Long After Midnight

by Iris Johansen

  She smiled at him. “That’s what I told Seth.”

  “He’s certainly doing his share.” He squeezed her shoulder and released it. “And now I’d better get back and do mine.”

  “When is the bill due up for vote?”

  “Next week. Unless we can stall it again.”

  Next week. Panic tore through her. It was too soon. Longworth was wheeling and dealing just as hard as they were. They needed to do more work before they risked a vote.

  “Did you know the bill was due to be voted on next week?” she asked Seth when he joined her before lunch.

  He nodded. “Migellin told me.”

  “How can you be so calm? It’s too soon, dammit.”

  “Migellin may be able to stall it. He’s very popular. Even his political adversaries like and respect him.”

  How could they help it? He was as down-to-earth as Abraham Lincoln, with Jack Kennedy’s class. “I wish we hadn’t had to draw him into this. He said it might hurt his career.”

  “Second thoughts?”

  “No, RU2 is worth it. I suppose I’m just not as tough as Noah.”

  “Oh, you’re tough.” His hand brushed her cheek. “Hold on for another hour and we can go back to the hotel.” He turned and moved across the terrace toward Migellin.

  Hold on. Smile. Talk to them. Don’t think of the package that might be waiting for you back at the hotel.

  “A call for you, Dr. Denby.” Migellin’s servant, Joseph, was at her elbow extending the portable phone.

  She tensed. It could be Tony. It could be Meryl Kimbro. She was often in touch these days. It didn’t have to be—

  “I found him, Emily,” Ishmaru said.

  There was a click as he hung up the phone.

  Panic raced through her. It was a lie. He only wanted to frighten, torment her.

  “Oh, and the gentleman said there was a package for you in the foyer,” Joseph said. “Shall I bring it?” He didn’t wait for an answer but hurried off.

  Seth. She wanted to scream his name. Come to me. Help me. Tell me he’s lying again.

  He was still talking to Migellin. She would have to go to him.

  She started across the terrace.

  Joseph was coming toward her, smiling and carrying a package. Red and white stripes, a scattering of gold stars.

  She stopped, frozen, as she stared at it.

  She couldn’t hear anything. Everyone seemed to be moving in slow motion. Joseph was still smiling as he handed her the package.

  Seth had raised his head and was looking at her. She saw his eyes widen when he saw the box. He started toward her. “Kate, don’t—”

  She couldn’t hear him anymore. The box. She had to open the box. She reached out and lifted the lid.

  Hair. Blood. Soft, silky brown hair. A cowlick.

  Joshua.

  She plunged down through the agony into darkness.

  “Come back to me, dammit.”

  Seth. His voice was sharp, demanding.

  “Kate. Wake up. I won’t have this.”

  His tone was so compelling that she opened her eyes.

  His face was twisted with pain, his eyes glittering.

  Something was wrong. He was hurting. She should try to—

  Joshua.

  She closed her eyes, tight, tighter. Shut it away. Shut it—

  “Kate, it wasn’t him.”

  He was lying. She had seen—

  “It wasn’t Joshua. I swear to you.” He thrust his phone at her. “Joshua’s on the phone. Talk to him.” He held the phone to her ear. “Okay, don’t talk to him. Listen.”

  “Mom, what’s wrong? Seth said you’re sick.”

  Joshua’s voice. A miracle. “Joshua?” she whispered.

  “Mom, you’re scaring me. You sound funny. What’s wrong?”

  She swallowed. “Nothing. Nothing. I was just missing you. Are you okay?”

  “Sure. I’m kinda bored. When can we leave here?”

  “Soon, I hope.” Oh God, the tears were running down her cheeks, and her voice was thickening. She couldn’t talk anymore. She thrust the phone back at Seth.

  She heard him murmuring to Joshua, and a minute later he hung up. He returned the phone to his pocket. “Convinced?”

  She nodded. “I couldn’t believe—”

  “Shh, just relax.”

  She looked around the shadowy bedroom. “Where are we?”

