Kaz sat at the counter, sipping acqua minerale, watching the traffic of customers in and out of the restaurant. There’d been no sign of Giuliana waiting tables. Kaz’s tentative enquiry to the bar tender about her had been answered with an indifferent shrug. She chewed her lower lip. The clock over the bar showed it was quarter-to-three. The lunch trade was all but over and she was going to have to admit defeat in the next few moments.
There had been a few men eating alone. Once her heart had started to pump when she spotted the back of a dark head but when the man turned it wasn’t Jeff. The disappointment had been like a punch in the face. She hadn’t realised how much she was depending on this.
She shifted uneasily. Devlin had done a walk by about fifteen minutes ago and the men he’d recruited were somewhere around, though she didn’t know who they were. Or where. They were doing all this on the say-so of a woman who had probably quarrelled with Jeff. Who knew what game she was playing? Or Jeff himself? Maybe he –
‘’Scusi?’ Kaz looked down. A small boy had come up to the bar, from somewhere in the back. He had dark floppy hair, falling over one eye, and an envelope clutched in a small hand. ‘You are Katarina Elmore.’ He pronounced the words carefully, as if he’d been coached.
He looked up anxiously, breaking into the widest smile when Kaz responded. ‘Si. Di dove sei? Did someone tell you to look for me? How –’
‘This is for you.’ The boy thrust the envelope at her and turned quickly.
‘Wait! Ferma!’ Kaz slid off the stool, reaching out, but he evaded her. ‘Please! Wait a moment. I need to know who gave you this …’
The child dodged a waiter and two exiting diners, weaving around a high chair with a mewling baby, towards the door.
As Kaz started after him, the strap on her bag caught on the edge of the bar and she dropped the envelope.
By the time she’d retrieved it, the child was gone.
Chapter Thirteen
‘Nothing.’ Devlin opened the car door and slid behind the wheel. Kaz was sitting in the passenger seat, clutching the crumpled note. ‘No one at the restaurant remembers seeing the kid before. He doesn’t belong there, or in any of the streets around, as far as I can tell. And Giuliana does not work in this restaurant. You okay?’
‘Mmm.’ She’d been trembling when she darted out of the restaurant. She was calmer now. ‘It’s Jeff’s writing.’
‘You sure about that? It’s not much to go on.’ Devlin tweaked the paper out of her hand. ‘Santissima Annunziata. Ten o’clock tomorrow. Come alone,’ he read aloud. ‘Not even a bloody signature!’ If the note was from Elmore the arrogant prick still thought his ex-wife should recognise his handwriting, and come when he called. ‘Melodramatic crap!’ Frustration bubbled. The steering wheel was there, in his face. He thumped it. Kaz flinched. The impact juddered up his arm. His knuckles stung. Great move, Devlin. Very adult, very productive. He slumped down into the seat, disgusted. ‘Why pull a stunt like this?’
‘Because it’s the kind of thing Jeff gets off on. We’ve been stirring things, showing his picture around, which pissed him off. This is him pissing back.’
Kaz’s fingers, kneading his rigid shoulder, were small balm to his wounded ego. ‘C’mon, Devlin. This is not a screw up. We’ve got what we wanted. We found Jeff.’
Kaz’s eyes narrowed as she stared through the windscreen. They watched a fat black cat trying to decide whether to jump on the bonnet of the car. It squinted at Devlin. When he scowled it decided against, slinking off instead to a sunny door step. Kaz exhaled gustily. ‘We’ve been played. Giuliana, last night. She was told what to do and say. Jeff wants to turn the tables. Now he’s the one calling the shots.’
‘You think?’
‘Why else?’
Devlin buried a hand in his hair. ‘I suppose it figures. You think he’ll show, or is this just a windup?’
‘I don’t know.’ Out of the corner of his eye, Devlin saw her mouth sag as he reached for the ignition. ‘I’ll find out tomorrow.’
‘We,’ Devlin corrected. ‘You’re not going into that church tomorrow alone.’ He rammed the car into gear. ‘I’m coming with you.’
