Toxic Illusions

<p>They say trouble comes in threes which seems true in Lauran Lancaster's life...</p><p> </p><p>She almost lost her career to a debilitating car wreck seven years ago. She did lose her two-timing husband to the same. Most recently she nearly lost her beloved Drakón of Thraki to some statue-stealing thief when her house is desecrated and her nearest neighbor murdered. It doesn't take a genius to realize the events are likely related. Staring at her bare face in the bathroom mirror she decides the first two she can live with but the last isn't happening. She isn't having the stealing or the killing anymore. It's past time to call in the big guns Lancaster style. It's time to dial that private number hidden in the thick blue file folder abandoned on her bedside table.</p><p> </p><p>It doesn't matter her first sight of Frazer MacKechnie was as the tousle-haired hunk trying to purchase the Drakón of Thraki for enough money to cross both her eyes. He's just doing his job. Too bad her statue isn't for sale and the hunk walked out the same door he'd entered without a second glance. Yes he'd tried to <em>buy</em> it; but to the best of her knowledge he'd never tried to <em>steal</em> it. There is a difference. </p><p> </p><p>However what does matter is that MacKechnie has the necessary skills to stop her want-to-be-thief since he'd once thwarted corporate espionage. From the file in her possession he was excellent at his prior profession with the Fortune 500 references to prove it. Calling MacKechnie with a business proposition she is surprised he tentatively accepts her offer despite informing her several times he no longer does that kind of work. </p><p> </p><p>He even consents to stay in her home. She has plenty of room and the arrangement makes sense for both of them. Since her thief enters and exits her home at will shouldn't the man hired to stop him do the same? Besides living under her roof allows her to keep an eye on him.</p><p> </p><p>If he's up to no good she'll know it.</p>