Promise Her Read Free Page A

first time. The Callahans had all but adopted Lisa when her parents died while she was in college. She could trust him to give her good advice. If she could find him. She tried not to think that he could be on a date. Just thinking of him with other women hurt. Pretending to be no more than another member of the Callahan family hurt worse.
    She gave a relieved sigh when he answered on the first ring. “There’s been an accident at the rodeo. I need you here.”
    “Are you all right?”
    “It’s not me. It’s one of the performers. Can you get here, like right now?”
    “I’m on my way to see a client in jail. I can be there in less than thirty minutes. Where will I find you?”
    “The president’s skybox.”
    One thing Lisa could count on was the Callahans. Though they treated her like family, she’d never had to call on them for help before. She knew, however, that they were there if she needed them.
    Next, she dialed her boss. When Max answered, she told him what had happened. “I don’t know how serious it is, but I’m scared for her. She looked really bad when they took her to the hospital, Max.”
    Tears threatened, but she held them back. She had to stay strong, for her friend.
    “What can I do?”
    “Is Bailey working the case now?”
    Bailey Monahan was the PI assigned to Harold.
    “He should be there somewhere.”
    “Good. Can you go to the hospital and keep an eye on things there? I need to stay here and see what I can find before evidence is destroyed or contaminated.”
    “Will do. And Lisa, be careful.”
    Lisa hung up and dialed again. “Bailey, where are you?”
    “Trying to catch up with you. Slow down. I’ll be there in thirty seconds.”
    “What the hell just happened?” Bailey asked as he stepped up beside her.
    Like most of the rodeo crowd, Bailey sported new jeans, boots, and Stetson. He looked far better than most of the men he was meant to blend in with.
    “I don’t know. But Tempest looked bad.”
    “What do you want to do?” He pushed the tip of his Stetson back off his forehead a bit.
    “Let’s check with the other performers and see what we can find out. We’ll have to be quick. Douglas, TJ’s brother, is meeting me at the skybox in thirty minutes.”
    The crowd roared as the bull riders took their turn. Excitement sizzled in the air, Tempest all but forgotten.
    Bailey picked up his pace as Lisa strode down a narrow hallway.
    When they reached the performers’ dressing area, Bailey stepped back. “Maybe you’d better go in. I’ll wait out here until you give me the all clear.”
    Lisa swept past him and into the room.
    Smart move on Bailey’s part. The three girls were in various stages of undress, one in a thong and scanty bra. The other two were half dressed in their street clothes. They wore matching long black wigs for the performance so they would look identical. Underneath, their hair ranged in shades of blond to brown.
    All moved slowly, two were pale with wet, dazed eyes, the third crying.
    Lisa had seen them around, but didn’t know any of them on a personal level.
    It didn’t matter. They were so anxious for word on their fallen leader, they rushed to Lisa’s side.
    “I’ve seen you with Tempest before. You were there with the EMT’s. Do you know if she’s going to be all right?” one asked.
    Another shook her head. “She was too pale. And she had a seizure.” She shivered as her voice hitched. “Tell us Tempest is going to be all right.”
    It was evident no one had given them any information. Nor had anyone questioned them yet. That was good. Their observations would be fresh. “I’m Lisa Kane, a friend of Tempest’s. I don’t know a thing right now.” Tear-stained eyes stared at her. Lisa knew just how they felt. “I promise to let you know her condition the minute I find out anything. Meanwhile, whatever you remember about how she was before the performance could be a big help.”
    They introduced themselves as Jane, Mavis, and