Night and Day

by Iris Johansen

Exhaustion.

  Lethargy.

  Normal after what she’d been through last night and today.

  And was this dizziness normal, too?

  She stopped short in the hall before she reached the elevator.

  Not good.

  None of this was good, and she wouldn’t make it worse by trying to tough it out.

  She turned and started toward the nurse’s station.

  Breathe deep, one step in front of the other.

  She reached the desk.

  The young, red-haired nurse looked up inquiringly. “Yes?”

  “I’m not feeling well. Exhaustion. A little disoriented.” She handed the woman her phone. “Would you please dial Jane MacGuire and ask her to come and pick me up? Tell her not to panic. Not to call Joe. It’s not serious.”

  The nurse frowned. “Certainly. Why don’t you sit down on that bench over there while you wait for her? I’ll be with you as soon as I finish. Perhaps we should take you down to ER and have them look you over.”

  “Not what I have in mind.” She sank down on the bench and leaned her head back against the wall. “Does this hospital have OB GYN offices on the premises?”

  “Yes, several. In the south wing. You’re pregnant?”

  “Oh, yes.” She closed her eyes. The dizziness was increasing. “About six weeks. Though I could barely tell it until today. But I believe my child is complaining of bad treatment in the only way it has of getting through to me. Could you call one of those doctors and get me down there as soon as you can?”

  * * *

  “What’s wrong? What are you doing here?” Jane demanded as she strode into the examining room of Dr. Gil Rampfel an hour and a half later. “That nurse scared me to death.” She crossed to the table where Eve was lying and took her hand. “Did you lose the baby?”

  “No.” Eve smiled. “I told you not to panic. I’m just being careful. I didn’t like the fact that I was so exhausted today. You know I’m usually as strong as a horse.”

  “You don’t usually go through a physically and emotionally draining twenty-four hours that would have taken down a SEAL,” she said curtly. “And I have a right to panic. You don’t call for help, Eve. You’re too damn independent. I don’t remember a time when you called me and asked—It’s usually the other way around.”

  Eve shook her head. “I don’t have the right to be independent right now. Because it might be the baby who is calling for help. I told Joe that when I was pregnant with Bonnie, I felt stronger than ever in my life, that I could lift mountains. I feel like that with this child, too. But today I had the strange feeling that I was being told that I have to obey the limits, that we have to work through this together. The two of us.” She squeezed Jane’s hand. “So I called my best friend to come and escort us back to camp. I’m sure that the baby approves of my choice.”

  “Not Joe?”

  “Joe is busy trying to save Cara.” She shrugged. “And you know how he would have reacted if I’d had the nurse call him with that message.”

  “Chaos. Possibly a nervous breakdown.”

  “Something like that. I have to be careful about stressing him out. He’d want to put me on bed rest. This child will be our child, but right now it’s mine.”

  “Bed rest?” She stiffened. “Was that a possibility? What did this Dr. Rampfel tell you?”

  “After extensive tests, he said that I’m extremely healthy, that the baby appears to be doing well.” She paused. “After renewing my prenatal vitamins, he told me that I’d obviously overdone it, and I’m not to do it again. Eight hours’ sleep every night. Eat a healthy diet. Don’t worry about anything.”

  Jane shook her head. “Good advice. Wrong time.”

  “I’ll do what I can.” She smiled. “And I’ll discuss it with the baby and explain that I might need a little help now and then. And that I’m sure Cara will be worth it in the long run.”

  “That goes without saying.” Jane smiled back at her. “The two of us,” she repeated Eve’s words. “It sounds as if you’ve actually formed a partnership.”

  “Oh, we have.” She sat up and swung her legs to the floor. “And right now I’m not at all sure who is the dominant partner. But I’m sure I’m going to find out soon. This child is changing, growing, becoming…” She shook her head. “I don’t know. Is it that I don’t remember when Bonnie was in the womb? I thought I remembered everything about her. All the wonder, all the love. But I didn’t remember this … excitement. It’s … different.”

  “Every child is different,” Jane said as she helped Eve to her feet. “Or so I’ve been told. I guess we’ll find out. So what’s next?”

