Never Coming Home

by Evonne Wareham

  ‘No – but I suppose we might have allowed ourselves to be preyed upon.’

  ‘But why?’ It always came back to that. She’d looked at it from every direction. She simply couldn’t see the angle. If there was one, it was too deep for her. ‘If Devlin had tried to get us to employ him, offered to introduce us to a medium, asked for money for his story?’ she demanded, exasperation roughening her voice. ‘He didn’t do any of that. He came to tell us how Jamie died. The rest was an accident. He was as shocked as we were.’

  ‘I believe that too,’ Suzanne confirmed quietly.

  ‘Oh, Mum.’ With the tightness in her chest threatening to choke her, Kaz reached out and gathered her mother into her arms. ‘Thanks.’

  ‘You never have to thank me. Never.’ Suzanne was vehement as she sat back. ‘But what are we going to do?’

  ‘I don’t know,’ Kaz admitted. ‘Phil isn’t going to do anything more, is he? Despite what he said about following leads?’

  Suzanne sighed, mouth working as she made up her mind. ‘Possibly not,’ she said at last. ‘He has got a lot on with this latest case and he’s done his best, as he sees it, by warning you off. I have to say it. Mr Devlin does sound a bit … scary.’

  ‘A lot scary,’ Kaz agreed. ‘But it doesn’t matter. I’ve got to know, Mum.’ Kaz banged her hand restlessly against the arm of the chair. ‘The only way that I’m going to find out is to take Devlin’s bait, if it is bait. I have to talk to him again. First thing in the morning I’ll ring his hotel. I hope he hasn’t checked out already –’ She tipped her head back as realisation hit, like a punch in the gut. ‘He didn’t tell us where he was staying.’

  ‘Which sort of proves that he didn’t intend to maintain contact.’

  ‘He knows where we are, though. If he wants us.’ Kaz wrinkled her nose. ‘What do we do now? Ring all the hotels in London, on the off chance?’

  ‘I suppose – hold on a minute.’ Kaz leaned forward eagerly as her mother gave a start. ‘He gave me a card. What was I wearing that day?’

  Kaz stood beside her mother’s wardrobe with the card in her hand.

  ‘I hoped he’d have written his hotel on the back,’ Suzanne sighed.

  Kaz wasn’t going to be beaten now. ‘There must be someone in his office when he’s not there. What time is it in Chicago?’

  Devlin saw her before she saw him.

  He’d paid off the cab a short distance from the hotel. She was sitting in the window, scanning the street, but in the opposite direction.

  They’d have told her at reception that he was out. He wondered how long she’d been waiting. She was more formally dressed today, in a dark business suit, the vibrant hair ruthlessly secured in a chignon. There were several small tendrils escaping to curl around her face. The jolt of lust – he couldn’t call it anything else – was disconcerting. He’d been telling himself over the last two days that the physical reaction he’d had to Kaz Elmore was nothing special. That he really didn’t want to see her again. And now here she was.

  When Bobby had telephoned, to warn him that the woman was looking for him, he should have told his partner to stall her. He didn’t do damsels in distress, not even damsels that were as sexy as all get out. Especially not damsels who were as sexy as all get out. It was the thing about the child that had hooked him. Bobby had laughed. Devlin had called him an asshole and rang off.

  His business in London was done. He should be getting on a plane home this afternoon. A feeling in his gut told him that wasn’t going to happen. It had nothing to do with the tendrils of hair that were curling around Kaz Elmore’s face. That was just sex.

  Kaz Elmore wanted something from him. He had a pretty good idea what. If he wasn’t damn careful, he was going to give it to her. Unwittingly he’d lobbed a grenade into her world. That didn’t mean it was down to him to sort out the pieces. Just keep reminding yourself of that, buddy.

  There was a tight feeling at the back of his neck. He couldn’t imagine what it might be like to lose a child. Shit – he’d never cared enough, about anyone, for it to hurt. That was the kind of guy he was. It was a personality defect, plain and simple.

