“I believe I could make the adjustment.”
“No need,” he said gently. “I’m just teasing. I don’t want to cause you any trouble. Like you said, I’m a kid and I don’t know all the answers. Everything’s going to be just the same as far as I’m concerned. I just need you to listen to me when I’m worried about you. Please don’t close me out.” He shook his head as he added jerkily, “Because sometimes that gets pretty lonely, Jane.”
She could see that it would. That last comment had almost broken her heart. This very special child trying to make his way in a world where he couldn’t admit that he was different or face being ostracized. In a way, it must be a little like what Caleb had gone through growing up. “I promise I won’t close you out.” She reached out and gently touched his cheek. “And you’ll have to tell me if you ever feel lonely around me. I might forget and you might have to remind me, but that will never be my intention. I’ll do my best not to let it happen.”
He cleared his throat. “Yeah, I know.” He grabbed her hand and squeezed it hard. “Well, I guess we’ve got that settled,” he said gruffly. He released her hand and fastened his seat belt. “That didn’t go so bad, did it?”
He sounded as awkward as Jane felt. That conversation had been super difficult for both of them. “It depends on how you look at it. Not bad, just disturbing. You’ll have to take it easy on me until I have more time to recover.” She was feeling almost shell-shocked by both the new aspects of their relationship, and the promise she had made to him. She had an idea that she would constantly be questioning how to balance that promise with remembering Michael was a child, and that his childhood must never be ruined because of how very special he was. She could fully understand Eve’s and Joe’s dilemma. Even now she was questioning the wisdom of what she had just promised him. Oh, well, all she could do was use her instincts. But she did need time to absorb and assimilate.
“It’s going to be okay, Jane.” Michael was gazing gravely at her face. “We can get through this together.”
Affection, understanding, reassurance, and that strange wisdom that had been with him from the moment of his birth were all there in his expression.
She felt a rush of love as she slowly nodded. “Yeah, no problem. We’re a great team.” The balance, she reminded herself. Remember to strike the balance. She changed the subject. “Now, did you learn enough about that game Go from Joe to be able to teach me when we get back to the castle?”
* * *
It was fully dark by the time they were approaching Kendrick Castle, but Jane could see the lights of the tent encampment on the hills surrounding it gleaming up ahead.
Her phone was ringing. Caleb.
She hesitated, glancing at Michael, who had been curled up asleep on the seat next to her for the last half hour. She didn’t want the ring to wake him. This trip had been a little exhausting and emotional for both of them. Besides, it didn’t matter whether she answered the call or not. Michael would find out a way to contact Caleb when he wanted to anyway. She pressed ACCESS. “Hello, Caleb.”
“Were you disappointed I didn’t call you yesterday as I promised?” he asked mockingly. “I decided to spare you the decision of whether or not to take the call.”
“How kind of you.”
“Sarcasm? Besides, I was too busy anyway. I left for Mantua that same night. I just arrived back in London a few minutes ago. But I wanted to call and make certain you’d reached the encampment safely. Are you there yet?”
“No, the castle’s right ahead.” But she couldn’t resist asking the question: “Mantua? You went there yourself? Did you find out anything about the photo?”
“Not enough. But we’re on our way. Palik’s been acting like a whirling dervish scouring the entire town for the photographer who took it. It’s good that you’re beautiful and attract a good deal of attention. The staff of the hotel and the waiters at nearby restaurants had no trouble remembering you. They just had to be prodded a little to remember the people around you and anyone who seemed particularly interested. Particularly one who was taking photos. Palik finally found one he thought was a likely candidate.”
“Who?”
“You made a lot of sketches while you were sitting on the fourth-floor balcony lounge overlooking the lake. There was a man who was there almost every day that you were. He never sat at a table close to you, but he was there. He was always at a table halfway across the balcony reading his newspaper. Late thirties, fair hair, swarthy complexion. Muscular, well built.”
She was trying frantically to remember anyone of that description. But when she was sketching, she was always almost totally absorbed. “Are you sure?”
“Oh, yes, because the waiter who waited on him also noticed he had his phone out on the table all the time he was reading his paper. He would occasionally seem to take a shot of the lake, which was coincidentally in your direction. The security cameras got several shots of him during those days. I’m going to send you one now to see if you can identify him.”
She could hear the ping as she received the photo. She quickly accessed it. The description was exactly as Caleb had said, but he hadn’t mentioned that the man’s features were classically good looking or that those dark eyes were cold and the expression on that swarthy face totally unrevealing. He was wearing an elegant dark suit that was impeccably tailored. “I don’t remember ever seeing him. He’s good looking so I suppose I should have noticed him. He looks…like a banker…or an executive. And he seems…cold.”
“It would take someone very cold to cut a man’s throat just to use his blood to decorate your picture.”
She shivered. “It doesn’t make sense. Do we have a name? Can you find out who he is?”
“Palik is looking into it. The man wasn’t staying at your hotel. We’re checking other hotels in the vicinity because his stalking of you was over a period of several days. He paid his bar tab in cash and tipped his waiter well. The only other things we know are that he’s obviously well dressed, soft-spoken, and tries not to be noticed.”
