Chapter 84

WHEN THEY GOT OUTSIDE the gates of the estate, Reid expelled the breath he’d been holding and pounded his fist against the dashboard. “Oh, Christ Jesus, thank you, thank you, God.” He heard the raw relief in his own voice.

She swallowed and he saw the extent of the danger she had been in register with her.

“Good girl. Just keep driving. Pull over ahead when I give you the signal. I’ve an armed team waiting there in case they needed to come in to help get you out.”

She nodded. “I was so glad to see you. You know Moira found the wire, then? I’d hoped whoever was listening heard that.”

“Yes.”

“She said she wouldn’t tell him, but I was afraid that she’d change her mind. She took the wire and I had no way to talk to anyone. Darby told me not to use my cell phone, and when I finally decided I had to, it had no power. I guess I left the charger back at the hotel. The regular phones at Walter’s are all passworded and monitored. Then the internet was down. I didn’t have any way to contact anyone.”

“I could kill Darby for sending you in there—especially with a wire.”

“Darby said you wanted me to do it.”

“I only found out about it tonight, after you’d already stopped transmitting. Then I heard the recording and realized what had happened. It’s a miracle Von Zandt’s people didn’t find it before Moira did. They must not have been doing scans.”

“They hadn’t been. I gather they were doing them tonight because of the guests they had there. If Moira hadn’t found the wire earlier, they would have caught me with it.”

He expelled a sigh of relief. “Thank God for Moira, then. And she didn’t tell?”

Anne shook her head. “No. She’s mad at Walter.”

“I suppose she wasn’t happy about his attentions to you.”

“No.”

“And the wire? Where is it?”

“She took it to her room because she said they searched mine every day.”

“You kept it on you the whole time then? Until she found it?”

Anne nodded. “I was so scared she’d change her mind and tell about me having the wire. She’s a little unstable. I was worried that if she decided to blame me instead of Walter for him being...you know, interested in me, that she’d tell him. I was so relieved to see you.”

Reid was just barely able to control his own relief at getting Anne out safely and didn’t trust himself to speak more than the bare minimum. “Me, too.”

“I should have realized right away you wouldn’t have wanted me to do this. I’m sorry. Are you mad at me?”

“No. Not at you.”

“Darby said you thought it was too good an opportunity to pass up.”

“Even if Darby asked you, why would you agree? Not just your safety was at issue, but what about the baby?”

“Darby said it wouldn’t be dangerous and I wanted to help you.” Her eyes, so full of emotion, almost sank him. “I told Andrew not to come, you know. But when he came, I couldn’t not talk to him.”

“It’s all right, Anne. As long as you’re safe, everything’s fine.” He felt numb. Nothing was all right and he doubted if it would ever be again. His wife was almost certainly having another man’s child. The time Reid had been allowing himself with her—time for them to pretend to make a home, to make love and be together as if their lives weren’t destined to be apart—was over.

She quickly took her eyes off the road to look at him. “I’ve been so worried, thinking you’d never forgive me. I really didn’t tell him to come.”

“I know. Darby arranged it. She also set up the photographer.”

Anne rubbed her temples. “God, she must really hate me.”

“I’m so sorry. I should have kept her away from you.”

“It’s not your fault. It hurt you, too.”

He was quiet, not able to speak over the lump that had stuck in his throat.

Anne glanced at him, then spoke, her voice tentative. “Terrence, I haven’t had a chance to explain things to you. I only agreed to meet with Andrew in the hotel dining room because I didn’t think I should take him upstairs to my room. I had to talk with him, and I thought it would be much better to do it out in the open—in public.”

“I know, Anne. It doesn’t matter.” But he could tell she didn’t understand what he was saying. He could have kicked himself for causing the hope he saw spring up in her.

She smiled and happily went on talking, he thought, with the giddiness that often follows a near escape from danger. “I’m so glad to be out of there. I’ll be fine finishing the work with Jonas, but there is no way I’m setting foot in that house ever again. I was so scared. I don’t know how you do what you do.” Anne reached her hand over and placed it on his leg. At her touch an electric current shot through him, but he caught her hand and put it back on the wheel.

“Best watch the road, girl.”

She steered the car around a curve, concentrating on what she was doing. “I felt so isolated. Not being able to even tell if anyone was listening to whatever I said on the wire was unnerving.”

“Yes.” He indicated a van parked in a leeway. “Pull over here.”

