The Persuasion

by Iris Johansen

  “Not this time, Jane.”

  “This time. Every time. It’s my life and I have to live it. You heard what he said about Michael.” Her hands clenched into fists at her sides. “He didn’t care if he killed him. It didn’t matter to him. So I’m not only responsible if something happens to you, but I can’t let him hurt Michael. And I can’t be running to you all the time and asking you to please protect him. I’ll have to handle it myself.” She shook her head and said wearily, “I just have to figure how I’m going to do that. So call anyone you need to call to find out what Luca’s Achilles’ heel might be. I’ll obediently go up to my tent and try to work out a way that no one will get killed because they have the misfortune to be close to me.” She started up the hill. “No, not try, I’ll do it. I won’t let that son of a bitch do this to me.”

  “Stop shutting me out, Jane,” Caleb called softly after her. “Even Luca could tell that there was only one way to do that.”

  By killing him, she thought as she reached the tent opening. And she could never let that happen. She drew a deep breath and then entered the tent.

  “It took you long enough,” Lisa said as she sat up from where she was lying on Jane’s sleeping bag. “It didn’t take Michael and me nearly that long to have our discussion and come to a decision what to do with Luca.” She crossed her legs tailor-fashion. “I was for drawing and quartering, but Michael said that he wasn’t allowed to do anything that violent. He brought up the ten-year-old thing again.”

  “But I told her I’d still think about it,” Michael said with a grin. “And discuss it with Mom. She wouldn’t have liked how ugly Luca was to you, Jane.”

  “Lisa shouldn’t have even suggested that to you,” Jane said. “And did you have to tell her what Luca said, Michael?”

  He nodded. “She’s my friend. She’s Caleb’s sister. She wanted to know.”

  “All very good reasons,” Lisa said. “And it seems there would be no way that Luca would have chosen me to lure Caleb into a trap. But I never thought of you as a femme fatale even when Caleb wanted you. I guess you’re beautiful, but you’re too…wholesome.”

  “Be quiet, Lisa,” she said wearily. “Luca is a nut job, and the principal things he finds attractive about me are my paintings. Besides, I’m trying not to think of him right now. If you’ve found out everything you wanted to know from Michael, why don’t you go to bed. Or maybe you’ll be able to talk Caleb into discussing it all with you. He was on the telephone when I came up here and I’m sure he has plans brewing.” She paused. “If I even let him put anything into motion. I have to clear my head first.”

  Lisa nodded. “That sounds like a good idea. He’s probably so furious Luca thought he’d be easy to take down that he might even let me help in some way. Providing I can resist poking a little fun at him.” She stood up, stretched, and then headed for the door. She paused a moment to look back at Jane. “Everything Luca said was bullshit,” she said quietly. “You’re far stronger and smarter than he is, and you’ll get the better of him with no trouble at all. And if you need any help, I’m here for you.” The next moment she was gone.

  And Jane was feeling a rush of warmth as she gazed after her.

  “I think it was okay that I told her what Luca was saying to you,” Michael said. “She wants to help, Jane.”

  Jane nodded. “Everyone wants to help. But sometimes we can’t let them. Sometimes we have to handle our own problems.” She hesitated. “Did you understand everything he said, Michael?”

  “I think I did. The feelings are just like words. It was pretty clear.” He paused. “He wants to hurt you.” He was silent. “And he didn’t care if he hurt me.”

  “I was hoping you wouldn’t have caught that. I wouldn’t let that happen,” she said quickly. “Don’t be afraid.”

  “I’m not afraid.” He came over to her and slid his arms around her waist, burying his head against her. “Except for you. He’s one of the monsters, isn’t he?”

  It would be useless to deny it. “Right.” She rocked him gently. “And you shouldn’t have to deal with them at your age. I’m sorry that I’ve managed to bring him this close to you. I’ll work something out.” Her arms tightened fiercely. “He won’t touch you.”

  “But you don’t have to work anything out. We talked about this, there’s a balance.” He looked up at her, his eyes grave. “Where there’s a monster, there’s always someone who knows how to fight him. Caleb will know how.”