  “We get out of here. I’ll call Joe when we get back to camp and see what he’s learned. Then I force myself to take a nap as commanded by all and sundry.”

  “Sounds like a plan.” She headed for the door. “Stay here while I check you out of here with the receptionist.”

  “I’ll go with you.” She held up her hand. “I’m fine now. All I’ve done for the past couple hours is to lie here and be poked and prodded.”

  “Not exactly relaxing,” Jane said dryly.

  “It felt that way. Maybe because I had a little help from my friend.” She touched her abdomen. “I saw his heartbeat, Jane. It was … awesome.”

  Jane gazed at her luminous expression, and said gently, “I imagine it was, Eve. Well, I’m glad that you’re feeling better, whatever the reason. When you left the camp earlier, you were pretty ragged.”

  She nodded. “I was depressed, and it was hard to see where we were going and what we were going to do. I was just trying to do what I could to keep the damage to a minimum.”

  “And that’s changed?”

  “It’s changed.” She headed for the door. “Somewhere along the way, I picked up something called hope.”

  “A gift from your silent partner?”

  “How would I know? Maybe. Yeah, I think so. That’s what babies are all about, aren’t they?” She opened the door. “Hope.”

  CHAPTER

  3

  MOSCOW

  Cara could see the immense stone house surrounded by high, wrought-iron fences in the distance as they came down the hill. It looked like a mansion or a castle but not like the ones she’d seen in Scotland.

  “It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” Natalie glanced at her. “I grew up here. Aren’t you lucky that you’ll be living here for a while?”

  “It’s very nice,” Cara said politely. She didn’t look at her, but the strong vanilla scent of Natalie’s perfume surrounded her in the closeness of the backseat. Her mother had changed clothes at the airport before the driver of the Rolls Royce sent by her father had picked them up. She was wearing a cream-colored silk dress and bronze high heels, and Cara knew with part of her mind that she was beautiful. But for some reason, she couldn’t accept that beauty as fact. There was something wrong, like a fine piece of music with half the notes missing.

  Yes, that was it. Something in her mother was terribly missing.

  “It’s more than nice,” Natalie said. “What’s wrong with you? It’s a finer house than the one I lived in with your father in Mexico City. You lived there, too, when you were younger. I thought when I married him that I wanted something more modern and colorful, but I realize now that this house is so much grander. It radiates power, and nothing is more important. I just didn’t realize it when I married Juan and left here.”

  “I don’t remember that house in Mexico City.”

  “No, of course you don’t. Poor child. What a life you’ve had these last years. It will be all better now.”

  Cara didn’t answer.

  And Natalie didn’t like it. “You haven’t said more than a few words since you woke up in that helicopter. I believe you’re being rude to me.”

  “I don’t mean to be rude. I don’t know what to say. I’m confused. All of this is very strange.” More than strange, Cara thought. She had tried to sort out her feelings and truth from li
es on the long flight from Liverpool to Moscow. But she hadn’t gotten further than the few conclusions she had drawn after that first conversation she’d had with Natalie. Not really conclusions. But she was being bombarded by impressions every moment she was with Natalie Castino. “And I don’t know why I’m here.”

  “You’re here because I wish you to be here. You’re my daughter, and you do as I tell you to do.” She was gazing at Cara coldly. “From what I understand, you could have saved me from a good deal of heartache if you’d not willingly gone along with that traitor, Elena, after your sister was killed. Now you need to make it up to me.”

  “Elena wasn’t a traitor. She raised me, tried to help me.”

  “She was a servant who should have brought you home to me.”

  “She died trying to save me,” Cara whispered.

  Natalie shook her head. “All lies, Cara. I’m the only one you can trust.”

  “No, that’s not true. I can trust Eve.”

  Anger flickered over Natalie’s face. “I’ve told you that she meant you harm. We won’t talk about her.”

  “I have to talk about her.” She asked the question she’d been wanting to ask since the moment she had first roused in the helicopter. “There was a shot. I heard it. Did you hurt Eve?”

