Killer Dreams (9 page)

“I wouldn’t believe you. As you said, you step on your own cockroaches.”

“For God’s sake, you have more value to me than a damn exterminator. You have a brain.”

“You think it doesn’t take a brain to be an exterminator?”

“Jock.”

“Very well, tell me how you want me to use my fine brain.”

“I haven’t found Cira’s gold yet.”

“Cira’s gold?” Jock chuckled. “You’ve started to search for that long-lost family treasure again?”

“I never stopped. I’ve been searching off and on for the past year. I won’t lose MacDuff’s Run to the National Trust. It’s
mine.
”

“And Cira’s gold could be a myth.”

“Then stay around and we’ll find out if it is together. What an adventure, Jock.” MacDuff’s voice lowered coaxingly. “I’ve searched almost the entire property here at the Run. I need a fresh mind and viewpoint to help me find a new path.”

Jock found himself tempted. MacDuff really knew how to push people’s buttons. “You want to distract me from Sophie and the boy.”

“Partly. But I do need you. You’re like family, and I’d only trust family to find that chest of gold. It’s priceless, and I’m not a trusting man. Help me, Jock.”

“I’ll think about it.”

“Do that.” MacDuff clapped him on the shoulder. “You’ve no need to go back to America. We’ll take care of the lad until it’s safe for him to go back, and then I’ll deliver him back to his mother myself.” He saw Jock’s expression change and he shrugged. “Okay, you can take him home. Just turn around and come back here on the next plane.”

“I believe you’re pushing a wee bit.”

“More than a wee bit. Have you ever known me to take small measures?”

“Never.” His smile faded. “But we may have to do more than wait it out with Michael. I may have brought Sanborne down on you. I was thinking on the plane here that Sophie’s ex-husband knew I was on the scene. Michael told him I was a relation, but Edmunds knows my name now. What Edmunds knows, Sanborne may find out.”

“We’ll face that when it happens.”

“Sanborne’s a very powerful man.”

“Not here, not on my property. Not with my people. Let him come.”

Jock laughed. The answer was so characteristic of MacDuff that it gave him a warm feeling of homecoming. “Then I take it you don’t want me to take the lad away and hide him elsewhere?”

“What are you talking about? I took responsibility for the boy. Try to take him from me and I’d have to fight you for him.”

“Then I’d better not try to do that.” He started up the steps. “I’ve got to check in on Michael and see if he’s okay. Even if he’s not having one of his night terrors, he’s a child a long way from home.”

“He’s ten. You were only fifteen when you ran away from home and decided to explore the world.”

“But that was my choice. Not a smart one, but Michael had little choice in coming here.” He looked back over his shoulder. “And I had you to come after me and save my neck. Michael has only me.”

“Then he couldn’t be luckier,” MacDuff said quietly. “I’d choose you to be in my corner anytime, Jock.”

For a moment Jock didn’t know what to say. He had always been the charge, not the guardian. He had known with his mind that he and MacDuff were now on equal footing, but his emotions were another matter. Jesus, he was touched. He smiled with an effort. “That’s good to know. Does that mean you’re not going to try to tuck me and Michael away in the dungeon for safekeeping?”

“Hell, no. It doesn’t mean any such thing. I always do what’s necessary.” He grinned as he followed him up the steps. “But it happens that the dungeon is flooded from the spring rains at present. So you might be fortunate enough to escape that fate.”

“They’ve found out you and Michael weren’t in the house,” Royd said when Sophie walked into his room the next morning. “The fire department announced it last night.”

“It was bound to happen soon.”

He nodded. “We were lucky to buy as much time as we have. It just means that we have to be extra careful not to have you running around and being identified. Not only will Sanborne and Boch be after you, but the police may also have a few questions about why you haven’t come forward.”

“I’m not planning on running around anywhere unless you have something productive for me to do.” Her eyes narrowed on his face. “Do you?”

He shrugged. “I heard from Kelly. He said that the best time to short-circuit the power is at nine tonight. They’re picking up some more equipment from the labs about that time and they’ll be stumbling over each other in the dark. The more confusion the better.”