  “No!” She said it with more violence than she intended. She drew a deep breath. “I know you trust Caleb, but that would be what Luca would want. I’ve no idea what he’d do. I only know he wants to hurt Caleb more than he does me, and he’s had time to plan for it. He could set a trap for him or something.” She saw that Michael was beginning to frown and quickly smiled. “Hey, I think I’m insulted. I’m not exactly stupid. There have to be more ways than one to get rid of Luca, and I’ll find all of them. Maybe I’m the one who’s destined to bring down the monster.”

  Michael was not smiling. “Or maybe it’s me…”

  Shit.

  “Sorry. You don’t meet the age requirement.” She gave him a quick kiss on the forehead and pushed him away from her. “Brush your teeth and get into your pajamas. I think I’ll go outside and get a breath of air before I go to bed.” She didn’t wait for a reply before she was out of the tent. She caught a glimpse of Caleb and Lisa sitting before the fire as she moved into the shadows a few yards away from the tent.

  The last thing she wanted was to go down there and join them. She could see Caleb talking on the phone, every muscle in his body tense. He was already readying for the hunt, she thought. And Lisa was sitting there quietly, but she was also intent, clearly ready to reach out and help Caleb.

  To help Jane.

  I’m here for you, she had said.

  And what was worse, Michael’s last words.

  Or maybe it’s me…

  That had terrified her. Because she knew that no matter how she tried to control him, if he got it into his head that he was somehow meant to help her, there would be no stopping him.

  Everyone was determined to jump into the flames to save her. But flames could burn everything in their path, and she couldn’t let that happen. Life was so beautiful. None of these people she cared about should risk all that beauty for her. She closed her eyes and could feel the tears sting. So stop feeling and start thinking how to take the reins back in her own hands.

  Michael, first…

  Five minutes later, she took out her phone.

  She didn’t hesitate.

  She quickly dialed Joe Quinn’s number. “Joe, I need to talk to you. Are you with Eve?”

  “No, she’s working at her studio. I’m at the palace with the new president.” He paused. “What’s wrong? Should I get hold of Eve?”

  “You tell me after I’ve finished. I’m leaving that entirely up to you.”

  * * *

  “Why the hell didn’t you call me before this?” Joe asked curtly when Jane finally fell silent. “It’s been two damn days and you just decided to keep digging in that dirt and ignoring everything that had happened? When were you going to get around to telling us?”

  “Soon.” She had known Joe would be pissed off and added quickly, “I told Caleb after I regained consciousness that I had to tell you. I was just giving the police a little time to find out what had happened and maybe catch who had done it. Michael wasn’t hurt, and Caleb was here. He promised to stay and watch over him.”

  “And that was all that was important,” Joe said sarcastically. “It didn’t occur to you that we might be concerned about you?”

  “Of course it did. But I realize Michael has to be your first priority. As long as he was safe, I felt we all had time to take a breath and let the police give us an idea what happened before I dragged you back here the minute you got off that plane.”

  “So you took your breath and now you’re calling me. It’s about time.” He pau
sed. “And it means that Luca scared you. What’s Caleb’s take on him?”

  “That he’s crazy, but wily enough to be dangerous. Which makes Caleb very frustrated that he can’t go after him.”

  “I can imagine. I’m beginning to feel the same way,” Joe said grimly. “I’m going to be on the first flight out of here. I’ll call you when I get in.” He paused. “Eve?”

  “I told you that it would be your decision. But I don’t want her anywhere around me. You shouldn’t be, either, Joe. Luca will try to use her because he knows that I care about her. I shouldn’t have anyone near me he can use as a weapon. I didn’t want to bring you into it, but I had no choice. I need you here to watch over Michael. I have to release Caleb from his promise because he’s a target, too. Michael will be safe with you.” She hesitated. “If Eve comes with you, you’ll have to worry about watching out for her as well as Michael. She’d be safer there in Maldara, and that would make Michael safer.”

