Night Watch

12

LYNCH DROVE KENDRA BACK to her condo, where he threw together his belongings and packed with astonishing efficiency.

Kendra smiled. “Something tells me you’ve spent a lot of time living out of that suitcase.”

“Too much time.” He zipped his Eagle Creek duffel and rested it on the floor. “When a piece of luggage feels more like home than my actual house, I know I’ve been doing something seriously wrong.”

“It cost Rye his marriage, and it sounds like it cost you Ashley.”

He stepped closer to her. “I’m not thinking about Ashley.”

She felt herself tense. “Out of sight, out of mind?”

“No. That was a relationship that had run its course.” His face was only inches from hers. “But this… This has been nice. You and me, here, under the same roof. I had the same feeling when you were at my place. There’s something very… right about it.”

He was too close. She was having trouble breathing. “I seem to remember a few moments when it felt anything but right.”

He smiled. “There are a few awkward moments in any new relationship. I told you that we’d get through it, and we did.”

“Relationship? I think we’re getting a little ahead of ourselves.”

“No. You just need to catch up.”

Kendra was about to toss off a flip rejoinder, but she saw Lynch was no longer smiling. “You’re still shell-shocked from losing your friend. I’m not going to take anything you say seriously.”

“I’m more serious than I’ve ever been. If Rye’s death tells me anything, it’s that it’s foolish to waste time.”

“Is that we’ve been doing? I thought that we were assessing which way we wanted to go and what was wise. At least, that’s what you-”

He’d pulled her close and was kissing her. “Assessed, hell. I’m done with that game.” He kissed her again. A hot rush surged through her, and once again she felt overwhelmed by everything that was Adam Lynch. The whiff of his scent, the feel of his facial stubble, and the heat of his deep, almost animalistic breathing.

He finally pulled away. “I’m not waiting anymore. When I get back, I want to see what this can be. What we can be. Together.”

“Really?” She was having trouble putting words together when all she wanted to do was go back into his arms, then the nearest bed. “Don’t I get a say?”

“Not at the moment. You’re still too edgy about committing to anything, and you’ll just annoy the hell out of me. I’m too aware right now that at any time a ten-ton truck could come barreling around a corner and smash one or both of us into the hereafter. Not to mention those sons of bitches who killed Rye and are still out there.”

“I told you that you were shell-shocked.”

“Yeah, maybe. Besides, it’s not necessary that you have your say.” He picked up his suitcase. “You’re not the only one who knows how to read people.”

“Is that right?”

“Yes. Of course, you make it easy for me. You have a terrible poker face, at least as far as this subject goes.” His eyes were suddenly glinting with mischief. “You keep pushing me away, but I realize how irresistible I am.”

That damn smile was irresistible.

And he was going away, and might face fatal ten-ton trucks and those men who’d killed Rye without her.

She found herself smiling back at him. “And so very modest, Lynch.”

“False modesty is no virtue. Like I said, I’m tired of wasting time.” He walked to the door, opened it, and turned around. “I hate doing this, you know. I’ll call you from England. I’m going to find out what happened, but you need to be careful. If they got Rye, they can get any one of us.”

She nodded soberly. “I know. You be careful, too.”

“Hey, I guarantee nothing’s going to happen to me.” He said grimly, “I’m mad as hell, and I have an agenda. Both of those factors can move mountains.”

He turned and left the condo.

KENDRA WAS JUST ABOUT to leave the condo again when the front door buzzed. She punched her wall-mounted intercom unit’s talk button and spoke into it. “Let me guess, Lynch. You forgot your toothbrush. Or was it your semiautomatic?”

Jessie Mercado’s voice blared from the speaker. “Neither. But it sounds like he left behind some good memories.”

Shit.

“Jessie?”

“Yes. I can come back if you want to spend more time lolling in the rosy glow of your night with Adam Lynch.”

“No lolling. No rosy glow. Come on up.”

“If you insist.”

