His eyes suddenly narrowed, and he went still. Then he slowly shook his head. “I don’t think so. I’ll see you in the kitchen, Rachel.”
The door closed behind him.
She wanted him back. She didn’t know what had happened in that moment when she had wanted to reach out to him. But the impulse was foolish, she was better off staying in her little nest of safety.
But there was no real safety as long as a jagged cliff sheltering men, women, and children could be brought tumbling into the ocean. Monsters were hiding everywhere.
So get on your feet and get back to living, she told herself. Remember that every moment is precious and every battle important.
She threw back the cover, jumped out of bed, and headed for the bathroom.
Thirty minutes later she was ready to leave her bedroom, but she dialed Catherine as she was crossing the living room en route to the kitchen. She had kept her waiting long enough. Reluctant as she was to return to the memories of San Kabara, she knew Catherine was still immersed in the battle. She wouldn’t leave her to fight it alone.
“You should have told Brandon to wake me,” she said, as soon as Catherine answered. “Or called me yourself. I didn’t need to sleep that long. It was totally—”
“Yes, you did,” Catherine interrupted. “You needed to take time to heal yourself. Not only were you hurt and in shock, but you went through hell in that hospital tent yesterday.”
“Everyone went through hell yesterday. I bet you didn’t pamper yourself by lolling in bed.”
“You’d be wrong. And I don’t believe that lolling is quite the word that applies when Brandon said you looked like you were in a coma.” She paused. “And he said that Hu Chang paid you an early-morning visit. I didn’t expect that to happen. Everything okay?”
“He was just concerned. Like you, he wanted to make certain I was handling my father’s death with a minimum of angst. He said you’d given him a suggestion to stay away if possible.”
“Busted. I thought you might be able to think more clearly and come to terms with your relationship. Should I have kept my nose out of it?”
“No, Hu Chang wouldn’t do anything he didn’t want to do anyway.” She paused. “But I was glad to see him today. He was able to make me feel alive again.”
“And that’s a gift above price after San Kabara,” Catherine said. “So hold on to him and forget anything I said about clear thinking and coming to terms. What do I know?”
“He’ll probably call you and tell you that you were right. Or he might pay you a visit at the hotel.”
“I doubt it. He doesn’t like to deal with the CIA though he liked your father. Most of the time, I agree with him. After I got back to the hotel last night, I showered and called my son. I didn’t care how late it was in Atlanta. I wanted to hear his voice. I wanted to remind myself how lucky I was that he was still in my life. How’s that for pampering?”
She could see how Catherine would have been driven to reach out to Luke, who was the center of her universe. It was the same impulse she’d felt when she’d opened her eyes an hour ago. “Maybe not as self-indulgent as mine, but very human. But since you’ve called Brandon several times today, you’ve been up and working, haven’t you? I guess I win.”
“I slept a little longer than usual this morning, but Claire rousted me out of bed for a team meeting in her suite. The woman may be a pain in the ass, but no one can say she doesn’t have energy. And at the moment, she’s being very proactive.”
“Amazing,” Rachel murmured.
“She can be amazing when it suits her, that’s why Venable respected her. Anyway, I thought I’d call and fill you in on what’s happening. Late last night Red Star issued a statement bragging that they were responsible for the attack and warning of another one to come in the days ahead. Naturally, that caused a media meltdown and general panic. We’ve not been able to find any clues or apprehend any perpetrators yet. We’ve just been treading water. The reason Claire called the meeting was to tell everyone on the team that after San Kabara, the president had sent down orders that every organization in the government was to make catching Max Huber their top focus. No expense spared and everyone on the same page. On no account was there to be another attack or heads would roll. You can imagine how that threat would motivate Claire. She wants to survive and come out on top.”
“Good, it might mean she’ll cooperate.”
“Maybe.” She paused. “Or it might mean that she’ll try to go that extra step that would impress her superiors. You can’t tell which way Claire will jump.”
“But it’s making you uneasy.”
