“I don’t think you have to worry about lasting memories,” he said dryly. “Though I wasn’t sure you’d still be here. Eve said you wanted to stop here and clean up, but I thought you might want to leave before I got back.”
She shook her head. “I had a couple things to finish up with you before I left.” She smiled. “But I’ll get out of your hair as soon as I take care of them.” She swept past him into the parlor. “It may be my last chance since you’ll probably have all your defenses up the next time we get together.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“See. It’s starting already.” She turned to face him. “First, you have to do something about Norwalk.”
His brows rose. “I believe something quite permanent has already been done about Norwalk.”
“And that’s fine. I wish it had been me, but Eve says that maybe it was, and I have to accept that she might—” She broke off. “That’s not what I meant. It was too permanent, too efficient. You have to fix it.”
He leaned against the French doors and crossed his arms across his chest. “Elaborate.”
“Jock took over the cleanup on the island. Knowing Jock, any trace of what went on there will have vanished as if it had never been. Absolutely no answers. He had to protect Cara and Michael and Eve and Joe. He wouldn’t want to make one mistake.”
“I agree. He’s exceptional. I’m getting impatient, Darcy.”
“But there have to be answers,” she said simply. “Norwalk killed too many people. He hurt too many families. He left them bewildered and angry and frustrated … and empty. Just as I was when he killed Sylvie and my mother. I had to have a reason. I had to have revenge. It was tearing me apart.”
“I know.” His eyes were narrowed on her face. “What are you saying?”
“Give those families what they need. You can’t give them Norwalk, but you’re very clever. You can set up an entire scenario. There are so many scumbags in your world that the human race would be much better without.” She moistened her lips. “You’d have to choose well to give the ultimate in satisfaction. Really, really, bad people, Kaskov. Maybe even worse than Norwalk. No, that’s not possible. But find someone just as bad. Then you prove they were at the square and did that horrible, horrible thing. And then provide a truly spectacular ending that would give final resolution to all those poor families. That’s just good theater.”
He suddenly chuckled. “You’re incredible. A colossal frame-up? And then you want me to remove them from this earthly plane?”
“I told you, only if they’re monster caliber.”
“And why would I go to all that trouble?”
“Because you started it all by killing Norwalk’s twin.”
“And saved Cara from being blown up.”
She nodded. “But it’s like dominos, they keep falling. But you can help put an end to it.” She paused. “If you’ll do it. It will be very complicated. But you can look on it as a challenge. You might enjoy it.”
His smile vanished. “You have the nerve to think you know me that well?”
“I wouldn’t presume. If I did, you’d go the other way to prove me wrong. I only know how it hurts not to know, to be helpless, to have justice just out of reach.” She lifted her chin. “And I know that you’ll never tell me if you’re going to do it or not. But I had to try.”
“Are you finished?”
“No, just going on to item two. I thought I’d give you a reward if you took item one under consideration.” She met his eyes. “I got to Cara just in time to stop her from rolling out of that boat when it was heading toward you. She had her hands tied, and she knew she’d probably either drown, or Norwalk would immediately blow her up. But she wasn’t going to let you die because of her.”
“Indeed?” His face was without expression. “And that’s supposed to mean something to me?”
“Yes, it does. I don’t know what you want from her, but it means you have a chance.” She turned toward the front door in a whirl of peacock skirts. “That’s all. Would you call Nikolai and ask him to take me to an airport hotel?” She stopped at the door to look over her shoulder. “Good-bye, Kaskov. It’s been quite intriguing.”
“Yes, it has. Almost … entertaining.” His tilted his head. “But I’m not going to let you run away before I’m finished, Darcy. I have a question to ask.”
“What?” she asked warily.
“You’re a singer, I’m told. Are you good?”
“I’m fairly spectacular. Not the talent of the century like Cara. But I have so many other talents, that would be overkill. But I’m a very, very good singer.” She frowned. “Why?”
“Jock and I had a discussion about Cara, and I tried to convince him that she was her talent, and that was her worth to me. And, therefore, that was why I insisted on keeping her close to me. I think he might have believed me.”
“Was it a lie?”
“I think I’ll let you decide. I do have a certain obsession about music that might point in that direction. There could be a possibility that I enjoy being behind the scenes and pulling the strings, of controlling the artist even if I can’t control the music. But, of course, that’s only a possibility.” He was smiling mockingly. “However, I’ve just decided to get a few of your CDs from that concert you did with Cara. I hope you prove just as entertaining performing as you are in real life.”
Her mouth fell open. “You’re joking?”
“Am I?” He turned away. “Why would I do that? I’m always interested in new talent. Good night, Darcy. I’ll give you my critique after I listen to your concert. And I’m certain you’ll want regular reports, regarding the progress of my ‘challenge.’” He headed for his office. “You’re so very concerned about it…”
Controlling the artist, if not the music? What the hell? Had he meant it? So much for keeping her distance, she thought dazedly. If he had meant it, that would be a constant battle to maintain her independence. No, surely he must have just been annoyed with her for trying to tell him what to do.
Maybe. But that smile …
Darcy watched as the door closed behind him before she managed to pull herself together.
“Holy shit,” she whispered.
ATLANTA AIRPORT
“I saw our plane, Cara.” Michael’s eyes were shining with excitement as he ran back from the observation window to where she was standing with Eve in line at the gate. “They’re loading our luggage. One guy was putting on a crate with a puppy. You said it was a long flight to London. Will the puppy be okay, down there?”
“Fine. It’s just as comfortable for animals as it is in the passenger compartment for us.” She pushed him toward Eve, who was holding the boarding passes. “But stay here now. It’s time to board the flight. You don’t want to miss it.”
“You wouldn’t let me.” He was grinning at her. “Is there a way for me to get down in the cargo compartment from where we’ll be sitting in the—”
“I have no idea. You’ll have to ask the flight attendant. They probably wouldn’t like it.”
“I’ll ask. People can be nice sometimes. I bet that puppy is going to be lonely.”
Yes, people could usually be nice when it came to Michael, she thought. And it was wonderful that he still had that faith in human nature after the nightmare he’d just gone through. “It wouldn’t hurt to ask,” she said gently. “Just don’t be disappointed if it doesn’t work out.”
“I won’t.” He was frowning, trying to puzzle it out. He looked at Eve, who was giving the boarding passes to the flight attendant. “What do you think, Mama?”
Eve pushed him ahead of her in line. “I think that we should worry about getting to our passenger seats before you worry about the cargo hold.” Her gaze shifted to the gate lobby, then she looked at Cara. “And I think that Cara may be too busy to answer questions for the next few minutes.”
Cara stiffened as her gaze followed Eve’s.
Jock.
She whirled and was out of line and beside Jock in the lobby in seconds. “Why are you just standing here? Weren’t you even going to come and say good-bye?”