Kendra pushed the button that unlocked her building’s front door. Jessie entered her condo a minute later. “Sorry to drop by unannounced. I was nearby and decided to take a chance.” She slipped out of her leather jacket. “Where’s Lynch?”

“On his way to England.”

Jessie’s eyes widened in surprise. “Was there a break in the case?”

“Not exactly. We told you we had someone working the case from there…”

“Yeah?”

“He was murdered. They found his body early this morning.”

Jessie flinched. “God, I’m sorry.”

“It hit Lynch pretty hard. They were old friends.”

“That begs the question… Is Lynch going there to kick ass, or is he going to pick up the trail and actually work the case?”

“Hopefully both. His friend was investigating an abandoned factory that had something to do with Dr. Shaw.”

“And with Night Watch?”

“That’s what we’re trying to find out.”

“Well, I’ve been investigating your pants-pissing kidnapper.”

“My pants-pissing attempted kidnapper, thanks to you.”

“Yeah, that guy. I decided to see what I could find out about him.”

“Between last night and this morning?”

“Sure. Hospitals don’t close.”

Kendra’s eyes widened. “What did you do?”

“There’s one nice thing about large health conglomerates… The minute Wallace Powers’s social security number went into the system, his entire medical history could be accessed from any computer in their network. Even if that computer happens to be in a fairly quiet, twenty-four-hour urgent-care location.”

“Don’t you need a key card and a password?”

“A pretty smile and a couple hundred bucks will go a long way in a place like that at three in the morning.”

“Did it tell you anything other than that Powers once sprained his ankle playing beach volleyball?”

Jessie smiled. “He did do that. How did you know?”

“A framed photograph in his house, signed by his teammates. It was between the front door and the bathroom.”

“I missed that. In my experience, these medical histories are more useful to get a sense of the employment history, emergency contacts, addresses where he lived, that kind of stuff.”

“Well?”

Jessie pulled a sheaf of papers from her inside jacket pocket. “I got all that. But there was something else here.”

“I hate to think of how many laws you’d just broken.”

“Then don’t think about it. Just think of him trying to drug you and carry you off in a barrel.”

“Since you put it that way…”

Jessie looked down at the papers. “Our friend was diagnosed with stage-four liver cancer. He was given eight weeks to live.”

“Eight weeks… That’s horrible.”

“The diagnosis was made over three years ago.”

“What?” Kendra took the pages and looked at them. “What kind of treatment did he have?”

“No treatment. At least none that appears in his records. The next time anyone in the network saw him, seven months later, he was completely cured.”

Kendra looked up from the pages. “Are you sure?”

“I had a doctor friend look these over, and he says his levels went from death’s door to perfectly healthy in a matter of months.”

“How is that possible?”

“It isn’t. As least not according to my doctor friend.” Jessie took the printouts back. “You have no idea what kind of work your Dr. Waldridge was doing?”

“No. I told you, he was incredibly coy about it. It wasn’t something that made him happy, though. I didn’t get the impression he’d come up with some all-powerful miracle disease cure.”

“He performed a miracle on you.”

“And he and the Night Watch Project made sure the whole world knew about it. They didn’t keep their miracle under wraps for years on end.” She frowned, and said slowly, “No, there’s something else going on here.”

“It was a long time ago, wasn’t it? Maybe you don’t remember it the way it was. That happens sometimes.”

“I haven’t forgotten one thing connected to Charles Waldridge. And I wouldn’t be confused or mistaken just because a little time has passed.”

“Aren’t you being defensive? A little time?”

Jessie was right to call her on it, she thought. It had been more than a little time since that day in Monterrey when everything had changed for her…

Monterey, California

Eight Years Earlier

Kendra paced alone in a back corridor of the Monterey Conference Center listening to the din of the crowd seated in the adjacent five-hundred-seat theater. She was a featured speaker at the TED Conference, an annual event which gathered interesting people to share their experiences and insights with attendees and eventually worldwide audiences on the Web.

