Pearl Cove (31 page)

Saint Hannah? April shrugged. Whatever you say, slick. But I say youre wrong. She cocked
her head slightly to the side, studying both Archer and Hannah for a long minute. Okay,
well try it your way. If that doesnt get to the bottom line in one hell of a hurry, well
do it my way.

Archer waited, revealing nothing of his feelings. The thought that Hannah had chosen to
put herself in the line of fire to save him both angered him and moved him as nothing ever
had in his life.

Two big white guys walked into the Dragon Moon shortly after six this morning, April said
calmly. Yin is drinking tea, counting money in his tiny little mind, and holding stolen
black pearls. Five of his triad brothers are sitting around a nearby table scratching
their balls. A few minutes later, a tall white woman walks in and throws herself at one of
the white mens head. If shed done the smart thing and jumped the other way, his head would
have been blown off and we wouldnt be having this conversation. You hear me, slick?

I hear you. He glanced at Chang. You look like youve heard it all before. Do you like
green tea and dried fish for breakfast?

Chang simply watched him with clear, clever black eyes.

The man and the woman go down in a tangle while someone keeps firing a pistol, April said.
Jake Mallory excuse me the second white guy rams a table down the throats of the five
triad goons and cuts loose with a sawed-off shotgun. It chews up a wall and a good chunk
of Yins brother, Ling, who was too stupid to know the difference between cheap paneling
and body armor. The white folks leave, taking the pearls and leaving the money unmarked,
nonsequential hundred-dollar bills, by the way. The getaway car is driven by another big
white guy. A blond. No plates on the car. No prints on anything at the cafe. No tracing
the money. A clean job all around. You still with me, slick?

He nodded casually, but he pulled Hannah closer. The fine trembling in her body made him
angry. She had been through enough in the past week. She didnt need Aprils caustic summary
of the few bloody moments in the Dragon Moon cafe.

Okay, April said. Uncle doesnt give a rats fried green ass about what happened in some
dirtbag triad cave. Even if Ling dies, he wasnt that useful. We wanted to have a
show-and-tell with Yin, but he grabbed the first westbound plane he could and headed
straight for Hong Kong. The Chang family is going to find him for us.

Im happy for you, Archer said blandly. I want those pearls. Why? Thats not on the table.

What is?

Hand over the pearls and Uncle will be deaf, dumb, and blind on the subject of what
happened in the Dragon Moon this morning.

As you pointed out, Archer said, it was a clean job. Put something more on the table.

Aprils eyes narrowed to fierce slits. One of these days, big boy, youre going up to your
lips in fresh shit.

Ive been there. Thats why Im here. If you want me to find those pearls for you, youll have
to pass the word that Hannah McGarry is off the table. No exceptions. Not even Uncle.

April raised sleek, black eyebrows. The only way shes taken off the table is if she tells
all she knows about making those damned pearls.

I dont know anything, Hannah said curtly. If you knew Len, you know how secretive he was.

You were his wife.

I was his color matcher. I wrote out the bills. I ordered supplies. Thats it.

April started to say something cutting, then looked at Archer. He had the appearance of a
man thinking hard and deep. Think out loud, slick.

He shrugged. Im trying to imagine Len having the patience, the training, and the vision to
breed and then clone a special strain of oysters.

So? April demanded.

Hannah was shaking her head. Patience and finicky techniques hadnt been Lens style.

Not Len, Archer said simply. As for cloning... no. He never even finished junior high. He
wouldnt have had the first idea how to begin cloning anything. At least, he wouldnt have
before the accident that put him on wheels for the rest of his life.

He didnt develop patience, kindness, or a curious mind after the accident, Hannah said. If
anything, it was the opposite. He shut down, not opened up.

April didnt argue the point. Lens file had been brutally clear on his limitations as an
agent and human being. Ian? she asked.

I didnt know Len before his accident. After, he was a very clever bastard with the devils
own genius for making trouble. He could play people off against each other better than any
diplomat. People didnt

like him, but they damn well paid attention to him. Including me.

Hannah made a weary gesture. Len hadnt finished junior high, but that didnt mean he was
stupid. Especially about what made people tick.

Yeah, April agreed. He had a hell of a jugular instinct.

From you, thats quite a compliment, Archer said.

Her smile showed a lot of neat white teeth. I could say the same of you.

