“Maybe we should use a signal scrambler in case they have more hidden on them,” Giorgio Donelli said.
“No need.” Taggart held up his bug detector. “This would have found them all. It’s very thorough. They’re clean.”
Donelli and the woman appeared satisfied. This time they took Cassi and Jared together in a white limousine. It wasn’t exactly low profile, but the car seemed to fit the woman in charge. But was she really in charge? And who was she? Cassi held Jared’s hand and wondered.
They were taken to a two-story house on the outskirts of Lisbon, cut off from the street and other houses by a tall, wrought-iron fence. The house was stately, encircled by lush gardens and cobbled walks. Inside, Cassi saw wood furniture and beautifully woven throw rugs on the pale blue ceramic tile. Though not inexpensive, nothing was of gallery quality, and Cassi decided the house wasn’t owned by the mob family. Perhaps it was rented. But why? The reasons still escaped her.
The Laranda woman herself and Giorgio Donelli escorted them to a room with bars over the windows. She flashed Cassi and Jared a smile behind her black lace veil. “Don’t get too cozy,” she said. “There are hidden cameras.”
“Why?” demanded Jared.
“Because I don’t want you to get cozy. Jared, dear, when will you learn? You were supposed to be mine. I won’t let you be happy with anyone else.”
“You’re not Laranda,” Cassi said. “I don’t know who you are, but Laranda is dead.”
The woman suddenly put her hand to her head as though dizzy. Donelli steadied her. “Shut up,” he growled at Cassi. He added more softly to the woman, “Come, Laranda, let’s go see the doctor.”
She shook him off. “I don’t need that imbecile. I just need to get the information at the bank, and then we can give these two their reward.” She tossed her head like a horse trying to free itself from its bridle. Her breath came quickly now, in short gasps. “Remember, I get my revenge! You’ll rue the day you denied me, Jared.”
“I never denied you,” Jared insisted. “I don’t even know who you are. You’re not Laranda.”
Donelli let go of the woman’s arm and hit Jared in the mouth. He reeled with the unexpected blow, raising his hands belatedly in defense. Donelli waved a gun. “Not today, pretty boy.” He again put his hand on the woman, and this time she let him lead her from the room.
Cassi went to Jared. “Are you all right?”
“Yeah.” He touched his split lip. “I would have ducked, but I wasn’t expecting it.”
“You should have. That guy is totally in love with her.”
“Laranda always had a slew of male followers.”
Cassi took a tissue from a box on the night stand next to one of the two single beds and began to clean Jared’s lip. “She’s not Laranda, right?”
“Right. But who is she?”
“And why does she want us? It doesn’t make sense.”
He put his arms around her. “I know.” In a quiet voice he added, “We just have to hope Fred will find us.”
* * *
“THEY’VE FOUND THE BUGS,” Fred told Justin. “But the tracking transmitter is still working. I hope it’s leading us to the right place.”
“The others will join you by nightfall.”
“Good.”
“What are your plans?”
“For now, we’ll just watch and wait. I want to learn what’s going on. We have to make sure Jared and Cassi are really there. Then I’d like to wait for a good chance to take them. I don’t want to risk their lives any more than necessary.”
“Sounds good. Let me know what I can do from here. Oh, and Fred, I’ve been in contact with Cassi’s friend in England. The wife’s out of her coma. Looks like she’s going to make it after all.”
“That’s good news.” Fred was surprised at the warmth he felt toward people he had never met. “Cassi and Jared will be relieved.” If I get the chance to tell them.
He hung up the phone and gazed at Sampson. “That lady in England is going to be all right.”
The boy blinked back sudden tears. “I’m glad. I really liked her. She’s a great cook.”
“Are you hungry?”
“Yeah.”
“When they stop moving, we’ll grab a bite to eat.”
“Okay,” said the boy. He appeared pensive. Without warning, he shifted the conversation. “Did you know my dad?”
“I met him a few times.”
Sampson’s eyes didn’t leave his face. “Did you like him?”
