“I thought I was being comforting.” He was smiling down at her. “Truth is comfort to someone like you, Darcy.”
“Yeah.” She drew a deep breath. “And you’re very smart to realize that, Jock. And you were very smart to realize that my stiff upper lip might dissolve a little when you told me to what lengths Norwalk went to destroy Sylvie and me. And I thought that my mother couldn’t hurt me anymore, but she managed to reach out and do it. It does … hurt. You had to get me away because you knew what it would do to Cara to see me like this.”
He went still. “Not entirely. I knew it would hurt you, too.”
She nodded. “And I appreciate it. But we both know that Cara is the center, and the rest of us just revolve around her.”
“Is she?”
“Of course.” She gestured impatiently. “And I’m not going to dive into this and invade your privacy. I’m too grateful that you let me cry on your shoulder and made me feel as if I wasn’t too much of a wimp.”
“You’ll never be a wimp, Darcy.”
“Right.” She straightened in the seat. “So what are we going to do today to prove it to the world? What’s next, Jock?”
“Next, I take you back to the compound, and you can tell Cara what I told you.”
“Wrong. You said you’re going to check out some purchases by Norwalk’s men at the stores in New Orleans. I’m going with you.”
“No.”
She looked away from him. “I have to keep busy today. I’m not ready to go back over all this again with Cara. She’d be sympathetic and giving, and I’d really break down and make a fool of myself. I’m very delicately balanced these days. Give me a little time.” She turned back to him, and a brilliant smile lit her face. “And you have no idea how persuasive I can be if I put my mind to it. Clerks and cashiers literally fall at my feet to give me information. You’ll be amazed.”
“I’m sure I would be,” he said dryly. “You’re playing me.”
“A little.” Her smile never lost any of its wattage. “But it’s also true. Take me with you, Jock.”
He looked at her silently for a moment. Then he started the car and pulled out onto the road. “Okay. But if no one falls at your feet begging to give me what I need, you’re in deep trouble, Darcy.”
BLACK POOL SWAMP
“That alligator is twelve feet long.” Norwalk pushed Michael closer to the bank of the island that was really more of a huge mound in the dense stand of cypress trees. He pointed to the alligator basking in the sun of another island, several hundred yards away. “There are two more on that island but he’s the biggest. He could swallow you with one gulp. It would take a little longer for your mother. He’d have to chew her up.”
“He won’t do that.” Michael kept his eyes fixed on the alligator. “He could swallow me. Why do you keep saying things like that? Do you want to make me afraid?”
“You are afraid,” Norwalk said roughly. “You’re just pretending you’re not. Why shouldn’t you be afraid? You jump in the water and try to get away, and the alligators will get you. I had a steel net put up to keep them away from the waters near this island. But all I’d have to do is have those guys lift it and let them in.” He nodded at the four men with rifles on either side of the island. “Or maybe my men will shoot your head off. Either way, you’re dead and will never see your mother again. And see that box of explosives over there by the shack? I might decide to tie some dynamite to you and set it off. Like all your little friends that I blew up in that shop in the square. All alone and stone-cold dead.” His gaze narrowed on Michael’s face and his eyes lit with satisfaction as he saw him blinking back the tears. “Ah, that got you, didn’t it?”
“They’re not alone.” He moistened his lips as he looked out at the bayou. “But I’m lonely for them. We’re all lonely for them.”
“You’ll be able to join them soon. But not before I’m ready. That’s why I brought you out of that shack to show you how stupid it would be for you to try to escape.”
Michael shook his head. “That’s not why. I bother you. You’re beginning to wish that you hadn’t had to take me. You think that if you can make me afraid, you’ll feel better about it.”
He could see the anger flare in Norwalk’s eyes even before he felt pain as Norwalk brutally struck him in the face. He dropped into the mud of the bank. “Stupid kid. What do you know? Yes, you bother me. How do you like the way I’m dealing with it now?” He jerked Michael to his feet and shoved him up the slope toward the shack. “Keep your eye on that alligator. You’re going to become very close in the next few days.”
