Her Secret Weapon

by Beverly Barton

  Chapter 4

  Despite the chill in the air, Callie strolled with Seamus through Hyde Park as she did almost every Sunday when it wasn’t raining. From her home she could walk entirely in the park to Oxford Street. The central park of London buzzed with activity. People milled about, walking, bicycling and roller-skating. In warmer weather residents often sunbathed and picnicked or enjoyed boating and fishing. Like a breath of country air in the middle of the city, the park provided a bucolic setting. Trees, flowers, lakes and wildlife. And Callie occasionally stopped at one of the cafés for tea and biscuits.

  Today’s outing had begun like any other, only with the early November weather, she had bundled up Seamus and worn her heavier coat. But she liked the cool, crisp air that reddened her cheeks and invigorated her spirit. After the odd way her evening with Burke had ended last night, she certainly needed the fresh air to clear her head. She’d slept fitfully after a brief argument with Enid. Her cousin had gone beyond the bounds of friendship and family ties when she’d warned Burke off.

  Whether or not she had an affair with her employer and whether or not she ever chose to tell him that he was Seamus’s father was her decision to make, not Enid’s. Oh, she understood why Enid had rushed in, as she was prone to do, and had persuaded Burke that he was dealing with a fragile flower whose heart could easily be broken. Her cousin had always played her protector. Perhaps because Enid was four years older and perhaps because she considered herself more worldly-wise and experienced when it came to love affairs.

  Enid had slept late this morning and when Callie and Seamus returned from church, she was gone. She’d left a succinct note. Off to Bristol with Freddy and Kipp. Will ring you midweek. So like Enid to run away to avoid confrontation!

  A sharp wind swirled leaves across the pavement and swayed the tree branches. Callie stopped, tightened the scarf around her neck and checked the blanket wrapped around Seamus. She smiled warmly and gave her sleeping toddler a kiss on the check.

  Suddenly she felt it again—that odd sensation someone was watching her. When she’d left home, she had sensed someone was following her, but after scanning the area and seeing no one suspicious, she’d felt silly. Who would be following her?

  But there it was again—that niggling worry, that unsubstantiated concern. Trying to be very subtle in her perusal of the people around her, Callie kept her smile in place and gave a friendly nod to another young mother she often saw in the park. Several of the faces were familiar. Men, women and children she’d seen on numerous occasions. None of the strangers appeared threatening. And no one seemed unusually interested in her.

  What’s the matter with you? an inner voice scolded. You’re imagining things. You’re perfectly safe. No one intends to harm you or Seamus. Relax and enjoy this beautiful afternoon.

  He rubbed the back of his hand across the scars on his forehead and down across the heavy beard that covered his face. He stayed a good distance away from Callie Severin and her child, but remained close enough to study her. She was a pretty little thing, nothing like the type of woman he thought a man such as Burke Lonigan would choose for a mistress. But word had it that Lonigan’s new PA was more than an employee. All of London knew that she’d served as his hostess last night, and that fact was a telltale sign of their relationship. It was a known fact that usually Lonigan’s latest paramour served as his hostess. But if this sweet young thing was indeed Lonigan’s latest lover, why had he paid a late-night visit to Hayley Martin?

  Whenever he did business with a man, he made sure he learned everything possible about that man. But with someone as complicated and mysterious as Burke Lonigan, he’d found unearthing more than superficial information difficult.

  It always paid to be careful. And knowing a man’s weaknesses gave him an edge that could prove useful. Was Callie Severin one of Lonigan’s weaknesses? Perhaps his only weakness? Or was she nothing more than a temporary dalliance, easily replaced?

  He had arrived in London three days ago, but he hadn’t rushed into a meeting with Lonigan, despite his desire to strike a deal with the notorious arms dealer. Word was that Lonigan had in his possession the shipment of weapons that had disappeared in the Sinai—his weapons! And he intended to have what was his, no matter what.

  For the right price, Lonigan would make a deal. His reputation as a shrewd businessman with unrivaled contacts in the underground made Lonigan dangerous. That’s why providing himself with an insurance policy was the smart thing to do before they met face-to-face. Knowledge was power. And he suspected that in brokering a deal with Lonigan, he’d need all the power he could acquire.

