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56
Williard House
SUNDAY NIGHT
Sherlock jumped to her feet at the sound of Doulos’s voice in the hallway. “Stay around the windows, Billy. You see a shadow, kill it.”
They heard Domino’s voice, low and upset, bulleting out words they couldn’t understand.
“Not now, babe,” Doulos said. “Trust me, okay?”
The lock snicked open and Doulos walked in, a SIG in his right hand, his knife in a sheath at his waist. Domino was behind him, her weapon at her side. He pointed his SIG at Sherlock. “Sit down and don’t move or I’ll shoot you. I don’t need you, so believe me.”
Sherlock believed him. She sat down beside Molly.
Doulos said low to Domino, “I promise we’ll talk later, Domino. Right now, I need you to watch the agent while I conduct our business with Mrs. Hunt.”
Sherlock said, “Talk later about what, Domino? About how important you are to him? That he might even marry you once Eve is out of the way? Don’t hold your breath. Doulos thinks you’re only hired help and you’ll do whatever he says, including sleeping with him.”
Domino said, “I’m not hired help, I’m—”
Doulos pointed his SIG at Sherlock’s head. “Ignore her, Domino,” he said. “She’s trying to cause trouble. Mrs. Hunt, you’ve had enough time to get your wits back together. Now you’re going to do something for me.”
Molly felt the oxycodone still humming happily along in her brain. She didn’t feel much pain but her head was more clear than not. She’d bought them a couple of hours but he wouldn’t believe her act again. She propped herself up on pillows, nearly sitting, because she couldn’t stand to be flat on her back looking up at this man. She thought of Emma and the twins. And Ramsey. Her hand fisted. She wanted to kill this man. Sherlock gently smoothed out her fingers, gave her hand a squeeze. Molly said, “So you want me to record a message to my father to prove we’re still alive. Maybe go ahead and demand Ramsey and my father give you the evidence against your wife and your father-in-law I left with my lawyers in San Francisco? And then Sherlock and I will be home by morning, is that correct?”
“You’ve got a smart mouth on you, but yes, that’s exactly right. I’ve written out a script for you.”
“And you’ll release us?”
Doulos smiled at her. “After they give it to me, yes, of course.”
Sherlock said, “You don’t lie very well, Mr. Doulos.”
Domino said quickly, “No one will die, Agent Sherlock, as long as Mrs. Hunt does as she’s told.”
Sherlock said, “Domino, for heaven’s sake, I thought you were smart. How can he let us go? We know who he is now. Would he think we won’t tell? I forgot—you have no say in any of this, do you?”
Doulos turned his SIG back toward Sherlock’s face. “Neither Domino nor I give a crap what you think, Agent. It’s only Mrs. Hunt who’s keeping you alive. Now we’re going to get this done. Here’s my cell phone, Mrs. Hunt. Start the recorder and read the script.”
Molly accepted his cell phone and a sheet of paper from him. “I want to read it first.” She read aloud, “Dad, it’s me, Molly. It’s Sunday, in the middle of the night. I don’t know who these people are but we’ve been told we’ll be released if the audiotape incriminating Eve Shaker and the papers I left with my lawyers in San Francisco are delivered to them. Ramsey can get them. They’ll send more instructions later. Please, Dad, Sherlock and I want to come home.”
Molly looked over at Rich Doulos and slowly shook her head. “So Eve told you about everything that happened between my father and Rule Shaker six years ago and you dreamed up this ridiculous plan? Both you and Eve? No, wait a minute. Rule Shaker and Eve know very well what would happen. You’re not working with the Shakers at all, are you?”
“Shut up and read it.”
Molly laughed at him. “Have you lost your mind? Do you honestly think you can manipulate my father and Rule Shaker into restarting the war? Into killing each other? And then you’d swoop in and take over? That isn’t going to happen. I guess you didn’t know my father just got married. He isn’t interested in any war. If one was threatened, he’d put an end to it with one phone call. You’ve got to stop this, Richie, hang it up before you get yourself killed.”
“Don’t call me Richie! As I said, Mrs. Hunt, it doesn’t matter what you think. I don’t mind a gamble, and I like my odds. Maybe I’ll shoot your daddy’s new wife, that’ll be enough to get him to go after Shaker.”
Molly shook her head at him. “You’re dealing with Rule Shaker and Mason Lord. They’ve both stayed on top this long because they’re smart. You, Richie, you’re nothing compared to either of them. You’re a joke, a little man of no account at all. Trust me, they’ll see right through this.”
Doulos was breathing hard. “Shut up, you stupid bitch! Read that damned script!”
Sherlock said, “Does your wife of one year know what you’re trying to do?”
He shrugged that off, calmed. He said, his voice perfectly serious and confident, “Whatever happens, Eve’s my wife. She loves me, she’ll stick with me. And she’s his heir.”
Sherlock managed a full-bodied sneer. “Are we talking about the same Eve? Do what you tell her to do? You honestly think she’ll let you take her father’s place? If you believe that, you’re pretty stupid. When Eve finds out what you’re planning, be afraid. She’ll gut you. If she lets you live, nothing would save you from Rule Shaker.” She wanted to bait him more, but she saw ungoverned rage building in his eyes.