* * *
“I was totally magnificent,” Darcy said as she swept into the parlor where Eve and Cara were sitting that afternoon. “Of course, I did a little shopping for myself.” She tossed several boxes on the brocade couch. “But I devoted most of my efforts to saving Jock’s ass while he was questioning those poor clerks at Home Depot.” She turned as Jock followed her into the room. “They didn’t actually kneel to me, but they went the extra mile, didn’t they? And all you had to do was stand there and look slightly threatening.”
“So which worked?” Eve asked. “Charm or threats?”
“Charm.” Jock’s lips twisted. “By the time she’d spent three minutes with them, they couldn’t even see anyone else.”
“Standard operational procedure,” Cara said. “She never fails. I’m glad that she came through for you.” She looked at Darcy. “I could have wished for a little more than that short text message to tell me why you took off with Jock. It wasn’t like you.”
“No one is behaving as they usually do,” Darcy said. “We’re all just trying to survive as best we can. I’m falling back on automatic.” She smiled. “And, as I said, my automatic is magnificent.” She looked around the room. “Where’s Kaskov?”
“In his study, trying to pretend that we aren’t here,” Eve said. “We’ll try to pretend that, too, until it’s necessary that we don’t.” She looked at Jock. “Tell me that you’ve found something to let us know where that bastard is holding my son.”
He shook his head. “The description matched Macvey’s photo. And we got a description of his truck and maybe the dock where he loaded the wood to be shipped. He had to have it delivered, the bed of his truck was too small to carry it all. It’s a dock on the north side of New Orleans. Near Lake Pontchartrain. I’ll head out there right away. Have you heard from Joe?”
“He should be getting in about an hour from now,” Eve said. “Wait for him.” She grimaced. “I could tell when I talked to him that he was holding on by a thread. He needs to do something that doesn’t involve being behind a desk or doing detective work. Michael is his son.”
“I’ll wait. I have to talk to Nikolai anyway.” He looked at Cara. “You’re okay?”
She nodded. “Sure, it’s just been a long day. I would have felt better if I’d been able to go with you and done something valuable.” She smiled faintly. “But that wouldn’t have worked out. No one is going to fall on their knees to please me.”
He met her eyes. “I wouldn’t be too sure.”
“Yep, it only takes the right audience,” Darcy said as she started to gather up the boxes she’d thrown on the couch. “But take a couple of these boxes up for me, will you, Cara? I need to wash up and change. I bought a gorgeous peacock-colored maxi skirt that’s perfectly stunning. But being magnificent in this muggy climate is a chore. We can talk while I change.” She glanced over her shoulder at Jock, and said quietly, “Thanks. I’m ready now.” Then she was flying out of the parlor and heading for the staircase. “Come on, Cara. I need you. I can only manage to be strong and magnificent for so long.”
* * *
“All that trouble, all that planning,” Cara said bitterly. “Just to bring you and Sylvie into his grand scenario.” She went to where Darcy was sitting on the couch at the foot of the bed and dropped down beside her. Then she drew Darcy’s head down to rest on her shoulder. “Even bribing some
one to arrange us to room together? Crazy.”
“Sure. Maybe crazy like a fox,” Darcy said unevenly. “Look at you, rocking me like a mom with a hurt child. He threw us together and hoped that we might become friends, so that it would be painful for you when you saw me suffering when I found out about Sylvie.” She lifted her head. “And it worked, didn’t it? His twin was killed, so he used another twin to twist the knife in you, Cara, the person who was the reason for Sean’s death. This whole damn nightmare has been about twins. He even slept with my mother because the concept intrigued him. He might have even thought there was some mystical reason he and Felicity had been brought together to show him a way to use Sylvie and me to help avenge his brother.”
“You know, you could be right about that,” Cara said. “As obsessed as he was with twins throughout his life, it could be the answer why he chose the two of you in particular.”
“It’s as good a guess as any. Other than that, it just goes back to the fact that he didn’t believe us to be of any importance. No, perhaps as a symbol. He’s into symbols. Look at those mirrors in the gold box.” She added, “But even then, he didn’t use that second mirror to reflect me. Michael was more important to him.”
