Killer Dreams (24 page)

Her lips twisted. “He must be a great actor. I didn’t recognize his voice, but evidently Sanborne thought he was Franks. It scared me for a little while.”

“Jock is very good at whatever he does.” MacDuff opened the glass door for her. “But he wouldn’t risk imitating Franks’s voice without a little technical aid.”

“What?”

“He played cat and mouse with Franks for a day and a half before he took him out. He let him get close and then scampered away.”

She frowned. “I don’t understand.”

“Jock needed to get a good voice recording of Franks talking to his men, talking to Sanborne on the phone, just talking. Then he and Joe Quinn took the disk to an expert at the local field office of the FBI. Quinn used to be an FBI man and he still has contacts. They had a device made to attach to the phone Jock took from Franks.” He smiled. “Voilà, Jock’s voice became Franks’s. He fooled Sanborne very neatly.”

“And terrified me.”

MacDuff’s smile faded. “I’m surprised Royd didn’t tell you what was happening.”

“He told me. In broad strokes. No details. And when I heard what I thought was Franks’s voice, I was already on the island.” She shrugged. “It was too late to question him. I just had to decide if I really trusted him.”

“And did you?”

“After a hell of a lot of soul-searching. It wasn’t easy.” She leaned wearily back against the wall. “Nothing about Royd is easy.” But, dear God, she wanted that difficult, rough bastard to live. “I had to operate on instinct.”

“And maybe something else?” MacDuff didn’t wait for an answer. “Make your call. I’ll go get you a cup of coffee. Black?”

She nodded and he disappeared back into the hospital.

Something else? Liking? Perhaps…love? Her hand tightened on the phone. Passion, closeness, admiration; she knew she felt all of those things for Royd. And now she had to accept this terrible emptiness and panic she felt when she had thought she’d lost him.

She might still lose him. The tears stung her eyes. She had to hold on. Keep busy. She dialed Jock’s number.

Jock answered on the third ring. “I don’t believe you want to talk to me, Sophie. I have a young man here who’s about to snatch the phone away from me.”

“Wasn’t I good, Mom?” Michael came eagerly on the line. “Jock said I had to pretend so that you’d be safe.”

“Very good, baby. How are you?”

“Fine. It’s pretty here on the lake. Jane has a dog called Toby who’s half wolf and he’s really cool. And Jane’s teaching me to play poker.”

“Any episodes?”

“One.” He rushed on. “Jock said that you’re safe now because you beat the bad guys. When are you coming to get me?”

“As soon as I can. I have one more thing to do here. Let me talk to Jock again. I love you.”

“Me, too.”

“He’s fine, Sophie,” Jock said when he came on the line. “One episode and it was a mild one. He’s been great.”

“Where did he get the bruises?”

“Jane.”

“What?”

“Eye shadow. She used it to make him look a bit abused.” He paused. “How’s Royd?”

“We don’t know yet. We’re at the hospital waiting to hear.” She swallowed hard. “I’ll be there to pick up Michael as soon as I can, but I don’t want to leave Royd yet.”

“No problem. Jane and he are getting along famously, and now that he knows you’re okay he’ll be happier.”

“It sounds like he’s pretty content right now. Poker?”

“Every lad should be adept at games of chance.” Jock’s tone became grave. “I wish I could have been with you on San Torrano. Maybe things would have been different for Royd.”

“Probably not.”

“Now, you’ve hurt my feelings. You mean you don’t believe I’m a man who can move mountains?”

“I believe you’re my friend who kept my son safe when he could have been hurt or killed. That’s a pretty big mountain right there.”

“Worthwhile, but not dashing or exciting.” He gave a mock sigh. “But I’ll continue being steady and worthwhile until you relieve me. Call me when you have news. Good-bye, Sophie.” He hung up.

She pressed the disconnect and drew a deep breath. At least everything was all right with Michael.

“How is your son?”

She turned to see MacDuff standing a short distance away. “He’s fine. He’s learning to play poker and Jane’s dog is keeping him entertained.”

