Countdown - Iris Johansen [121]
“I thought we should get to know each other.”
He shook his head. “You’re being nice to me. Why?”
“Does there have to be a reason?”
“Yes.” Jock thought about it. “You want what the rest of them want. You want to know about Reilly.”
“Why should I—” Mario nodded. “I won’t lie to you.”
He said wearily, “I can’t tell you what I don’t know.”
“It will come back to you. I want to be there when it does.”
He shook his head.
“Look at it this way. I promised I’d ask you no questions. You’ll be able to relax with me. If you want to talk about Reilly, I’ll be willing to listen. No, I’ll be eager as hell to listen.”
Jock searched his face. “Why?”
“Grozak and Reilly killed my father. He was beheaded.”
That’s right, Jock remembered Jane saying something about Mario’s father’s death. “I’m sorry. It wasn’t me. I’ve never been told to behead anyone.”
Shock crossed Mario’s face. “We know who did it. I didn’t think it was you.”
“That’s good. It would complicate things.”
Mario nodded. “I’d say that’s an understatement.” He was recovered enough to force a smile. “You’re not what I expected. But that doesn’t mean we can’t come to terms and help each other.”
Jock didn’t speak for a moment, his gaze on Mario’s face. This man wanted to use him and thought he was simpleminded enough to let him do it. He couldn’t blame him. When the fog closed down, he was barely capable of functioning even on the simplest level. But now there were periods when the fog lifted and he felt keen and sharp as a dagger.
“Don’t you want to know what’s in those scrolls?” Mario asked persuasively. “I’ve just translated one that I haven’t let anyone else read yet. I could tell you about it. You’d be the first.”
He was trying to bribe him. Jock could sense the desperation that was driving Mario. Revenge and hate and the urgency that went along with that desperation. It was strange being able to know how others were feeling when he’d been turned inward for so long.
Accept it. He was still weak and everyone around him was strong. He had to build his strength. Take whatever Mario was willing to give him. Let him use him.
Until the fog vanished entirely.
I didn’t think it would work.” Trevor’s gaze was fixed on Mario and Jock walking down to the pier. “I thought you had let Mario influence you. But it’s been two days and they seem to be best buddies.”
“He did influence me. I felt sorry for him. But not enough to let it go on if I saw any sign of him disturbing Jock. I had to fight too hard to get MacDuff to let Mario even talk to him. But it was a way to make him a deal to give us Cira’s scroll, and I knew I could yank him away if he upset Jock.” Jane shook her head in wonder. “And Mario seems gentle with him. He reminds me of the way he was when I first came to the castle. Jock tells me he jokes with him and tells him stories of his life in Italy. I don’t believe he’s asked Jock any questions at all.”
“Yet.”
“Yet.” Her hands clenched into fists at her sides. “But we’ll have to start asking questions ourselves soon. It’s been driving me crazy sitting here and waiting for Jock to get around to remembering something that could stop this horror. We can’t wait much longer for him to heal. Have you heard anything from Brenner?”
“Only that he checked out the resort where Jock worked. He sold equipment in the ski shop for three months and then just didn’t show up one day. The owner was pretty upset. He didn’t think Jock was that unreliable. He even thought about filing a missing-persons report.”
“But he didn’t do it?”
He shook his head. “Drifters come through those resorts all the time. They stay to earn a few bucks and enjoy the skiing and then move on.”
“Nothing on Reilly?”
“Not yet. He’s tapping a few sources, but he has to be careful not to tip off anyone that we’re looking for Reilly. Leaks are too dangerous right now.”
Everything was dangerous now. Including this