Iris Johansen

by The Ugly Duckling

  She shook her head. “I feel very weak. Am I going to be in this bed a long time?”

  “You’ll have to ask Dr. Lieber. But you’d probably get stronger if you’d eat.” He smiled coaxingly. “Those IVs in your arm can’t be much fun.”

  “I’ll eat,” she said. “I have to speak to Dr. Lieber. Will you ask him to come to see me?”

  “Sure. He’s at the hospital in the city this morning, but he should be here soon.” He nodded at the flowers on the table. “Pretty. Do you want me to check and see who they’re from?”

  They’re pretty, Mama, Jill had said. Prettier than when they were in the garden.

  Pain twisted through her, intense, taking her breath. Block it. She couldn’t function if she let pain blind her like this.

  “You okay?” Phil asked, concerned.

  “Yes, I’m fine,” she said steadily. “Read the card.”

  “Just a name. Tania Vlados. A friend?”

  She shook her head. “I’ve never heard of her.”

  “Well, she must have heard of you.” He put the card back. “Nice choice. Different. They look like jungle flowers.”

  “They’re tiger lilies.” The strain of behaving normally had been enormous. She wanted to close her eyes and go back to sleep. No, she would not allow herself to do it. She had done very well so far. This nice man, Phil Johnson, didn’t seem to notice any hollowness in her manner. “I must thank her … when I find out who she is.”

  Phil nodded. “You probably have lots of flowers over at St. Joseph’s. It takes a little time for them to send stuff over.”

  He was wrong. Richard could no longer send her flowers and she had no one else. “It doesn’t matter.” She studied him. “You look very strong. Did you play football?”

  “Yep, I was a tight end at Notre Dame.”

  “Then you know all about exercise.”

  “Some.”

  “I hate feeling this weak. Do you suppose you could find me some sort of equipment to help me strengthen and tone while I’m lying here?”

  “Maybe later.”

  She smothered her impatience and said carefully, “I’d really like it now. You can tell me how I should begin. I don’t intend to hurt myself by trying to do too much. I’ll be very careful.”

  He nodded understandingly. “I know how you feel. I’d be going nuts if I had to lie there doing nothing. I’ll ask Dr. Lieber if it’s okay.”

  “Thank you.”

  She watched him leave the room. Don’t close your eyes. Don’t go into the darkness. It’s going well. He would try to help her and then she would help herself. It would be easier when she had to rely only on her own resources. She shifted her gaze to the flowers on the nightstand. Tania Vlados. Was she one of the guests at the party that night? She couldn’t remember anyone but Elise Gueray. The party. She vaguely remembered Nadine being there after she had fallen. What of Martin and Sally? She supposed she should feel concerned.

  No, she shouldn’t. She had never liked either one of them, and she was done with pretense.

  Richard had been killed at the party. Why couldn’t she feel more sadness? He deserved to be mourned. But Jill was dead and there seemed no sorrow left to give to anyone else.

  “I hear you’re feeling much better,” Joel Lieber said as he came into the room. He smiled as he sat down beside her. “It’s about time. I’ve been worried about you.”

  She believed him. She doubted if Joel Lieber ever said anything he didn’t mean. “How sick am I?”

  “You’re healing nicely. You have a broken arm and clavicle. The other wounds were nasty, but I made sure you wouldn’t have any scars. We should be able to take the cast off in another three weeks.”

  She touched the bandages on her face. “And these?”

  “I did some minor surgery around the eyes, but those stitches will be ready to be removed any day now.”

  “What is this on my face? I talk funny.”

  “You have a brace to keep your jaws aligned. You’ll soon be able to do without it. There’s still bruising, but I could take the bandages off now and you’d get an idea what you’ll look like.”

  “No, it doesn’t matter. I’ll wait. I just wanted to know how long before I’ll be released. A month?”

  “Maybe. If all goes well and you do what I tell you.”