“I don’t know that you want to hear the answer.”
“I do.”
“Your father was responsible for the death of a very good friend of mine, Linden Johansen.”
The boy showed no surprise. “He was our neighbor. I met him once. Old guy, white hair.”
“Yeah. I really miss him.”
“I miss my dad.”
“I’m sure you do.”
“I wish he hadn’t hurt anyone, though. Maybe then he wouldn’t be dead.”
“I’m sorry, Sampson, really I am.”
“How long have you known Cassi and Jared?”
“Almost four months. Not long, but they’re nice people.”
“Do they keep their word?”
“As far as I know.”
“I wish my dad had been more like them. Maybe then he wouldn’t be dead.”
“Maybe.” Fred’s heart went out to the child who missed his father so desperately. How alone he must feel. Much like Fred in his own apartment at night, with no wife or children to care if he returned.
“Jared and Cassi like kids,” Fred felt compelled to say. “Maybe you can live with them.”
Sampson sighed. “I don’t know. I might never see them again.”
Unfortunately, the words were all too true.
* * *
BROOKE LET GIORGIO LEAD HER to her bedroom. The doctor was there waiting. “What happened?” he asked anxiously.
“They insisted she wasn’t Laranda, and she started acting funny.”
“I see.” The doctor studied Brooke. “I’m going to give her a little something for that headache.”
“I don’t have a—” But she did have a headache. Why did it hurt so badly?
She sat down at the dressing table and removed her hat. Her face was pale and moist with perspiration. She opened her purse and fumbled through the contents she vaguely remembered choosing in America. In a zippered pocket, she found a compact and patted the powder on her face. Then she searched for the right shade of red lipstick. She forced herself to breathe deeply, trying not to worry. Why did Jared and Cassi say she wasn’t Laranda? And why, for that short time, had she suddenly stopped hating Jared? Why had she stopped wanting to have his arms around her? Her stomach twisted and she started to heave.
“Lie down and it’ll pass.” The doctor helped her to the bed. She felt a needle slide into her arm, and in a minute, she did feel better.
“What went wrong?” Giorgio asked.
The doctor shook his head. “You tell me. I was the one who said I needed more time with her.”
Brooke spoke, making her voice calm. “I’m fine now. You may go, doctor.”
He withdrew from her sight, but he didn’t leave the room completely. Giorgio sat beside her on the bed, caressing her arm. For some reason, his touch felt violating and she pushed him away.
“But you said—”
“I’m tired.” She recalled all too vividly how earlier she had led him on. Now the thought made her sick. What was happening to her?
It’s just that inner part that you need to get rid of, she thought. The accident must have been very bad.
Giorgio kissed her brow, and Brooke could barely stop herself from hitting him. He crossed to where the doctor waited by the door. “Fix her,” he said.
“I’ll have to increase the drugs.”
“Do it.”
“I’ll wait and see how she is in an hour. Another session with her could work better.”
“You do what I say.”
The doctor stood firm. “I’m the one responsible for her care, and your uncle employed me. If you have some problem, I suggest you take it up with him.”
“I will.” Giorgio stormed from the room.
Brooke felt a peace fall over her when he was gone. She was safe. Safe. At least for now. Her eyes closed, and the room faded from her view.
* * *
“YOU MUST CALM YOUR HORMONES, Giorgio,” Nicolas told his nephew. “What is important is our plan. Tomorrow the bank, and then the fortune. What happens to any of them after that means nothing to me.”
“Fine,” Giorgio said. “But I don’t want her hurt.”
“No, you just want to keep her drugged.” Nicolas let the irony show in his voice. “Come on, let your more reasonable side take over. That woman is not Laranda, and we can only make her act like it for a time. What then?”
Giorgio took a deep breath. “It’s just that when I’m with her I—” he broke off, as though not willing to show his uncle more weakness.
