Countdown - Iris Johansen [107]
“We’re not going to put up with this, Mario. We can’t. Trevor will take that translation away from you in the blink of an eye.”
“If he can find it. By the time you go get him I’ll have it tucked away so well that Sherlock Holmes wouldn’t be able to come up with it. Maybe I’ll even destroy it and re-create it later.”
She stared after him for a moment with a mixture of pity and frustration before heading for the door. He’d made up his mind and was willing to withhold Cira’s scroll to get his way. In her heart she couldn’t blame him. She wasn’t sure she wouldn’t have done the same thing.
Jock was standing in the doorway of the stable when Jane and Trevor arrived an hour later. “The laird said to tell you he’d be back soon.”
“Where is he?”
“He had to talk to the guards. He said it was important.” He turned to Jane. “He’s not angry with me. I thought he would be, but he’s angry with you instead. I’m sorry.”
“It’s not your fault. He’ll just have to get over it.” She watched MacDuff stride toward them. “He’s feeling as frustrated as the rest of us, and he cares about you.”
“My, how generous,” Trevor murmured.
“It doesn’t take generosity. Understanding, maybe. MacDuff may be hard, but he’s doing all this for Jock. In a way, that’s admirable.”
“I’ll admire him too, if he can get us out of here,” Trevor said. “What about it, Jock? Can he do it?”
“Of course.” Jock said to Jane, “I watered my plants, but do you think you could get that Bartlett to do it again in a few days if we don’t come back?”
“I’m sure he’ll be glad to.” She turned and started back to the castle. “I’ll run back and tell him to—”
“Where are you going?” MacDuff was only a few feet away.
“Bartlett needs to be told to water Jock’s plants.”
“I’ve already told Patrick,” MacDuff said. “No one else need be involved in Jock’s business.”
“What were you telling the guards?” Trevor asked.
“That they’re to behave absolutely normally, as if we were still here.”
“Can you trust them?”
MacDuff gave him a scornful glance. “Naturally. They’re my people. If anyone approaches the castle, they’re to deny entrance.” He paused. “Even if they claim to be CIA.”
“I’ve no objection. I phoned Venable this morning and told him that he might not hear from me for a day or two since Mario was close to finishing the scrolls and everything was on hold until we found out if we had anything to work with to find the gold.”
“And what if he phones you?”
“Bartlett and I worked out a voice-over substitute last night, and he’ll take the calls.”
“What do you mean?” Jane asked.
“It’s a very clever little gadget you attach to the phone and it makes anyone talking on it sound exactly like you.” He smiled. “I assure you it works. It’s not the first time Bartlett has had to cover for me.”
“That doesn’t surprise me,” Jane said. She braced herself and said to MacDuff, “Mario is coming with us.”
“The devil he is.” He whirled on Trevor. “What the hell are you doing?”
“Don’t blame me.” Trevor held up his hands. “I had the same reaction, but Jane says that Mario finished the scroll and may have a lead on the gold. He won’t come through with the info if we leave him behind.”
“A lead on the gold,” MacDuff repeated. “Do you believe he’s telling the truth?”
Jane nodded. “But I’m not sure. He’s changed. He might even be manipulating us to suit himself.”
“To get his father’s killer.” MacDuff was silent a moment, thinking. “The gold is important. If Mario comes, you’ll have to be responsible for him not getting in the way, Trevor. I’m going to be too busy with Jock to hold his hand.”
“Mario’s not a child,” Jane said. “You can reason with him.”
“Like you did?” MacDuff asked.
“That’s different. We were closing him out. Any of us would have felt the same. And he had an ace in the hole with the gold. It stopped me in my tracks. As you say, it’s important.” She met his gaze. “How important is it to you? I thought you were all about righting wrongs.”
“I’m no Galahad. Yes, I’m going after Reilly.” He glanced across the courtyard