Mind Game

by Iris Johansen

  “I’m sure of it,” Cira said unevenly. “You always liked the idea of playing that you were bringing me jewels out of the mist, Marcus. This is very close. Keep it safe to protect the family you love and who love you.”

  She stood there looking at the casket, remembering all the vitality, the laughter, the joy of him. It seemed impossible that she had to turn away and leave him again.

  A whimper, not of sorrow, but of joy.

  Her eyes flew to Galo lying on the floor below the casket. But his gaze was not looking up at the casket as he was whimpering. His tail was wagging in welcome, but he was looking at her. No, not at her, she realized suddenly, something to her right …

  Or someone?

  She inhaled sharply as she felt the wave of overpowering certainty sweep over her.

  Standing beside her in comfort and love? Trying to tell her that he had not really left her?

  “Cira?” Antonio was beside her. “Are you ready to go?”

  He didn’t understand and she couldn’t tell him right now. She was too filled with the closeness and the completeness of what Marcus was trying to convey to her. She would tell Antonio later, when she understood more herself.

  She nodded jerkily and reached up to take the torch from the wall. “Come on, Galo. Lead us out of here. It’s time to go.”

  Because now Cira knew what Galo knew, that there was no reason to stay.

  She knew that she would never really go away from Marcus because he would always be with her.…

  * * *

  Jane realized tears were pouring down her cheeks even before she opened her eyes.

  Darkness.

  Dawn.

  Sadness that was no sadness.

  Love that never went away.

  Cira.

  She sat upright in bed and tried to stop sobbing. Stupid. There was nothing to cry about. That was what Cira had been trying to tell her, what she had discovered that night in the mist.

  She took a long, shaky breath.

  I’m okay now, Cira. I guess I’m not as strong as you are. You kind of blew me away.

  She tossed her blanket aside and got to her feet. Then she was out of her tent and going down the hill toward the bank.

  No music, she realized vaguely. No Cara. The camp was quiet. Everyone must be asleep. She had no idea how much time had passed since she’d become aware of the sound of Cara’s violin when she’d been on the edge of slumber.

  The edge of Cira’s world.

  It wasn’t important how much time had passed; it was only important that she stay here by the lake until she made sense of what had happened tonight.

  She stood on the edge of the bank and looked out at the mist. The moonlight was shading it with pale silver, but it was as mysterious and inexplicable as ever.

  As enigmatic as Cira had always been to Jane since that first dream when she was seventeen. No, that wasn’t true. She had always understood Cira; she just didn’t know why Cira had wanted her to understand. All the years that had passed, Cira’s life and story gradually unfolding to Jane even as she grew in spirit and experienced her own tragedies and struggles. Through it all, Jane had never known the reason.

  And she didn’t know why Cira had brought her here to this place tonight and shown her the depths of her sorrow and her soul.

  And her triumph.

  Why, Cira? Why now? Wasn’t I ready before?

  No answer.

  But the answer would come, Jane knew suddenly. If she stayed here on the bank, if she let the wind and the mist tell her what she needed to know.

  Your move, Cira …

  * * *

  “Eve,” Jane whispered. She shook her gently. “Wake up.”

  Eve tensed, even as she opened her eyes. “Jane? What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing. At least I don’t think there is.”

  “The hell there’s not.” Her hand was on Jane’s arm. “You’re cold.”

  “Cool,” she said, correcting her. “I’ve been outside by the lake for a few hours. I’m fine.”

  Eve sat up and brushed the hair away from her face. “Something about Lisa?”

  “No. Something about me.” Her hand reached out to grasp Eve’s. “Something about Cira. I’ve been out there trying to figure it out. I believe I may have done it.” She smiled. “But, as usual, I had to run to you for confirmation and help. That goes on forever.”

  “Wrong. You don’t come running to me nearly often enough.”

  “Well, I’m here now.” Her hand tightened on Eve’s. “And I need you to do me a favor, Eve.…”

  8:10 A.M.