She glanced at the exit sign, which glowed red in the dim hallway.

Tempting.

Damned tempting.

“Those doors open to the parking lot,” a voice said from the darkness. “You can make a clean break for it.”

She turned to face Dr. Waldridge as he stepped toward her. She smiled with an effort. “I could make the Santa Cruz boardwalk by sunset.”

He smiled. “What’s in Santa Cruz?”

She sighed wistfully. “The ocean. A basket of fried shrimp. A cold bottle of beer.”

“I can see your conundrum. But what about all the disappointed people you’ll leave behind?”

“They can come with me. There’s enough beer and fried shrimp for all. My treat.”

“I don’t really think that will work,” he said gently.

“No? Oh, well.” She brushed a strand of her hair behind her ear. “It was a solution. I’m having trouble forcing myself to go out there today.”

“Nervous?”

“Are you joking? I’ve done a hundred of these in the last year. Academic conferences, press events, fund-raisers…”

“Then what’s the problem?”

“Maybe I’m burned-out.” She rubbed the tense muscles at the back of her neck. “I’ve been thinking that I can’t do it anymore.”

“Of course you can.”

She shook her head. “Burned-out is probably the wrong term. It’s hard to describe. Ever since I got my sight, I feel like… I’m living in someone else’s body. Every minute of every day is a different experience. So much has changed for me.”

His lips turned up at the corners. “I don’t believe you’re telling me that you’d rather still be blind.”

“Of course not.” She turned to him and her voice was suddenly passionate. “Do you know how grateful I am to you? Every day I wake up, and I tell myself how lucky I am that Charles Waldridge agreed to see me that day in London and decided to perform a miracle.”

He chuckled. “Hardly a miracle. Pure science and medicine.”

“I know all the explanations, but when it’s all said and done, it was a miracle for me.”

“But you’ve suddenly become uncomfortable with your miracle?” His gaze was narrowed on her face. “Or maybe not so suddenly. I can’t say that I haven’t seen a few signs emerging in the past few weeks.”

She’d known he’d probably been aware of the way she was feeling. He was the most brilliant person she’d ever met, and he’d grown to know her so well. She was only surprised that he’d waited for her to confront him with it instead of stepping in and dealing with the problem as he had all the rest of the obstacles they’d overcome together. “It’s not that I’m ungrateful, but it’s been an adjustment. And when I’m still trying to figure out what my new life is going to be like, I’m having to jump through hoops. The same speeches, the same questions, the travel, the hotels… I’m looking for normal, and I’m wondering if I’ll ever find it.”

“You will.”

“When?”

“Give it time.” He was suddenly beside her, gazing into her eyes. “Don’t you realize that you may never be what people call ‘normal?’ I knew the moment I met you that even if the operation didn’t work, you’d always be extraordinary. You had a disability, but you were still working to become all that you possibly could be.” He lifted her chin, and said quietly, “And that result would have been far from ordinary. Miracles don’t always happen in an operating room, Kendra.”

She couldn’t look away from him. He seemed to be trying to tell her something that had nothing to do with conferences and cold beer and everything to do with…

What?

But he’d stepped back and was turning away. “So protect that miracle. Let yourself have time to get priorities in order before you jump into the fray. Life out there can be scary, even terrifying.”

“Terrifying?” It was a strange thing for him to say. “I’m not afraid of terrifying. It’s only the unknown. It’s what people who aren’t protected by people like my mom and you face every day. It’s called life.” She turned toward the doorway to the auditorium, where a stage manager appeared. He spoke into his wireless headset and flashed his index finger, indicating one minute until showtime.

One minute, and she’d once more be drawn into that smothering darkness. One minute, and she’d feel the chains reaching out for her again.

Kendra whirled back to Waldridge. “I’ve given it all the time I can. This needs to stop.”

He tilted his head. “That sounds very defensive. No one’s making you do this, Kendra.”

“I know it.” She moistened her lips. “But sometimes it sure feels like it.”

