Evil Genius

by Rice, Patricia

  I’d caught Magda in a closet once and tried it for myself. Now that I understood Magda was a little more dangerous than I knew, I realized she probably wasn’t playing nooky in there. At age six, I just thought it looked like fun. By ten, I was a confirmed closet inhabitant.

  Closets have lots of other advantages when one wishes to hide from nannies, tutors, and pestering siblings. I’d even learned to look for false walls after I discovered the entrance to an earl’s pornography collection behind one. I have an interesting education. But closets attached to libraries and studies are the best. In old houses like these, they almost always have peepholes.

  I didn’t speculate on whether servants or spying employers or scheming politicians installed the holes. Knowing human behavior, I’d vote for all of the above.

  All I knew was that I’d done a quick search of the ground floor, found no sign of EG, but I’d discovered the coat closet had an excellent view of the library.

  Chapter Twenty-six

  Ana gets caught in her own trap.

  In August, coat closets tend to be spacious. A moth-eaten muffler left over from the prior winter and someone’s raincoat occupied the space with me. My boot heel caught in a pile of cloth on the floor that I assumed was a sweater fallen from its hanger, and I shook it free.

  I didn’t waste time worrying about what Tex’s aide would do in the foyer while I was in here. That was his problem. I found my peephole and studied the situation in the library.

  The representatives from Congressional offices were standing around with their hands in their pockets, probably discussing ball scores or the women they’d had last night. They didn’t look unduly concerned about sharing my theoretical business proposal.

  The long library table had been covered in white linen and decorated with candles, humidors, and assorted important looking tomes that I assumed some designer bought by the foot in a used bookstore. I’d left the library computer on, but it only played a screensaver at the moment. They should have been suspicious of that, but they were all clueless.

  I smothered an incipient sneeze at the same time I heard a distinct mewling near my feet.

  Like my namesake, I live a doomed life, and at the rate I was going, I was probably destined for a short one. I couldn’t see the floor in the dark, but my nose told me all I needed to know. Some damned cat had left a nest of kittens in the sweater on the floor.

  Trying not to breathe, ignoring a miffed meow outside the closet, I tried to keep my eye focused on the peephole. I thought I saw Hagan in a group of gray suits on the far side, but it was a corner I couldn’t see well from this angle. If I wasn’t mistaken, Blackwell Johnson was in the same group. I hadn’t invited him. Interfering bastard.

  Ed O’Reilly entered, glanced around at the company, checked his watch, and decided to stay for a few minutes. He moved to the wall where I stood, bringing one of the aides with him.

  They were discussing which members of the media they’d allow near their candidate when Pao entered. O’Reilly said something that sounded like shit before I sneezed so loudly, the closet door flew open.

  Maybe it didn’t fly open so much as get yanked. As I hurried out in hopes of escaping anyone within hearing of my sneeze, I stumbled into Sean. Zeke was nowhere in sight.

  Sean caught my elbow and hauled me through the crowded foyer as if he had a good idea of what I’d been doing hanging in a coat closet. I rubbed my watering eyes and sneezed relentlessly, unable to even send a baleful glance at the mama cat returning to the closet.

  Sean looked gorgeous in a tux obviously tailored just for his wide shoulders. Unlike Nick, he played it discreet with white and black, but he looked beyond dashing. And angry.

  “Well, now I know where to look for you when I want to find you,” he said, all but shaking my arm. “I’m supposed to be reporting on Rose’s speech, but I don’t suppose that’s why you’re in a closet, is it?”

  He handed me a handkerchief. I adore men who carry handkerchiefs, but I was getting damned tired of gorgeous, mysterious men who thought they were omniscient. I rubbed my streaming eyes and blew my nose and kept the handkerchief. I’d send him a new batch as soon as I saw his byline on a newspaper and knew where to find him. I had my doubts about ever seeing that byline, and I was wondering what he’d done with my bodyguard.

  “You know what I’m doing,” I answered in the same tone as he used. “Although how you know is highly questionable unless you’re the kidnapper.”

