Revealing Silver (3 page)

“Yes, you better.”

“Tell him…” There was nothing, no message Olivia could pass on to describe what was happening. “Tell him merry Christmas, okay?”

“Yeah.” Olivia stood. “I can tell him that. Anything else?”

There was plenty more to say, maybe even more he should say, but there were no words. Later, maybe. When he had something besides accusations.

Isaac should have kept the engine running. A cold snap held Los Angeles in its thrall, infiltrating nooks where there shouldn’t even be crannies. When she offered to leave her keys, Isaac declined, not wanting to cut her visit short with concern for her idling car. He would’ve preferred checking on Nathan himself, but that wasn’t in the cards. Nathan would only slam the door in his face if he tried. Or shoot him.

The residual warmth generated during the drive dissipated. Shoving his hands into his coat pockets, he leaned against the headrest and closed his eyes. Christmas Eve dinner had been nice, but he’d been distracted in spite of everyone’s best efforts. Olivia assured him she understood. It was the first Christmas in nine years he’d spent without Nathan. All night he’d felt off, like he was wearing somebody else’s shoes. Olivia was supportive, but he had to make it up to her. She deserved better than half-answers and grunts.

Once he got the news that Nathan was okay, he would make sure she got it.

The clip of her hard soles against the sidewalk startled him straight again. She’d worn jeans for her parents’ cozy night in, but on her they never looked sloppy. She had the tall, graceful body of an athlete, with muscles in all the best places. Her dark red hair was cut into a short bob, and the eyes she turned to him were a light blue. He could stare at her all day and still find something new to appreciate.

Which, considering how busy they both were in the Los Angeles Police Department, didn’t happen often enough.

“How is he?” Isaac asked as soon as he could.

Olivia hoisted herself into the seat. “About the same. He was more interested in staring down a bottle of vodka than talking to me, though.”

“Shit.” He’d told Olivia everything, the description coming slow and hard at first. The memories were long buried, and they just weren’t something he talked about. Not ever. But he needed Olivia’s help more than he needed to keep his secrets, so he spilled all the details. Everything that happened after Nathan woke up in his hospital bed and spiraled beyond Isaac’s reach. For once, he’d offered up every single detail, no matter how embarrassing for Nathan or mortifying for himself. “Please tell me he wasn’t drinking.”

“He wasn’t. It’s not open, and I didn’t see any other bottles or signs of drinking.”

“Good. That’s something.”

“He wants to. I’m not sure he sees any reason not to crack it open.”

Nathan was at his most dangerous to himself when he believed he had nothing to lose. “Did you throw it away?”
Now, while it’s still easy to get a bottle from him.

“No. I wasn’t about to get into a fight with him. Besides, there’s nothing to stop him from walking out and buying another bottle.”

Isaac would. But he didn’t think Olivia would be interested in an all-night stake-out of Nathan’s apartment on Christmas Eve. “I don’t suppose he asked about me.”

“He said to tell you merry Christmas.”

He forgot about the cold. “Really? You’re not just telling me that so I stop asking you, are you?”

“He really said it. He also said…he’d let you in tomorrow when I come back. I told him I’d be willing to use the coin. To see if it gives me a vision of her.”

He was excited to hear of the reluctant invitation, but it wasn’t enough to block the less-than-thrilling reason for the invitation. “What? No. Are you crazy?”

“We may never find out how they work, Isaac, and time isn’t a luxury we have. I made Nathan promise he wouldn’t drink, and in return, I told him I’d do whatever I could to help. I’ve been thinking about this since Remy disappeared and…I think it’s the right thing to do.”

“No, it’s not. Every time you touch one of those coins, it flattens you. It
knocks
you out.” And practically gave him cardiac arrest every damned time. Maybe he’d feel differently if the visions were more like dreams and less like a body slam from Hulk Hogan, but he couldn’t stand to see the people he cared about suffer. He especially didn’t want to see the woman he loved knocked unconscious, tears streaking her pale cheeks.

“I recovered, didn’t I? I’ll be fine. But Nathan won’t be if we don’t try to do something.”

“Then we find another way.” Olivia could take care of herself, but what little they knew about the Silver Maiden coins came from lucky accidents—or in a couple of cases, not so lucky. What if there was a limit of visions she could physically withstand? What if there was a deadline? What if the power fried her brain? “It’s too risky. You wouldn’t fire a gun without learning how to handle it, now would you?”