“Oh, yes. She held me back after she dismissed the rest of the team. The head of the bomb squad had told her about that photo of you that Brandon had taken from underneath the explosive device at the Neptune. He described it to her, and it didn’t take long for her to put two and two together. She was asking questions and demanding answers.”
“Which you couldn’t give her. We only have guesses.”
“She wanted the photo itself. Brandon told her to go to hell when I told him. Then she wanted to bring you in for questioning. She said it was positively necessary considering the present emergency. I told her that you’d done more than your duty to help out in the emergency, and you’d consider it an insult to be brought in for interrogation. I also added that since those patients at the hospital were talking about you as if you were Mother Teresa, it would be very bad press.” Her voice was grimly satisfied. “That stopped her cold.”
“Mother Teresa? Really, Catherine.”
“Well, Florence Nightingale was dated. It worked.” She added soberly, “But she was intensely interested that Huber had reached out to you in that situation. I just wanted you to know that it’s wise to be very careful right now.”
“I’m tired of being careful of Claire when she’s supposed to be on our side. Let her be careful of me.”
Silence. “Whatever. Then I’ll be careful of her for you.”
Of course she would, Rachel thought. “No, you won’t. Not your responsibility. I’m just a bit on edge right now. I’ll be calmer and much more Mother Teresa tomorrow.”
Catherine laughed. “See that you are.” Then she said gently, “But not tonight, promise me that you’ll give yourself the time to recharge and realize that life can be good. You’ve worked so hard not to let Huber take anything from you. Yesterday, he did his damnedest, and you can’t let him have any victory. Tomorrow is soon enough to face the Claires and the Hubers of the world.”
“I promise.” She cleared her throat. “Why not? Because along with the bad guys, I have Catherine Ling here to balance the scales. As long as you slow down and do the same.”
“Of course. I’m only going to stay in the hotel and try to reach out to a few contacts I made the last time I was in San Francisco. That’s after I call Luke and say good night at a decent hour instead of waking him up in the middle of the night. I plan a very peaceful evening.”
Catherine was seldom peaceful, always operating at high speed and intensity. Rachel could only hope this would be an exception. “Yeah, sure. I’ll call you tomorrow, Catherine.”
She pressed the disconnect and slipped the phone into the pocket of her slacks before continuing down the hall to the kitchen.
Brandon glanced up as she came into the room. “That’s better, you look alive and ready to face the world.” He looked her over from head to toe. “Very nice, indeed. Are you hungry?”
She thought about it and realized she was famished. “Yes. I don’t remember when I ate last.” She went over to the pot on the stove. “This smells wonderful. Another one of your shipboard recipes?”
“No, this was one Nate taught me. His sister is a chef at a restaurant in El Paso. Lots of spices.” He grinned as he took down bowls from the cabinet. “Thought I’d warn you if you have a problem with them.”
“I don’t. I’ve spent a lot of time in Central America.” She was tasting the stew. �
�It’s wonderful. Where is Nate?”
“He and Monty are back in that makeshift lab in the library again, working. They both grabbed a sandwich earlier.”
“Still looking for Nemesis’s IP address?”
“No, Monty turned that over entirely to Sam Zackoff.” He poured her a glass of red wine and handed it to her. “Now go out on the veranda and drink that while I set the table. I have my orders from Catherine. I’m supposed to make you relax and not think of anything but food and wine.”
She shook her head ruefully. “She’s impossible.”
“No, she’s got it right. It’s the delegating that’s impossible. Not everyone is as capable of diverting your attention from what you consider essential.” He sighed. “So I’ll give you the overview and nothing more. I checked your computer several times today, and there’s no message from Nemesis unless it came in after you woke.”
“No, I glanced at it before I left my bedroom. But he told me he might give me extra time. He said I might be busy at San Kabara.” Her lips twisted bitterly. “I wonder if he knew just how busy. He could be in Huber’s pocket.”
“Then we’ll find a way to play him. As soon as Sam Zackoff locates him.”
“Yet you’re not considering him important enough to have Monty try to find him.”