  He dropped my arm like a hot potato and walked off. I’m really good at self-defense—and sabotaging relationships. I didn’t have time to question why he got to be angry and suspicious and I didn’t.

  I had to get inside that library before Graham started speaking.

  Ignoring Sean’s departure, I hurried down the hall to the library door just as Pao stepped out. He saw me but apparently had no reason to recognize me, thank what few lucky stars I might possess. Ed was hot on his trail, probably attempting to locate my sneeze. Or given his reaction to Pao earlier, maybe he wanted to take him down. Maybe blowing up the Edu-Pub warehouse and its contents hadn’t been a financially wise move for one of the parties involved.

  I hurriedly tucked the handkerchief into my purse and sauntered down the hall as if searching for a restroom. I could hear Graham’s voice begin to speak in the library. Both Pao and O’Reilly spun back in apparent surprise and returned to the room.

  Interesting reaction. Had they recognized Graham’s voice or just responded to the note of authority in it? I didn’t have time to ponder before Sean stepped out of the doorway he’d hidden in and fell into step beside me again. Maybe he hadn’t been mad at me but hiding from Pao. Maybe, should I survive this, I’d give relationships another chance. Maybe.

  “And they call your sister the evil genius in the family?” Sean asked incredulously. “Did I just hear Amadeus Graham in there?”

  His incredulity warmed my wicked heart. He didn’t wait for me to answer but halted in the doorway O’Reilly had left open. Since I already knew the players inside, I opted for staying in the hall and listening.

  The computer was on the far wall. I recognized Graham’s mechanical inflection, but I could only catch a few words. I needed to be closer. I should have turned the speakers up to blaring, but then I figured we’d collect a crowd. I wagered the men in the room were drawing closer to the computer to hear, within convenient range of the video camera in the monitor.

  The corridors back here were empty. The rest of the guests had all crowded into the front foyer and reception hall to hear the candidate’s speech. “Where did you send Zeke?” I whispered to the James Bond wannabe straining to hear through the open door.

  “After Nick and the senator,” Sean whispered back before hushing me with an annoyed gesture and pressing me back against the striped wallpaper with one arm.

  Sending for family at a dangerous moment like this wasn’t smart, and holding me back was cause for maiming. I’m the oldest. I get to play the stupid superhero part.

  I stomped Sean’s instep with my heel to remind him I was Brody’s daughter, and sashayed past him when he grabbed the door to keep from keeling over in pain. How dangerous could a bunch of congressional aides be if a dead man could worry them?

  A few of them looked around at Sean’s groan. Their eyes widened at seeing me, but I simply smiled, gave a little wave, and settled on the end of the library table, crossing my knees and swinging my boot heel into the floor-length cloth. My skirt rode up to nearly invisible. They swallowed and returned their attention to Graham. The computer monitor displayed an American flag, I noted with interest. He wasn’t using a video camera on his end.

  I’d missed the introduction and came in as Graham announced, “The Carstairs report indicting the profiteering of the textbook publishing cartel will be released to the media shortly. If you were called here tonight, it’s because your congressman was named in the report as part of the syndicate. Those of you aware of the cartel’s underlying int
erests might take this opportunity to come clean while you can, before the scandal hits.”

  Even past all the high-flying words I caught the threat. Underlying interests? Besides making money? I’d read far enough into the encyclopedia to grasp the purpose of monopolies—greed and control—although I found it hard to believe textbook publishing was a money maker. Which meant... Hell if I knew. I tried to concentrate on Graham’s authoritative discourse.

  “According to my sources, Sak Thai Pao’s laundering of soft money campaign funds through the distributor he formed for your use is currently under investigation by the bureau of Homeland Security. His connection to the publishing cartel is imminent, and his reputation is questionable. If you wish your candidate to survive, a housecleaning is recommended.”

  O’Reilly looked thunderous, but Pao remained complacent as the American flag disappeared, and Graham’s voice fell silent. I suspected the speech had been taped.