  “You’re not painting today?” Lisa asked Jane as she glanced at the covered easel. “I thought it was going well.”

  “It is,” Jane said. “But I didn’t come here to paint. I thought I’d go to the bank this morning and see if I can help.”

  “I tried.” Lisa made a face. “It’s all your fault for sending me to bed as soon as I got back yesterday. MacDuff didn’t like it that I got so tired. He said that he’d give it a couple more days before he’d let me help again. I couldn’t talk him out of it.”

  “That must have been disappointing.”

  “Well, he has Jock back today. It wasn’t that I didn’t do a good job.”

  “I’m sure it wasn’t.” She was looking out at the mist. “And there’s not much that I can do today, either. I just want to be there.”

  “Why?” Lisa’s gaze was fixed on her face. “Are you okay? You look a little weird.”

  “Do I? I had trouble sleeping last night.”

  “Well, it wasn’t Cara’s fault,” she said quickly. “She didn’t play that long, and it was all quiet stuff. So don’t blame her.”

  “I wouldn’t think of it.” Jane smiled. “Since you evidently don’t.”

  “She promised the people at her school that she’d practice. She had to keep her promise.”

  Jane chuckled. “Lisa, you don’t have to defend her. We all love her music. A little less sleep is okay when weighed in the balance. I guess you found that out.”

  Lisa nodded. “But I’ll try to get her to practice in the daytime today. I don’t care what she says; it’s not smart for her to be sitting around in the dark playing that violin.”

  “You do that.” Jane grabbed her backpack. “What else do you plan to do today besides trying to run Cara’s life?”

  “Cook. Make myself invaluable to your Eve and the kid.” She grinned. “Maybe look up a few recipes for wedding hors d’oeuvres on the Internet. Do some of MacDuff’s paperwork to show him how generous and forgiving I am.” She paused. “And think about how quiet you are today and why you want to go to the north bank.”

  Jane wasn’t really surprised that Lisa had sensed something in her demeanor that had sent up flares. Lisa might not have been linked to Jane, but she was Caleb’s sister, and they were evidently close enough for her to pick up vibes. “I’m never permitted to be quiet around you because you have entirely too many questions.” She met Lisa’s eyes. “And you once asked me if I minded your working in Cira’s world because she belonged to me. The answer is still no, but that doesn’t mean that the time won’t come that I’ll have to be the one to do what she’s always wanted me to do.”

  Lisa’s smile faded. “What’s happening, Jane?”

  “I’m not sure, but I think that it’s what’s supposed to happen.” She started down the trail leading toward the bank. “We’ll have to see, won’t we?”

  1:25 P.M.

  “When do you think you’ll be able to turn on the lights?” Jane asked MacDuff in the middle of the day as she stopped to wipe her brow. “You have four poles mounted with those space-age wonders and all the transformers are connected now. When?”

  “Soon. Maybe we’ll come back tonight after supper.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “We did a run-through with the first ones we put up, and they were marginally successful. But these transformers may make the difference.” His voice was tense. “It’s got to work
, Jane. I feel it. We’re getting close.”

  “Yes, we’re close.” She looked out at the mist. “I feel it, too. And you deserve it, MacDuff. What’s more, your family needs and deserves it.” She smiled faintly. “And Cira was always very protective of her family, remember?”

  “You’d know that better than I. You’re the expert on Cira.” He wearily turned back to where Jock was working. “All I know is that we’ve got to get those lights working. I realize it’s become something of an obsession with me, but I’ll do it, Jane. There’s no way on earth I’ll let them beat me.” He smiled faintly at her over his shoulder. “I’m glad you came today. You haven’t been down here for a few days. I was afraid you’d given up on us.”

  “Never.” She smiled back at him. “It just didn’t seem the time.”

  “And now it does?”

  She nodded as she got to her feet and followed him. “Yes,” she said quietly. “Now it definitely does, MacDuff.”

  9:15 P.M.

