Long After Midnight (31 page)

The small woman huddled next to Longworth murmured a soft “How do you do.”

“Edna is a little shy.” Longworth beamed down at her. “But we’ve been together twenty-six years and she’s a real trooper. One of the old guard. Not one of those Hillary Clinton–type upstarts.”

Kate nodded politely to the woman. Edna Longworth was obviously the quintessential “little woman.” She couldn’t help it if she had linked her life to an asshole.

“What do you want, Longworth?” Seth asked.

“I told you, I wanted to express my—” He stopped as he met Seth’s gaze. “There are reporters outside the gates. I thought it wouldn’t hurt either one of our objectives to be seen together now. Sort of an enemies-joined-in-sorrow sort of thing.”

Kate stared at him incredulously. “Screw you.”

“No need to be abusive,” Longworth said. “After all, you’re the one who’s lost. I merely wanted to—” He looked down at his wife, who was tugging at his arm. “What is it, Edna?”

“They said no. You promised if they said no that we’d go back to the car. You promised.”

“We’ll go shortly.”

“It’s raining,” Edna said stubbornly. “You promised.”

To Kate’s surprise he gave in. “Oh, very well.” He turned back to Kate. “My wife doesn’t like the rain. Sweet things tend to melt, you know.” He took his wife’s arm and walked ahead of them toward the gates.

“He thinks he’s beaten us,” Kate said. “I wanted to slap him.”

“I believe you slapped him down fairly thoroughly,” Seth said.

“Did you see how he treated his wife? My God, he was patronizing.” She whirled on Seth. “I don’t want him to win. I don’t want RU2 to go down the drain.”

“Then think of a way to save it.”

“We’ll think of a way to save it. You don’t have to go after—”

“No, Kate.” His quiet tone was implacable. “Drop it.”

She would drop it. What did she care if he got himself killed or arrested? He was a stupid, violent man who deserved whatever happened to him. She couldn’t help him if he wouldn’t listen. She would drop it.

For now.

“Mr. Drakin?” The man standing in the doorway was small, dark, and dressed in a neat gray suit. “I’m Frank Barlow. I have a report for you. I believe you told Mr. Lynski that—”

“Come in.” Seth glanced over his shoulder at Kate curled up on the sofa. No need for her to hear this. She had been upset all afternoon. “This won’t take long.” He took the detective into the adjoining room and closed the door. “Sit down.”

Barlow sat down in the chair by the window and opened his briefcase. “You asked for a report on Ogden. There isn’t much more than what I gave Mr. Smith before.”

“What about Blount?”

“He keeps his nose very clean, but there’s no doubt he arranged for the bombings at J. and S. Ogden doesn’t have the contacts.”

“Giandello?”

“Crime boss. Smart enough but clings to the old ways. Vice. Drugs. Gambling. Doesn’t like to dip into anything new.”

“Blount is his son. What’s their relationship?”

“Close enough. At least on Giandello’s part. He prides himself on his family. He’s very protective of Blount. Even though he’s illegitimate, Giandello put him through school, visited him frequently, gave him a fancy car for graduation.”

Seth wasn’t learning much he didn’t already know. He tried another tack. “What kind of man is he? What pushes Giandello’s buttons?”

Barlow frowned. “What do you mean?”

“Is he hot-tempered? Is he afraid of anything? Does he have any pet peeves?”

“He was hot-tempered enough to dismember one of his more ambitious competitors,” Barlow said dryly. “But as I said, he’s smart. He doesn’t attempt anything he can’t carry through.” He glanced down at the paper in front of him. “He doesn’t like Jews, Nazis, blacks, or homosexuals.”

“Just your ordinary, clean-cut American entrepreneur,” Seth murmured.

“Anything else?”

“Hell yes, we’re going over these reports until I know more about them than their mother.” He sat down and took the pad from Barlow. “We’ll start with Blount.”

Seth had said it wouldn’t take long, but it had already been an hour.

