Shattered Mirror (Eve Duncan #23)(61)
“A job for Manard? Then it must have gone wrong.”
“Obviously,” Jock said dryly. “Since Sean ended up in pieces. I have to tell Joe to narrow down that search on those caskets to Manhattan. And then we have to figure out why Manard sent a hired killer to New York and got him killed.”
Her gaze was searching his face. “But you have an idea or two on that, don’t you?”
“One. Singular. Because it fits in with the timeline. That was also about the time that Stanton told me you were being followed, and we found that your place was bugged. I thought it might be Kaskov or someone targeting you because of him, and I flew off to Moscow to find out. But it might have been Sean Norwalk. He could have been the man Stanton saw tailing you.”
“After me?” she whispered. “Manard sent him to kill me? Why?”
“I have no idea. I could be wrong. But it fits.”
“If he was sent from Nice … It could still be because of Darcy.”
“Not according to Rory Norwalk. He was the only one using Darcy and Sylvie for his own purposes.” He shook his head. “I’m thinking Manard sent Sean after you. I’m having Benoit try to probe deeper and come up with an answer why. He said that Manard had never been at odds with the Russian Mafia. Yet that doesn’t make sense to me. I’m betting that Benoit is going to find a feud between Kaskov and Manard.”
“But you said Norwalk was working with Manard.”
“Until he wasn’t. I’d bet that sniper who took him out was financed by Norwalk.” He straightened. “That’s all I have in mind. Most of it is guesswork. I’ll let you know more when I do. Okay?”
“It has to be.” She grimaced wryly. “However, I do appreciate knowing that I’m still tops on the hit list.” She added, “Better me than Eve.”
“I knew you’d say that.” He paused. “Do you want to come in and talk to Joe with me?”
“How accommodating you’re being now.” She shook her head. “Thanks for the courtesy, but I never said I wanted to take over anything. I know how valuable and experienced you both are. I just don’t want to be left out. And when I’m needed, I want to be there.”
His lips tightened. “I can’t promise you that.”
“I know. I’ll have to do it myself. But I had to give you fair warning.” She made a shooing motion. “Go talk to Joe. I’ll see you later.”
“Dismissed?” He was smiling curiously. “That’s another change, Cara. I’m not certain I like it.”
Changes …
“I’m not certain either.” She turned around and looked back at the lake. “I guess we’ll both have to get used to it and see how we feel as time goes by…”
*
Changes.
A presence in the darkness.
But she knew that presence very well now …
“Hi, Darcy,” Michael whispered. He was standing beside her bed. “I was sitting in the rocking chair, but my feet are getting cold. Can I climb into bed with you and cover up?”
“What are you—” She shook her head to clear it of sleep. “Michael, it’s after midnight. What are you doing out of bed? And don’t tell me you want me to go have breakfast.”
“I just thought you might be lonely. Sylvie went away this afternoon.” He smiled. “And then my feet got cold. Can I come to bed?”
“Why not?” She lifted the cover. “But only for a little while. Your mom won’t like you wandering around.”
“She won’t mind if you don’t.” He jumped into bed and cuddled close to her. She could hear the rain pounding rhythmically on the roof. The scents of lemon shampoo, Dial soap, and Michael suddenly surrounded her. Her arms instinctively went around his small, warm body. “Mama always listens when someone needs her to do it.”
“Yes she does.” She paused. “And your mom did the right thing sending Sylvie away. It was time for her to go. I’m not upset about it, Michael. Though I’m glad you decided to pay me a visit.”
“Yes, time for her to go … Always a time … Not upset…” He yawned and cuddled closer. “But maybe a little lonely because things are different and sometimes it gets confusing…”
“Different?”
“You know … Sylvie’s like you now, but still herself. She didn’t lose anything. You’ll get used to it…” He was dozing off. “She did…”
Sylvie. Still herself, all the joy and gentleness. Like Darcy, all the strength and clarity. How wonderful it would be …
As wonderful as this little boy who had come to her in the middle of the night because he’d thought she might need comfort.
“No, Sylvie didn’t lose anything,” she whispered. She brushed a kiss on his head, her arms tightening around him. “And we didn’t lose each other. You’re right, we just have to get used to something a little different. It’s just a sort of change…”
*
Changes.
“I think that Michael’s probably paying a visit to Darcy,” Eve said, as Joe came into their bedroom after his last check of the property. “I took a peek after I left the bathroom, and he wasn’t in his room.”