Mind Game

by Iris Johansen

  “No one makes you do anything, Seth,” Lisa said. “You only realized that Jane is right and you were wrong.”

  “And you had nothing to do with it?”

  “I had everything to do with it.” She caught Jane’s look and amended her statement. “But she made it happen, and that’s good, too.”

  “I’m glad that you think my small part is worthy of your master plan,” Jane said drily. “You can drop her now, Caleb. Preferably on her head.”

  “Not yet.” He put her carefully on her feet beside the campfire. Then he held her close for a moment before releasing her. “Next time.” He turned and headed down the bank. “I’ll see you before I leave, Lisa. I’m heading down to the mist to thank MacDuff for taking on a headache like you. I’m going to owe him.”

  “I won’t be a headache,” Lisa called after him. “Jane said I’ve got to make myself useful and not be a bother.”

  “Excellent idea.” He looked at Jane. “I’ll be curious as to how you implement it.”

  “So will I,” Jane said. “We can but hope.”

  Lisa watched him until he disappeared into the woods. “I will do what you want,” she said quietly. “I don’t cheat. You gave me my chance to keep Seth away from me and safe. I’m not going to cause you any trouble.”

  “Yes, you will,” Jane said. “But perhaps not intentionally. You’re Caleb’s sister and you’re very like him in many ways. So trouble goes with the territory.”

  “Maybe.” Her tone was abstracted as she looked out at the lake. “This is Cira’s lake? The one where the treasure is supposed to be hidden?”

  “Yes. But right now, supposed is the key word. We’re not certain of anything.”

  “How could you be?” Lisa murmured as she took a step toward the lake. “It’s not a place that reveals its secrets. It’s kind of … wonderful.”

  Oh, Cira, have you captured another one in your spell? “Yes, totally wonderful.” Jane moved to stand beside her. “And secrets can be wonderful, too.”

  She frowned. “But you’re trying to find out her secrets.”

  “Only if she wants to whisper them to us. She’s held them close to her for centuries. Maybe she’ll find it’s time to let us share them.”

  “Maybe.” She was still looking out at the mist. “But you know some of her secrets now, don’t you? Seth said that you had dreams about her.”

  “Yes, I did. But that could be fantasy, not secrets.”

  “Do you think it’s fantasy?”

  “For a long time I thought I was having delusions. It became an obsession to me.”

  “You didn’t answer me. Do you think it’s fantasy?”

  “Sometimes. Her story has become my story, and that makes it true to me. But I’m a realist. I have trouble with anything that’s not grounded in reality.” She smiled. “But then I started having to draw sketches of you. So if I believe in you, I have to believe in Cira, don’t I?”

  “I guess you do.” Her gaze shifted back to Jane. “I want to know about her. Will you tell me?”

  “What do you want to know?”

  “Everything.”

  Jane laughed. “I don’t know everything.”

  “Well, almost everything.” She looked back at the mist. “I think she’s there, don’t you? I can feel … something.”

  She hadn’t expected that from Lisa. It was clear the girl was caught and held by the mystique. “Sometimes I’ve thought her spirit may be there.”

  “Tell me.”

  Jane gazed thoughtfully at her. It was probably only curiosity and Lisa’s usual intensity about everything in her immediate world. Yet hadn’t Jane had that same intensity when she had started to dream about Cira all those years ago? Who was she to judge or question?

  She turned away from the lake. “Why not? Providing you sit down by the fire and rest. I have a sketch I have to complete of my brother, Michael. I’ll work on it while I tell you about Cira and her husband, Antonio, and her son Marcus.” She headed for the campfire. “Would you like coffee or tea?”

  * * *

  Caleb didn’t come back from the north bank for over four hours. When he did appear, his shoes were covered with mud and his shirt was open.

  “Don’t ask,” he said as he came toward them. “MacDuff needed some temporary help and he drafted me. The man is totally ruthless.”

  “And you just couldn’t say no?” Jane asked. “Poor Caleb.”

