by Diana Miller
“Jack vouched for Sam and Mac.”
“Doesn’t mean they weren’t bought without his knowledge.”
Paul’s hand tightened on Jillian’s shoulder, and he gave Ryan a condescending look. “Which is why you didn’t even start for the Rockies until I’d been alone with them for several days.”
“Okay, so it wasn’t Sam or Mac that Martin was worried about.” Ryan studied his running shoes. “It was Jillian.”
Jillian’s stomach fisted. It wasn’t just Jack. Ryan and Martin also believed she was trying to hurt Paul.
“Jillian?” Paul’s voice echoed through the cave. “What the hell—”
He still had his arm around her shoulders and was glaring at Ryan. She hoped to God that meant he didn’t believe it.
“See why Martin didn’t want you to know?” Ryan met Paul’s glare head-on. “Martin called me when you demanded she be brought to the safe house. He was concerned she might be a plant or at least messing with your judgment. They’d learned early on that you’d lied about the extent of your involvement with her, and you were obsessed with her safety. Martin figured I’d be able to tell if she was getting to you. Then the safe house blew up—”
“Why did you miss that?” Paul asked. “And don’t pretend you took your first nap since you got out of diapers.”
“Except I did, damn it.” Ryan’s gun swayed. “I was on a stake-out in Texas when Martin first called, and it took time to get things set so I could leave. By then, I hadn’t slept in nearly forty-eight hours. Even coffee and uppers didn’t keep me from inching over the center line. I napped for three hours, which was long enough to miss you in Colorado. Martin assumed Jillian had actually made the call to the district attorney’s office, possibly to disclose your location to whoever blew up the place.”
“That isn’t why.” Jillian couldn’t keep listening to suspicions without defending herself.
“Martin was even more worried when you took the blame, Paul,” Ryan said. “He told me to get to the island ASAP.”
“Martin thought I might be letting my hormones interfere with my common sense?” Paul asked in an offended tone.
“So did I, once I met Jillian. That’s a compliment, by the way.” Ryan gave Jillian a quick smile. “I soon concluded she was what she claimed to be and told Martin not to worry.”
Jillian’s stomach relaxed. Although maybe the reason Ryan was sure she was innocent was because he was guilty. Her stomach clenched again.
“I’d officially been on vacation since I left Texas and decided to stick around,” Ryan said. “My plans changed a couple nights ago.”
“What happened then?” Paul sounded bored, but his muscles were as tensed as ever.
“I’d brought some fancy monitoring equipment along. Lucky I did, because someone made a call out that wasn’t recorded by your system. I didn’t get the conversation or even the recipient, although I did figure out how to record future calls.”
“Which worried you so much that you left.”
“I pretended to. Martin and I thought that would make it easier for me to monitor things, including Sam and Mac since one of them must have made that call. I hid the boat and have been living in here ever since. In the other cave.” Ryan pointed. “A tunnel back there connects them, Jillian.”
“How did you avoid the surveillance cameras?” Paul asked.
“I reprogrammed them to free up certain routes at different times. I also programmed your equipment so it wouldn’t pick up my calls to Martin.”
“And you programmed the system to shut off for an hour every morning.”
Ryan shook his head vehemently. “That wasn’t me.”
“Who else could have done it?”
“Either Mac or Sam is better with computers than he’s let on,” Ryan said. “I picked up another message two nights ago, one that gave the island’s coordinates. I still couldn’t identify the recipient or sender.”
“Of course, I can’t check any of this.”
“You could call Martin, although that might reveal our position to whoever’s in the boat.” Ryan glanced at Jillian. “Can you have Jillian lower her gun? I know you can hold yours for hours, but she’s looking a little tired. I wouldn’t want it to go off accidentally while she’s aiming at me.”
Paul finally looked at her. “Are your arms sore?”
“I’m fine,” Jillian said, even though both her arms ached.
Paul’s lips twitched. “You’re such a lousy liar. Sit down. Put your gun where you can reach it.”
