My Spy (33 page)

Bishop wanted those handlers bad. Someone was going to pay for Carlos Ray's death.

His voice hardened. “Be sure that the suspect's visible when you take him outside, understand? I want them to know that their little fish just got hooked. Let
them
sweat for a while.”

S
AM
AWOKE
IN
A
COLD
SWEAT,
THE
COVERS
TWISTED
AROUND
HIS legs. He heard the roar of a bus and children screaming and it took him a minute to realize it was a dream.

Another damned dream.

He shook his head, angry that the dreams were getting sharper, wondering when he'd stop dreaming about the accident and start remembering something useful.

For an instant images flashed before his eyes. He caught the sound of water slapping and trucks backfiring. Or was it another kind of motor?

Suddenly the noise began again, and this time it was one voice, high and thready.

Not a dream. It was Annie.

He was down the hall in two seconds, Glock level while he scanned the room at a crouch.

Annie was alone, sheets at her chin, looking pale and frightened and trying not to. “You can put away the gun. I had a bad dream.”

“I know how that feels.” Sam put down the Glock and sat beside her. “Marsh?”

She nodded mutely, reaching out for his hand.

“Yeah, you'll probably have a few of them.”

Annie didn't say anything, but her grip grew tighter.

“Want to talk about it?”

She shook her head, her face too pale, her eyes too dark. “No. You're sure Taylor is okay?”

“Izzy checked right after Reynaldo did.”

“Does she know about me?”

Sam shook his head. “You can tell her yourself tomorrow when you feel better.”

Annie nodded. “That would be best. I don't want to worry her.” She took a hard breath. “About the dream—it was raining and he was there, laughing. He had the scarf again, and I couldn't get away from him. I was so cold.”

So frightened.

Sam guessed she wasn't giving him all the details, but he got the picture. “Scoot over.”

She was shivering when he lay down beside her and pulled her against his chest. “Cold,” she said.

“It's the storm.”

Both of them knew it wasn't.

She turned into his heat, putting her arms around his waist, shivering hard. “Would you stay for a while?”

“My pleasure.”

“Sorry to whine like this.”

“Yeah, you're a real whiner.” Somehow Sam kept his voice light. “No question about it.”

“Do you get dreams?” she asked softly.

He frowned over the top of her head, his fingers tightening. “Sure I do.”

“What do you do about them?”

Gut it out.

Throw up.

Tell yourself it's normal to see dead people all around you and be scared spitless.

“Just remember it's a dream. The dreams go away, Annie.”

“Will they?”

Sam sure as hell hoped so. “Sure they will. Scout's honor.”

She pressed closer. Sam felt his body react instantly, hard with need for her.

But he only touched her hair, drawing her head down against his shoulder. There were a lot of things he wanted to do in bed with Annie O'Toole.

Right then, holding her gently while she slept was good enough.

“S
AM.
”

The whisper brought him awake in a blur, grabbing for the gun tucked under his pillow.

“Only me. Izzy.”

Annie murmured and turned away, asleep again in seconds as Sam eased away from her. He glanced at the alarm in the darkness and shook his head.

“I held her off as long as I could,” Izzy said apologetically.

“Held who off?”

“Taylor. She's out in the courtyard and she swears she'll call Buzz if I don't let her in to see how Annie's doing.”

“Hell,” Sam muttered.

The horizon was hidden by a gray wall of clouds. His brain felt equally fogged as he dragged his fingers through his hair and sat up. “Let me throw some clothes on. Then you can send her in.”

He stood up carefully, trying not to wake Annie. He was reaching for his jeans when Taylor burst through the door.

“How is she?”

Sam jerked the jeans in front of him. “She's asleep,” he said gruffly.

Taylor's face was white and she seemed oblivious to his near nakedness.

“Let's go outside for this,” Sam muttered. As soon as Taylor turned around, he pulled on his jeans and followed her down the hall. “The doctor sent something to help her sleep.”

“Why didn't she call me herself?”

“I don't think she wanted to worry you. She looked pretty shaky.”

“I'm her sister,” Taylor hissed. “She's supposed to worry me.” She stalked into the living room, her expression stony. “She
always does this, so damned determined to handle every little thing by herself. I could strangle her.”

“She doesn't like to bother people.”

“Of course she doesn't. Saint Annie never wants to upset anyone. That's why I have to hear everything secondhand!”

She made a watery sound and Sam realized she was crying.

Oh, hell, not that. He could handle grenades, artillery, and heat-seeking missiles.

Anything but tears.

“I'm going to kill that maggot.”

