Last Ride on the Merry-go-round

by Judith Rochelle

  "Well, I imagine we'll find out the details when we get there. How's that arm of yours?"

  Dino subconsciously touched the bandage underneath his shirt sleeve. It ached but nothing the aspirin he'd popped wouldn't take care of. Hazards of the trade. “I'm good."

  "You're the boss,” Mike said. He completed his preflight check and stowed his clipboard. “Okay. Let's do it."

  They swung out over the Gulf of Mexico and hugged its coastline, the rising sun a yellow ball on their right. Dino slipped on his aviator shades and tilted his head back against the seat.

  "Wake me when we get there,” he said over the headset.

  He hadn't seen Jen LaCroix in years. He remembered a slender blonde with rich, honey-colored hair and eyes the color of the Gulf of Mexico. At the time she'd definitely been Ethan's property and they honored a strict hands-off rule. But if circumstances had been different, if he'd met her first, who knows what might have happened with the two of them.

  Would she remember him? He was hardly the wild man she'd met, but he still lived life on the edge. Just differently.

  How would she feel when she learned what Ethan's plans were, and that they involved him? He could hardly believe that she was the mother of a child with Ethan. That must have been a damn shock for him. And how the hell had she gotten herself in a situation like this?

  Realizing that for the moment he had no answers to the questions zipping through his mind, he closed his eyes and dozed off. Ethan had always said Dino was the only person he knew who could fall asleep instantly in a helicopter.

  It seemed as if only seconds had passed when Mike tapped Dino's arm and pointed down. Below them was the Caine farmland, acres of wild grasses, except for the area around the house and the newly built training facility. He saw the back door of the house open and Ethan, in jeans and T-shirt, walk toward the landing area, bending low against the wash of rotors.

  "I hope that breakfast is damned good.” He grinned at Ethan, shaking hands with him.

  "No kidding.” Mike took his turn shaking Ethan's hand. “I had to throw a hot body out of my bed."

  "Yeah, yeah, yeah.” Ethan returned the grins, then his face sobered. “We have a few little problems, gents. I'm hoping you can help me with them. And Dino, thanks for agreeing to take Jen back with you."

  "How did she react to all that?” He walked slowly toward the house beside Ethan.

  "I haven't exactly told her yet."

  Dino and Mike stopped and looked at him.

  "You haven't told her?” Dino asked. “Now isn't that just swell."

  Ethan's face hardened. “Believe me, she won't have much choice. You'll agree when you hear everything. Now come on. Lisa's got breakfast cooking."

  Jamie was sitting at the table drinking juice and Lisa was at the stove cooking when the three men entered the house. Dino went at once to Lisa and squeezed her in a bear hug. Mike settled for a chaste kiss on the cheek.

  "Hey, hey, hey,” Ethan said. “That's my wife you're mauling."

  "And who better to do it than us,” Mike wisecracked.

  "It's really good to see you again.” Lisa grinned.

  "How's our favorite young guy?” Mike held his hand out to Jamie.

  "Doing great.” His eyes widened. “Do I get a ride in the copter today?"

  "Not today, son,” Ethan told him. “We have some business to take care of and then these guys have to take off."

  "Next time,” Dino assured him.

  At that moment Jen and Deanne came into the kitchen and Dino felt as if someone had punched him. Gone was the exotic blonde who'd tantalized so many men. This woman, rather than being slender, was almost painfully thin. Her hair was still the same taffy color, thick and full, but she had it scraped back in a ponytail, making her features stand out in stark relief and accenting the deep circles under pale green eyes. She looked as if she'd barely slept and everything about her screamed fear.

  Her eyes widened when she saw him.

  "Dino?"

  Was that a blush staining her cheeks? Jennifer LaCroix blushing?

  "Hi, Jen. Good to see you, even if the circumstances aren't the greatest."

  He took her hand, lifted it and kissed her fingers with his usual gallantry, but when he looked into her eyes something fractured in his well-protected heart. This wasn't just fear he was seeing. It was full blown terror, and all his carefully controlled protective instincts roared to life. Not to mention the vestiges of feelings he thought were dead and buried. How the hell was he going to do this?