Jillian sat on the rock behind her and lowered her arms with relief. She set her gun on the rock beside her and slumped against the cave wall, keeping her attention on Paul and Ryan.
“Why would I betray you?” Ryan asked.
Paul’s lip curled. “For the money, of course. I know how important money is to you.”
“That’s true.” Ryan looked at Jillian again. “I don’t know if Paul finally told you, but he’s filthy rich. Most of the time he ignores his money. It’s disgusting. I’m the one who should have been born rich. I’d be much better at it.” He turned back to Paul. “Which is why I’m leaving the bureau for a job with Maxwell Corporation. Computer security, at four times what I’m earning now. A job I got thanks to Martin, since Jim Maxwell’s his brother-in-law.”
“A bigger salary won’t help if you need a major influx of cash right now.”
“Maxwell’s paying me a signing bonus and buying my townhouse at a huge profit to convince me to move to California,” Ryan said. “That might be pocket change to you, but to me it’s a major influx of cash, enough that I’m planning a several-week vacation after I’m done here. Hell, if I needed more money, I’d come to you, like I’ve done before. I know you’d give it to me, no questions asked.”
Ryan sounded convincing to her, but Paul’s expression was inscrutable. Jillian had no clue whether he believed a word Ryan had said.
“You know why I agreed to do this, to use vacation time to put myself in danger and even move into this stinking cave?” Ryan raised his hand. “Solely to protect your undeserving ass.”
“Put your hand down,” Paul said.
Ryan lowered it. “Don’t you want to know who the leak is?”
“I already know,” Paul said. “You’re the only person who didn’t know I was in Newfoundland but did know I was going to Keystone. You also knew the safe house location in time to arrange the explosion. Then there’s your connection to Taurino.”
“What connection to Taurino?”
“Cut the crap.” Paul gestured with his gun. “I know you’re the one who ID’d Taurino after he was shot. Just you and the medical examiner, since you made the local cops keep their distance. That’s why no one figured out the shots were faked and Taurino was breathing.”
Ryan’s brow furrowed. “I didn’t identify Taurino’s body. Why do you think I did?”
“Jack told me. You were in Miami on another matter.”
Ryan’s brow smoothed. “Remember when Taurino was killed?”
“Four years ago this past January.”
“While I was stuck in Montana working on that posse comitotus mess. October through March, the worst winter in nearly a century. They didn’t let me take a break in Miami.”
Now Paul’s brow creased. “You’re right. You bitched about that assignment enough. But why would Jack lie about that?”
“You’re not going to like this.”
“I don’t like any of this.”
“Jack’s the leak.”
Ryan had just screwed up. Jillian sat up and grabbed her gun. Paul had proof Jack wasn’t behind it. Besides, Jack wouldn’t suspect her if he were involved.
Paul’s mouth fell open, his gun dipping several inches. “No way. Not with all we went through together. He’s got a terrific wife and kids.” He shook his head. “Jack would never do that.”
Ryan raised an eyebrow. “But I would? Jack’s terrific w
ife has expensive taste, and his two kids are in private school. You’ve told me many times your type of work makes lots of guys compromise their ethical convictions. Jack’s also been on Taurino’s payroll before.”
Paul stepped toward him. “You’re lying.”
Ryan held up one hand. “I swear it’s true. Martin called a couple hours ago to tell me Jack was the agent who identified Taurino’s body in Miami. Jack also recommended Sam and Mac, and we’re sure one of them’s dirty.” He lowered his hand. “I know it’s hard to believe. Neither Martin nor I suspected him, either. Until Jack neglected to inform Martin that Jillian was sure she’d seen Taurino alive. I only found that out because I tape all your calls. I’m the one who told Martin.” He tapped his gun against his thigh. “Although I haven’t had time to listen to anything from this morning. I assume that’s when Jack tried to pin everything on me.”
“Why didn’t Jack sell me out while I was in Newfoundland?”
“Because he didn’t know you were there.”
“He told me he knew.”
