The First Cut (Terrence Reid Mystery Series Book 2)

by Mary Birk

  Reid went into his office, closed and locked the door, and pulled the blinds. He changed clothes, putting on the dinner jacket he kept in the office closet, and quickly armed himself with his service firearm, as well as his own personal firearm, which he strapped to his ankle. In his pocket he placed a switchblade.

  Chapter 78

  “GOOD THING IT WAS ME that found this, and not Walter’s men. You must be crazy to come in here with a wire on. He’ll kill you.” Moira shook her head.

  Anne was so scared she didn’t know what to do or say. She felt an urgent and inconvenient urge to pee. She didn’t say anything, just watched Moira for cues. If she had to go past Moira to get away, she’d just have to do her best.

  Oddly, enough, Moira didn’t seem to be particularly upset or outraged. “They do an electronics sweep before a dinner like this looking for anything that transmits a signal. And a weapons scan, of course. You don’t have a weapon, do you?”

  Closing her eyes for a second, Anne shook her head. “No.” But if she got out of this, she was going to take some kind of self-defense lessons and learn to use a gun. How could she have agreed to do this idiotic thing with no protection? How could she have put her baby at risk like this? Suddenly she wondered if Darby hated her enough to have deliberately put her in danger, even knowing she was pregnant. Surely not. Then she remembered that she’d asked Darby for someone to meet her yesterday, and no one came. The truth of her situation came to her, as clear as if a fog that had been obscuring her vision, had suddenly lifted.

  She’d been left here on her own, wearing a wire that could get her killed. She doubted now that Terrence even knew she was here. He would never leave her in a situation like this with no support—and she realized, suddenly, she’d been an idiot. He would never have put her in this situation in the first place—no matter how desperate he was. She was pretty sure he didn’t even know she was here, and she was absolutely sure that Darby didn’t care.

  Moira’s face concentrated in thought. “That’s good. I’ll keep the wire in my things. They search your room every night when you’re at dinner, but they don’t search mine anymore. I’m sure Walter’s expecting to be in your room tonight.”

  Anne felt herself go pale. “What do you mean?”

  “He wants you. He’s not going to wait much longer. I know. He looked at me that way when we first met. He won’t stop until he gets you.”

  Anne swallowed, fear edging like a razor against her chest. “No, Moira. I’ve told him that’s not possible. I’m married.”

  “Well, he knows that didn’t matter at least once before for you. You know, the artist.”

  “But Terrence and I had been separated for a long time when that happened.”

  Moira shrugged. “I’m just saying what I’m sure he thinks. So why were you wearing the wire?”

  “Because I’m an idiot. My sister-in-law, who hates me, told me it would help Terrence’s investigation, and that he wanted me to help and I believed her. I think she lied to me.”

  “Investigation of Walter?”

  Anne nodded. At this point, she was at Moira’s mercy. What did she have to lose now? There was no innocent explanation for wearing a surveillance wire. “It has something to do with funding terrorists. I was hoping if I found something that helped him, Terrence would forgive me.”

  Moira looked at her suspiciously. “Forgive you for what?”

  Anne decided to just go with the truth. Nothing else could explain the dilemma she was in. “For getting pregnant.”

  “You’re pregnant?” Moira was clearly surprised and whistled. “Shite.” Then her eyes got huge. “That’s why what I told you about that book upset you. It’s the artist’s kid?”

  “Maybe. I don’t know.” Anne couldn’t wait any longer. It wasn’t very glamorous, but when you have to go you have to go. “Do you mind if I go to the bathroom? I really have to go.”

  Moira waved her hand. “Go ahead.”

  When Anne returned, Moira was sitting on the bed. “So, what are you going to do?”

  “I’m going to have my baby.” If I live, she thought.

  “I mean about your husband—and the artist?”

  “I’m hoping my husband will be with me either way. If not, well, I don’t know right now. That’s as far as I’ve gotten.”

  “But you don’t want Walter?”

  “Of course not.” Anne had to smile. “Why would I want to add another man to the mix?”