“Several days,” she repeated numbly. “Not just one day to get the photo. Why? And why wouldn’t I notice him?”
“Why would you expect that you were being followed if he was that unobtrusive.” He paused. “And everyone who was questioned about you said that you seemed intoxicated by the town and totally absorbed in your work. I admit I was a bit jealous. I wanted to show you Mantua. It’s one of my favorite towns. It can be an Arabian Nights city.” Before she could reply, he went on brusquely, “And it was clear that he wanted to establish more than a one-night stand with you. He was watching you, thinking about you, savoring the connection.”
Savoring. The word made her feel dirty. She looked down at his photograph again. She could see the surface coldness—yet perhaps that wasn’t the correct word. There was also an intensity, a total absorption, as he’d stared at her. “How can I find him?”
“I’ve already sent the photo to MacDuff to give to his Inspector Tovarth to process through the Yard and Interpol. With Palik and them both working on it, we should have answers soon. I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.”
“Thank you,” she said stiltedly. “I’d appreciate you doing that, Caleb.”
“For God’s sake, Jane. Do you think I won’t—” He broke off. “Be as formal as you like, it’s not going to keep me away. I’d be on my way down there right now except I’m waiting for Palik to get back to me with an answer on another question I asked him to follow up on. I thought I’d have it by now. He’s been damnably slow.”
“Don’t come. I told you I don’t want you here at the castle.”
“You might have had a chance of me listening if I hadn’t just spent almost two days tracking a son of a bitch who’s been following you around like a hungry hyena.” His voice roughened. “You don’t have any chance at all now until I bring the bastard down.”
“The hell I don’t. I can take care of myself. Joe was a SEAL, remember? He taught me f
rom the time he and Eve took me into their home. I don’t want you here, Caleb. The gates of the castle are right ahead of me. I’m going to drive through them and go to my tent. If you show up anywhere on the grounds, I’ll tell Lady Kendrick you’re harassing me. She’s a strong woman, and she won’t tolerate that crap.” She put on her brakes as she came down the hill toward the gates. “You can’t have everything your own way. How many times do I have to—”
Her windshield splintered!
Screech—
What on earth was happening?
Then she realized exactly what had happened as another bullet plowed into the top of the seat next to her!
Dear God, that bullet had been so close to Michael…
“Down, Michael!” she shouted as she fought his seat belt and tried to jerk him lower on the seat. He was waking up, but she was scared to death he would straighten and become a target because he still didn’t realize what was happening. “Keep down!”
Another shot!
Piercing the back door.
The castle gates were straight ahead. She honked her horn to get someone to open them for her.
No one was there.
A bullet hit her left back tire, sending the car skidding sideways!
“Jane…”
Michael was wide-awake now, reaching out as if to help her.
But she was the one who had to help him. He was pinned in place by his seat belt; he couldn’t move away from any bullet aimed at him.
And the right front tire had just been blown, sending the car careening directly toward the closed front gates.
She stomped on the brakes as hard as she could, then jerked open her seat belt at the same time that she threw her arms over Michael’s body to cover him.
Pain.
“Jane. Wake up.” Michael’s voice was frantic. “You’re bleeding.”
He was scared, she realized dimly. She wanted to comfort him, to tell him that she was all right. But she couldn’t get the words out…
Darkness.
* * *
Heathrow Airport
London
What the hell had happened?
Caleb punched in the number of the main line of Kendrick Castle again.
No answer. Son of a bitch, what was going on? From the moment Jane’s phone had gone dead he hadn’t been able to reach anyone. Okay, call the local police and see if there was—
His phone was ringing. He glanced down at the ID. It was Michael.
He punched ACCESS. “Are you okay? What happened to you, Michael? Is Jane all right?”
“Hi, Uncle Caleb, I’m okay. I just got a little bump when the airbag went off.” His voice was shaking a bit. “But they want to take Jane and me to the hospital because she didn’t wake up yet. I told them they’d have to get your permission since my folks appointed you my guardian if anything happened to Jane. I knew you’d want to be there with her…she was bleeding. You know about stuff like that.”
“Bleeding,” he repeated. Keep calm. It might not be anything. “An accident? Is there a doctor there?”
“Not yet. There’s only a guy who knows first aid who works for Lady Kendrick at the castle. The ambulance is on the way,” Michael said. “But I thought you should talk to Lady Kendrick and let her know what to do. I’m just a kid and she wants to speak to a grown-up. I’m going to hand my phone to her now.”
“Lady Alice Kendrick here.” The woman who came on the phone was clearly upset, her voice fast and breathless. “I understand from your nephew that you’re in charge in case of emergencies while his parents are out of the country. Is that true?”
“Absolutely. How serious are Jane’s injuries? I understand she’s bleeding? How badly?”
“I believe they told me that it’s stopped now. Hopefully that wound wasn’t serious. But she might have a concussion. The tire blew and her car crashed into the gate. Naturally, we’ll have to have her examined. The police are insisting on it anyway. I have your permission to transport her to hospital?”
