Hide Away (23 page)

“Then don't condone it, but will you tap your man in Scotland to get me information? I need to know where Salazar is and what he's doing.”

Manez was silent. “I'll ask Burbank at the Yard. He might be able to help.” He hung up.

Joe knew he had pushed him too far. Manez was torn between an obsession to take the cartels down at any cost and his ingrained respect for the law. Hell, Joe had the same respect, but he was also driven by the primitive desire to protect the good against the scum of the world.

And that good in his eyes was embodied by Eve.

So try to hold back if he could, but get ready.

Salazar. Franco. Natalie Castino.

They were probably all in a position to strike.

Well, so would Joe be as soon as Manez gave him the information he needed.

GAELKAR CASTLE

“You're very quiet, Jane.” Eve looked up from the dirt she was shifting and studied her as Jane gave her a bottle of water from the tray she was distributing. “And you have circles under your eyes. Did you have a bad night?”

“Not good,” Jane said. “I was up late cataloging the day's finds, then Caleb dropped by, and he's never soothing.” She opened the bottle and took a drink of water. “But we've come to expect that, haven't we?”

“Yes.” Eve's eyes narrowed on Jane's face. “And that's all? Tell me that you didn't hear Cara playing.”

“I heard her. She didn't keep me awake.”

“It seems the whole camp heard her. The only one I haven't heard from yet is MacDuff.” She made a face. “I promise you it won't happen again. I've had a talk with her. She'll be mortified that she might have disturbed you.”

“Then don't tell her.” Jane looked away from her. “It was beautiful, I was only worried that she was out there alone. But then I saw Jock, and I knew it was all right.”

“That was my thought, too.” Her gaze went to Cara, who was working on the other side of the ruins near Jock and MacDuff. “Though I'm not certain now. I think Cara has adopted Jock.”

“What?”

“She thinks that he needs taking care of.” Her eyes were twinkling. “And you're too busy.”

Jane looked at Cara. “She's really extraordinary, isn't she? I don't know how Jock will take that.”

“I don't either, but I don't intend to interfere. I'll leave it up to the two of them. It may be good for both of them.” She took another drink of water. “This tastes good. It's cool here at night, but it heats up during the day. For the last half hour, I've been thinking wistfully about that lake Caleb took me to yesterday. All that cool mist.”

Jane went still. “Lake? You didn't mention a lake when you came back yesterday.”

“You can appreciate it wasn't my top priority,” Eve said dryly. “Joe blew everything out of my mind when he told me about Natalie Castino and that Salazar might soon be breathing down our necks.”

“It did the same thing to me,” Jane said. “You could have told me you went to Timbuktu, and I would have accepted it.” Her gaze slid away from Eve to the wall overlooking the hills. “Where is this lake?”

“Maybe ten miles north. Caleb showed it to me because he said the castle was vulnerable from that direction.” She took another drink. “Beautiful place. But weird, lots of mist. Caleb and I agreed it looked like either the beginning or the end of the world.”

“Interesting.” She looked back at Eve. “I'd like to see it.”

“Maybe after we finish for the day?”

“I'd like to go now.”

Eve paused in raising the bottle to her lips to look at her. “Why?”

“You said it was the one place that was vulnerable, didn't you?” She smiled. “I should see it. I'll go tell MacDuff to keep an eye on Cara while we're gone. Why don't you go wash your hands and face and meet me at the Land Rover in five minutes?”

Eve frowned as she gazed after Jane as she crossed the courtyard. That smile had been forced, and Jane was definitely not herself. It was just as well she'd have the opportunity to get Jane alone to probe a bit.

But it appeared they were not to be alone. Caleb was sitting in the driver's seat of the Land Rover when she and Jane reached the road where it was parked.

“Good afternoon, ladies.” He smiled at Jane. “You should have gone with us yesterday. It would have saved us this trip.”

“I was busy.” Jane shook her head. “And we don't need you, Caleb. Eve and I will do just fine on our own.”