  She gave him a weak smile. “Good to see you, too, after all this time. Are you the cavalry Ethan called in?"

  "Seems that way.” He glanced at the dark-haired little girl, also stick-thin, glued to her mother's side like an extra appendage. Her long brown hair had been pulled back into a ponytail like her mother's and her eyes reflected the same fear. It wasn't hard, though, for him to see Ethan in her features. “You must be Deanne. I'm Dino, a friend of your mother's."

  The child just stared at him mutely, the same terror in her eyes he'd seen in Jen's. He shifted his gaze back to Jennifer, who looked at him as if she was facing a death sentence. Something bad was going on here.

  Lisa dried her hands on a paper towel. “Deanne, would you like to have some orange juice?"

  Deanne nodded, her arms still wrapped around Jen's leg.

  "I'll get it.” Jamie hopped up and went to the fridge.

  "Thank you, Jamie. That would be nice. Come on, sweetheart,” Lisa coaxed. “Come sit down at the table here."

  Deanne looked terrified of letting go of her mother, but Jen bent down and whispered to her and she eventually nodded and hitched herself quietly into a chair.

  Ethan set down the mug he was holding and headed for the door. “Jen, I'd better put your car in the barn. Just in case."

  Dino studied Jen through narrowed eyes. “It's a shame your little girl has to go through this,” he commented. “Children shouldn't have to put up with that kind of fear."

  He saw her entire body tense. “Listen, Dino..."

  Lisa broke into the conversation. “Jen, do you think Deanne would like to play video games with Jamie until breakfast is ready? I guess she wasn't in much of a mood to play last night.” She looked at her son. “That okay with you, sweetheart?"

  Deanne slipped off her chair and buried her face against Jen's chest.

  Jen kissed her on the forehead and stroked her hair. “Go on, sweetie. You need to have some fun for a little bit. It's okay. We just need to talk. Like last night, remember?"

  "You won't go off and leave me, will you?” The child's voice held a terrible note of desperation.

  "I'll be right here whenever you want to find me. Now go ahead. Go with Jamie. Okay?"

  "Come on.” Jamie coaxed, holding out a hand to her. “I've got a brand new game I haven't even opened yet. You can be the first to try it."

  As soon as they were well out of the room, Jen turned back to Dino. “Has Ethan told you what's going on?"

  "Not all of it but the necessary part,” he said in a soft voice. “Enough to get me up here from the Keys first thing this morning. Jen, I'm so sorry this is happening to you."

  "I guess you think it's my fault.” Jen stuck out her jaw defensively.

  Lisa carried the carafe to the table and began refilling cups. She paused and looked directly into Jen's eyes. “I don't think anyone here is going to judge anyone else. I was married to a man who turned out to be a drug addict, a criminal, and an abuser. He faked his own death and kidnapped his own son, so I certainly don't point fingers at anyone."

  Dino saw the shock slash across Jen's face. “My God! Are you talking about Jamie?"

  A faraway look came into Lisa's eyes, as if she were reliving the nightmare all over again. Then she closed her eyes, and when she opened them the look was gone. “Ethan got him back for me. That's how we met.” A soft smile curved her lips. “And fell in love."

  "You look like you have a good t
hing going here,” Jen persisted. “You can't be too happy to have someone from his old life just drop in like this."

  "If it hadn't been for his old life, I'd never have gone to Ethan for help. Without his skills and contacts he'd never have been able to get Jamie back.” She nodded at Dino and Mike. “Ethan and these men saved Jamie and me. That's the kind of debt you can never repay. Our marriage is rock solid. If Ethan can help you and Deanne, then he has my full support."

  "Despite the paternity thing?” Jen pushed.

  "It's a fact we can't ignore. I didn't know Ethan then so...” She let the words trail off. Deanne was a factor she was just going to accept.

  Jen's lips twisted. “I'm not sure I'd be quite so gracious if the situation were reversed."

  "It isn't important."

  Jen shook her head. “How the hell did he find someone like you?"

