Fatal Tide - Iris Johansen [88]
He was silent a moment. “I might have mentioned them. He said he needed a hook. We were discussing options.”
She felt sick. “Options? My God.” Rage seared through her. She took a step closer. “Carolyn died because you told him about her and those files. You son of a bitch. He butchered her.”
His eyes widened. “She's dead?”
“What did you think would happen when you turned that bastard loose on her? No, you set everything in motion and then just sat here on your island and waited for Marinth to drop into your lap.”
“I never intended for her to be hurt.”
“Like you never intended for Kelby to be killed?”
He moistened his lips. “I never admitted—”
“You may be a dreamer, but you're not a fool. Somewhere in the back of your mind you must have known what the possibilities were with Carolyn.” Her voice was shaking with rage. “You didn't care about Carolyn. You didn't care about Kelby. You didn't care about me. You didn't care about anything but Marinth.”
“You're not being fair. I cared about you. I've always been very fond of you, Melis.”
“Have you? Is that why you forgot the years we spent together? Is that why you made a deal to kill Kelby? Is that why you let Archer kill my best friend? Is that why you let loose that murderer to tear me apart with his filth?”
“It's not my fault.” He tried to smile. “And no one could tear you apart. I know how strong you are. I knew you'd bounce back. You were always a gutsy—”
“It's no use talking to you. You're as much a murderer as Archer, and you don't even realize it. Well, I realize it. Damn you to hell, Phil.” She turned and stalked toward the car.
“You never understood about Marinth. I was right,” he called after her. “It's not my fault every little thing didn't work out. You've got to get them to give back my chest. I need it.”
Every little thing? Melis thought in astonishment. Three innocent people had died because of Phil's passion for a dead city. He still didn't realize the enormity of what he'd done. He probably never would.
“I think letting Lontana sit here in his cozy little cottage is a mistake,” Kelby murmured as he opened the car's back door for her. “Why don't you and Nicholas wait for me while I go back and make sure Lontana never causes you this kind of grief again?”
She shook her head.
“Why not? He's officially dead anyway.”
He meant it. His expression was harder than she'd ever seen it.
She shook her head again.
He shrugged. “Okay. Maybe later. I guess you've gone through enough tonight.” He got into the backseat beside her. “Let's go, Nicholas.”
“He deserves it, Melis,” Nicholas said as he started the car. “You should reconsider.”
“I know he deserves it. I . . . just can't handle it right now. He did help me when I needed him. That keeps getting in the way.” She wearily rubbed her temple. “And he doesn't even think he's done anything wrong. He has a missing cog in his conscience where Marinth is concerned.”
“How did you know it was Lontana?” Kelby asked.
“I didn't know. I guessed. It was all wrong. I was lying in that doctor's cottage and trying to piece it together, but I couldn't. You told me that you didn't do it. And the only other two people who knew where it was buried were Phil and me.”
“I could have been lying.”
She shook her head. “I knew you weren't. I'm sorry I had to ask you.”
“I'm sorry too. I was ready to strangle you.”
“I know. But I had to be sure. The other explanation was too wild for me to accept.” Her lips twisted. “No, that's not true. It hurt too much to realize Phil could do that to me.”
“I think Nicholas should turn the car around.”
“No.” She leaned her head back on the seat. She was bone-weary and hurting in mind and body. And maybe in her heart. She had mourned Phil in Athens, but the separation she felt now was deeper, sharper, bitter. “If I didn't do it and you didn't do it, then Phil had to have moved the papers. What reason would