  Blackwell Johnson nodded knowingly. Apparently that little diatribe confirmed what he’d told me earlier, although he hadn’t mentioned Pao. None of this was finding EG.

  I didn’t see Hagan any longer. Had he escaped while I was lingering outside the door? I glanced around the library and discovered a servant’s door to the back hall disguised in the paneling. Shit.

  Should I see where he’d gone? If there was any chance that EG was in the building, I didn’t want any of the presumed bad guys near her. But Nick and the senator were out there. The house was full of people. Surely nothing bad could happen. Yet.

  Several of the aides looked puzzled at my arrival. Most of them didn’t know I’d instigated the gathering, but they studied me surreptitiously anyway. For the amusement of it, I helped myself to a cigar from the humidor and began peeling the wrapping. The few who recognized me turned in my direction with expectant expressions.

  “Who are you?” O’Reilly demanded. “Why have you resurrected that paranoid schizophrenic?”

  Interesting phrasing. I assumed the insult meant he’d recognized Graham’s voice and knew who he was. Or had been. This could be an enlightening evening in more ways than one.

  I raised my arched dark eyebrows and twirled the cigar in the crotch of my fingers. “Me? I’m just looking for my little sister. She looks a lot like me, only younger and smaller. If any of you have seen her, I’d appreciate knowing where. Our plane tickets are waiting at the airport.”

  All appeared puzzled, except Pao. Expressionless, he eased toward the servants’ door. Fear clenched in my throat. I wished Nick would hurry up. I needed to know EG was safe.

  I was lousy at this cloak and dagger stuff. I should have noticed that door and stationed good old Zeke there.

  I was aware of Sean lingering just inside the main doorway, but I had no reason to trust anyone, especially if Graham had taped that speech so he could be elsewhere right this moment.

  Noticing Pao’s impending departure, O’Reilly diverted his attention from me. “Wait a minute, Pao. I want to hear about this money laundering gambit. I don’t need the media down my back on that.” He angled his head to indicate Sean’s presence.

  Ah, so he actually was a journalist. Score one for the boy. I relaxed a trifle now that Pao was cornered by someone more powerful than me.

  “As you say, this person on the computer is mentally deranged. All investments are audited,” Pao replied politely.

  I had a feeling this was a performance for Sean’s sake. My only concern was in finding EG and getting the hell out of there. I had to keep an eye on all parties present until I knew EG was safe. I’d certainly made my presence known if the kidnapper wanted to contact me.

  To my interest, while O’Reilly was shoving past his comrades to reach Pao, Blackwell Johnson came out of his daze and eased in my direction. The man was a greedy shyster, but he wasn’t on my suspect list. Only, as determination replaced his earlier deer-in-the-headlights expression, I started having second thoughts.

  Maybe this wasn’t about Mindy’s murder or Graham. Maybe this was about us. How stupid can one person be? Who else would want us out of the country except the guy we were suing for all he was worth? Not that it would do him any good. We’d come right back. So chances were good that his intention wasn’t to put us on that plane.

  I leaped down from the table and eased toward Sean and the doorway. Caught up in their own discussions, glancing at their watches, no one else noticed, or if they did, they didn’t care.

  “I don’t know what this little production was about, Miss Devlin,” Blackwell said calmly enough as he caught my elbow and blocked my exit, “but it’s time we had a chat.” ~

  Muttering under her breath, EG attempted to shake the window mullions loose from the frame, but this was an old house, built with real wood and nails and not plastic pop-ins. She’d smashed all the panes but not a single person in the parking lot below had noticed. She’d hoped at least the smokers would look up once the chaos steadied and everyone was inside, but breaking glass outside a kitchen apparently didn’t capture anyone’s interest.

  She could be left up here to starve and no one would notice. All her genius was useless without any tools to apply it to.

  Panic was rapidly turning to hysteria. Her new knee socks were filthy from crawling around the floor looking for trapdoors or loose boards. Hating acting like a baby, she’d rubbed at the tear stains on her cheeks, but all she’d succeeded in doing was smearing the dirt from her hands onto her face. She couldn’t see herself in the mirror now that it was dark. The light bulb had been removed from the ceiling socket.