He turned back to Hannah. Beyond the usual machinery needed for running a cultured-pearl
operation, did you have any lab equipment at Pearl Cove?

Nothing different from anyone else in the business. Youre certain? April asked. I did all
the buying. I would have noticed if we had exotic equipment. How about the experimental
oysters? Chang asked. Did you see any difference in them? Just the pearls they produced.
There were normal in every other way. In fact, it was a problem. What do you mean? April
demanded.

When you breed your own shell oysters you have to keep breeding back to wild shell or
the strain goes bad and dies out. But when Len bred back, he lost the mutation that made
rainbow pearls. At least, he must have. Its the only explanation for the fact that he let
the strain go weak when it should have been easy to fix by breeding back.

April looked at Chang, who nodded. Every pearl farmer knows that strains of captive shell
go bad after a few years, he said. Were working on the problem in Tahiti and Australia,
but were not making much progress. He turned to Hannah.

So, whether induced or natural, it was a mutation that made the rainbow shell?

Hannah shivered at the intensity in Changs eyes. Like Len. Obsessed. Thats my guess.
Theres a huge natural color variation in oyster nacre. The black rainbows are just one
more color on the spectrum. It would be more surprising if the mutation hadnt occurred.

Did Len ever say how he got onto the rainbows? Chang asked.

He was chasing them when I first found him ten years ago, Archer said. He was the reason I
became interested in pearls.

Chasing them how? April said. Following rumors. Twisting informants. Buying secrets when
he couldnt get them any other way. Where? Chang asked.

From the Gulf of Siam to the Arafura Sea. The riot that injured Len started when he
trashed a smuggler who operated outside of Kupang. The man was a raider, not a pearl
farmer. He didnt want to tell Len where he got the special black pearls. Archer shrugged.
My guess is he finally told. By the time I got to Len, the smuggler was dead and Len was
damned close to it. But he had a smile on his face and

a black rainbow clenched in his fist.

That fits, Hannah said. Sometimes, when Len got really drunk, he would scream that the
bloody black rainbows had put him in a chair and the bloody things would put him right
again.

How? April asked.

He believed in miracles, Archer said simply.

April muttered something under her breath.

Chang thought about miracles and Len, and nodded slowly. Pearls have a long tradition of
being used as medicine. Even today, in India, ground pearls are used to cure rickets.
Quite effective, Im told.

Paraplegia is a long way from rickets, April said sardonically.

Archer looked at her. What would it take to convince you that Hannah doesnt know how to
grow black rainbows?

April glanced at Chang.

Suddenly he appeared both weary and impatient. I told you. I told my father. The more I
looked at it, the less I thought that Hannah knew Lens secrets. Not before he died. Not
after. He didnt trust her, and she isnt clever or devious enough to hide a secret that big.

Hannah wondered if she had been insulted or complimented. Both, probably.

Silence stretched while April considered and rejected various scenarios. It didnt take her
long to choose one. Okay, slick. Heres the deal. Chang will set a price and both of you
will sign over everything you own at Pearl Cove to a person Ill name. Lock, stock, and
barrel. Stuff you know about and stuff you dont. Ill put out the word that you and Hannah
are off the table.

Youll do more than that, Archer said evenly. Youll make it clear that anyone who goes
after Hannah goes after Uncle Sam.

April didnt like it, but she accepted it. Agreed. Hannah? Archer asked. Ill sign over
everything except the Black Trinity. So its real, Chang said eagerly. Ill buy it from you.
Top price. Its real, Hannah said. I dont have it to sell.

Why not?

Len hid it. Weve found other rainbows, but we havent found the Black Trinity.

Did he bury it somewhere in Pearl Cove? Chang asked her.

If his murderer didnt take it, its still in Pearl Cove. Except for one trip to Roti just
after we bought Pearl Cove, Len never left home.

Silently Archer noted that neither Chang nor April appeared surprised by the statement
that Len had been murdered. Nor were they interested. But both of them were quietly making
plans for a trip to Roti, which wasnt that far from Kupang, which might, just might, hold
the secret of the black rainbows.

Buried treasure, April said, her voice ripe with irritation. She looked at her watch,
mentally reshuffling demands for the rest of the day. One of her agents was about to get a
rude awakening and a ticket to one of Indonesias less delectable seaside villages. Fine,
whatever, keep the Black Trinity if you dig it up. The rest is Uncle Sams. That includes
Lens computer. She looked straight at Archer.