  “He’s taking care of Lisa.” He looked at his sister curled up asleep on a blanket in front of the fire. “Is she okay?”

  “Fine. She just overdid it a little today. The nap will be good for her.” She smiled. “Or maybe I bored her into a coma. She wanted me to tell her all about Cira.”

  “And did you?”

  She nodded. “Anyone who is in Cira’s world should know her. Lisa seemed to have an empathy for her.”

  “Of course she did. It’s a family thing. I keep trying to convince you that Cira likes me.” His gaze was still on Lisa. “I’m too dirty to carry her up to her tent now. I’ll go and clean up and come back for her.”

  “She can walk up to the tent area. That hill is only a slight incline. You don’t need to help her.”

  “And she’d probably be indignant.” He gave Lisa a last glance. “Okay, maybe I’m overcompensating. I wasn’t there for her for a long time. And I’m leaving her again within the hour.”

  Her brows rose. “Guilt?”

  “Perish the thought. When did I ever feel guilty about anything?” He turned and strode up the hill toward his tent.

  She watched him until he disappeared into his tent.

  When did you feel guilt, Caleb? What do you feel about anyone or anything? The more she learned about him, the more mystery she found surrounding him.

  Like Cira’s mist, she thought suddenly. Like Cira herself. But she knew most of that story. She wasn’t sure that she’d ever know Caleb’s.

  And she wasn’t going to stand down here and let herself worry and puzzle about him. The only part of her life that was connected to Caleb right now was this girl sleeping by the fire. She’d taken responsibility for Lisa and she had to be made aware of anything that might concern her.

  She drew a deep breath and quickly moved up the hill after him.

  “I need to talk to you, Caleb,” she called as she reached the tent.

  “By all means, come in. This is very reminiscent. Only the last time, I was naked.” He came to the entrance. “This time, I’m only half naked.” He’d stripped off his shirt, and his body and hair gleamed with drops of water. “But if you’re disappointed, I’d be happy to re-create.”

  “In your dreams.” She entered the tent.

  His lips twitched. “No, that’s your category.” He tilted his head. “And I thought we’d already been talking.”

  “Not about what I need to know. And I didn’t want to discuss it in front of Lisa. She has a tendency to become involved and try to run things.”

  “I’ve noticed.” He took a towel and began drying his hair. “A passion for control. I wonder where she gets it.”

  She ignored that and said, “I know you’ve been on the phone and tapping every source you have since you took Lisa to the hospital.”

  “I’ve not made a secret of it.”

  “But you haven’t told me what you learned.” She paused. “Or where you’re going when you leave here. I know that you’d have fought much harder to keep Lisa close to you if you hadn’t had an agenda already in mind. Do you know where Santara is now?”

  “No.”

  She took a step closer to him. “Don’t lie to me, Caleb. I have to take care of Lisa. I don’t want to be dancing around your half-truths.”

  “It’s not a lie.” He shrugged. “But I knew I’d be fighting this battle for a long while.”

  “Because you admitted you lied to me before.”

  “Then you have to take your chances, don’t you? However, I’d be foolish not to ration my untruths a bit. Afte
r all, I’ve already demonstrated that I have a vested interest in maintaining our relationship. Lies seriously damage that goal.” He nodded. “I do have an agenda. I’m very angry with Santara, as you know. I’ve become certain that Gino and Teresa are involved, too.” His voice dropped to lethal softness. “So the agenda is to kill them all in the most painful way possible. I don’t believe that comes as a surprise to you.” He added, “But you want a progress report, don’t you? Like Lisa, you have to be involved.”

  “I am involved.”

  “Yes, you are,” he said gravely. “And I only hope that involvement remains long-distance. I admit that was one of the reasons that was most persuasive when you ambushed me about bringing Lisa here with you.”

  “Progress report,” she prompted.

  “I’ve had Dimek Palik, my info agent, investigating both the Romanos and Santara while I’ve been tied up here. He was to concentrate on both their actions during the last six months. Also time and depth of any interaction between them.”