  Moira giggled. “And Walter wouldn’t want another man’s baby.” Then the girl’s brow furrowed, and her mouth formed a grim smile. “So he’s sending me to sleep with the Nigerians, and he’s going to end up sleeping alone. Serves him right.”

  “Has he done this before?”

  Moira shook her head. “Never. That’s why I know he’s serious about you. And he’s tired of me, I can tell.”

  Anne’s mind was racing. She had to get out of here. She needed to get a message to Terrence. Without the wire, she had no choice but to use the cell phone. She would wait until Moira left, and then make the call.

  “Moira, I need to rest. We have at least an hour until dinner. Do you mind if I take a short nap? Being pregnant makes me so tired.”

  The young woman nodded and went to the door. “I’ll wake you up in time to get ready. We can go downstairs together.”

  “Okay. Thanks. You won’t tell, will you?”

  “No, but I won’t give the wire back to you either. I love Walter, even as awful as he’s being right now. I don’t want him to go to jail. Without him, I have nobody.”

  “Thank you.” But Anne didn’t entirely trust Moira. She had to assume that the girl would change her mind and go to Walter. She had to figure out how get out of here on her own.

  As soon as the door shut, Anne went through her bag and found her cell phone. She pushed the power button and waited. Nothing happened. She pushed it again, and again nothing happened. Her heart sank. Her cell phone was completely out of power. She scrabbled through her suitcase for the charger. Where had she seen it last? Then she remembered. The hotel. She’d left her charger in the outlet when the bellman came to get her bags. She sat down hard on the bed, trying to hold back the sinking sense of despair that threatened to overcome her.

  She was completely on her own.

  Chapter 79

  ANNE HEARD a rapid knocking on her door. Her stomach clenched into a knot so tight she could hardly walk. She grasped the paring knife she’d taken from her room’s refreshment bar. It wasn’t big; it must be meant for cutting lemons or limes for drinks. But it was something, and it was sharp.

  If Moira had broken her promise and told about the wire, then whoever was on the other side of that door would be coming to . . . what? Surely not to hurt her. How could they? Someone would have to explain what had happened to her. People knew she was here, didn’t they? She ran through her head who knew she was here besides the Von Zandts and Moira, all of whom she assumed would lie if they had to. Jonas. He knew. But they could tell him she’d left on her own. Jonas hadn’t been here to see her suddenly disappear.

  Darby knew she was here. Anne put her head in her hands and realized what a fool she’d been on so many levels. Darby hated her. Why had she been so ready to believe that Darby’s feelings toward her had changed? If something happened to her, and Darby knew that admitting she knew Anne was here would implicate her in what happened, Anne had no doubt that Darby would lie. Stupid, stupid, she told herself.

  She had to get out and make sure her baby would be safe, despite the fact that it obviously had a very foolish mother.

  The knocking became more insistent, and Moira’s voice hissed into the room through the door. “Anne, wake up. It’s time for dinner.”

  Warily, she opened the door, relieved beyond belief to see that the girl was alone. Moira wore a long form-fitting beige lace dress that was cut low in the front, exposing a substantial amount of snowy white cleavage. Around her neck was a diamond choker, and from her ears
hung diamond earrings.

  “Being pregnant must really make you knackered. I thought you’d never answer the door.” Moira scrutinized her face. “Are you all right?”

  “Did you tell?”

  “I won’t tell. I like you.” Moira smiled. “And I really, really like your husband.”

  Anne started to cry with relief, and Moira put her arms around her.

  “Stop crying. Even someone who looks like you isn’t going to look good after you’ve been crying.” She took Anne’s face in her hand. “Stop it. Really.”

  Anne sniffled and looked up, nodding.

  “I brought you something. You can have it if you promise you won’t sleep with Walter. No matter what.”

  Anne laughed, making a small strangled sound. “That’s not hard.”

  Moira’s voice was stern. “Promise.”

  “I promise. What is it?”

  Moira held up a small piece of metal.

