Authors: Iris Johansen
He nodded. “All right, I’ll be right back. Stay out of the sun.” He turned away and was soon lost in the crowd.
It had been almost too easy, but she wasn’t safe yet. Galbraith would be watching. Her every move should seem natural. She forced herself to pick up the basket Clancy had been looking at and examine it calmly. She put it down again and then sauntered across the square.
Martin was watching her. She could feel his eyes on her. She had to concentrate to keep her muscles from tensing and her steps from quickening with urgency. Body language. Clancy’s
men would be trained observers and she musn’t reveal either her tension or her panic.
She paused by a chest with fancy brass fittings, only a few feet from where Martin was standing. She shook her head at the eager young boy who rushed forward to help her. “Just browsing,” she said with a smile. He returned to his chair, picked up a cardboard fan with the words “Return to Paradise” boldly inscribed in red on its surface, and began to stir the air lethargically.
She saw a sudden movement out of the corner of her eye. “No, don’t move! I’m being watched.”
“I know that.” Martin’s voice was bitterly sarcastic. “Your new lover must be even more jealous than I am, Lisa. Bodyguards surrounding the villa, and you’re never permitted to go out without Desmond’s hand on your elbow. He likes to keep you to himself, doesn’t he?” The familiar cold savagery was back in his tone. “You haven’t been out of that house for two days. He must find you very entertaining.”
“You’ve been watching the villa?” Lisa asked, startled.
“For three days. I’ve had a really delightful time playing voyeur while the two of you were shacked up in your little love nest by the sea. You seem to have changed your mind about not having a possessive man in your life. Or does the fact that he has all that lovely loot make his little foibles all right?”
“Martin, you have to leave.
Now
. You’re in danger.”
“From Desmond’s bodyguards? Did he think that surrounding you with those men would keep me away from you? You belong to me. You’ll always belong to me. I have a launch waiting in the harbor. Come with me now, Lisa, and I may decide not to slice up your new lover.” He laughed harshly. “You never did understand violence. Well, I understand it and I know how to use it. You wouldn’t want him hurt, now would you, darling?”
Clancy hurt? The thought sent a swift surge of panic through her. Then she realized how ridiculous that thought was. Clancy was far
more dangerous and intimidating than Martin would ever be. It was Martin who was in danger. “Listen, Martin, things aren’t what they appear. I haven’t got time to explain now, but you have to get away from Paradise Cay.”
“Then come with me.” His voice was suddenly low and urgent. “I’m in trouble, but it will blow over soon. You loved me once. Everything will be the way it was, you’ll see. I need you, Lisa.”
Oh, dear Lord, she couldn’t stand this. “The woman who thought she loved you doesn’t exist anymore, Martin. I can’t give you what I don’t have.”
“It’s the boy, isn’t it? You can’t forgive me for what happened to Tommy.”
“No, it’s not Tommy.” She tried to keep her voice from shaking. “I know you couldn’t help—” She broke off. “Oh, please, Martin. Just go.”
“Not until you go with me. I can make it up to you. Let me try, baby.”
“I’m not a baby. I’m an adult. You never understood
that.” Oh, merciful heaven, the tears were too close. The memories were too close.
“Desmond must be quite a man. I’m warning you, I’ll find a way to get rid of him, Lisa.”
“His name isn’t Desmond,” she said. “That’s what I’m trying to tell you. His name is—”
“Isn’t this the dramatic moment when I make my entrance?” Clancy asked sardonically. “Just like Hercule Poirot in an Agatha Christie thriller?”
“Clancy!” Lisa whirled to face him.
“I’m afraid you’ll have to do without your hat. I thought it was more important that I meet Baldwin.”
“You knew?” she whispered.
“It’s fortunate you’re a singer and not an actress. You’d never make it on the stage.” Clancy was looking at Martin with a touch of savage hunger in his eyes. “Aren’t you going to introduce us, Lisa? I’ve been waiting a long time for this moment. I’m Clancy Donahue, Baldwin.”
“Donahue!” A flush of rage mantled Martin’s classic features. His gray eyes narrowed on Lisa’s white face with an ugliness that was
nearly tangible. “A setup? You’re shacking up with Donahue and trying to hand me to him gift-wrapped?”
“No. I tried to warn you,” Lisa said wearily. “You wouldn’t listen.”
“You didn’t try very hard. You wanted to get rid of me and then you and your police snoop of a lover could live happily ever after.”