“He’s important enough, he’s just not on the urgent list any longer.” He paused. “That ended at San Kabara Island. Red Star announced there would be a bigger, more deadly attack to take place in the near future.”
“I know. Catherine told me.”
“So we have to find out where that’s going to happen. We’ll use Nemesis if we can, but I’m not sure that’s going to be possible. Any hint of trust in him is rapidly fading away. I’m wondering how he managed to earn Venable’s trust.”
“My father was smart, not infallible. He’s made mistakes before.” She tilted her head. “You put Monty to work on trying to hijack that South African satellite?”
“It’s not a question of trying. He’ll be able to do it since he already installed that back door. The only question is how soon. He said the South Africans had installed a few more bells and whistles in the last six months that might take several hours to even get to the door. It’s going to take longer than he thought.”
“Then we can count on getting through dinner before you have to run to Monty to give inspiration and intellect?” she asked solemnly.
He looked at her quizzically. “You’re joking?”
“I guess I am. Strange, isn’t it?” She took a sip of wine and moved toward the door leading to the veranda. “Satellites and bombs and Red Star seem very far away tonight. I think I might be glad I don’t know how to hijack a satellite. Is there anything else you need to tell me?”
“I can’t think of anything,” he said slowly. “Is there anything you need to tell me?”
She stood there, staring at him, and felt once again that impulse to reach out, to touch, to bring him to her body. It was much stronger than when she had felt it before.
But she knew it was only the beginning.
As she’d told Catherine, those hours she’d spent with Hu Chang had cleansed and made her come alive again.
No fear. No hesitation.
Excitement. Anticipation. Curiosity.
“I’m not certain.” She smiled. “If there is, I’ll be sure and share it with you.”
She went out on the veranda and gazed out at the ocean. Magnificent, eternal, shot with all the colors of the setting sun. After San Kabara, she had wondered if she’d ever be able to look at the sea again in the same way. Here was the answer. Not the same way, but not as an enemy either. It was Huber who had been the only enemy at San Kabara Island.
“You were right, Catherine,” she whispered. “Life can be good and beautiful. And that’s so easy to forget. I won’t let myself forget tonight.” She lifted her glass in a half toast. “I’m thinking about you. I hope you’ll find something to remind you of that, too.”
HYATT HOTEL
“You’re becoming a real pain in the ass, Catherine Ling,” Claire Warren said coldly when she answered Catherine’s call. “I just talked to you two hours ago. You’d better have a good reason for bothering me again.”
“Same reason. I’m just obeying your orders and the president’s and giving this my entire focus. Have you heard anything more from your contacts about any current threats?”
“If I had, I would have activated the team had I thought it was valid.”
Catherine stiffened. It was not a flat no, but one of Claire’s self-protective dances. “Then let me investigate and see if I can determine if it’s valid.”
“I didn’t say that I’d received any information.” She paused. “You do know I won’t continue to tolerate this constant disobedience and disrespect, don’t you? Your entire involvement with Rachel Venable and Jude Brandon is an insult to me and the Company. I’m in charge, and your allegiance should be solely to me. If you didn’t have a connection with Rachel, you’d have been gone after you arranged that meeting at the restaurant.”
“I was surprised you hadn’t authorized I be checked out of my room when I got back. But I know you’ll put up with my ‘disrespect’ as long as I perceive a threat that you choose not to see. After what happened yesterday, it’s your duty, isn’t it? Who did you get this ‘invalid’ piece of information from? One of your assets?”
She was silent. “FBI. Special Agent Herb Jackson. It’s part of this interagency cooperation thing the president is cracking the whip about. Jackson has a paid informant who’s a prostitute who called and told him one of her customers was talking wildly about going to paradise to the angels and taking half of San Francisco with him. Jackson’s going to go to see her, and he thought I might be interested in going with him.” She shrugged. “I told him to report back after he verified.”
“Playing it safe?”