  “You’ve thought all this out,” Joe said wryly. “But you haven’t told me how to convince Eve.”

  “Just tell her Michael will be safer and so will you. It may be the only thing that will sway her.” She paused, thinking. “And tell her that if she comes, it will only mean I’ll have to go away somewhere to keep Luca from remembering how close I am to her.”

  “That might do it,” Joe said grimly. “The last thing she’d want is to have you out there alone. But she’d know I’d never let that happen.”

  “And the last thing I’d want is to be responsible for anyone being hurt or killed because they were trying to help me. That’s my worst nightmare.” She was silent a moment and then said wearily, “Though this entire thing is a nightmare. It should never have happened to me. It doesn’t make sense. I’m a damn good artist, but I’m not Raphael or Da Vinci. And I’m certainly not Helen of Troy or some glamorous model or movie star. There’s nothing extraordinary about me. I don’t know how to handle this nutcase fixating on me. All I can think of doing is keeping everyone else safe and away from me.”

  “Not the best plan,” he said dryly. “I imagine Caleb will have something to say about it. I believe I’ll have to call him after I talk to Eve.”

  “Caleb has already had something to say about it. But he’s one of the people who could be hurt if I pay any attention to him. So talk to him if you like, but don’t expect him to have any influence with me.”

  Joe sighed. “You’re wrong. You are extraordinary. Extraordinarily stubborn. You haven’t changed since the days when you were a kid running that slum neighborhood like a little general.”

  “That comes from spending my life bouncing from one foster home to another. If you didn’t like it, you shouldn’t have taken me home with you. I never promised you I’d change.”

  “Heaven forbid,” he said. “I’ll let you know as soon as I can if I’ve been able to talk Eve into staying put. You’re right, she probably could be safer here now. I’ll ask the president to keep watch on her while I’m gone. Bye, Jane.”

  She pressed DISCONNECT as he hung up.

  Michael would be safe now. She had taken him from Caleb’s protection, and she would try to stay away from him herself as much as possible. And no one was tougher, smarter, or more passionately defensive of his son than Joe.

  But that was all she could do right now, she thought as she got to her feet. She needed sleep and rest before she’d be able to think of some plan to make Luca disappear into the sunset.

  Plans.

  Luca was full of plans and lists and ways to kill and maim and get his own way with everyone around him. Well, he’d had plenty of time. She was just getting started.

  She glanced down the hill and saw Caleb and Lisa still awake and as intent as earlier. They were probably also forming a plan or two themselves. And now that she had turned Joe onto what was happening, his quick, keen mind would be going full steam ahead.

  She was the only one without a clue what she was going to do to survive Luca.

  But it would come, she thought tiredly as she went back into the tent. She was not a SEAL or FBI like Joe had been. Or a hunter like Caleb. But after talking to that ugly beast who had threatened both Michael and Caleb, there was no one with more motivation.

  It would come…

  * * *

  Maldara, Africa

  “I’m going with you,” Eve said flatly. “Stop trying to talk me out of it, Joe.”

  “I was just laying out the problems as Jane presented them to me,” Joe said quietly. “And she was very clear that she doesn’t want either of us there, but I was the lesser of two evils. She needs me for Michael.”

  “You’re damn right she does,” Eve said grimly. “And what am I? Chopped liver? I’m Michael’s mother and I should be with him.” Her lips tightened. “And Jane. This isn’t only about Michael. The threat is really to Jane. I’m supposed to sit here in this steamy jungle, calmly working, as if they didn’t exist? They’re my family and I should be there. I don’t know what Jane’s thinking to believe I wouldn’t come.”

  “Yes, you do. Because you’d be doing exactly what Jane’s doing.” He paused. “And you’d be right. Because you showing up will complicate things for Jane. If Luca knows everything about her, he’d realize how close you are to her. It would give him another target, another way to get to her. That’s why she’s trying to isolate herself.”

  “Like she’s always done,” Eve said. “Since the minute she came to us when she was just a kid, she’s been trying to take care of us and everyone else she cared about. You’d think with all those foster homes she went through, she would have learned she should look out for herself, but it’s just not her nature.”