  Lisa's mouth curved into a smile. “He and my brother are best friends, but Ethan and I couldn't stand each other for a long time. Now. Breakfast will be on the table in a few minutes."

  The side door slammed and everyone looked up as Ethan re-entered the kitchen.

  "Good thing it's Saturday and there aren't any classes today. I'd just as soon not have anybody on the grounds until I get things squared away here.” He turned to Dino. “Thanks for doing this. The situation's complicated and I'm not as flexible as I used to be.” He gathered Lisa into his arms in a bear hug and gave her a kiss that stopped just short of embarrassing the onlookers.

  Jen opened her mouth as if to say something, but Dino caught her gaze and winked at her.

  I'll take care of it, his look said. You don't have to worry. He was shocked to feel the jolt of electricity that suddenly zinged through him.

  Oh, Lord, I'm in trouble here.

  "How much do you know about the antiquities market?” Ethan asked his friend, seating himself at the head of the table. “I had some ... situations dealing with it a few years ago, but I've been away from that aspect of things for a long time. I understand, though, it's escalated since then. I do know that items stolen from museums and archeological digs and smuggled into the country are worth more than diamonds. Collectors will pay any price for them. And where they were stolen from dictates how high the price goes."

  "From what you said, that seems to be at the heart of the matter.” Dino picked up his mug and sipped at the hot brew. He looked at her over the rim. “Am I right?"

  Ethan nodded and looked at Jen. “Like I said last night, Jen's husband got himself in a no win situation. Now he's ... out of the picture and Jen and Deanne are in a great deal of danger. I'd say the only way to keep them safe is for us to find out who's behind this ring and ... fix it."

  "If we don't,” Dino agreed, “they'll never have another day of peace in their lives."

  "Wait, wait, wait.” Jen fluttered a hand at them. “I didn't mean to drag everyone into this mess. I just need someplace for Deanne and me to hide out until it's over."

  Ethan's face took on a hard look. “Jen, it will never be over as long as they're out there. Whoever they are. I've already made some calls just to get things started, but now we need to discuss exactly how we're going to handle this."

  Jen stared at them, then dropped her head into her hands, but not before Dino had seen a hopeless look in those emerald eyes. He wanted to see the fire back, not that look of defeat.

  "You know whoever's behind it has to be someone like—” Dino stopped and looked self-consciously at Lisa.

  "Like Charles?” she finished softly. “It's all right. I don't think any of us will completely forget the man.” She kissed Dino on the cheek. “But I can talk about him now without having hysterics."

  She set platters of food on the table, then picked up the two plates she'd fixed for the children and headed down the hall toward Jamie's room.

  "I appreciate you jumping in like this, Dino,” Ethan told his friend.

  Dino shrugged. It was a given that the two men would do anything for each other, any time. “No prob. So let's eat and get at it."

  He winked at her again and was astonished once more to see her actually blush.

  Lisa handed the filled plates to Jamie. “Here you are. You can take your food back in your room. I think you and Deanne will be more comfortable there."

  "No problem.” Then he whispered, “I get it. I'll keep her busy."

  Ethan waited until everyone had helped themselves to the food before getting back to the subject.

  "First things first,” he continued, “Jen, I'd like to lock both you and Deanne away in a closet until this is over, but I'm afraid we can't do it without you."

  "What do you mean?"

  "What he means,” Dino interrupted, “is that no one's going to be a better resource than you. You know John's habits, the people he worked with, impressions of them. A lot of little things that might add up when we put them down on paper. I'm taking point on this. Ethan's already told you that. So you and I will have to work as a team."

  He pushed down the fingers of anticipation that teased at him. How would she react to the next piece of news?

  "So what I'm going to do,” Ethan picked up the thread smoothly, “is send you back to Key West with Dino. That's his operating base. No one will think to look for you there, you can work with him in relative security, and it separates you from Deanne."

  Jen paused in the act of carrying a forkful of food to her mouth. “What about Deanne?"

