The In Death Collection Books 6-10 - J. D. Robb [642]
He’d lied to the police, of course. He’d never broken contact with her, had known where she was, what she was doing. He had simply assumed another role with her, that of confidant and friend.
And after a time, living the part for so many years, he grew comfortable with it.
Yet, when she slid into the booth across from him, held out a hand for his, his heart leapt.
She’d changed her hair. It was a glorious tangle of smoky red. Her skin was a pale, pale gold. He knew it was soft to the touch. Her eyes were deep, tawny, and concerned. But she smiled at him, a hesitant curve of a lush mouth.
“So, you still read it?” Her voice was soft and lightly French.
“Yes, often. Anja.” His fingers flexed on hers, then deliberately relaxed. “Let me order you a drink.”
She sat back, watching him, waiting, as he signaled a waiter and ordered her a glass of sauvignon blanc.
“You never forget.”
“Why would I?”
“Oh, Kenneth.” She closed her eyes a moment. “I wish things had been different. Could have been.”
“Don’t.” He spoke more sharply than he’d intended. It could still sting. “We’re beyond regrets.”
“I don’t think we ever get beyond them.” She let out a small sigh. “I’ve spent more than half my life regretting Richard.”
He said nothing until her drink was served and she’d taken the first sip. “The police think I killed him.”
Her eyes went wide, and wine sloshed toward the rim of her glass as her hand jerked. “But no! No, that’s impossible. Ridiculous.”
“They know what happened twenty-four years ago.”
“What do you mean?” Her hand darted out for his, squeezed like a vise. “What do they know?”
“Steady now. They know about the assault, my arrest, the suit.”
“But how is that possible? It was so long ago, and all the details were put away.”
“Eve Dallas. Lieutenant Dallas,” he said with some bitterness as he lifted his own drink. “She’s relentless. She managed to break the seal. They took me in, put me in a room, hammered at me.”
“Oh, Kenneth. Kenneth, mon cher, I’m so sorry. It must have been hideous.”
“They think I’ve harbored a grudge against Richard all this time.” He laughed a little, drank. “I suppose they’re right.”
“But you didn’t kill him.”
“No, but they’ll continue to dig into the past. You need to be prepared. I had to tell them why I attacked Richard. I had to give them your name.” When the blood drained from her face, he leaned over, clasped both of her hands. “Anja,” he said deliberately, “I told them I’d lost track of you, that we’ve had no contact in all these years. That I didn’t know how to find you. I told them Richard had seduced you, then when he was certain you were in love with him, he cast you off. I told them about the attempt to take your own life. That’s all I told them.”
She made a small sound of despair and lowered her head. “It still shames me.”
“You were young, brokenhearted. You survived. Anja, I’m sorry. I panicked. But the fact is, I had to give them something. I thought it would be enough, but I realize now, she won’t stop. Dallas will keep searching, keep digging until she finds you. Finds the rest.”
She steadied, nodded. “Anja Carvell has disappeared before. I could make it impossible for her to find me. But that won’t do. I’ll go to see her.”
“You can’t. For God’s sake.”
“I can. I must. Would you still protect me?” she said quietly. “Kenneth, I don’t deserve you. I never did. I’ll speak with her, explain how it was, how you are,” she added.
“I don’t want you involved.”
“My dearest, you can’t stop what Richard started a lifetime ago. You’re my friend, and I intend to protect what’s mine. Whatever the risk,” she added, and her eyes hardened. “Whatever the consequences.”
“There has to be more.”
Roarke ran his hand over Eve’s naked ass. “Well. If you insist.”
She lifted her head. “I wasn’t talking about sex.”
“Oh. Pity.”
He’d managed to peel the red dress off her again, and