He nodded. Youll get it after we sign the papers. Ill have them to you in an hour, April
said. And youll put out the word right now, Archer said. Youre pushing, slick.

Its what Im best at.

She smiled in spite of herself. True fact. Ill put out the word.

Done, Archer said, holding out his hand.

April hesitated, then gripped his hand hard. Dont disappoint me on this one. Id hate to
cut off your cock just when youre enjoying it again.

One does not learn the skills involved At the drop of a hat. Its the slow-learned skills
in the depths of love That Im working at. Lady Nakatomi

JAPAN, EIGHTH CENTURY

Though Hannah felt as if she had been away for months, Pearl Cove hadnt changed. The ocean
was still a restless turquoise that was sculpted by wind. The sun still piled clouds upon
clouds until the afternoon sky became a sullen quicksilver lid holding in the summers
tropical heat. Stripped down to shorts, tank top, and sandals, she and Archer looked very
much at home on the sultry margin where salt water met land.

Hannah didnt feel at home. All the workers had left except Coco, who had stayed on to pack
up some of the things in the main house. Hannah couldnt wait to leave Pearl Cove. Every
time she looked at the beach, she saw Len there, his ruined legs drifting like pale
ribbons on the water.

Shivering, she turned away from the sea.

Archer guessed her thoughts from the grim line of her mouth. You should have stayed in
Seattle. Theres nothing in Pearl Cove for you but bad memories.

Then there was Christian Flynn, who had murdered Len. But Archer wasnt talking about that
anymore. He was tired of arguing with Hannah. The time he had left with her could be
measured in hours. He didnt want to spend them wrangling over the past that shadowed his
present life like a curse echoing through time.

Im with you every step, Hannah said. Until its finished. Stubborn, he muttered. And you
arent? Im soft as the inside of an oyster.

Soft? She laughed and wanted to reach out to him, but she kept her hands clenched at her
sides. If she asked, he would do... anything. If she didnt ask, he did nothing.

At your service.

She told herself that was what she wanted, all she could accept, that there was no future
for her with Archer. Yet every time she repeated the words in her mind, time bent back on
itself and she was standing on a street corner in Rio with no money, no hope, nothing hut
night coming down on her like thunder. The flashback was so intense she could smell the
cooking fires and hear the liquid syllables of Portuguese as prostitutes called out to
men. Staring out over the wild Australian land, she saw only cardboard shanties clawing up
Rios steep sides.

She wondered if she was finally going crazy. Smoke from city fires shimmered and twisted,
and settled in a plume of red dust raised by Christian Flynns car as he roared down Pearl
Coves road.

Savagely, futilely, Hannah wished that she had the power to change what would happen next.
But she didnt. Like Len, Archer did what he pleased no matter what other people wanted.

With eyes the color of steel, Archer watched dust boil up as Flynns car raced toward Pearl
Cove.

BROOME, AUSTRALIA

Did April say anything more when you sent Yins pearls along with the computer? Hannah
asked. Her voice was like her body, tight, held against a blow that she couldnt see but
knew was coming anyway.

April was too busy trying to get a grip on the Red Phoenix Triad to make polite
conversation.

Is that why she helped us?

It sure as hell wasnt charity. Thats also why she took the Chinese side in the trade. The
Chang family doesnt know it, but theyll be her door into the triad. Or they may know it
and figure theyll find out more from her than theyll give away. Either way, money is on
Ms. Joy. Anyone who rides that tiger will get eaten alive.

Hannah almost smiled despite the chills that kept rippling over her skin. In her mind,
bullets echoed and she woke up screaming that Archer couldnt die, she couldnt hear it, she
never meant to kill him.

But in the dream he died, she had to bear it, and she had killed him.

Without really intending to, she went to Archer, put her arms around him, and just held
on. Fearing him, fearing for him, needing him... she was being torn apart. Only when he
held her did she feel anything like hope.

He stroked her hair and wished to the soles of his feet that he could take away the pain
of the past. But he couldnt. All he could do was bring Lens killer to justice and then
walk away, giving Hannah the peace she had earned at such cost. In time she would get over
the nightmares that included both Len and himself.

