Hush, love, he whispered, dragging her deeper into the little alley. I really dont want to hurt you, but I will if you keep this up. Hush now, and listen to ouch ! he exclaimed, sucking his breath in through his teeth at her heel to his instep. He let go just enough for her to twist around, but he quickly caught her and pinned her up against the brick wall. Jesus, theres no call for that! Listen to me, Rachelwere going to nab your Myron, you have my word, but you really must cooperate!
No! she grunted, and tried to come down on his instep again, but this time managed to snag his toes through his Italian loafers. With a groan of agony, Flynn suddenly shoved up against her, cutting off any movement in her legs, and her breath, for that matter. That was really quite naff, you know. No more, do you understand? If you kick me once more, I will retaliate, he said, and grabbed her shoulder, squeezing a tendon.
Rachel instantly gave up. Okay, okay, she cried, trying to move from his hand.
Flynns face appeared, floating before hers. Do I have your word? he demanded.
With a grimace, she nodded. Flynn let go, slowly eased up, watching her carefully to see if she might try something.
Rachel glared at him, was ready to give him a piece of her mindwhich piece, she wasnt certainbut it was quickly a moot point as she saw the guy behind him who looked oddly familiar.
And then she saw Dagne, who was peeking out behind the guy, smiling and sheepishly waving her fingers.
THE newspaper accounts that appeared in the days following would erroneously report that the whole thing had begun with an altercation between two law enforcement officers and a woman in the heart of Harbor Town; when in actuality, the altercation happened much later, in the condominiums where Myron was hiding out.
The only thing that happened in Harbor Town that early afternoon was that Rachel was driven all but wild trying to understand how Flynn and Dagnewho had never met, mind youand that man, who turned out to be a cop, could be there in that little alley with her.
In truth, there was a bit of shoving, starting with Rachel, who put two hands on Flynns chest and shoved him away from her, then stood there, her hands on her hips, fuming as she took in the three of them. And then she looked at Dagne and made her wince by staring daggers at her. You did this, she said accusingly, and shoved her. But it was a one-handed shove, and really did not deserve the rebuttal shove she got in return.
They made me! Dagne cried.
How could they make you? You dont even know Flynn
I know, but he knew me , Rachel! He knew me! He knew where I lived and my name and they said
Ah, actually, Flynn said, nudging Dagne to shut up, I was hoping to sort of walk Rachel through all that.
Rachels first, horrific thought was that Flynn and Dagne were involvedbut that seemed entirely impossible, so she shook her head to clear it, and tried to make sense of what was happening .
Hes a cop, Dagne said.
Investigator, actually, Flynn corrected her.
Investigator, Dagne repeated.
A cop? An investigator ? Now she gaped at Dagne, then at Flynn, almost believing that Dagne had managed the mother of all spells. Flynn smiled a little. He shrugged. He looked at his shoes. An investigator ! How could that be? Shed never seen any guns or badges or anything that even remotely
There he is. Thats Myron, Dagne said disgustedly, and the rest of them jerked their gazes toward the street. Rachel caught just a glimpse of the lying asshole as he went by, and instantly started in that direction, but Flynn caught her by the arm. We really prefer to follow him, see where he goes.
Follow him? Why do you want to follow him? And who is we? What we?
We, Flynn said, gesturing to his companions. Why do you want to follow him?
I dont want to follow him, she snapped as Dagne inched her way to the corner of the building, watching Myron. I want to kill him!
Kill him? the stranger asked. Why?
Who are you ? she demanded.
Detective Joe Keating, Rhode Island State Police, he said, and suddenly pushed Dagne out into the sunshine and followed her.
Flynn obviously thought to do the same, as he put his hand on the small of Rachels back and shoved her forward.
But Rachel caught herself on the edge of the building. Wait ! Who is that guy? How are you here ? And how in Gods name do you know Dagne?
Its really quite a long and sort of complicated story, so Id suggest, if you dont want to lose your chance to kill the professor, that we sort of chivvy along and Ill tell you everything later. And he nudged her again.
She did want to kill Myron. Badly. Rachel started walking. But she didnt like it.
They stepped out from the building, walked a few feet behind Dagne and the other guy up the walk. Several yards ahead, Rachel could see Myron strolling along, a plastic bag swinging from one hand. He turned left onto a street, and so did the four of them, but the guy with Dagne made her pause in front of a shop window while he looked around the corner. And then he grabbed Dagnes arm and yanked her around the corner with him.
Flynn and Rachel followed, marching in silence, side by side, and they continued this absurd game of chase until Myron slipped into a very nice Town Car. That bastard owed her money and was driving a Town Car?
