by Mary Birk
“So? I put her in there to see what she could find out about Von Zandt. She went willingly.” Her arrogance appalled him.
“What the hell do you mean, you put her in there? This is my operation.”
He grabbed his sister by the arms. There was a cold fear in her face, but being Darby, she did not back down.
“Back off, Terrence. Interpol has an interest in this investigation, too. Anne’s wired and she’s fine. We’ve been monitoring her.”
“What the fuck do you mean she’s fine? He could kill her before you even got a blip on your goddamn monitors.”
Darby shook his hands off. “Why would he? There’s no reason for him to suspect.”
“Why her, Darby? Why Anne?”
“I knew Von Zandt would offer for her to stay there after the story hit. The press was bothering her at the hotel. It was a priceless opportunity. She’s working on his gardens, and it makes sense for her to stay there. You’ve never had anyone else get inside his organization. It was too good to pass up.”
“It makes sense? Are you out of your mind? He knows she’s my wife and that I’m hunting him. You have got to be a total idiot to serve Anne up to him like that.”
“Your connection to Anne isn’t an issue. He can’t think you care about her. He knows you told her to go to blazes. Why are you even worried about her?”
“You’re an idiot. He’s a man—a vile man—but a man nonetheless. He knows I care about her or I wouldn’t be so bloody jealous of her. And, aye, he wants her himself. I know. I saw him around her. And he’s seen me around her.”
“She wanted to do it, Terrence. I didn’t force her. I just asked her and she agreed. She didn’t hesitate at all.”
“How did you even come to be talking to her? You’ve never tried to be a friend to her.” When his sister didn’t answer, he asked again. “Answer me.”
Darby’s voice was sullen and she kept her gaze averted away from him. “I called her at the hotel.”
“When?”
“I don’t remember exactly.”
“Don’t lie to me. I can find out.”
“Thursday night.”
“Thursday night?” He tried to make sense of that. “But you couldn’t have known about what happened with Grainger until the next morning when the story came out.”
She looked away from him, setting her lips together tightly, then gestured at Harry. “Do we really have to have him here for this discussion?”
“Yes, we do. To keep me from killing you.” Reid felt the truth of his own words. “So you knew about what happened before you saw it in the papers? How?”
Darby crossed her arms against her chest. “I have my sources.”
“What sources?”
“I don’t have to tell you.” She unfolded her arms.
“Yes, you bloody well do.”
She threw up her hands. “The photographer. He called me.”
“Why would he call you?”
“I guess he thought I’d be interested.”
“How do you know him?” Darby was lying, Reid could tell.
“I get around.”
“Let me get this straight. You called Anne after you got a call from the photographer because you realized there would be stories in the morning tabloids?”
She nodded, and he saw her quickly conceal her relief. That wasn’t what she’d been afraid he’d find out. There was something else, and whatever it was, it was worse. He motioned to Harry. “Take her mobile.”
Harry slid his hand in her back pocket and got the phone before she could stop him. She tried to slap his hands away but he paid no attention.
Darby’s phone in hand, Harry sat down and started scrolling through her call logs. “Doesn’t go back far enough, guv.”
“Get the records.”
Darby looked from Reid to Harry. “What are you looking for? Why don’t you just ask me?”
Reid said, “Because you lie.”
“Just tell me. What do you want to know?”
“When did you first speak to the photographer?”
The cornered look on her face gave him his answer.
“I thought so. You arranged for the photographer to be there.” Reid stared at her. “How did you know Grainger would be there? Anne said she didn’t even know he was coming until he got there—and she didn’t even know how he found out the name of the hotel where she was staying.”
“And you believe her?”
“Anne doesn’t lie.”
“No, she’s a bloody angel.” Sarcasm dripped from Darby’s voice.
“Tell me how you knew Andrew Grainger would be there.” Reid’s words were slow and deliberate, and his eyes never left his sister’s face.
Darby was silent.
Realization began to dawn on him as to the enormity of Darby’s perfidy. “You arranged it all. Grainger and the photographer as well.” He wondered if he’d ever hated anyone as much as he hated his sister right then.
Darby scowled at him defiantly. “So what? I was doing you a favor. I got her lover’s number from her mobile. I called him and told him she needed him. I figured whatever happened would be best for you. I didn’t know you’d be at the hotel when it happened, but what difference does it make?”
“What do you mean what difference does it make?”
“She’s been making a fool of you since you met her. Just like our mother did to the Earl.” Darby’s last words were muttered under her breath.
When what Darby had said registered, Reid motioned for Harry to leave. After the door closed, Reid said, his voice low, “You know.”
“Yes, I know. No thanks to you, brother. Instead, I had it thrown in my face during a security interview.”
“Poor you. I had it thrown in my face when I was eight years old. Get over it. Right now we need to concentrate on getting Anne out. How did you get her to do this?”
Darby sat mute.
“Tell me, or so help me, God, Darby…”
She glared at him like a cornered rodent. “I called her and told her I needed to talk to her. That you wanted me to call. When I got there, I said you wanted her help. I told her you expected Von Zandt to offer to have her stay at his house to get away from the press, and that you wanted her to accept so she could get in there to look around. And if he didn’t offer, I told her you wanted her to ask him herself.”
