Shattered Mirror (Eve Duncan #23)(80)

“And my mother told him all about me … and Sylvie.”

He nodded. “They were lovers. He must have been very persuasive.”

She still couldn’t believe it. “She gave him Sylvie.”

“Napier might have had something to do with it. Yes, Felicity must have told Rory Norwalk details about both of you. But Napier was scared to death of Manard and probably didn’t even know the orders were actually coming from Norwalk. Everything changed when Norwalk started pulling the strings after Sean had been murdered.”

“You don’t have to tell me that,” Darcy said bitterly. “And my mother was one of those strings. They must have had a fine time together until Kaskov took out his brother, and he decided that he needed a twin to complete his plan.” She could see it unfolding. “He knew about me and Sylvie, and we were so very convenient. He threw me and Cara together, then went about getting Sylvie’s skull to give to Eve.”

Jock nodded. “That’s what probably happened.”

“Not probably. I can see him doing it. Ugly. Ugly. Ugly.” She was shaking, her voice hoarse. “And wasn’t it a plus that Cara and I became so close, and she took me into her family? What a great setup that Eve and Cara were there to have to deal with me when I fell apart when I saw Norwalk’s handiwork. Maximum pain all around.”

“As much as he could inflict.” He pulled over to the side of the road and turned to gaze at her. “He wanted to break you and have Cara see it. But he didn’t succeed. You might have fallen apart, but you put yourself back together, and the bond between you and Cara just strengthened.”

“Bullshit.” The tears were suddenly running down her cheeks. “I might have put myself back together, but I have scars, and I resent every one of them.”

“Shh.” He pulled her into his arms. “We all have scars. Accept them and let them heal. They won’t fade away, but in time you’ll be able to bear them more easily.”

She didn’t speak for a moment, her face buried in his chest. Then she lifted her head and stared up at him. “At least you didn’t give me any of that soothing, comforting nonsense,” she said unsteadily. “No lies about everything going to be fine and back to normal someday.” She wiped her eyes, then straightened away from him. “I would have socked you if you had.”

“I thought I was being comforting.” He was smiling down at her. “Truth is comfort to someone like you, Darcy.”

“Yeah.” She drew a deep breath. “And you’re very smart to realize that, Jock. And you were very smart to realize that my stiff upper lip might dissolve a little when you told me to what lengths Norwalk went to destroy Sylvie and me. And I thought that my mother couldn’t hurt me anymore, but she managed to reach out and do it. It does … hurt. You had to get me away because you knew what it would do to Cara to see me like this.”

He went still. “Not entirely. I knew it would hurt you, too.”

She nodded. “And I appreciate it. But we both know that Cara is the center, and the rest of us just revolve around her.”

“Is she?”

“Of course.” She gestured impatiently. “And I’m not going to dive into this and invade your privacy. I’m too grateful that you let me cry on your shoulder and made me feel as if I wasn’t too much of a wimp.”

“You’ll never be a wimp, Darcy.”

“Right.” She straightened in the seat. “So what are we going to do today to prove it to the world? What’s next, Jock?”

“Next, I take you back to the compound, and you can tell Cara what I told you.”

“Wrong. You said you’re going to check out some purchases by Norwalk’s men at the stores in New Orleans. I’m going with you.”

“No.”

She looked away from him. “I have to keep busy today. I’m not ready to go back over all this again with Cara. She’d be sympathetic and giving, and I’d really break down and make a fool of myself. I’m very delicately balanced these days. Give me a little time.” She turned back to him, and a brilliant smile lit her face. “And you have no idea how persuasive I can be if I put my mind to it. Clerks and cashiers literally fall at my feet to give me information. You’ll be amazed.”

“I’m sure I would be,” he said dryly. “You’re playing me.”

“A little.” Her smile never lost any of its wattage. “But it’s also true. Take me with you, Jock.”

He looked at her silently for a moment. Then he started the car and pulled out onto the road. “Okay. But if no one falls at your feet begging to give me what I need, you’re in deep trouble, Darcy.”





BLACK POOL SWAMP


“That alligator is twelve feet long.” Norwalk pushed Michael closer to the bank of the island that was really more of a huge mound in the dense stand of cypress trees. He pointed to the alligator basking in the sun of another island, several hundred yards away. “There are two more on that island but he’s the biggest. He could swallow you with one gulp. It would take a little longer for your mother. He’d have to chew her up.”

“He won’t do that.” Michael kept his eyes fixed on the alligator. “He could swallow me. Why do you keep saying things like that? Do you want to make me afraid?”