by Roy Johansen
But Kendra did, and she realized that Noah would as well before this was over. She’d seldom seen Lynch this angry. “I still can’t believe he’d do this to Dee.”
“Believe it. Some people only see what they want to see. Noah was probably starting to make excuses for himself the minute he gave the order to hedge his bet to protect that twenty million.” He added coolly, “But I’ll make certain that he knows exactly what he did after we have Dee back safe and sound.”
“It was Carruthers!” Noah strode out of the other office. “Just as I thought, Lynch. He confessed and I’m turning him over to my personal security force. I’ll make certain that he’s prosecuted to the full extent of the law.” He caught sight of Kendra. “Hello, Kendra, you’re just in time. Isn’t she, Lynch?”
“Yes, just in time. I was telling her how helpful you were being.” The words breathed irony. “I’ll call and let Kelland know we’ve solved that puzzle. But it appears you’re going to have to fork out another five million, so you’d better call those financial wizards of yours and get them working on it. That won’t be a problem, will it?”
“Of course not,” Noah said quickly. Then he smiled with relief. “That must mean what Carruthers did caused no real harm. Delilah will still be released. I knew it!”
“Did you?” Lynch asked softly. “I didn’t.” He took a step toward him. “You must have a sixth sense about—”
“Come on, Lynch,” Kendra interrupted as she grabbed his arm. He seemed to have entirely forgotten about not making waves. “I need to get you somewhere we can tend to that wound. You’ve left it too long.” She was leading him toward the door. “Get on the phone now, Noah. We’ll expect that cash here by early tomorrow. I’ll call Kelland and tell him how cooperative you’re being.”
“Yes, do that,” Noah said eagerly. “Make certain he knows that even though this wasn’t my fault, I’ll work hard to make sure the next time will be different.” He frowned. “And tell him to keep Matt Dalborne from smearing me. That scumbag politician has called me twice today and yelled at me. I know he’s going to try to use this to gather enough press coverage to ride it straight to the White House.”
“I think we all realize there’s no question there won’t be a repeat of this disaster.” She slammed the door behind them.
“You didn’t have to rescue him from me. I probably wouldn’t have done anything too lethal,” Lynch murmured. “Though I admit he was annoying me.”
“Obviously. I didn’t trust you.” She shook her head wearily. “I didn’t trust myself. You’re not the only one who wanted to sock him. Too many bad things are happening, and I’m not reacting well. I need to take back my control. So after I give Jessie a call, the first thing I’m doing is driving you to the ER and getting you a CAT scan. Then if they tell me your head isn’t going to blow up, we’ll go to Jessie’s place and you can get some rest.”
“I promise my head’s not going to blow up, Kendra.”
“That would be nice, but like I said, I don’t trust you. I want to make sure of something, anything.”
“Okay.” He took her hand and held it tightly. “Then we’ll make sure my head’s going to remain in one piece.”
“That sounded patronizing.”
“It’s your imagination. I wouldn’t dare. Now let’s get out of here…”
* * *
Dimness, curved walls, long, narrow room…
Same place as before, Dee thought dazedly as she opened her eyes. For the first time, she was aware of a white panel in the back with a large silver door. It looked new, unlike the worn walls, ceiling, and floor everywhere else.
She had been drifting in and out of sleep for the last few hours, but she hadn’t let that witch, Charlotte, know she’d regained consciousness after being yanked roughly wide awake to answer that damn ransom question the woman had hurled at her. She would have told her to go to hell if she hadn’t realized that very personal question must have come from Jessie. Besides, the one thing Dee had learned during those last encounters with Charlotte was that all she’d get from her was threats and ugliness.
She’d decided she’d do better to just try to get her bearings, think about all the things Jessie had taught her over the years, move forward, and hope that someone else would show up who would be more accommodating. And this time when she drifted back to awareness, she realized that she might have gotten lucky. Because whoever Charlotte was speaking to now was receiving the same scathing venom she’d been handing out to Dee earlier.
And it was also definitely the same bitter voice. “It’s ridiculous.” Charlotte was standing just out of Dee’s field of vision, but her voice was even more angry than it had been the moment Dee faded into unconsciousness. “You’re all fools, Dorset. You were given a simple job to do and you couldn’t even bring home that money. It’s a wonder that you weren’t caught. I was the only one who did everything right. If it had been me in charge, I would have found a way to make you pay for that carelessness. Didn’t anyone tell you we have mafia contacts at our disposal? How would you like to deal with them?”
“Do you think I’m not paying?” It was a man’s voice and it was just as bitter. “He cut my share in half for the next go-round, and he sent me here to help you guard that bitch. He got tired of you complaining. I think he was afraid you’d kill her and leave us with nothing.”
“And I would, if I could talk sense into him. She’s not worth the bother.” She was silent. “But he recognizes my value and knows that I deserve something better than being a watchdog to that cash cow you’re all so eager to keep penned up here.” She added, “So I’ll take your help, Dorset. You’ll do what I say or I’ll cut her throat and tell him you did it.”
“He wouldn’t believe you.”
“But you’re not sure, are you?” She added in a whisper, “You’ve never been sure about me. Now get out of here. I thought I heard her stirring. I’ll call you when I need you.”