  “I will.” She paused, steeling herself. “I wonder if I could see a copy of the newspapers that came out the day after … Medas.”

  His smile faded. “I don’t think that would be wise. Wait awhile.”

  “I’ve waited too long already. I have to face it sometime. I promise I won’t fall apart.”

  He studied her a moment. “I don’t believe you will. All right, I’ll dig one up and have it brought to you. Anything else?”

  “No, you’ve been very kind, Dr. Lieber.”

  “Joel,” he corrected her.

  “I promise I won’t trouble you much longer, Joel.”

  “You’re troubling me now,” he muttered. “I’m sorry.” Her regret was genuine. He seemed a decent man and he had worked very hard to help her. Unfortunately, he was also perceptive and could sense the remoteness that pervaded every cell of her body. Well, she could do nothing about that. “But I’ll be well soon, and then you won’t have to bother with me.”

  “I hope so.” He stared at her a moment before turning and leaving the room.

  Terrorists.

  Nell lowered the newspaper and stared at the cream and peach striped wall. It made sense. No one would want to kill Richard or the others mentioned in the article. They must have been after Kavinski.

  But why seek her out? Why would one of the terrorists attack her, when she had not even been near Kavinski? Jill’s death might have been done spur-of-the-moment, but that murderer must have come after Nell.

  He never makes it easy.

  Tanek had spoken as if he knew the man who had killed Jill.

  And if he knew who he was, he might know where he could be found.

  “Where the hell have you been?” Joel said as soon as Nicholas picked up the phone. “I’ve been trying to reach you for the last month.”

  “I’ve been out of the country.” Nicholas reached down and stroked Sam’s ears. The German shepherd rubbed against his thigh.

  “She wants to see you,” Joel said. “Right away.”

  “That’s a surprise. How is she?”

  “Making amazing progress. She’s been eating, talking to Johnson. She even got him to get her some exercise bands and she’s been working on her legs and her good arm.”

  “Then why do you sound so peevish?”

  “Peevish? I’m not peevish. Great men are never peevish.”

  “Sorry. Why are you concerned?”

  “She’s too controlled. Too remote.”

  “Perhaps that’s best during this period. At least her health is improving.”

  “By leaps and bounds, and so is her determination. She’s like an arrow released from a bow. It won’t go anywhere but toward the bull’s-eye.”

  “And where’s the bull’s-eye?”

  “You tell me.” He paused. “What did you say to her?”

  “I gave her a purpose.”

  “What purpose?”

  “Revenge.”

  “Christ.”

  “I had to work with what I had. I assure you I wouldn’t have managed to rouse her if I’d tried to inspire her to be a brain surgeon. Revenge was the only motive that would have worked.”

  “And what happens now?”

  “Now you divert her. Perhaps you’re exaggerating the problem. She’s a nice, gentle woman. Find a way to appeal to her basic nature.”

  “I don’t think you have any idea what her basic nature is. She’s sure as hell not how you described her to me.” He hesitated a moment. “The first day after you left, she asked for the newspaper account of Medas.”

  “Did it upset her?”

  “Yes. Johnson said she was pale and shaking but she was still
in control. That’s when she asked to see you. She’s asked to see you every day since then. I think, if you don’t come to see her, she’ll be on your doorstep the minute she’s released.”

  “Then I suppose I’d better get back there. Sam doesn’t like visitors.”

  “How’s his leg?”

  “Stronger than ever.”

  “Sometimes it happens like that. You break someone and put them back together and find you have a completely new person. I’ll tell her you’ll be here tomorrow.”

  Joel’s warning wasn’t necessary. Nicholas had known the risk he ran. There had just been no other option. You couldn’t sear and not have scars. Nicholas replaced the phone and sat down in the leather mission chair. Sam promptly tried to crawl onto his lap. Nicholas absently patted his head before pushing him down. The dog gave him a resigned look and curled up at his feet.