  “And you’re different?” He shook his head. “The reason you couldn’t resist taking her in was that she was so much like you. And she feels the same way about you. But because she loves you too much, she knows you wouldn’t strengthen her this time, you’d weaken her. She’s doing the very best she can considering who she is.” He paused. “There’s another solution. Do you want me to bring Michael back here to you?”

  “No way,” she said instantly. “This country is still a tinderbox that could go up in flames if the new government doesn’t strike a good balance. I’m a lot more optimistic now, but I won’t risk Michael.”

  “Then will you trust me to take care of him?” He smiled. “Jane seems to believe I can do the job. And, because you’re right, and Jane needs to be protected from that asshole whether she considers it a priority or not. Caleb and I will find a way to do it.”

  “I don’t want you to go, either.”

  “Eve.”

  “I don’t care if I’m being unreasonable.” She was scowling at him. “I don’t like any of this.”

  “I know.” He paused. “But we both made a promise when Michael was born that we’d try never to be in a situation that would leave him without one of us to care for him.”

  He knew he didn’t need to remind her of that promise, she thought in frustration. It had been one of the foundations of their lives for the short ten years of Michael’s life. “And I’m not the one who has the training to keep him safe,” she said. “You’re backing me in a corner, Joe.”

  “So what are you going to do?”

  She was gazing at him in exasperation. “You know what I’m going to do. I’m going to stay here and nag all of you to let me know what’s happening while I sit and go crazy.” She looked at the reconstruction of the skull of the little girl, Sada, on the dais in front of her. Sada had been about Michael’s age when she had been butchered by soldiers in a village schoolhouse during the civil war that had devastated this country. The twenty-seven children who had died there one sunny morning had haunted Eve. That was why she had been so determined to finish the last few reconstructions she’d agreed to do for the parents and grandparents of the victims. “And I’m going to finish this reconstruction very, very soon because I’m not going to be able to sleep.” She turned and went into his arms and
held him tightly. Dear God, she loved him. “And if you see anything that starts to bother you, you’ve got to promise me you’ll scoop up Michael and Jane and whisk them back to Atlanta and away from all that blood and turmoil. Okay?”

  “Works for me.” He kissed her. “I’ve made arrangements with Novak and his CIA team to give you extra security while I’m gone. If you feel uneasy, call our brand-new president and he’ll bring you to the royal palace as his guest.”

  Her eyes narrowed accusingly. “You knew I’d stay.”

  “I’d never take you for granted, but I do know you, love.” He turned toward the door. “I promise I’ll keep Michael safe. And if I don’t like the way things are working out, I might scoop you up, too, and take you all back to Atlanta. Home is sounding awfully good to me right now…”

  Chapter

  8

  Kendrick Castle

  What are you doing down here so early?” Lisa asked as she walked toward the dig area where Jane was working. “You should have woken me. Did you have breakfast?”

  “An hour ago. Michael and I were both up early and we grabbed something at the mess tent.” She glanced at Michael working and joking with his friend Colin, a few yards away.

  “I figured it would be a good idea for both of us to have something to occupy us. I wanted to get Michael’s mind off that damn phone call and back into thinking about Roman soldiers instead. It seems to have done the trick.”

  “What about you?” Lisa asked. “I’m wondering what kind of night you had, if you were up and out early.” Her gaze was on Jane’s face. “Circles. Not so good?”

  “I’m fine. I just had a lot to think about.” She grimaced. “Not that it did any good. Though I actually tried to get to sleep.” She glanced at Lisa. “Not like you and Caleb, who were obviously trying to hatch a plot to save the day the last time I saw you before I went to bed. Any luck?”

  “No, Caleb was on the phone most of the night with Palik, Interpol, and that Scotland Yard inspector, but he had me calling a few of his contacts in Copenhagen about the Luca thefts in that city.” She wrinkled her nose. “It’s good that I could use Caleb’s name or they would have hung up on me for calling them in the middle of the night.”