“Caleb.”
He glanced back at her.
“You said Angus Wilson was one of the two officials who had to be present to open the vaults. Who is the other one?”
“Who do you think? MacDuff would never totally give up access into those vaults.”
She drew a breath of relief. “Then we don’t have to worry about that.”
“Don’t we?” he asked cynically. “MacDuff is a complicated man, and there’s no telling what he’s feeling about me at any given minute. That treasure means everything to him. I’d almost rather trust Angus Wilson.”
Jane watched the door swing closed behind him. For a while earlier tonight, she’d felt more optimistic at the thought of them working together for a common purpose. Caleb had appeared to accept that she could be part of his life and not just teetering on the border. But that was before Angus Wilson had appeared on the horizon. Any help she’d given Caleb with the guards was nothing in comparison with what he’d face if he had to make that decision with Wilson. As a hunter, he might be accustomed to that sort of trauma, but it was poison to the soul, and she couldn’t allow him to shoulder it alone. If she could find a way to—
Her phone was ringing.
Michael.
“It’s late for you. Is everything okay?” she said as soon as she picked up. “You said that Tomas was worried about his mother when you hung up before. She wasn’t hurt?”
“No, or I would have called you right back. She was just upset because his father had just told her she couldn’t go with Tomas.” He paused. “They put Tomas on the helicopter an hour ago and he was so scared, Jane. But you said it was a good thing that he was going, that maybe Dad and I would be able to find him.” He repeated in a whisper, “But he was so scared. He’s never been on any kind of airplane or helicopter. They just put him in the back with the luggage and other stuff and there was no one there to tell him what was happening.”
“You were there, Michael. I’m sure he must have felt that, and it would have made him feel better.”
“Not at first. I couldn’t get through to him. I kept trying and trying, but he didn’t know if he was going to die or be hurt like he was before. But when he finally went to sleep, I was able to explain that this was a good thing, and I wouldn’t let anything bad happen to him.” He added wearily, “But by the time I got through it, he had me scared, too. I thought it would be all right if I just took a couple of minutes away from him to talk to you and tell you what was happening.” He stopped and then said, “And for you to tell me that what I was saying was the truth. We’re going to be able to help him, aren’t we?”
“Yes, we will. You’ve already started to do it. You’ve let us know that Luca is on the move, and you’ve made Tomas feel better about it than if you weren’t there for him. Who else is on the helicopter?”
“Luca, Davron, Alberto, and a man named Pietro that Tomas hadn’t seen before.”
“See? More information. And Caleb and I are getting our own information, too. I’ll call your mom and tell her what you’ve said. She’ll let your dad know there’s a good reason for him to get back here to find that house in the Highlands.”
“I would have talked to her myself, but she worries about me. I thought you could tell her how okay I sounded to you.”
“Very okay.” For a kid going through something no child should have to experience. “I’ll tell her you’re doing great. Now, why don’t you try to take a nap while Tomas is taking his? You’ll need the rest. It’s a long flight and I know you’re going to stay with Tomas all the way. Can you do that?”
“I think so, and maybe I can keep Tomas asleep longer if I concentrate harder. This helicopter bounces and hurts him, and if he gets excited, I can’t stop the pain.”
“That would be wonderful if it’s possible.”
“It’s possible. I just have to learn all the ways…” He paused. “You told Caleb what I wanted you to tell him?”
“He told me you two were a lot alike. He said to tell you he understood.”
“I knew he would. I’m going to check on Tomas and then go to sleep. Bye, Jane…”
He hung up the phone.
Of course Michael realized Caleb would have no trouble understanding him. They were linked in ways that Jane would never fully comprehend. But that didn’t mean that she should give up as she’d done before when she’d pushed Caleb away. That would never happen again. There were deeper, more profound links that she had to believe were already in place between them. She just had to explore them and make Caleb believe in them, too.
But that was down the road, and there were other problems to face in the next twenty-four hours. So think on the bright side as she’d tried to do with Michael. Be positive.