  And there was more searing to come if he couldn’t ward her off, he thought wearily. He just hoped to God he wasn’t the one who had to do it.

  Here we go down, down, down …

  No!

  Nell jerked upright in bed, her heart beating wildly.

  It had been a dream. Only a dream.

  Jill hadn’t been there at the door, staring at her.…

  She wiped her wet cheeks with the back of her hand.

  Please, don’t let it come again. She couldn’t bear it.

  Don’t let it come again.

  Four

  “You wanted to see me?”

  Nell looked up to see Tanek standing in the doorway. She felt a stirring of anger she had difficulty suppressing. She would suppress it. She said curtly, “Come in.”

  He came toward her. He was wearing jeans and a cream-colored sweatshirt, and they looked as natural on him as the tuxedo when she had first met him. You would always notice Tanek and not his clothes.

  He dropped down in the chair beside her bed. “I thought you’d be rid of those bandages by now.”

  “Day after tomorrow. The brace is gone, but Joel wanted the stitches to be healed first.” She went on the attack. “You know the man who killed Jill, don’t you?”

  He didn’t pretend to misunderstand. “I thought you might pick up on that. Yes, I think I know who he is.”

  “Are you a terrorist?”

  A smile tugged at his lips. “If I were, do you think I’d admit it?”

  “No, but I thought I might get a response.”

  He nodded. “Very good.”

  She didn’t want his approval, she wanted answers. “I don’t think it was a terrorist attack at all.”

  “Really? Everyone else seems to think so.”

  “I wasn’t in the ballroom. Why would a terrorist come after me?”

  His eyes narrowed slightly. “Why would anyone come after you?”

  “I don’t know.” She gazed at him challengingly. “Do you?”

  “Perhaps you offended Gardeaux.”

  She looked at him in bewilderment. “Gardeaux? Who’s Gardeaux?”

  She hadn’t realized he was tense until she saw him relax. “A very unpleasant individual. I’m glad you don’t know him.”

  He had thrown out the name to see her response, she realized. Gardeaux. She stored the name in her memory. “Why did you insist on going with me to my room that night? Was it to make sure that the murderer would know where I could be found?”

  “No, I imagine he had a complete diagram of the house and knew who was in every room before he reached the island.” He met her gaze. “And the last thing I wanted was to have you hurt or killed.”

  She had to tear her gaze away. He was willing her to believe him, and that will was very strong. But she shouldn’t believe him. She should suspect everyone, particularly him. “Who killed my daughter?”

  “I believe it was a man named Paul Maritz.”

  “Then why haven’t you told the police?”

  “They’re satisfied that it was a terrorist attack aimed at Kavinski.”

  “And this Maritz isn’t a terrorist?”

  He shook his head. “He works for Philippe Gardeaux. But the police won’t go after Maritz for killing your daughter.”

  Gardeaux again. “Are you going to tell me what this is all about, or are you going to make me pull it out of you?”

  He smiled faintly. “You were doing so well, I thought I’d let you go for a while. Gardeaux is a distributor. He’s the direct link between Europe and the Middle East, for a division of the Colombian drug cartel headed by Ramon Sandequez, Julio Paloma, and Miguel Juarez.”

  “Distributor?”

  “He distributes drugs to dealers and money to smooth the way. Maritz is one of his people.”

  “And Gardeaux sent Maritz to kill me? Why Jill?”

  “She got in his way.”

  Such a simple sentence. A child was in the way, so she was killed.

  His gaze was on her face. “Are you okay?”

  Her composure went up in flames. “No, I’m not okay.” Her eyes blazed up at him. “I’m angry and sick and I want him dead.”

  “I thought you would.”

  “And you say the law won’t even try to convict him?”

  “Not for your daughter’s death. Perhaps they’ll find another reason to arrest him.”

  “But you have your doubts.”

  “Gardeaux protects his men because it would endanger him to do anything else. A good portion of the money he distributes goes to police officials and judges.”