  His career had picked him, when he was too wet behind the ears to know any better. He’d been recruited and trained and turned loose and then he did what he did, because he was good at it. He’d been good at it for nearly ten years. When he got tired of waking up in some Godforsaken place, with sealed orders for God-knew-what, he’d bailed out. He’d had enough clout and enough data on them by then to make deals. His mouth twisted. They’d sent him to therapy and tried to kick him upstairs, make him the guy who did the picking, rounding up the next crop of kids, but he wasn’t buying it. He had told them his terms.

  They still called him, occasionally. If they had a loose end to tie up … Sometimes he told them, sometimes he didn’t. Sometimes he really didn’t fucking remember. That had bothered him, when the jobs and the places ran into each other. Whoever they were, whatever they’d done, they needed to be remembered. That was when he finally knew he had to quit. When the faces began to blur.

  Now there was a beautiful woman waiting for him and something inside him, that he really didn’t need, was shifting. Conscience, responsibility, a need for … justice. Dammed if he knew. Sensible thing would be to get the hell out of Dodge. Jesus. He squared his shoulders and headed towards Kaz Elmore.

  Kaz sat on the edge of the chair, peering out of the window, wondering how long this was going to take. The receptionist had been polite, but noncommittal.

  No, Mr Devlin was not in the hotel at present. Yes, Madam might wait here in the foyer if she wished, but as Mr Devlin had left no message as to when he might return, would Madam perhaps prefer to call back later?

  No. Madam would stay. She had nowhere better to go. She moved restlessly. She’d dressed carefully. She’d wanted to look cool and professional. Would that impress Devlin?

  Come on – you dressed this way because you were afraid of looking too sexy.

  She breathed in heavily. All right! Yes! She could admit it. She found Devlin attractive.

  Isn’t that really why you’re here?

  This is about hiring Devlin for his professional skills.

  Oh yeah. And you’re not hoping this good-looking guy is going to be some sort of white knight?

  Kaz planted her hands firmly down on the chair, on either side of her, bracing herself. This was not being needy. She was not expecting Devlin to take care of her. She was done with all that. Just because he’d caught her, when she’d nearly fainted, and she’d liked the feel of it, of him, didn’t make him her saviour. All that Phil said about him was probably true – and some. Which suited her just fine. She was here to make a business arrangement.

  She shut her eyes, channelling strong, independent woman for all she was worth. She was here to negotiate. Devlin had skills, she needed them.

  Knowing your limitations is a sign of strength; it does not mean that you’re still some happy-ever-after, needy heap. Devlin is a gun for hire. You’re hiring. You can do this. You can work with the Devil if it means that you see your daughter again.

  She opened her eyes, took a deep breath. She should be putting her speech together for when he arrived, not cluttering her brain with a lot of other stuff. If Devlin –

  ‘Mrs Elmore?’

  Kaz gulped. Damn! He was here, before she was ready! Hell, he was even bigger than she remembered. She struggled up, off the chair. He was looking at her with a totally unreadable expression.

  ‘I’d appreciate a few moments of your time,’ she said formally. She wasn’t getting anything from his face – welcome, curiosity, impatience, nothing. He must really clean up at the poker table.

  He nodded abruptly. ‘Shall we go someplace more private?’ Kaz’s heart spiked. Did he mean his room? She set her teeth. Whatever.<
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  He ushered her to a private room at the back of the hotel, decorated to look like a library. Deep leather sofas and walls of old books. Coffee arrived as they were sitting down. He’d seen her, waiting in the foyer. Of course. She pulled in the deepest breath. She had to get a hold of herself and the situation.

  Then he smiled at her. He was lifting the coffee pot and grinning. He looked about as lethal as the plate of shortbread biscuits nestling on the tray. Had her uncle really warned her off this man? Of course he did – the man is a chameleon. That’s what you’ll be paying for.

  ‘I’ve been told that I should stay away from you.’

  Devlin handed her a cup, with a considering look. ‘Your uncle? The cop.’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘But you’re here anyway.’

  Kaz hesitated. She’d wasted the time when she could have been preparing her speech. All she had now was the truth. Devlin would probably prefer it that way. So go for it.

  ‘My uncle says you’re dangerous, that you’re trying to con me.’

