Chapter 60

SHE’D GONE UP to bed right after she’d convinced Andrew to leave. The look on Terrence’s face when he saw her with Andrew—and his words—haunted her. She’d fallen asleep once and woke up crying, dreaming of him walking away from her—saying he was finished with this mess, with her—then she slipped back into a restless sleep.

Close to midnight, she was awakened by the ringing of her cell phone. She picked it up quickly, only to be swamped with dismay when she realized it was Darby’s voice on the other end.

“Anne, it’s Darby. I need to talk to you.”

“Goodbye, Darby.”

“Don’t hang up.”

“Give me one good reason not to.”

“I really need to talk to you.”

Tired, Anne prompted her sister-in-law. “All right, go ahead, talk, I’m awake.”

“No, not on the telephone. I’m not far from your hotel. I’ll come there.”

“Not tonight, Darby, I’m exhausted.”

“It wasn’t my idea to call you. Terrence asked me to.”

Anne sat up, trying to make sense of what she was hearing. “Terrence? Why would he ask you?”

“I’ll explain when I get there. I know we’ve had our differences, and I’m sorry about that, but I think you’ll want to talk to me when you hear what I have to say.”

Remembering her advice to herself earlier with regard to Darby to beware of Greeks bearing gifts, she was wary, but she needed to find out what Terrence wanted. “All right, we can talk. I’ll tell the hotel to let you in.”

She put on a robe and slippers and ordered tea from downstairs while she waited. She didn’t have to wait long; Darby arrived just after the tea was delivered.

“The press has the place surrounded.” Darby looked around the room, saw the tea and headed toward it. “Thank God, I’m parched.”

“Help yourself. I had them send up regular and herbal.”

“Definitely regular for me.”

Anne inclined her head to the window in the direction of the press gauntlet. “It’s been like that all night. The hotel’s been good about not letting them inside, though.” Anne waited until Darby had served herself before pouring a cup of the herbal mint tea. Taking her cup with her, she sat on the edge of the bed.

Darby took a drink of tea, then shook her head. “The press don’t know me, so I had no problem getting through. Was it like this in California, as well?”

Anne nodded, wondering if she had the strength to go through again what she’d gone through with the press in California. Just the thought of it made her want to go back to bed, pull the covers over her head, and not move for a week. “For a while. Then they went away. These will as well—eventually. What did you need to talk to me about?”

“May I sit down?”

“Go ahead.”

Darby sat in a chair by the little desk. “So are you still planning to stay in Scotland?”

“For now.”

“Terrence was afraid you’d decided to go back to the States with the artist.”

So that was why he hadn’t called. “No. I have a job to finish.”

Darby reached out and took Anne’s hand. “I’m sorry I’ve not been very nice to you. I was wrong. I hope we can be friends.”

Anne tried to hide her surprise. “Of course.”

“I know I’ve been a right bitch to you. I’ve no excuse, but I want us to start over.”

Finally, Anne thought. She’d tried so hard with Darby before, but nothing seemed to make a difference. Now, when she was at her lowest, her sister-in-law was finally accepting her.

She could let bygones be bygones. “I want that, too.”

Darby released Anne’s hand. “How much do you know about what Terrence is working on?”

“Not a lot. I know he’s investigating Walter for some financial crimes.”

“It’s much worse than that.” Darby explained the ties they suspected Von Zandt of having with the Heidelberg University bombing and terrorists plotting similar attacks.

Anne bit her lip. Why hadn’t he told her any of that in the first place? “No wonder he wants me to quit working on the Lynstrade Manor gardens. Is that what you came to tell me?”

“No, actually, he’s decided he needs your help. If you’re agreeable.”

“My help? With what?”

“The investigation. We’ve had no luck getting anyone inside Von Zandt’s organization. He said that Von Zandt had earlier asked you and your boss to stay at his place, but you’d turned him down. Terrence suggested that you tell Von Zandt you’ve changed your mind, that you need to be somewhere the press isn’t bothering you.”

Anne frowned. “He wants me to stay at Walter’s? I don’t understand. He made me promise to stay away from him.”

“He’s changed his mind. We think you might be able to get some of the information we’ve been looking for.”

“Don’t you need a warrant or something?” Had he changed his mind because he no longer cared about her?

“Technically, we would, as we’re law enforcement, but you’re not, and if you’re a guest, there’s nothing stopping you from looking around, or paying attention to what’s being said around you. Von Zandt can hardly say he doesn’t know who you are—who you’re married to.”

Anne wasn’t sure that made sense, but she knew little about the law, and certainly nothing about the law in Scotland. “Terrence usually has a fit if I suggest doing anything he thinks is dangerous.”

“It won’t be dangerous at all. Von Zandt isn’t dangerous—he’s just the money man. Besides, he shouldn’t suspect a thing. All you’re to do is look around, pay attention, listen, and report to us what you see and hear. Frankly, we’re desperate. We’re expecting another attack within the next two weeks, and it’s likely to be worse than the last one.”

“The next two weeks?”

“Before classes get out.”

Still, Anne felt unsure. “Why didn’t Terrence come talk to me himself? I’ve called him over and over and he won’t even answer.”

“He’s in meetings with the brass. There’s a lot of pressure on him right now.” Darby gestured to the press outside. “Besides, he can’t come here unobserved, and he thinks it’s better if Von Zandt thinks the two of you are rowing. It will make him less likely to get suspicious that you’re helping Terrence.”

“But he’s still upset with me?” Anne felt humiliated having to ask Darby, but she needed to know.

“I didn’t ask him that. But he asked me to talk to you, so if he is, I think he’ll get over it.”

Anne wasn’t so sure. “You think so?”

“He’s gotten over worse from you, hasn’t he?” A hint of the old snide Darby slid through her sister-in-law’s voice, though Anne had to admit Darby was right.

“I guess so. And nothing happened.”

“Right. So what do you want me to tell him?”

Anne didn’t even hesitate. “Yes. Tell him yes. Of course, yes.”

Darby smiled. “Great. I have DC Allison Muirhead downstairs waiting. She’s a member of Terrence’s team, and he sent her to help. I’m going to have her come up and fit you with the wire we want you to wear. She doesn’t know anything about the personal situation between you and Terrence, so don’t mention anything in front of her.”

“Of course not. Will Terrence be calling me?” Anne felt her heartbeat speed up.

Darby shook her head. “He wants to, but he asked me to tell you to be patient. He needs to get Von Zandt packed away before he can think about anything else. There are too many lives at stake.”

Anne nodded. Of course, stopping more terrorist attacks was more important that this silly misunderstanding about Andrew.

A knock sounded at the door, and Darby went to open it.

A young, fresh-faced woman came in, carrying a black case. She was dressed in jeans, a t-shirt, and a denim jacket. “Lady Anne, I’m DC Muirhead. I’m going to fit you up with a wire.”