Nicolas knew then that the woman couldn’t be allowed to live. Somehow he would arrange for her to die by Giorgio’s own hand. That was the only way he knew to cure this type of infatuation. Love was a trap. It was a shame he hadn’t taught the boy that lesson earlier. But better late than never. Afterwards, Giorgio would be a proper heir—and both of them many times richer than they were today.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
THEY LEFT THE HOUSE AT nine the next morning. Jared had been given a pair of blue dress pants, a white shirt, and a khaki blazer. Cassi wore a long flowered skirt and a white blouse. “It seems we have to be dressed appropriately for where we’re going,” Jared said.
Cassi grimaced. “At least it’s not black.”
Jared knew what she meant. In this circle, black was associated with death and funerals. “Well, it’s only a matter of time now. We’ll be free soon.” He didn’t mention Fred, but knew she would take the hint. Fred had to find them.
As they were led from the house and into a white van they hadn’t seen before, Jared strained his neck to see if he could spot signs of Fred and his backup. Nothing. They have to be there, he thought. Of course, the Laranda imposter could have found the tracking transmitter Cassi had hidden in her purse. Maybe he and Cassi were on their own.
Once again Giorgio Donelli, Taggart, and the two Portuguese were their companions. Taggart was at the wheel in the van. The woman posing as Laranda sat in the other front seat. She still wore a hat and veil, though it was teal now to match her new suit. Giorgio sat next to Cassi and Jared, and the two Portuguese were in the rear seat. Jared noticed that everyone but the woman carried a weapon. That was unlike the Laranda he knew. Of course, it could be hidden in her small black purse.
“What are you doing?” Cassi asked suddenly, her voice showing terror.
Jared looked over to see Giorgio strapping something onto Cassi’s wrist. “What is that?” he demanded.
“Just a little insurance,” Giorgio said, checking the lock on the strap. “Now, let me tell you what’s going to happen. You two will go inside the bank with Taggart. He’ll help you contact the person you need to see. You will go inside and open the safe deposit box assigned to you with this key.” He handed Jared a key. “You get what is there and you come out. It’s simple.”
“Then why that?” Jared pointed to Cassi’s wrist.
“If you make any trouble, Cassi won’t make it back to the van unless you carry her.” Giorgio smiled without mirth. “The drug inside can be activated remotely. And it’s not a sleeping drug. Only we can give her the antidote in time.”
The Laranda imposter in the front seat held up a vial containing a clear liquid. “She always was your weakness, Jared. This guarantees that you will come back like a good boy.”
Jared’s stomach twisted. This was exactly something Laranda would do. “But your man will be with us.”
“What is one against two inside a bank?” asked Giorgio. “Besides, I suspect he won’t be allowed inside the vault with you.”
“Put it on me, then,” Jared said.
The woman laughed. “I don’t think so.”
They drove to the bank in silence. Jared wondered what could be so important in the safe deposit box that people were ready to kill for it. Drugs? Art treasures? No, there wouldn’t be enough room inside the box. But perhaps diamonds or money? Well, they would soon know.
After four turns around the block, Taggart found a parking place opposite the bank. He jumped out of the van and came around for Cassi and Jared. “Remember, not one false move,” warned Giorgio.
Taggart grinned and pushed his beret down to conceal his forehead. Jared couldn’t tell where the brown fabric ended and the man’s hair began. Cassi’s hand slipped into his. “I don’t like him,” she whispered. Jared didn’t like the man either. It was too bad the police in London had let him go.
“Hurry.” Taggart motioned for Cassi and Jared to precede him to the bank. The Portuguese thugs followed but stopped at the doors and waited outside.
Once in the bank, they had to stand in line for a teller, and with the small crowd, Jared could see that he and Cassi might have had a chance to escape. But not with the drug poised over Cassi’s wrist. Jared thought about the sleeping drug he carried in the ring around his finger. Taggart hadn’t found that, at least. He wished he could use it on the man now.
Their turn arrived and Taggart spoke to the clerk, who nodded and disappeared. “They need to make sure you are who you say you are.”