“I'm sure you would.” He met Jane's eyes. “But I assure you I won't get in the way. Once we're there, I'll just sit in the car and keep an eye on you. I got a call from MacDuff the minute you left after telling him you were taking Eve back to the lake. He told me that since I was a total handicap on the dig, I might just as well make myself useful by acting as guard dog to make sure the two of you were safe.” He shrugged. “I told him that it was a pleasant place, and I'd be accommodating this time. Get in.”

Jane hesitated.

“Get in,” he said softly. “I won't interfere.”

“That would be a first.” She got in the backseat. “Get in, Eve. I guess we'll be accommodating, too. I should have known that MacDuff would bring in the Marines.”

“I appreciate the compliment,” Caleb said as he started the car. “But I don't have the same philosophy. I'm of a more solitary nature.”

“I hadn't noticed that,” Eve murmured. “Who knows? You may be changing, Caleb. There seems to be something in the air.”

*   *   *

“Here we are,” Caleb said as he brought the Land Rover to a stop. “I'll stay here as I promised and commune with nature.”

“There's a lot of nature to commune with,” Eve said as she got out of the car and started down the steep slope toward the lake. “What do you think, Jane? The beginning or the end?” She looked over her shoulder when Jane didn't answer. “Jane?”

The same.

The mist.

The hills running down into the deep blue of the lake. The north shore that was completely obscured by the mist.

The mist.

I'll see him running out of the mist and telling me he'd only been playing in the caves …

“Jane!”

Eve. She sounded concerned, Jane thought vaguely. She had to answer her. She shook her head to clear it. She couldn't remember what Eve had asked her. Say something. Anything. “It's as beautiful as you said.” She followed Eve down to the shore. “Do you know, when we were in the study with MacDuff looking at all those schematics, I didn't even pay any attention to any landscape features. Did MacDuff mention it? Was this lake on the map?”

“I don't remember.” Eve's gaze was focused on Jane's face. “What does it matter?”

“It doesn't. I just wonder why I wasn't aware that it was here. I thought maybe MacDuff had mentioned it, and I'd just forgotten.”

“You wouldn't have forgotten it.”

“I might have. I might have been tired from the drive, and it just escaped me.”

“It's no big thing. Why are you behaving like this?”

It was a big thing to Jane, but she was acting weird, and Eve had noticed.

Straighten out.

She smiled and looked back at the lake. “The beginning or the end? I guess it depends on what happens to you here. Or maybe it might not even happen here but it becomes a part of—” She stopped and turned toward the car. “I've seen enough. We can go back now.”

“No, we can't,” Eve said quietly. “Not yet. Something is wrong, and it has something to do with this place. What is it?”

“Why should it have anything to do with this lake? I've never seen it before.”

“This conversation is so familiar. You said words like that a long time ago in the very same way,” Eve said gently. “Do you think I'd ever forget? You were seventeen, and you were trying to convince yourself that those dreams of Cira were just made up of scraps you'd read on the Internet or stumbled on somewhere. But they didn't turn out that way, did they?”

“A temporary mental aberration.”

“That came back, Jane?”

Eve wasn't going to give up. Jane still tried to distract her. “I just wanted to see the lake.”

“Why?”

She gave a deep sigh, then surrendered. “Because I saw it last night, and Cira was there on that north bank.”

She went still. “Another Cira dream?”

“Yes, I haven't had one for years. I didn't want this one.”

“But it happened.”

“Yes, I tried to tell myself it was MacDuff's pressuring me about Cira and the treasure. We were at the castle she built all those centuries ago. I told myself it was the power of all that suggestion going on in my head.” Her eyes were stinging as she turned back to Eve. “I don't want dreams or knowing about someone else's life or how they're hurting. I've been hurting enough myself lately. I want to live in the real world and deal with real problems. It's the only way I can survive.”

“You do yourself an injustice, you're very strong. You can take anything, do anything.” Eve took a step closer. “I've never known why Cira was woven into your life during those years, but I know the experience didn't hurt you. I know that you only grew stronger and more compassionate. I was glad when the dreams stopped, but if they're back, then you'll accept them and make the best of it.” She smiled. “And, if you like, share them with someone you love. I'll always be here for you.”

“I know you will.” She was filled with so much love that the words were unsteady. “You always have been.” She took a step forward and slipped her arms around Eve and held her close. “I should be saying that to you. I don't say it enough.”

