Countdown - Iris Johansen [110]
“Isn’t this a waste of time? According to Jock, Colorado isn’t Reilly’s backyard,” Jane said. “He mentioned Idaho.”
“But we don’t know where to start there. He’s too damn vague about it.” MacDuff’s lips tightened. “Believe me, he’s not vague about Colorado. If you could have seen him during that month after I found him, you’d realize that.”
“But you said he didn’t have any idea what he was doing there.”
“I didn’t push it. Whatever happened there was enough to shove him over the edge.” He started up the steps. “He had enough trauma to get over without my digging into that wound.”
“You might have to do it,” Jane said as she followed him up the steps. “If he doesn’t remember that, how can he remember what went before?”
“My God, you’re hard,” MacDuff said as he disappeared into the plane. “And I thought I was being callous.”
Was she hard? The words she had spoken had come without thinking. She wanted the best for Jock. She’d help him if she could, but the importance of finding Reilly outweighed every other consideration. So maybe she was as hard as MacDuff thought.
“The bastard hurt you,” Trevor said roughly from behind her on the steps. “Screw him.”
“No.” She tried to smile. “He’s probably right. I’ve never been the gentlest person in the world. I’m not sweet or tolerant. I was even rough on Mike when he wasn’t behaving the way I thought he should.”
“Good God, now you’re having a backlash and feeling guilty?” He stopped her with a hand on her shoulder before she could enter the plane. “No, you’re not sweet. You’re intolerant as hell. You may be gentle on occasion but it’s usually reserved for dogs and Eve and Quinn.” He stared her directly in the eye. “But you’re honest and smart and you make me feel as if I’m looking at a sunrise every time I see you smile.”
She couldn’t speak for a moment. “Oh.” She didn’t know what to say. “How . . . poetic. And completely unlike you.”
“I agree.” He smiled. “So I’ll temper it by saying you’re probably also the best lay I ever had and I’m shallow enough to have wished Jock didn’t have his breakthrough on a night when I was planning on screwing the hell out of you. How’s that for frankness?” He pushed her through the doorway of the plane. “More later. I have to go up front and talk to Kimbrough.”
“I have to call Eve.”
“I expected that. It’s actually best you phone them. There’s no telling what they’d do if they didn’t hear from you or couldn’t reach you. But you can’t tell them where we are or what we’re doing. Just let them know you’re safe and you’ll contact them later. Agreed?”
Jane thought about it. “For now. They’ll be upset with me, but there’s not much to tell anyway. But I won’t keep them in the dark for long.”
“I hope to hell you won’t have to. Either we find out what we need from Jock or we don’t. But wait until we land in Chicago to make the call.”
She watched him walk down the aisle as she sat down beside Mario. Trevor had been kind and comforting, and it had surprised her in this tense moment. So much of their relationship was based on the sexual attraction that had dominated them both for years. Even now she could feel that response that quickened her pulse as she gazed at him. But now there was more than that mindless heat; there was warmth. She forced herself to shift her eyes away from Trevor. “You’ve been very quiet since we left.”
“I decided it would be foolish to try to join in the conversation when no one wants to hear me.” Mario made a face. “I managed to push my way into this trip, but I’m not welcome. So I’ll watch and listen and find a way to make my contribution.”
“Contribution?” Jane repeated. “You didn’t sound like you were opting for a joint operation.”
“I’m not foolish. I know my limitations.” He gazed at Jock. “But