Hide Away

by Iris Johansen

  “I didn’t say that,” Jane said. “I doubt if we’ll need him, but I won’t cheat Eve and Cara of his help if you think he’s valuable.”

  “Whew,” Jock said with mock relief. “I really didn’t want to have to make the attempt of disposing of Caleb. I can handle most skills but that blood thing freaks me out a bit.” He lifted his hand. “Remember, supper in an hour.”

  He closed the door behind him.

  “You didn’t tell me Caleb was coming,” Eve said. “Though I suspected he would.”

  “If Joe hadn’t called him, he would have known nothing about it. He announced he was coming along when he phoned me when I was driving up from London.”

  “I’d bet that he would have known about it regardless,” Eve said. “He keeps an eagle eye on you.”

  “And that used to make you uneasy.”

  “It still does, but I’ve learned to accept the fact that I have to let you handle Caleb. If I find that you’re wibble-wobbling, I’ll step into the picture.”

  “Wibble-wobble. I wouldn’t do that. Caleb would run right over me.”

  “Probably. But I’ve occasionally noticed that he allows you to escape punishment when I thought he’d pounce. He definitely has a weakness where you’re concerned.”

  “Not that I noticed.”

  “You didn’t watch him in that hospital in Atlanta when you were in a coma. He was driven.” She paused. “And I was grateful to him. He saved your life. Jock may make fun of that ‘blood thing,’ but you wouldn’t have lived if Caleb hadn’t gone in and strengthened those arteries.”

  “I told him I was grateful, too.”

  “But he disturbs you, so you want to push him away. I understand, and it might be best for you. But you’d better learn how to cope with him or he might … Just learn how to cope.” She turned away. “Now let’s see if we can make a dent in this dust in the next half hour. We might smother if we have to inhale this stuff during the night.”

  CHAPTER

  6

  After a meal of beef soup, cheese crackers, and fruit, that turned out to be surprisingly good, MacDuff took them immediately to his study. A fire crackled in the huge fireplace, and the room smelled of pine and the leather of the oversized furniture.

  “I’ll get the plans.” MacDuff went to the shelf in the bookcase behind his desk and drew out a large rolled paper. “I had a new schematic of the castle drawn eighteen months ago, so this should be fairly current. The one before was done in 1994. Still not too old when you remember that the castle is ancient. It was difficult to get anything but a basic map of the ruins.” He unrolled the paper on his desk and anchored it on all four corners. “Here it is. As you can see, there’s nothing much left. A dungeon, one wall, a staircase, and a few bedchambers, the courtyard. The first floor is a maze of rooms, some blocked by fallen walls.”

  Jane reached out and one finger traced the curving staircase. “I’m surprised that there’s that much left.”

  “I’m not,” MacDuff said. “Cira came from a culture that knew how to build to last. Look at the Coliseum.” He pointed to the wall encircling the castle. “And she would have made sure that no invaders would get in and destroy what was hers.” He met Jane’s gaze. “You’re the authority. Isn’t that right?”

  “How do I know? I’m not an expert on Cira.”

  “Close as it comes,” MacDuff said. “Those dreams you had about her panned out historically.” He paused. “And since you’re almost certainly her descendant, there’s something to say for ancestral and racial memory.”

  “You’re the only one who believes that.”

  “Because you’re too stubborn to let me prove it.” He shrugged. “But maybe it will prove itself.” He tapped the wall again. “Would you ‘guess’ that Cira would build those walls strong enough to repel an army?”

  “It’s logical considering what we’ve discovered about her character. She was intelligent, strong, and superdetermined or she would never have survived. I was always amazed that she was able to remain a decent human being along with it.”

  Eve laughed. “You’re being so cautious, Jane. Play his game, it won’t hurt. I know from what you went through during that time that you felt you knew Cira. Just go with the flow.”

  “Thank you.” MacDuff inclined his head toward Eve. “I realize your opinion carries more weight than mine.”