“Toby?” He handed her the coffee. “I hear he’s quite an animal. She’s crazy about him.”

“I’d think you’d know from firsthand experience. You’re such good friends.”

“Our relationship is a bit…difficult. I’ve never been invited to the lake cottage.”

“I could wish that it hadn’t been necessary for Michael to stay there.” A sudden thought occurred to her. “I may have trouble getting to Michael. Just because Boch and Sanborne are dead doesn’t mean that everything’s okay. I’m still wanted by the police for Dave’s death.”

“Maybe not for long. I persuaded the CIA to send their own forensic team to investigate the crime scene. Even if Devlin planted your DNA there’s a chance he left a bit of his own. It may take a while to do it but the CIA will persevere. They’re very grateful that we managed to rid them of a potential headache in REM-4.” He took her arm. “Let’s get you inside. It’s getting a little chilly.”

The sharp, cold air, free of the smell of antiseptics, felt good to her. But she should go to the waiting room to be available when the doctors got through with surgery. Someone would come and tell her—

She stopped as panic knifed through her. He wasn’t going to die. He’d make it through the surgery. When the doctors came to the waiting room, they would tell her Royd was going to get well.

She nodded jerkily and started for the glass doors. “You’re right. We’ll go inside. We should be hearing soon….”

“Are…you waiting…for my last words?” Royd asked hoarsely.

He was stirring!

Sophie tensed and sat bolt upright in the chair beside the bed. “You shouldn’t talk. Do you want anything?”

“Oh, yes. I have an entire list.” He closed his eyes. “But if I’m dying I’ll…have to get my…priorities in order.”

“You’re not dying. Not now.” She held a glass of crushed ice to his lips. “Take a little and let it melt in your mouth.”

He obeyed. “REM-4. Did you get…the files back?”

She nodded. “MacDuff managed to locate the launch by helicopter. Sanborne’s briefcase held all the REM-4 material.”

“What did you do with them?”

“Burned them. Every single document.”

“Good. When can I get out…of here?”

“A month, maybe longer.”

“How long have I been here?”

“Two days.” Two long, terrible days when she had watched him lie here and doubted every minute that he’d wake out of that drugged sleep. “But last night you took a turn for the better and I knew you’d live.”

“Michael?”

“He’s fine. He’s still in Atlanta.”

His eyes opened. “Then why…are you here?”

Because during those hideous hours she hadn’t known if she could survive if Royd died. Because doubt about her feelings for him had become agonized certainty. “I told you, he’s fine. He didn’t need me.”

His lips twisted. “And you had to do your duty.”

“Shut up.” Her voice was shaking. “I’m trying to be compassionate and I can’t slug you in your condition. But I’ll store it all up for the time when you walk out of this hospital.”

“Tell me, why are you gentle with everyone but me?”

“I was gentle…when you were unconscious.”

“And you thought I was dying. Next time you might let me appreciate that side of you when I’m awake.” He closed his eyes. “I’m going to sleep now. I need to get well damn quick. We have a hell of a lot to settle between us and I’m going…to need all the strength…I can get.”

“Yes, go to sleep. You need it.”

He was silent a moment. “Why did you stay with me instead of going to Michael?”

“You needed me.”

“And?”

“You saved my life.”

“And?”

“Go to sleep,” she said unsteadily. “You’re not getting anything else from me.”

“Yes, I will. You just wait….”

His breathing was slowing as he drifted off to sleep.

A hell of a lot to settle, he’d said. Royd had been pushing, exploring, even as he fought for strength. How could they settle anything? They were both casualties, survivors, of the horror visited on them by Sanborne and Boch. She couldn’t think logically or clearly. She was so tired that she could barely think at all.

But she could feel. Oh, yes, she could feel.

She reached out and gently stroked the hair back from his face. It felt good to touch him and feel the life and vitality that was returning. He’d come so close….

He opened his eyes. “Caught you,” he whispered.

She blinked back the tears. “You were playing possum.”

“A man has to do what a man has to do.” He turned his face to touch his cheek to her hand. He closed his eyes again. “Don’t stop….”