  She gazed at him, incredulous. “You’re saying he can commit murder and no one will care.”

  “You care,” he said quietly. “I care. But what we’re talking about is billions of dollars. Gardeaux can lift his hand and a judge will suddenly have a home on the Riviera and the money to retire and live like a king. Even if you found someone who’s willing to bring Maritz to trial, Gardeaux would see that the jury was fixed.”

  “I can’t believe that’s true.”

  “Then don’t believe it, but it is true.”

  It was the indifference in his tone that convinced her. He was stating a fact, not trying to persuade her. “Then you’re telling me to forget about Maritz?”

  “I’m not a fool. You’ll never forget. I’m asking you to leave it in my hands. I’ll make sure that Maritz is brought down with Gardeaux.”

  “Brought down?”

  Tanek smiled.

  “You’re going to kill him,” she whispered.

  “At the earliest opportunity. Does it shock you?”

  “No.” It would have before Medas, she realized. Not now. “Why?”

  “That doesn’t matter.”

  “You seem to know everything about me, but I’m not to know anything about you?”

  “That’s the picture. What should concern you is that I’ve been committed for over a year and I’ll devote myself to that goal with the same passion you would.”

  “You couldn’t.” There was not that much hatred or passion left in the world.

  “You say that because you have tunnel vision right now. Once you’re able to see other points of view, you may—”

  “Where is he?”

  “Maritz? I have no idea. Hiding under Gardeaux’s wing.”

  “Then where’s Gardeaux?”

  “No,” Tanek said firmly. “Gardeaux and Maritz are a package deal, and you don’t touch that package. You go blundering into Gardeaux’s playground and you’ll end up dead.”

  “Then show me how not to blunder.”

  “The way to avoid blunders is to stay away from them both. Look, Maritz was a Seal. He knows more ways to kill than you can count. And Gardeaux has men murdered just for stepping on his toes.”

  “But you think you can get them.”

  “I will get them.”

  “You haven’t done it yet. Why has it taken you so long?”

  She had struck a nerve. His lips tightened. “Because I want to live, dammit. I won’t kill Gardeaux and then be killed myself. That’s no victory. I have to find a way
to bring him down that won’t—”

  “Then you won’t go after him with the same passion.” She met his eyes and said simply, “I don’t care if I die after I kill him. I just want him dead.”

  “Christ.”

  “So show me, use me. I’ll do it for you.”

  “The hell you will.” He stood up and headed for the door. “Stay out of this.”

  “Why are you angry? We both want the same thing.”

  “Dammit, listen to me. Gardeaux wants you dead.” He opened the door. “I don’t stake out goats to attract the tiger.”

  “Wait.”

  “Why? I think we’ve said it all.”

  “How did you find out so much about me?”

  “I had a dossier drawn up. I had to know why Gardeaux might want you dead.”

  “But you didn’t find out.” She gestured in frustration. “How could you? There is no reason. None of this makes sense.”

  “There’s a reason. We just don’t know what it is yet. I’m still working on it. May I go now?”

  “No, you still haven’t told me why you insisted on coming to my room that night.”

  His expression didn’t change, but she was aware of a sudden underlying tension. “What does it matter?”

  “Everything matters. I want to know.”

  “I was given information that you might be involved.”

  “Involved in what?”

  “The information wasn’t clear. I decided it wasn’t valid in your case.”

  “But it was?”

  “Yes, goddammit. Are you satisfied now? I made the wrong decision and I left you to Maritz.”

  She studied him. “You’re blaming yourself. That’s why you’ve gone to all this trouble and brought me here.”

  He smiled without mirth. “Isn’t it comforting to know you have someone to blame besides Maritz?”

  It would be comforting. She wished with all her being she could lay the fault at his feet. “I don’t blame you. It wasn’t your fault.”

  She saw the surprise in his expression. “That’s very generous.”