“He’s not my lover.” She didn’t really expect to convince him. Martin always believed only what he wanted to believe.
“Don’t lie to me.” Martin’s eyes were blazing. “I can see the way he looks at you.”
“I am her lover,” Clancy said tersely. “You’re out of the picture, Baldwin. You’re also going to be out of my hair from now on.”
“The hell I am.” Martin stared at Lisa, smiling coldly. “You shouldn’t have done it, Lisa. You betrayed me. Betrayers have to be punished.” His voice lowered, grew silky and venomous. “You know, I was glad about what happened to Tommy. I knew you always put him first.”
Clancy took a step toward him. “You’re not
going to punish anyone, Baldwin. If you’re extremely lucky, you may get out of this with your skin, but you’re not ever to think of hurting Lisa. It would prove fatal.”
“Threats?” Martin’s lips curled. “You’re defending your wh—” His powerful left arm swept forward with a lightning-swift movement and struck the precariously balanced rattan chests. Suddenly the whole stack came tumbling toward them!
Lisa heard Clancy’s muttered curse before he pulled her away from the chests that were crashing all around them. She heard the shrill, angry scream of the booth attendant, and then Galbraith was beside them.
“Did you see which way he went?” Clancy asked.
Lisa’s gaze flew to the shadowy corner where Martin had stood an instant ago. He was gone!
“Through that alleyway in back of the booth,” Galbraith said. “I put Hendricks on his tail.”
“Good.” Clancy let go of Lisa’s arm and turned away. “I’m going after him. Take Lisa
back to the villa.” He jumped over one of the chests in his path and took off running.
Lisa gazed after him in a daze. Everything had happened so fast that it was difficult to comprehend.
Galbraith placed a gentle hand on her elbow. “We have to do as Clancy said, Miss Landon. Don’t worry. Everything will be fine. Clancy will catch the bastard.”
It was what would happen when he did catch Martin that was turning her panic to terror. There had been so much ugliness, so much menace in Martin in those last minutes. How could he have said that about Tommy? She could feel the sheer horror of it turn her cold and sick. She’d been so sure that guilt and desperation had caused Martin’s obsessive behavior toward her. Could she have been that mistaken?
“You’re shaking.” Galbraith frowned in concern. “Are you okay? Clancy will have my severed head in one of these baskets if he comes back and finds you sick.”
“I’m all right.” She wasn’t all right. She
could feel the dark, tattered edge of that familiar depression closing in on her, and her footsteps quickened as if to run away from it. But she knew it was useless. She hadn’t been able to escape from it for the last three years. How could she expect to do so now? “Let’s just get back to the villa.”
It was almost dusk when Clancy returned to the villa, but Galbraith had not bothered to turn on the lights. He was lounging in one of the big easy chairs in the living room, his leg swinging lazily over the wide arm.
Clancy flipped on the ceiling light as he strode into the room, and Galbraith straightened up. “Did you get him?”
Clancy shook his head. “Hendricks lost him in the alleyway.” He rubbed the back of his neck wearily. “We spent the entire afternoon searching the whole damn island for any sign of him. We finally tracked down a lead to the Coast Guard office. A man of Baldwin’s general description sailed a launch into the harbor
three days ago and has been berthed at the dock ever since.”
Galbraith gave a low whistle. “He’s been living on the boat, then. No wonder we didn’t get a tip-off from one of the hotels on the island.”
“Well, the launch is no longer in its berth, so it’s safe to assume Baldwin’s gotten away clean as a whistle. It doesn’t matter. I’ll still get him.” He shifted his gaze to the door of the master bedroom. “How is she?”
“Not good,” Galbraith said with a frown. “What the hell did the bastard say to her? She seemed to be in a state of shock. Did he threaten her?”
Clancy’s lips tightened. “Yes, but I don’t think that’s what’s causing the upset. Did she eat dinner?”
“I ordered something sent over from the dining room of the hotel, but she didn’t touch it.” Galbraith flexed his shoulders and sighed. “I don’t like it, Clancy. She’s too damn quiet. I used to see guys in Nam like that.” He smiled crookedly. “Those were the ones who usually
ended up wandering off into the jungle or developed a liking for Russian roulette.”
Clancy felt a chill touch his spine. He, too, had seen men who had repressed pain and horror until it had become a land mine inside them. “I’ll try to get her to eat later. I won’t need you for the rest of the evening, John. You can tell the other guards they needn’t come back tomorrow.”