Dee heard a curse, and then a slashing bolt of light lit the dimness—that must have been the silver door opening.
“You are awake.” Charlotte’s face was suddenly above her. “Listening to us? Not that it did you any good. All it proved was that you’re surrounded by people who care nothing about you. They couldn’t even get the instructions about the ransom right. They tried to pull a fast one and trap us. Now they’re probably shivering in their boots afraid that we’ll send them your head in a box.”
“And are you going to do that?”
“I haven’t decided.”
She shook her head. “It’s not up to you. I heard that much.” She paused. “Who does make the decision, Charlotte?”
“If I told you, then I’d have to kill you.” She chuckled. “Maybe that’s what I should do. The perfect excuse. I’ll have to think about it.”
And she might decide to make use of that or any other excuse, Dee thought. “You would have done it before if you’d had the option. And I must be worthwhile to someone or they wouldn’t have sent that man to keep you under control and make sure it wouldn’t happen. I think I might be safer than you’d like me to believe.”
“Are you? Think what you want.” Her smile was ugly. “But not if you rely on Dorset. He was sent because I was more important than him and always will be. Which means you can’t be sure when I’ll get my way.” She said softly, “But you can bet it won’t be your way, Delilah.” She was unfastening the IV. “Sit up. There’s only one thing good about Dorset showing up and that’s that I can make him take care of you until this is over. I got sick of getting calls with questions about whether you were still alive and if I was getting that drug right. From now on Dorset can do it.”
“He can’t be worse than you are.” Dee’s gaze was once more raking her surroundings. Curved walls…that bolt of brilliant daylight. Even in this dimness she was able to recognize where she was. “This is an airplane. A big one. Maybe even a jumbo jet. There aren’t any seats, but I can see where they used to be. We must be on the
ground because there’s no noise from the engines. What am I doing in an airplane?”
“Being a pain in the ass,” Charlotte said sourly. “Why not? If you give us too much trouble, we’ll just take off and drop you in the Pacific Ocean. Maybe we’ll do it anyway.”
And that bolt of brilliant light had been Dorset opening the door and leaving the aircraft. The reason it was so dim in here now was that all the windows were covered. But the only way she might determine where they were located would be listening to what was going on beyond that door. “You’re actually going to let me sit up? Oh, that’s right, you’re not to be trusted to keep me under those drugs indefinitely.”
“That’s all you know. None of those clowns are more trusted than I am. They’re all disposable. You’ll be handcuffed in that metal chair over there. It will be easier if we have to take a photo of you for proof of life.”
“You might have more proof of life than you think if you don’t let me go to the bathroom,” she said dryly. “How long did you have me under?”
“Long enough,” Charlotte said. “But if you think I’m going to take you to pee, you’re crazy. I’ve done enough holding your hand since you were thrown at me.”
“Then what will be, will be.”
Charlotte scowled and then strode over to the door. “Dorset,” she called as she threw open the door. “Your first job. Take the bitch to the bathroom.” She stepped aside to let him come back in. “After that you can tie her up and fix her something to eat.”
Dee blinked as Dorset came into view. His features appeared almost boyish, maybe those of a nineteen- or twenty-year-old. She hadn’t expected that from the rough tone of his voice. “You could do all that,” he growled. “I’m just supposed to guard her.”
“That’s what you’re doing. You can stay and babysit her while I go take a walk and get some air.” She was going past him and down the steps. “If you think you can keep her from getting away. That bathroom is tiny, but so is your brain. Though you might be able to do it. Ask me if I give a damn.” She slammed the door behind her.
Dorset was cursing as he stalked across the plane toward Dee. “Bitch. Bitch. Bitch.”
She knew he wasn’t talking about her. “I agree,” Dee said. “Look, all I asked was to go to the bathroom.”
“Then let’s go do it and get it over with.” Dorset jerked her to her feet. “And if you think that you’re going to get away from me, think again. That dragon bitch would like nothing better than to report I’m doing something wrong. I’m already in trouble enough.” He was pushing her down the aisle. “And now I’m supposed to deal with you? It’s all nuts. Everyone told me they’d be so eager after waiting to get the ransom note that they’d be begging to give it to us. Why didn’t they just turn over the money?”
“I have no idea. It must have been a slipup. I’m worth too much to too many people for them to deliberately do something that would get me killed.” If she’d had any hopes that Dorset was going to be any easier to deal with than Charlotte, they were fading fast. He was surly and bad-tempered, and her best bet was just to pretend meekness. “But I’ll tell you what I told her. It would be very bad press for them to let you kill me. They’ll cooperate if they can. Just give them a chance.”
“We did. Those bills weren’t supposed to have been marked. We’d have probably been caught if we’d taken that payment.” He was shaking his head. “This whole deal has been screwy since the beginning. The money was always good, but I’ve never worked with people like this before. I can’t figure them out.” They had reached the bathroom, and he opened the door to reveal the usual tiny aircraft lavatory. “I’ll give you ten minutes.”
She held out her cuffed hands. “If you want me to be quick, unlock these. You can’t expect me to be able to do anything trussed up like this.”