He had shut the door and closed her out. For weeks they had shared everything, done everything together. It felt strange and unsettling to be alone again. That it had been her choice made no difference.

Kate got up and went into the bedroom. She would go to bed and forget it. She was used to being alone.

But not in the way Seth was alone. She had Joshua and Phyliss. Seth had no one.

His choice. He had no desire for ties of any kind. Like a magnet, he drew people to him, but then he cut them off once they’d entered his circle.

Or didn’t he dare keep them? How many times had he put down roots only to have them torn up? Well, she could do nothing about it. He was what he was and she was what she was and the difference was staggering.

But what they’d had together . . .

She undressed and slipped into bed. Go to sleep. Forget that closed door.

She couldn’t forget it. She kept remembering her nightmare. Seth in danger. Seth being pursued by Ishmaru. She was still awake when she heard the door of Seth’s room open and then the door to the hall close. She lasted another twenty minutes before she couldn’t stand it any longer.

She got out of bed and a moment later she was opening Seth’s door.

It was dark, but she could dimly see Seth on the bed across the room. “Could I come to bed with you?”

“Do you need to ask?”

“Yes.” She flew across the room and slipped beneath the covers. She lay there beside him, not touching him. “I think I do. You were very angry with me when I—”

“Kicked me out,” he finished. “Hell yes, I was mad. But I got over it. Sort of. Why are you here? I take it that it’s not my fantastic sex appeal.”

“You said you’d be back in my bed in a month.”

“And you wanted to save me the trouble?”

“Maybe.” She paused. “Who was that man?”

“Ah, the truth outs. You’re trying to seduce me into telling you all my secrets.”

“Who is he?”

“A private investigator. Barlow. Tony says he’s good. He’d better be.”

“Why do you need him?”

“Information.”

“What kind of information?”

Seth didn’t answer.

She turned to face him. “Why won’t you tell me?”

“Because if you don’t know, you can’t be charged as an accessory.”

“I hate this,” she whispered. She laid her head in the hollow of his shoulder. She could hear the beat of his heart beneath her ear, strong, solid. Home. “I’ll help you.”

He stiffened against her. “What?”

She was almost as surprised as he. She hadn’t known those words would tumble out, but now that they were said, she knew they were inevitable. “You heard me. If you have to do this, I’ll help you.”

“Why?”

“The same reasons you have.”

“Kate.”

He wasn’t buying it. He knew her too well. She felt tears sting her eyes. “Dammit, I just don’t want you to have to be alone.”

He was silent and then his lips brushed her forehead. “Hey, that means you like me.”

“Maybe. A little.”

“More than a little. Big. It takes big to offer to become an accessory.” He gently stroked her hair. “Particularly since you’re so sure I’ll be caught and sent up the river.” He added in a mock gangster snarl, “How do you think you’ll look in prison gray, kid?”

“Stop joking. I know they’re murderers themselves, but I believe in the law. And I resent death. I always have. It’s a defeat. This whole thing scares me.”

“But you’re willing to do it anyway. What about Joshua?”

“That’s what terrifies me the most. I know he has Phyliss.” Her arms tightened around him. “But I have to be there for him. I don’t want him to have to rely on her. So you think of a good enough plan to make sure that he doesn’t.”

“I’ll do my best.” His voice was unsteady. “Go to sleep, Kate.”

She was too frightened to sleep, too terrified of the act to which she had committed herself. She needed to be closer to him. She lifted herself on one elbow and bent down and kissed him. “Not yet . . .”

SIXTEEN

A
note was propped on the bedside table when Kate woke.

Don’t panic. I’m not trying to shut you out. I’ve just gone to do a little reconnoitering. Be back tonight.

Seth

What reconnoitering? He had denied trying to shut her out, but he’d told her nothing about what he was planning to do.

Was that because she hadn’t asked him? She should have asked him. He had realized her reluctance and would not willingly involve her.

Well, she would ask him tonight. She didn’t want to think about it right now. She would much rather try to come up with a way to get RU2 back on track. There must be a solution. Something was nagging at her, nibbling at the edge of her consciousness, just out of reach.