When the car came to a stop, Harry emerged from the van. Reid held up his hand to signal for him to wait before approaching them. He needed another moment to finish things with her.

“Anne, you can’t go back to Lynstrade Manor. If Von Zandt finds out what you were doing, you’ll not be safe. I can’t protect you in there. I had one of Stirling’s men outside the gate watching out for you, but he couldn’t go in past the gates.”

Her mouth fell open. “You did?”

“It wasn’t much good as he could only watch you if you left the estate.”

She nodded. “I think I saw him the day I tried to set up a meeting with Darby.” Anne frowned. “Did she say why she didn’t come?”

“Apparently she finally got Stirling to go to bed with her and she was not willing to leave to make sure you were okay. I’m so sorry. If I’d known…”

Anne waved her hand. “It’s not your fault. But I do have to go back and finish the job with Jonas. I can’t leave it unfinished.”

“You can’t go back.”

“I have to.”

“Anne, please. I am begging you not to go back to Von Zandt’s.”

“I can’t let Jonas down. I’ll be really careful. I won’t go anywhere near the house and I’ll have nothing to do with Walter.”

“That’s not good enough. If Moira tells Von Zandt what you were doing, you won’t be safe there. And it’s not just your safety at stake. It’s the baby’s.”

“If he finds out, I promise I’ll leave the job, finished or not, right away.”

“That’s crazy.”

“No, it isn’t. How would I explain to Jonas or anyone else why I left a job unfinished? Walter’s not been arrested or anything. As far as anyone knows, everything is normal. All that’s happened is that my husband didn’t want me staying at the house and came to get me.”

“Anne, damn it, be sensible.”

“I promise I’ll be careful.”

He shook his head in defeat. The woman was impossibly stubborn. Maybe even criminally stubborn, if there were such a thing.

She reached out and put her hand on his arm with a hesitant, tentative touch. “Terrence, those guests of Von Zandt’s—do you want their names?”

He turned and stared at her. “You have them?”

She nodded. “I think I can write them down. Do you have some paper?”

He took a pen and a small pad out of a nook in the car and handed them to her.

“Thanks. Don’t talk while I do this, okay? The names are difficult, so I need to concentrate to write them out.”

He nodded and watched as she wrote. When she finished, she handed him the list.

Reid looked it over and shook his head in amazement. “You’re sure you got their names right?”

“Yes. But you should have them followed when they leave.”

He set his jaw. “I fully intend to.”

“Good.” She motioned to her list. “I put where they were from there, too. I think I can give a good description as well if you have someone who can draw them. I could try, though I’m better with plants than people.”

Reid stopped himself from gaping at his wife in astonishment. “That’s all right. We’ll get someone to draw them from your description.”

“Okay.”

“After that, one of my men will drive you back to Aytoun Lane. I’ve had things set up so that you can stay there. Make-shift, but it should work. Sheets, blankets, all that. I’d prefer you stay there if you insist on finishing the project here.”

She turned in her seat and beamed at him. “Thanks, Terrence.”

Averting his face from her, he went on. “I’ll have one of Stirling’s men drive you to and from the job—that way you can rest in the back of the car on the way there and back. He’ll also be with you during the day while you’re there. If anyone asks, he works for you and Jonas. He’ll be happy to act as one of your workmen, as long as his work is always right by your side.”

Uncharacteristically, Anne didn’t fight him on this. “Okay. I’ll think of something to tell Jonas about him.”

“Good. As long as Moira doesn’t tell and you act like nothing has happened, Von Zandt shouldn’t suspect you. If things change, you’ll leave the job immediately.” He locked eyes with her, determined to get her agreement on this point.

She nodded. “I will, I promise.”

He cleared his throat. “Good, then.”

“Terrence, I know you have things to do right now, but do you think you’ll be able to come back to the house later tonight?” She leaned toward him, starting to put her arms around him, but he caught her hands and kept them in his.

“No, Anne.” He took a deep breath. “I’ll be staying at the flat. And when your job is finished here, I think it’s best if you go back to California.”

She flashed a stunned face in his direction, pulling her hands back. “You won’t be staying with me?”

He shook his head.

“Why not?”

“Anne, let’s not do this.”

“But you said you knew I didn’t have anything to do with Andrew coming. And that you understood why I was talking to him.”

He made himself go on, looking out the window as he spoke. “I do, Anne, but it doesn’t change things for us.”