Cara could feel her pain and bitterness, and it was hurting her. She reached out and gently touched her cheek. “He may have thrown us together to eventually hurt me, but he failed, Darcy. He gave me more than he took. He probably never even realized how valuable friendship can be.”
She nodded jerkily. “I can believe that. I think he’s a hollow man with only a corrosive poison inside.” She drew a deep breath and forced a smile. “Okay, that’s over. This hit me hard, and I had to work my way through it. It was very personal to me. He used me, and he used Sylvie.” She was silent a moment. “And he used my mother to try to destroy both of us. It came as a shock that he went to such extraordinary lengths to use me to hurt you, completely ignoring how it would also hurt me.” She got to her feet. “And it was good that I had this day with Jock to come to terms with the initial shock, wasn’t it? I didn’t behave too badly. You must be bored with me falling apart all the time.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. When you’re hurting, you come to friends to help. That’s the way of it,” she said. “And I’m glad that Jock was with you. He has a kind of shining inside that sometimes makes— He helps.” Darcy was looking at her curiously, and she rushed on, “You must have noticed it today.”
“I noticed that he was there for me,” Darcy said. “And that he’s probably as unique as I always thought him. I was a little too upset to notice any shining.”
“You will. Anyway I’m glad he could help you.” She smiled. “He’s always been there when I needed him.”
“That’s been evident from the moment I found out he existed in your life. I’m happy you let me borrow him for today. I had a moment when I wasn’t sure I should hijack him, but I needed him so I decided to take the chance.”
Cara frowned. “Chance?”
“I was afraid you might think I was— Look, I told you I was backing off from Jock. And I did it, didn’t I? Do you think I’d blow it now? Before it was just a trial balloon set up to test the weather.” She made a face. “Not that I could have seduced him anyway. Anytime you’re anywhere near, I don’t resonate with him.”
“Of course you do.”
“Have it your own way. I shouldn’t have brought it up.” She headed for the bathroom. “I’m going to go take that shower and change. None of this is—” She suddenly whirled. “No, I should have brought it up because you’re the most clueless girl on the planet where Jock is concerned.”
“What?”
“You heard me. You’re smart, you’re empathetic, you’re kind, you’re giving, but you don’t see anything.” She shook her head. “Maybe I shouldn’t expect it. Jock has always been your whole world, and between your music and him you don’t have any experience in the way to play the game. You’re a virgin, aren’t you? Nothing wrong with that, if you want to take your time. I never did. I was always afraid that someone would grab the brass ring before I did. But you probably can’t see the signs, and with Jock, even I have trouble.”
“Where did all this come from?” Cara was staring at her in bewilderment. She had been completely caught off guard. She could feel the heat flushing her cheeks. “We were talking about you, not me, Darcy.”
“Because I’ve been so damn subtle and tactful. Not at all like me. But I’ve been watching you, and I don’t like what I’ve been seeing. I think I triggered something that night at the residence, so it might be my fault. I guess I have to straighten it out.” She looked her in the eye. “You and Jock are best friends? Maybe. But you also want to jump him. Who wouldn’t? And you don’t know what the hell to do about it.”
“I can’t talk about this, Darcy.”
“Fine. I’ll talk about it. I’ll tell you what to do about it. You jump him.”
“It’s not that simple. I know you mean well. I’m … not like you. And Jock … he doesn’t…”
“He doesn’t what? Like sex? Oh yes he does, and you know it. You told me how many women he’d had. But I’d bet he was careful about keeping them entirely separate from you. I can’t read him all the time but I’ve noticed sometimes he’s guarded around you. He might just be a better actor than I am. At any rate, you’re in a special place.”
“Exactly.”
“Then get out of it. He’s probably a hell of a lover. Life’s too short to waste time hemming and hawing and worrying about what Jock will think. You won’t know that until after you’ve gone to bed with him anyway.”
Cara smiled crookedly. “And that could be too late.”