She swung her feet to the floor and headed for the shower. She would spend the day with Joshua and Phyliss. Maybe they would go swimming in the indoor pool. Whenever a problem stumped her, she usually tried to get completely away from it and clear her mind. It was amazing what the subconscious would do if you let it alone.

“Why are you here, Drakin?” Marco Giandello leaned back in his executive chair. “I don’t believe we have business.”

“I was under the impression we did. Your son offered me a deal and your participation was an integral part of it.”

“You deal with my son. This is his game.”

“I’ve no desire to close him out. I just want assurances before I commit myself that you’ll be on board.”

Giandello smiled. “I don’t believe in all this DNA stuff, but my boy thinks it’s worth a shot. It’s a good thing for a son to try to make his own way in the world. I don’t mind lending him a hand.”

“I’m relieved. The situation is too volatile. I needed a little insurance.” He paused. “Your son
is
being careful with Ogden, isn’t he?”

“What? I guess so. Why?”

“Nothing. I just heard Ogden has a violent temper. He’s not going to be pleased when he finds out your son has been dealing behind his back. He has a lot to lose.”

Giandello stiffened. “My boy knows how to take care of himself.”

Seth held up his hands. “No offense. I just don’t want anything to interfere with the deal. This whole RU2 mess has been a major pain in the ass for me. All I want to do is go back to South America with a potload of money and live like a king.” He grinned as he rose to his feet. “And let you and Blount take care of all the headaches for me. I feel much better now. I hope you won’t mention this visit to Blount. He might resent me running to Papa. It implies a lack of trust.”

“I don’t keep secrets from my son.”

Seth shrugged. “Well, whatever you say. Good-bye, Mr. Giandello. Thank you for seeing me.”

Giandello waited until the door closed before he picked up the phone and called his son.

“What the hell do you mean bothering my father?” Blount said when Seth called him from the plane on the way back to Washington. His voice was shrill and without its usual smoothness. “This is between you and me, Drakin.”

“Easy. I’m a careful man. I had to make sure that you were telling me the truth. As you said, without protection the well could run dry. But your father reassured me. I’m ready to commit.”

A silence. “I never doubted you would. I knew you were a man who knew which side his bread was buttered on.” The smoothness was back and with it extreme satisfaction. “I just wish you’d trusted my word. We need to meet and discuss this.”

“My thought exactly. How about three this afternoon at the Washington Monument?”

“Too public.”

“Better than a restaurant or hotel. There are paid informers all over Washington. Nothing but tourists at the Monument.”

“Very well.” He chuckled. “It doesn’t really matter if we’re seen together anyway, now that the deal’s struck. The Washington Monument at three.”

“The Washington Monument at three.”

“Who is this?” Ogden demanded.

“Just be there.”

“I don’t pay attention to anonymous calls.”

“You will if you want to catch Judas in the act.”

“Judas?”

Seth hung up the phone and leaned back in the seat. Not a bad few hours. He had set the top in motion. Now all he had to do was keep it spinning.

Kate supposed she should get out of the water. Joshua would stay in the water as long as she did, and they had already been here in the pool for over two hours. Not that he looked tired. It was as if he’d never been ill. But appearances could be deceiving and there was no sense taking risks.

“One more lap.” She splashed water in his face. “Race you.”

She beat him.

“You cheated. I wasn’t ready.”

“I’ll take a win any way I can get it.” She pulled herself onto the ledge and gave him a hand up. “I’m tired of you beating me.”

“Well, maybe it’s because you weigh more. You have more to pull through the water.”

“Thanks.” She threw a towel at him. “Just for that you can run around the other side of the pool and get Phyliss and Mr. Rimilon. It’s time for lunch.”

“Okay.” He jumped to his feet.

“And bring my robe,” she called after him.

She watched him streak away from her. Not even a sign of weakness. He looked as healthy as before his illness, thank God. She had been scared to death that night. . . .