  Anne examined it, puzzled. “A flashdrive?”

  “Right. I took the information on the accounts that feed the money to where you were talking about—those organizations—and copied them on to this. You can have it, but then you have to leave. You can’t stay here anymore. Walter isn’t going to leave you alone if you’re here, and I want him to come back to me.” She looked at Anne, her gaze keen. “Do you promise?”

  “Yes, I promise. I’ll leave tomorrow. I’d leave tonight if I could figure out how.”

  Moira pondered that. “That would be hard. Just don’t let him in here.”

  “I won’t.” A little embarrassed, Anne pulled out the knife. “I’ll use this if I have to.”

  The young woman looked at the little knife, appraising. “That’s not much of a weapon. I’ll get you a bigger knife than that before you go to bed. I’ve no doubt he will come to you, and I don’t think he’ll take no for an answer. Don’t hurt him though—just scare him away. Make him know you mean it. Then tomorrow we’ll get you out of here.”

  Anne nodded. “Okay.”

  “I’ll try to distract him from you when dinner’s over so you can get up to your room.”

  “Thank you. I tried to use my cell to call my husband, but it’s dead. And the internet’s still down, so I couldn’t use email. Do you think it’s safe to use the telephones here? There isn’t one in here, but maybe I could use one of the telephones downstairs.”

  Moira shook her head. “No, they’re locked with a password and even if you ask to have it unlocked, they’re monitored by the security guards. Walter is the only one that can use them without them being monitored. I think the internet is down on purpose because of tonight. I’d let you use my mobile, but they’ve all been collected for security. I’m surprised yours wasn’t taken, too. They’d know you have one from going through your things.”

  “I guess they could tell it was dead and didn’t find a charger either.” Anne finished getting ready. “I’d say we could send a message out on that wire for someone to come help me, but I did that already and no one came. So it either isn’t working or no one’s listening to it.”

  “You’re kidding?”

  “I wish I was. My sister-in-law is the one who was supposed to be listening. I can’t believe I trusted her. I just seem to do one dumb thing after the other.”

  Moira goggled at her. “Your sister-in-law must be a right bitch.”

  “You said it.”

  Moira shook her head. “It’s nice to see that even someone like you can make mistakes and have problems.”

  Anne started to laugh. “Moira, that’s so funny. You can’t believe how many mistakes I’ve made—big ones—and the problems are equally impressive.”

  The girl looked at her quizzically. “I really do like you. Maybe it’s that you’re American that makes you seem so strange. Lord Reid must be totally gone on you, you know, to be so jealous.” She eyed Anne, and Anne felt as if she were being dissected. “You’re probably not easy to be married to—for a lot of reasons. Anyway, get dressed and let’s go down.” Moira pointed to the flashdrive. “You can’t leave that in here when you go downstairs. You need to put it somewhere else.”

  “All right. I’ll think of somewhere. But how did you get it? Are you sure it’s the right accounts?”

  “I’m not as dumb as Walter thinks I am. I’ve watched him put in his passwords when he thought I was too empty-headed to worry about hiding it from me. I know more than he thinks I do. Those accounts aren’t actually in his name, but it’s the accounts he uses for those shites downstairs. The ones he wants me to sleep with for him.”

  “Won’t he know you’ve taken the information?”

  “No, I only copied the data—he won’t be able to tell unless he really looks, and there’s no reason for him to do that.”

  “Will you be safe if he finds out?”

  “He won’t find out. Don’t worry about me. I have my own plans.” The look on Moira’s face promised retribution. “He’s not treating me like some kind of a whore he can pass around.”

  Anne didn’t know what to say, so she changed the subject. “You said there’ll be scanners tonight. Will this flashdrive set them off if I have it on me?”

  “Not the scanners because it’s not giving off a signal. But the weapons screening will register the metal.”

  “Oh.” She thought. “That’s a problem, then, but I’ll figure something out. Thank you so much, Moira.” Anne put her arms around the girl and hugged her.

