I leapt to my feet, allowing my sunglasses to fall from my lap and clatter to the deck. “Who in the world would want to kill Ophelia?”
“Leo Evans, now known as Leonard Ellis-White. Who abandoned his communist sympathies, but not all his business ties to the Soviets, after the Iron Curtain fell.” Gavin grimaced. “Not to mention, once he found a way to make more money off of capitalism than espionage.”
“He still lives in England?” I asked, as I scooped up my fallen sunglasses.
“And has accumulated a tidy fortune in a few not-so-tidy ways.” Gavin fiddled with something near the helm. “Hold on, I’m going to stop and drop anchor while I explain this.”
He sprinted out to the stern, where he worked something obviously connected to the anchor. Once he completed that task, he returned, telling me that we could now talk without worrying about the boat. “Of course, I’ll keep an eye out so we don’t drift too far, but it looks pretty calm out there right now,” he added, as he crossed to the captain’s chair.
“There are a few other boats, but not near us,” I said, after a swift glance out across the water.
“I think I can manage not to run up on any of them,” Gavin said dryly, before clearing his throat. “Now, let me try to explain the situation. But I must warn you—it’s convoluted and might be a little hard to follow.”
“I think I can manage,” I said, earning a swift smile.
“All right, where to begin …” Gavin gripped the back of the captain’s chair. “I imagine Ellen told you about Leo’s connection to Paul Peters?”
“She said he was Paul’s protégé.”
“Very true, at least at that time. But once he was recalled to England, he cut ties with Peters. I suspect Leo was angry with his former mentor for forcing him to leave.”
“Do you think Leo truly cared for Ophelia?”
“At the time, yes. However, he soon moved on.” Gavin met my inquiring gaze with a roll of his eyes. “He somehow managed to marry an heiress, which kick-started his financial rise. He believed in expediency and personal gain more deeply than love, it seems.”
“If he stopped spying for Russia, why is he on your agency’s radar now?”
“Because once you’re on it, you’re on it for life. And because he’s still engaged in business transactions with several major Russian companies. Also”—Gavin released his grip and flexed his fingers—“because his name came up amid some disturbing chatter.”
“Something involving Ophelia, I take it.”
“We didn’t know who the woman was at first.” Gavin circled around the chair and sat down, swiveling it to face me. “You see, Leo, or I should say Leonard, has become a person of influence in Britain. Not fame—he never sought that, for what I think are obvious reasons. But he’s mingled with the movers and shakers for many years. Long enough to make the kind of connections that might lead to something more than wealth. Something like a knighthood.”
I tapped my chin with one finger. “The possibility of which would evaporate if anyone learned of his earlier indiscretions?”
“Exactly. MI6, along with the U.S. intelligence communities, also wanted to make sure his current connection to Russian interests was strictly based on business, and not something more.”
“But why didn’t they expose him earlier? They knew who he was, and what he was up to when he worked with Paul Peters.”
“True, but he never really did anything important enough to risk burning British, or even American, double agents, which could’ve happened if we’d outed him.” Gavin leaned forward and clasped his knees with both hands. “Leo Evans was a low-level spy-in-training. He never actually achieved the rank where he was entrusted to do anything more than help Peters. Also, as I’m sure Ellen has told you, we didn’t want to expose Peters. He was more useful to us as someone to whom the U.S. could feed disinformation, courtesy of your great-aunt.”
“I see. Not to mention, Leo’s now wealthy and well-connected, which means he has powerful friends.”
“Right. He’s firmly established as Leonard Ellis-White, respectable businessman.” Gavin flashed me a sardonic smile. “Well, not entirely respectable, but powerful enough to maintain the façade. MI6 wouldn’t even bother, but they’ve noticed a disturbing trend in his business practices lately. A few too many contracts given to Russian companies. Throwing parties that bring together people British and U.S. intelligence would rather not see fraternizing.”
“They’re afraid he might be up to some old tricks?”
“Yes. Which is why they want to put a stop to his ability to wield influence.” Gavin’s smile was grim. “They could do that easily, if they could connect him to the former junior spy, Leo Evans, but that has turned out to be a difficult task.”
“Unless someone can positively identify him,” I said thoughtfully. Meeting Gavin’s gaze, I widened my eyes. “Someone like Ophelia Sandburg.”