“In a life-or-death situation, I’d fire any weapon I had on hand, whether I knew how to handle it or not.”

How could he argue with that? It was true. It was why he loved her. But that didn’t change the fact that he wouldn’t sacrifice Nathan for Remy, and he sure as hell wasn’t going to sacrifice Olivia for anybody. Not even his best friend.

“This isn’t your death. Hell, this isn’t even Nathan’s. He survived Susanna. All he has to do is be patient and he’ll survive this, too.”

Isaac didn’t believe anything he said. The stark loss on Nathan’s face when Remy disappeared was too vividly imprinted on his memory. Nathan needed her. Isaac barely understood what bonded those two together—though with Olivia, he was finally starting to understand the depth of what it meant to love someone. He wanted Remy back. He missed her and her smart mouth. He just wasn’t prepared to lose anybody else in a gamble for her return.

But Olivia and Nathan were.

“Can’t you stall him a little bit longer? Tomorrow’s Christmas. He should be in Palm Springs with his parents.”

“He’s not going to Palm Springs.” Olivia started the SUV and put it into gear. “And I can’t believe you really think he should try to wait this one out. Maybe it’s best he doesn’t want to talk to you if you’re going to say things like that.”

“That’s not what I meant.” She was on Nathan’s side on this, no matter how Isaac felt about it. “I don’t expect him to get over Remy, or put a personal ad on Craigslist or something. I just wish one of you would look at this situation rationally for a change.”

“And by that, you mean you want me to shut up and agree with you. Meanwhile, the person you claim to love like a brother is suffering. Where’s the logic there?”

His temper finally snapped. “You think I don’t know he’s hurting over Remy? I’m the one who had to look him in the eye after stopping his suicide run. I saw exactly how much he hated me, and I’ve seen it every night since. But I cannot sit back and pretend I think using those damn coins is a good idea. You’re shooting in the dark every time you pick one up. What if you’re the next one it plays Russian roulette with?”

“I understand you don’t like the coins, Isaac. You have no reason to trust them. But they’ve never done me any permanent harm, and the Silver Maiden isn’t the reason Remy is missing now. What if it were me? Would you draw a line in the sand?”

He was banging his head against a wall. The Silver Maiden was precisely the reason for Remy’s disappearance. She got the credit for her arrival, why shouldn’t she get the blame too? If the Silver Maiden had never come into their lives, none of this would have ever happened.

Nathan would’ve never met Remy at all. He would have never put his past behind him to find a reason—a real one—to live again.

And Isaac wouldn’t have met Olivia.

“I would do everything I possibly could to get you back. And I’d hope Nathan was there to tell me when I was making a mistake.”

“Then I guess we’re at an impasse. Nathan’s not going to change his mind, and I gave him my word.”

And that was that. He could argue until the zombie apocalypse, and she wouldn’t change her mind. For her, the issue was cut-and-dry and his protests made little difference. To think he usually found her sense of independence so attractive. Getting out and marching up to Nathan’s door would accomplish just as little. Any attempt to get inside might result in a fistfight, and Nathan had a mean left hook when he wasn’t drinking. Isaac basically had one option.

“What time are you coming back here tomorrow?”

“Around noon. I thought we could have a leisurely Christmas morning, at least.”

“How about we put off our celebrating until after?”

“You and I both know if this works, I’m probably not going to feel like celebrating after. Besides, Christmas breakfast tastes best at breakfast time.”

It did, but eating at eight like they’d planned meant losing at least four hours of valuable time. But once again, he was reduced to taking what he could get and praying it was enough.

“All right. We’ll keep it as is. I’ll be there at eight on the nose.”

“Oh. Okay.”

“What?”

“Nothing. I thought it’d be a breakfast-in-bed situation.”

“We can still have it in bed. We just won’t start there.”

“Well, when you put it that way, how can I refuse?”

Very easily, from the tone of her voice. “Look. I know you’re going to try the coins again, regardless of how I feel about it. I’m not going to do anything more to stop you. But I need tonight. Give me that, and I’ll hand you the coins myself. With a smile.” Her jaw was still hard, her eyes flinty. “And those reindeer antlers I bought for Tiberius.”

Her mouth relaxed. “You mean you’ll actually wear them for me? Can I take pictures?”

“One picture. And nobody sees it but us.”

He didn’t know if it was the promise of a ridiculous picture or something else that softened her. He saw her disappointment, heard it when she spoke, but she wasn’t angry. “It’s a deal.”

