Long After Midnight (14 page)

“Dessert,” Noah announced. “Sorry, I didn’t have time to put together anything. We’ll have to settle for a store-bought cherry pie.” He got up from the table and disappeared behind the breakfast bar into the kitchen area.

“He’s good,” Phyliss said as she leaned back in her chair. “Steak, potatoes, homemade biscuits, and pie.”

“He likes food,” Kate told her.

Joshua took the last of his biscuit and mopped up the gravy from his plate. “Did you know he shot out that tire from six hundred yards?”

“No,” Kate said. “He told you that?”

Joshua nodded. “He used to do it all the time when he was a sharpshooter in the Special Forces. But he said that was a while ago. All he’s been doing lately is target shooting with Seth.” He popped the biscuit in his mouth. “He says Seth can hit a bull’s-eye from a thousand yards.”

“Don’t talk with your mouth full,” Kate said.

“Sorry.”

“And who is Seth?” Phyliss asked Joshua.

“Noah’s friend. He was the one who came to the house that night.”

Phyliss looked at Kate. “That was the man? I only caught a glimpse of him.”

Kate nodded.

“He lives at the ranger station a few miles from here. Noah said he’d take me there tomorrow.” Joshua shook his head. “A thousand yards . . . Dad told me practically no one could do that. And Seth knows all about tracking.”

“That’s nice.” Noah had spent his time well when he’d had Joshua helping in the kitchen while he prepared dinner. He’d not only filled Joshua with admiration and enthusiasm but primed him to renew his acquaintance with Seth. The man never gave up. Kate wondered why she wasn’t more annoyed. Maybe it had something to do with the flames crackling in the fireplace across the room, a full belly, and the feeling of cozy isolation in this aerie in the woods. Was he manipulating her again? Probably, but it didn’t matter as long as she recognized it and could deal with it. “But it depends on what you track and what happens when you find the quarry.”

“Oh, Seth doesn’t shoot any animals. He just tracks them and gets them in his sights. Noah says animals aren’t fair game for him.”

And what was fair game for a man who could hit a target at a thousand yards?

“Noah says Seth would probably take me along if I asked him.” He gave her a wary glance. “No guns. I know you don’t like hunting. I’d only take my camera. People go on camera safaris all the time. I bet I’d get extra credit when I get back to school.”

“We’ll talk about it later.”

“But it would be good exercise, and you always say I should—”

“Give it a rest, Joshua,” Phyliss advised. “Your mom’s tired.”

He sighed and pushed back his chair. “I’ll go help Noah.”

Phyliss smiled as she watched Joshua leave. “He’s excited. A new interest isn’t a bad thing right now. It was this Seth who was here when you arrived?”

She nodded. “Noah wants you and Joshua to move to the ranger station with Seth so he can take care of you. He says it will be safer for you than being with me.”

“Don’t tell Joshua that or you’ll never get him to go.”

“I don’t know that I want him to go anywhere. And certainly not with a stranger who may be a terrible influence. Maybe I shouldn’t even be here.” She wearily rubbed her temple. “Have I done the right thing, Phyliss?”

“I don’t know. Michael would say you hadn’t. Michael would say trust the system. Go to the police.” She leaned back in her chair. “But you see so many bad things on television that no one seems to be able to stop. Detectives taking bribes, drugs, children abused.” Her lips trembled. “And if they killed Michael and managed to fool Alan and the rest of the force into thinking it was about drugs, I can see how you’d be afraid to trust anyone but yourself. That’s why I didn’t argue with you about coming. We can’t lose Joshua too.”

Kate reached out and closed her hand on Phyliss’s. “We won’t lose him.”

“And working to complete this RU2 will make him safe?”

“I think so. It makes sense.” She grimaced. “But I don’t even know that RU2 is what Noah says it is. I only have his word.”

“It would be pretty stupid for him to go to all this trouble if it wasn’t.” Phyliss paused. “I like him.”

“He made damn sure you would. But he lied to me and he’d do it again.”

“We all have things that are so important to us we’d lie to protect them.” Phyliss smiled. “Even you. You’d lie until you were black in the face to keep Joshua safe. Maybe RU2 is Noah’s Joshua.”

“Maybe. I’m sorry to have drawn you into all this. You didn’t deserve it.”

“You and Joshua are my family. It goes with the territory,” Phyliss said. “I’ll take care of Joshua. You take care of trying to get us out of this mess. Okay?”