“The woman might be a whore who only wants to con Jackson. I can’t spend my time running around on wild-goose chases. It’s very likely it doesn’t have anything to do with this Nemesis or Huber.”
“And it might have everything to do with them. Give me Jackson’s number, and I’ll follow through for you. The Company will be so happy to know how conscientious you are.”
Silence. “That’s true. No, I’ll call Jackson and tell him I’m sending you. He offered to meet me on Third and Market if I changed my mind. Naturally, you won’t mention anything about our disagreement. If you find any information I can use, tell me, and I’ll decide what to do about it.”
“Just call him so that I can get going.”
“Delighted,” she said sarcastically. “It may keep you from calling me again before morning. I’d much rather you spend the night interrogating some drug-whacked prostitute.”
“So would I.” Catherine pressed the disconnect and drew a deep breath. It wasn’t a great tip, but it was all she had to go on. Huber often used members of the Taliban to do his dirty work when he didn’t want to involve his precious Aryan militia. That remark about paradise and the angels could be significant. She’d already called all her own informants and gotten nowhere. But now she could call Rachel back and tell her that she might have a lead.
Might.
And why call Rachel when she’d told her to relax and try to forget everything that had to do with Huber and San Kabara for just one night? It could come to nothing, raise her hopes, then dash them.
She got to her feet and headed for the door. She’d handle it herself as she always did. Tell Rachel when she had good news instead of bad.
All she had to do was just talk to the informant.
And then try to find out the name of the John who was planning on taking half the city of San Francisco to the angels.
BEACH HAVEN
“You’re very quiet.” Brandon leaned back in his chair, his gaze raking Rachel’s face. “Almost … serene. Not what I expected.”
“Not what I expected either.” She didn’t feel serene
right now, she thought ruefully. All through the meal, she had been calm and collected, but that was disappearing rapidly. It was all very well to make up your mind and tell yourself that it was the right thing to do. It was another thing to broach an experience she had never encountered and try to make it happen. And Brandon was looking at her as warily as if he thought that composure on which he’d commented was going to fall apart at any minute. Exactly what she didn’t want him to feel. So dive in and just be honest with him. She took a deep breath, then leaned forward and stared him in the eye. “And it’s not working out for me. I’ve never done this before, and I’m getting nervous. And, heaven knows, you don’t need that kind of response after all that stuff Hu Chang told you. And then there was what we both went through yesterday, and that probably makes me more fragile in your eyes. You’re too damn protective, and that would be your first instinct. You wouldn’t consider that it was a trauma that was shared. I can’t have that, Brandon.”
He stiffened. “You can’t have what?”
She drew a deep breath and then said it. “I can’t have you not wanting to go to bed with me. I’m trying to seduce you, dammit.”
“Oh, shit.”
She rushed on, “And I know I’m not good at it. I mean the seducing, not the sex. I think I’m pretty good at that. I’ve had sex before, but it kind of came out of the blue and I didn’t think about it ahead of time. I wondered later if that was why it was so easy for me and I did it so well. Catherine thought it might be that.” She was talking too much. And she couldn’t read his expression. It didn’t matter, it all had to come out. “But what I feel for you isn’t like that. I don’t want it to be easy. I want it to be hard and real and honest like everything else between us. That’s important to me. So I have to make sure you’re not feeling sorry for me. It’s not as if I want more than sex from you. I’d never obligate you in that way. I think you want to have sex with me, but I won’t have you—”
“Shut up.” He was around the table and jerking her to her feet. His eyes were blazing, his voice hoarse. “Just shut up, Rachel.” Then his mouth was on hers, his tongue playing. His hands clenched on her buttocks, pulling her to him. “I can’t listen to any more. I don’t want to hear about your other lovers or what Catherine has to say about them.” He was opening her blouse and pushing down her bra. “I particularly don’t want to hear about how sorry I should feel for you because of what Hu Chang told me you went through. I’ve been fighting that battle since I hung up the damn phone with him.” His fingers were plucking at her nipples as his lips covered her mouth again. “And losing it…”
Vendetta Page 25