“He lied,” Ryan said. “Jack came to Martin after you were nearly killed in D.C., said he’d heard about you through agency gossip and wanted to help. The gossip part was believable for someone at Jack’s clearance level, and you and Jack were close, so Martin didn’t consider the offer suspicious. He ran it by you, and you agreed.”
“Right.”
“By then you were already in Newfoundland. You know Martin’s strict need-to-know policy, even with people he trusts. Jack only found out you were in Newfoundland when you were ready to leave and he had to arrange for your fake drivers’ license and passport. I assume Taurino’s men recognized you in Keystone because you sent Jack a photo of you in disguise to use on those documents.”
“Or because one of my guards in Newfoundland leaked a photo.”
“Jack knew you were going to Keystone, but not where you were staying,” Ryan said. “That’s why they didn’t find you there. Jack didn’t learn the location of the safe house in the Rockies until he had to arrange to deliver Jillian there. A day later the place blew up.”
Jillian ventured a question. “Didn’t Sam and Mac know where the safe house was?”
Paul shook his head. “They traveled in the back of a windowless panel truck and were searched to make sure they didn’t bring a GPS.”
“The guy who drove Sam and Mac is the same guy who drove you and later Jillian there, and he’s as squeaky clean as Billy and Travis,” Ryan said.
Paul gestured idly with his gun, although his erect posture indicated he hadn’t relaxed an iota. “Jack doesn’t know the island’s location.”
“Obviously whoever was smart enough to program the computer to ignore certain calls and shut down the security system every morning also figured out the coordinates,” Ryan said. “That means either Sam or Mac. My money’s on Mac, because he was in Miami for a couple years before Taurino decided to play dead.”
“If all this was going on, why didn’t you tell me?” Paul asked.
“We didn’t think Sam or Mac was supposed to kill you. Without backup and stuck on the island, that would have been suicide. If you’d known our suspicions about them, you’d have insisted on being involved. That might have endangered you.”
“I’d have everything resolved by now.”
Ryan shrugged. “Complain to Martin, since it was his call. Right now, we’ve got other concerns. The bad news is that there are four in the boat. Worst-case scenario, if both Sam and Mac are dirty, it’s six against three. That includes Harry on our side, but not Jillian, since I assume you won’t let her near this thing. The good news is I’ll bet our not-so-dead friend is in the boat. Which means we have a chance to rid the world of Vince Taurino for real this time, without wasting time and money on a trial.”
He raised his chin. “That’s all I have to say. Are you going to believe me or shoot me and make your odds worse than they already are?”
Jillian held her breath. She still couldn’t tell what Paul was thinking. For all she knew, he’d detected some fatal flaw in Ryan’s story and was about to kill him. She raised her gun and pointed it at Ryan.
Ryan threw up both hands, including the one holding his revolver. “For God’s sake, if I wanted to make money screwing you, I’d blackmail you. I know most of your secrets, and you’re way richer than Taurino. And if it were because I hate you, I’d have done it long ago. Like in Cancun during spring break when you stole that blonde from me.”
Paul studied Ryan for a moment. Then he laughed, his military posture relaxing. “You were really pissed off. What was her name?”
Ryan gave Jillian an affronted look. “My heart was broken, and he can’t even remember her name? Her name was Melissa, Paul. I fell madly in love—”
“In lust—”
“With her. She seemed to like me, until I introduced her to you. Which I can’t understand since she didn’t even know about your money at first, but I’ve never gotten over it.” Ryan lowered his gun. “Although speaking of blondes, I’d finally forgive you for Melissa if you’d let me have a shot at Jillian.” He winked at her.
Paul sat on the empty rock beside Jillian. “Not a chance.” He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and lowered his own gun.
Thank God. Jillian set her gun back on the rock beside her.
“Your mistake.” Ryan raised his gun, pointing it at Jillian.
Jillian’s heart thudded. Paul’s arm tightened around her, but his gun was aimed ineffectually at the ground.
Then Ryan grinned. “Just kidding.” He lowered his gun. “I’ve always said I’m a better actor than you are.”
“You pointed a loaded gun at Jillian.” Paul scowled. “It might have gone off accidentally.”
