The Memory Painter

“I don’t know. Until we have enough leverage against Conrad. Do you have a better idea?”

She didn’t. Her mind and heart felt so battered she just wanted to curl up and cry. Part of her was still unable to believe that her father was really capable of hurting them. But he had already shown his willingness to inflict harm on Bryan, and that was enough.

She shook her head. “It’s too dangerous to go back to either of our places. He could have people watching them.”

“So we send someone else.”

“Who?”

“I don’t know.” Bryan threw up his hands, sounding frustrated. “Penelope? Isn’t she your oldest friend?”

Linz was about to voice another objection, but Bryan stopped her. “I know this has to be unbearable for you. You’ve been bombarded with realities you didn’t know existed and are having to face truths about your father … about what he did…”

They both sat quietly together, dealing with the weight of the past.

Bryan took her hand. “We found each other again for a reason. We remembered for a reason. This journey didn’t start with us or even with Michael and Diana. We’re locked in a cycle. We need to see beyond it.”

*

Even though it was well past midnight, the lights inside Conrad’s home still glowed. He was on the phone in his office. “What time did she check him out? No. It was a last-minute transfer. I’m sorry no one called.”

He hung up and went to the liquor cabinet. He was about to pour himself a Scotch but instead threw the glass against the wall, shattering it to pieces.

With a growl, he strode into the next room, took a samurai sword down from the gallery wall, and sliced the air with the blade again and again.

*

The Holiday Inn was just three minutes away from the airport. Linz and Bryan had already booked their flight to Cairo. Their plane would leave at 5 p.m. the next day. Penelope had agreed to pick up Finn’s car in the morning and bring their passports and an overnight bag with some of their clothes. She had a million questions, but Linz had promised her that she would explain everything when she got back. Now all they had to do was wait for morning.