Legend of the Sorcerer (26 page)

He sighed. “I’m sorry. You’re right. Which is why maybe we should just leave it be for right now. Okay? Just get back to the status quo for a bit, let things sort themselves out.”

“Toddle off to the cottage and play with my clay, is that it?” She stalked to the door. “Men.” And slammed it shut behind her.

C
ai ran down the path to the cottage. His heart was pounding, and panic began to swell inside him. “Slow down,” he schooled himself. “I’m sure they’re both there.”

They had to be.

He hadn’t seen Jordy since she’d stormed out of his office the previous afternoon. She’d missed dinner. Dilys had told him she was working late. She’d still been out there when he went to bed. He’d woken up alone. She hadn’t been on the dock at daybreak for their morning cruise, either. So he’d gone on his own.

He hated having her angry with him. He’d barely made it around the Key when he’d turned back, intent on apologizing. He’d taken a shortcut he hadn’t used in years. It was only because he was in a hurry that he’d even remembered it. The mangroves were overgrown and a real bitch to maneuver in.

It was there he’d spied the boat.

Little bastard had been out there the whole time. And Cai had been doing just what Jordy accused him of, burying his head in the sand, wishing the whole thing would go away.

Then, to top off the morning, he’d arrived back at Crystal
Key to find a boat gone. He’d told himself it was no big deal, probably just Dilys running an errand. But the whole house had been empty. Once he’d got over the shock of not finding Alfred in bed, he’d convinced himself that he would most likely be with Jordy in the cottage. Dear God, let that be the case.

He rapped on the door.

His heart stopped, then started again when Jordy cracked the door open and peered out. Her hair was literally standing on end in ragged spikes. Her face was smudged with dusty dried clay. She wore baggy khaki shorts that rode low on her hips and a loose, midriff-baring tank top. There were circles under her eyes. She was the most beautiful sight in the world to him.

“Thank God you’re okay.”

There might be dark smudges under her eyes, but they exuded that inner fire she had when she’d been focused on a task. She didn’t look too happy at being distracted from it. “What? Why wouldn’t I be?”

All he could think about was pulling her tightly into his arms and begging her forgiveness for putting her in danger’s way. He didn’t want to alarm her, but he’d have to tell her about the boat.

“I was just worried. You weren’t on the docks this morning.” He touched her then, had to, just a trace of a finger down her clay-smudged cheek. “I’m sorry, Jordy. More sorry than I can possibly say.”

The abstract look faded from her eyes. “I’m sorry, too, Cai. I know this is difficult for you. I just get impatient.”

“I think we should talk to Alfred about all this again. Can I come in? He’s here, isn’t he?”

“Alfred? Here? He’s not in his room?”

The panic resurrected itself. “No. I was hoping he was out here with you.”

She shook her head, as if to clear it, then stepped back from the doorway, opening it wider for him to come in.

As disturbed as he was about Alfred’s whereabouts, Cai couldn’t help but be immediately drawn to the piece of sculpture that sat at the center stage in the small room. It could have commanded that spot in an auditorium.

He walked past her and stared at it. “It’s …” Suddenly words failed him. He walked all around it in awe. After a long while, he looked at her. The fatigue showed clearly now, along with obvious discomfort. “He’s magnificent. You’re …” His gaze was drawn to the dragon. “You’re incredible.”

“He’s not done,” was all she said. She pushed by him and flipped the plastic over the beast.

As a writer, Cai understood the vulnerability that came with the feeling of someone looking over his shoulder while he was working. But it didn’t stop the hurt he felt at being so cleanly shut out. Not that he deserved her trust right now. “I’m sorry,” he said. “About everything. I wouldn’t have intruded. But we have to talk. It’s important. We’ve got to find Alfred, first.”

Jordy’s irritation fled as concern filled her face. “You say he’s not in the house anywhere? What about Dilys? Could they be off somewhere together? Did you check his office?”

“I checked everywhere. Dilys isn’t home. One of the boats is gone, so I figure she’s in Mangrove.”

