“Yes, I guess we will.” She lifted her face to the sunlight. It felt so good.… “You got a text right after you landed. Your people in Silicon Valley? Were they able to give you any help?”
“Too much help. Too many names. I told them to refine and narrow down the list. I’ll be working on it myself now that we’ve landed. One of those rooms is supposed to be an office where I can set up.” He paused. “You seem very subdued. Are you okay?”
She turned to look at him. “Fine.”
He frowned. “Is there anything I can do for you?”
“You’re doing it.” She nodded at the computer bag. “I’ve taken care of myself all my life, Lassiter. What makes you think I need anyone else now?”
“How the hell do I know? Maybe because I feel as if it’s time someone stepped in and gave you a hand. As far as I can see, that’s not been happening.” He shook his head. “And I don’t like it that you’re so damn quiet.”
“You’ll forget all about it once you start working. Most of the time, you have your priorities straight.” She went outside and started to walk down toward the sea. “I’m fine, Lassiter.”
She could feel his gaze on her back until she reached the surf. Then she closed him out as she rolled up the legs of her khaki pants and started wading through the water. Warm sand and cool water and blue sky. It was all soothing and healing and promising that life was good now, no matter what happened tomorrow.
So block the thought of Nicos out for this brief period. Build her walls and make her preparations.
And let life weave around her, through her, reminding her that she had something to finish that should have been finished three years ago.…
*
The sun was going down in a blaze of glory over the horizon when Margaret heard Cambry behind her, coming down from the house.
“Hey, I brought you a cup of coffee and a sandwich,” he said. “I gave up on you coming back to the house for a decent supper. It seemed as if you were communing with nature, and heaven forbid I interfere with that.”
She looked over her shoulder and saw him standing a few yards behind her, carrying a thermos and the sandwich. Beside him was Juno, who was sitting looking at her with head cocked.
“Thanks.” She took the thermos. “It was nice of you to bother. It was too beautiful out here to go inside.”
“No problem. I didn’t have anything else to do. Lassiter hasn’t stuck his head out of that office since we got here. Actually, it was Juno’s fault. I was having trouble with her. She saw you out here and wanted to come down to you.”
“She did?”
“And don’t blame me for not letting her rest that leg. She was being a pain in the ass.” His hand went down to stroke the dog’s head. “She’s pregnant. I figured maybe she was having problems with the pups or something. What do you think?”
She looked at the retriever.
Pups, Juno?
The retriever moved a step nearer to Margaret.
No, you.
That was a surprise.
Why?
The answer came in a confused barrage of concepts and words.
Hurting. You’re not her. But you’re hurting. Need me.
Margaret felt a rush of warmth and affection as she gazed at the retriever. Pure love. The need to heal. The need to give whatever was required … forever.
And she couldn’t refuse what Juno wanted to give. Because fulfilling that need might also heal the dog.
Yes, I do need you. Will you stay with me for a little while?
Juno limped forward and dropped down beside Margaret.
“Have I lost a dog?” Cambry asked ruefully.
“No.” Her hand reached out to gently touch Juno. “She should stay with you. She just needs a little time with me right now.” And Margaret needed time with her. No excuses. No guilt. No need to be strong. No fear. Just love. “Come back in an hour or so and take her back to the house with you. Then you can give Juno her meds and settle her down for the night.”
“Whatever you say. It wasn’t the pups, I take it?”
“No, it was something else.” She stroked the dog’s head. “She’ll be fine soon.”
“Okay, I’ll be back in an hour.”
She heard him walking away, but she was looking back at the setting sun again.
Beautiful.
No answer from Juno, but the retriever reached out and put her chin on Margaret’s lap.
Comfort. Love. Togetherness.
No other answer was needed.
2:35 A.M.
“You should be in bed,” Lassiter said roughly. “Cambry said you were communing with nature, but I don’t think so. What’s wrong with you?”
“Nothing now. I’m feeling … good about this.” She turned to look at him. The moonlight was bright enough to see the tension in his body language and the tautness of his face. “And I guess you could call it ‘communing with nature,’ but for me it seems more like letting it flow into me and take everything else away. That can be pretty great, Lassiter.”
“I imagine it could,” he said thickly.
“But that’s been over for hours. I’ve only been out here waiting for you.”
He stiffened. “I’m not going to be able to tell you what you want to know. I’ve pared down the names on that list to three and we have the last known addresses for all of them.”
“What are the names?”
“George Bildwan, Simon Zwecker, Carl Montgomery. I’ve put both Silicon and Mandell’s men on them to tap sources and start the hunt. But it’s going to take time. Some of these experts work for the highest bidders and are constantly moving.”
“It will go faster when you get personally involved. And I’ll be able to help.”
“The hell you will.”
She ignored that remark. “I’ve thought of a way to get a message to you. I’ve always been allowed to swim in the cove on Vadaz Island. I don’t expect that to change. Of course, there’s always a guard with a rifle watching, but as long as I don’t attempt an escape, I should be able to plant a message on the rocks on the south end of the cove. There are sentries all around that area, but you can send someone in scuba equipment to get it.”
“You have it all planned. Providing you can find either the password or the name of the computer expert who created it. Providing you don’t get caught and butchered if Nicos shows up at the wrong moment. Providing that guard who’s watching you doesn’t get suspicious and decide to shoot you.”
“I told you, I’m feeling good about it now. Almost mellow. None of that is going to happen.” She got to her feet. “If it does, then I’ll find a way to work with it. I’m not afraid any longer.”
He grabbed her shoulders. “Well, I am.”
“I know. But sometime tonight or tomorrow, you’re going to get a call from Salva or Nicos, and I’m going to have to go to the island.”
“And I’m supposed to let you go?”