In time, maybe he would even get over her. But he didnt believe it. He had spent years
loving her without knowing it. Now he knew. Knowing didnt help the pain.

Its almost over, he said softly.

She nodded against his chest, but she didnt let go until she heard a car door slam.

If it turns nasty, Archer said, remember your promise. Whatever you do, dont get between
us.

But-

Hannah.

She looked up at him with eyes that were full of fear and just as determined as his. Let
it go, she said harshly. Just let it go. Lens dead. You cant bring him back.

No. I can only live with myself. He was my brother and I couldnt help him when he was
alive. Now hes dead. Murdered. I cant walk away from that.

And I cant live with knowing I was responsible for your death!

I dont plan on dying.

Do you think Len did?

Whatever happens is my choice, my responsibility. Not yours. Go up to the house.

Go to bloody hell, she said between her teeth. Christian might be able to explain away
your dead body, but not mine.

Archers mouth thinned into a bleak line. He had hoped to get Hannah out of here. He didnt
want to give her another nightmare, another close-up look at the part of him that reminded
her of Len. But the time for arguing was over. Flynn was walking down the path toward them
with the easy, ground-devouring stride of a strong, very fit male.

He wasnt alone. Tom Nakamori came along about thirty feet behind, losing ground with every
step. All right, mate, Flynn said, walking up to Archer. Whats so bloody important that
Archer took him down with two blows that were as ruthless as they were measured.

Hannah made a muffled sound of shock. There had been no warning. Between one heartbeat and
the next, Flynn was on his back, gasping, trying to figure out what had happened to him.
The prick of a

pocketknife in the tanned skin just over his jugular told him. His eyes cleared and his
body tensed.

Show me how bright you are, Archer said. Dont try it. If you do, Ill cut your jugular so
that no one will be able to stop the bleeding. You know just how its done, dont you?

Flynns expression said that he knew the technique. He lay in the dirt without moving. But
he watched, waiting for an opening.

Youre too close to his feet, Hannah, Archer said calmly. Step back. Without a word she
retreated. Far enough? Yes. He never looked away from Flynn. How did you kill Len? What?
Automatically Flynn tried to sit up. A stiff shot to his diaphragm changed his mind.
Archer waited until the other man could breathe again before he repeated the question.

How did you kill Len?

Bugger you, Flynn said hoarsely.

That was your free one. The next wrong answer will hurt. Without looking up, Archer said,
Dont come any closer, Nakamori.

Hai. Okay. Nakamori stopped and looked from Flynn to Archer to the drops of blood that had
started welling out beneath the knife point when Flynn tried to sit up. He not kill
McGarry.

Qing Lu Yin says he did.

Hes lying, Flynn said flatly. When I saw Len, he was already as dead as Kelseys nuts.

Convince me, Archer said.

Flynn looked at the flat, metallic eyes of the man above him and wondered what it would
take. Once I got word of the storm coming, I didnt go near the sorting shed. I was too
busy.

Doing what?

Working on the rafts.

Cutting them loose?

Flynns eyelids flickered. He knew what lying would get him. He didnt know what telling the
truth would bring. Yes. We were cutting cables.

Though Hannahs breath came in sharply, she didnt say a word. She simply watched Archer and
wondered if a man could be so merciless and still feel anything at all. Much less love.
Len couldnt. He hadnt even wanted to.

Who was with you? Archer asked calmly. Flynn let out a long breath. The truth hadnt set
him free, but it hadnt killed him, either. Tom. Hannah looked at Nakamori. He didnt meet
her eyes. Why? Archer asked Flynn.

Why do you think? I paid him. He was getting more crippled every day. He wanted to go home
in style.

Nakamori, Archer said. Is it true?

Hai.

Who is paying you? Archer asked Flynn.

None of your sodding busi The last syllable was a gasp of pain.

Hannahs fingernails dug into her palms, but she didnt protest. She was still trying to
absorb the fact that two men she considered trustworthy had been systematically sabotaging
Pearl Cove.

Who is paying you? Archer asked calmly.

Flynn simply watched him with pale, glittering eyes. He wasnt going to talk about his
employer until there was more pain. A lot more.

Ill assume its your government, Archer said. If I find out Im wrong and I will find out
well talk again.

Flynn remembered what Maxmillian Barton had said about wanting to get a handle on Archer
Donovan. He wished him luck. We wont be talking again.