‘Jamie is my child,’ Kaz’s pronounced through gritted teeth. ‘Which means I do exactly as it says in that note.’ She stabbed a finger at Devlin. ‘What happens if you come with me? You beat the truth out of Jeff, on the altar steps?’
‘It’s an idea.’ Devlin was prowling the room, like something caged in a zoo.
‘You don’t think I’m not tempted?’ Kaz sat down heavily on the bed. ‘But I have to try talking to him. First,’ she added as Devlin turned towards her. He was being unusually pigheaded. Arrogant. She should have left him and gone to her own room, not followed him in here, trying to convince him.
‘Assuming the guy shows tomorrow, you think he’s going to give you your daughter, just because you ask him?’ Devlin bounced round as he reached a wall. Kaz shut down the splinter of her mind that wanted to admire the way he moved. She was getting nowhere, trying to argue. Time to go.
She stood. Looking round for her bag, she located it on the window ledge. She padded across.
‘Kaz!’
‘All right.’ She held up a hand. ‘No, I don’t think he’s going to hand Jamie back to me. It’s just a matter of getting his confidence. Then maybe you come in. Maybe!’ she cautioned, as Devlin growled. ‘I’m still going with the story about needing his signature. No mention of Jamie at all.’ She exhaled, exasperated, as she saw Devlin’s face. ‘What the hell is going to happen to me, in a church, in the centre of Florence?’
All she got in response was another growl. Looked like Devlin was turning tiger on her. Or cave man.
She shut her eyes. She wasn’t changing her mind about going alone. She’d hired Devlin as an investigator, not as a bodyguard. His instinct to protect her, to take charge, was as ingrained as breathing. And as seductive as silk. To sink into it would be so easy. And when Devlin is gone, where will you be? Still dependent, needy, hollow. Looking for a man to structure your life.
She opened her eyes. Devlin was scowling, with something in his glance she couldn’t read. Frustration was coming off him in waves.
‘This whole thing – ’ he began, as soon as he had her attention. ‘It’s just so much crap. Creeping about in churches –’
‘Jeff is getting back at me. He’s mad because we embarrassed him with the photo thing. Maybe we worried him a little, too. I hope so. That doesn’t make him dangerous.’ She reached for her handbag. ‘Actually, I don’t know why we’re even having this conversation. We both know he probably won’t be there.’
‘So it really doesn’t matter if I’m with you,’ Devlin put in smoothly. ‘Come on, Kaz. I’ll be at the back of the church. Jeff won’t even know I’m there.’
Kaz felt her chest constrict as Devlin’s face softened. Nerveless fingers let go of the strap of her bag. He was reeling her in, pulling her close, cupping her cheek. His knuckle was treacherously warm on her skin, tracing her cheekbone with a feather touch that ran through her like hot liquid. His hips were close against hers, nudging her towards the bed. As his hand dropped to the vee of her sweater, her breasts began to tingle.
‘Your ex thinks he’s smart.’ Devlin’s voice was soft, close to her ear. ‘He doesn’t know who he’s dealing with. I can –’
Deep in Kaz’s brain, something connected.
‘Whoa!’ She jumped back, pushing Devlin’s hand away from her. ‘Is that what this is? Some macho thing, between you and him? Just because I went to bed with you!’ She spun away, shoulders rigid, evading as he tried to pull her back.
‘Kaz, just listen –’
‘No, you listen.’ She stood her ground. ‘I’m going to that church tomorrow, alone. If you think you’re going to seduce me into changing my mind –’ her eyes fli
cked to his groin – ‘you’re going to have a long, hard wait.’
Grabbing her bag, she swooped on the door and slammed it behind her.
Devlin stood, staring blankly after her. He put his hands up to the back of his neck, stunned. The air in the room was still vibrating from the impact of door on frame. Slowly he dropped his hands, shaking his head.
‘Christ.’ Well you handled that well.