“I won’t.” Her palm stroked the hard plane of his cheek. “You couldn’t make me stop….”

EPILOGUE

MacDuff’s Run
Six months later

S
ophie.”

He was coming!

She turned away from the sea to watch Royd striding down the path. He was moving fast, impatiently, his expression intent. Her heart was beating so hard that she couldn’t speak for a moment. “You’re looking very well.” She had to steady her voice. “How do you feel?”

“Mad as hell. I woke up the next morning in that damn hospital and they told me you’d left the country. Why?”

“I realized I couldn’t stay.”

“Michael.”

“That was one reason. He needed me more than you did.”

“The devil he did.” He paused. “How is he?”

“Doing well. He’s only had two episodes in the past month. I think he’s turned a corner.”

“Great. Now, what was the other reason you left me?”

“The other reason was more personal. I was confused and I needed time to sort myself out.”

“Without me.”

“Without you. I have trouble thinking clearly when you’re around.”

“Good.”

She met his gaze. “You needed the time too. You deserved a breathing space. You deserved the chance to walk away from me and forget I existed. Forget every bad thing I brought on you existed.”

“You brought a hell of a lot of good things into my life too. How long is it going to take me to convince you we’re even?” He didn’t wait for an answer. “So you got MacDuff to bring you and Michael here and tell me to stay away from you.”

“Until I was ready for you.” She smiled. “I had a few other things to do after I was cleared. Jane MacGuire and I managed to raise a good portion of the money needed to rebuild that water-treatment plant at San Torrano. She’s quite a woman.”

“So I hear.” He was silent. “You know, I almost organized a commando raid to bombard this place.”

“But you didn’t.”

“I was going to give you another month to issue an invitation.” He grimaced. “Maybe I’m getting civilized after all.”

“No way. But you’re smart and you know that I was right to do this.”

“Right for you. I didn’t need the time. I knew what I wanted.” He took at step closer. “Am I going to get it?”

“And what do you want? Sex?”

“Yes. And you talking to me and letting me get to know you. And the two of us living together and doing stuff like going to the movies and grocery shopping and to Michael’s soccer games.”

“Michael. You do realize it would be a package deal?”

“I’m not an idiot. We’ll work it out. He’s part of you.” He was only a foot away from her. “Just like I’m going to be part of you. With every breath you take, everything you do. Does that scare you?”

“Does it scare you?”

“It did when I first realized what I was feeling for you. Now I’m used to it.” He drew a deep breath. “I…love…you.” He shook his head. “God, that was hard to say. I hope it was worth it.”

Joy soared through her. “Oh, it was worth it.”

“You don’t have to say it back. Love means different things to different people. You have to get used to me. After our first year together, we’ll talk about it.”

“How generous of you.” She cupped her hands lovingly around his face and smiled up at him luminously. “But I believe we’ll talk about it right now.”

BOOKS BY IRIS JOHANSEN

K
ILLER
D
REAMS

O
N THE
R
UN

C
OUNTDOWN

B
LIND
A
LLEY

F
IRESTORM

F
ATAL
T
IDE

D
EAD
A
IM

N
O
O
NE TO
T
RUST

B
ODY OF
L
IES

F
INAL
T
ARGET

T
HE
S
EARCH

T
HE
K
ILLING
G
AME

T
HE
F
ACE OF
D
ECEPTION

A
ND
T
HEN
Y
OU
D
IE

L
ONG
A
FTER
M
IDNIGHT

T
HE
U
GLY
D
UCKLING

L
ION’S
B
RIDE

D
ARK
R
IDER

M
IDNIGHT
W
ARRIOR

T
HE
B
ELOVED
S
COUNDREL

T
HE
M
AGNIFICENT
R
OGUE

T
HE
T
IGER
P
RINCE

L
AST
B
RIDGE
H
OME

T
HE
G
OLDEN
B
ARBARIAN

R
EAP THE
W
IND

S
TORM
W
INDS

T
HE
W
IND
D
ANCER