Relief coursed through him. Leaning across the distance separating them, he caught the back of her neck, holding her still long enough to brush a kiss across her lips.

“Thank you. For this, for being there for Nathan. I know it doesn’t look like it, but I am glad we came here tonight.”

“I’m here for you, too, Isaac. Don’t forget about that.”

What if it were me?

He sincerely hoped that question remained hypothetical. Because he wasn’t so sure he’d be able to refrain from opening the vodka bottle.

Christmas lights twinkled inside the window of the Santa Monica bar, and a toy Santa lounged on the sill in an overstuffed armchair, his booted feet propped up on the back of an elf, a beer tipped to his laughing mouth. Remy smiled back at it. Low-key and relaxed, the way she liked it.

She knew the place. Nathan had brought her there once or twice, but they never stayed for very long. It was a regular meeting place for cops, and he still had connections there among the men and women who remembered
Detective
Nathan Pierce. It held too many shitty memories for him and she sure as fuck didn’t want to be around that many cops. It made her as jumpy as…well, as a criminal in a room full of cops. But when she weighed her options, finding him at the bar was the only thing that didn’t spell instant disaster. Most of her options made her look cracked, and she’d already played that part with Nathan. Once was enough, thank you very much. It had taken a lot to convince Nathan she was telling the truth about falling through time with a coin clutched in her hand. She had zero interest jumping through those hoops again.

So, a cover story was her best bet. Something to help her into his goodwill. If he busted the guys holding the kidnapped girls, they might try to send the girls back to 2010 to cover their own asses. She’d piggyback on that and be back in her Nathan’s arms before the New Year.

That part was sound, but making Nathan trust her was a brick wall. Approaching him at home or the police station was out. Both scenarios did more harm than good, the first because then she looked like a stalker, the second because she couldn’t risk getting tossed behind bars for knowledge of a crime. Neutral territory was her best angle. A cop bar wasn’t ideal neutral territory, but it was safer than a station.

She only had enough cash for a few nights at a cheap motel. Once she found Smokey’s, she’d had little choice but to boost a few wallets down at the pier to fund her plan. Food was essential. As were toiletries, clothes that weren’t stained with blood and dirt, and a dye job, since her Nathan had had no memory of meeting her. If she didn’t want to fuck with the good thing she had in 2010, she needed to make sure he never made the connection.

Maybe he doesn’t remember you because you never found him. Maybe nothing you try works.
She refused to consider it.

Smokey’s was nearly empty when she walked in. Somebody warbled “All I Want for Christmas Is You” in the background. Remy shuddered. It sounded like one of the “divas” Isaac liked so much. Nathan thought it was funny the way Isaac subjected them all to his crap music at every possibility, but she didn’t. And one day she’d get her revenge. There were only three other guys in the bar and none of them were Nathan. Her stomach fell as she sauntered to the end of the bar.

The bartender barely looked old enough to serve alcohol. He wore a red-garland tie over a dark green T-shirt that fit loosely over his scarecrow shoulders. Long strands of silver tinsel hung from his hair, and he lazily wiped at the bar, pausing often to drink from his water. When he spotted Remy, he broke into a wide smile and hurried to greet her.

“Merry Christmas.”

“Sounds like someone’s celebrating early.”

“Isn’t that why everybody comes in here?”

Her reflection in the mirror behind the bar caught her eye. She shifted, blocking the view entirely. It still left her a little schiz, seeing how different she looked with red hair. She didn’t look like herself and she wasn’t keen on the shade, as close as it was to Olivia’s, but blond was never an option. Susanna had been blond. Remy wasn’t playing into those memories—or future inclinations—in any way or any form.

“I’ll have a Jack. Then we’ll see how the celebrating goes.”

He looked disappointed but poured her drink without comment. Good. She didn’t have time to chat him up. Nathan could be walking in any minute. If he wasn’t working that night, he would have been off duty an hour ago.

She dug into her front pocket for the twenty she’d brought for drinks, and two of the three men in the bar glanced in her direction.

“Don’t worry about it. It’s paid for.”

The
thank-you
died on her tongue at the sight of the man seated at the far end. He hadn’t been there a few seconds earlier. She was damn sure he hadn’t been sitting anywhere else in the bar, either. There was no way she’d miss spotting Isaac McGuire in a crowd, let alone in an empty room.