  “I don’t want anyone to assume that what I went through with those dreams of Cira had any basis in truth,” Jane said. “Imagination, maybe. Perhaps something freaky that has nothing to do with your precious ancestral memory.”

  “Why are you objecting so strongly?” Jock asked curiously.

  “Because I’m a realist,” Jane said. “What happened to me when I was seventeen has all kinds of explanations, and I may never know which one is true. I had a weird experience, then it was over as if it had never begun. I forgot it, and I’m only revisiting it because MacDuff asked me to do it.”

  “And I’m very grateful,” MacDuff said. He looked down at the schematic again. “Do you suppose this wall was Cira’s idea? She wed her Antonio, and he was very strong-willed, too.”

  “It was Cira,” Jane said. “She was an ex-slave and she was nearly fanatical about being free. She wanted her family to be safe at all costs.” She smiled. “At least that’s my opinion.”

  “It’s on a hill,” Eve said. “And it’s rough country. Will we be spending all our time at Gaelkar?”

  “Presumably. Unless the search leads somewhere else,” MacDuff answered. “Why?”

  “I have a different agenda than you. I have to protect Cara. I’ll have to check out the surrounding countryside. I need to know what kind of problems I might have if Franco shows up.”

  “I’ll help you,” Jock said quietly. “We’ll do it together. You’ll find me very competent.”

  She didn’t doubt it. More than competent. Superb in hunting, absolutely unstoppable when he went in for the kill. When Jock was in his wild teen years, he had run away from home to see the world. Tragically, that journey had led him to be kidnapped by a man who was conducting experiments on a group of chemically brainwashed boys and training them as assassins. It was incredible that Jock had managed to survive and become the person he was today. “I don’t want to take you away from the search.”

  “I can do both.” He grinned. “I’m a man of many talents, aren’t I, MacDuff?”

  “And some of them X-rated,” MacDuff said dryly. “And often very annoying. He’ll do exactly what he wishes to do and leave Jane and me to do the actual work.”

  “I do what’s important.” He dropped into a chair and stretched out his legs. “But I don’t have to pay attention at the moment. Continue while I sit here and enjoy the fire…”

  “You will tell us if we disturb you?” MacDuff asked. “We wouldn’t want to let our planning get in the way of your relaxation.” He bent over the schematic. “I was thinking about looking into the dungeons first. They’re at the lowest point, and there might be passages that lead beneath the—”

  * * *

  The meeting lasted more than a full hour longer before MacDuff tied up the last details and dismissed them to go to their beds.

  “At last,” Jock said as he opened the library door for Eve and Jane. “Very boring, MacDuff,” he said over his shoulder. “You could have made it more entertaining.”

  “I’ll try to do better next time.”

  “I didn’t find it boring,” Jane said, as they moved down the hall. “He was very thorough. He’s obviously spent a lot of time and work on it. He’s made an in-depth investigation into that castle.”

  “I didn’t find it boring either.” His eyes were twinkling. “But you have to keep MacDuff in line. He’s far too used to everyone kowtowing to him.” He looked at Eve as she went past the staircase toward the front door. “You’re going out to the courtyard to gather your chick and bring her in from the cold?”

  Eve nodded. “Cara would probably stay out there a
ll night if I didn’t go get her. She has a tendency to become obsessed.” She smiled. “And I dare you to refer to her in such a flip manner after you hear what that chick is creating out there.”

  “Really.” He looked intrigued. “Then by all means let’s go and see. I’m always ready to take a dare.”

  Jane was already opening the door. “I’ll go with you. I’ve been curious about—” She stopped as the strains of Cara’s violin flowed over them in a wild, passionate, flood of sound. “Dear God.” She turned and gazed at Cara sitting on the edge of the fountain, the violin tucked beneath her chin. “That’s coming from her?”

  “The chick.” Eve went down the steps toward the courtyard.

  Jock was right behind her, his gaze on Cara. “Does she know how good she is?” he asked quietly.

  “Maybe. But she doesn’t care, it’s all about the music.”