  “Still at Migellin’s. You’ve been out for over four hours.”

  “That horrible—”

  “Don’t think about it.”

  “It was the cowlick. Joshua has—”

  “I know. This child was younger but the hair was very similar.” His tone hardened. “Goddamn his soul.”

  “He killed a little boy just to do this to me?” It was hard to believe such evil existed. No, not really hard. Not when she knew about Ishmaru.

  “Will you be all right if I leave you for a while? Migellin’s downstairs with the police and they want a statement. He’s trying to keep them from bothering you. Maybe I can substitute.”

  “I’ll be okay. Thank you.”

  He squeezed her hand and stood up. “I won’t be long. Try to take a nap.”

  It shouldn’t be a problem, she thought drowsily. She felt as if she’d been knocked on the head. Besides, if she stayed awake, she would have to think of the contents of that box and the agony of the parents of that little boy. She wasn’t capable of facing that yet. Instead she would lie here and think of her and Joshua playing baseball in the backyard. Those were good moments, but they seemed so long ago.

  Joshua . . .

  Kate was still sleeping when Seth returned two hours later.

  God knows she needed it.

  He stood looking down at her. The lines of strain and fear on her face were still present, and he realized that he had never seen her when those lines were gone entirely. No wonder. Their time together had been fraught with threat and anxiety from their first meeting.

  He fought back the wave of tenderness and moved toward the window. He didn’t want this. He didn’t want the agony of worry. He didn’t want the tenderness. He sure as hell didn’t want the chains that went with both.

  His fault. He had known from the beginning that she was going to mean too much and he’d dived in anyway. He hadn’t cared that she’d never want more than they had now.

  Grab the moment.

  Yeah, sure. So what was he going to do now?

  He was going to stop soul-searching and get to the business of keeping her alive, he thought impatiently. Something about all this had been nagging at him. Deciding to play his hunches, as he’d learned to do a long time ago, he started to leave. He would go down and talk to Joseph before taking Kate back to the hotel.

  He glanced back at her as he reached the door and again felt that bittersweet wave of tenderness.

  Sleep well and heal, Kate.

  * * *

  FOURTEEN

  * * *

  Seth and Kate didn’t reach their hotel until after three in the morning. In spite of Seth’s efforts the police had still been there when she woke and insisted on taking a statement. Their manner had been sympathetic, but the questions totally merciless.

  “You’ve been very quiet.” She tossed her handbag on the couch in the sitting room and kicked off her high heels.

  “I’ve been thinking.”

  “I’m going to take a shower and go to bed.” She headed for the bedroom. “You’d think after all that sleep that I’d feel rested, but I—”

  “Wait.”

  She glanced at him over her shoulder, caught his expression, and then slowly turned to face him. “What is it?”

  “A hunch. Just a hunch. But we may not be going to bed anytime soon.”

  She tensed. “What kind of hunch?”

  “I thought it a little odd that Ishmaru had staged his latest drama at Migellin’s place instead of the hotel. Delivering the package to the country must have been more difficu
lt for him to manage.”

  “What are you getting at?”

  “He knew what it would do to you. He’d know I’d have to call Joshua.”

  “So?”

  “The telephone. When a digital call comes from a high-rise, it ranges from hard to impossible to listen in or trace it. But in the country there’s practically no interference.”

  “But you said that it would take a truckload of high-tech equipment to monitor a call.”

  “I checked with Joseph. There was a large telephone truck parked by a telephone pole down the road from Migellin’s for most of the day.” He paused. “I called the telephone company and they had no record of a truck being in the neighborhood.”

  The panic was building again. And she had thought the nightmare over for a little while. “You’re saying that Ishmaru knows where Joshua is?” she whispered.

  “No, the call was short. I doubt if it was traceable even with state-of-the-art equipment.”

  “But you’re not sure.”

  “I put Rimilon on alert.” He met her gaze. “And I’m going down there tonight.”

  “I’m going with you.” She thrust her feet back into her heels. “Why didn’t you tell me before?”