“You think I’m going to stay.”

“Aren’t you?”

“Yes,” she said. The knowledge that this would be her decision had been growing all evening. For the first time since Michael’s death she felt as if the world had steadied on its axis. They were safe here and it was to Noah’s advantage to keep them safe. She could overlook almost anything else. “As long as it’s on my terms.”

SEVEN

T
he air was cool and crisp when Kate opened the door and stepped out on the deck after she had put Joshua to bed.

Noah turned to face her. “Joshua asleep?”

She shook her head. “It will take a while.” She glanced at him. “You did a real number on him talking about your friend Seth.”

“It was all true.” He added soberly, “No more lies, Kate.”

“Phyliss said that everyone lies if the stakes are high enough. That doesn’t excuse you or make what you did more palatable to me.” She looked intently at him. “What would you do if I left right now?”

“Try to stop you in any way I can. But I’m not Ogden. I wouldn’t hurt you or your family. If nothing worked, I’d try to get along without you.” He added, “And hope that you all stayed alive until I can go public.”

She believed him. “Phyliss said RU2 may be like a child to you.”

“Maybe. I don’t know anymore. At first it was an ego trip, then it was a kind of holy mission, then it turned into something else. If it’s my child, it’s a child who’s already murdered ninety-nine human beings. I expected a fight but not that.” He paused. “But the price is already too high to stop. I can’t let all those people die for nothing. I have to try. Will you try with me?”

She didn’t answer directly. “Who is Seth Drakin?”

“A friend. We were together in the service.”

“A friend who can hit a bull’s-eye at a thousand yards?”

“I’m not trying to hide anything from you. Seth had a hellish upbringing and he never settled down after we got out of the service. He’s been everything from a mercenary to a smuggler.”

“And you set him to watch my son?”

“I’d set him to watch my son in the same circumstances. Joshua will never be safer with anyone. He’s not what you think. His IQ is probably higher than mine. He’s certainly better read and he handles people better than any man I’ve ever met.”

“When he doesn’t kill them.”

He grimaced. “Talk to him. Let me take you all to the ranger station tomorrow.”

She nodded. “But I want it understood that if I decide the situation isn’t what I want for Joshua, you’ll give me no argument.”

“No deal. I’ll argue. Everyone has the right to argue.” He smiled. “But I won’t push too hard.”

She found herself smiling back before a thought occurred to her. “One other thing. If you ever refer to me as skittish or any other demeaning term, I’ll crown you.”

He shuddered. “I knew that was a mistake the minute it came out of my mouth.”

“Big time. And now I want to see the lab.”

He nodded.

“And your notes and test results on RU2.”

“Now? Wouldn’t it be easier if I gave you the computer disk?”

“No, I’ll take the papers to bed with me and browse through them before I go to sleep.” She moved toward the door. “I need to decide for myself whether you’re a genius or some crackpot.”

“Oh, I’m a goddamn genius,” he murmured. “No doubt about it.”

He was a goddamn genius.

No doubt about it.

Kate thrust the last pages back into the briefcase he had handed her and dropped it on the floor beside the bed. She turned off the light on the bedside table, but already a predawn grayness lit the room. She had meant only to glance through Noah’s work, but she had been caught, held in thrall by the possibilities.

No, not possibilities. Miracles.

If only RU2 had been available three years ago . . .

Noah had already developed RU2 and was testing it at the time Daddy had forced her to make that hideous decision.

She swallowed to ease the tightness in her throat. It was stupid to look back. What was done was done.

Look ahead. If she worked hard enough, she could do something more special than she’d ever dreamed.

She could be part of the miracle.

Phyliss, Joshua, and Noah were already at the breakfast bar when Kate came into the room the next morning. “Good morning.” She handed Noah the briefcase. “Thank you. Interesting reading.”

“Hi, Mom. Noah said to let you sleep. Want some pancakes?”

“Just orange juice.” She poured herself a glass and sat down. “You’re almost finished?”

Joshua nodded. “We’re going over to the forest ranger station.”

Noah was frowning. “What do you mean, ‘interesting’?”

He was like a little boy begging for praise after winning a contest. Well, he wouldn’t get it from her. She would begin as she intended to proceed. After that night of immersion in RU2 she was already intimidated enough by Noah. It would be difficult to hold her own on a professional level. “Actually, very interesting.” She sipped her orange juice. “How did you sleep, Phyliss?”