“And can he arrange it for that time?”

“He said he could,” he said shortly. “He wants my okay to set it up.”

“Then give it to him.”

“Not unless I can work out a way to get you out of there.”

“If Kelly can get me in, then he should be able to get me out.”

“That may not follow. Particularly if the power comes on too soon.”

“Then you work it out. I’m going in.”

He was silent. “I’ll tell Kelly to meet us outside the facility at eight-forty-five to get our ducks in a row.”

“That will be nice. Since I don’t even know what he looks like. Do you have a photo?”

“No. Kelly looks like a red-haired Fred Astaire.”

“Well, that’s certainly descriptive enough.”

“And he manages to tap-dance his way out of a good many tight spots, but I don’t want him to have to do that tonight.” He nodded at the table. “I picked up orange juice and a breakfast sandwich at Hardee’s. Sit down and eat.”

“I’m not hungry.”

“Eat anyway. It’s good for you. It will give you the energy to lambaste me when you take the notion.” He paused. “Unless you’re too pissed to sit down at the same table with me.”

“I’d be stupid to let my personal feelings get in the way. Jock warned me I’d probably be annoyed with you at least once every day.” She sat down and unwrapped the sandwich. “He underestimated. He must not know you as well as he thinks he does.”

“He knows one part of my personality very well indeed. The rest he’s basing on judgment.”

“Which part does he know?”

“The part that chafed beneath the chains, the part that he went through too.”

“Chains?”

“Mental, sometimes physical. Suppression of free will, the knowledge that you have no choice but to obey.” His lips lifted in a sardonic smile. “You’re so eaten by guilt that I’m sure you think Jock and I are too. I can’t speak for Jock, but I’m too selfish to worry about the sin of committing crimes when I had no control. I hated being made a slave to those bastards. Of being too weak and not being able to fight off that damn drug and its side effects and not being able to kill those sons of bitches who gave it to me.”

“I gave it to you,” she whispered. “Or I might just as well have done it.”

“Bullshit, if I thought that, you’d be a dead woman.” He dropped down in a chair and pulled the tab on the orange-juice carton. “So stop moaning and take the healthy, selfish view I do.” He poured the orange juice into her glass and then his own. “If you want me to shut up about Garwood, I’ll do it. But I’ve always thought air and sunlight are good for a wound.”

“And a little hate thrown into the mix?”

He nodded and lifted his glass in a mock toast. “Now you’ve got it.”

“I do hate Sanborne. How could you doubt it?”

“I don’t doubt it. We just approach it differently. Perhaps it’s because your job is full of mercy and mine is basically the job I was trained to do at Garwood.”

“And you have to keep the bonfire high.”

“Oh, yes.”

She changed the subject. “Where are we going to meet Kelly?”

“There’s a creek about two miles from the facility. No security cameras are near there.”

She remembered the creek from the day she’d had to run from the security guards. “Has he located the safe?”

“He’s located
a
safe. It’s in an office near the lab but it’s not an executive office. It’s in the human resources department.”

“It could still be Sanborne’s safe. A little sleight of hand.”

He nodded. “It’s worth Kelly checking out. I’m not sure it’s worthwhile to have you go in with him.”

“I’m sure.” She finished her orange juice. “If he blows the power, then everyone in the facility is going to be under suspicion. He may not get another chance.” She stood up. “I’m going, Royd.”

He shrugged. “Suit yourself. Why should I care?”

“Because if you lose me, you lose your bait.”

“I never said I’d use you for bait.” He frowned. “Well, maybe I did, but it would be a last resort.”

She shook her head. “By God, I believe I see a sign of softening.”

“No way.” He leaned back in his chair. “I’m probably trying to deceive you into thinking that a nice guy like me wouldn’t be too bad to go to bed with.”

“Nice guy?” She gazed at him in astonishment. “You have a long way to go, Royd.”

“‘The longest journey begins with a single step,’ ” he quoted. “Maybe you’re reforming me. What do you think?”

“I think you’re being ridiculous.”