“Could he have gone with her?”

Dread doubled up like a fist in his stomach. What if Alfred had collapsed again? Or worse. “Oh God.” He turned and took off at a run.

Jordy was hot on his heels. “Wait, I’m barefoot, I can’t keep up.”

“I’ve got to call Dr. Fashel.” He never should have taken the jet boat out alone. He should have been here.

Jordy caught up with him in the kitchen.

“No note.” There’d been none in his office either. “Run to my room and check for a note while I call Frank.”

Clearly alarmed, she did as he asked without questioning him. She came running back as he hung up the phone. “Nothing.”

“Damn!” Cai dug his fingers into his hair. “Fashel’s secretary says he’s been gone all morning and there was no call from Dilys.” He called information and then dialed the number for the closest hospital. He argued with the admissions nurse, then, frowning, he hung up. “He hasn’t been admitted and there’s no record of him in emergency.” He swore viciously under his breath. “I should have been here, dammit!”

“You couldn’t possibly have known—”

“I found the delivery boat this morning, Jordy. The son of a bitch has been out there watching us the whole time.”

Jordy sank into the nearest chair. “You don’t actually think that he … that someone came right on the island and—” She broke off and covered her mouth with her hand.

“I don’t know what to think. The boat was tied up in the mangroves, but empty. I’m not sure where he was.” He slammed a fist on the counter. “Damn it to hell, how could I have been so arrogant to think I could handle this.”

Jordy went to him and held his face in her hands. “Stop it, this isn’t going to help them.”

He looked down into her eyes, feeling like a failure. “I left him alone, Jordy. And you. Dear God, she could have tried to do what she threatened to do. When I couldn’t find you—” He buried his face in her hair.

Jordy tensed. “What do you mean, threatened to do?” She pulled from his grasp and looked up at him. “What didn’t you tell me, Cai?”

The time for protecting her was over. Little good it had done him anyway. “I should have told you, I know that now, Jordy. I was stupidly trying to protect you, to protect Alfred, oh hell.” He rounded away from her and stalked to the window. “Margaron sent an e-mail almost a week ago. Apparently our deliveryman passed on word of your existence to her. She wasn’t happy.” He slammed his palm against the wall. “And I’ve been parading you under his nose all week. I should have sent you home to Virginia, but no. I thought you’d be better off with me. Goddamn it, how much more of an ass could I have been!”

“Stop it!” Jordy yelled. “Stop. It’s done. I’m here, I’m okay.”

He turned on her, strode across the room, and took hold of her arms. “I was selfish. I wanted you with me, for myself, for Alfred, for your art, for all the wrong reasons. I should have sent you home, Jordy.”

She looked him dead in the eye. “I wouldn’t have gone, Cai. But you’re right, you should have told me.”

“Do you have any idea how much I care about you?” he asked bleakly. “It makes my heart hurt, makes my head stupid.” She smiled a little at that and he relaxed a fraction. He kissed her then, and his world tilted a bit closer to center. “I want to do the right thing, Jordy,” he murmured against her mouth. “By you, by me, by all of us.”

“Then let me help you instead of trying to take this on all alone. When will you realize that I’m not a burden to be shouldered, but a woman who can share the burdens with you?”

“Maybe now.” He held her tight.

She reached up and kissed him again. “I’m not going anywhere, Malacai L’Baan. I’m in this for the long haul. Get used to it.”

“Maybe that’s just it, it’s very easy to get used to you being here. Always.”

She faltered a bit at that and he felt the pinch of pain around his heart. Now was not the time to pressure her for future plans.

“You said a boat was gone,” she said. “Something tells me our deliveryman isn’t involved in this little caper of theirs. I can’t see him ordering Dilys to do anything she doesn’t want to do. And if Alfred had become sick again, she’d have come to the cottage and told me, or left a note.” She took his hand. “Come on, there has to be a note somewhere around here. Dilys wouldn’t have just left without a note, no matter what the circumstances.” Her eyes widened and she turned back to Cai. “Oh, God! You don’t think … They wouldn’t do it themselves, would they?”