“Like a log,” Phyliss said. “And you?”

“Well enough. The country air must agree with me.” She glanced at Noah. “I have to talk to Seth Drakin first, but I think we may stay awhile.”

A brilliant smile lit Noah’s face.

“This is neat.” Joshua called down from the fourth landing of the forest station. “It’s like a tree house. Hurry up, Mom.”

“I’m hurrying,” Kate said. “If I don’t get a heart attack first.” She glanced back over her shoulder at Noah. “You didn’t tell me this place has as many landings as the Washington Monument.”

“You’re exaggerating,” Noah said. “The ranger has to be high enough to sight forest fires.”

“If I ever get up there, I may never come down,” Phyliss said grimly. “Who needs a StairMaster?”

“Hi.” Seth Drakin was leaning over the top deck, his expression as boyishly eager as Joshua’s. “Pretty cool, huh?”

“Awesome,” Joshua said as he took the last steps two at a time. “How far can we see?”

“About thirty miles. Good to see you again, Joshua.” He handed over the pair of binoculars he was holding. “You can see a big lake to the north.”

Joshua frowned. “Where?”

“Here, let me help you focus.” He squatted beside him and adjusted the binoculars. “Now?”

Joshua nodded. “Wow. I can even see a bird on that pine by the shore.” He crossed the deck and stretched over the rail, the binoculars pressed to his eyes. “And there’s a campfire. . . .”

Kate was about to tell him to get back from the rail when Seth moved quickly to his side.

“Hey, don’t hang over the rail like that. Lyle hates carpentry work and I promised him that I’d treat those rails like they were made of straw.”

“Sorry.” Joshua backed away. “Who’s Lyle? The ranger?”

“Yep.” He pointed to the north. “Want to see the cabin you stayed at last night? It looks as close as the next room.” He smiled at Kate as she reached the top landing. “You had a late night last night.”

“You could see in my bedroom?” she asked warily.

“Well . . .” He smiled mischievously. “Yes.”

She tried to remember whether she had undressed in the bathroom or bedroom last night.

“But I’m no Peeping Tom. I just took a peek and then got out.”

Maybe. His smile was a little too innocent.

“Could you see my room too?” Joshua asked.

“Nope. You must be on the other side of the house.”

“Maybe Mom and I could change and we could signal each other.”

“We’ll talk about it. I think I have a better idea.” Seth turned to watch Phyliss as she struggled up the last steps. “I’m Seth. You must be Phyliss Denby.”

“I’m not sure,” she said breathlessly. “I was when I started up these stairs. I may have passed into the afterlife.” She gazed out over the expanse of forest and the hills in the distance. “But, you know, it may be worth it.”

“Campfire?” Noah asked, his gaze to the north.

“A honeymoon couple,” Seth said. “I paid them a visit at five this morning, and they didn’t even invite me to breakfast.” He mournfully glanced at Phyliss. “All I had was a bowl of Total and a cup of coffee.”

“Sounds like a well-balanced meal to me,” Phyliss said blandly.

“What kind of grandmother are you?” Seth said in disgust. “That opening should have led to an offer of gingerbread cookies and pot roast for supper.”

“Have you been living in a cave for the last thirty years?” Phyliss asked.

“Sometimes.” Seth smiled at her. “Okay. We share the cooking?”

“Or work out trades.” She returned his smile. “If Kate decides we’re to stay.”

Seth turned to Kate. “You wouldn’t make me stay here alone? I didn’t peek, honest.”

“We’re going to live here?” Joshua asked, his eyes wide with excitement.

Kate said, “You and your grandmother and Mr. Drakin might stay here. Would you like that?”

“It would be cool.” He suddenly frowned. “You wouldn’t be here?”

“Your mom has to work in the lab at the cabin and there’s only one bedroom here.” Seth added, “You and your grandmother will share, and I’m going to bunk on the couch in the living room.”

Joshua slowly shook his head. “I don’t think so. I have to stay with Mom.”

“You could keep an eye on the cabin with the binoculars,” Noah said. “I promise to watch over her. I know I fouled up the last time, but I don’t do that very often.”

“Maybe it would be okay,” Joshua said doubtfully. “You’re pretty good with that rifle.”

“This isn’t a set deal,” Kate said. “I have to talk to Mr. Drakin first. But if we decide it’s the best thing to do, I’ll jog over every day to see you.” She added, “And you can come to the cabin.”