Well, that was part of the territory if you cared about someone. She pulled off her cap and stood up as Phyliss, Rimilon, and Joshua approached. “Ready for lunch?”

“Why not?” Phyliss tossed Kate her robe. “You should need a mega-bunch of calories the way you were tearing through the water all morning. Thinking?”

Phyliss knew her so well. “For all the good it did me. I was hoping that—” She stopped. Could it be? It was too wild an idea. But what if—

She strode toward the door. “I’ll meet you upstairs. I have to make a call.”

“Who?” Phyliss called.

“Lynski.”

“This wasn’t a good idea.” Blount frowned as he watched schoolchildren pour out of a bus. “How are we going to talk with all these brats tearing around?”

“We’ll walk by the pond. You can’t say anyone’s paying any attention to us. Besides, you said it didn’t matter.”

Blount’s expression lightened. “It doesn’t. I guess I’m used to worrying about Ogden. No more.” He fell into step with Seth. “You’ll have to file RU2 somewhere in Europe. We’ll have to have drug approval or we won’t be able to open the clinic.”

“I already have plane reservations.” He cast a casual glance at the black limousine coasting slowly by them. Ogden?

“What about Kate Denby? Her name is on the patent.”

“I can prove that Smith did the majority of the work.”

“That’s what I thought.”

“But it would be better if we can come to some kind of agreement with her.” He looked out at the pond. “And unless you want to have a court battle with her heirs, you’d better keep Ishmaru away from her until we can work a deal.”

“I told you Ishmaru was no problem.” He smiled. “And Denby may not be a problem either if Ishmaru finds what he’s looking for. It seems the good doctor hasn’t been nearly as good as she should have been.”

Seth tried to keep his expression impassive. “That’s hard to believe. She’s a bloody Jonas Salk. She wouldn’t let up on me until she and Migellin roped me in.” He kept the next question carefully casual. “What’s she supposed to have done?”

“Try murder.” Blount nodded as he saw his expression. “I was surprised too.”

“That cop in Dandridge? That was a pretty lame effort on your part. They dropped the case.”

“No, this took place years ago. But that recent warrant against her will look nasty in court.”

“Another court case. That’s no solution to the problem.”

“I don’t care about her,” he said impatiently. “What about RU2? I’ll want my lawyers to draw up an agreement before you leave for Europe.”

“I prefer my own lawyers.”

“I admit I expected that to—”

“You sniveling little prick.” Raymond Ogden spun Blount around to face him. His fist crashed into Blount’s lips. “You damn slimy bastard.”

Blount fell to his knees.

Ogden kicked him in the stomach. His face was livid with rage. “Pack up and get out of my house. You’re through.” He kicked him again. “And don’t think you’re going to get away with anything. I’ll stop you. You don’t have the gumption to make it in the big leagues, you prick.”

“Oh dear, he was annoyed, wasn’t he?” Seth murmured as he watched Ogden stalk back to his limousine.

“Bastard.” Blount wheezed, trying to get his breath. “How the hell did he know I was—”

“Oh, I told him.” Seth helped him to his feet. “It seemed the thing to do.”

Blount’s eyes widened. “You told him? You set me up?”

“Well, we did have to meet and I thought I’d kill two birds with one stone.”

“You wanted him to beat me up?”

“I wanted to see you cut your ties with him. Irrevocably. I think this is irrevocable, don’t you?”

“I think I’m going to break your neck,” he said through his teeth.

“Understandable.” He looked beyond Blount. “But this little contretemps seems to have attracted a crowd. You should really wait until there aren’t any witnesses.”

Blount took out his handkerchief and dabbed at his lip. “I told you I didn’t care if he saw us together. I was going to do it in my own time.”

“I’m afraid I’m not very trusting. You’re crossing Ogden. Who’s to say you won’t change your mind and cross me? No, I had to make sure before I committed myself.” He beamed. “But now all the impediments are out of the way.”

“I’m going to remember this.”