Her gaze went down to her hands where she had placed them in her lap. She raised them and put them on the steering wheel. She looked straight ahead at nothing.

Reid, not looking at her, cleared his throat and quickly went on. “I know how you feel about finishing the project. As you know, I’d rather you didn’t. You really should be on a plane away from here tomorrow morning.”

She just sat without speaking.

“There’ll be a man guarding the house while you’re there. He and the man that accompanies you during the day will be there for your protection. They won’t report to me unless something’s wrong. You’re entitled to your privacy. You can see whoever you like. Anyone. I mean that.” He pressed a card into her hand, letting the tips of his finger touch her briefly. “These are Harry’s numbers. Just let him know if anything seems off or if you need anything.”

“Tell Harry. Not you?” Her voice was dull, defeated. He wanted to comfort her but he had no comfort to give.

“It’s better that way.”

“I see. Thank you.” She looked down, but not before he saw the tears swimming in her eyes.

He put distance between them with his voice. “Use me as your excuse to avoid Von Zandt if you need to. You can tell him that you think I have a private investigator watching you. If he won’t give up, tell him you’re pregnant, and say I’m the father. That will likely end him bothering you.”

There was a long silence between them before she finally spoke.

“Great. Right. I’m sorry for all the trouble I’ve caused, Terrence.”

“It’s fine. As long as you’re safe, it’s fine.”

She blinked, then her head snapped around. “I almost forgot. I have something for you.” She fumbled with her hair combs, pulling something out, while her hair tumbled down around her lovely bare shoulders. Watching her, he wanted her, loved her, ached for her, all over again.

Her face impassive, she handed him a small metal device.

Reid looked at her, puzzled. “What’s this, then?”

Her voice was tired. “A flashdrive. Moira gave it to me—she copied information from Walter’s records, his bank account information for the terrorist group funding. I hid it behind my combs. When they used the metal detector on me, they thought it was my combs that set it off and didn’t make me take my hair down to check if there was anything behind them.”

His heart rose to his throat with sheer terror at the danger she had been in. “Sweet Jesus, lassie. Von Zandt would have killed you for doing that. He will, if Moira tells him she gave it to you.”

Anne showed no reaction, and Reid knew he didn’t have her attention anymore. She was still back on what was going on—or not going on—between the two of them. Her voice was detached. “I don’t think she’ll tell.”

“If he confronts her, she might. He’s an evil, vindictive man, and he won’t tolerate betrayal. Anne, you can’t go back there. If he finds out…”

“I’ll be careful.”

He sighed and slipped the flashdrive into his pocket, frustrated. “How much longer will the project take?”

“About a month. I’ll call …Harry, is it? I’ll call him if anything seems wrong.”

“All right.” Reid motioned over to a young officer coming out of the van. “There’s Simpson. He’ll drive you to have the sketches made, then home. You’ll need to switch sides with him.” He reached for the car door to get out.

She spoke, her voice soft and devoid of hope. “I won’t be with Andrew if you want me. No matter whose child it is.” She looked over at him for a response, but he could tell she didn’t actually expect to receive any reassurance from him. She knew him, after all.

He shook his head. “No, you need to do what’s best for the child. It’s got nothing to do with what I want.”

“Don’t you love me?” The tears brimming in her eyes hovered there one last instant, then started to fall.

His heart ripped apart, and he closed his eyes, swallowing his grief. “I love you so much this is killing me.”

“Me, too. Oh, God, me too.” She put her face in her hands and cried.

He knew she wanted him to take her into his arms, and more than anything else in the world, he wanted to do just that. But if he did, he didn’t think he would be able to ever let her go. So he opened the car door and started to get out. Then he turned back to her, pulled out his handkerchief and handed it to her. She took it from him and wiped her eyes.

“Anne.”

“Yes?” She was crying and put her face in the handkerchief to muffle the sounds.

“Look at me.”

She kept her face in the handkerchief and shook her head.

“Anne, look at me.”

She shook her head again.

“Please.”

She raised her head up and turned to him. “What?”

He forced himself to smile. “That’s not an ugly business dinner dress, my love.”

She sniffled and looked down at the provocative black gown as if it had suddenly appeared on her, then looked back up at him. Seeing his smile, she returned it with a tremulous one of her own. “You’re right. I’ll burn it.”

“I’d appreciate that.”