  He knew where Callie Severin lived. Knew that her roommate had left, with suitcase in hand, around noon. And he knew that Ms. Severin had a child she seemed to dote on. What he didn’t know was what this woman and child meant to Burke Lonigan. Everything? Or nothing? He intended to find out.

  Burke lounged in the library, a copy of Dick Francis’s latest novel lying open, spine up, on the arm of the tan leather chair in which he reclined. After a restless night, he’d finally fallen asleep around dawn, then stayed in bed until noon. After leaving Callie abruptly last night, he’d begun having second thoughts before he reached Hayley’s flat in Notting Hill. Why should he allow Enid’s warnings about breaking Callie’s heart to stop him from pursuing an affair? Because Callie isn’t like the other women you’ve known, his conscience reminded him. You realized that fact from the very beginning and chose to ignore it. She’s a sweet young woman who was abandoned by her child’s father, as your own mother was abandoned. Callie needed a man like Gene Harmon, a man willing to marry her and be a father to another man’s son. But he wasn’t that man. Or was he?

  Burke stood and stretched, then pulled down his cashmere sweater, which had ridden above his waist. He hated Sunday afternoons alone. The house was too quiet. On days like today, the walls seemed to close in on him. Even with Leland about somewhere, probably puttering in his herb garden in the tiny greenhouse out back, Burke felt the loneliness of his solitary life more today than ever before. And he could blame Callie Severin for his morose attitude.

  Damn the woman! Damn her for making him want her. Damn her for refusing him. And damn her for being the type of girl who wanted to get married.

  Stalking about the library like a caged animal, Burke forked his fingers through his hair and cursed. What the hell was wrong with him? More important—what had been wrong with him late last night when he’d paid that impromptu visit to Hayley Martin? She’d been surprised to see him and had tried to slam the door in his face. But once he’d apologized for his earlier behavior, she’d welcomed him with open arms.

  “That little bit of sweetness turned out to be a real bore, didn’t she, love?” Hayley had taunted. “You found out rather quickly that she couldn’t satisfy you the way I can.”

  He had kissed Hayley with all the passion he felt for Callie. One woman was as good as another, he’d told himself. If you can’t have the one you want, want the one you can have.

  But he hadn’t been able to go through with it and had called a halt to their encounter. Hayley hadn’t been the woman he wanted and he couldn’t bring himself to use her. In retrospect he asked himself if he’d walked away because of Callie. He wasn’t sure. Maybe. But then again, although Callie had been the woman on his mind when he’d arrived at Hayley’s, she hadn’t been the one he’d been thinking of when he’d pushed Hayley away.

  You fool! You bloody fool! he berated himself. You were thinking about her, weren’t you? The mysterious woman whose face he couldn’t remember. The loving, caring woman who had held him in her arms and comforted him on the most miserable night of his life. With Hayley offering herself to him, it had been her body he’d felt, her scent he’d smelled, her taste on his lips.

  God help him, he was in love with an illusion!

  In love? Hell, he wasn’t in love with anyone. Not Callie. And not his mystery lady. Enamored. Infatuated. Bewitched. Yes, most defini
tely. But not in love.

  Enamored with Callie? Or with the other one? Infatuated by Callie’s luscious body? Or infatuated by a vague memory of perfection? Bewitched by Callie’s sweetness? Or bewitched by a phantom with whom he’d shared indescribable sexual pleasure?

  A knock on the door snatched Burke from his fanciful thoughts. Thank God something had distracted him. More thinking like that and he was apt to go around the bend.

  “Yes?”

  The door opened; Leland Perkins stood at the threshold. “Would you care for afternoon tea, sir?”

  “No, thank you, Leland,” Burke replied. “But please, go ahead and have your tea. I might go out for a bit. Take myself a walk and clear the cobwebs from my mind.”

  “Given the present situation, sir, wouldn’t it be advisable for me to accompany you?”

