper work before she went to bed, so Cara made her way to the dining room and spread out her work on the table.
    She’d barely read through the first page when a knock sounded on her door. Another glance at her watch revealedthat it was nearly ten o’clock. Immediately thinking of her elderly next-door neighbor, Cara opened the door expecting to see Mrs. Pritchard.
    “Good evening, Mrs. Kessler.” It was Russell Owens. Beside him stood a very distinguished-looking man.
    Cara stared at them in open-mouthed surprise. “What are you doing here?”
    “You agreed to meet with Mr. Kerns, and I thought perhaps your home would afford us an element of privacy,” Owens answered.
    Kerns waited no longer for his introduction. “I’m Bob Kerns, the next governor of Kansas.”
    He smiled in a way that immediately put Cara on her guard.
    “May we come in?” Bob asked smoothly.
    “Certainly not!” Cara exclaimed and pulled her robe together tightly. “It’s after ten. Surely we can have this discussion in my office on Monday.”
    “It won’t wait,” said Kerns, pushing Cara aside to admit himself into the apartment.
    “You can’t just barge in here!”
    Kerns eyed her for a moment, then shook his head and replied, “Calm down and hear me out. What I have to say could be quite profitable to you and your business.”
    By this time Russell had come into the apartment behind her and was quietly closing the door. Cara whirled around at the sound of the lock sliding into place. Her fears mounted with every second as she looked first at Owens and then to Kerns.
    “This is uncalled for. Get out of my apartment.” She tried hard to appear authoritative, but her voice sounded childlike even in her own ears.
    “Calm down, Cara,” Russell said, placing his hands on her shoulders.
    Cara shuddered and pushed him away with her elbows. “Don’t ever touch me again.” Her voice held new power, and Russell backed away with his arms raised.
    “Easy does it. I didn’t mean anything by it. We aren’t exactly the neighborhood boogeymen, you know.”
    Kerns chuckled. “I believe we’ve just taken this young woman off guard. Cara, why don’t you come sit down and we’ll tell you why we’re here.”
    She realized they weren’t going anywhere until she heard them out. “Very well, but I need to change my clothes first. Wait here.”
    Hurrying to her bedroom, Cara went immediately to the telephone. She started to dial 911, then put the receiver down. Robert Kerns was a gubernatorial candidate. She recognized him from numerous television interviews. Surely he was on the up and up. She drew a deep breath. There was really no reason to be afraid or to call the police. Was there?
    Biting her lower lip, Cara hurried into a lavender sweat suit. She resented the way Owens and Kerns pushed her around, but perhaps she could get this over with and be rid of both of them for good.
    She walked slowly back to the living room and assumed a defensive posture. Kerns and Owens looked up at her from where they sat on the sofa. Both were perfectly attired in business suits and striped red-and-blue ties. And both looked at her with the same self-satisfied smug expression.
    Cara switched to the offensive. “If you’re comfortable, I’d appreciate it if you would tell me what merits coming here in the middle of the night.” She held a stony stare on Kerns, hoping the man would grow uncomfortable and apologetic. He didn’t. Instead, he seemed only amused and smiled broadly, looking too much like a Cheshire cat.
    “Please,” Kerns motioned, “have a seat with us and we’ll explain.”
    Cara noted the ease in which he commanded the situation. His square jaw was