  “I told you I didn’t. How many times do I have to—” She drew a deep breath. “Very well, I was planning on having a discussion with you anyway before I let you meet my father. I won’t discuss Eve at the moment. I’ll save that for a time after you’ve proved you can be obedient and loyal to me.”

  “Why was there a shot? Did you hurt her?”

  Natalie’s hand whipped across Cara’s face.

  Stinging pain.

  The blow was so hard, Cara’s neck snapped back.

  Shock and pain made her dizzy for an instant.

  “I said we won’t discuss that.” Natalie leaned back in the seat. “Now you need to listen carefully. I want your meeting with my father to go well. I’ll speak Russian to explain to my father how I ransomed you and even killed a few of the terrible men who were holding you hostage. Since you speak no Russian, you will just nod and agree when I finish. Do you understand?”

  Cara couldn’t let it go. Just talking about Eve was making Natalie angry, and that frightened her. She couldn’t tell what was lies and truth. But maybe if she watched her, studied her, she’d be able to learn. She said slowly, expecting to be struck at every word. “Did you hurt Eve?”

  “I did not. Good God, what do I have to do to you to make you shut up about it? I have plans for Eve. It would be stupid to get rid of her now. But I might find another way and see if I can arrange to hurt your precious Eve if you don’t do as I wish. You will smile at my father and not be rude or cause me to be angry with you. Your grandfather is a very important man. More important than your father ever dreamed of being.”

  “Elena said my father was a killer and a drug dealer. That was one of the reasons she was afraid to take me back to him. Is that what you mean by being important? Is that what my grandfather does, too?”

  “Elena was a fool. In the end, it doesn’t matter what people do. It’s all about the power. And my father has more power than you can imagine.” She paused. “He can hurt people that get in his way, that get in my way. I don’t want you to cause him to be displeased with me, or I might persuade him to do that.”

  She was talking about Eve. Cara felt a chill go through her. Natalie was smiling, her face beautiful and her expression serene. Yet Cara knew that she would do what she threatened.

  “Ah, you do understand,” Natalie said. “I thought it wouldn’t take you long. You’re my daughter, after all.”

  “I understand.” She looked away from her. “I won’t do anything to make him be angry with you.”

  “He’s never angry with me. I never permit that to happen. I just don’t want a disturbance. Just follow my lead and protect me. Always protect me, Cara. Then we’ll have no problems.” She paused. “And neither will any of the people you thought were your friends.”

  Eve, again. Perhaps Jock, too. Cara felt a ripple of panic. The threat was there, hovering on the horizon. She had to get to Eve, take care of her. It was Eve she had to protect. “If I do what you want, will you let me leave here?”

  “Why would you want to do that? I’m sure that after we get to know each other, you won’t want to leave.” They were going through the iron gates now and gliding up the long driveway toward the house. “It’s a new life for us, Cara. Just do everything I say and it will be a good one…”

  A tall, heavyset man with iron gray hair and wearing a charcoal-colored suit was coming out the front door. His features were rugged, his nose looked as if it had been broken at one time and his eyes were a cool blue. But he was smiling as the limousine slid to a stop in front of him. “Natalie!”

  “Daddy.” She jumped out of the car and into his arms. She was saying something in Russian, her voice broken, and Cara could see tears in her eyes. She held her father close for a long moment before she stepped back. “And this is my little girl.” She nodded at Cara and held out her hand. “Our little girl. She’s been through such a bad time, but she’s home now. Cara…”

  Cara got out of the car. “How do you do, sir?” she said stiltedly.

  “No Russian,” Natalie said. “She’s forgotten anything she knew before those beasts took her away from me. Another reason why I was glad I was forced to kill Salazar.” She drew closer to him. “Did Nikolai call and tell you that he saw me kill that—”

  “He told me.” He reached up and stroked her cheek. “You should have arranged it so that I could do that for you.”

  “I was going to do it. It didn’t work out.” Then she was speaking in Russian again, and Cara stood there watching his face as she told him whatever story she had concocted. He had little expression, but he continued to stroke her face and hold her.