Reid concentrated on breathing evenly. “And the wire?”
“I took little Allison with me. I had her fit Anne with the wire and teach her how to use it.”
“You’re out of your mind.”
“It worked, didn’t it? The next morning Elisa Von Zandt called her, and offered for Anne to go stay there. That man she works for is there as well.”
“Jonas is there?” Relief flooded him, and Reid let his head fall into his hands. “Thank God.”
For the first time, Darby looked shaken. “Not now, but he was. He left Sunday morning, but he’s supposed to be back Tuesday or Wednesday.”
When what she’d said sunk in, Reid had to fight back the urge to throw his sister out of his office. “I can’t believe you did this. Any of this. Not to mention that you sent her in there even knowing she’s pregnant.” Sweat dampened his body as absolute fear filled him. “Sweet Jesus. We have to get her out of there.”
Darby pursed her lips, giving a slight shake of her head. “We can’t. Not now. There’s a dinner tonight that’s critical. From what she’s reported, I believe Von Zandt has the men responsible for funding several terrorist groups meeting there. There’s bound to be some information that Anne will be able to get to us through the wire.”
“Tonight? Why is this the first I’ve heard of this dinner? What else did you tell her to do? There has to be more.” He went to grab her again, but Darby backed away.
She shook her head. “No, that’s all.”
“You’re lying. What else?”
Darby let out an exasperated sigh. “She’s looking around, all right? To see if she can f
ind anything that can lead us to the ties with the terrorists. Anything on communications, accounts, or payments. The only way to cut the snake’s head off is at the money connection. You’ve said that yourself.”
“Anne doesn’t have the slightest idea how to do that, and certainly not how to do it so that Von Zandt doesn’t suspect.”
“She’s not a child, Terrence. I told her where to look. She’s already gotten into his office but she didn’t find anything. She’s still looking around. It’s not that hard. I’m sure she can take care of herself.”
“She’s a gardener, Darby. What do you expect her to do? Defend herself with a garden spade?”
“Don’t be melodramatic. No one will hurt your precious Anne.”
“Who else is there? His wife you said? Tell me Elisa’s there. A buffer for Anne against him?”
Darby looked sullen. “His wife went back to Germany.”
“When?”
“Friday.”
“The same day Anne moved in? Darby, you’re so stupid. He wants Anne and he sent his wife away so the way would be clear to pursue her.” Reid could tell there was something else Darby wasn’t telling him. He grabbed her. “I’m right, aren’t I?”
She tightened her lips and stared at him.
“Tell me.”
“All right, yes. He told Anne he was getting a divorce.”
“Shite.” He thrust his hands through his hair. “Oh, God, oh, blessed God, have mercy. And you left her in there? What else?” He wanted to throttle her, but instead grabbed his mug from the desk and threw it against the wall, shattering it. “What else, you stupid bitch?”
“All right, all right, Terrence.” Finally, she seemed to have the sense to be scared. “Moira. He told Anne he was ending things with Moira.”
“Why? Why would he tell Anne things like that?”
She looked up at him, her face telling him the truth. “You know why.”
“Fuck.”
“Terrence, you can’t think much of her devotion to you if you think she would let him...”
“Anne’s fidelity to me is the least of my worries right now. You don’t know Von Zandt like I do. If he finds that wire on her, he’ll kill her. And in a way that you won’t be able to prove he did it.” Then, he saw the whole picture of what his sister had done and why she had done it, and a cold hatred filled him. “If you sent her in as a sacrificial lamb, which I suspect you did, you’ll not even be able to pin her death on him. You did this on purpose, you heartless bitch.” He turned away. “I’m going in to get her.”
Darby looked pale and her eyes filled with rare tears. “I wouldn’t try to get her killed. You can’t think that about me.”
He spat the words out. “I don’t know what to think. But right now, I don’t give a fuck about you. I need to get her out of there. Tell me everything you know about what’s going on there tonight. Right now.”
“No—you’ll ruin everything. Von Zandt won’t hurt her. I’ve been listening. She’s good at fending off his advances.” Darby seemed to regain some of her confidence. “And Moira’s still there.”
Reid shook his head. “That means nothing. Moira’s inconsequential. A convenience. No protection for Anne.” He picked up his mobile. “You’re off this operation, Darby. I want an immediate briefing on everything you’ve done and everything you know. I want to know everything that’s been said, every bloody thing.” He opened the door and called to Harry. “Get in here. And bring DC Muirhead.”
Reid looked at Darby, barely controlling his fury and disgust. “Suffice it to say, I hope I never see you again after this is over.”
Chapter 77
“HARRY, take over the monitoring of the transmissions Anne’s sending. I want to know if anything happens. Who’s been monitoring them, Darby?” His sister’s name tasted like acid on his tongue.
“Me. I checked them in the morning and once later at night.”
He shot her a look sharp enough to scathe her skin off. “That’s not the same as monitoring them.”
Unwisely, Darby let her voice become derisive. “Generally, it’s been a scintillating discussion of garden work with some workmen.”
