Sara suddenly pictured Lucas shirtless, the blue woad of his ancestors painted on his face and chest, swinging the six-foot, two-handed Sword high above his head as he charged into some medieval battle. For a moment it seemed real. She blinked.
“But the spatha,” Alan was saying, “is more efficient than the long sword.”
“Why is that?” she asked and tried to keep her mind off Lucas.
“It’s shorter and can be retrieved more easily.” He almost snickered. “Haven’t you seen actors trying to pull those long swords out dramatically in the movies? A man with a spatha could move in for the kill before the other sword was out of the sheath, and then already be out of harm’s way.” He leaned forward. “But the deadliest sword was the one the Arabs used. A scimitar. It can slice a human head off as easily as you can cut a well-done steak.”
Sara didn’t think Mr. Smith had one of the thin, curved-blade weapons. And the thought of beheading brought tomind the Middle East terrorists. Strange that after centuries of civilization, such brutal tactics were still used. She pushed her plate away, leaving the rest of the enchiladas she’d ordered.
“I really need to be going.”
Alan stood when she did and tossed some money on the table. “It’s early. Let’s make an afternoon of it. Ramsey’s not here to make you work on whatever project it is you’re working on.”
She looked at him sharply. Was he hinting about the manuscript? His face was blank, but she recognized a poker face when she saw one. He had another motive.
“No, really. Mr. Smith has given me another project.”
“Nothing that can’t wait,” Alan said with a smile and took her arm in a viselike grip. “I’ll be leaving tomorrow.” He began propelling her to the door.
Dear Goddess. He was abducting her. Lucas wasn’t going to rescue her this time, and Michael didn’t even know she had left Mr. Smith’s mansion. She had been stupid to do this. Briefly, she wondered if he were armed.
“Let me go or I’ll scream.” She caught the rung of an empty chair with her foot and grabbed the back of it. Across the room, the bartender looked up.
“Trouble, miss?”
For a moment, Alan stared into her eyes and then he let her go. “You misunderstand me, Sara. I simply wanted to spend some time with you before I left.”
She rubbed her arm and smiled at the bartender who had come over. “I’d like to make sure that this man doesn’t follow me.”
Alan looked suitably chastised. “Ah, baby. Don’t be like that.”
“Go,” the other man said. “I’ll make sure he doesn’t leave until you’re out of sight.”
“Thanks,” Sara said gratefully and hurried outside. She locked the doors to the Mustang even as she put it in gear andthen breathed a sigh of relief as she headed east on I-20. He’d be gone tomorrow. At least he didn’t know where she lived.
Looking in her rearview mirror, she switched lanes and noticed a small dark car behind her do the same. She slowed as she neared the Green Oaks exit in Arlington and the car behind her did the same. As she accelerated, it did too. A knot began forming in her stomach. Was she being followed? Alan had a burgundy rental, so this wasn’t him unless he’d stolen a vehicle out of the parking lot. She moved into the right-hand lane to exit on Cooper Street. The car stayed in its lane and she let out her breath, not realizing she had been holding it. She’d just exit and go park at the mall.
Just as she was about to turn into the parking lot, she noticed the car again. It must have made a quick lane change that she didn’t see. She continued to drive north, then turned west on Pioneer. This would take her back into Ft. Worth, but it was also too close to her apartment near the lake. There were other cars behind her now, but she could still see the black car. Making a hasty decision, she turned right on Fielder and headed north again. The tail was dropping farther behind, but it was still there. She made another right on Park Row and headed back east. She was making a very full circle. When she turned south on Collins, the black car didn’t follow her but went straight. Either he had tired of the game or realized he’d been made.
She found she was shaking. And she wasn’t at all sure whoever it was hadn’t just turned the chase over to a car she wouldn’t recognize. It would be easy enough to do, with everyone having a cell phone. She searched her rearview mirror and spotted a burgundy car very much like Alan Caldwell’s.
She was glad now she hadn’t headed toward her apartment. If he was that much of a predator that he would stalk her with rape on his mind, the last place she wanted to lead him was home.
Spotting a fire station, she pulled in. If he wanted her that badly, he’d have to get past fifteen or twenty physically fit men first. She just hoped there wouldn’t be a fire.
****
Lucas went straight to the museum once he landed in Glasgow. Showing his badge got him into the secured area. He pulled his copy of the inventory and began comparing it to what was on stock.
Commander Nolen joined him a short time later. “Have you found anything?”
Lucas shook his head. “Not yet. Everything seems to be here.” He tried to ignore the fact that his wolf was pacing nervously. “Tell me again what happened.”
“The infra-red cameras picked up heat and movement inside this room,” he said. “When we got here, the door was closed and seemed to be locked. Only the entry code didn’t want to work. One of the computer guys said it had been hacked into.”
He could feel the wolf’s fur bristling. This stank of Balor. Have one of his geeks access the code, then have someone walk around just long enough for the sensors to pick up the movement and leave without taking anything. And probably to get him out of the way, which meant Sara was in danger.
He hoped she’d taken to heart how dangerous Balor really was and wasn’t taking any chances. That she would stay home with the doors locked. God, he wanted to be there. Much as he hated thinking about another man with her, he hoped her friend would have enough sense to stay alert and protect her.
