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“Fine.” She added, “How should I be? I couldn’t be safer, could I? Between you and MacDuff I can hardly take a deep breath without asking permission.” That sounded a little bitter and she tried to lighten her tone. “I’m glad the boat dock checked out. I realize you’re only doing what you think best.”
“Do you?” he asked slowly. “It didn’t sound like that before you ran across the courtyard. I want this over, too, Jane. I’m working as hard as I can to clear it up.”
“I know you are,” she said wearily. “You just caught me at a bad time tonight. I’ll bounce back.” Lord, she hoped she was telling the truth. Right now she was so filled with confusion that she didn’t know when she’d be able to straighten out her thinking. “Things just seem to be very difficult at the moment and I have to see what I can do to clear them up. Don’t worry, I’ll do it.”
“Why would I worry about you?” Caleb asked hoarsely. “You persist in telling me you can take care of yourself.” He paused. “But I suppose I should tell you that Palik is sending one of his men to the Run as your personal bodyguard. Even though there’s no sign of Bohdan’s men anywhere near the Run, it will be just another safeguard so that MacDuff’s employees don’t have to assume responsibility for your care. You seemed to be concerned about that.”
“I told you about poor Fergus.”
“Yes, you did. I have to warn you that Sean Rodland is one of Palik’s best men and he probably won’t let you out of his sight. But I promise he’ll do anything you ask him to do. Is that okay with you?”
“Maybe. I’ll have to see. If it’s not, I’ll send him on his way.”
He said grimly, “Or you can send him to me, and I’ll have a word with him. Then I guarantee you won’t have any more problems.”
“That’s all I’d need,” she sighed. “Another guard to hover over me. And you acting like MacDuff does with Fergus. Palik usually doesn’t interfere in your business.”
“No, but he likes you. And he has a problem with Bohdan.” He was silent for a moment. “As I do. And Palik’s not entirely to blame for any of this. So forgive us both for taking extra care, even if you find it annoying. Is there anything I can do to make any of this better for you?”
“You’re doing everything you can. We aren’t even certain Bohdan knows I’m here. And I’m sure I’m not the only one being stalked by the bastard.”
“At the moment it seems to me as if you are. You’re at least the only innocent one being stalked.” He muttered a curse. “And I don’t like the fact that you’ve been sounding almost numb ever since you picked up my call. That’s not like you.”
“Numb? That’s your imagination.”
“Is it? I hope so. But you can be sure I’ll be in touch. Good night, Jane.”
“Good night.” She stared at the phone for a moment after he ended the call. Then she got to her feet and moved over to the window to look down at the courtyard. There was a slight graying in the east. It was going to be dawn soon.
And Caleb had come very close when he’d guessed she was numb.
Even though she’d denied it, it hadn’t surprised her that he’d read that response. It was what she’d felt and had tried desperately to keep him from seeing. So much had happened tonight…
But there was only one thing that seemed to be important in retrospect. It was the single moment when she had stood before that mirror a short time ago.
Shock.
Yes, she was still in shock.
But she had to get over it. She would sit here and watch the dawn and try to make plans. It shouldn’t be that difficult. It was just a question of making up her mind and following through. But she might have to use every skill and asset at her command in order to do that. There was a chance she was going to be more vulnerable than she had ever been before.
Because as she’d spoken to Caleb it had occurred to her that she might have to go through this nightmare heading her way entirely alone…
***
Rome
“Seth Caleb.” Chiswick strode into Bohdan’s office and threw down a report on his desk. “I told you I’d find him.”
“It’s taken you long enough. You’ve bungled this incredibly, Chiswick,” Bohdan said sharply. “And you told me that you didn’t get any information about him out of Jennings before you killed him.”
“I didn’t, but I located his partner, Ray Pasternak, and he was more than willing to tell me what I wanted to know after I showed him the photos of what we did to Jennings. He was pissed off anyway because his buddies were ordered to back up Caleb and ended up dead.”
“Good. Stop bragging and tell me how quick I can get my hands on him. Where is the son of a bitch?” He was reaching for the report in front of him. “I’m going to—”
“The report’s not exactly about Caleb,” Chiswick said quickly. “Pasternak picked up some gossip from a Scotland Yard detective about a murder case he was sent to work on a few years ago at the request of some posh earl who was a friend of Seth Caleb’s.”
“How good a friend?”