  ‘And what do you think?’

  Her heart lurched. ‘That you may be the only chance I have of ever seeing my daughter again. I need to trace my husband. Phil said he’d try, but I think he’s humouring me. Have you ever killed anyone?’

  Devlin’s hand jerked, almost upsetting his coffee. What the hell?

  There was a long beat of silence. He couldn’t meet Kaz Elmore’s eyes.

  ‘I’ll take that as a yes.’ She was leaning forward, intent. On him. He had to look at her. Those dark eyes. Jesus.

  ‘Good.’ she said briskly, as if he’d answered. ‘After I’ve found my daughter, and made sure she’s safe, I may need help to wring my ex-husband’s neck.’ As if they were discussing the weather. And her a mother!

  He needed to concentrate. His mouth wasn’t working. He had to get his mind back in control.

  ‘I want to hire you, Mr Devlin. It’s not just for Jamie.’ Christ, she wasn’t even giving him a chance to react, just ploughing straight on. ‘If my little girl wasn’t in that crash, then it was someone else’s daughter who died in your arms. She did die in your arms, didn’t she?’

  This time the sudden silence in the room seemed to breathe.

  Vaguely Devlin could hear the noises of the hotel, a long way in the background. In the front of his mind he was back on the highway, with a little girl … but now Kaz Elmore stood at his shoulder.

  He’d never even told that part to Bobby …

  With her dark eyes skewering him to the leather sofa, Devlin could only blink. So much for the hard man image.

  She sat back, apparently satisfied. ‘I want my daughter returned to me. I want justice for a mother I don’t even know. I think you’re the one to help me get them.’

  Devlin swallowed. Hauled his wits back from wherever it was they’d danced off to. Get your butt in gear, salvage something here. Get out of this!

  ‘My firm provides security, protection, expensive baby-sitting,’ he pointed out hoarsely. ‘I’m not a private detective.’

  ‘But you’ve done other things. Before. You can do this.’ Her eyes didn’t let up.

  ‘That was a long time ago.’ Now she’d got him admitting – what? Much more of this and she’s gonna have the number of the Swiss account and all the shares in the mine.

  ‘I bet you don’t forget. Besides which – ’ The little breath she took told him she had her clincher. ‘I think you want to know, just as much as I do. That dying child pulled you in. Now that she no longer has a name, or a family … You’re the only one who can stand for her. You’re involved, as much as I am. So – will you take my money? Give me – what – a week of your time, at whatever the going rate is?’

  She blinked when he told her. But clearly it wasn’t going to dissuade her.

  ‘Do we have a deal, Mr Devlin?’

  Devlin exhaled. This woman was Trouble. Definitely capital T. Trouble with his name on. Since when did that stop you? You’ve been stuck in a nice warm rut for quite a while now. What if you’re losing your edge? One way to find out. Sucker.

  ‘Okay. One week.’

  ‘Oh!’ She gave a little jump of surprise, he noted, with a glimmer of mean satisfaction. ‘That’s great.’ Her voice wavered. Now she had him, she seemed at a loss what to do with him. ‘Where do we start?’

  Time to take the game back.

  ‘We need to talk about that, but first I have something to show you. Upstairs.’

  ‘Oh, yes. I …’ She got up. He stood too. There was a strand of hair curling across her face. She pursed her mouth, blowing upwards to dislodge it, but it fell back. Devlin reached out and brushed it aside for her. He saw the flash of emotion in her eyes. It wasn’t just him –

  The air in the room went abruptly to treacle.

  ‘You feel it too, don’t you?’ Her eyes were like saucers, jet black, and the words came out on a gasp.

  ‘Uh huh.’ No point in denial.

  ‘What … what do we do about it?’ There was a tremor in her voice. Then her chin came up. He knew that look. She’d sleep with him, if that’s what it took. To get her child back. Brave, desirable, ruthless, vulnerable, a mother. And attracted to him. Definitely Trouble.

  He sighed. ‘Nothing. We do nothing. We both just have to get over it.’ He gestured that she should precede him out of the room. ‘Golden rule of security work – don’t make out with the client, it’s bad for business.’