“But we don’t have any ID,” Jared said. “We left our things back at the cabin.”
Again Taggart flashed that annoying grin. “Don’t worry. I’m prepared.” Out of his pocket, he brought two passports.
“Those aren’t ours,” Jared said, noting the date inside.
“We had them made for you.”
Another man came out and led them to a small office. There was a file on the desk. He spoke to Taggart. “Give him your passports,” Taggart said. Cassi and Jared obliged.
This went far beyond any check Jared had ever seen. The man pulled out photographs of them, along with fingerprints. There were also photographs of the clothes they were wearing, and even hair samples. The man carefully read the rows of notes inside the file. Then he insisted on taking fresh fingerprints and scanning them into his computer for comparison.
Jared and Cassi exchanged amazed glances. “She’s not Laranda,” Cassi whispered. “But I’m beginning to believe Laranda is somehow behind it. This is not your typical bank check. Do banks even have this kind of software? She must have paid for it.”
Jared felt the same way. As impossible as it might sound, this had Laranda written all over it. “Maybe it was her backup plan in case she didn’t kill us the first time.”
Taggart watched their interchange with amusement but didn’t comment on it. “It seems our banker friend here is finally satisfied that you are who you say you are. He’s going to let you in now.”
The banker stood and led them from the room.
“You’re right about the software,” Taggart said, almost too casually. “Laranda did pay for it.”
“Laranda is dead,” Jared insisted.
“Perhaps. It makes no difference. But what is in that box does.”
“What do you care?” Cassi said. “You’re only a hireling.”
Taggart smiled. “Actually, we’re working on the same side. I’m with the FBI.”
“What?” Cassi gasped.
Taggart nodded. “Don’t let on, now. I thought you’d both feel better going along with all this until we get to the end if you knew I was here to protect you.”
“So that’s why the police let you go so easily in England,” Jared said.
“Not at all. Donelli’s lawyer got me free. Until a few minutes ago, the FBI didn’t even know I was here.”
“So can’t you free us?” Cassi asked.
“Not yet. You do want to know who�
�s behind this and why, don’t you?”
“Of course we do,” Jared said. “But that doesn’t mean we won’t try to get free the minute we can.”
“Soon,” Taggart promised.
They had reached a glass door lined by metal bars. The banker let Cassi and Jared inside, but Taggart was forced to wait on the other side of the glass. “I don’t trust him,” Cassi whispered to Jared.
“But he’s one of us.” Taggart’s revelation had made Jared feel more relaxed.
Cassi frowned. “I still don’t like him. Maybe it’s because he found the bugs. Why would he do that if he’s on our side?”
“What if he hadn’t, and they were discovered later?”
“Yes, well, let’s keep an eye on him.”
The banker gave them the box and left the room. Jared opened it with the key Taggart had pressed into his hand at the vault door. Inside was a single sheet of folded paper. They read it quickly together.
The treasure is in Algueirão. To open the door, both Jared and Cassi must be present and go in with me. Once inside, there will be more information. Hope you enjoy the show. Laranda.
An address scrawled across the bottom. Jared shook his head. “This is her writing. I’d know it anywhere.”
“She must have been worried her other plan for revenge wouldn’t work,” Cassi said. “It’s not odd that she chose Portugal, seeing as this is where she also stashed the real paintings her little genius was using to forge those fakes. But all this means that she knew she was going to die.”
“And this was her last-ditch effort at revenge from the grave?” Jared sighed. “That makes a strange sort of sense. She was insane, probably had been for years. Unless . . .”
“Unless what?”
“What if it really is Laranda out there?” Jared shook his head. “No, it can’t be. Anyway, let’s get this out to the car so they can take that off you.” He pointed at the strap on her wrist.
“But Jared, don’t you see? The note, coming here to get it—all this means Laranda really is dead, or at least not here. If that woman out there was Laranda, she’d already know what was on this paper, and we wouldn’t need to come in here at all.”
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