“I’ll go with you.” Donavan got slowly to his feet. “You can keep me from falling on those stairs.”
Frankie was immediately by his side, handing him his crutch. “You’d better not fall. You’re so big you’d probably smush me.” She put his other hand on her shoulder. “Lean on me.”
“I’ll do that.” He smiled down at her as he started across the room. “And I’ll try not to smush you. Is that a combination of smash and crush?”
“I think so.” Her brow was knitted in concentration as she helped him toward the stairs.
Grace followed them to the hall and watched them start upstairs. They seemed to be managing very well, and it was touching to see the small child and the giant of a man together.
“It’s fine, Grace,” Donavan said. “She’s taking good care of me.” He smiled down at Frankie. “I may hire her until I get back on my feet.”
Frankie shook her head. “I’m too busy. And you don’t really need me. You’re just a little stiff from sitting tonight.”
“I’m glad that your diagnosis is so positive,” Donavan murmured. “Then Kilmer will be putting me back to work in no time.”
“I’ll send Luis up to help you undress,” Grace said.
“I can do it myself. As Frankie says, I’m getting past the point of needing anyone.”
Grace watched them disappear down the hall. Life for Frankie was so different from the existence she’d lived before coming here. Kilmer, Donavan, Blockman, and even several of Kilmer’s men were with her constantly. She never got a chance to be lonely. It wasn’t an ideal situation, but it wasn’t all that bad.
She turned and went back to the living room.
Robert had come into the room and was talking to Kilmer. He broke off when he saw Grace. “Hi. Got Frankie to bed?”
“No, I’m going up in a few minutes.”
“Then I’ll just say good night.” He started for the door. “See you in the morning.”
“Wait.” Her gaze was narrowed on him. “What’s happening, Robert?”
“Everything’s fine.”
Her gaze switched to Kilmer. “What are you keeping from me?”
“Evidently nothing,” Kilmer said. “Though I was hoping. Tell her, Blockman.”
Robert shrugged. “My guy Stolz, at Langley, thinks he’s narrowed in on the man who sold your location to Kersoff. He’s a computer guru named Nevins, and Stolz believes he’s negotiating again.”
Grace’s heart leaped with panic. “What?”
“Easy,” Kilmer said. “He doesn’t have anything to sell. He has no idea where we are.”
“Then why the devil would he be negotiating?”
“A double-cross?” Robert suggested. “Stolz isn’t sure. But Nevins has been working on something on his computer for days. He says it’s a project for North, but Stolz has doubts.”
“You think North is tracing us?”
“That’s not logical,” Kilmer said. “I was damn careful.”
“Stolz caught a partial number on Nevins’s computer before he blanked out the screen. Ops 751. He tried to access it later but came up with zilch.”
“Ops 751,” Grace repeated, and then shook her head. “Maybe it is a project for North.”
“We’re not letting it go without checking,” Kilmer said. “I’ll let you know as soon as we come up with something.”
“Will you?” she asked coolly. “You wouldn’t have said a word to me if I hadn’t interrupted your tête-à-tête.”
“I admit it,” Kilmer said. “Don’t blame Blockman. It was my decision. There’s no clear threat and I didn’t want you worrying for nothing.”
“It was a bad decision. I want to know everything you know.” She met his gaze. “And from now on it had better be that way.”
He nodded. “It will. I know when I’m pushing my luck.”
“Good. Then don’t do it again.” She turned and headed for the door. “Good night, Robert.”
“Good night.” Robert hurriedly exited the room.
“Good night, Grace.” Kilmer was ignoring the obvious omission. “Sleep well.”
“I’ll sleep very well. No problem.”
He laughed. “Liar.”
She looked back to see him walking out onto the porch. Cocky bastard. No, not cocky. He’d have to be in a coma not to know how she felt about him. Even though she was angry, it wouldn’t change the sexual charge between them that interfered with sleep, thought, and every waking action.
Marry me.