“Do what?”

“Go to Wales. To get the Pearl. They wouldn’t up and go there on their own, would they?” She put her hand to her forehead, understanding dawning in her eyes. “That’s what Alfred wanted Dilys to do! When I heard them arguing. He wanted her to help him retrieve the Dark Pearl.” Cai didn’t want to believe it, but even before he left the kitchen to search Alfred’s room, he had a sick feeling that was exactly what had happened.

He stared into Alfred’s closet. Clothes were missing, as were two of his suitcases. “Shit!”

Jordy picked up the phone on the nightstand.

“Who are you calling?”

“Dobs.”

Cai started to question her, then nodded in approval. “Good thinking.” He had to calm down, try to stop worrying so much, it was clouding his judgment.

She hung up moments later. “The boat is there, but he was out fishing this morning. It was in the slip when he got back. He doesn’t know anything.”

Cai grabbed the phone and punched in information, then called the airport in Miami. Minutes later he slammed
the phone down. “Only one flight to London this evening that wasn’t already booked up. They wouldn’t tell me if Dilys or Alfred is on the list of passengers.” He grabbed her hand. “Come on, we have to go check. There’s time to get there before they board.”

The phone rang and they both jumped. Cai picked it up. It was Kuhn.

“We want to come down there and talk to you,” he said without preamble. “This afternoon. Your grandfather, too.”

Cai’s gut tightened. “I’m sorry, but that won’t be possible. Listen—”

“You don’t have a choice in this matter, L’Baan. We’ve traced the meaning of the tattoo. It dates back to the Dark Ages. Your grandfather is an expert in that area, isn’t he?”

The suspicious tone sent the hairs on the back of Cai’s neck standing on end. Kuhn suspected Alfred now? This he did not need. Not now. Thinking quickly, he said, “There has been a new development. I was just about to call you.”

“Oh?” The suspicious tone increased, making Cai want to throttle him. “And what new development would that be?”

Cai reined in his temper and spoke as clearly as he could. There was no time to waste. “We’re being watched. I found a boat in the mangroves just off the Key less than an hour ago. It’s the same boat that the deliveryman used to bring me the crate containing the statue.”

“Deliveryman? You mean someone actually brought it out to the island?” Kuhn’s temper exploded. “Why in the hell didn’t you give us this information before?”

Cai’s own temper seethed. “Because I didn’t think it was important at the time.” And because you’re an incompetent asshole. “The man worked for a company called Union Parcel. Got a pen? Here’s the serial number that was on the boat.” Cai looked at the palm of his hand, the only thing
he’d had to scribble the number on earlier this morning. He read it off, rapid-fire, not really caring if Kuhn got it or not. “If you find anything out, call me. I’ll talk to my grandfather about setting up a meeting.” He hung up while Kuhn was still shouting orders in his ear.

“He really is an ass,” Jordy said.

Cai blew out a frustrated breath. “I couldn’t agree with you more.”

“What did he want?”

“He wants to talk to Alfred. I think he thinks we have a more direct role in this than that of innocent bystanders.”

“But that’s ridiculous!”

“Yeah, well, that’s Kuhn for you. He doesn’t have anything else to go on, so when he found out the symbol on the flesh was from the Dark Ages, he immediately linked it to Alfred.” He grabbed her hand once again. “Come on, I don’t want us to be here when he or his men arrive. I gave him the deliveryman and boat info to buy us some time, but he’ll be hot to talk to us for sure now.”

“You didn’t tell him about Isolde.”

He stopped and turned back to her. “I’m not going to, not until we find Alfred and find out what’s going on. Kuhn couldn’t find the truth if it was engraved on an invitation and handed to him. Let him chase down our spy. I want that bastard out of the way, anyway. I don’t want him following us to Miami. And who knows, maybe we’ll finally get lucky and he’ll tell Kuhn himself who his boss lady is. My main concern right now is Alfred.”

“Do I have time to run upstairs and change clothes?”