Eye of the Falcon (Psychic Visions #12)(68)

Panther shook his head. “Nope. We’d stay here and look after the place, take care of the birds. We’ve done it lots of times in the past. You and Eagle need to go. And you need to go fast.”

“Unless you don’t feel like you’re capable physically. I suspect that what you were being tortured for was the information in these boxes.”

Startled, she glanced down at the letter. “Do you think so?”

“They were looking for something at your cabin, remember?” Eagle said quietly.

“Yes, they were. And they were talking about my childhood.” She frowned. “But I don’t think I want to get the Irish authorities involved …”

“I have friends over there.” Eagle turned to look at Panther and Tiger. “Do we still have a couple men in Ireland?”

“Jonah is in Ireland,” Panther said. “You know he would be more than happy to help.”

“Can he look into this for me?” Issa asked. “Then I wouldn’t have to go.”

The men turned long thoughtful stares at her.

She flushed. “I guess I’m scared,” she whispered. “I don’t want to be caught again, and I don’t have a clue what to do with this stuff.”

“It’s always better to face these things head-on,” Eagle said.

She shuddered, realizing that really was the best way. She gave a quick nod. “How long do we need? How quickly can we leave? I don’t want to be away from my friends. I’m still trying to heal and help Roash and Humbug. Then there are the men here causing trouble.”

“We can be there by noon tomorrow,” Eagle said. “At least in England, then on to Ireland. It depends on how far away this place is. So it’s possible we can be home in three days.”

Her gaze widened. “And Humbug?”

He stared at her gently, and she knew what he was thinking. He had no proof Humbug was even alive. That she was able to help him. “Can you tell me exactly where Humbug is?”

“No.” She shook her head. “You go.”

“Without you?”

She stared at him steadily. “I’m not well enough to fly. You know that. I need to be here for Humbug, and I trust you. You can bring back whatever is in the safe-deposit box and in the house. That’s the best answer.” She got up and hobbled her way to bed. “I’m going back to sleep.”

In her room she clutched the letter from her mother in her hand. She sat down on the bed and tucked under the blankets. She folded the letter and put it on the night table. Closing her eyes, she fell asleep.

When she woke up the next morning, the sun shone into her room. She sat up, listening to the silence of the empty house, and slipped out to the bathroom. She didn’t want to leave here. Not to go home and not to go to Ireland. But this was Eagle’s home. Had he left for Ireland already? She closed her eyes and searched for him mentally.

And found him. She frowned, walked out the back door, stood on the little deck, and stared. He was across the yard at the pens. He raised a hand in greeting and carried on. She smiled as the birds came to greet her. Some were on the roof above; some flew in the sky.

So many were lined up on the railing beside her. This was why she couldn’t leave. She knew they didn’t need her—she needed them. She stroked the beautiful feathers of the few closest to her.

Eagle asked, “How do you feel?”

“Good,” she said in a determined voice, afraid he would try to persuade her to go to Ireland. “I don’t want to go to Ireland,” she said in a firm voice. “My decision is final.”

He gave a clipped nod and said, “Good. Panther and Tiger went for us instead.”

“They what?” she exclaimed in both horror and relief.

He shrugged. “I trust them with my life. I have many times. They’ve already left to catch the plane.” He glanced down at his watch. “When they hit Ireland, I’ll let you know. And then it’s a quick hop to the bank and to the address we have.” He gave her a smile. “If you want to, you can put on some coffee. I found an old carafe that fits.” With that he turned and headed back toward the birds.

Leaving her standing, staring after him.

*

He could feel her gaze following him every step he took away from her. He knew he’d startled her. But he also knew she was relieved. So was he. It was one thing to take her when she was healthy and fit. It was another thing entirely when she was still recovering. And he had meant it when he’d said he trusted Panther and Tiger with his life—he had done so many times. They’d gone on many missions together for years. They had a network of men throughout the world to call on if they needed to.

He went back to the incubators and checked on the timing of the different units. Recording his notes on the big clipboard to the side, he shuffled feedbags and opened up the freezers. He was due to get more fish in soon. He hoped he had enough to get through this nightmare. The fisheries often dropped off crates of frozen fish for him—usually an illegal catch that had been confiscated.

He opened up a bundle of fish, took up his ax, and chopped up several chunks on the big board he kept on the ground. He’d leave them to thaw while he carried on feeding the others.

By the time he came back, the fish had thawed nicely in a pool of juices. He divvied up portions and carried them out to the eagles. After they were fed, he grabbed his big heavy metal rake and cleaned up the base of the pens. With that done, he dumped the load, set the rake in the wheelbarrow, and parked both beside the pens.