Luca was on the move, and he’d taken Tomas with him as Caleb had demanded. That meant he was at least going through the motions of a trade. And the boy was no longer at Tower House where they’d been helpless to help him. Surely they had a good chance to keep him alive if Joe could find that house in the Highlands. That was good news.
She only hoped the remainder of Caleb’s plan for staging the removal of Cira’s treasure from the bank would prove as successful. Which could depend entirely on Angus Wilson, who might be totally impervious to Caleb’s skill.
Well, Caleb said they’d know soon.
Another three hours…
* * *
It was over five hours, not three, when she heard Caleb come into the house.
She jumped out of bed and ran into the living room. It was still in darkness, but she could see his familiar shadow near the front door. “Well?” She turned on the lights. “Yes, or no?”
“No,” he said. “With an infinitesimal chance of yes. That’s why I spent the extra time with Angus tonight. But I won’t know if there will be a payoff until tomorrow night.” He began stripping off his clothes. “So I suggest we get a few hours’ sleep and get ready to face the new day. Smythe and Campbell will be no problem. Angus Wilson might be a nightmare.”
“I can see it.” Her gaze was searching his face. “You look very tired.”
“No, I don’t. That’s your imagination.” He smiled teasingly. “Expressions can be controlled by blood flow and I’m an expert. I fooled Luca with no problem at all when he called me that first night he had you at Tower House.”
“And then smashed your fist into a mirror.” She took his hand and led him toward the bedroom. “And it’s not my imagination. I can feel how tired and on edge you are. Who knows? Maybe it’s because you’ve lowered your defenses and are letting me step into your world. It’s about time.” She pulled her sleep shirt over her head and threw it aside. “Now come to bed and let me hold you.”
He smiled. “Persuasion?”
“No. That’s taking, not giving for me. And I’m in a mood for giving.” She pulled him into bed and cuddled close to him. “Now tell me what you meant about Wilson, and then take anything you want from me. There’s so much I’m willing to give. Understanding. Peace. Love. Whatever. Just relax and take.”
“That’s quite a smorgasbord you’re offering.” He was stroking her hair. He was silent a moment and then said, “I don’t know if I can pull it off with Wilson, Jane. I was able to enter a few post-suggestions, but I don’t have even a clue if they’ll work. Other than that, I’ll be working blind.”
“Then we’ll play it by ear. You’ll figure it out.” She nestled closer. “Michael called me. Luca took Tomas away from Tower House, and they’re on their way here. You were able to get Luca that far along; now we just have to get him the rest of the way. It’s not as if we’re alone in this. Luca said he’d had that property in the Highlands for eight months. I called Eve and she said that Joe was already talking to Scotland Yard and having them check records on any house or property in that area rented during that period. If he gets lucky, we might know where Luca’s heading before he even lands in Scotland.”
“All wrapped up, with no problems? I don’t think that
’s very likely.” He suddenly chuckled. “You’re much more optimistic than when I left.”
“One of us has to be. You’ve never let me see you worried before. Since that was a definite first, I felt as if I had to find a remedy. But I admit it was kind of nice and normal and human. It didn’t have the least bit of the Ridondos’ fierceness and gloom peeking through.”
“Don’t get used to it.”
“Oh, I fully intend to get used to it,” she said. “But I’ll go slow since you obviously need time and space to adjust.”
“I appreciate both the consideration and generosity.” He paused and then burst out with sudden recklessness. “But I find it’s bringing on an outbreak of honesty and unselfishness that I usually try to keep at bay. So I’ll tell you the Ridondo strain is still alive and strong in me. I’ll try to make it palatable for you, but it’s who I am. I’m not nice and I’m not normal, but I’m very, very human. And sometimes that’s not good, either. You probably think you’re going to change me, and I’ll let you go on thinking that you can. Because I can’t do without you. But don’t trust me.”
