years ago,” he said shortly, and changed the subject. “Let me put the perishables up, and then I’ll show you to a room. You’ll be comfortable here until you figure out what you need to do, okay?”
“Yes, and, John…thank you,” she said.
He nodded, well aware that she wouldn’t be all that grateful if she knew of his ulterior motives.
“Yeah, sure,” he said, stifling another twinge of guilt.
Alicia was standing on the balcony off John’s bedroom, overlooking the ocean, watching the light fading from the sky. She’d asked permission to see the view, and he’d made himself absent to let her enjoy it. Now a faint sliver of moon hung awkwardly against a growing darkness as a few wispy clouds passed in front of it. Night birds were beginning to call. A stiff breeze lifted the hair from Alicia’s neck, chilling her all the way through. She wrapped her arms around herself as a shudder ripped through her.
From behind, she heard a footstep, then felt the weight of something soft and warm settling on her shoulders. The gesture was both thoughtful and unexpected. As she pulled the edges of the sweater close around her, the scent of musk and a fainter scent of cigar smoke wafted toward her.
She hadn’t seen John smoke, yet she recognized the singular scent of fine cigars.
“Thank you,” she said softly, then looked back toward the water. “This is all so beautiful, but I’m sure you already know that.”
John knew she was referring to the view, but for the first time since she’d walked into his house, he was looking at her and seeing her as the beautiful woman she was, not just as a means to an end.
“Yes…very beautiful,” he said.
Alicia looked up, caught his gaze on her and lost her train of thought.
“Talk to me,” John said suddenly.
“I…uh…”
“Where do you live?”
“Most of the time in Miami.”
“Is that where your father is?”
She nodded.
He stifled a smile. Now he knew where to go. His suitcase was already packed. He was willing to leave her here on her own if she chose, or she could keep on running. But tomorrow morning, he was going to Miami.
Even though he’d gotten the information from her that he needed, he decided to keep her talking. The more he knew, the more likely his success would be, and he was long overdue for success.
“Why are you running from your father?”
Alicia pulled the sweater up beneath her chin and looked back across the water.
“It’s an ugly story.”
“I’ve heard ugly before.”
She was startled by the undisguised anger in his voice, reminding her that she was about to spend the night with a stranger. Still, he’d taken a chance for her. He deserved to know that what he’d done might put him in danger.
“A few days ago I overheard my father and an old friend of his discussing an impending business deal. It had to do with selling weapons to terrorists…the same people our soldiers are fighting in Iraq.”
John was stunned. It was the last thing he’d expected to hear. “Are you sure? I mean…is there a possibility you misunderstood?”
Alicia pivoted, her voice rising as she answered. “To my knowledge, there is only one Osama bin Laden, only one group called al Qaeda. Do the words ‘delivery in Afghanistan, money transfers to Geneva,’ suggest anything to you?”
John flinched as if he’d been kicked in the belly, then walked past her in the darkness, bracing his hands against the balcony rail as he stared off into the night. He’d waited an eternity for justice, but did his personal justice supersede the safety of thousands of young servicemen and women?
He turned abruptly, a looming silhouette against the sky.
“His name…What’s your father’s name? How would he have access to those kinds of people?”
“His name is Richard Ponte. He’s the largest arms and munitions manufacturer in the western hemisphere.”
Darkness hid the shock on John’s face. It seemed that the soul of the man who’d killed his people had not learned much during the ensuing centuries. Then another thought surfaced. Alicia Ponte was clearly afraid of her father’s wrath, so…what did she think he would do to her?
“Does he know you overheard that conversation?”
Alicia’s shoulders slumped. “As of this afternoon, yes.”
A chill ran through John’s body that had nothing to do with the temperature outside.
“You fear him because…”
“Because when I figure out who in Washington, D.C., I can trust, I’m going to turn him in.”
John couldn’t believe it. The Old Ones must be cackling among themselves over the twist they’d just delivered. If Richard Ponte was indeed the man he sought, he was going to have to stand in line to get to him.
“What lengths do you think he’ll go to, to stop you?”
Bile rose in the back of Alicia’s throat. This was the question that had been hanging at the back of her mind ever since she’d left Miami. Saying aloud what she feared was only going to give life and power to the fear, but she had no choice. By going with John Nightwalker, she’d put him in the same tenuous position in which she’d put herself.
“Whatever it takes to silence me.”
Even as John asked, he couldn’t wrap his mind around what kind of man could commit such a heinous act. “You think your own father would have you killed?”
“In a heartbeat.”
There was a long, uncomfortable silence, which Alicia finally broke.
“So…about now I’m guessing you wish you’d left me standing back at Marv’s Gas and Guzzle.”
She didn’t know there were tears on her face, but John saw them. Damn it…he didn’t want to feel sorry for her. Then she took a deep breath that sounded suspiciously like a sob.
“Well, hell,” he muttered.
Alicia saw a tiny flicker of moonlight catch on the tiny silver feather hanging from his ear as he moved toward her. Before she knew it, she was in his arms, with her nose pressed against his chest.
“What I wish is that you didn’t think your father is capable of killing you. That’s too much for anyone to bear,” he said quietly.
The rumble of his voice lulled her into a false sense of security. He was big and strong, and he’d come to her rescue. Lord knew she needed help. But she couldn’t continue this way without pointing out the obvious. She lingered one last moment longer, then stepped back.
“John…you have to know that by helping me, you’re putting yourself in danger.”
“You don’t need to worry about me.”
“But—”
John shook his head. He’d made his decision. He would help her get her story to the appropriate people first, then go after his own revenge. It was the right thing to do. The only thing.
“Seriously, I can take care of myself—and you—if you’ll let me.”
“I’ve already involved you too far.”
“Then the discussion is over,” John said. “I’m in. So how are you going to handle this?”
Alicia shrugged. “Carefully, that’s for sure. My father has friends in high places.