Always - Iris Johansen [61]
“Are you all right?” Kira asked breathlessly as she skidded to a stop beside them. She was followed closely by John Galbraith. “I was terrified when I saw that horrible man with his gun trained on you as we started to land. I didn’t know what to do.”
“You improvised beautifully,” Clancy said dryly. “Though you scared the hell out of me. I wasn’t sure you were going to be able to pull up at the last minute, and I have a distinct dislike of decapitation.”
“I wasn’t sure she’d be able to do it, either,” Galbraith said. “And she wouldn’t let me at the controls.”
“I didn’t need any help,” Kira said with a wink at Lisa. “When I was at Yale, I watched all those action TV series. The heroes were always flying around in helicopters doing things like that.”
“I told you, those were stuntmen.” Galbraith scowled. “You had no business—”
“You were lucky I even let you come along,” Kira interrupted. “Anyone who was too thickheaded to believe Marna when she said there was danger for Clancy and Lisa at the airport doesn’t deserve to be listened to.”
“Marna again?” Clancy asked.
Kira nodded. “Right after you left she realized you were in danger, but she couldn’t pinpoint exactly what it was. Only that it would be at the airport.” She waved a scornful hand at Galbraith. “He wanted explanations!”
“It’s a regrettable habit of mine to demand proof, instead of flying off on a whim,” Galbraith said caustically.
“Well, if you’d radioed Clancy’s men and had them here to protect them when they landed, instead of coming to see for yourself, I wouldn’t have had to act like a stuntwoman.”
“On the prediction of a gypsy soothsayer?” Galbraith asked. “What kind of professionalism is that?”
Clancy held up his hand. “John, do you suppose you could drop this fascinating debate on mysticism versus realism and get Baldwin to headquarters? We have some questioning to do.”
Galbraith nodded. “I radioed for a car as soon as we landed. They should be here any minute.”
Clancy turned to Kira. “I’m sorry to spoil your arrangements, but we’ll have to postpone the wedding until tomorrow. We have to clear up this mess first.”
“That’s all right. It will give me time to do it right. Don’t worry about Lisa. I’ll take her to the palace and get her settled in your quarters for the night.” She tilted her head, considering. “Maybe I’ll call a few shops and have them send out some gowns on approval. It will give her something to do. Amy Irving was wearing the most gorgeous gown at the Academy Awards when she was expecting. It had a rich, Renaissance quality, and I think Lisa would look beautiful in something like that for the ceremony.”
Clancy shook his head and turned to Lisa. “Don’t let her run you ragged. Just give her a flat-out no. There are times when she even pays attention to it. Will you be all right without me? I’ll join you at the palace as soon as I’ve wrapped this up. It’s important that I find out who the informant at the palace is, or Alex and Sabrina will be in danger. You understand?”
“Of course I understand. I wouldn’t have you do anything else.” Lisa smiled. “Don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine.” A dark blue car pulled around the corner and stopped beside them; the doors opened and several men emerged from the car. Galbraith immediately joined them and began issuing orders. “It seems the cavalry has arrived. Kira and I had better get out of the way and let you do your job.”
“I’ll have a man drive you to the palace.” He leaned forward and kissed her lightly. “If you need me, just tell Alex. He’ll know where to get in touch with me.”
She cast a last look at Martin, who was regaining consciousness and sitting up dazedly on the tarmac. How could a man with whom she had shared so much have become such a stranger? Or perhaps he’d really been a stranger all along. They had never been able to reach each other on anything but surface levels.
“Lisa?”
Clancy’s eyes were on her face, and there was something in them that reminded her of the raw pain she’d glimpsed when Martin had been taunting him. “No, it’s all right,” she said quickly. She couldn’t