  “Because it may be for nothing.”

  “I don’t care.”

  “And if we go, there’s a good chance that we’ll be followed. The shelter won’t be safe anymore.”

  “What difference does it make? I’ll never feel secure about contacting Joshua and Phyliss again. And being able to check on them was the only thing that made life bearable this last week. I’d rather have Joshua here where I can protect him. I couldn’t stand not being able to know what was happening.”

  “Neither could I. Okay, go pack an overnight case and call valet parking and have the car brought around while I see about hiring a helicopter.” He smiled. “Let’s go get your son.”

  “Want to play Ping-Pong?” Phyliss asked as she got up from the table and started collecting the paper plates.

  Joshua listlessly shook his head.

  “Checkers?”

  “You always win.”

  Phyliss grinned. “Why do you think I want to play?”

  Joshua got up from the table, wandered into the living room, and flopped on the couch.

  Phyliss frowned as she watched him. Something was wrong. He had been quiet all day, even before he’d spoken to Kate, and now he was downright surly. Joshua was never surly. There was no way he could have been overjoyed about being locked up in this dungeon, but Joshua had been as good-natured as could be expected. More than could be expected.

  Phyliss dumped the plates into the disposal and followed him into the living room. “How about poker?” She sat down beside him. “Be a sport. I’m bored.”

  He didn’t answer. “What do you think Mom’s doing now?”

  “What she has to do.”

  “She sounded scared. Maybe Ishmaru is after her.”

  “Seth told you she was fine.”

  “Maybe he lied.”

  Her uneasiness increased. Seth was beyond reproach in Joshua’s eyes. “What reason would he have?”

  “I don’t know. I should be helping him. I shouldn’t be here.”

  “And leave me alone? I need you, kid.”

  He shook his head as if to clear it. “I shouldn’t be here. . . .”

  He was acting sluggish, strange.

  No, not now. Let her be wrong.

  She scooted nearer and drew him close. “Maybe it won’t be much longer.” Oh God, his head resting against her arm was burning hot.

  “Grandma, I should be helping Seth. . . .”

  “Later,” she whispered. “Just rest now.”

  The Japanese doorman smiled widely as Seth and Kate came out of the hotel. “Taxi?”

  “No, we’re expecting—There it is.” Seth stepped into the driveway and hailed the young boy driving their car.

  “Ah, your car.” The doorman took Kate’s overnight case and escorted her to the car. He opened the back door and placed the case on the floor inside. He bowed low. “I hope you will return to the Summit. It was our pleasure to serve you.”

  Seth pressed a bill into his hand before getting into the driver’s seat. The doorman was still bowing and smiling when they reached the street.

  “How long will it take us to get there?” Kate asked.

  “A couple hours. But the advantage is that we can set down in a field nearby.”

  “Will they be able to trace the flight?”

  “Maybe. Maybe not. I’ll file a fake flight plan. We may get away with it.”

  Yokomoto carefully held the white braid on his doorman’s uniform sleeve away from the public telephone. “You’ve picked them up?”

  “Loud and clear. Is the bug on the car?”

  “No, an overnight case. Do not lose them.”

  “Not likely. The transmitter I gave you was mega-powerful.”

  Such a tiny instrument. Technology was truly a wonderful thing. “You will remember me to Mr. Blount?”

  “You’ll get your money.”

  Such a lack of delicacy and tact deserved no answer. Yokomoto hung up the phone.

  “I’ve been trying to call you,” Rimilon said as Seth jumped out of the helicopter.

  “We couldn’t use the digital. What’s happening?” Seth asked.

  “Other than the kid being sick, nothing. Easiest assignment you ever gave me.”

  “Joshua’s sick?” Kate was terrified. “What’s wrong?”

  “I don’t know. Mrs. Denby came up top and said I should call you. She looked kind of scared.”

  Kate was off across the field at a dead run.

  She heard Seth say to Rimilon, “Check out the helicopter for bugs, homing devices, anything you can find.”

  “You think you were followed?”