He flopped onto the bed, grimacing. Kaz was right on the money. He was tight, heavy and hard. And she’d just cursed him with staying that way. What started as a groan turned into a reluctant laugh. He gazed thoughtfully at the door, his mouth twisting. If he knew anything about women, and he was beginning to wonder, he was the one who was going to have to make the moves here. If he ever wanted to get laid again. And Kaz was one hell of –
He jerked his mind away from the thought. This whole thing was in danger of getting out of hand. If the woman wanted to see her ex alone, what did he care? That crack about macho bullshit stung. He’d never been possessive around a woman. He didn’t really know why he’d come on so strong about the meeting in the church. It was just an … unease, griping in his gut. Something that didn’t sit right. He didn’t know what the hell it was, but he was pretty damn sure he wasn’t going to rationalise it away. And Kaz wasn’t about to change her mind, even if he was about to tell her about this … feeling. Which meant he had to do this thing some other way.
He sat up and reached for the phone.
In her own room, on her own bed, Kaz couldn’t stop the tears. Tension, disappointment and pent-up grief for Phil all spilled out in a hot, angry wave that she couldn’t control.
When it was over she scrubbed her eyes, blew her nose and stared at the ceiling. She felt drained but still rebellious. Somehow she had to get to that church tomorrow, without Devlin.
After an hour, she was still no nearer a plan to shake him off.
The knock on the door was so soft she barely heard it. The second one was louder. Irritation blossomed in her chest.
‘If that’s you, Devlin, you can just clear off.’
Next thing she knew, the door was opening. She’d stormed in and thrown herself on the bed, without locking it. She glanced round frantically, looking for a missile. One of her shoes was the closest thing. When the white flag appeared around the edge of the door, she had to stuff her fingers into her mouth to keep from laughing.
‘Truce?’ Devlin’s head followed the flag.
‘No!’ But she put the shoe down. Devlin slid the rest of him into the room. ‘A closed door is meant to be a signal, Devlin. That people outside the room should stay outside,’ she grumbled. ‘What’s that?’
He was setting a carrier bag down on the end of the bed.
‘That is what is known as a compromise.’
Kaz prodded the parcel. ‘It looks more like a lot of electrical stuff.’ She prodded some more. ‘Hey! Is this – what d’you call it? A wire?’
‘Uh-huh. You wear that when you go in the church. I get to hear what goes down. From outside.’ He lifted one of her hands, kissed the knuckles and gave her a grin that was pure evil. ‘Now can I seduce you?’
But it wasn’t like that. It was soft and slow and bone-meltingly sweet. And when he finally slid inside her, they were closer than each other’s heartbeat.
Chapter Fourteen
Kaz slipped into the church, closing the heavy door behind her.
She paused, to let her eyes adjust after the brightness of the square. As far as she could tell, the church was empty. The walls were heavily decorated, but the frescoes here, by lesser-known artists, didn’t draw the crowds. Which was probably why Jeff had chosen it. She took a few cautious steps. Candles flickered. The funereal scent of dying flowers drifted towards her. Bridal bouquets, heaped in offering around an image of the Virgin.
A muffled clanging noise, from somewhere at the back of the church, made her start. She glided towards a niche in the wall, where a light was burning. Eyes down, she might be studying a tablet set low in the wall. Or praying.
‘Can you hear me?’ Even the whisper sounded loud.
‘Every breath you take.’ Devlin’s voice was soft in her ear. ‘It’s kind of sexy.’
She knew what Devlin was doing, but it still made her smile. ‘There’s no one here.’
‘It’s not ten yet. We’re picking you up fine, so no more talking, and don’t fiddle with the earpiece. It’s a dead giveaway.’ With a guilty start, Kaz dropped her hand. Could anyone be watching her? From behind the statues? From somewhere above? Her head tipped as she considered the painted ceiling. There was nothing to be nervous about. If Jeff turned up, they’d talk. She had her script planned. She was here about money – the sale of a painting. The hardest part would be keeping a hold on her temper. She needed to get Jeff’s confidence, arrange another meeting. If he didn’t suspect anything, they could follow him when he left the church. Devlin wanted her to get Jeff outside, into the square, where they could be seen, but she wasn’t so sure about that. What could happen, here in a church? Whereas outside – if Devlin thought he should take a hand …
She moved to stand at the entrance to a side chapel. She was perfectly safe. And if there was anything to alarm her, which there wouldn’t be, Devlin and the two Americans were just a shout away, beyond the church door. Munroe and Rossi – big, taciturn, built in the same mould as Devlin. He’d introduced them simply as associates, with a security business here in Florence, but there was more to it than that. They’d worked together in the past, she was sure of it. It didn’t matter. If Devlin trusted them, then so could …
She didn’t hear him approach.