“No.” Waldridge glanced toward the end of the corridor, where a tall, lanky man stood. Was that coincidence? Kendra wondered. The man wore a black suit and a crisp white shirt, and his appearance vaguely reminded Kendra of a Secret Service man… or an undertaker.

“Who is he?” Kendra asked.

“A supporter of the project.”

“I’ve seen you with him before. In Dallas and New York.”

“Yes.”

She frowned. “You speak differently to him than you do everyone else.”

Waldridge looked at her in surprise. “What do you mean?”

“With everyone else, with all your colleagues, you’re the main man. You’re the boss. Everyone is always trying to impress you. But not this guy. For some reason, you defer to him.”

“That’s not true.”

“Yes, it is.”

He stared at her for an instant and smiled. “Those eyes have become very sharp in these last months. He’s a very important supporter. Everyone has to defer to someone in this world.”

“Not you. You shouldn’t have to do that. Why hasn’t he ever introduced himself to me?”

“Perhaps he’s shy.”

“I don’t believe that.” She studied the man at the far end of the corridor. He stiffened and turned toward her as if he’d felt her looking at him. He stood there gazing at her for a long moment. Then he abruptly walked away, disappearing into the darkness. Kendra’s gaze shifted back to Waldridge. “I don’t like your ‘supporter.’ He wants me to keep on doing these dog-and-pony shows, doesn’t he?”

“It doesn’t matter to him. Not at all.”

“I believe it does. Why else would he be going to all these conferences? I’m not that fascinating.”

“Oh, but you are. You just haven’t found it out yet.”

“I haven’t found out a lot of things. That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you. I know you think my appearance at these conferences help promote what you’re doing, and that’s why I’ve been on board for it.” She stared down the corridor at the spot where the lanky man had stood. “But I don’t like anyone thinking they’re so important that they can tell a man who works miracles what to do. And I don’t like the politics, and I don’t like the publicity. So you’re going to have to find another poster child. I’m bowing out. This is the last speech I’m giving for you guys.”

“Could we talk about this later?”

“No. This is later as far as I’m concerned.”

“Kendra…”

“You said I might never be normal, and that’s all right. I’ll be what I’m meant to be because I’m going to get to know who that is.” She stepped closer to him. He was so important to her. She had to make him see what she was seeing. She was willing him to understand with all her heart. “I’m going to experience everything that comes my way. I’m going to drink the wine. I’m going to reach out to people. I’m going to understand how they think and why they think it. I’m going drown myself in music. I’m going to sing and not mind if I’m not perfect at it. I’m going to live.”

She drew a deep breath, staring desperately up at him. “You mean so much to me. I’ll listen to you. I don’t know if you can convince me, but if you tell me that I’m wrong, I’ll listen, and I’ll think about it.”

He slowly shook his head. “I refuse to lose credibility in your eyes. I value your respect far too much.” He smiled ruefully. “Besides, you’ve already made up your mind. I stood here watching you, and you almost swept me away with you.”

“You understand?” she insisted. “It’s not because I don’t realize what I owe you.”

“You don’t owe me anything. I was paid in full when I watched your face that day you took off the bandages.”

“Bullshit.”

“I’ll accept the correction. Perhaps you owe me a bit more, but you have to accept that I received a huge gift that day, too.” His smile vanished. “So I refuse to collect any more compensation from you in any form. Get the hell out of here. Right now.”

She shook her head. “I’m going to do this one last speech. I won’t leave you to make awkward explanations.”

“I’m told that I’m capable of handling situations like that.” He tilted his head. “But you appear to have a plan in mind.”

She nodded. “I’ll do this speech, and when I’m done, I’ll walk off the stage and step through those doors to the parking lot. And that’s the last I want to hear about the Night Watch Project for a long, long while.”

“A fine plan.” He leaned forward and brushed a kiss across her brow. “And I hope it works out for you. I’ll miss you, Kendra.”

