“That’s not what I want. It’s nowhere near what I want at the moment.”
“Then why don’t you—” She could tell by his expression that would be a mistake, too. “I’ll sit here and wait until you get the text and then I’ll go to bed. Would that be all right?”
“No, but it’s better than the other offers you’ve made tonight. At least it’s not self-destructive.”
She shook her head. “I don’t regret any of them.”
“I know you don’t, and that makes it worse for me. I’m supposed to reach out and take because it’s offered? Or maybe you’re like one of those gladiators going into the coliseum who want a last night of debauchery before they face the beasts.”
Her mouth fell open, and then she had to smile. “I don’t believe there were women gladiators, and I don’t think sex with you could be described as debauchery.” Her smile faded. “But Nicos and Salva are definitely beasts.”
“You’re smiling?” Lassiter was silent and then shook his head. “You see, I can’t understand what you—” His phone rang and he went rigid. “Text.”
He got to his feet and accessed the message.
Pain. But not the pain he’d experienced before.
“I won’t show you this photo because I don’t know how it would affect you,” he said as he hung up. “You scared me before. Patrick is lying on the ground. He’s off that damn tree. But he still doesn’t look good.”
“But Nicos paid attention to you. Patrick might not have lasted if Nicos hadn’t taken him down.” She got to her feet. “Now I’ll go back to the house. Good night, Lassiter.”
“Wait.” He took her hand as she was passing him. “I didn’t mean to—” He stopped. “As usual, you shocked the hell out of me and I said all the wrong things.” He reached out and cupped her face in his two hands. “You’re completely extraordinary and I never know what to expect. But whatever you do and say, it’s good.” He touched her lips with his forefinger. “It’s the rest of the world that hasn’t managed to catch up yet. Including me. I’m way behind, Margaret.”
She was experiencing that golden sensation of being treasured that she’d known before when he’d touched her. She wanted it to go on and on. “No, you’re not. It’s only a bad time for you. And I’m not a gladiator or some kind of sacrifice. I’m just me. We’ll both get through this.” She smiled up at him. “But maybe not with the sex. It seemed to upset you too much.”
He grimaced. “Oh, you could say that. In several different and unique ways.”
“I’m glad you’re not angry any longer.” She backed away from him and started to walk back to the house. “I’ll see you in the morning, Lassiter.”
And he would be as upset in the morning as he was right now, she knew. It had been an hour of tumult and incredible pain and she had tried to distract both of them until it passed. For the most part, it had worked.
Yet she’d face the same challenge tomorrow.
But she was exhausted and felt limp from the emotional roller coaster she’d ridden tonight.
And she’d also have to face Nicos tomorrow.
Juno was sitting, waiting, at the French doors.
Hurting. Need me. You’re not her. But need me.
No, I’m not her. She stroked Juno’s head. Tonight I’m not sure who I am. Maybe I do need you. I’m going to bed. Want to come and keep me company?”
8:45 A.M.
Lassiter was still working on the Nicos file when he heard the car start in the driveway.
What in the hell …
He pushed his chair away from the desk and ran out of the house, only to see the gray Toyota rental car heading down the driveway toward the road with Cambry behind the wheel.
And Margaret in the passenger seat beside him.
“Son of a bitch!” He reached for his phone and called Margaret.
No answer.
He dialed Cambry.
No answer. He received a text in return.
I TRIED TO TALK HER OUT OF IT. BUT SHE MIGHT BE RIGHT. NOTE ON DOOR.
He turned and strode back to the front door. There was a handwritten note tacked to it.
I told you last night it would be too much of a temptation for Nicos if you showed up to hand me over. He hates you and he sometimes acts purely on impulse. By the time you get transport to follow us and drive down to Puerto Morelos, I’ll already be with Nicos.
I’ll try to find out which of the computer experts is the one in Nicos’s pocket. I’ll put the info in a waterproof bag I took from the kitchen cabinet and place it on the third rock in the boulder formation in the south cove I told you about. I hope it will be at least the day before he takes me to Montego Bay. I drew a map of the cove area and left it on the kitchen bar. I’ll have to give Cambry my phone when I leave him to go to Nicos. They’ll search everything I have with me before they let me on the island. If you can, arrange to find a way to send the phone back to me by the person who picks up my message.
That’s all, I guess. I know you’ll be angry. But I promise I’ll keep Cambry safe. Please take care of Juno until Cambry can get back to you.
Margaret.
“Shit!” His hand crumpled the paper and he threw it to the ground. He tried to call her.
No answer.
And there wouldn’t be an answer, he knew. She had made up her mind, made her plans, and would carry them out. Alone. Just as she’d done all her life.
Alone.
She hadn’t even let him go with her to give her what little support he could. She probably hadn’t trusted him to go through with handing her over to Nicos. God knows, he hadn’t been sure what he would have done at that last minute.
So she had made it easy for him. If you could call easy being racked with guilt and feeling as if he were writhing on that same tree branch as Patrick had been.
And she was right: There was no way he could get there to Puerto Morelos in time.
So stop standing here and do what you can to make sure that Margaret’s action has not been taken in vain.
He phoned Mandell in Cancún. “I need you to come down here with the entire team. We’ll use this beach house as command central. I want you to bring me down an LX-40. Have Norris rent a seaplane to have immediately available.”
“Seaplane?”
“You heard me. You and I have a job to do. And then there are those three computer experts that we have to find and question in the next twenty-four hours. After that, we go after Patrick.”
“There’s some connection with those computer geeks?” Mandell asked. “I thought that you were arranging an exchange of some sort for Patrick.”
“It didn’t work out,” he said curtly. “And yes, there’s a connection. Get down here and let’s find them.” He disconnected and went back into the house.
Juno was sitting outside Margaret’s bedroom door.
Take care of Juno.
Okay, do what she’d asked. God knows there wasn’t much else she’d left him to do.
He went toward the dog. “Come on, let’s get you some breakfast and your meds. She won’t be back for a while.”