  “And?”

  “Santara was working as an enforcer with a drug dealer in Morocco until three months ago. Very violent, very lucrative. But then he suddenly parted ways with his employer and left the country.” He paused. “He went directly to Rome and rented a villa on the edge of town. He stayed there for a week and then flew to Dubai.”

  Jane frowned. “Dubai?”

  He nodded. “He stayed there for five days and then returned to Rome. But this time, he checked into a palatial hotel on the river, until he disappeared about the time when Lisa was kidnapped.”

  “And what was his interaction with the Romanos?”

  “Palik didn’t find any interaction. They were never seen together. None of his cohorts knew what Santara was doing in Rome. They did think it was odd he rented the bungalow. Santara likes the high life when he’s not on a job.” He tilted his head. “But the Romanos had an apartment in Rome. And they were in the city at the same time as Santara. It would have been easier for them not to be seen with Santara if he wasn’t in the center of the city.”

  “What about Dubai?”

  “The Romanos weren’t in Dubai at the same time as Santara.” He smiled faintly. “But they happened to be vacationing in the ancient city of Petra, which is three hours away. It appears that they’ve been visiting the area frequently over the last three years. Gino had many clients among the royal family and the important businessmen who are the power figures in Dubai. Teresa has given parties for them and entertained extensively when she visited in Dubai.”

  “If they’re that familiar with the country, it would be easy for them to move around and meet with Santara and make plans,” Jane said.

  “Very easy.”

  “But why in Dubai?”

  “I have no idea. That’s why I’m going to meet Palik there and find out. Rome is a natural choice for a meeting if you want to hire scum like Santara. But there must have been a purpose about going to Dubai.”

  “Palik can’t find out for you?”

  “He might, given enough time. He’s most efficient at gathering information and seems to have ‘cousins’ and ‘uncles’ all over Europe and the Middle East who do him favors. But I’m in a hurry. And I have certain advantages.”

  “Yes, you have,” she said drily. “And you don’t hesitate to use them.”

  “Oh, I hesitate … sometimes.” He reached out and tucked a stray hair behind her ear. “You have no idea, Jane. Do you want to know anything else?”

  “Is there anything else to know?”

  “Not that I can think of at the moment.”

  “Will you call me if you find out anything?”

  “I could do that.”

  “But will you do that?”

  He smiled. “Trust. I’m not playing word games with you. Haven’t I been good today?”

  She was silent and then nodded. “I think you have.”

  “See, I’m trying to regain that trust.”

  “And you know I’m like Lisa and will go after the answers myself if I’m not satisfied.”

  He laughed. “That, too. I wasn’t joking that I was glad to have the two of you here under heavily armed guards.” His smile faded. “And I’ll call and keep you informed because I want to be certain everything is safe here. I’ve already promised to call Lisa every night. We still haven’t located Santara.”

  “I’ll keep her safe. I promised both of you.”

  “You did, didn’t you?” He tossed his towel aside. “And I believe you. But we’ve discussed how I have this thing about control. Now suppose you go down and see if Lisa is awake so that I can say good-bye. I think I should go very, very soon.” His eyes were suddenly twinkling. “Unless you want to change your mind about my shedding the rest of these clothes? It would be awkward with Lisa so close, but I’m sure she’d be understanding.”

  Heat.

  Her breasts were suddenly swelling, pressing against her shirt.

  She was achingly aware of his being only inches away. The tight muscles of his abdomen, the drop of water still caught in the thatch of dark hair on his chest. The scent of him.

  Totally sexual. Totally Caleb.

  And he wasn’t smiling any longer.

  She had to get out of here.

  She whirled and headed for the tent opening.

  “It wasn’t me, Jane,” he said quietly. “It … just happened. Believe me, I’d pick a more convenient time and place.”

  She didn’t look at him. She knew he had been joking and he wouldn’t do anything to endanger her relationship with Lisa. She wasn’t about to blame him. “I know that.” She steadied her voice. “You’re right. It just happened. After all, it’s only sex.”