She went still. Something had been revealed in the rawness of those last words that might have consequences, and she had to be very careful. Then she stopped analyzing and just relied on instinct. “Too late. I do trust you. And, because I have confidence in my own judgment, I won’t pay any attention to you.” She raised herself on one elbow and looked down at him. “As for changing you, I wouldn’t presume. That’s in your court if you want to do it. But you might have noticed that we’ve both begun to change since we’ve known each other. When you care about someone, it happens automatically and there’s nothing either one of us can do to prevent it. And just the fact that you’re concerned about it is a sign that maybe it’s not such a bad thing.” She met his eyes. “So stop worrying about it. I’m not. And besides, it’s getting in the way of what I wanted to do tonight.”
He was silent a moment, then smiled. “That’s right, giving, not taking. I wouldn’t want to spoil that mood. I’ve had my moment of unselfishness for the decade.” His fingers were stroking her back with a feather-light touch. “But let’s go back to the smorgasbord. Do you suppose out of all that sweetness and light, you might add a little more fire and brimstone to the mix? Since you want to make me happy, you know it would add enormously to me feeling more comfortable considering my wicked Ridondo streak.”
She couldn’t breathe. Heat was traveling down her spine, the muscles of her stomach clenching.
“That might be okay,” she said shakily. “As long as you’re taking and not giving. That’s important to me, Caleb.”
“I guarantee it’s going to be impossible to tell the difference.” He slid into her with one deep thrust and she bit her lip to keep from screaming at the fullness. She could feel it in every muscle, every breath. She clenched and then moaned as he went even deeper. “But I promise I’ll take, and take, and take…”
* * *
“Mom. He’s there. Tomas is there. I saw it.”
Eve jerked awake to see Michael standing in the tent doorway. Lord, he looked tired. She glanced at the clock. It was nearly five in the morning. She hadn’t thought she’d be able to sleep after he’d left her, but she must have drifted off. Evidently Michael had not. She held out her arms to him. “Come here. Tell me about it.”
He ran across the tent and cuddled down beneath the blanket with her. “Dad’s not here yet? I should tell him.”
“It may take a little while for him to get here. He had to stop in Edinburgh. He has to go over a list of houses with several real estate companies that had been rented in the Highlands during that period Luca told Caleb he’d arranged it. He should be here this afternoon.” She drew him closer. “You actually saw the house? Can you describe it?”
“I think so. Tomas was all confused. He was hurting and he’s always so scared…” He moistened his lips. “What I was seeing was through his eyes, and I don’t think the house could have been that big or scary. It was brownstone, and it had a porch in the rear where the helicopter landed. But he saw a landing strip at the front of the house, too.” He frowned. “The house looked really old and kind of crumbly, but the landing strip looked clean and new.” He paused. “But there were nine or ten other men waiting when they landed. So it’s not going to be just those few people who came from Tower House for Dad to fight.” He shook his head. “It must have seemed like an army to Tomas. They carried him out of the helicopter and through the house, but that was all blurry and dark, too. Then they shoved him into a room under the stairs and he had to crawl onto the bed himself.” He whispered, “That hurt him, too, Mom. Everything was hurting him and strange and scary. We’ve got to get him out of there.”
“We will. You drew sketches for me before when your dad was hurt last year. Do you suppose you can draw a picture of the outside of this house?”
“Yes, and a little of the inside, too. But like I said, it might not be exactly right because I probably didn’t see it as Tomas saw it.” He shook his head. “What he saw was like something from one of those spooky movies you don’t like me to watch. Maybe that’s how everything looks to him now.”
“Maybe it does.” It wouldn’t surprise Eve that everything seemed terrifying and filled with horror to the child. “Well, you can only do what you can, Michael. When we compare your sketches with your dad’s photos from the real estate company, that may help a lot.”
“Then I’ll start right away.” He sat upright. “I’ll have them done by the time Dad gets here.”
“No.” She tried to pull him back down. “Rest. I don’t think you’ve slept since they put Tomas on that helicopter. You can wait until your dad gets here and then you can try to get together on the location of that house.”
“I can’t wait, Mom.” He broke free and jumped to his feet. “I don’t know how much time Tomas has. I promised him that I’d take care of him. I’ll go get Jane’s sketch pad and start working.”
“How much time he has?” She raised herself on one elbow. “What do you mean?” She was afraid she knew what he meant.