  He was silent, listening. “And do these bastards who want to kill her realize what they’re taking away? To kill any child is a sin beyond belief, but they also want to rob all of us.”

  “They don’t care. She’s only a chess piece.”

  “Is she?” His face was hard in the moonlight. “Then I believe I should enter the game. I don’t like being cheated of anything. Not her life, and certainly not that talent.”

  “Not a chick?” Eve asked.

  “It was said in the most affectionate way.” He smiled. “And I still might use it if she suddenly discovers how extraordinary she is, and I have to take her down a peg.”

  “Like MacDuff? I don’t believe we have to worry. As I said, it’s all about the music.” She was only a few yards away from Cara, and she deliberately moved into her field of vision and stopped.

  It still took Cara a few minutes to notice she was there. And a moment more to reluctantly lift the bow and stop the music. “Is it time to go in?”

  “I’m afraid it is,” Eve said. “It’s been a long day. Time to get to bed.”

  She nodded and got to her feet. “I like it here, Eve. The music is stronger here than I’ve ever felt it. Even when I’m not playing, I can hear it.”

  “I know what you mean.” Jane came closer to her and sat down on the edge of the fountain. “I’m no musician, and I can almost hear it. Some places seem to make their own music. The Highlands are like that. I think you’ll like Gaelkar.”

  Jock nodded. “Aye, wild and wonderful things have happened there, haven’t they, Jane?”

  She met his eyes. “And how would I know? I’ve never been there. But it’s deep in the Highlands.”

  “Well, we should be there by tomorrow night and she can judge for herself.” He took Cara’s hand. “May I escort you inside, mademoiselle?”

  “Much better than chick,” Eve murmured.

  She watched as Jock and Cara walked back to the front door. The beautiful, strong young man and the small, fragile young girl. There was something very touching and old-world about the protectiveness that Jock was showing the child. She glanced at Jane as she started after them. “Coming?”

  “In a moment.” Jane dipped her hand into the water of the fountain and let the drops slowly fall back into the water. “I’ll be in soon.”

  Eve stopped. “Okay?”

  “I should be asking you that,” Jane said. “I just want some quiet time.”

  Eve nodded and started up the steps. “I’ll see you upstairs.”

  “Eve.”

  She looked back at her.

  “I’m glad you came to me. I’m glad you trusted me to help.” She smiled. “We’ll get that little girl through this.”

  “Yes, we will. We can get through anything together.” She blew her a kiss. “Family.”

  * * *

  Jane watched Eve disappear into the castle and close the front door.

  She stayed there, her eyes on the door.

  Waiting.

  One minute passed.

  Two minutes passed.

  “Dammit, what are you doing, Caleb?” she said impatiently as she turned to glare at the shadows of the stable across the courtyard. “What game are you playing?”

  “No game.” Seth Caleb strolled out of the shadows toward her. He was wearing a black turtleneck sweater and khakis, and the moonlight glimmered on the white thread in his dark hair and lit his high cheekbones, deep-set dark eyes, and full lips. “I was just admiring you in the moonlight. I don’t often get a chance to observe you without your getting nervous. How long ago did you realize I was here?”

  “I don’t know. Not right away. Maybe I saw a movement.”

  “Then why didn’t you sound the alarm?”

  “Because I knew it was you.”

  “How?”

  “You sent me a message you’d be coming tonight.”

  “Yes, I did.” He stopped before her. “So it was entirely reasonable that you’d come to that conclusion.” He smiled. “But reason had nothing to do with it, did it? You felt me here.”

  “Think what you like, Caleb.”

  “Oh, I will. I just want you to admit it to yourself, if not to me. We have a connection. It’s been there from the beginning. Electricity?” He tilted his head. “Yes, along with something, deeper, less civilized. I sense you all the time when you’re anywhere around me.”

  “I don’t want to talk about this.”

  “Then be honest, Jane.”

  “It … might be possible. You gave me blood when I was hurt and you have that … thing with blood.”

  His brows rose. “Thing?”