  “Only?”

  It was the last word she heard as she started running back down the hill toward the campfire.

  “Only…”

  * * *

  “I don’t want him to go.” Lisa hands were clenched as she watched Caleb walk up the steep incline toward the road. “Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea.”

  “Lisa.”

  “Okay. Okay.” Lisa turned to Jane. “It’s a good idea. I just don’t like it right now. I want to be with Seth.” She glanced back at Caleb, who had reached the road and was heading for his car. “He told me he was going to Dubai. What’s he going to do there?”

  “I have no idea. I don’t believe he does right now. Why didn’t you ask him?”

  “I did.” She grimaced. “I didn’t like his answer. So I thought I’d see if he’d told you anything more.”

  “You’re as manipulative as he is.” Jane shook her head. “Look, you wanted to keep him away from you for a reason. Now you’re trying to insinuate yourself into his life long-distance? That’s not why I arranged for you to come here. I took you at your word, Lisa. Now back off from this.”

  “It was only a minor slip.” Lisa sighed. Then she grinned. “And I’m glad he didn’t tell you anything more. When I woke up, I could tell your link with him was stronger than I’ve ever sensed it. I didn’t want to be left out.”

  Jane looked away from her. “No one is leaving you out. We’re all just trying to survive you.”

  “That’s easy. Just keep me busy. I usually get into trouble only when I get bored.”

  “Then I’ll definitely keep you busy. That’s what I was thinking anyway. What can you do?”

  “Well, I can’t draw wonderful pictures like you. But I’m not stupid. I’m a whiz at a computer. I can usually make people do what I want when I make the effort.” She held up her hand. “No, I don’t have the Persuasion like Seth. But I can make people see my point of view.”

  Jane cocked her head. “That seems remarkably like the beginning of that particular talent.”

  “Does it?” She shrugged. “I thought it was just showing them that my way is more intelligent.”

  “Because it is your point of view?”

  “Maybe.”

  “What else can you do?”

  “I’m a
wonderful swimmer. I’m good at most sports. Exceptional at climbing. None of that would help here, since I have to be careful because of the wound.”

  “I’m glad you realize that.”

  “I’m a fantastic cook. I took a course at the Cordon Bleu in Paris one summer on a break from school.” She glanced at the grate on the campfire. “But that would be a challenge.”

  “French sauces would be more than a challenge,” Jane said drily.

  “And I speak seven languages fluently and I can pick up others in a very short time.”

  “How short?” Jane asked curiously.

  “On a visit to Beijing, I was able to learn enough Chinese in a day and a half to get around comfortably.”

  “Impressive.”

  “Seth speaks a lot more of them than I do. And it’s not helpful out here in the Highlands.” She paused. “I thought … perhaps I could go out on that north bank and help with those lights you told me about.” She added quickly, “Not climbing poles or lifting anything. But maybe I could hand people stuff or be a kind of gofer.”

  “No,” she said firmly. “You’re not in shape to do even that kind of work yet.”

  Lisa opened her lips to speak and then closed them again. “Probably not. But maybe in a few days I will be. I’d be very careful, Jane.”

  “I’m sure you would be. But there’s no way that MacDuff would want to have to worry about taking care of you while he’s caught up with the hunt. He’d probably drown you if you got in his way.”

  Her grin deepened. “No, he wouldn’t. I told you: I’m a very good swimmer.”

  “You’d have to be.” She tried to read her expression. “Is this about Cira?”

  “Of course. This entire place is about Cira. Can you blame me for wanting to go and see if I can help them find her treasure?”

  “No, but I’ll be the one blamed if you injure yourself.”

  She frowned. “I wouldn’t want that to happen. I’m not going to let you be hurt. Don’t worry, I’ll handle this myself. I can make it work.”

  “Oh dear.” Jane shook her head. “I’m afraid to see exactly how that’s going to take place.” Her gaze went to the north bank. “But evidently I’m going find out soon. There’s MacDuff and Jock coming in for the day.”