“It doesn’t matter what Jane or Caleb do.” Michael’s voice was unsteady. “Luca is going to kill Tomas. After he gets the treasure, he’ll have a way already set up to do it. He wants to kill all of them, but he said Tomas will be first because he’s easiest and it will hurt Jane the most. Tomas heard him say that to Alberto when they were carrying him into the house tonight. That’s why they just threw him into that room. They didn’t care if they caused his wounds to break open.” His eyes were glittering with tears. “They didn’t care…” He had to clear his throat. “But I care. I know Caleb and Jane will do the best they can, but I have to help, too. Luca is a terrible, terrible man, Mom.”
“Yes, he is.” And it was terrible that Michael had to feel that he had to do battle against him. But all she could do was help him where she could. She motioned him to leave. “Go do those sketches. I’ll send your dad to come and see them as soon as he gets here.”
He nodded and ran out of the tent.
* * *
Joe spread the four sketches Michael had drawn beside the photos on his phone he’d downloaded from the Edinburgh real estate firms. “You’ve got to understand,” he said quietly. “These rental properties are all just old farmhouses that have been around for decades, Michael. Most of them have the same floor plan and look pretty much alike. Nothing much distinctive about them.” He pointed at the third real estate photo. “This one is very similar to one you drew, but it doesn’t have a landing field.” He pointed to another one. “And this one is similar, but it looks larger.”
“But it’s how Tomas saw it,” Michael said. “And the houses all do look alike. But that one did have a landing field. Tomas saw it. Couldn’t Luca have had one built after he rented it?”
“Yes, he could,” Joe said. “And that’s what might have happened if Luca decided that he’d need a larger aircraft than a helicopter to accommodate the
treasure.” He hesitated. “We just have to be careful not to make a mistake when Tomas might be the one to suffer for it.”
Michael flinched. “I know that. I’d be able to tell which house it was if I was there and could see it for myself and not how Tomas saw it.” He tapped four of the photos in the real estate brochure. “It’s one of these. I know it. Couldn’t we go and look at them all and then just go in and get him when I find the right one?”
Joe shook his head. “These properties are spread all over the Highlands. We don’t have the time to do that—and if we did, there’s a good chance Luca’s men might spot us and decide to hurt Tomas. That’s the last thing you want.”
Michael nodded. “But I’d know which house, Dad. I’d feel Tomas there. Just let me get a look at it, and I’d know it.”
Joe had known where this was going. “I couldn’t take you with me, Michael. This isn’t only about Tomas, it’s about Jane. I’m going to go up to the Highlands with Inspector Tovarth and his team and see if we can find that house and capture Luca, but it’s no place for you.”
“You have to take me with you. Tomas knows me, and he won’t be afraid if I’m there.” Michael’s finger jabbed at the photos again. “Just these four houses? How long would that take?”
“Too long.” He looked him in the eye. “I’m sorry. The answer is no, Michael.” He turned and started for the door.
“Dad.”
He turned to look at Michael. His son’s face was pale and his eyes frantic and glittering with tears. “Yes, it’s about Jane and Tomas, and I have to help both of them. And I know I can do that. I can’t let you stop me.”
Joe shook his head. “I’ve just done it. Leave this to me, Michael.”
* * *
“We’re zeroing in on four farmhouses,” Joe said curtly when Caleb picked up his call ten minutes later. “All very similar brownstones. None of them that close to each other, and we don’t have time to investigate all of them in the time frame you’ve given me. I’m going to split up the team and send one of them to check out the location that’s the farthest away. But other than that, all I can do is try to get in two or three and hope to get lucky. I’m leaving here in the next twenty minutes with Tovarth and twenty of what he assures me are the best men the Yard has to offer. We’ll do everything possible. I’ll try to take out Luca before you get there, but if I don’t, let me know as quickly as you can where Luca is sending you.” He paused. “And Michael wanted you to know that Luca is planning on giving you a welcoming party of nine or ten of his closest friends when you land there tonight.”
The Persuasion Page 40