  Burke grinned. “The present situation being that somewhere out there a man known only as Simon is being fed information about a certain shipment of Russian-made weapons that miraculously are now in my possession?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  Burke walked toward the door, stopping as he approached his trusted companion and fellow SPEAR agent.

  “Don’t you think I’m capable of taking care of myself?” Burke asked, halfway joking.

  “I know you are, sir. But it is my duty to act as your bodyguard. Your position within the organization is essential. I am expendable. You are not.”

  “Don’t kid yourself, Leland. We’re all expendable. Even the great Jonah.”

  “Perhaps. What I should have said is that I would be easily replaced, whereas you would not.”

  Burke clamped his hand on Leland’s thick shoulder. “Leland, you’re much more valuable than you’ll ever realize. Enjoy your tea. If I decide to take a walk, I’m sure I’ll be quite safe.”

  “Very well, sir.”

  When Leland turned to leave, Burke again squeezed his shoulder before releasing him. “Do you ever think about retiring from the agency?”

  “No, sir.”

  “You’re older than I am,” Burke said. “Are you telling me that thoughts of retiring have never crossed your mind?”

  “Of course, I’ve considered the possibility,” Leland admitted. “But what would I do with my life? I’ve been with SPEAR since I was a lad of twenty-two. A good twenty-five years. I’m an old bachelor, no children and no family to speak of, except a few distant cousins in York.”

  “Mm. We’ve both spent our lives within SPEAR’s circle, haven’t we, old man? But there are times when I… Well, I suppose I’m not cut out to be a family man, am I?”

  “I wouldn’t know, sir. Could it be that Ms. Severin and her child have put such thoughts in your head?”

  Laughing heartily, Burke patted Leland on the back. “I’m afraid I’m suffering from a case of unrequited lust.”

  “Yes, sir. I thought as much.”

  Burke’s cellular phone rang. He spied the compact instrument where he’d tossed it on the oak side table by his chair.

  “Even on a Sunday afternoon!” Burke took his time retrieving the phone.

  The moment he answered, a familiar voice said, “Someone is asking a lot of questions about you. About your business and about your private life.”

  “Simon?”

  “That’s our guess,” Jonah said. “And if it is Simon, then he’s preparing to make contact. Today. Tomorrow. We can’t be certain when, but it will be soon. He’s anxious to get his hands on that shipment of weapons.”

  “I’ll be ready for him, whenever he sets up a meeting.”

  “Don’t be surprised if he doesn’t call first. He’s known for doing the unexpected.”

  “I’ll keep that in mind.”

  “There’s something else you should keep in mind,” Jonah told him.

  “What’s that?”

  “Simon will use whatever means necessary to get the upper hand. And that could mean danger to anyone who gets in his way. I understand there’s a new lady in your life.”

  “There’s always a new lady in my life,” Burke said.

  “If we know about Callie Severin, then there’s a good chance that Simon knows about her.”

  “Possibly,” Burke said. “But Leland doesn’t report my every move to Simon the way he does to you.”

  “Touché. But don’t underestimate the enemy.”

  “I never have.”

  Burke hadn’t come into the office at all Monday. And he hadn’t bothered ringing her or even sending a message through Juliette. The staff had speculated about what he was doing, and the consensus seemed to be that he was with some new lady friend.

  Callie had hated the sympathetic glances and whispered comments behind her back. She realized they were all talking about her and the fact she had served as Burke’s hostess on Saturday night, but had apparently been dumped shortly thereafter. It seemed that everyone—except she—knew that being Burke Lonigan’s hostess meant that you were his latest lover. How could she have been so stupid?

  She glanced at the necklace, bracelet and earrings cupped in her hand. She’d brought them with her yesterday to return to Burke, then stuffed them in her purse and taken them home with her. And here it was after ten-thirty on Tuesday and her employer hadn’t put in an appearance.

  Callie summoned Juliette, who stuck her head in and asked, “Something you need, Callie?”

  “Yes.” She laid the jewelry atop her desk. “I’m going to put these items in the company safe and I need you to witness the transaction.”