And she’d miss him. She wanted to reach out and touch him, keep him with her. Tell him once again how much she cared that he’d come into her life. But he’d stepped back, and the moment was gone.

She turned to go onstage.

“I want you to promise you’ll do everything that you told me you were going to do just now,” he said softly. “It will mean a good deal to me if I can look back and think of you joyously tearing full tilt through life.”

She looked back at him. “I promise. Everything I said and more.”

She went another few steps and stopped and turned to face him. From where she stood he was only a shadow-silhouette against the light, but it was a strong, purposeful silhouette. The silhouette of a man who had changed her life and made her believe she could conquer the world. “This all sounds so… permanent. I told you I want to live. But that doesn’t mean I want to do it without you. I won’t have it.” She smiled as she felt the blood pumping through her veins, the excitement of the adventures to come bringing a flush to her cheeks. “Tonight my first stop is going to be Santa Cruz. If you don’t have anything better to do, then come and have one of those ice-cold beers with me. You can toast my new life.” She turned and walked toward the stage. “And I’ll toast the existence of miracles.”

BUT WALDRIDGE HAD NEVER shown up that night in Santa Cruz. And she had been so absorbed in tasting everything that life had to offer that she had let him slip away when she should have kept him close to her.

“Hey, are you okay?” Jessie was gazing quizzically at her, and Kendra realized her silence had become noticeable. “I didn’t mean to insult that super-duper memory. I’m just trying to put things together. Nothing makes much sense.”

“It’s not super-duper. I only tend to apply myself and try to retain what I’ve learned.” She shrugged. “But I don’t have to try with Charles Waldridge. You don’t forget someone who changed your life the way he did mine.” She got to her feet. “So what are we going to do? Go back to the hospital and talk to Powers?”

“If we can get past that lawyer.”

“It was like battering against a wall talking to Powers last time. We need something to use to break through that wall.” She headed for her bedroom. “I’m wondering if I may have that battering ram and didn’t even know it. Give me ten minutes to wash my face and get my thoughts together. It’s been quite a morning. You might make us a cup of coffee.”

“Just a kitchen slave,” Jessie said as she strolled toward the kitchen. “Did you use Lynch like this? No wonder he ran out without his gun or his toothbrush.”

“I think you’ll both survive,” Kendra said dryly. “And I’m certain Lynch had a spare for anything he left behind.”

“Including you?” Jessie asked over her shoulder. “I’m not too sure about that. You may be one of those irreplaceable items.”

Kendra gazed at her in surprise. The tone was flip, but the remark was more personal than she would have thought Jessie would toss out. “Irreplaceable?” she asked.

“Yeah, you know.” Jessie was suddenly grinning. “Like my motorcycle.” She disappeared into the kitchen.

Kendra was smiling as she went into her bathroom. She should have known that Jessie would never venture close enough to be accused of intimacy. She might be amusing and brimming with vitality, but she kept her distance, and any approach had to be initiated by her.

Kendra gazed in the mirror as she washed her face and hands. Actually, she looked better than Jessie’s motorcycle. However, she could have used some of its power right now. She was feeling sad about Rye, disturbed about Lynch, and frustrated and worried about Waldridge. But at least she wasn’t alone, and Jessie had made her smile. So maybe it wasn’t the worst day she’d lived through.

But Jessie might not want to compare her to her beloved bike after she ran what she had in mind past her. The only thing she could do was talk to her and see if she would be on board. If not, she had worked alone before. She wasn’t going to stop if she had no Lynch or Jessie to go down that path with her. She tossed the towel on the vanity, turned, and headed for the kitchen.

“I like these automatic coffeemakers,” Jessie said as she turned away from the Keurig and handed Kendra a cup of coffee. “It’s called Black Magic. It sounded like the kind of brew you’d need today.”

“Thanks.” Kendra dropped down in the kitchen chair and cradled the cup in her two hands. “You’re not having anything?”

“Nah, I was at Starbucks when I had the idea that I should drop in on you. Maybe I’ll have something later.” She sat down opposite her. “Talk to me about battering rams.”