Up to that point, she’d only seen his younger self from a distance. He’d been with Nathan every time she caught sight of him as she studied their routine. Isaac had been nearly a block away the first time she spotted him, but she recognized his figure instantly. He still wore the sharp suits he favored, but the front of his dark brown hair was longer and spiked. He looked about eighteen. His smile was quicker and, as he lifted his glass to her in a silent toast, more appreciative than anything he’d ever shot her way before.

She frantically scanned the room. Where was Nathan? Had he slipped by her? Was he in the bathroom? What would she do when she saw him? If there was one thing she’d learned since tagging around after them the past couple days, it was the two were never apart. Isaac was here. Nathan would be too.

Picking up her glass, she strolled down the bar, putting an extra sway in her hips. Isaac’s gaze flickered to her legs, lingering there until she leaned against the counter next to him. His eyes met hers in frank approval. Coming from Isaac, it weirded her out, but she held her sly smile steady. She wasn’t going to let Isaac fuck this up for her.

“Thanks for the drink.”

He shrugged. “My pleasure. ’Tis the season, after all.”

“’Tis.” She looked around for Nathan again. “You alone?”

“Only if you go back to your end of the bar.”

Where the hell was Nathan?

“I think I like your end better.”

Isaac smiled, nodding to the empty stool next to him. “Then have a seat. Nobody should be alone on Christmas Eve.” He waited until she was comfortable before holding out his hand in greeting. “I’m Isaac.”

She hesitated, strangely unnerved by how normal he was. He shouldn’t just be Isaac.

“Maggie.” The name she always used when she helped Nathan out on one of his bounty hunts.

His head tilted, his brows coming together into a contemplative frown. “Hmm.”

“Hmm, what?”

“You don’t look like a Maggie.”

“What do I look like? Candy? Maybe Cinnamon?” She didn’t mean to sound sharp, but she’d had this exchange once before. Only Isaac hadn’t been trying to flirt with her then. He was teasing her for looking like a prostitute.

“Oh, no, I meant that Maggie’s kind of an everyday name. Homey. You know, like it’s always your Aunt Maggie who sends you the sweaters with the fuzzy animals on them at Christmas. Like that.”

“And what if I like sweaters?”

He grinned, leaning in again. “On you? There’s nothing I wouldn’t like about that.”

“A name is like a sweater, though. Just something you wear.”

“Does that mean I can call you whatever I want?”

“Let’s stick with Maggie for now.”

She had to keep reminding herself not to squirm. Isaac never flirted with her. Ever. First she’d been a potential threat to Nathan, and then she’d been his buddy’s girl.

Sipping at the whiskey helped calm her. “I hadn’t exactly planned on being alone tonight.” She peered at him over the edge of her glass before taking another sip. “What’s your excuse?”

“I got held up at work.”

“What was so important it couldn’t wait until after Christmas?”

“People I deal with don’t take holidays off. Christmas is like their smorgasbord.”

“You work for Santa Claus?”

He chuckled. “No, I’m a cop.”

So far, her strategy was working. She’d meant to use it on Nathan, of course, but she’d take what she could get. Isaac could go after Gabriel’s men just as easily.

“But you’re not on duty now?”

“No.” He held up his empty glass. “This would be against the rules.”

“You never break the rules? Not even on Christmas Eve?”

“Not my style.”

Remy almost laughed, though she could see he meant it. Isaac wasn’t exactly a rebel, but he’d break the rules if he had to. Or if he wanted to. Nathan’s scars had always been more or less visible, but she was convinced Isaac had changed too. It was just a little bit harder to see his scars.

“Shame.” She knocked back the rest of her drink, then slid her tumbler forward to rest next to Isaac’s. “I kinda liked you. Thanks for the drink, Officer.”

His arm shot out to block her in. “Hey, what’d I say?”

She looked pointedly down at his hand, waiting to speak until he dropped it. “Maybe nothing. But a girl learns fast in this town not to stick around for a second drink. Not if she knows what’s good for her.”

“Wait a sec.” She pretended to think it over before lifting her gaze to his. His smile was gone, replaced with a concern she recognized. “What happened?”

“What makes you think anything happened?”

“Where did you learn your lesson about sticking around? Did somebody hurt you?”

“What can you do about it? Talking about it won’t change anything.”

Isaac ignored her attempt at levity. “I am a cop, you know. You can trust me.”

“No offense, Officer, but where I’m from, cops are just people. And you can’t trust people.”