  He loved her, she thought suddenly. She didn’t know if he believed her, but he did love her. And if he loved her, he might do anything she wanted him to do.

  Eve.

  Natalie was turning to Cara. “Tell your grandfather how grateful you are that he gave the money to save you.”

  Say the words. Do what she wanted. “I’m very grateful, sir.”

  “So formal.” His English was faintly accented, but he was smiling at her. “I know this seems strange to you, but I’m very glad you’re here. And I know a good deal about you. When your mother called me and told me you were safe and on your way, I phoned one of my men in the U.S. I told him to send me a report about you and everything you’ve been doing. I may be a stranger to you. But you’re no stranger to me.”

  What could she say to that? “It’s nice that you were interested, sir.”

  “That formality again. You used to call me grandfather.”

  “Grandfather,” she repeated. Don’t be rude. Don’t make him angry. Because that would make her angry. She couldn’t do that until she had a way to get out of here, get to Eve.

  “Don’t be upset with her. Everything must be so strange to her. I’ve told her to call me Natalie for a little while,” her mother said. “She told me it’s hard for her to think of me as her mother since I’m so young.” She smiled. “But we’ll get there, won’t we, Cara?”

  Another lie. Was it because she didn’t like the idea of being a mother? The lies were building, growing, and giving Cara a picture. “Yes, we’ll get there … Natalie.” She added, “You do look more like a movie star.”

  “How sweet.” She smiled brilliantly. “All I want is to look like your friend … and then later…” She turned to her father. “Let’s go inside. I want to tell you everything. You heard about poor Juan? Salazar killed him before he turned Cara over to me. Salazar was afraid that Juan would go after him after he released Cara for the ransom.”

  “Castino should have gone after him before,” Kaskov said harshly. “I would have known who took my granddaughters.”

  “But J
uan isn’t as clever as you, Daddy.” Tears were brimming in her eyes. “I found that out too late for my girls. But he was good to me, and I have to remember that about him.”

  “You remember that. All I’ll remember is that he made you suffer hell when the girls were taken. It was only a matter of time until I stepped in and took over.” He turned back to Cara. “You’re looking at me with those big eyes. I’m only telling the truth. Your mother put up with too much because she was desperate to find you. Sometimes it’s better to just cut your losses and let the chips fall. Do you understand?”

  Cara nodded. “I think so. You’re telling me that it’s not bad that my father is dead because Natalie is better off without him. I don’t know if you’re right or not because I don’t even remember him.”

  Kaskov stared at her in surprise. Then he threw back his head and laughed. “Exactly. At your age, Natalie would have been kinder and sad about the necessity of disposing of him. But I do like your frankness, Cara.”

  “Do you?” Natalie’s smile was forced. “It’s good that you’re getting along so well.” She whisked Cara inside the door. “But now we have to get her something to eat, and I have to get on the phone and order her some clothes. I wasn’t able to take anything when I took her away from those bastards.” She shuddered. “Did I tell you that they kept her chloroformed? I’m not sure what she’ll remember clearly.”

  “Chloroform.” Kaskov frowned. “My granddaughter? No, you didn’t tell me.” His expression hardened. “You told me about Salazar and Franco. Was there anyone else? I believe we may need a cleanup crew to pay a visit to Gaelkar.”

  “It was such a terrible time,” she whispered. “I was so afraid that we couldn’t get Cara out alive. Everything was a blur.” She looked at Cara. “I believe there were a few others. I think I heard about a woman who was involved. I’ll try to remember her name.”

  Eve. Cara’s heart skipped a beat. She was setting Eve up in case she decided that Cara had to be punished.

  “Cara, do you remember hearing a woman’s voice?” Natalie asked.

  “No,” Cara said hoarsely.

  “But then you were under chloroform most of the time.” She sighed. “I guess it’s up to me to come up with the truth.” She turned to her father. “I’m still so afraid for Cara. What if there is someone still out there who might hurt her? Could we put her in that apartment in the gatehouse? That way, she’d be surrounded by your men patrolling the grounds. And you’ll make sure she’s well guarded?”