  "She stays here.” He held up his hand as Jen glared at him. “She'll be a lot safer here. This place has electronic and human guards twenty-four/seven. No one can get to her here, pull her away from you and use her against you. And whoever's on your tail will be looking for a woman and a small child. Separating the two of you takes that out of the equation. You've got to take an active role in this and it can't be from here."

  "You're trying to get rid of us,” she accused him. “Or maybe take Deanne away from me by putting her beyond my reach?"

  "Damn it—” Ethan started.

  Lisa put a hand on his arm and looked at Jen. “That wouldn't even cross his mind. I know how you feel about being separated. Believe me. But Ethan gave this a lot of thought last night and we discussed all the angles before he called Dino. This is the best way to protect both of you."

  Jen shifted her emerald gaze to Dino. Once more he felt that punch to the gut, and this time he saw an answering spark, one that she quickly extinguished. But a stray grin teased at her mouth.

  "So does this mean that you're in charge of me?” she asked him.

  Dino cleared his throat. “What Ethan says makes sense. Besides, like he pointed out, Deanne will be safer here than the president with all the security around her."

  And I'm really looking forward to taking you home with me and wiping away that look of desperation in your eyes.

  Lisa turned to Jen who was stirring her coffee as if her life depended on it. “I'm guessing one other reason you brought Deanne here was to give her a chance to know her father. This is the best way to do that. I don't know you but I do know Ethan. If he thinks this is the right thing to do, then it is. Dino will keep you safe and Deanne will be fine here."

  "But—"

  "No buts,” Ethan told her. “Dino just told you he's going to be doing the heavy lifting on this. He has contacts he can reach out to, things he can do. You've probably got information stored in your brain that you don't even realize might be important."

  Dino drained his coffee and wiped his mouth carefully on his napkin. “Jen. Listen. This is how it is. I run a charter service out of Key West. I set my own schedule. No one expects me to be anywhere on a regular basis and they're used to me disappearing for days at a time, if that's what this calls for. Nobody asks questions about my life. So there won't be any red flags raised to draw anyone's attention to you being with me or what we're doing."

  Usually.

  "I live in what the tourist people like to call a Key West cottage,” he went on. “Nothing fancy
but it's clean and near the water. I have two bedrooms and I think you'll be very comfortable there. And secure."

  "What kind of charters?” she wanted to know.

  "Some fishing, some ... others. But I won't be taking on anything else until we get this squared away, and I'm in position to keep you off the radar."

  "I trusted Ethan with my life and Jamie's,” Lisa told Jen. “It was the smartest decision I ever made. I know you don't like being separated from Deanne, but you need to think of what's best for her, too."

  Jen gave Ethan a hard look. “You aren't thinking of trying to pull any funny stuff here, are you?"

  Dino saw the muscle jump in Ethan's cheek and his eyes narrow, the only visible signs that he was fighting to maintain control. Unlike Jen, he noted.

  "I have no intention of cutting you off from her,” he said in a tight voice. “That would be selfish, foolish, and not very smart. I think you know me better than that. So drop it."

  "Well.” Mike took a swallow of coffee and set his mug down. He'd said nothing up until now. “Okay, then. Let's talk details."

  For the next hour they discussed their plan of operation and how Dino would coordinate everything. Ethan had a contact in the Detroit area he wanted to reach out to so they put that on this list.

  Lisa checked twice on Jamie and Deanne, coming back to report that somehow he had coaxed the little girl into eating her breakfast and trying his video game.

  "When I peeked in just now they were so engrossed in the computer they didn't even know I was there,” she reported.

  Jen flashed a brief smile. “Thank you."

  They'd gone through two pots of coffee before the men were finally satisfied enough to call a halt to the meeting.

  "Thank goodness.” Lisa began clearing the mugs away. “Ethan, everyone needs a break here. Jen looks exhausted."

  "Better exhausted than dead,” he pointed out, “but you're right. I think I've got what I need for now.” He glanced at Jen. “How do you want to handle telling Deanne what the plans are?"

  She tucked her hair behind her ears, fiddling with the loose strands. “I think I should talk to her alone. Then it's up to you and Lisa to make her comfortable with this."