  “Hell, what else can I call it? What are we supposed to call it? I’m sure it doesn’t have any technical name. I don’t know anyone else who’s able to manipulate the blood flow of anyone he’s close to. It’s too weird.” And dangerous, she thought. It wasn’t only healing that he could control if he chose to use that talent as a weapon. She had seen him do it, and that power frightened her. “And you have to admit it’s hard to describe.”

  He nodded. “Unique, as far as I can determine, outside my family. A small gift, but my own.”

  “Well, it evidently worked for me at the time. And, since I don’t have any idea how it works, I might still be subject to some kind of residual—but it doesn’t mean anything.” She stared him in the eye. “Can we talk about something else? Like what you were doing lurking in the shadows while Cara was playing?”

  “I wasn’t lurking. Is it too much to believe that I didn’t want her to stop when I arrived here tonight? I heard her playing while I was still driving down the road, and I parked outside the gate and walked up to the courtyard. I thought I’d take a few minutes for myself before I went in and became what you thought me to be.” His lips twisted. “Haven’t you heard that music soothes the savage beast.”

  “I believe the quote refers to ‘savage breast’.”

  “I’ve always thought that my way was more appropriate. And you probably do, too. We’ve been together during many occasions when my true nature came to the forefront. Isn’t that what you see when you look at me, Jane?”

  It was true. They had known each other for a few years, and Caleb had seemed to appear whenever she was involved in a situation that was threatening. She had a sudden memory of a time when they had been together in the Alps and Caleb’s throwing a body down before her like a savage giving a gift to his mate. The man he had killed had been attacking them, but all she had been able to remember was the savagery and pleasure in Caleb’s face.

  He laughed. “You’re having to think about it. Are you afraid you’re going to hurt my feelings? You’re not usually so diplomatic.”

  “You’re not a beast. You do have your primitive side. I don’t know what you are, Caleb. I don’t believe you want me to know. I do know you’re intelligent, complex, and can be amusing. I know I owe you my life when you came to me in the hospital.”

  “And you may never forgive me for that.” His smile was gone, his tone fierce. “You wanted me to let you die so that you could join your lover in the great beyond? I wasn’t a
bout to let that happen. I won’t let you go, Jane.”

  “You gave me an invaluable gift. It doesn’t matter whether I wanted it or not. I still have to be grateful for what you did.” She smiled faintly. “And I’m sure that you’re arrogant enough to believe that you have control of my life, but forget that. I’ll run my own life. I have no intention of dying. I was wrong. There are people who need me. And two of them are in that castle.” She got to her feet. “I didn’t want you to come because you’re always disturbing. But you’re here, so make yourself useful. The only thing I want from you is for you to keep Eve and Cara safe.” She added deliberately, “And not to get in my way while I’m trying to do it. Do you understand?”

  “Of course. You’re always very clear with me. Much more clear than you are with anyone else. It’s as if you think I’ll step outside bounds if given the excuse.” He was smiling again. “I’ll be very careful not to do that. I’ll let you ignore me as much as you’re capable. I’ll be wonderfully helpful and make certain that all goes well with your world.”

  “And what are you going to get out of all this, Caleb?”

  “Opportunity.” He headed for the front door. “It’s all I need…”

  * * *

  Eve had thought she would be tired enough to sleep, but she realized after an hour of tossing and turning that wasn’t going to happen. Not surprising. She was still charged from the flight from Atlanta, and it seemed that every moment since then had been full of renewing relationships, making sure that Jane was okay with what was happening, and Cara was comfortable in this new environment. It was like a new and different life from the one she had left behind her in Atlanta.

  And she should be grateful that life appeared to be so different. Talk of ancient ruins and treasures instead of bombs and threats of death at every turn. She was grateful. She just wanted to be back with Joe and working to have this nightmare over. It might be safer for her, but what about Joe?

  Don’t think about it. Do her job as Joe was doing his.

  Cara.

  She got out of the huge bed and padded across the room to the adjoining room, where Cara was sleeping. She quietly opened the door and peeked at the girl in the bed across the room.