And get the job done.
She looked around her again. Yes, there was the narrow window overlooking the cliff. The room was also more cluttered and there were also books on the far wall, which Lisa had not been facing.
But where was Lisa?
Jane felt an instant of panic as her gaze wildly searched the room. Was she still here? Had she been moved? Had Santara taken her from the house and put her on a helicopter and sent her—
“What are you doing here?” Lisa asked harshly. “I couldn’t get to you all last night, and now you just appear? I thought you’d left me.” She came out of the shadows beside the door. “And I don’t like this.”
“Neither do I.” Jane’s gaze was raking the girl’s face and body. Dear God, more bruises, a black eye, and she was favoring her right side as she came toward her. “That’s why I’m here. You look terrible. I knew you were lying to me.”
“I didn’t lie. I just didn’t tell you everything. I could tell how soft you are. I knew I had to be careful, or you’d do something dumb.” Her eyes were glaring at Jane. “And you did it, didn’t you? There’s no way you could link this way with me. I can’t even do it. Only Seth. It was Seth, wasn’t it?”
“It was Seth Caleb.” Jane glared back at her. “And you’re not dumb; you’re absolutely crazy. Look at you. How long were you going to take that kind of punishment? I didn’t want him involved, either, but you’re his family and he does have a right.”
“Not unless I choose to give him the right,” Lisa said fiercely. “And I won’t let them touch him.”
“Bullshit. You’re going to get him killed just trying to protect him. You came to me because you want to live and you didn’t want him to die. Then you put all kinds of restrictions on me, and I’m sick of it. We’re going to get you out of here and you’re not going to give orders; you’ll take them.” Her voice was steel-hard as she added, “Because I broke my word and brought Caleb into this and I’m not going to be responsible for either one of you getting killed. I won’t have that on my shoulders. Do you understand?”
“If you’d done what I wanted, it would have been fine and everything—” Lisa stopped and closed her eyes. “Or maybe not. I’m confused right now,” she said wearily. “I’ve been confused since this all began. I knew I had to protect him, but I didn’t know how to do it. I didn’t know how you could do it.” Her eyes opened, and Jane could see they were glittering with tears she refused to shed. “But you seem to know, so I have to believe you. I don’t want to do that. I’m scared to let go and do that. I’ve never believed anyone but Seth.”
“Then heaven help you,” Jane said drily. “Better you than me. However, I do think you can trust him to help us get out of here. He cares about you.”
“Of course he does. That’s why I’m the bait.” The fierceness was suddenly back. “And you shouldn’t talk like that about him. You don’t know anything. I thought you were close, linked, or I would have never tried to get you to help.”
“Caleb’s relationship with me is complicated.” And this was no time to go into the nuances. Lisa was clearly passionately defensive of him and once again Jane was feeling that urge to reach past that wall of anger and hostility to touch her. Lisa seemed so terribly alone, and the fact that she wasn’t battling to save herself, but the brother she loved, made her appear even more appealing. She said gently, “But the only thing that’s important is that we’re both here tonight to get you out.”
Lisa froze. “Here? What do you mean?” Her gaze flew to Jane’s face. “This is just a link, right? I’d know the difference.”
“And I know practically nothing about these damn links.” She paused. “But I do know that Caleb wanted to use this one to prepare the way for us. You’re leaving here tonight.”
“No,” she whispered. “You’re scaring me. I can’t do this.”
“Yes, you can. We’ve found you and we’re going to take you.”
“Seth is here? How could you do that? That’s what I didn’t want. This place is a trap.”
“Then we’ll spring it on that bastard who’s been beating you up,” she said roughly. “Get used to the idea, Lisa.”
“I can’t get used to it,” she said through her teeth. “Not Seth. Tell him to leave here.”
“I made him promise not to come into the house after you. I’ll be the one coming here to get you. He’ll be waiting down on the beach with the boat.” She grimaced. “That should please you. That way, you and I are the only ones running the risk of Santara.”
“It doesn’t please me.” She moistened her lips and then said stiltedly, “I never wanted Santara to get hold of you or hurt you. I just didn’t know what else to do.”
“And you had priorities. I understand.”
“Do you? I don’t know how.” She lifted her chin. “But they can’t have Seth. Maybe I could just run down to the beach by myself. I don’t need you to come here.”
“But I need to do it. I made a promise. And you look as if you’re barely able to stand, much less run anywhere.” Then as Lisa opened her lips to protest, Jane said quickly, “It’s going to happen. Stop arguing. But I have to have information from you to help it along.” She looked around the room. “Two doors. Where do they lead?”
“One is to a small bathroom; the other leads to the hall and down the stairs to the foyer and front door.”
“And this door is locked? You mentioned one time that Santara was unlocking the door.”
“It’s always locked. I stole the key once and that’s how I got out and down the cliff.”
“And the front door?”
“I don’t think so. It wasn’t locked that time. He might be even more careless now. Santara may not be afraid I’ll get out anymore.” She paused. “I think he’d like it if I did. It might give him an excuse to kill me. He wants to do that now.”
She made the last statement almost without expression, Jane realized. It just underscored all that Lisa had gone through during these last days. “Then we’ll see if we can’t please the bastard by getting you out of this damn house. Does Santara have his quarters in the house?”
“Yes, he has a room at the far end of the hall.” Her lips twisted. “He likes the idea of having me at his disposal at all times of the day and night.”
“Does he leave the house to check on his men at regular periods?”
“I think so. I know he phones them a lot. And I hear him going down the stairs two or three times during the evening. But not at all later at night.”
Then he would still be in the house when she and Caleb came to get Lisa tonight. That was not good.
“You weren’t expecting that.” Lisa’s gaze was on her face. “You don’t have to come for me tonight. It can be anytime. Whatever’s best for Seth and you.”
And any delay would mean that Lisa would face more pain and abuse. Jane couldn’t stand the thought of it.
“We didn’t know what to expect,” Jane said. “But we’ll make adjustments. It does have to be tonight. It will be okay.” She added, “I do have to know what kind of shape you’re in. As I said, you don’t look like you could make it down that cliff. That could be bad for all of us. No stoic bullshit; I need details.”
Lisa was silent a moment. “I have a few burns on my arm, but that’s nothing. My wrists are completely healed now. You see the bruises. I have two more on my back that you can’t see. I think he may have either bruised or cracked my ribs when he kicked me. It’s kind of hard to breathe. I have a broken thumb on my left hand. I tried to bandage it and didn’t do such a good job. But I don’t think it will bother me. None of it will be a problem. That’s all, Jane.”
That was all? Jane tried to stifle the pity and rage she was feeling. She had to steady her voice. “No, we’ll make certain that none of that will be a problem for you. I’ll get you down that cliff. Be ready.”
“I will.” Lisa hesitated. “You’ll keep him safe?”