“She’s the only person alive who can do so. Peters is dead, as is Isabella Harrington. Ellen Montgomery, despite working with Isabella, never actually met the guy.” Gavin swiveled his chair and checked the boat’s position before turning back to me. “It seems Ellis-White somehow learned of our interest in the former girlfriend of one Leo Evans and decided to eliminate this threat to his glorious future.”
“You’re saying he planned to kill her?”
“To have her killed. He wouldn’t do the deed himself, not now. But apparently he knows how to find and hire people willing to do it for him.”
“Is that what you heard in the ‘chatter,’ as you call it?”
Gavin nodded. “We learned of a murder-for-hire plot. We couldn’t go public with it, for obvious reasons, but no one at the agency wanted to see an innocent woman killed for the benefit of Mr. Leonard Ellis-White, Esquire.”
“So you were sent here to bring her in and have her confirm that Evans and Ellis-White were the same person?”
“No.” Gavin stood and paced the deck. “Honestly, I believe it’s best to keep her in the dark, for her own sake, as well as national security.” He stopped in front of me. “I was sent to Beaufort to watch over Ophelia and, if necessary, protect her from whatever harm might materialize. While some in my agency may want to tell her the truth, that was never my plan, and thankfully my superiors agreed. We have been trying to neutralize Ellis-White’s rise to power for some time, primarily because of his close ties to Russia. He seems far too interested in promoting that country’s business and political interests, and there’s some concern that he may be helping them in attempts to destabilize other nations. He’s been upping the ante lately, and consequently received a back-channel warning.” Gavin exhaled a gusty sigh. “Unfortunately, that tactic seems to have backfired.”
“Because it drove him to hire someone to kill Ophelia, the only living witness who could link him to Leo Evans?”
“Yes. We underestimated the lengths he would go to. Which is why I was sent here.”
“As well as to snoop through my great-aunt’s things, it seems,” I said, keeping my tone neutral.
Gavin cast me a rueful smile. “That was my idea. I thought since you’d found one coded journal, perhaps there were more. Something that would help us tie Ellis-White back to Leo Evans more definitively, without ever having to consider involving Ophelia, now or in the future. But unfortunately, I didn’t find anything.”
“So while you’re here, watching over Ophelia, I assume others in your agency are working to find and arrest the assassin?” I asked, looking up at him.
“Maybe not arrest. That isn’t really our thing,” Gavin said, with a humorless smile. “But you’re correct—I was waiting to hear that the danger had been eliminated.”
I studied his calm face for a moment. “Or to take action if said danger appeared to be imminent?”
“That was the plan.” Gavin ran his fingers through his curly hair. “Fortunately, I’ve been informed that the would-be killer is safely contained, and there’s no other on the horizon. Which is one reason I can now tell you this.”
“Ophelia is safe?”
“At the moment. We’re still endeavoring to directly tie Ellis-White to the murder-for-hire plot, which will not only effectively destroy his hopes for a knighthood, but will also ensure he doesn’t try anything like this again.”
“You won’t arrest him?”
“Like I said, that isn’t our thing, and we don’t want to bring in the British authorities if we can help it. No, it’s more of a secret pact, I suppose. If we let Leonard Ellis-White know we have damning evidence on him, he’ll be forced to toe the line.” Gavin frowned. “Honestly, the real hope is that he will quietly retire to his country estate and no longer participate in the affairs of big business or politics. My superiors believe they can force him to halt his interference if they hold the fact that he can be outed at any time as a former spy over his head. And, trust me, they’ll make sure he doesn’t try to harm Ophelia Sandburg again. Even a whisper of him planning to do something like that and they will lock him up forever.”
“I don’t know if I like that fact that he doesn’t have to pay for trying to have Ophelia killed,” I said.
“Oh, he’ll pay. A word in the right ear and his hopes of advancing in British politics or society are dashed. He may not face prison, but he’ll be thoroughly ostracized.”
“That still doesn’t seem fair.” I shifted on the cushioned bench seat. “Don’t you think he should pay more dearly for attempting an assassination?”
“Do I think so? Yes. But my superiors have other plans for him. Information can be powerful leverage.”
“They want to use him somehow.” I didn’t frame this as a question.
“Undoubtedly. How and why, I’m not sure.” Gavin’s smile was grim. “Above my pay grade.”
