Countdown - Iris Johansen [122]
“Last night.” He smiled. “Homeland Security hasn’t invaded MacDuff’s stronghold. So they’re basically watching and waiting.”
“And so are we.” She paused. “I don’t suppose you could rig my new phone with some kind of block so that I could talk freely to Eve and Joe?”
“Too risky. You know that.”
She had known that would be his answer. And it was the right answer, dammit. As much as she wanted to confide in Eve and Joe, it would be foolish to run that risk. “Okay.”
“Look, this is tearing you apart. It was your decision, but we all went along with it. You were right, if we’d pushed Jock he might have closed down. But if you’re having second thoughts, then say the word and I’ll have a talk with him.”
“You mean you’ll use force.”
“If I think it’s the only way. He’s our only hope and our primary stumbling block. I don’t want you having regrets for the rest of your life because you were too soft to do what you had to do.”
“I won’t be too soft.” It was true. She knew herself well enough to know that in spite of the agony, she’d make the decision she had to make if there was no other way. But, God, how desperately she was hoping there was another way. She gazed back at Mario and Jock. “But Mario had better get something from Jock pretty soon. If he doesn’t, we’ll do whatever we have to do. Including bringing in Homeland Security, the CIA, anyone who has a chance of helping. And they won’t be either understanding or gentle with him. They’ll take whatever they can get, even if they break his mind.”
“I’m not arguing. Let’s hope it won’t be necessary.” Trevor changed the subject. “But I do have another interesting bit of information you might want to know about. Demonidas.”
Her gaze flew to his face. “What?”
“I’ve been trying to keep myself busy and I found a reference to a Demonidas on the Internet. He did live during the same period as Cira.”
“That’s all?”
“Not much more.” He paused. “But he came to public attention when his ship’s log was found in Naples two years ago. It was supposedly in a good state of preservation and was going to be offered at auction by the government to benefit the local museums. There was quite a buzz about it. Collectors were lining up to bid.”
“Can we see it?”
He shook his head. “It disappeared a week before the auction.”
“Stolen?”
“Unless it walked out of that safe in Naples.”
“Damn.”
“But at least it did exist, and so did Demonidas. Does that make you feel better?”
“Yes. Anything in this mess that has a basis in concrete fact is to the good.”
“I’ll keep on looking, but I thought you’d like to know something definite. It’s been a pretty frustrating time for all of us.”
“That’s an understatement.” She smiled. “Thanks, Trevor.”
“You’re welcome. It’s worth it. That’s the first time you’ve smiled at me in days.” He reached out and took her hand. “I missed it.”
She looked down at their joined hands. It felt warm, nice. . . . “I’ve been a little on edge.”
“We’ve been balanced on that edge since the day we met. I don’t know how it would feel to be able to have dinner, go to a show, maybe sit around and watch TV together. Normal stuff.”
He was right. Normal was a state they knew nothing about. They hadn’t had the time or opportunity to discuss, explore, and truly get to know each other. It had all been sexual tension, a fine balance between trust and suspicion, and literally walking on the wild side of violence. “And do you want that?”
“Hell, yes. I want the whole nine yards. I want to know you.”
She glanced away from him. “And what if you’re disappointed when you do?”
“You’re backing away from me.”
He was right. His hand felt too good and she needed the comfort and companionableness he was giving. It made her want to cling, and she couldn’t allow herself to do that. If she didn’t have her strength and independence she had nothing. “What do you expect? This is too new. I didn’t expect to— When I was a kid on the streets, what I saw of the man-woman relationship wasn’t pretty.