  “Check. I don’t want to take any chances.” He caught up with Kate. “Easy. Kids get sick.”

  “Joshua’s never sick. It doesn’t make sense. And why should he be sick now? It’s too coincidental. What if Ishmaru—”

  “Be reasonable, Kate. Ishmaru couldn’t have anything to do with it unless he was able to blow germs through that steel door.”

  “I don’t feel like being reasonable,” she said fiercely. “My son’s sick.”

  Phyliss met them at the vault door. “Thank God. I don’t think he’s any worse, but he’s still burning with fever. I didn’t want to call you, but I didn’t know what to do. I can’t get the fever down. I’ve been bathing him with lukewarm water for the past five hours.”

  “Get my medical bag, Phyliss.” Kate hurried toward Joshua’s bedroom.

  He was pale, his skin flushed. She sat down on the bed beside him.

  “How you doing, baby?” she whispered.

  “Not so good.” His voice was hoarse.

  “You’re going to be fine. We’re going to get you well in no time.”

  He looked beyond her shoulder to Seth. “I stayed, Seth. I took care of Phyliss.”

  “I know you did.” Seth came closer. “Now it’s time for us to take care of you. Hang in there, sport.”

  “My head hurts. . . .”

  “I’ve got something for that.” Kate opened the medical bag Phyliss set on the bed. “But first I’ve got to examine you. Okay?”

  He nodded and closed his eyes. “Neck hurts . . .”

  “What is it?” Phyliss asked when Kate came out of the bedroom.

  “I don’t know. I don’t like that neck ache.” She shook her head. “I can’t tell without tests.”

  “Hospital?” Seth asked.

  She nodded. “And right away. I’ve taken some blood samples. Where’s the closest hospital?”

  “In White Sulphur Springs. Fifteen minutes by helicopter.”

  “Let’s do it.”

  “I’ll get Joshua.” Seth moved back toward the bedroom. “You’re coming too, Phyliss. I don’t want to leave you here alone.”

  “I wasn’t go
ing to let you leave me. But what’s different? I’ve been down here for weeks.”

  “Things are changing.”

  “What does he mean?” Phyliss asked Kate.

  “We’ve been under surveillance. It’s possible we may have been followed.”

  “Damn.” She shook her head. “I’m sorry about Joshua.”

  “It’s not your fault.” She handed Phyliss her coat. “You’re moving out of here for good.”

  Phyliss heaved a sigh of relief. “Thank God. It was like being buried alive. But Joshua was great.”

  “So were you.”

  Seth was carrying Joshua out of the bedroom, wrapped in blankets.

  “Let’s go. Get the door, Phyliss.”

  Rimilon met them at the helicopter. He held up a tiny metal device. “On the bottom of the overnight case. Very high powered.”

  “But no sign of anyone?”

  Rimilon shook his head. “Not yet. So the tunnel is probably safe. Where are you going?”

  “White Sulphur Springs Hospital.” He handed Joshua up into Kate’s arms. “Stay here for another couple hours and watch and then go there.”

  Rimilon stood to one side while they took off, the tornado of wind from the helicopter blowing his sparse hair into a wild tangle.

  “It’s meningitis,” Kate said as she came into the waiting room. “I put him on antibiotics. He’ll be okay.”

  “Where the hell did he get meningitis?” Seth asked.

  “Who knows? The incubation time for the virus is variable. Days, weeks, months.” Her knees felt weak; she collapsed on a chair. “And we were lucky, it could have been a more deadly form.”

  “How long will it take him to recover?” Phyliss asked.

  “It seems to be a light case. A few weeks. He should be able to leave the hospital in a day or two.” She raised a shaking hand to her mouth. “I was so afraid. . . .”

  “Kids get sick,” Phyliss said.

  Seth had said that too. Didn’t they know she knew that? “But I thought . . . Everything’s been going wrong. Everyone around me is—”

  She wouldn’t say the word. She didn’t want to even think of that word in connection with Joshua. She turned to Seth. “What happens now? How do we keep them safe?”