  She’d come to a few conclusions over the hours, and none of them were pretty. Anyone who knew about her nonexistent millions would know Reggie had them and that she was worth nothing. Tex wouldn’t kidnap her to get at Magda. Even if someone knew Tex was her father, they had no reason to kidnap her when he’d already been framed for murder. She was insignificant in the scheme of things. Unbelievable as it seemed, Ana was the key. Everyone who knew Ana would know that she would tear down mountains for her family.

  Someone wanted Ana to come looking for her.

  Crying again, EG shook the doorknob one more time and pounded the heavy paneling. She was small and couldn’t make much noise. And the noise of the crowd downstairs was much greater than anything she could accomplish. She hated herself for being so stupid. Ana and Nick would never forgive her. They’d never let her stay with them again. She wept over that more than anything.

  None of it would matter if she and Ana were a pile of bones when they were found.

  She pressed her ear to the panel in hopes of hearing footsteps, voices, anything to indicate someone was coming for her. She hadn’t been able to rip off any chair legs like they did in the movies. She didn’t have anything to use as a weapon, except the roll of quarters in her backpack. Ana had taken away the first roll, but EG knew how to go to the bank and get more. She just didn’t think they would work very well on a man a foot or two taller than she was. She’d have to stand on the bed to hit an adult jaw.

  Voices!

  Now that she heard someone talking, she didn’t know if they were good guys or bad ones. It didn’t matter. The bad guys knew where she was. The good ones wouldn’t.

  Screaming at the top of her lungs, she slammed a straight-backed wooden chair against the door.

  “Eezhee!” a familiar voice cried from the other side of the panel. Nick!

  “In here, in here, hurry up,” she called. She knew she was being senseless. He didn’t have a key. He couldn’t beat down a solid door. But she couldn’t help it. Sobbing, wiping her eyes, she tried to think of helpful things, but she was all out of ideas.

  She heard a whispered consultation outside the door. Ana! Ana must be out there, too. Ana would figure out how to rescue her. Ana was safe. Everything would be all right. She would never, ever do another stupid thing in her life.

  “Step back from the door, Eezhee, we’re coming in,” Nick warned.

  Recovering enough aplomb to rea
lize that wasn’t too bright an idea, she backed off anyway. Ana couldn’t break down doors. Nick wouldn’t like messing up his clothes or his hair. Had they found a battering ram?

  Something exceedingly heavy slammed against the door near the knob. At the same time, something else slammed into the middle of the door. The dual pressure cracked the frame near the lock, and her heart did a little leap of delight.

  One more dual blow and the lock caved. Nick came tumbling in—followed by Tex.

  “Daddy!” Weeping uncontrollably, EG threw herself into the strong arms open and waiting for her.

  Lifting her to his shoulder, Tex snuggled her close, and she sobbed harder, this time as much in joy as relief.

  Rising from the floor, Nick flicked the dust from his polished shoes with a handkerchief and brushed a wave of hair out of his eyes.

  “Euell?” a woman’s voice called uncertainly. “Are you up here? The senator is looking for you.”

  A slender, polished woman in an evening gown appeared in the doorway and stared at EG in Tex’s arms. For a brief moment, EG stared back at the woman who didn’t know she existed, and then her brain kicked into gear.

  In a flash, EG scrambled to get down. “Where’s Ana? I think he wants Ana.” ~

  Sean left his post at the oak rolltop desk near the doorway and sauntered in my direction when Johnson caught my arm. Several of the aides checked their watches as it became obvious Graham wouldn’t be returning, and that I didn’t have anything to add to the meeting. It was already after nine. The speech should be starting, but I hadn’t heard a roar of applause yet. My inspired confrontation hadn’t uncovered terrorists or kidnappers—only one scared lawyer.

  Johnson couldn’t see Sean approaching from behind him. “I don’t think you have any idea what you’re doing, Miss Devlin. You’re new to D.C. You don’t know who the players are.”