He smiled. “Well, you’re into therapy and we have all day with time on our hands. You have to hole up and keep a very low profile. Want to come to bed and we’ll get all loose and relaxed for the job tonight?”

“No, I do not. You’re disgusting.”

“Not in bed. In many other phases of behavior, but not between the sheets. You’d like me.”

“Arrogant bastard.” She started for the door to her room. “I’m not interested in sex with you.”

“I believe I detected a trace of interest and I’m such a horny son of a bitch I have to take what I can get.”

He was outrageous. She gazed at him lolling lazily in that chair, positively radiating sexuality. Yet suddenly she was aware of something else. A puckish twinkle behind that bold stare. Her annoyance ebbed. “That’s not why either of us is here.”

“But I might not get another chance to lay you if you get yourself killed tonight.” His smile was sly. “And you could miss the experience of a lifetime.”

“If I get killed tonight, I won’t have a lifetime to regret you.”

“When you’re as good as I am, every minute you spend with me is a lifetime.”

In spite of herself she couldn’t keep her lips from twitching. “I believe I’m getting ill.”

“Okay, I’ll knock it off.” His smile faded. “But if you’re not going to let me pleasantly distract you then I suggest you find something else. If you don’t, you’ll be nervous as hell by tonight.”

“I can always find something to do. I don’t have my files but there’s nothing wrong with my memory. I’ll do some thinking about the patients I’m having problems with and make some notes.” She paused. “But there’s something I want you to do.”

“I’m at your service…maybe.”

“I can’t call my friend Cindy Hodge, but you could do it for me. Tell her you’re phoning for me. You’ll need some sort of proof….” She thought about it. “Remind her that we always had a date to see the
Star Wars
movies the first afternoon they came out. I want to know if she’s alive, and if she is, then I need to warn her to run.”

He nodded. “Give me her telephone number. I’ll phone her from the convenience store down the street.”

“I’ll get it from my cell directory. When will you do it?”

“When do you think?” he asked roughly. “You asked me for a favor. You’re worried. Am I supposed to keep you on pins and needles? It’ll be done within the hour.”

“Thank you.” She closed the door behind her.

Christ, he was an enigma. Rough and hard-edged, sensual and raw, passionate and cold. And yet that sliver of humor that she had been surprised by only moments ago had touched a response in her. There hadn’t been many moments of humor or repartee in her life in the past years. Even when she was married to Dave, they had been too busy concentrating on their careers to have much time for anything else.

Not that the sex hadn’t been good. Sex was always good if two people were considerate of each other. God, that sounded boring and cerebral.

How would sex be with Royd? There was no guarantee he’d be considerate. And he probably wouldn’t be gentle. Every time she was with him she could sense that leashed animalistic explosiveness. The physical signals that he sent out were almost tangible.

What was she thinking?
Every
time? She hadn’t even been conscious of being that aware of Royd. Just that one time when—

She drew a deep breath. All right, admit it. She was physically drawn to Royd. That didn’t mean that she’d jump into bed with him. That didn’t mean that attraction wouldn’t pass when this was over. It just meant that she needed sex and he was available.

Her cell phone rang. Royd.

“Hello.”

“Cindy Hodge is with her mother in the Catskills. I spoke to her. I told her to lay low.”

Relief poured through her. “Thank heavens.”

“I’ll see you later.” He hung up.

He’d kept his word and now she could concentrate on what was important. She went to the desk and drew out stationery and pen and dropped down in the easy chair by the window.

Think about her patient Elspeth.

Think about Randy Lourdes, who had severe insomnia.

Don’t think about Royd naked in that room last night.

Don’t think of Royd lolling in that chair saying words that were provocative and faintly amusing.

Don’t think of Royd, period.

9

S
impson was late.

Dave Edmunds glanced at his watch again. Where the hell was he? It was bad enough that he’d been persuaded to meet Simpson on this country road in the middle of nowhere. At first, he’d turned them down, but he could understand why they wanted to make sure any negotiations would be completely secret. He had no desire for publicity either. It would blow the little leverage he had left after the announcement that Sophie and Michael had not been in that house. Naturally, he was happy that there was a chance they were alive and he’d do everything he could to find them. But until there was absolute proof, he still had an opportunity to come to terms and get a settlement before they showed up. Someone had to pay and it might as well be to him. Hell, he could squeeze enough money out of them to take a nice percentage for himself and still send Michael to college.

