Don't Say a Word - Barbara Freethy [110]
"How do you know about the break-in?" she asked.
"We have contacts in the police department."
"Do you know what they were looking for?"
"I assume something that you acquired in Russia."
"What do you mean, the first step?" Alex interrupted. "What do you foresee happening next?"
"A direct confrontation. Julia has something they want."
Brady's voice was so deadly serious, it sent chills down her spine. "But I don't know what that something is. You have to give me more information," she pleaded.
"Believe me, I'd like to help you, but I can't. My hands are tied. I'm sorry."
"You're not sorry," Alex cut in. "If you were, you'd help us."
"This is above my level. And I am sorry, because your father was a good friend of mine."
"Don't you mean is a good friend?" Alex asked.
"The last time we spoke, you neglected to mention that my father was alive. How could you make me think I was responsible for his death?"
Daniel tipped his head in apology. "I wanted you to realize this was serious business. It was a miscalculation."
Julia couldn't believe the coolness of his tone or his words. "A miscalculation? Don't you have any feelings at all?"
"In my business, feelings get you killed."
"Apparently it's not all that difficult to be reborn again," Alex said sarcastically. "My father did it. Sarah did it. Did you set up her death, too? Were you the one who called her parents and told them she'd died in a fire?"
"I had nothing to do with Sarah."
Brady sounded sincere, but Julia wasn't sure she could believe him. He obviously made a living with his lies and his secrets.
"Take the envelope," Brady said, holding it out to Julia. "Take yourself out of the line of fire."
Julia thought about doing exactly what he asked. Wouldn't it be easier to end it now before someone else got hurt, maybe someone she loved? Then again, she'd lived her whole life looking the other way and not asking questions. She didn't want to spend the rest of her days doing the same thing. "I can't," she said.
"You're making a mistake."
"At least it will be mine to make. Everyone else has had their turn."
Brady turned to Alex. "Can't you talk some sense. into her?"
"I think she's making perfect sense."
Brady held up his hands in surrender. "All right. But if you change your mind, you'll have this. Take it."
He pushed the envelope into her hand, and she thought about what it contained. She glanced at Alex, having second thoughts. "Do you think I'm putting my family in danger?"
He met her gaze with clear, honest eyes. "You might be, but it's your call."
"I guess I should think about it."
"We've got a long a drive home."
"Where did he go?" Julia asked, suddenly aware that Brady had disappeared from the house.
"I have no idea. He truly is a spook." Alex took one last look around the house. "I wonder how long my dad lived here."
"I hope someday you can ask him."
"I'm not counting on it."
As they left the house, there was no sign of the Explorer or Brady as they got into Alex's car. Alex started the engine, then moved to release the emergency brake between them.
"What's this?" he muttered. He pulled out a folded slip of paper that had been tucked under the brake and opened it. "Meet me at Pirate's Cove Cafe, Marine World, four o'clock," he read aloud.
"Meet who?" Julia asked.
"It doesn't say." Alex's gaze met hers. "It couldn't be Brady. He was just here. I think he said everything he had to say."
"Who else could it be?"
"I'd say it's a fifty-fifty chance it's either the men in the Explorer or my father. I'm not sure who I'd rather see."
"Why would someone want to meet at Marine World?" Julia asked as they pulled into the parking lot of the amusement park near Napa.
Alex considered her question as he surveyed the parking lot, which was crowded even for a Thursday. "Lots of people, neutral location, good place to blend into a crowd, and even if someone is following us right now, they wouldn't expect we'd be meeting someone here."
Julia