“I’m sure you will, but the deal is too sweet for you to scrap because of a few bruises.” He brushed a speck of dust from Blount’s jacket. “You’ll need a place to stay. I’ll get you a suite at my hotel for the next few days until we leave for Amsterdam. I’ll even come to Ogden’s place in a few hours and help you with your luggage.”

“I don’t need—” Then Blount smiled maliciously. “Yes, by all means come and pick me up. Ogden’s supposed to be home this evening. Maybe he’ll decide you need a few bruises too.”

“You’d wish that on me?” He made a clucking sound. “And I thought we were getting along so well.”

“Shut up, damn you,” Blount snarled. He strode past him toward the street.

Seth followed more leisurely. The top was spinning merrily. Just a few more turns . . .

“Well, you look satisfied,” Phyliss said as she came into Kate’s suite. “What brought this on?”

“I’m not satisfied. I’m excited.” Kate hung up the phone. “I played a hunch and I’m not sure if it’s going to pay off.”

“Are you going to share it?”

Kate shook her head and held up crossed fingers. “Not yet. I’m afraid I’ll jinx it. Where’s Joshua?”

“Changing.” She turned to the door. “And that’s what I’ve got to do. Where will we eat lunch?”

“Here.” She moved toward the bathroom. “I’ll shower and change. You and Joshua order for all of us. Just a sandwich for me.”

“You need more than a sandwich after that workout.”

Before she closed the door, she called, “Okay, a salad.”

The waiter came with the food as she finished blow-drying her hair. She quickly put on slacks, a tailored shirt, and sandals.

“Kate.”

“Coming.” She breezed into the sitting room, brushed a kiss on Joshua’s forehead, and sat down in the chair across from him. “What did you order?”

“Chili dog.”

She flinched. “All this healthy food on the menu and you ordered a chili dog?”

He grinned. “You said I should order what I wanted. Besides, chili dogs are healthy. The meat’s protein and the onions are vegetables and—”

“Okay, okay.”

“You gave in too easy. You feeling all right?”

“Great.” She did feel great. She had the first scrap of hope since Migellin’s death. Hope was an amazing upper. “But Phyliss may not feel so great if you have a bellyache later.”

“I can handle it,” Phyliss said. “I’m having a chili dog too.”

Kate gave a mock groan. “I’m surrounded by—”

The phone rang.

Seth?

“I’ll get it.” She jumped up and reached for the phone on the table.

“Do you know where I am, Emily?”

Her heart stopped and then started double time.

“You’re not answering. Do you know who this is?”

“Ishmaru.”

“I knew you wouldn’t forget me. Just as I can’t forget you. Particularly where I am now. It’s so pretty here. All these trees and shrubs and woodland paths. I had a vision about you and a forest. I have many visions, you know. All true warriors do.”

Her hand tightened on the receiver. “What do you want?”

“I want you to come to me.”

“Screw you.”

“You mustn’t refuse me out of hand. I’ve just spent a few interesting days in the records office. The facts were very cleverly hidden, but I dug them out. I know everything. You’ve been a naughty girl, Kate.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Because you haven’t asked me where I am. I’ll tell you anyway. Pinebridge.”

He hung up the phone.

She closed her eyes as waves of terror washed through her.

“Mom?” Joshua was beside her, his eyes wide with fear.

Her arm automatically slid around him. “It’s okay. It’s okay, Joshua.”

“It’s not okay. You said Ishmaru.”

“It will be okay. It will be fine.” She turned to Phyliss. “I’ve got to go.” She grabbed up her purse. Was the gun in it? Yes, Seth always made sure she went nowhere without it.

“Where are you going?” Phyliss called as she ran toward the door.

She couldn’t tell her. She had promised.

No one must ever know.

But Ishmaru knew now.

Dear God, he
knew.

“Take care of Joshua, Phyliss.”

The door slammed behind her.

Disaster.

Seth knew the moment he walked into the hotel room.

Joshua was sitting on the sofa, stiff as a poker, and Phyliss looked almost as shell-shocked.

Kate.

“Where’s Kate?”