Miss Fortune

Chapter One

"You're kidding me, right?" Thorin Durin couldn't keep the disbelief from his voice, looking up from the endless paperwork on his desk to stare at Kerry. "You mean to tell me you arrested a Prescott? What happened? She give someone a fortune they didn't like?"

David Kerry held up his hands. "Look, all I know is that she and some old broad were really going at it. I mean total catfight. Would've made my day except one of 'em was about ninety and I thought she was going to croak, she was screaming so hard. Her eyes were bugging out of her head."

"Don't even tell me you arrested Eva Prescott..." Could today get any worse? He could just see himself having to explain to Chief Parmenter why Kerry had arrested Eva Prescott. Damn, if he was lucky, the chief would only scream until the walls rattled. Everyone in the department knew the old lady was off limits unless she really broke the law.

Sure, not everyone believed she was anything other than a fraud, but since she'd never actually defrauded anyone, there was nothing they could do. In fact, she was almost on the town of Cranford Falls' payroll. Aside from being one of the oldest families in town, she did quite a bit of work with the department and—rumor had it—played a very large role in the chief's divorce two years ago.

"Are you crazy?" Kerry demanded, turning to head out of Thorin's office. "None of us is that stupid. I'm only telling you because she says she knows you and wants to talk to you."

Thorin rubbed his forehead. Damn. The headache had just begun to fade. He was getting too old to be out half the night, and really, who the hell had a bachelor party on a Thursday night anyway? "Which one is it?"

"Charlie Prescott. And Estella Urlino."

Well, at least it wasn't a total loss. No one ever accused the Prescott sisters of being hit with the ugly stick. Even so, he shook his head as he rose from his chair and smoothed down his black and gray tie with one hand, while hooking his other index finger in the top of the suit jacket hung over the back of his chair to tug it free. He shrugged into it, but left it unbuttoned. "I should've called in sick today."

"Yeah, last night was rough. Who fucking has a bachelor party during the week?"

"Someone who knows the groom has the next day off?" Thorin tugged open his office door. "Let's just get this over with."

"Get this over with? Have you seen Charlie Prescott?"

"Yeah. I have." Thorin followed Kerry out of his office and down the narrow hallway toward the rear of the police station. "And honestly, she's not really my type."

"What? Well, now I know you've never seen her."

"Trust me, I've seen all of them. More than once." Thorin chuckled. "But as for Charlie? She's too young for me. Too young, too flighty. And really not my type at all."

"Lemme guess," Kerry said without looking back, "Teddy's the one you've got your eye on."

"Guess again, Kerry. Guess again."

"Ah, you aren't going to tell me even if I do guess it, are you?"

"Not a fucking chance."

"I knew it. Tease."

Thorin grinned as they rounded the corner and stepped into the holding area. Every guy in Cranford Falls had a hot nut for Teddy Prescott, but for him? She definitely was not the one who crept into his thoughts when he wasn't looking.

He caught sight of the youngest Prescott in the holding cell, which reminded him once more that there was no such thing as an ugly Prescott. Even Grandmama Eva was stunningly beautiful. It was no wonder the chief took the chance on getting caught sleeping with her. Although, Thorin did wonder on more than one occasion how many newts lost their eyes because of Eva Prescott's determination to have what she wanted.