“Of course. But don’t do anything radical without my permission. I’ll be on my way as soon as I hang up. I should be there in no more than two hours.”
“Fine. Thank you for your cooperation. We’ll take good care of both of them. Such a dreadful thing to have happened. It must have been some hunters trespassing on the estate. I just can’t understand it.” She took a deep breath. “I believe Michael wishes to speak to you again. Such a brave boy. And so very clever. He stepped right up to help when I was trying to reach someone in authority to help his sister.”
“Yes, very clever.” Michael had evidently arranged everything about this nightmare to suit himself and what he considered best for Jane. Uncle Caleb? He’d even added the family touch. Caleb didn’t give a damn. The only thing that mattered to him was that Michael had included him in the scenario he’d constructed. “Thank you, Lady Kendrick. I’ll talk to you later.”
“You’re coming?” Michael asked when he came on the phone. “Right away?”
“As fast as I can get there. Is Jane still unconscious?”
“I think so. She seemed to be moaning a little, but she didn’t open her eyes. They’ve got a kind of brace around her neck that won’t let her move.”
“Good. That means somebody knows what they’re doing. What about you? Nobody seems to be worried about you. But are you certain you’re okay?”
“Yes, Jane didn’t loosen my seat belt, only her own after that first bullet. She was trying to cover me with her body.”
Caleb froze. “Bullet? There were bullets?” He didn’t wait for an answer. He’d find out everything that had happened later. Right now he had to stop asking questions and get to her. “Lady Kendrick mentioned police. I thought it was just because of the accident. Listen to me, Michael. I want you to stay close to those policemen until you’re at the hospital. And make certain someone is near Jane until that ambulance arrives. Can you do that for me?”
“I thought that would be what you’d want me to do,” Michael said quietly. “I told Lady Kendrick I wanted to sit with my sister until I was sure she was all right. Lots of policemen are in there with her. So we’ll all be together.” His voice lowered to a whisper. “But get here soon, Caleb. They hurt her.”
“I’m on my way.” He cut the connection.
First things first. He dialed the number to arrange for the helicopter service he always used. That took five minutes, and while he was walking toward the terminal he was calling MacDuff so that he could have him find out from Inspector Tovarth what the hell had happened at Kendrick Castle.
But he knew enough to feel the rage within him ignite.
They hurt her.
* * *
University Hospital of Wales
2:40 A.M.
Darkness.
Her head was throbbing…
That was all right, just go deeper. Nothing could happen to her in the darkness.
“No, you don’t,” Caleb murmured, his hand tightening on her own. “I’m not done with you yet, Jane. No deeper. Stay right where you are. I have a little more repairing to do on you. Then I’ll let you wake up.”
He didn’t understand. That wasn’t what she wanted. She needed to let the darkness take her away. The pain would only grow if she woke up.
“I understand. Now don’t be a wuss. Do you think I’d let you get away from me that way? You did a little too much damage and no one’s paying enough attention to it. I’ve just got to fix it and then let you wake up and have those doctors compliment themselves on how brilliant they were to just let you regain consciousness on your own instead of doing surgery.”
But it wasn’t what she wanted. It would take too much effort and pain to do what he wanted. Why wouldn’t he listen to her? Caleb never listened to her.
“Shh. I’ll listen to you after you wake up. I can’t do it now. And I can’t let you go deeper. But trust me, you won’t care after a minute or two.” Something bright and warm and loving was hovering, coming c
loser. “You won’t even remember…”
Chapter
4
Darkness.
Terror!
The windshield shattering!
The bullet had been so close to Michael!
What if the next one—
“Michael!”
She sat bolt-upright in bed and swung her legs to the floor. She had to get to—
“It’s all right, Jane.” Caleb was beside her, holding her still, as she leaped from the bed. He muttered a curse beneath his breath. “I had enough trouble getting that Dr. Rabine to let me stay with you. If he thinks I’m causing you to go into convulsions, he’ll try to kick me out, and I won’t let that happen.” His grip tightened as she kept struggling. “So stop causing trouble. I’m fixing everything, dammit.”
The words were rough, but she was vaguely aware his hands were gentle and stopped struggling. But how could he fix everything? That bullet had been so close to—
“Michael!”
“Shh. He’s fine. He’s in the waiting room with one of the policemen Tovarth sent down when I called MacDuff. But he’ll be better when he can come in and see that you’re awake.” He added dryly, “If a little out of your head. Now will you lie back down and let me take care of you?”
Relief. Caleb wouldn’t lie to her. Michael must be safe. And now that the first panic was subsiding, she was beginning to be able to think again and feel a faint stirring of resentment. She looked around the room. Hospital. She must be in a hospital. That’s right, Caleb had said something about a doctor and as usual he was trying to maintain total control of the situation…
“I’m not out of my head. I was scared.” She pushed him away and then quickly sat back down on the bed as she felt her knees weaken. “You’re sure Michael wasn’t hurt? They checked him over?”
“The entire ER was waiting on him hand and foot when I got here a few hours ago. If he’d had as much as a hangnail, they would have treated it with loving care. All the nurses wanted to adopt him.”
The Persuasion Page 8