  Jane turned off her lantern and lay there in the dark, trying to relax. There was no use being this tense. She’d made a decision and now she had to accept that she had to—

  Her cell phone rang.

  Caleb.

  “Lisa’s fine,” she said as soon as she picked up. “As long as she stays busy, she’s not nearly as edgy. She’s getting stronger every day and she—”

  “I know all that,” Caleb replied, interrupting her. “She makes sure that she tells me these days that she’s a cross between Wonder Woman and Supergirl every time I talk to her. Though she really prefers Elektra, but she says Supergirl has more power. How are you?”

  “What?”

  “How are you? When I just called Lisa, she said that you seemed too quiet when you were at supper tonight. She didn’t think you were ill and she knew her meal was fantastic and that couldn’t possibly be it. You went to the north bank with the guys today, instead of painting. That might mean that you didn’t want to be social with anyone at the camp. So is it something that Lisa’s doing that you’re not telling me about? Should I talk to her about it? Should I return?”

  “Oh, for heaven’s sake.” She couldn’t believe this. “I was quiet and suddenly your sister is doing something terrible that could cause me to spiral downward into some kind of depression?”

  “It was a thought. I could tell she was worried.” He paused. “And what you might think terrible wouldn’t necessarily appear that way to Lisa.”

  “Yes, it would. She’s not as callous as you, Caleb. Or she wouldn’t be worried about me.”

  “True. But she doesn’t think I’m callous at all, and most of the time she thinks I can do no wrong. So there you are.” He paused. “If it wasn’t her, what is it? Lisa has excellent instincts and she’s gotten closer to you since you’ve been together.”

  “Sometimes overpoweringly so. No, I didn’t mean that. I care about her, but I always have to keep on guard around her. She can be as disturbing as—”

  “Me? She hasn’t even reached the first rung. And you didn’t answer my question.”

  And she wasn’t going to do it. She was going through enough bewilderment and soul-searching without bringing Caleb into the mix. She told him a half-truth. “I’ve just been doing some thinking. Everything around me seems to be changing. But I’ve been standing still. I’ve been reacting instead of acting. I’ve been wondering if I have to change, too.”

  “In the present situation, I much prefer you to react.”

  “And I wasn’t asking for your advice. You wanted an answer and I gave it to you.” She changed the subject. “How are things going with you? Did you find out anything else?”

  “Well enough. Information? Palik has a lead on where the Romanos might be located. And I found out their interest in Dubai was centered on a medical center that caters to the richest and most influential patients in the country. They also wanted all the architectural drawings of the American Hospital at Dubai, plus all the personnel records of the staff.”

  “Why?”

  “That’s the next question and one I can hopefully ask the Romanos in the near future.”

  “Then go do it and stop worrying about Lisa … or what Lisa’s doing to me. I promised you I’d take care of her. No sign of her following in your footsteps.”

  “For which you’re grateful.”

  “Fervently.” She paused. “Though lately she’s been much more charming and easy to get along with when she makes the effort. But it’s nothing like you.”

  “Almost normal?” he asked mockingly.

  “Right. Good night, Caleb.”

  “Good night, Jane.” He was laughing as he hung up.

  That’s all I needed, she thought with exasperation. The knowledge that both Lisa and Caleb were watching her and trying to decipher what she was thinking and might be doing was disconcerting. They were treating her as if they were the caregivers, when that was the role she’d chosen for herself.

  Calm down.

  It was kind of Lisa to be concerned. It was natural that Caleb would try to dominate everything and everyone around him. She decided to just ignore both their responses and try to regain the composure she’d had before Caleb’s call.

  What composure?

  Then just go back to trying to go to sleep … and the waiting.

  CHAPTER

  14

  2:30 A.M.

  Something was happening down by the campfire.

  Soft conversation …

  Was that a low bark?

  Jane had been expecting it, Eve had warned her it was coming, but it still startled her. She tossed on her clothes and ran out of the tent.

  Joe Quinn was silhouetted against the flames of the campfire and Eve was already beside him. She had Michael in her arms, but Joe was holding both of them close.