“When we were talking earlier about how Charles Waldridge and Night Watch always made sure everyone knew what a terrific advancement this stem-cell surgery was for the world, I remembered something from that last conference I attended in Monterrey.”

“And that was?”

“There was a man who followed me on the tour. I saw him in at least three cities. I never met him, but Waldridge said he was an important supporter of Night Watch.”

“Why would he be following you?”

“I don’t know. I assumed it was part of the publicity and other financial support they were trying to generate.” She made a face. “I wasn’t being very gracious after the first six months. The man was just part of the wallpaper that was making me very impatient. I wanted out.”

“But he was noticeable enough that you remembered him even though you were never introduced?”

“Not him personally. At least I don’t think so. It was the way Waldridge deferred to him. I even remarked on it that night in Monterrey. He was important to Waldridge. It annoyed me. Charles Waldridge was the most significant person in my world at the time. He was that essential to a hell of a lot of people, and he shouldn’t have had to take a backseat to anyone.”

“Whew, do I detect a case of king-size hero worship?”

“Maybe.” She was tired of denying it even to herself. “He deserves it. You only met him once. You’d have to know him, Jessie.”

“I look forward to it.” Her gaze was narrowed on Kendra’s face. “How does Lynch take all this?”

“He understands. He’s an intelligent man after all.”

“Yes, intelligence is important, and Lynch impresses me as being way above the ordinary in that department. I’m sure that he understands quite a bit more than you might want him to about Waldridge.” She waved a dismissing hand. “Anyway, you were uneasy about this man who appeared to have some kind of authority over Waldridge. Why?”

She shrugged. “I thought that he might have something to do with sending me all over the country to show off Night Watch’s wonder operation. I was feeling kind of used.”

“And you wouldn’t let yourself blame Waldridge.”

“He wouldn’t have done it.” She grimaced. “Okay, he might have persuaded me to do a few speeches and public appearances, but he wouldn’t have made me do anything that would make me unhappy. There had to be pressure.”

“Did he know you were unhappy?”

“I didn’t hide it.”

“But you didn’t discuss it. Because you didn’t want to disappoint him.”

“Sharp.” She took a swallow of coffee. “Are you grilling me, Jessie?”

“It’s how I make my living. I’m a P.I. who’s trained to look below the surface. I’d say most of the time you’re very clear and honest with yourself and everyone around you. This time, you’re doing a cover-up because you’re not certain you want to see.” She leaned back in her chair. “If Waldridge is as brilliant as you say, then he knew what you were feeling and was avoiding a confrontation. Why would he do that?”

“I don’t know.”

“Honestly?”

“Look, there was no way that Charles Waldridge would feel the same gratitude and emotion that I felt for him. I was the one receiving gifts. But he liked me, he felt pride in me. He’s a decent human being, and he wouldn’t want me to be unhappy. So I can only guess that Night Watch was putting pressure on him to keep me on that lecture circuit. It was important to them, and I have no idea why.” Her lips twisted. “Perhaps if I’d been a little more mature, I’d have probed or noticed more about what was going on around me. I was just a kid who wanted my freedom and a chance to go out and explore the whole damn world.”

Jessie nodded slowly. “I’ve been there.”

“I’m sure you have.” She looked down into the coffee in her cup. “But I’ve been thinking that maybe I should have stuck around and-” She shook her head. “The ever-alluring what-might-have-beens. You can’t go back. You just have to go forward.”

“And I’ve been there, too,” Jessie said. “So how are you taking this battering ram into the future? I’m guessing that you’re talking about this Night Watch supporter who you think had Waldridge under his thumb?”

“I thought it might be a place to start. It looked like he was lording over Waldridge, and making him do something he didn’t want to do.” She was remembering more about that night with every passing moment. “And when I finally convinced Waldridge I wanted to go, he told me to get the hell out of the auditorium. To go right now.” She added, “It was almost as if he was afraid someone would stop me. Or as if he would be forced to stop me.”