  “That’s all right. He asked for it. Get dressed now and let’s go downstairs.” Moira glanced toward the door. “We don’t want them to come looking for us.”

  “Give me ten minutes and I’ll be ready.”

  “I’ll wait for you here.” Moira sat on the bed and looked over at the table next to the bed. She picked up Anne’s copy of the design notes and photographs of the Aytoun Lane house. “What’s this?”

  Anne looked over as she finished fixing her hair, and seeing the notebook, smiled. “That’s the house he bought for us—before I told him about the baby. We were furnishing it for us.” She sat on the bed next to Moira. “It’s on a lovely little cul-de-sac called Aytoun Lane. It’s close enough for him to not have too much of a drive to work, and has a lovely garden, and room for children.” At that, she started to cry again.

  Moira shushed her in the manner of a much older woman rather than the very young woman she was. “Stop. We have to go downstairs and look smashing. Finish getting ready. I’ll meet you at the top of the stairs in ten minutes. Don’t worry, you’ll have your house on Aytoun Lane with Lord Reid.”

  Chapter 80

  TWISTING AROUND to see the back of herself in the bathroom mirror, the first thought Anne had was that she was glad Terrence wasn’t there to see her in this dress. He would be furious—it was not a business dinner dress at all. The narrow straps flowed into a fitted bodice that plunged deeply in front and was nonexistent in the back. A slit ran up the front of the black lacy fabric to mid-thigh and then down to the elegant five-inch high-heeled sandals that had arrived with the dress.

  The dress was beautiful, but definitely not modest, fitting her closely, and leaving little room to hide anything. She would have had trouble hiding the wire even if she’d still had it. She could hide the flashdrive somewhere in the dress but it might still trigger the metal detector. Perhaps the scanning device wouldn’t be that sensitive; the flashdrive was small—certainly not the size a weapon would be. She tucked it inside her backless, strapless bra. She could pretend it was part of the underwire, and no one would look any further. She thought about it, then unzipped her dress and rearranged herself.

  Then she scrutinized her hair. She’d arranged it on top of her head and secured it with the heavy jeweled combs Terrence had given her for their anniversary. She turned and caught sight of them. Ornately fashioned metal lavishly studded with diamonds, emeralds and rubies. For a man with simple tastes, Terrence certainly knew how to pick out jewelry, she thought, looking down at her wedding ring, a lar
ge diamond surrounded by constellation of diamonds and sapphires.

  Tomorrow, she and Moira would have to figure out how to get her out of here. She’d given up on any help from Darby who, Anne realized, had abandoned her here, even after hearing that the wire had been discovered. Of course, that assumed that Darby had even really ever had the wire monitored.

  She just needed to make it through the night. Tomorrow, if she was still alive, she’d find a way out of this mess. She slid the knife under the pillow in her bed, hoping Moira would come through on her promise of a bigger knife.

  Anne had no doubt she could use it. She kissed two fingers and touched them to her belly. She would keep her baby safe, even if it meant she’d have to kill someone.

  Chapter 81

  MOIRA WENT THROUGH the screening ahead of Anne. Anne watched, hiding her nervousness with the look her sisters called her ice princess face, a look generally reserved for when she needed to erect a barrier between her and unwanted attentions from whatever quarter.

  First, a wand swept Moira from head to toe, scanning for wires or any electronic transmissions. The man, one of the bodyguards Anne had seen before, moved the device slowly down the girl’s back, then up her front, then on each side of her. Moira looked bored but tolerant. Then a metal detector replaced the wand and swept slowly upwards starting at the five-inch heels. The detector beeped, and Moira had to remove her shoes which must have had a metal heel component. The shoes were scanned through a machine by one of the other bodyguards while the one wielding the metal detector continued his way up her dress. Anne watched nervously as the wand reached Moira’s breasts, knowing the girl would also be wearing a bra with an underwire for this type of dress. The metal detector beeped again, and Moira rolled her eyes. The man handed her a robe which she put over her shoulders.

  “Can I have her unzip me?” Moira motioned to Anne.