Galbraith’s brows rose in surprise. “The surveillance is officially over? I thought you’d continue it for a few days in case Baldwin decided to come back.”
“I don’t doubt that he’ll be back, but he’s not stupid enough to make it anytime soon. He knows we’re waiting for him. My guess is that he’ll wait and try to catch us by surprise.”
Galbraith nodded in agreement. “You think he’ll still try to make trouble for Miss Landon?”
“I don’t think there’s any question about it,” Clancy said bitterly. “Thanks to the little scenario I set up, he’s not only an annoyance but an actual threat to her now. He thinks she’s
betrayed him, and there’s no telling what a psycho like that will do to get revenge.”
“Then she’ll remain under Sedikhan protection indefinitely.” It was a statement, not a question. Galbraith got to his feet. “Do I put her on a flight to New York tomorrow and arrange for an operative to cover her there?”
“No, I don’t think so. I’d have to put a battalion around her to keep her safe in a heavily populated area like New York.” Clancy frowned. “I may have to take her to Sedikhan.”
“The lady may decide she’s tired of being pushed around from pillar to post at your convenience.” Galbraith’s lips curved in a faint smile. “She could have a few ideas of her own. We can’t keep her a prisoner forever.”
“I don’t want to keep her prisoner at all. Damn, I’m tired of this mess.”
Galbraith shrugged and moved toward the door. “I’ll report back tomorrow and you can let me know what you’ve decided. Good night, Clancy.”
“Good night.” Clancy stood staring absently at the door for some minutes after it had closed
behind Galbraith. God, he was scared. He knew what he had to do was necessary, but that didn’t make it any easier. His hands clenched into fists at his sides. Do it, he told himself. Get it over with, dammit.
He turned and strode to the master bedroom and knocked briskly. He didn’t wait for an answer but opened the door and walked into the room.
Lisa was at the French windows gazing out into the courtyard, silhouetted against the last rays of twilight.
“He got away,” Clancy said. “I’m sure you’ll be glad to know your conscience is entirely clear. Baldwin is somewhere on the high seas by now.”
“I know you’re disappointed,” Lisa said, not turning around. “It’s not that I condone what he’s done, but I couldn’t be responsible for—”
“I know why you did it. I’m not blaming you. I do think you should develop a better sense of self-preservation. You heard what he said to you before he took off. You’re on Baldwin’s hit list from now on.”
“Yes,” she said dully.
He drew a deep breath. It was worse than he’d thought: her voice was totally apathetic. “I’ve sent the guards away.”
She didn’t answer.
“For God’s sake, say something,” he burst out. “What the hell is wrong with you? I feel like I’m talking to a statue.”
“I’m sorry. I’m very tired,” she said like a polite little girl. “I’d like to go to bed now.”
“Not now. We need to talk.”
“I’m very tired,” she repeated. “I’d like my sleeping pills, please.”
“The hell you would!”
“It’s all over. You said you’d sent the guards away. The pills are my property and I’d like them returned.”
“It’s not all over, and if you think I’ll let you take—”
She whirled to face him. He couldn’t see her face in the dimness of the room, but her body was as tense as an arched bow. “Give them to me. I
need
them, damn you!”
“All the more reason not to give them to
you. It’s time you stopped hiding behind them, Lisa. It’s time you came out into the light and faced it.” He kept his voice hard with an effort. He could feel her pain and desperation radiating in waves across the room. “I’ll help you in any way I can, but we’ve got to come to grips with the problem first.” He moved to the bedside lamp and turned it on. For a moment he wished he hadn’t. So much pain, so much emptiness showed on her pale face. “Lisa, we have to talk about it. You can’t go on like this.”
Her eyes widened in sudden fear. “You don’t know what you’re saying. It’s none of your business what I do, anyway. Leave me alone, Clancy.”
“I can’t do that. Do you think I want to bully you like this?” His eyes met hers. “Tell me about Tommy, Lisa.”
“No!” She turned her back on him, staring out the window. “Get out, Clancy.”
“Your son, Tommy, was born one year after your marriage to Baldwin. According to your file, you and the boy were extraordinarily close. He died in an automobile accident three
years ago. Baldwin was driving and received only a slight concussion.” Her spine was painfully rigid, as if he were flogging her and she had to tense to bear the blows. Lord, he was glad he couldn’t see her face now. “You came very close to a nervous breakdown. You were under a doctor’s care for six months, and then you resumed your career and concentrated all your energies on that area of your life.”