And those utility executives must realize what a stink he could raise if they didn’t negotiate. Otherwise Simpson wouldn’t have called to admit he worked for the power company and set up this meeting.

Yet now that bastard Simpson was keeping him waiting. A psychological ploy?

No, there he was coming around the turn. He recognized the car. He went to meet him as the car pulled to the side of the road and Simpson rolled down the window.

“You’re late.” He glanced impatiently at his wristwatch. “Twenty minutes. I hate tardiness. Do you realize how many cases I would have jeopardized if I were late in court?”

“Sorry,” Simpson said. “I was delayed at the office. It’s the weekend, but this is a big deal. When I spoke to you on the phone, you told me that you wouldn’t accept less than the figure you mentioned and my superiors were balking.”

“Don’t bullshit me. I have them over a barrel. They can settle or have me sitting on that stand in court pale and trembling telling a jury how the power company threatened the life of my son.”

“You actually think you could squeeze us when there was no physical harm done?”

“We don’t know that. Maybe my ex-wife suffered a concussion and is wandering around lost and in pain. After all, she hasn’t surfaced yet. I may need to hire private investigators. They cost money.” Go for the jugular. “You have no idea of the trouble I can make for you. By the end of the week every house owner in that subdivision will be filing suit against the power company for mental and physical endangerment. You’d do much better to settle now and keep me quiet.”

“My superiors agreed with you.” Simpson smiled. “They just wanted me to bargain a bit. I told them you wouldn’t go for it.” He paused. “But I don’t have the authority to negotiate for the kind of settlement you’re asking. If it’s okay with you, there’s someone on his way who can do that for the company.”

“Who?”

“George Londrum.”

“The public works commissioner?” Edmunds gave a low whistle. “I heard that he’d divested all his stock when he took over the commission.”

“That doesn’t mean he’s not interested in keeping the utility company healthy and prospering. He’ll only be doing public service another two years and then he’ll want a cozy berth to return to.”

“The company won’t be healthy if I have to bleed them dry.”

“Then may I phone him and tell him to come ahead? He’s waiting at the service station a few miles from here.”

Edmunds thought about it. Why not? Londrum was a politician, and he knew how to handle politicians. And the fact that Edmunds now knew he was still in the power company’s pocket would be a prime negotiating weapon. “By all means, tell him to come. I’ll gut the crooked bastard.”

Simpson smiled. “Very colorfully put.” He dialed his phone. “Mr. Edmunds says he’ll be delighted to deal with you.” He started to roll up the window. “Now, if you don’t mind, I’ll get out of here. I’m sure neither one of you wants to have a witness to your meeting. Mr. Londrum will be here in a few minutes. You do know what he looks like?”

“Of course I do.” He watched Simpson drive away. Simpson was right, he wanted no witnesses. But damn, he wished he hadn’t been afraid to wear a wire to record this meeting. He’d had no idea that the commissioner was involved with the power company.

Simpson was slowing as he passed a sleek Lincoln Town Car at the turn. He lifted his hand and then continued down the road.

A Lincoln Town Car. Wouldn’t you know Londrum would be driving a big, luxurious vehicle? He probably wanted to impress and intimidate him. Guess again.

Edmunds braced himself as he watched the car drive toward him.

“Christ.” Jock threw down his cards as the alarm on the library monitor went off. “Michael.” He jumped to his feet. “I suppose I should have expected this. We were lucky that it didn’t happen last night.”

“Sit down.” MacDuff stood up and strode toward the door. “I’ll take care of it.”

“He’s my responsibility. I promised Sophie that—He doesn’t even know you.”

“Then he’d better begin now.” He smiled over his shoulder at Jock. “Trust me. I took care of you when you were a raving maniac. I can take care of the boy.”