Seth quickly shook his head. “He’ll be too busy. I promised Lyle we’d keep an eye out for fires, and Joshua will have to take his watch. But you can come here and help us.”

“Is there a phone?” Joshua asked.

Seth nodded. “And I’ve already programmed the cabin number into it.”

“Phyliss?” Kate asked.

Phyliss nodded. “I can handle them.”

Kate still hesitated.

“She can’t make up her mind until she looks the place over to make sure it’s not a hovel,” Seth said. “Will you keep watch while I take your mom inside, Joshua?”

“Sure.” He raised the binoculars to his eyes. “Do I look for smoke?”

“And anything else that might pose a problem.” Seth opened the door for Kate. “Keep a sharp eye on those honeymooners. They weren’t paying any attention to their campfire this morning.”

“I’m not sure I want Joshua to keep an eye on those honeymooners,” Kate murmured as she entered the station. It was surprisingly cozy, with a denim-covered couch and easy chair, and the kitchenette and breakfast bar across the room.

“He’ll probably get quite a few lessons in biology while he’s here, but the honeymooners were in the tent the last time I saw them.” He turned to face her and the boyishness fell away from him as if it were a hat he discarded. “Okay. You’re not sure about me. So ask me questions.”

“Will you answer them?”

“Most of them.”

“Why does Noah think you can keep Joshua safe?”

“I can shoot, I’m woods savvy, I don’t trust anyone, and I made Noah a promise.”

“Promises are broken all the time.”

He shrugged. “I prefer to keep mine.”

“Anything else?”

“I like kids.”

She could tell that by the way he’d handled Joshua, but she wasn’t sure how much of a kid he was himself. He had shown her a completely different side of the man who had come running up her driveway that night.

“Fifty-fifty,” he said as if reading her mind. “Joshua and I will bond but I can keep it under control.”

“You’re the one who told Noah about Ishmaru.”

“That doesn’t mean we’re buddies. I know a lot of people. What did you tell Joshua about Ishmaru?”

“The truth.”

“Did you tell him you wanted him away from you for his protection?”

“No, do you think I wanted to scare him to death?”

“I think he’s more scared about something happening to you.” He smiled. “Nice kid. Smart too.”

“I don’t want him to feel threatened.”

“I’ll try, but there’s no way I can promise. Blindness can be a risk.” He stared directly into her eyes. “If you put Joshua in my hands, he’s mine. He won’t come to the cabin, because that would nullify moving him here. You can visit him here, but not without phoning to let me know so that I can meet you and make sure you’re not followed. If I think it’s safer to move him, I’ll move him. I’ll try to let you know, but if I see a risk, I won’t do it. Is that clear?”

“Very clear.” She should resent his arbitrarily taking over Joshua; he was her son and responsibility. But she didn’t resent it. She felt relieved and comforted by the all-encompassing wall Seth was building about Joshua. “But he’s not yours, he’s mine. And if I think you’re not taking proper care of him, I’ll push you off this tower. Is that clear?”

He smiled. “I got it.” He waved a hand at the door. “Now you’d better go tell Joshua I have your stamp of approval.”

She said dryly, “There’s no way you’ll have my stamp of approval if you let him become a damn voyeur with those binoculars.”

It took over half the day for them to unpack Phyliss’s and Joshua’s belongings and get the two of them settled in the station. It was almost sunset when Kate and Noah got back to the cabin.

She felt oddly flat as she climbed the steps to the deck.

“You’re very quiet,” Noah said as he unlocked the door. “It’s going to be fine, you know. Joshua is happy.”

“I know.”

“Seth will take good care of him.”

“He’d better.”

“If you’d had doubts, you wouldn’t have left Joshua.” His gaze searched her expression. “What’s wrong? I want to make things right for you. What can I do?”

“I just miss him,” she said simply.

“You only left him ten minutes ago. You spent hours away from him when you went to work every day.”

“So I’m not reasonable. This is different. I feel as if I’ve sent him away to boarding school or something. You couldn’t understand.”

“No, I don’t.” He crossed the room to the wall phone in the kitchen. “But I’ll see if I can fix it.” He pressed a number on the dial. “Two is the ranger station.” He spoke into the phone. “Seth, let me speak to Joshua.” He held out the receiver to her. “Talk to him.”

She took the receiver. “What will I say?”

“Whatever you want to say. Ask him about his first day at boarding school.” He moved around the breakfast bar into the kitchenette. “How about spaghetti for dinner?”