She just hoped that he wouldn’t prove to be another dead end as fatal as that fiery furnace that had taken Elizabeth Porter.
CHAPTER
6
TWO HOURS LATER, 2:20P.M.
CASTLE INN
I told you that you’ll be much safer there,” Herbert said as he handed Kendra the keys to their rooms. “These owners are excellent people who will take good care of you, and the rooms are very cozy. Kind of like little castles with a nice view of the countryside. If you have any trouble, you just tell them to call me or Fitz. We know how to take care of our clients.”
“We’ll do that.” She smiled. “You’ve already proved that to us. There’s one other thing you can help us with. We might need a vehicle to get around the city when you’re not around. Can you arrange to get one for us? Something low-key but sturdy?”
Herbert nodded. “Though I’d prefer you let one of us take care of you. We both have our reputations to consider.”
“There comes a time when a person has to go it on their own. I’m sure you realize that, Herbert.”
He nodded again. “I’ll have it delivered and ready for you early tomorrow morning. Anything else?”
“Yes.” Jessie stepped forward. “A motorcycle might come in handy.”
Herbert grinned. “Fitz told me that you were quite a rider. Not my thing, but to each his own. I’ll see to it.” He gave them an informal salute and turned away. “If you think of anything else, just give me a call and we’ll take care of you.” He headed down the stairs. “It’s been an interesting day. But then I can always count on Fitz to provide that for me. Lock those doors behind you . . .”
“Done.” Kendra was already handing Jessie her key and unlocking her own door as she waved goodbye to Herbert. She told her softly, “I’m going to call Metcalf right away. After I finish talking to him, I’ll come to your room and give you a report.” She didn’t wait for an answer, just closed the door behind her and pulled out her telephone.
Metcalf answered in two rings. “Kendra? Where the hell are you? I’ve been worried sick. Griffin came roaring into my office asking if I had any idea where you’d disappeared to.”
“I decided to take a trip.”
“Well, I figured it had something to do with Lynch. Griffin tracked you to that flight to London, where you somehow disappeared before anyone could even meet your flight.”
So she’d been saved from having to deal with Griffin’s agentsas well as possibly those scumbags who had been hunting her down on the road after she’d left Lynch’s place? Kendra sent a silent grateful vote of thanks to Jessie. “I can’t imagine how they could have missed me. But I was in a hurry to find Lynch. Griffin should understand that.”
“He didn’t. He was mad as hell. He thinks you’re holding out on us. What have you been doing?”
“Just what I said. Searching for Lynch.” She changed the subject. “But so far I’ve turned up zilch. I managed to track him down to a place that knew him and had dealt with him before, but I couldn’t find any current info about him. I didn’t have enough official credentials to make any informant believe I was trustworthy. I thought you could help me.”
“Help you do what?” he asked cautiously.
“Griffin told me that Ted Cambry, the agent who was assigned to bring Lynch back to the States, was still over here with a team searching for him. I thought he might be able to give me a lead. Perhaps we can combine forces. Could you possibly set me up with Cambry?”
“I’m not sure,” Metcalf said uncertainly. “I can’t be certain that Griffin would approve.”
“I don’t agree. He’d approve anything that would give him valid information. He impressed me as wanting desperately to please Justice about Lynch.” Then Kendra added flatly, “If Cambry and I work together, we might have a better chance of locating Lynch. And you can assure Griffin I’m going to do my very best to make that happen.”
“That’s obvious,” Metcalf said ruefully. “We all know where your sympathies lie.”
“You’ll try to do as I ask?”
“Of course. It’s a way to save my ass and do you a favor.” He paused. “But be careful, Kendra. I’ve been hearing rumors on the grapevine about Lynch’s assignment, and it all sounds very nasty.”
“All the more reason to get him out of there.”
“But the price may be too high to pay this time,” Metcalf said quietly. “I don’t like the idea of him taking you down with him. But you’ve probably stopped listening, so I’ll get you what you want and get right back to you.”
“Right away,” Kendra said. “Tomorrow at the latest. Things have been kind of falling apart here.”
“I’m sorry to hear that. But it doesn’t surprise me,” Metcalf said. “I’ll call as soon as I can. Just remember what I said.” He ended the call.