“And what was she supposed to do if she got into trouble?”
Darby said nothing.
“When’s the last time you checked on her wire?”
“Last night.”
“Last night?” You bitch, you bitch, you fucking bitch, he thought. My wife and her baby. God, please let them be okay. He wanted to scream, to cry in desperation, but he kept his face immobile.
“I’ve been busy.”
He said a silent prayer that nothing had happened since then. “Harry, can you feed the transmission to an earpiece for me?”
“No problem. Give me a second to program it.”
“Be quick.”
Harry raised his eyebrows as he finished fiddling with the apparatus. “Okay, your earpiece is ready. But, guv, there are no transmissions coming in right now. The wire’s not on. I scrolled back through the recordings and have the last one coming in at about six tonight. She’s talking and there’s someone with her. Another woman.”
“Nothing coming through now? There’s no action? Or it’s not on?”
Harry shook his head. “It’s not on at all.”
“We need to get in contact with her.” Reid whirled around and fixed his gaze on his sister. “Darby, how were you communicating with Anne? Not her mobile, I hope.”
“No, we didn’t want the calls to show up in case anyone saw her call log.”
“So how?”
“She was to tell me when to meet her if she had anything important to tell me. Through the wire.”
“And did she?”
Darby was quiet, then admitted, “She wanted me to meet her in the village yesterday.”
“And?”
“I was busy.”
“Doing what? You weren’t working.”
She was silent.
“What was so important you ignored Anne’s needing to see you?”
“None of your business.”
He waited until she finally spoke, her voice grudging.
“I was with John Stirling.”
Sick at his sister’s selfishness, he asked, “Did you send anyone to see what she needed, to meet with her?” His heart ached for Anne’s isolation.
Darby scowled. “No.”
He didn’t think he even knew this woman who was supposed to be his sister. “So how do we get hold of her? To tell her to get out? Or that we’re coming?”
Darby just looked at him, her face a blank.
“Don’t tell me we don’t have any way to get hold of her.” He heard the anguish in his own voice, and saw that this, at least, seemed to move Darby.
“She’s fine, Terrence. You’re making too much of this.”
“Shut your mouth.”
Harry broke in. “Guv, here’s the last transmission that came in. That was an hour ago. It’s Lady Anne talking to Moira. I’ll put it on the speaker, guv, if that’s all right.”
Reid nodded.
“Is that what you’re wearing tonight?”
“I guess so. The maid brought it up for me earlier today, and took all the others away.”
“Walter bought it for you.”
There was a pause. “Bought it? I just assumed they had extra clothes here for guests.”
“No, he’s had all the dresses for you sent over from a shop he likes. This one’s beautiful, don’t you think?”
“It’s a bit bare. What are you wearing?”
“An evening gown I already had. He didn’t send me a new dress. Actually, ever since you came, he’s had nothing to do with me. And he talks about you all the time.”
“Moira, don’t be ridiculous. We’ve talked about this. I’m married and I’m in love with my husband.”
“Walter told me I’m to keep the two Nigerians entertained tonight.”
“Entertained?”
“That’s what he said.
I think he means . . .”
The recording paused again, then resumed.
“No, he couldn’t possibly have meant anything like that.”
“I think maybe he did. But it’s not your fault. I know you don’t want him. He may not be able to tell, but I can. Here, let me help you get ready.” There was a sigh. “It’s really a beautiful gown. Take off your robe and I’ll slip it over your head so it doesn’t snag.”
“I don’t need help. Moira, stop . . .”
A space of crackling silence, then Moira spoke again. “What’s this wire for? Then a laugh. “Uh oh, Walter’s not going to like this.”
Static played over the transmission and the wire went dead. The implications of what had happened registered with each one of them, and a momentary silence sat heavily over them.
Finally, Harry spoke. “The wire’s not just off, it’s been disconnected.”
Reid stood up, a cold dread in his stomach. “We have to go in now. Get things set up, Harry. Pull the house plans for Lynstrade Manor.” He motioned to the door. “Darby, get out of here. You can decide for now how to tell your agency why you’re no longer working with us. I’ll be talking with them later. If I have anything to say about it, your career with Interpol is over.”
His sister looked as if she was going to speak, but he shook his head. “Don’t say a word. Just get out. Now.”
After Darby left, Reid looked over at Allison, whose face showed that she fully understood the seriousness of the situation and the role she’d played, however unwittingly. “Pull up my calendar and tell me where I’m supposed to be tonight, DC Muirhead.”
The young woman started at his use of her rank and last name, apparently recognizing from that, and from his tone, that their relationship had, at least for now, changed. Chastened, she hit some buttons on the computer. “A dinner party at Lord Stergus’s house, sir.”
“I’ll wear a dinner jacket then.” His glance was distracted. “I’ll be the jealous husband going to collect my wife to take her with me to the party. After the news stories last week, no one will doubt my jealousy, or my wife’s unfortunate habit of getting herself into situations where other men are paying too much attention to her.”
Allison looked away, obviously not knowing what the appropriate response, if any, was to a comment like that. Reid registered Harry sending her a glance warning her to be silent.