Archer nodded. Why did your employer want Pearl Cove destroyed?

Ive been sabotaging it a piece at a time since we decided that Len was selling out to the
Chinese. The storm was a bonus. We could put paid to the whole business at once.

Len didnt sell any part of Pearl Cove to the Chinese or to anyone else, Hannah said. He
didnt trust anyone.

Then the Chinese were taking over without his permission, Flynn said bluntly. Nobody but
Chinese have been hired here for the past three years. Except for Coco and Nakamori, the
whole sodding crew is Chinese.

Archer spoke without looking away from Flynn. Hannah?

Its true. Len said he didnt trust the Japanese divers any longer, and the Aussies he knew
would rather go on the dole than work hard.

So your employer decided if they couldnt have Pearl Cove for themselves, they would ruin
it, Archer said to Flynn.

Yes. Moving only his eyes, Flynn looked at Hannah. Ill give you a better price than anyone
else. All you have to do is tell us how Len produced the pearls that look like Lightning
Ridge opals.

I dont know, she said flatly. Ive never known.

It wouldnt matter if she did, Archer said to Flynn. Didnt you get the word? She doesnt own
Pearl Cove anymore. Shes off the table.

The tone of Archers voice made Flynn swallow reflexively. I heard. No harm in trying,
mate. Sometimes you hear things wrong.

Not this time.

Right. Anything else?

Who killed Len McGarry?

If I knew, Id give the bloke a medal. He kept Pearl Cove from going to the Chinese.

Archers hand moved too quickly to follow. Flynns left arm went numb from shoulder to
fingernails. Before he could react, Archer was on his feet and out of reach.

By the time your arm thaws out, you and Nakamori should be halfway to Broome, Archer said.
While you drive, cool off and think. I could have broken both arms more easily than
numbing one. If I see you again, I wont pull any punches.

Flynn came to his feet with a speed that told Hannah nothing had been dented but his
pride. The icy coils that gripped her stomach let go so quickly she felt almost dizzy. She
didnt understand her relief.

She simply knew it was as real as Archers restraint. He could have maimed Flynn. Len
certainly would have.

The Aussie gave Archer a long, narrow look. Then Flynn laughed. Bugger me, but I think I
like you.

Archer smiled faintly. You wont mind if we dont shake on it.

Right. Lets go, Tom. Or do you want to hang around and see if Cocos willing to play?

Nakamori turned and started for the car. Whistling musically, Flynn followed. Archer
watched them until their car was no more than a dark spot against the brick-red road.

The wind lifted, bringing with it the smell of rain, the kind of monsoon downpour that
would turn the land into an impassable mudhole.

Are you going after Yin? Hannah asked. He didnt answer. When do we leave? she asked
simply. And where do we go?

If youre serious about working as a pearl matcher, pick a city. Any city. Donovan Gems and
Minerals will put you to work there. If you dont like that idea, the Linskys would jump at
the chance to hire you.

Ill worry about the future after this is settled.

As far as youre concerned, its settled.

No, she said instantly. When it was all settled, Archer would leave. She wasnt ready for
that yet. What terrified her was that she didnt know if she would ever be. Theres still
one person to question.

For now, Yin is out of reach.

Coco isnt.

Archer hesitated, then shrugged. Id just as soon you were on a plane when I talked to Coco.

Why?

You wont like my methods.

Hannahs smile was as thin as a knife blade. I cant see you taking her down the way you did
Flynn.

Fear and pain work, but with Coco Ill try money first.

When they stepped onto the verandah, Coco was sitting in the hammock chair. The tension
around her mouth said that she knew she was next on Archers list.

You are ver quick for a big man, she said to him. Like Len. Ssssss. Snake. She made a
striking motion with her hand.

Deliberately Hannah stepped in front of Archer. Christian and Tom were too busy cutting
apart rafts to kill Len, she said coolly to Coco. You were the last one to see him alive.
He closed the shed door in your face, I believe.

Out. But he searched me first, most carefully. The words were in French. The smile needed
no translation.

Archer said something in swift, precise French that wiped the smile right off her face.
Then in English he added, English only, unless you cant answer in that language. Then Ill
translate.

Without turning away from Cocos beautiful, sensual features, Hannah spoke to Archer. Is
she strong enough to chisel her way into the shed?