‘Kaz.’ She jumped. ‘Don’t look round.’ His voice was hoarse, low-pitched. He moved to stand beside her and she risked a sidelong glance. His hands were resting on a low rail in front of them. The wedding ring was gone, but she recognised the gold signet. The wristwatch was new. And expensive.
On a spurt of impatience, she began to turn. ‘Jeff, what the hell is all this? I’m only here to talk –’
‘Don’t.’ It was almost a hiss, no more than a whisper. Anguish?
The hairs on the back of her neck rose. Something here wasn’t right.
‘Jeff, what –’
‘You have to stop this, Kaz.’ The words were rapid now, breathless. ‘If you don’t –’ His voice hitched, rose, fell back to a frantic whisper. ‘You have to stop coming after me. It can only be about Jamie. But I don’t have her any more!’
‘What?’ Kaz spun round in shock.
And froze.
In all the years they’d been married she’d never seen fear on her husband’s face.
‘Jeff, please –’ She reached out, grabbed his arm, saw the fear ratchet even higher. ‘Jamie is still alive? Where?’ Hands tightened into claws. ‘What have you done with my daughter?’
‘She … she’s safe.’ Jeff’s eyes were everywhere, scouring the recesses of the church. ‘You have to stop, Kaz. Stop looking. Go home. Before we all die. Go home!’
With a violent jerk, he broke her hold.
Behind them the door of the church slammed open.
Kaz jumped and swung round. A chattering group of tourists poured towards her, led by a woman with a striped umbrella. She swerved sideways, to avoid being engulfed, pushing her way to the edge of the crowd. The space beyond the group was empty.
Jeff was gone.
Chapter Fifteen
When she erupted out of the church into the sunlit square, Devlin was running towards her.
‘It’s okay.’ He caught her in a tight hug, against his chest. ‘Munroe and Rossi are following. They picked him up as he left the church.’ He dived into his pocket as his mobile phone chirped. ‘Yeah. We’re on our way.’ He nodded to Kaz. ‘He’s heading out of the city. Let’s get the car.�
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Munroe walked towards the hire car, shaking his head. Devlin shoved open the door and got out.
‘Sorry, man. That car of his has one turn of speed. He just disappeared.’
‘That may not be entirely true.’ Rossi snapped open a map and spread it on the bonnet of the car. Kaz slid out to join Devlin, as Rossi traced a finger over the unfolded chart. ‘I know this area. I did a job out here a few years ago. Elmore must have turned off here. There are only three properties off that road. Shouldn’t be too hard to find out which.’
It was, of course, the third and last. They could see Jeff’s dark red Lotus from their vantage point in the car, on the hill overlooking the property. It was a tile-roofed, white farmhouse, with a cluster of outbuildings – what looked like a couple of rental cottages, in the process of refurbishment, stables and a barn. The blue of a pool showed beyond the house. Jeff’s car faced the barn. Devlin studied the terrain with a pair of field glasses.
‘No sign of anything moving.’ He handed Kaz the glasses. ‘Wonder why he didn’t put the car inside?’ The barn door stood open.
‘Maybe he’s planning to go out again?’ Kaz speculated. ‘He can’t have realised we were following.’ She lowered the glasses. Munroe and Rossi had driven on, beyond the house, checking for any more approaches – or exit routes.
His eyes still on the buildings, Devlin pushed the start button on the recorder that lay between them on the seat. The exchange in the church re-played, soft but clear. ‘He was pretty keen for you to back off.’
‘He was scared.’ Kaz shivered. ‘I’ve never seen Jeff like that. He doesn’t scare.’
‘How good is his acting?’
‘Very. But not this time.’
‘All that stuff about everybody is gonna die. Sounds like cheap theatrics to me.’
‘You had to be there. He was trying to make it look as if we didn’t know each other. As if someone else might be watching.’ She slewed round in her seat. ‘He knew I was looking for Jamie.’
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