“But why do you want to do it?” Jock had followed him out into the hall. “It’s my—”

“I accepted him here.” MacDuff was taking the stairs two at a time. “It’s time I got to know him.”

“Because he’s one of yours,” Jock said softly.

“Not yet. I’m not that easy. But you’re fond of him and that makes it difficult for me.” He started down the upper hall. “Stay down there unless I call you. I can handle this, Jock.” He threw open the door of Michael’s room as a scream shattered the night. The boy was sitting bolt upright, his chest heaving with the effort to breathe.

MacDuff was across the room in seconds, shaking Michael gently. “Wake up, boy. Nothing’s going to harm you.”

Tears were running down Michael’s face and he opened his eyes.

And screamed again as he saw MacDuff’s face. He tore away from him and rolled over to the other side of the bed. He reached for the lamp on the bedside table, tore the cord from the wall, and hurled the lamp at MacDuff.

MacDuff barely managed to ward it off with an upraised arm. “Dammit, boy. I’ve no desire to—” He dove across the bed and grabbed Michael in a bear hug. “Will you stop trying to mangle me? Jock will laugh himself silly if you manage to bruise me.”

“Jock?” Michael suddenly went limp in his arms. “Jock? Where is he?”

“Downstairs. Reluctantly waiting for me to come back.” MacDuff pushed the boy away. “Do you know who I am now?”

“The Laird.” He moistened his lips. “I’m sorry, sir. I didn’t mean—”

“Stop apologizing. I startled you. I was half-expecting it.” He made a face. “But I wasn’t expecting a lamp thrown at my head.”

“I didn’t realize who—”

“I know that.” The boy was still shaking and trying to hide it. Give the lad a chance to save his pride. He got up and went to the window. “It’s stuffy in here.” He threw open the casement. “No air. I’d be having nightmares too.”

Michael didn’t speak for a moment. “That’s not why I have nightmares. I think you know that, sir.”

MacDuff glanced over his shoulder. He could see the pulse still leaping in Michael’s temple but he seemed to be calming. “Yes, I do. But it seemed the thing to say at the time.”

“Are you going to ask me about them?”

“Why should I? It’s none of my business.”

“Then why are you here?”

“I invited you to the Run. If you have a problem, it’s my responsibility to help deal with it. I can’t do that if I don’t know you, Michael.”

“Jock brought me,” he said haltingly. “I don’t want to bother you.”

“If it were bother, I wouldn’t have told Jock to let you come.” He paused. “Let’s get this clear. I’m not asking you questions and I’m not your mother.”

“Yeah.” The faintest smile touched his lips. “I wouldn’t have hit Mom with a lamp.”

“I hope not.” MacDuff’s brows lifted. “Woman-beating is definitely not allowed here at the Run.”

“You can leave now. I’m okay.”

“Stop trying to get rid of me. I’ve an idea that I’m not fully doing my duty as substitute. What does your mother do after you wake from one of these nightmares?”

“But you’re not my mother,” Michael said gravely.

“Smartass.”

Michael’s eyes widened. “I’m sorry, sir. It just came out. I know it wasn’t polite or even—”

“Stop treating me as if I were an ogre. I’m not going to behead you.”

“But you’re old and some kind of Lord and Mom would say I’m supposed to be polite to you.”

He bristled. “I’m not old.”

“Older than Jock.”

“Half the population is older than Jock. I’m in my thirties and they were rich, well-spent years that made me the exceptional human being I am.” But MacDuff could see the faintest gleam of humor in Michael’s eyes as he looked down at the floor. “And you’re having me on. You Americans have no respect.”

“Do you know a lot of Americans?”

“A few. Now tell me what your mother does after one of these sessions.”

“She makes me hot chocolate and talks to me.”

“I’m not about to go down to the kitchen and brew up chocolate, and we don’t know each other well enough for involved conversation.”

“I can go back to sleep. You don’t have to do anything.”

“Nonsense. It’s a strange place and it would take you a long time to get rid of that tension. I think I’d better beat it out of you.”

Michael tensed. “Sir?”

“Not literally. Jock says you play soccer.”

“Yes.”