His lips clamped together, and she worried she’d pushed him too far. But after a moment, he pulled a card from his wallet and slid it across the bar to her. “If someone hurt you, all you have to do is tell me the details and I’ll take care of the rest. We don’t have to talk right now, but I don’t want you to lose my card.”

“It wasn’t like what you’re thinking.”

“I think it was something bad enough to scare you.”

She bristled. “You think I look scared?”

“There’s something going on that’s got you jumpy.” His phone went off before he elaborated on his theory. “Sorry. I have to take this. You need to work on your timing, Nathan.”

Nathan.
Her throat closed up. Blindly, Remy sat back down, her eyes fixed on Isaac, her ears tuned to every word.

“I thought you wanted me to come over tomorrow. I’m at Smokey’s, but…they did?” An abashed smile suddenly spread across his face, and he turned away, more intent on the conversation than her. “Did you put them up to it?…Because I know you, and I don’t want to be the pity invitation, and if that’s…okay, fine, I believe you. I have to go home and pack.”

The pieces fell into place. Nathan was in Palm Springs, where he always spent Christmas. He’d planned to take Remy this year, since she was part of the family now. Shit. That was where she should’ve been. Instead she fucked everything up. She probably could’ve found another way to rescue Stacy if she’d only given it two seconds of thought.

“Hey.”

Isaac’s voice had gone soft, surprisingly soothing. He rested one hand carefully on her shoulder, prompting her to finally look at him.

“Listen, that was my partner. My work partner. Not my romantic partner. Not that there’s anything wrong with that or anything, but sometimes when I say that to pretty girls, they get the wrong idea.”

She smiled. “You’re straight. Got it.”

“I’m glad you can pick up my subtle signals. Anyway, I have to cut this short. But I’d like the chance to see you again after the holiday. We can talk about things.”

“Things?”

“Whatever you want. I’m a good guy. Just ask Gordy.” He jerked his chin toward the bartender, then grinned.

Gordy looked up from his rag. “Sure, he’s okay, I guess.”

“With that ringing endorsement, I might be convinced to try this again.”

“Good.” Rising from the stool, he tossed a few bills onto the counter. “Day after tomorrow. Same time, same place. You can tell me your whole story then. Unless you want to call me before that. I don’t care that it’s Christmas.”

“Do I get to hear your story?”

“Mine’s not nearly as interesting as yours, but I’ll tell you the parts that aren’t boring.” He backed up toward the front door, as if reluctant to take his eyes off her. “Merry Christmas, Maggie.”

She nodded. It wasn’t until he’d walked out that she whispered, “Merry Christmas, Ike.”

“Oh. It’s you.” Gabriel crossed one leg over the other as casually as he could with the ankle bracelets. The chains jingled as they knocked against each other, a sound he had no intention of becoming accustomed to. The shackles would be off by the New Year, and he’d return to his city as if he’d never left it. They were fools if they thought anything, even the law, was powerful enough to keep him behind iron and concrete. “I hope you haven’t come to convince me of the error of my ways just in time for Christmas. I have no intention of repenting.”

Isaac stood inside the closed door, arms folded over his chest. Sometimes his macho posturing was almost comical, except Gabriel didn’t think the detective was even aware he did it. “Yeah, that really would be a Christmas miracle. But you and I both know there’s no such thing, don’t we, Gabriel? There’s an explanation for everything.”

“What’s the explanation for your late-night visit?”

He finally relaxed a little, stepping forward to pull out the chair opposite him. “Are you kidding? You’re my favorite prisoner. How could I not stop by to wish you a merry Christmas?”

“Thank you for the honor. Are we done now? There’s a party going on back in the cell block I’d like to get back to.”

“We can be done. Just as soon as you tell me how the Silver Maiden works.”

“Oh, sure.” Gabriel smiled pleasantly. “Would you like me to write it all down or would you rather record it while I explained? Or, I know, you could suck my dick.”

His eyes narrowed. “You think this is a game? After all the people you’ve hurt, do you really think I’m in the mood for your shit?”

Gabriel took a deep breath, forcing down the sudden swell of anger. Isaac McGuire had no idea of who was suffering now, of who had been hurt. Gabriel’s fingers curled, briefly indulging in the fantasy of bashing Isaac’s fat head in.

“This most assuredly is not a game. You can’t even conceive of what you’ve done, and what you’ve destroyed. Go back to bed, McGuire, and leave me alone.”