“I see. Well, I suppose as long as Ophelia is safe, I won’t worry about Leo Evans or whatever is name is now,” I said, sinking back against the wall.
Gavin sat down on the bench beside me. “I’m leaving his sorry carcass for others to deal with. Personally, I was more concerned over the danger to Ophelia. It’s one reason I requested this assignment.”
I side-eyed him. “You asked to be sent here?”
“I did. As you’ve learned, my ties to the Leo Evans case go back a few years. And, although you may find it hard to believe, the idea of innocent civilians being harmed due to intelligence operations does concern many agents.”
“Some, anyway,” I conceded, reading honesty in his eyes. “But if the would-be killer has been apprehended, won’t you be leaving town soon?”
“Not yet. I’m waiting for word that Ellis-White has been informed of his new marching orders.”
“Wait—does that mean you may still have to tell Ophelia the whole story in case you eventually have to ask her to identify him?” I shifted in my seat to face him more directly. “Because I think that could be quite devastating for her.”
Gavin stood and strode back to the helm. “That’s not my plan. I don’t want to involve Ophelia Sandburg if I can help it. Ellis-White might think she’s a threat, but I don’t want to use her that way.” He cast me a reassuring smile. “I asked that my colleagues try getting the hired killer to identify him first, and only use Ophelia as an absolute last resort.”
“I find it curious that you have the power to request that,” I said, eyeing him with interest.
“I have a little clout.” Gavin grinned. “Just a little, but it’s enough in this case.”
I rose to my feet and crossed to stand beside him. “I appreciate your kindness, and if she knew, I’m sure Ophelia would too.”
Gavin frowned. “Don’t be fooled—I’m not always so nice. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I must weigh anchor so we can return to Beaufort.”
After he returned to the helm and fired up the engines, I fixed Gavin with an inquisitive stare. “I have to admit I’m still surprised that you don’t want Ophelia to identify Leo Evans, or I suppose I should say Ellis-White. That would seem to give you more leverage over him in the long run.”
Gavin maneuvered the boat into a turn, pointing it back the way we’d come. “Again, let’s just say that I dislike involving civilians in these matters.”
“You’re involving me,” I said, my gaze wandering back to the glittering expanse of water before us.
“True. I suppose I should examine my reasons for doing that more closely.” Gavin tapped the wheel with his fingers, drawing my attention back to his face. “Perhaps it’s because I feel you’re something of an ad hoc colleague. You did turn over Isabella Harrington’s coded journal and have kept your mouth shut about it. Among other things.”
“I was protecting my great-aunt and Ellen,” I said, shifting my weight from foot to foot. “I don’t know if that proves my ability to keep a secret or my loyalty.”
“Both, I think.” Gavin cast me an appraising look. “Which isn’t a bad combination, in my line of work.”
I met his gaze with a lift of my chin. “Are you trying to recruit me?”
“I thought Ellen had already done that.”
“No, she’s pretty tight-lipped about anything involving intelligence work. She only told me about my great-aunt because I’d stumbled upon that coded journal and a few other things. I guess she decided it was better that I know the truth so I didn’t spill any secrets inadvertently.” I brushed back my hair with one hand. “She’s involved me in sleuthing local murder cases, both last year and now, but that’s a different matter.”
“I see. And no, I won’t try to recruit you into any serious intelligence operations, even though I think you might make an excellent spy.” Gavin flashed me a bright smile.
I shook my head, refusing to be charmed. “You should tell Ellen what you’ve just told me. About Ophelia being in danger and you protecting her, I mean. I think she suspects you have more nefarious intentions.”
“I’m sure she does, which is fair,” Gavin said dryly. “To be honest, I didn’t tell her upfront because I was suspicious of her motives. I knew what she and Isabella had done, using an innocent young woman as an unknowing informant all those years ago. I wasn’t sure she truly cared for Ms. Sandburg, and I didn’t want to risk her tipping off the wrong people.”
“Ellen would never do anything that would harm Ophelia,” I said, bristling.
“Maybe not now. But she had no compunction about putting her in harm’s way in the past. So I had to be sure.”
I opened my mouth and shut it again as I considered his words. Gavin obviously hadn’t known Ellen personally before this mission. All he knew was what he’d read in agency records. “Which is why you decided to stay with her instead of on the boat,” I said at last.
“Correct. I needed to take her measure; to see if I could trust her.”