  “They’re busy. Come and talk to me so I won’t feel neglected.” Margaret Douglas was sitting on the ground in front of the fire and jumped to her feet and gave Jane a hug. “After all, Joe told me that you’re to blame for rushing me over here with Juno. There are responsibilities involved here.”

  Jane held her close for a moment. It seemed like a long time since she’d seen her friend Margaret. But all she’d had to do was to tell her she was needed and she’d come.

  She took a step back. “Juno?”

  “She’s lying over there on the bank beside the lake. She didn’t really like the trip over here and wanted to get back to nature.” She nodded at a large white dog, who was only a blur in the darkness. “Come meet her.” She led Jane toward the dog. “She’s a golden retriever but an English crème variety and has all the gentle, loving temperament you asked Eve to find.” She stopped by Juno and reached down and stroked her. “You can’t be with her for more than a few minutes and not realize that.”

  Huge dark eyes were looking up at Jane, and Juno’s tail was wagging.

  “Hello there,” Jane said softly. She knelt and rubbed the spot between the retriever’s eyes. She could see what Margaret meant. Those dark eyes were brimming with love and affection. “I hope we’ll be friends. You’re very beautiful, you know.”

  Margaret chuckled. “She knows. But she still likes the attention.” She looked around her. “And I think she’ll like this place.”

  “I’m glad you’re so familiar with her likes and dislikes,” Jane said drily. “Because I’m not at all sure she’s going to like the mist.”

  “Neither am I. We can only hope.” Margaret’s face lit up as she smiled. Margaret always seems to be lit from within, Jane thought. She was only twenty-one but seemed younger, and her tan skin, blue eyes, and taffy-colored streaked hair made her appear to be touched with the gold of the sun. “Hey, and from what Eve told Joe, I’m still not sure what you need.” Margaret tilted her head. “I don’t think you do, either. But Juno is my best hope. I was at Summer Island and I had my choice of dogs, but you wanted sensitive, and Juno does therapy work in hospitals.” She added soberly, “And she lost the little girl w
ho owned and loved her in an accident a few years ago. She’s very loving, Jane.”

  “Love is good. You’re right: I don’t know what I want or need. I’m operating purely on instinct. I’m betting on a wild card and just have to hope it pays off.” Jane gave Juno a final pat, stood up, and walked back to Joe. “Thanks for bringing Margaret so quickly, Joe. I know after all this time maybe I shouldn’t feel this sense of urgency, but I do. It just seemed important that we do this now.”

  “The urgency isn’t any more bizarre than the idea itself,” Joe said drily. “But who am I to argue? The entire thing with Cira is bizarre.” He kissed her forehead. “But you’re the one who will have to convince MacDuff that using dogs is better than transformers. He spent a small fortune on those Australian lights.”

  “I don’t think they’ll work,” she said flatly. “That’s not the way Cira wants it. I realized that when I had that dream about her last night. I believe she was telling me how it was and how she wanted it to be. Or maybe just the only way it could be.”

  “What’s going on here?” MacDuff had come out of his tent. He was half-dressed, but his shirt was open and his dark hair ruffled. “Hello, Quinn, why the hell are you here? Eve said that you weren’t coming for another week or—”

  “A change of plans.” Joe pushed Jane gently toward MacDuff. “Orchestrated by Jane and Cira. I’ve brought you someone you should meet. This is Margaret Douglas, MacDuff. But I believe it’s over to you, Jane.”

  Jane drew a deep breath and then strode up the hill to stand before MacDuff with fists clenched. “I don’t think the lights are going to work. I think you have to try another way.”

  “Really?” he said coolly. “You didn’t mention anything about that opinion yesterday afternoon. What brought this on?”

  “Cira.” She went on quickly, “I’d had a dream about her the night before.”

  “Indeed?”

  “And I didn’t want to mention it to you until I had everything in place. You’re so far along with that light system, and you can be very hard to convince.”