He hesitated. Then he unlocked the manacles. “Don’t lock the door. Give me any problems and I’ll break both your wrists.”
“I’m not going to cause you problems. I gave Charlotte her damn proof of life, didn’t I? If you run into any trouble from anyone else, I’ll help you deal with them. I don’t give a damn about the money. I want to live.”
She closed the door and drew a deep breath.
Okay, Jessie. Here I am. What do I do next?
Take care of business first. She eliminated quickly and then looked down at her wrists. She had to find a way to slip her hands out of those manacles. Jessie had shown her how to do it when she was making that film about that CIA agent. But playing games was different from the real thing. She couldn’t expect to have it come together in one ten-minute session. Concentrate. She would get it. Just remember everything Jessie had told her…
* * *
Jessie still wasn’t home when Kendra drove Lynch to her house a couple hours later. She called her after she let Lynch into the house. “You’re still at the audio lab?”
“Kelland was right. They’re amazing. I think there’s a chance that we might learn something, though it’s not going as fast as I hoped. Kelland dropped in and checked the results and told me to go home. So I’ll stick around for a little while longer and then leave here. How is Lynch?”
“Not bad. Minor concussion. Though the doctor said he should rest. He’s disgustingly self-satisfied and aching to say ‘I told you so.’”
“In other words, typical Lynch.” She paused. “But I’m glad you know for sure. You’ll feel better now.”
“Maybe. I’ll see you when you get home. Don’t stay too long.” She hesitated. “Kelland didn’t have any other news?”
“No news. We’re still hanging. See you later.” She cut the connection.
Kendra turned back to Lynch. “Jessie is glad that you checked out okay.”
“I heard you,” he said dryly. “Not kind. I thought that I was behaving with extreme self-restraint. Any other news?”
She shook her head. “Only that she’s enthusiastic about the chances of an audio trace. She keeps saying it’s remarkable technology.”
“Yes, it is. I recently ran across a completely new and innovative method developed by the Swiss that impressed me.” He frowned thoughtfully. “I wonder what method Kelland’s techs are using.”
“You can ask him tomorrow. But I’ve sometimes found that innovation can get in the way and cause you to ignore the basics.” She grimaced. “Though I hope we’re going to be too busy tomorrow dealing with that damn ransom to worry about the audios.”
“Nice place.” Lynch was glancing casually around Jessie’s living room. “It looks like her. Sleek, tough, but full of grace.”
“I guess it does. When I first saw it, I was fascinated by the things it told me about her that I’d never known before. Jessie’s very warm, but she’s always been a bit of a mystery.”
“I can see that.” He was looking at the assortment of objects mounted on Jessie’s living room wall. “This is a mystery I’d like to solve.”
“Getting some decorating ideas?”
He turned away from the display. “Uh, no. Not my style.”
“They’re mementos of Jessie’s cases.”
“Then that does make me want to ask about a few of these. What significance does the tennis ball have? Or the red bow tie?”
“No idea. I just know I wouldn’t want anything in my home reminding me of my investigations. Bad dreams do that enough.”
Lynch was suddenly behind her, his hands massaging the small of her back. “You’ve helped a lot of people. Saved a lot of lives. That’s what you’ve got to remember.”
“I try.” She arched as she felt her tense spinal muscles begin to relax. “Sometimes all I can remember are the ones I wasn’t able to help.”
“You’re going to help Delilah Winter.”
“I hope so. But that’s another mystery, isn’t it? Like Jessie.”
“Most interesting people don’t let you see everything they are at one time. You have to earn it.” He smiled. “Heaven knows that applies to you. How long have I b
een struggling to see beyond what you show the world?”
“I’m not that complex.”
He made a rude sound. “No more than Einstein.”
“Bullshit.” She gestured to the hall. “Go get some rest. Two guest rooms. I’m occupying the first one. I’ll see you first thing in the morning.”
His brows rose. “Don’t you want to share and keep an eye on me? I know that doctor said my head is safe from imminent explosion, but you can never tell if I’ll have a relapse.”
“I’ll take the chance. You haven’t been worried since the moment those bastards shot you. Why should I bother?”
“Because you will, because you whisked me to the ER because you couldn’t help yourself. Because you’ll probably check on me during the night just to make sure that I’m doing okay. I’d do the same with you.” He paused. “And because though you try to fight it, there will always be something that keeps us coming back to each other. You don’t want it. It disturbs you, but it’s there. Why not just call a truce for right now and accept it? I’m not going to push you or try to persuade you while you’re going through this hell about Dee. You know me better than that.”
Yes, she did, but that very fact also filled her with bewilderment. She wasn’t sure what to answer.
“Or maybe you don’t,” he said wearily. “I’ve done everything I can. You’ll have to make up your own mind.” He turned and strode down the hall toward that second guest room.
CHAPTER
9
It wasn’t more than twenty minutes before she followed him down the hall and threw open his door. “Are you awake? I need to talk to you.”
“I am now.” He rolled over in bed and raised himself on one elbow to look at her framed in the doorway against the light in the hallway. “You’ve changed your mind about me getting that rest? Come in and tell me about it.”