  “Certainly.”

  Callie picked up the jewelry, exited her office and entered Burke’s. Juliette followed directly behind her. Lonigan’s Imports and Exports had two safes in the office suites. Both were in Burke’s private office. One was his personal safe and the other was the company safe. She and several of the executive officers had the combination to the company safe. Only Mr. Lonigan knew the combination to his personal safe.

  “They’re quite lovely, aren’t they?” Juliette commented as she gazed at the jewelry while Callie worked the combination to the safe.

  “Yes, they’re beautiful.”

  “I imagine they looked splendid on you Saturday night.” Juliette gasped as if she’d suddenly realized that she had broached a taboo subject. “I’m sorry, Callie, I forgot—”

  “It’s quite all right. Really.” The lock clicked. Callie opened the safe’s door, deposited the jewelry inside and promptly shut the door.

  “You won’t be leaving the company, will you?” Juliette asked.

  “Of course not. Why should I?”

  “No reason. But some of us were wondering…that is, we weren’t gossiping, just being curious. Won’t you find it difficult to work with Mr. Lonigan after…well, after what happened?”

  “What do you and the others think happened?” Callie asked.

  “Oh, dear, I’m afraid I’ve upset you. Pardon me for—”

  “Mr. Lonigan and I have not had an affair. We are not lovers.”

  “You aren’t?”

  “No. I can assure you that I didn’t know it was customary for his mistress to host his parties. If I’d known, I would have declined his invitation.”

  “Dear me.” Juliette sighed. “What an embarrassment for you.”

  “Yes, indeed, but one can easily survive embarrassment, can’t one?” Tilting her chin, Callie held her head high. “Now, let’s get back to work. It seems Mr. Lonigan isn’t going to favor us with his presence again today, so—”

  “What’s this about my not favoring you with my presence today?” Burke asked as he entered his private office.

  Juliette jumped and squealed with shock. Callie gasped silently. Burke blew into the office like a whirlwind, apparently energized and enthusiastic. Perfectly attired in his charcoal gray pinstripe suit, pale gray shirt and crimson silk tie, he smiled warmly at Juliette.

  “I’d like my coffee in ten minutes,” he told her, then turned to Callie, effectively dismissing the secretary. “I apologize
for not contacting you yesterday and leaving you to handle everything around here, but I had a personal situation that needed my immediate attention.”

  “You don’t owe me an explanation, Mr. Lonigan.”

  Callie made a move to walk around Burke so she could exit his office, but he reached out and placed a restraining hand on her arm.

  “We need to talk, don’t we, Callie?”

  “That’s not necessary.”

  “Ah, but I think it is.” He ran his hand down her arm and manacled her wrist. “I’m not very good at dealing with messy personal situations.”

  “Was the personal emergency you had to handle yesterday a messy one?” she asked sarcastically.

  He tugged on her wrist, encouraging her to follow him to the sofa. When she refused to look at him, he jerked her down on the sofa as he sat. “Yesterday’s problem consisted of an unpleasant meeting with my half brother and two half sisters. We’ve been trying to come to an agreement about my late father’s estate and I’m afraid that after two years of haggling, we’ve resolved nothing. I’ve allowed them to drag things out this long in the hopes we wouldn’t have to go to court.”

  “I’m so sorry,” Callie said, her tone softening. “Did you resolve the problems?”

  “Not hardly.” Burke grimaced as if the very thought of his half siblings angered him. “Despite the fact that my father’s will plainly states that I’m to be given an equal share, his legitimate children are determined to see that I get nothing.” He glanced at Callie. “Yes, that’s right. I’m a bastard.”

  “No, you’re not!” she said vehemently. “You’re no more a bastard than my little Se—than my son is. I hate that term. I hate that people still use it to refer to a person’s parent’s marital status when they were born. It’s so unfair.”

  Callie couldn’t stop the tears from gathering in her eyes or several droplets from trickling down her cheeks. Burke wiped away the teardrops with his fingertips. He and Callie stared at each other for one long, breathless moment.

  “Don’t cry for me, sweet Callie.”