Two hours and several shops later, Debbie looked at her watch in surprise. It was later than she thought. She’d better hurry. If Morgan got home before she did, he’d send out the troops—or Buddy—to look for her. It would be hard to guess which would cause more commotion, an entire battalion or one absentminded computer genius.

She grinned as she hurried out of the store, her small sack of makeup clutched in her hand. She made a mad dash for the escalator. There was one more shop she wanted to visit. The morning paper had mentioned a sale.

Her foot caught the step as it unfolded and began its ascent toward the next level. She looked up, partly out of habit, partly to see where she was going, and then forgot to breathe.

On the next aisle, coming toward her, coming down, was a young man. His face was familiar…too familiar. And the last time she’d seen it…he’d been flipping off the world and stealing an old woman’s purse.

*  *  *

Thomas Holliday was bored. It was why he’d come to the mall. He’d been here most of the day, filching what he could when he could and laughing to himself at not being caught. He was invincible. He was a stud. And tonight, after he picked up Nita Warren, he’d show her what being a stud meant.

And then he saw the woman. At first, he couldn’t place her…and then his belly turned and sweat ran. He reacted before he thought.

The escalator was almost empty. Only one woman with two small children behind her…no one behind him. He could tell she was nervous. That told him she’d recognized him, too. It made him feel strong.

Debbie looked up, and then she turned and looked behind her. If the woman and her children hadn’t been there, she’d have backtracked. Now, it was impossible. There was only one thing left for her to do. She’d ride up and call Cole. And then everything went black.

Thomas’s fist shot out. It connected with her chin as his hand yanked at the bag on her shoulder. But something went wrong. The purse wouldn’t come loose. And then he noticed that she had it over her head and then across her shoulder. And he’d just knocked her out!

She went limp and loose as an uncoiled rope as the stairs carried her out of his reach. He cursed and ran down the stairs and out of the mall, with the woman and her children’s shrieks ringing in his ears.

*  *  *

“Hey, partner,” Rick yelled as Cole came out of the washroom at the service station. “We just got a call to go out to Village Fair Mall. Isn’t that close to your house? The call said a lady requires your services.” He smiled and leered, giving his best Groucho Marx imitation.