The proposal had stunned her and then panicked her. Because for the first few seconds the words had sent joy and hope ringing through her. Totally unreasonable, totally without a trace of practicality. Yet the joy had been there.
She had reached her room and paused outside the door to gather her composure before facing Frankie. She seemed to be having to do that constantly these days. Hiding her fear, hiding her affair with Kilmer, hiding her worries about the future.
Frankie was getting into bed as Grace opened the door. “Hi, Mom.” She pulled up the covers and nestled her head on the pillow. “I think Donavan is going to be able to walk without that crutch pretty soon, don’t you?”
“Probably. He seems to have made an amazing recovery.” She crossed to the bed and tucked the covers around her daughter. “And it’s nice of you to help him.”
“I like him. I like everyone here.” She yawned. “But I like Jake best. Soul mates . . . that’s a nice thing to be, isn’t it?”
“Very nice.” She turned out the lamp on the nightstand. “Now go to sleep, baby.”
“You like him much better now. I can tell.” She huddled on her side. “You spend a lot of time together. . . .”
Grace stiffened. She should have known a kid as sharp as Frankie would have noticed. “Do we?”
“Sure, like tonight when you were out on the porch.”
“Oh.”
“You must have a lot to talk about.”
“Uh, sometimes.”
“I’m glad. Like I told you, talking to him makes you look . . . happy. All shining and pink and soft.”
“Sounds like a newborn baby,” she said dryly.
Frankie giggled. “That’s silly.”
“Yes, it is. Now, go to sleep.”
“I will.” Frankie nestled deeper. “But when I’m as old as Jake I’m not going to sleep more than a couple hours a night. I’m going to play my piano and write music and go for lots of rides.”
“Horses have to sleep too.”
“I’d let them sleep. After all, I wouldn’t need to ride all the time.” She yawned again. “There’s too much else to do. . . .”
Yes, for children, life was exciting and new and filled with anticipation. Particularly for her Frankie.
And her Frankie had fallen asleep.
She sat down on the other bed, gazing at her. Frankie had been hinting very broadly, stressing her liking for Kilmer, tacitly giving her approval of the time they spent together. Her daughter knew nothing about him except what was on the surface, what her instincts told her.
And did Grace know any more than that? She knew his background, but he’d never talked about anything in the past. She knew he was clever and dynamic, fair to his men and lethal to his enemies.
And, God help her, she knew his body intimately and wanted him with a voracious appetite that was close to addiction. Just thinking about sex with him was arousing.
Then don’t think about it. Go to bed and try to get to sleep. Don’t dwell on that impossible proposal. The only things Kilmer and she had ever done together were sex and military operations.
Wait. That wasn’t so bad. On missions they had meshed like a finely tuned Swiss clock, supplying each other’s needs before being asked. And sex was the same. Perhaps she did know Kilmer and the way he felt and thought. Perhaps they were instinctively attuned to each other. If that was true, then the learning process might not be as difficult as—
Good Lord, she was actually considering
the possibility. Insanity.
No way.
She stood up, drew back the covers, and started to get undressed.
12
Hanley, I need you to have your men ready to move,” Nevins said. “I’m very close. But I won’t get more than a few minutes or North may find out what I’m doing.”
“You’ve found out where Kilmer and Archer are? Someone there knows where they’re—”
“No, I told you. No one knows. But there’s a man who’s in touch with them and I can get the information from him.”
“Give me his name. I’ll find out.”
“I don’t believe he knows. He’s in communication with them once every evening, but I’ve tapped his phone and Blockman’s not giving him any information.”
“Trace the call.”
“No way. Blockman’s not an amateur. He’s using equipment to block a trace.”
“Then how are you going to get me the information?”
“Try an unusual method. The eight-hundred-pound gorilla.”
“What?”
“Just get your men positioned in the center of the U.S. so that they can move in any direction fast. I’ll notify you when I can give you a definite time when I’ll know. I’ll expect you to transfer the remaining money into my account before I give you the location.”
