Chapter 5

Chapter 5

         The figure looked up and down the darkened street. He pulled up the collar of his black woolen coat. The temperature dropped ten degrees when night fell. A cold, wet wind tore down the street and over his uncovered face. He narrowed his eyes against the chill, and stared broodingly at the lit house across the street. He could see the black Range Rover parked in the driveway, and the lights on in the front parlour. He thought longingly of the warm interior, but knew he couldn’t enter while she was home. He shrank back as a car sped past. He hoped the archeologist would go out for the evening.
         Inside the house, Jordan paced back and forth in her home office. She racked her brain for any information she could. Why would someone try to break into her office? She thought it had something to do with the book, now very well hidden, but had no idea who could have known she had it. The package came just that afternoon, and Dr. Wyatt indicated he had not told anyone he sent it to her. Maybe someone broke in hoping to find something else valuable. She stopped pacing and shook her head in defeat. Jordan turned off the office light and headed up to her bedroom. She was meeting some friends for dinner.
         An hour and a half later, the thief watched as Jordan pulled out onto the street. Finally, he groused to himself, she was gone. If the  book had not been in her office, then she must have hidden it at home. He lingered for another hour to make sure none of the neighbors were home, or would disturb him. He slunk around to the back door of the imposing, three story house and pulled out his lock pick set. Ten minutes later, he pulled open the back door and crept into the kitchen. The fool of a girl didn’t even have an alarm system.
         He began a systematic search of the office first, thinking that would be the most logical place to start. Coming up empty, he moved to the small library he knew was next to the office. Too many books to go through, and he knew he had limited time. He moved upstairs to the large master suite. Opening the door to Jordan’s inner sanctum, he took a moment to digest the surroundings. Not quite what he expected, as he glanced at the king sized bed in the center of the room. It had a purple coverlet, and was unmade. Very sloppy of you he jeered to the silent room. Curiosity got the better of him and he walked over to the large dressing table next to the bathroom door. On it was a collection of bottles, some containing perfumes, and others makeup and lotions. He experimentally sniffed one, and a light, sensual scent assaulted his nose. At least she smells good he thought.
         The intruder moved over to the cherry dresser and pulled open a drawer. A slow smile crossed his face as he pulled out a very sexy, red pair of underwear. So that is what she wore under those business suits he thought, an arrow of heat spearing down his body. The blow came without warning, as a solid fist hit him squarely in the back.
         “You bastard!” Jordan cried out as she punched him in the back a second time. The thief had been daydreaming about her and didn’t hear the object of his fantasy come into the room. He crashed into the dresser, and fell to the side, narrowly missing a well aimed kick to his groin. Jordan jumped on him instead, knocking the wind out of him. She was solid, but he expected that, given her height and stature.
         “Wait!” He growled, flipping  Jordan onto her back, and sprawling on top of her. “Wait just a god damned minute!” He put his face right into hers, and for a split second lost himself in her blazing green eyes. Eyes that were burning through him like laser beams. Eyes so like her father’s.
         Jordan took advantage of his momentary lapse, and scissor kicked her way on top of him, sitting on his stomach. Her weight knocked some of his breath out. “Did you break into my office!” She yelled in his face, breaking the haze surrounding him.  He didn’t want to hurt her. She straddled him, and with a kick could send him to oblivion. “Are you?” She demanded again.
         “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” He wasn’t about to admit to breaking into her office given the state of anger she was in