Sam assumed she was referring to Tucker Marsh. “Get in line,” he said grimly.

“You get what's left of him, pal. I've already talked to a doctor friend who told me about a nice little injection that will leave him impotent for life. Then there's a nasty alkaloid from Guatemala that will give him blinding headaches, followed by gradual vision loss and muscle wasting.”

Sam winced.

“After that, I'm going for the big stuff. I'm going to tie him down and cut off his—”

“Whoa.” Sam cleared his throat uneasily. “I don't think the publicity would help Annie or the spa very much. Legal eagle neutered after spa weekend from hell?”

Taylor rolled her shoulders as if they hurt. “He deserves it. He should have his miserable skin flayed, inch by inch.”

Sam couldn't have agreed more, but he wouldn't let Annie's sister get involved. “Your sheriff will handle him.”

“Marsh is already in custody in town. I just checked. But Buzz has gotten calls from three judges who are aghast at what they call an unfortunate misunderstanding. What if Marsh gets out on bail?”

“Don't worry, he won't get near Annie,” Sam said grimly. “From now on she won't be going anywhere alone.”

“Nice thought, but she won't listen.” Taylor sighed. “She'll
nod and she'll take normal precautions, but with Annie Sum merwind comes first.”

“Not this time.”

Taylor measured him slowly. “You might be the one to convince her.” Her brow furrowed. “You look pretty dangerous yourself.”

“I can be,” Sam said quietly.

Taylor studied him some more. “I gather that nobody's supposed to know you're here.”

He nodded.

“But I know.”

“If you talk, I guess I'll have to kill you.”

Taylor smiled faintly. “Can I steal that line for a book?”

Sam crossed his arms. “It's all yours.”

“I suppose you know there's a pool going.” Taylor paced to the big window. “As of last night, the bets were running in favor of Han Solo.” Taylor's eyes narrowed. “Myself, I think she'd be better off with the Wookie.”

“Hard to find a massage table big enough for a Wookie,” Sam said dryly.

Taylor rubbed her arms. “So what happens now?”

“Annie rests, whether she likes it or not. She also cuts back on her work, like it or not. Izzy and I will handle her protection.”

After a long time, Taylor nodded. “Okay, that works. I just wish I could do something, too. I hate being the spacey, scattered one.”

“Anyone who thinks that has to be blind.”

“Thanks.” Taylor sniffed once, then picked up her big leather bag from the sofa. “I'm going to sit with her. But don't plan on going anywhere.” She leveled a finger at Sam. “I have a lot more questions for you.”

ANNIE
AWOKE
DISORIENTED,
HER
FINGERS
CLUTCHING
AT
THE sheets. Her temples throbbed and her mouth hurt. She took a shaky breath, remembering the night before.

“Sam?” she whispered.

“Hey.” Fabric rustled. “Glad you finally woke up.”

“Taylor?” Annie reached out for her sister's hand. “What are you doing here?”

“You think you could keep me away?” Taylor turned the bedside lamp to a dim setting, stiffening when she saw Annie's face. “Marsh did that?”

Annie gave a little shrug.

“I'm going to eviscerate him,” Taylor hissed. “I'm using manicure scissors, and they're going to be very dull when I do it.”

Annie's hand tightened. “Don't. And don't encourage Sam, either.”

“That man doesn't need any encouragement, thank heaven. He likes Marsh even less than I do.” Taylor studied Annie in silence, her eyes anxious. “Want to talk about it?”

“Not yet.” Annie sat up carefully. “Marsh mentioned you being a problem. Did he try something?”

Taylor pursed her lips. “I ran into him after I left the spa yesterday. He got too touchy-feely when I dropped a towel. He also implied that you and he were enjoying hot sex.”

“What?”

“Don't worry, I knew it was a lie.” Taylor smiled thinly. “That's why I gave him a karate chop in the family jewels. He didn't look too happy when I left.” Something came and went in her eyes. “Forget about Marsh. What do we do now? Getting drunk is out,” Taylor said. “Having an orgy is no good either, since your hunk looks like the possessive type, at least where you're concerned. Since the orgy's canceled, I thought we could watch QVC and shop for fake leather, but my Visa card is maxed out, so scratch that. That leaves the fallback plan.” She rummaged in her purse and brought out two videotapes. “We've got
Multiplicity
and we've got
Godzilla.
” Taylor's eyes
narrowed. “You sure you don't want to talk about anything first?”

Annie shook her head, plumping up her pillow. She tossed Taylor the remote. “Crank up the terror of the sea.”