“Because it's not necessary, we both know it's there.” She hugged her once more, then pushed her away. “And we're both getting all weepy and emotional.” She dropped down on the ground. “Sit down and talk it out. Like you did when you were a kid.” She grinned. “Though you never acted like you were a kid.” She waved at the mist-shrouded lake. “And this isn't the front porch, and that isn't our lake, but it will do. Right?”

“Right.” Jane sat down beside her and linked her arms around her knees. “And you thought the lake was a little weird, but I don't believe it is. I think the mist is friendly. I think it must be full of love.”

“Why?”

She hesitated. “Because my dream was about Cira and her lover, Antonio, and her son, Marcus.” She stared out at the mist. “Cira loved her son so much, and he loved her. He must have been a very special little boy.”

“Yes. But then Cira was special, too. She created a world to suit herself.”

They were both silent, gazing at the mist for a long time.

Then Jane said quietly, “There's another reason why I was trying to tell myself that the dream was all power of suggestion.”

“Why is that?”

“The dream was all about a child.”

“It reminded you of Cara?”

Jane turned and looked her in the eye. “Not Cara.”

Eve's eyes widened. She opened her lips to speak, then closed them again. She drew a deep breath. “Oh, shit.”

Jane had to chuckle. “I suppose that's an affirmation?”

“How did you know? Joe?”

“Not Joe. Do you think he'd ever tell me anything as important as that if you didn't want him to?” She nodded at Caleb sitting in the car. “You let it slip to him.”

“I did not,” she said indignantly. “How?”

“He was curious. He held your hands. He said some of the blood was being directed to another place. He found it interesting.”

“Nosy bastard.” Then she had to laugh. “I didn't have a chance of keeping it to myself, did I?”

“If Caleb hadn't been around, you might have. When he told me, I was stunned.”

“So was I.” She was silent. “You're not angry or hurt I didn't tell you?”

“No, I considered the source. The source is remarkably like me. You didn't want to burden me any more than you had to. I don't like it, but I understand. How far along are you?”

“Not even a month. I wouldn't have even known about it except Joe authorized a complete physical and tests when I was in the hospital with that concussion.”

“And how do you feel about it?”

“I don't know. Scared, happy, bewildered … euphoric. Every time I think about having this child, it changes.”

“But do you want it?” she persisted.

“Oh, yes,” Eve said softly. “That's not even a question.” Her smile was luminous. “I want to have this baby. I'm already beginning to feel … a presence. It's wonderful.” The smile faded. “What's not wonderful is wondering if I'll be able to keep it safe. Or if I'll be so worried about trying to make sure nothing happens that I'll smother the poor kid.”

“You'll muddle through,” Jane said. “You did pretty well with me.”

“You raised yourself, I was just there for support.” She shook her head. “And I lost my Bonnie.”

“Through no fault of your own.” She reached over and touched Eve's hand. “And I'll be around to remind you of that the minute the baby makes an appearance.” She gave a relieved sigh. “Though I'm glad we have a little time to prepare ourselves. I need it.”

“I do, too. Another child after all these years…” She looked out at the lake. “Do you think this is a mistake, Jane?”

“Would you pay any attention to me if I said yes?”

“No. Well, I'd pay attention to you, but I'd seriously doubt your judgment.” She looked back at her. “I know all the drawbacks. I'm not sixteen as I was when I had Bonnie. I'll have to be careful during the pregnancy. I have a career, and I'm set in my ways. You say I was a good mother, but I only remember my mistakes.”

“What mistakes? I only remember the love,” she said. “And, if there were mistakes, this isn't one of them. I think sometimes you were a little worried that I'd feel cheated because you loved Bonnie so much.” She shook her head. “I understood. She was gone a long time before I came to you, but I could tell what she meant to you. She was the passion and tragedy of your life. I was your best friend. We were good together. But now you have a chance to bring someone else into your world.” She added unsteadily, “It's going to be phenomenal, Eve. It will open doors. It will be different from me or Bonnie, but it will be like a new sunrise for you. And I'll fight like hell for that sunrise to come to you.”