Alex Kava Bundle - Alex Kava [222]
She ignored him as he walked across the room, careful to stay out of her path. He sat down at a small table that wobbled when he leaned his elbows on it. He picked up her empty plastic glass and fingered the miniature bottle of Scotch, giving both a sniff before replacing them. His shirtsleeves were rolled up. His collar button opened. His tie removed. He looked wrinkled and tired. During one of her turns, she saw him rub his hands over his bristled face and up through his thinning hair. She’d make him speak first. She was in no mood to talk. And certainly in no mood for a lecture. Why couldn’t they just leave her alone?
“We’re worried about you, Maggie.”
So there it was. He’d have to start with a low blow, all that worrying-and-caring stuff. Plus, he was using her first name. This was serious stuff. She almost wished Turner had come instead. At least he would yell a little.
“There’s no need to worry,” she said calmly.
“Look at you. You’re wound so tight you can’t even sit still.”
She shoved her hands into the pockets of her trousers, briefly alarmed, noticing for the first time how baggy the pants felt. When had she lost weight? She continued to pace, keeping her hands hidden in her pockets. No sense in showing Delaney how badly her hands had been shaking since she’d returned to her room.
“It was an honest mistake,” she defended herself before he had a chance to make the obvious accusation.
“Of course it was.”
“From the back he looked exactly like Stucky. And why the hell did he ignore my instructions three times?”
“Because he doesn’t understand English.”
She stopped and stared at him. The thought had never occurred to her. Of course it hadn’t. She had been convinced it was Stucky. There had been no doubt in her mind.
“Then why did he run from Turner?”
“Who knows.” Delaney dug his fingers into his eyes. “Maybe he’s an illegal alien. Point is, Maggie, you not only made him splatter his veal capellini all over the pavement, you almost blew his frickin’ head off.”
“I did not almost blow his head off. I followed protocol. I couldn’t see Turner. I couldn’t see what this fucking idiot had in his hands, and he wasn’t responding. What the hell would you have done, Delaney?”
His eyes met hers for the first time, and she held him there, despite his discomfort.
“I probably would have done the same thing.” But his admission made him look away.
Maggie thought she saw a hint of embarrassment. There was more to this little visit than concern or a lecture. She braced herself and leaned against the chest of drawers, the only solid piece of furniture in the room.
“What’s going on, Delaney?”
“I called Assistant Director Cunningham,” he said, glancing up at her but avoiding her eyes. “I had to tell him what happened.”
“Goddamn you, Delaney,” she said under her breath, and began pacing once more to steady the brewing anger.
“We’re worried about you, Maggie.”
“Right.”
“I saw the look in your eyes, Maggie, and it scared the hell out of me. I saw how much you wanted to pull the trigger.”
“But I didn’t, did I? Doesn’t that count for anything? I didn’t pull the goddamn trigger.”
“No, not this time.”
She stopped at the window and stared down at the lights of the plaza below. She bit her lower lip. The lights were beginning to blur. She would not cry. She closed her eyes tight against the urge. Behind her, Delaney remained still and quiet. She refused to give him anything other than her back.
“Cunningham wants you to return to Quantico,” he said in a low, apologetic voice. “He’s sending Stewart to finish your workshop. He’ll be here in a couple of hours, so you don’t need to worry about the morning session.”
She watched