“What have you decided?”
Gavin turned his head to look me in the eye. “That while her behavior in the past might’ve been rash and reckless, she is no longer that ambitious young officer. From what I’ve observed, I would say that she’d now do everything in her power to protect Ophelia Sandburg.”
“I believe she would. You should talk to her. Perhaps she can help with your mission.”
“Which is nearly over. But yes, I will speak with her as soon as we get back. Thanks,” Gavin added, with another swift smile. “That was the other reason I asked you on this little boat trip—to determine if your opinion of Ellen Montgomery matched my own observations.”
“Not a friendly overture, then?”
“I didn’t say that.” Gavin lifted one hand off the wheel and reached out, but before he clasped my forearm, he asked, “May I?”
I nodded, and he gave my arm a gentle squeeze.
“You’d be surprised how rare it is for me to spend any time with an attractive and intelligent woman who isn’t a colleague or part of my … research,” he said, lifting his fingers.
“The lonely life of a spy,” I said lightly, pulling my arm closer to my side.
Gavin arched his eyebrows. “Not what I call myself. Sounds too much like something out of a James Bond film. And trust me, my life is nothing like that.”
“But you are alone.” I stepped away, moving closer to the side bench and windows.
“As are you, from what I hear.”
I shot him a sharp glance over my shoulder. “I suppose that means you’ve dug into my past?”
“Of course. I had to know who I was dealing with.” Gavin motioned toward the bow. “We’re going to be rounding the island soon, and since there are sandbars and shoals. I’d better stay on my toes.”
“In other words, you don’t want to discuss what you know about my life?”
Gavin side-eyed me. “I know about your late husband, if that’s what you’re wondering. But this isn’t the time and place to talk about that tragedy.”
“There’s no time and place for that, ever,” I said, slumping down on the bench seat. “At least not with a virtual stranger.”
Gavin lifted his hands. “Forgive me, I didn’t realize your feelings were still so raw.”
“It’s only been four years.” I pressed my back into the paneling behind me. “You may think that’s long enough to grieve. A lot of people do. But”—I swore silently as my voice cracked—“it really isn’t any time at all. Not when you loved someone so much …” I choked back a sob, determined not to cry in front of this man.
Gavin didn’t say anything in response. He kept his eyes focused on the view in front of us, guiding the boat through Taylor’s Creek and back into the Beaufort harbor.
I followed him out to the stern deck after he docked at his slip and securely moored us to the cleats on the wharf. I had to admit that his skill handling the lines and everything else impressed me.
As Gavin helped me onto the deck, my foot slipped, and he placed his hands on my waist to steady me. Which was the proper thing to do, of course. But then his fingers lingered for a moment and he looked me up and down with an expression that sent a little jolt of electricity down the back of my neck.
No, you can’t let this happen, I thought, as I pulled away and stepped back.
“Thank you for the information,” I said. “And the boat ride. I just want to be clear that I’m not looking for …”
“A relationship?” Gavin offered me a wan smile. “Don’t worry. Not something I really do. And as I said, I know a little bit about you, including your love for your admittedly heroic late husband. Besides, once I get the all clear, I’ll be leaving Beaufort.”
“Oh, right. Your mission is almost complete.” I fixed him with an intent gaze. “Don’t forget to talk to Ellen, though, before you go anywhere. I think you owe her that, even if you don’t approve of her past actions.”
“I will. I’ll even shake on it.” Gavin held out his hand, but when I gripped his fingers, he clasped mine for a moment instead of giving them a shake. “Be careful, Charlotte. I know you’re working with Ellen to investigate the Lisette Bradford case. I worry you both might be in over your heads.”
“We are sharing anything we discover with the police,” I said, freeing my hand from his grasp. “Besides, Ellen is quite skillful in negotiating a crisis.”
“She’s still an older woman, and all her smarts won’t stop a bullet,” Gavin said, holding up his hands in surrender. “All right, I won’t say anything else about it. But if you do run into trouble, and I’m still in town …”
“Don’t worry. You won’t be called on to play knight errant and ride to our rescue,” I said.
“Pity. I rather like horses.” Gavin slipped on his sunglasses.
Once again, I couldn’t see his eyes. But there was something in his expression that told me he was amused.
Which was, I had to confess, irritating and intriguing in equal measure.