Hanley didn’t speak for a moment. “If you’re wrong or you’re crossing me, you’ll regret it.”
“I’m no fool. And I won’t be wrong. I just want to be paid for my work. This is chancy, and I may have to leave my job and get out of here quick. I’ll need that money. It may be as early as tomorrow, so position your men accordingly.” Nevins hung up the phone and leaned back in his chair, his gaze on the computer screen. Close. He’d have been able to tap the password days ago if he hadn’t had to be so careful. His computer could be monitored by his superiors, and he’d had to mask where the program originated by cloning the node while he was working on it.
His superiors. He had no superior here at Langley, he thought scornfully. Would North or Crane ever be able to infiltrate a program like Ops 75132? No, they used men like him, who had the brains they didn’t.
And he’d spoken the truth about the chance he was taking. Stolz was suspicious and was stalking him even as Nevins was stalking Stolz. And Ops 75132 probably had a hundred different alarms. The percentage was high that he’d miss disarming one.
Maybe not. He’d be careful and he only had to have control for a minute before scooting out of the program. Then he’d be on his way, phoning Hanley from his car as he headed for the bank. Seven hours later he’d be in Guatemala. A day later he’d arrive in Brazil with new ID papers and enough money to set up his own computer operation. He’d have everything. Money, women, and the respect he deserved.
He eagerly leaned forward and started working again on tapping the eight-hundred-pound gorilla.
Ops 751?” Donavan repeated. “It’s not much to go on.”
“It’s all Stolz saw before Nevins shut down his computer. He said he didn’t catch the entire number.”
“I’ll get on it right away.” Donavan reached for the phone. “But it might be useless. It could be anything.”
“Try. You have enough contacts in Washington to find out who the President is sleeping with. You should be able to decipher an ops number.”
“I didn’t say it was impossible.” Donavan grinned. “And I’m glad to have something to do besides distract your daughter. She’s a great kid, but she’s too sharp. She keeps me on my toes and I’m a sick man.”
“She keeps us all on our toes.”
“And it wouldn’t surprise me if she knew what was going on.”
Kilmer frowned. “She’d better not. She may be old for her age, but she’s not ready for that.”
“The G-rated version.” Donavan waved him out of the room. “Let me get to work. I’ll try to have something for you by tomorrow.”
You’re sure that Nevins will come through?” Marvot asked. “I’m becoming a little impatient, Hanley.”
“Tomorrow. He’ll come through. I know it,” Hanley said. “I told you I’d take care of everything.”
“Yes, you did. I consider that a promise. Don’t break it.” He hung up and turned to Guillaume. “We’re getting close. In a few days the Pair should have their playmate. Won’t that be exciting?”
I have to go,” Grace whispered as she raised herself on her elbow. “It’s after five. Frankie will be—”
“Expecting you,” Kilmer finished for her. “You’re safe. You shouldn’t worry. You know Donavan isn’t going to let her run down here.”
“I still have to leave.” She started to dress. “And someone has to worry. You don’t seem to care if she finds out or not.”
“I don’t.” He leaned back on the straw. “I’m beyond that. I’ve already offered to make an honest woman of you. Maybe if Frankie knew we were . . . close, it would tip the scales in my direction.”
“She does know.”
He went still. “What?”
“At least she notices we want to spend time together. She’s not unobservant.”
“Donavan said she was too sharp to be fooled entirely. I’m surprised you didn’t panic and throw me out.”
“I would if it hurt her. It doesn’t seem to bother her if I take this little time for myself.”
“And you need it.”
She didn’t answer.
He was suddenly on his knees before her, unzipping her jeans.
“No.”
“Tell me you need it.” His lips were on the soft skin of her belly, and she could feel his warm breath as he said, “Give me that much.”
Oh, God. She was surrounded by the headiness of sight, scent, and touch. The dimness of the barn, the smell of hay and Kilmer. Kilmer’s tongue . . . “I have to go.”
His tongue licked delicately, sending a hot shiver through her. Her hands closed tightly on his hair.