  Chapter Four

  They stood at opposite corners of the lift, as it rose silently to the ninth floor.

  Kaz’s shoulders sagged as she tried to sort out her emotions. Relief, confusion, shame, a weird thrill of … power? What was happening to her? For a moment there she’d lost herself. Known that if it took more than money to convince Devlin to help her, then she would offer it. Had offered it? And been refused. She exhaled. She’d hired Devlin. That was key. Forget the other stuff. Need to get this back on a business footing. Let him know where you stand.

  ‘I want you to know Mr Devlin, that although I’m … attracted to you, I appreciate that we have a business arrangement and I’ll keep my side of the bargain.’

  ‘Good to know.’ His eyes were on the lift indicator. ‘And it’s just Devlin. Or some clients call me Dev.’ She must have made some involuntary movement of disapproval, narrowed her eyes or something – though how could he know, when he wasn’t looking at her? ‘Protection gets up close and personal. You’re lying on top of a guy, stopping someone from putting a bullet in him – gets kind of friendly,’ he explained smoothly as the lift stopped.

  Kaz followed him out, not sure what to make of the remark. Had he … The image he’d put in her head … of them lying on the floor together …

  She caught his eye, and saw the amusement. He had known what he was doing. Of course. Teasing you. She straightened her shoulders, gave him a cool stare, and swept through the door he was holding open for her.

  He had a suite, so she wasn’t confronted by a bed the minute she walked in. Devlin crossed to a side table, opened a laptop and punched a few keys, gesturing for her to join him. She looked curiously at the screen.

  ‘After I left you, I got my partner – you spoke with him last night – to check out a few things.’ Devlin had called up a list of e-mails. Kaz watched him loading a file. ‘If the girl wasn’t Jamie, then she had to be someone else.’ He gave a lopsided shrug when Kaz threw him a duh look. ‘Bobby checked out disappearances of nine-year-old girls and upwards, in the Atlanta area. This is what he found.’ Devlin swung the laptop towards her. The image cleared, then resolved. Displayed on the screen was a picture of a young girl. Blonde, pretty, carefree, her smile showing up the braces on her teeth. ‘Sally Ann Cheska. Eleven years old. Been missing from home for six months, three weeks, two days. Last seen October 1st,
last year.’

  ‘Three days before the accident.’

  ‘You said it. And that’s the girl who died.’

  ‘Oh God!’ Kaz sat down on the nearest chair, with a thump.

  ‘Makes it kind of real, doesn’t it?’ Devlin looked broodingly at the screen. ‘My partner is doing some digging. If he finds anything more, he’ll call.’ He looked at his watch. ‘You want to order lunch from room service while we talk?’

  Kaz speared a piece of lettuce, then let it drop back onto the dish. The Caesar salad was delicious, but she had no appetite. She put down her fork. ‘That little girl, Sally Ann, what could she have been doing with Gemma?’

  Devlin dipped his head. Not quite a shrug. ‘Seems like she was a runaway. The woman probably picked her up on the road.’

  ‘A good turn that went horribly wrong?’

  ‘Looks that way.’ He was eating grilled swordfish, impassive. ‘One interesting thing, she wasn’t reported missing until 8th October – over a week later. Bobby’s looking into that too.’

  ‘So –’ Kaz picked up her glass. The wine Devlin had chosen was easy on the palate and a shade too welcome to her overstretched nerves. She sipped cautiously. ‘At the time of the crash, no one was looking for her? That would have made it easier for Jeff to do … what he did.’

  ‘Yes.’ Devlin picked up his own wine. ‘Tell me about him – Jeff,’ he demanded abruptly.

  ‘What do you want to know?’ Kaz gave up the pretence of eating and wrapped her hands around her glass. ‘Jeff is – oh – everything from a fairy tale. Prince Charming, the Pied Piper, Peter Pan, Robin Hood – except he doesn’t believe in sharing the loot with the poor.’

  ‘A reckless, charismatic hustler, willing to take a chance to make a buck,’ Devlin translated, after a moment. ‘Capable of sizing up a situation fast and making it work for him?’ he suggested quietly.