“Forced?”

“I don’t know. Maybe not.”

“And maybe so,” Jessie said. “Night Watch is very much involved from what we can find out. The word force might be significant in the scheme of things. You don’t have any idea of this man’s name?”

She shook her head. “No idea. Waldridge didn’t mention it.”

“I suppose we could go back to paperwork about your tour and see if we can find anything.”

“Eight years ago, Jessie.”

“Difficult, but not impossible. We might even find some candid photos.” She wrinkled her nose. “Though it might be time-consuming.”

“Particularly since the tour was sponsored by Night Watch for publicity purposes. It’s not as if anyone from Night Watch would have to sign up for the lectures.”

“I could still go for it.”

Kendra was silent. “Yes, but so can I.”

Jessie tilted her head, studying her expression. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“You’re right, we need a photo. To show Powers as a point of strength. To give to the FBI and see if they pull anything from facial recognition. To see if he was anywhere near Big Bear or Waldridge’s hotel.”

“And where can we get this photo?”

“You check your sources. I’ll check mine.”

“And what are your sources?”

She tapped her temple. “The one that I told you that I didn’t have. Super-duper memory. I remember what he looked like. I remember everything about him.”

“After eight years?”

“It was a very strange and special night. I felt as if I were exploding inside, and everything around me was caught, held forever. I was looking into a crystal ball and seeing my life ahead of me. He was only on the edge of that crystal ball, but he was caught in it, too.”

“And how are you going to bring him out of that crystal ball?”

“I know a wonderful sketch artist, Bill Dillingham. He’s helped me on cases before. If anyone can do it, he will.”

“Some sketch artists are terrific. But they’re only as good as the witness who gives them the description.”

“Are you doubting me?”

“Yep. Eight years, no prolonged exposure to the subject, emotional involvement. It’s a long shot.”

Kendra nodded. “I know it is. But we haven’t gotten lucky so far. I’m figuring that it’s time. As I said, I don’t have a perfect memory, but it’s pretty darn good. And that night was so special for me, it might give me the edge I need.” She paused. “I’m going to call Bill Dillingham now and see if he’ll see me. Do you want to go along?”

“I wouldn’t miss it.”

“So that you can laugh at me later?”

“No way. If anyone can pull it off, I think it could be you. And, if you really fall on your face, then I’ll be there to sympathize.” She grinned. “And then tell you I-told-you-so.”

WHEN KENDRA HUNG UP from talking to Bill Dillingham, she was frowning. The conversation had made her very uneasy, and so had Bill’s voice on the phone.

“Something wrong?” Jessie asked curiously.

“I hope not. He didn’t want to do the sketch. He told me he’d give me the name of someone else.” She shook her head. “I told him that I only wanted him, and I’d see him in an hour.”

“Pushy.”

“I didn’t like the way he sounded. Bill has to be almost eighty-five now, and he was kind of frail the last time I worked with him. I don’t think he has family. Or, if he does, he’s still something of a loner.” She got to her feet. “This may be a waste of time for you. You probably won’t be able to meet him. He doesn’t even want me to come.”

“Then I’ll wait outside.” She shrugged. “I don’t think a man that old is going to try to take you down, but a little moral support might do you some good.”

“Take me down?” She looked at her in disbelief. “That’s why you were going with me?”

“Of course not. I was interested, and I wanted to see how talented he was. I’m just accustomed to thinking in terms of protection.” She headed for the door. “Want to take my bike? It will be more fun.”

“I do not. All I’d need is to have Bill have a heart attack when we come roaring up his driveway. We’ll take my Toyota.”

“May I drive? I promise not to roar.”

“I don’t believe you could help yourself.” She headed for the front door. “I think it’s in your genes.”

“Actually, I had to work on it. I think the roar started about my second year in Afghanistan.” She followed her out the door. “I’ll tell you what. Let’s flip for it…”