“Only that much, Grace.”
Only that much wasn’t enough for her. She wanted him to pull her down again and—
She tore away from him and backed against the stall door. “Damn you, Kilmer.”
He sat back on his heels. “I have to make you want to come back tomorrow. Since you won’t simplify things and let us sleep together with all the proper sanctions.”
“Stop talking about it.” She zipped up her jeans and thrust her shirt into the waistband. “Frankie wouldn’t understand a marriage made so that two people could make out. And I don’t want her to understand. It should mean something.”
“Then stop being stubborn. Let’s give it a chance to mean something. Do you think most of those teenage kids who line up at registry offices know what marriage is all about? All they’re thinking about is sex. We have a lot better chance of making it work, because we have the maturity to fight for it.”
She shook her head and turned away. “I’m going to the house. Give me fifteen minutes before you come after me.”
“I’m in no hurry.” He stretched out on the blanket. “I believe I’ll lie here and listen to Cosmo’s melodious braying. It says something that when we’re making love I never even hear it. It has to be the most raucous sound on the face of the earth.”
“I think that’s why the Pair like him so much. He’s an outcast like them.”
“I never considered that possibility. Thanks for the insight.”
“You’re welcome. That’s all the help you’re going to get from me with the Pair.”
“You’re not thinking I’m seducing you because I want your help? No way.”
She looked back at him as she opened the stall door. He was still naked and looked tough, lazy, and completely sensual. She glanced quickly away. “No, I’m not thinking that. You’re not that good an actor. I’ll see you at dinner.”
I’ve got it,” Nevins said. “Transfer the money, Hanley. I’ll call the bank in an hour and, if it’s there, by tonight you’ll have your location.”
“You
’d better be right,” Hanley said. “I have men in St. Louis waiting for the go-ahead and I wouldn’t like to appear foolish.” He hung up.
That last sentence had been another threat, Nevins thought. But he didn’t have to worry about that son of a bitch’s threats any longer. He had control. The only thing that could go wrong was if Blockman didn’t phone Stolz tonight. But Blockman had been regular as clockwork checking in with him so far. Nine o’clock Eastern time. A conversation that seldom lasted more than two minutes and then the disconnect.
But two minutes would be enough for him.
He was ready.
There’s no Ops 751,” Donavan said when Kilmer came into the house. “But the army has several ops programs. I have my contact going through the list to see what he can come up with. It’s not easy. The 75 series are supposed to be classified.”
“You can do it?”
“Sure. There aren’t any secrets these days that can’t be brought to light. But classified takes longer.” He grinned. “Maybe another day. Top-secret could take a week.”
“The army . . .” Kilmer frowned thoughtfully. “What could Nevins be doing messing around with army records? I don’t like it.”
“If you could get Blockman to put a spur under his man Stolz to get me the rest of those numbers, I might be able to tell you.”
“He’s doing all he can.” He checked his watch: 6:15 P.M. “But I’ll talk to him before his nine o’clock call to Stolz.”
Almost time. Eight fifty-nine EST.
Nevins tensed, his eyes on the screen where he’d programmed Stolz’s number.
Come on, damn you. Ring.
The phone rang at 9:02 P.M.
He went into action. His fingers flying over the keyboard.
Bring it in. Bring it in. Bring it in.
Locked!
Yes.
His eyes were glued to the screen. There it was, whirling, zeroing in.
Just another minute. Stay on the phone one more minute, Stolz.
He didn’t need another minute!
He bent forward over the keyboard.
Got it.
No more information,” Blockman told Kilmer. “Nevins is being elusive. A week ago he was on Stolz’s heels, nosy as hell. Now he’s practically ignoring Stolz and being very cagey. Every time Stolz gets near his cubicle, he’s doing everything from making North’s and Crane’s hotel reservations to answering North’s interoffice memos for him.” He added dryly, “But curiously enough, Nevins is always in the first stages of the job. Fancy that.”