“I never shoot accidentally.” Ryan looked at Jillian, and his grin faded. “God, I didn’t mean to scare you. I couldn’t resist with Paul, but I didn’t think—”
Jillian managed a shaky smile. “It was nothing compared to what Paul’s friend Alex did.”
“You can be a real ass, Seaton,” Paul said.
“At least I never stole a friend’s girl.” Ryan walked over and sat on another rock. “Or thought my best friend wanted me dead.”
Paul grimaced. “I’m sorry.”
“We can discuss that later.” Ryan leaned forward, resting his elbows on his thighs. “Right now we need to figure out how to get out of this mess.”
“We’ll start by checking things out,” Paul said. “Jillian will be safe in here.”
“I want to go with you,” she said.
“Worrying about you will interfere with my concentration.” Paul squeezed her shoulder. “I’ll leave your gun.”
“Does she know how to use it?” Ryan asked.
“Sort of. I’ve been giving her lessons.”
“Sort of?” Jillian shrugged off Paul’s arm and turned on him. “Sort of?”
“Okay, as long as she has enough time to aim, and the threat’s wearing a paper target, she should be okay.”
Which might be true, but he didn’t have to say it, or look like he was trying not to laugh. “Don’t patronize me.”
“He can’t help it, Jillian, he patronizes everyone,” Ryan said. “It’s one of his many faults. Unlike me—”
“Shut up.” Paul set his gun on a rock and turned toward Jillian. “I was kidding. You need to stay here where it’s safe until either Ryan or I come back to get you. If anyone else comes in, shoot him, no matter who it is. Don’t ask questions, just assume he’s there to kill you and shoot first. I know it goes against your nature, but you’ve got to do it.”
She nodded.
“You ready, Paul?” Ryan got to his feet. “If we go out through the other cave, we’ll avoid the cameras.”
“Give me a minute.” Paul pulled Jillian close. “It’s going to be okay.” He gave her a long kiss, released her, and got to his feet.
Jillian grabbed his arm. “I lov
e you.” Suddenly it seemed as important to say that as it had not to a few hours ago.
Paul pulled her up and into an even longer kiss. Then he grabbed his gun off the rock.
“Be careful.”
He touched Jillian’s cheek. “I’m always careful. Even more important, I’m damn good, and so is Ryan. We’ve gotten out of things like this before, and we will this time. I promise.”
He and Ryan left Jillian alone in a dim coolness that suddenly seemed darker and colder. She sat on the rock, picked up her gun, and tried not to think.
* * * *
“We’ve gotten out of things like this before?” Ryan asked when they were in the adjacent, smaller cave he’d been occupying.
“Comparable.”
“Comparable to being stuck on an island with cold-blooded killers, outnumbered and out-armed two to one?” Ryan asked. “I’ve never faced anything remotely like this. When did you?”
“In South America.” Paul stepped in front of Ryan and moved a rock.
“Didn’t you nearly die in South America?”
“Only the last time I was there.” Paul extracted a couple revolvers and ankle holsters from behind the rock, where he’d left them several days earlier when he’d checked the cave. Discovering he’d been wrong about Ryan had skyrocketed his confidence level.
And he did believe Ryan. Hell, he should have figured out himself that Ryan couldn’t have been in Miami to ID Taurino’s body, but he’d been too upset to think straight and connect the dots. Jack’s betrayal hurt, but he’d have to deal with that later. He was very glad to know Ryan was innocent, and not just because he could use his help now.
He handed Ryan a gun and holster. “I don’t suppose you risked calling for backup.”
“What kind of idiot do you think I am?” Ryan strapped on the holster. “Of course I called for backup, the second I spotted the boat. Unfortunately, they’re stationed an hour away.”
“It’s better than nothing.” Paul strapped on his own weapon.
“How could you think I’d betray you?”
Ryan’s words slammed Paul in the chest. He should have known. Ryan would help now, but he’d never forgive his suspicions. Even though Ryan was innocent, Paul had still lost his best friend. “It made sense, especially with the lies Jack told me.”