“Could it?” She took a step closer, her voice intense, urgent. “Listen, Cara, the only things that are too late are the things you wish you’d done. I might have saved Sylvie if I’d moved faster, if I’d followed instinct instead of believing Felicity. I lost her. I’m not going to make that mistake again. And I don’t want you to lose one minute of what you should have. If something happened to Jock, how would you feel? Would you tell yourself, isn’t it lucky that I didn’t open myself up to feeling more than I do right now? I don’t think so.”
“That’s not fair,” she said unsteadily. The mere thought of anything happening to Jock was terrifying.
“I don’t have to be fair. I’m an actor, a communicator. All I have to do is make my point and move on.” She scanned Cara’s expression. “And I think I’ve made it.” She gave her a quick hug, turned, and headed toward the bathroom. “Now I’ll escape and drown myself under a cool shower. And let you ponder my words of wisdom and take them under advisement. Subject closed.” She glanced over her shoulder with a hint of mischief. “Unless you’ll be generous enough to confide in me if Jock is as good as I think he is.” The door shut behind her and a few minutes Cara heard the sound of the shower.
Cara slowly crossed over to the window. She felt as if she’d gone through a tornado of emotions in that short period when Darcy had turned on her and let loose that hail of words. How could she resent it? Her friend had done it with love and with a passion of caring and wanting to share. It was just that sharing had tapped into what Cara had been going through for the past days and shined too bright a beam.
Coward. Had she been a coward about facing how to handle this disturbance that …
Of course she had.
What if something happened to Jock?
Fear tightened her chest again. She instinctively tried to bury the thought.
Coward, again.
Bring it out, face the possibility.
She couldn’t do it.
Darcy, what a very wise and very cruel person you are.
* * *
Eve was standing in the driveway when Joe drove through the gates. She only waited until he’d parked before she ran down to him. She went into his arms and buried herself there. Safety. Strength. Love.
“How are you doing?” he whispered. His arms tigh
tened around her. “Holding it together?”
“Barely.” She looked up at him. “And you don’t look like you’ve had any sleep at all.”
“I’ve been busy.” He kissed her and stepped back. “And hoping to be even more busy now that I’m here.”
“Really, Quinn. Such a display.” Kaskov was standing outside the front door. “Not a sight I want my men to see since I don’t allow them to have women while they’re on the property. I welcome you into my home, and you cause instant disturbance.”
“I’d be glad to leave,” Joe said. “Say the word.”
“I don’t believe Eve would like that,” Kaskov said mockingly. “And how can I refuse her? So I suppose I’ll have to accept your behavior.” He gestured for them to enter. “Actually, I find your presence here amusing. It’s not often that I have such a prestigious law-enforcement officer as a guest in my home. I imagine you might have a few explanations to make if anyone knew you were here.”
“And I’d make them without reservation.”
“Yes, I heard you were that rare individual, an honest cop. People like you have always made my life difficult.” He entered the foyer. “Which is why I felt it necessary to greet you personally. Nikolai and a few of my other men are very protective of me where the law is concerned.” He inclined his head. “So consider yourself greeted. If you confine yourself to the business to which Eve tells me you’re committed, you’re welcome here. You’ll forgive me if I continue to conduct my affairs from my study, as I’ve been doing since I’ve been bombarded by Eve and company.” He raised his brows. “I promise it will not involve murder or mayhem while you’re all on the premises.”
“You’re enjoying this,” Joe said bluntly. “I won’t forgive you anything. But I know that you won’t do anything that will incriminate you while you’re here in the United States and don’t have your crooked hierarchy to protect you. And you might have an interest in helping to protect Cara, if not my son. So I’ll take what I can get.”
“Good.” He nodded to Eve. “I probably will not see you for the rest of the evening. I’ve sent a message to Cara that the music room is hers to use to practice, and I will not be in attendance … until I have her full attention later in the month.” He turned back to Joe. “And you should know that there have been no strangers or anyone suspicious within at least a distance of twenty-five miles since they arrived. Nor any electronic monitoring of any sort within that same area.” He turned and headed toward the study. “Good evening. Enjoy your dinner.”
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