Shattered Mirror (Eve Duncan #23)(102)

“Maybe. You’re thinking all the time. You’re very smart, very reasonable. I don’t want you to be reasonable about Norwalk.” She added simply, “Because then you might not help me kill him.”

He tilted his head. “Have I been demoted to a secondary position in this endeavor? That’s not how I operate.”

“You know better. Everyone else wants to keep me safe and away from Norwalk. I have to rely on you to take me to him. You’re going to do it, aren’t you?”

He was silent. “I believe I am.”

“Why?”

“Does it matter? You’ll get what you want.”

“I think it does matter.” She was frowning. “I’m not sure why. I’m very persuasive, but I don’t think that would sway you.”

“It might.” He smiled faintly. “Or it might be that you’re wrong about how reasonable I am. Perhaps I have a deep passion for revenge and feel a certain kinship for you. Or it could be that I understand the value of family and that it has to be protected at all costs. But that would reveal a weakness of which Nikolai would disapprove.” His lips twisted. “So we’ll have to discard that possibility. Suppose we leave it to the fact that I am as ruthless as Norwalk, and it amuses me to see you risk that very beautiful neck.”

“Okay.” She drew a deep breath. “Then let’s get to it. If you’re going to take me along, then you must be planning on substituting me for Eve. Right?”

“It occurred to me when Eve decided that she wasn’t going to accompany me.”

“Me, too,” she said. “And I knew it would be the first thing you’d consider since I tried to convince you that you should use me as bait for Cara.” She made a face. “But that wonderful black wig won’t work now. I’m sure that Nikolai will be able to get me a red-brown one that will do the job. He appears to be able to pull anything out of his hat. Eve is a little taller, but I’ll wear dark clothes, and that always increases the look of height.” She turned toward the stairs. “But the makeup will be more difficult. I’m too damn good-looking. It will be hard to get rid of that impression and just be very interesting and attractive.”

“I’m afraid you don’t have time for plastic surgery.”

“Tell Nikolai to get a wig that will hang straight and shadow my cheekbones. I’ll manage the rest.” She was taking the steps two at a time. “I have almost four hours…”





BLACK POOL SWAMP


“Cara, I think someone—” Michael whispered as he rolled closer to her. “Someone’s … near…”

“Shh.” She drew him into her arms. “Try to sleep, Michael. We don’t want Norwalk to come back in here.” All that poison and ugliness he’d spat at her earlier had upset Michael, and it had taken her almost thirty minutes to quiet him. “I won’t let anyone hurt you.”

“No. That’s not it.” His voice was a breath close to her ear. “Not hurt … Good…”

“What?”

“Someone’s close … Help. I thought maybe … earlier. But now very close…”

She went still. Eve had been sure that Michael had reached out to her the night of Gwinnet Square, and Cara had told her that she would believe anything that Eve wanted her to believe. But now she was faced with believing Michael himself. “It could be a dream, Michael.”

“No, don’t be scared.” He cuddled nearer. “Close, Cara. He’s so close…”

“He?” She paused. “Who?”

He shook his head. “I don’t know. But I thought I’d tell you so that you wouldn’t be afraid.”

She was trying not to begin to hope, but it was all they had right now. And wasn’t it reasonable that someone would come after them and not stop until they found them? “Sometimes you can talk to your mama. Maybe it’s her?”

“No, not yet.” He reached out and touched her cheek. “But she loves you and me, she’ll want to be—”

“On your feet, Cara.” Norwalk was standing in the doorway. “I want to show you off to the subjects of your kingdom. They’ve been waiting for you for a long time.”

Michael stiffened, and his arms tightened around her.

She had to get away from here quickly, or he might try to protect her. She gave him a quick kiss on his temple. “I’ll be right back,” she whispered as she pushed him aside and got to her knees. “It’s okay, remember?”

He shook his head. “Not safe. Just close…”

“Get out here!” Norwalk was cursing as he strode across and jerked her to her feet. “You’ve already caused me too much trouble today.” He pushed her out into the darkness only lit by the light affixed to the cypress tree rooted in the waters off the island. “Everything was supposed to go smoothly, then Brazoff screwed up.” He was shoving her down to where the stagnant water was lapping against the bank. “Nothing goes right with you. Sean died, and now this Brazoff—”

“I can hardly be blamed that the man you hired to kidnap me almost killed me,” she said dryly. “That’s unreasonable even for a maniac like you, Norwalk.”