“I played when I was a boy in school. Only we call it football. Let’s go down to the Run and practice a little. I guarantee you’ll be limp as a noodle by the time we finish.”

“Now? In the middle of the night?”

“Why not? Do you have anything better to do? Put on your shoes and come hopping.”

Michael threw his blanket aside. His face was lit with excitement. “Run? Where’s this Run?”

“It’s a stretch of land on the cliff at the back of the castle overlooking the sea. My ancestors are from the Highlands and used to test themselves with games of strength and skill. The ground is flat and I can dig up a ball somewhere.”

“What if I kick the ball off the cliff into the sea?”

MacDuff headed for the door. “Why, I pitch you over after it. What else?”

Nate Kelly did look a little like Fred Astaire, Sophie thought as she watched him walk toward them. But his stride was less rhythmic and more purposeful.

“We have to move fast,” he told Royd from a few yards away. “We have to be inside by the time the power goes off and near the human resources office.” He glanced at her. “Sophie Dunston?”

“Yes.”

“Glad to meet you. Follow close and do what I say and we may come out of this alive.” He turned and headed for the facility. “Are you going in with us, Royd?”

“No, I’m staying outside in the shipping yard in case you need someone to get you out of a mess.”

“We’ll be okay as long as the power stays off. No one is in the human resources department at this time of the night.”

“Famous last words. I’ve always found that you can’t count on anything in situations like this.” Royd said to Sophie, “Last chance. Let Kelly do his job.”

“And miss the opportunity of getting my hands on the disk? If he has to go through every disk and piece of paper in the safe, then the lights will go on before he gets out of the office. I’ll be able to tell right away if the disk is there.”

“True,” Kelly said. “But you may not be able to get out of the facility to the shipping yard by that time. You’ll be on your own once you’ve searched the safe. I’ve got to get back to the video room and look like I’ve been there all the time before those lights go back on.” He looked over his shoulder at Royd. “Unless you want me to risk it and deliver her to you?”

“No,” Royd said curtly. “It’s her choice. I’m not risking you or running the chance of losing you here at the facility. If I see a problem, I’ll go in and get her myself.”

“The hell you will,” Sophie said. “No one runs any extra risk for me. You both do your jobs and let me do mine. I’ll get out without you—” She stopped. They had crested the hill and the facility lay before them. The three-story factory was enclosed by a chain-link fence and light poured out of every window. She could see three large trucks parked in the shipping yard and men moving back and forth loading them. She tried not to show the chill that went through her. “How are we going to get past those men?”

“We go through the basement on the other side of the facility. It’s a hell of a lot less busy. One guard and he’s usually at the corner watching them load the trucks,” Kelly said. “I left the basement door and south gate unlocked when I came out.” He was skidding down the side of the hill. “The basement storage has already been loaded and shipped so the chances of us running into a guard aren’t too bad. We go straight left to the emergency stairs and up to the second floor. Then we go left for a hundred yards and then turn right and go another twenty. Have you got that?”

“Left to the emergency stairs. Second floor, go left for a hundred yards, right, and go another twenty.”

“Good. Don’t forget. Memorize every step of the way. You’ll be going back by yourself. I’ve got infrared glasses for you, but things sometimes appear different.”

“No flashlights?”

“We’ll use one in the human resources room because we have to do it to accurately see the safe lock and the contents. But those offices on the second floor are glass enclosed and we don’t want anyone who might be checking that floor to see you in the halls. Once we leave the office I’ll take the back stairs to the security office on the third floor and you take the emergency stairs down to the yard. Got it?”

She nodded, looking straight ahead at the looming factory so he wouldn’t see how frightened she was becoming with every passing second. “Should I have a gun?”

“No,” Royd said. “You might be tempted to use it and we want you avoiding confrontation. It’s safer for Kelly and it’s safer for you.”

“And you don’t want to blow Kelly’s cover.”

“Absolutely,” Royd said coolly. “I’m glad you realize the priorities of the situation.”

“I had no doubt about that.” They were almost to the gate and she could feel the perspiration dampen her palms. “And you’ll be here at the door when I make it back here?”