Flynn, the detective, and Dagne all stopped beside a Ford Taurus.
The detective got in the drivers seat, Dagne in front, and Flynn pushed Rachel into the back. They backed out of the space so quickly that Rachel feared shed been whiplashed, but then he threw it into drive so fast that Rachel almost went through the window. Flynn caught her again, pushed her down in the seat. You might want to buckle up there.
Will someone please tell me what is going on here? Rachel demanded as she fished around for the seat belt. Who is he for starters?
Like I said, Detective Keating, the detective snapped.
Oh please, Dagne muttered.
But it was all beginning to sink in for Rachelthe po-lice had come for her and Myron, and hed used Flynn and Dagne to find her. Oh God, she said, looking at Flynn. Oh God, Im so sorry
What are you sorry for? Detective Keating barked as he made a hard right behind Myron.
Oh for Chrissakes, will you stop acting like a big bad cop? Dagne insisted, clearly exasperated.
You are interfering with official police business, Red, the detective said to Dagne.
Well, someone needs to tell her what is going on! Dagne shot back.
Actually, Joe, if you dont mind Ill take this one, Flynn said.
Joe ? Rachel looked at Flynn again; he was calmly considering her, as if he knew all this was going to happen.
Okay, thats it ! she cried furiously. Who are you really? I thought you were a computer guy! How do you know a cop and call him Joe? How do you know Dagne? I didnt introduce you to Dagne! I want to know what is going on here!
All right, Flynn said, and put his hand on her leg, rubbing her thigh very gently, calming her. Take a breath or two, will you? All right, here it is. The truth is Im not actually a computer guy. Im actually a fraud investigator for Lloyds of London. Lloyds insures quite a lot of property in the United States, and one of their clients is the Rhode Island Historical Preservation Society.
Oh, Jesus . Her head was going to explode. Literally. Right off her body and it would be a godsend. An insurance fraud investigator ! Her house full of insurance fraud! But worse, much worse, she realized as her heart sank to her toes You mean you lied to me? she asked weakly.
Im afraid I did, he said. But more importantly, Rachel, you must be truthful now. Are you part of Professor Tidwells scheme?
No! she cried.
I told you! Dagne said angrily. Look, youre making her cry. Stop it!
Miss Delaney, if you please, Flynn said sharply.
I mean it, you little wack-job, the detective quickly interjected. Im about to pull over and put a gag in your mouth, he added, and Dagne shrieked her indignation.
Rachel, the items in your house, Flynn continued.
I know! she cried, stopping him. But I thought he bought them at the gift shop, she said, realizing instantly how foolish and ridiculous that sounded. He he owes me money, and he never pays me back, and I thought he got some huge discount, so that was his lame way of sort of paying me back.
He had a discount, all right, the detective snorted. A five-finger discount.
Oh God, oh God, Rachel said, and began to hyperventilate. Whats happened? What has he done?
She just barely glimpsed Joes roll of the eyes, because Flynn shoved her head down between her knees. Breathe! he commanded her. Deep breaths, one, two, three thats right, theres a good girl. He held her head down a moment more until he was certain she was breathing. When he let her up, they had pulled into a parking lot.
Now then. It seems your Myron has been stealing from the various museum propertiesmostly estates in Newport, Flynn explained evenly.
She had guessed as much, but she still couldnt figure out why. But but to what end? It doesnt make any sense, Rachel said. If he stole stuff and hid it in my house, what good does it do him?
Fraudulent claims, Flynn said, as the detective pulled into a parking spot. Ill explain later.
The four of them watched Myron jog up the steps to one of the condominiums, fit a key into the lock, and go inside.
Lets go, Joe said. Well take it slow and easy, let her go first, he said, indicating Rachel. He knows her. Hell see her and open the door.
What about me? Dagne whined.
Sit here and keep your mouth shut and dont touch anything, he said, stepping out of the car, and leaned down, said to Flynn, Im calling for backup.
Oh wow , Dagne exclaimed, and got out of the car, too, in spite of being told not to.
But Rachel was too stunned; her mind was whirling around the improbable and impossible events. As she stared at Flynn, the pieces were coming together, coming to the realization that their chance meeting had been no chance at all. Did you did you ever see me on campus? she asked tearfully. Or was that a lie, too?
Flynn pressed his lips together and shook his head.
So it was all a lie? Everything was a lie?
No, no, not everything, Rachel. Everything between us, that was real, just as I tried to tell you.
You were using me to get to Myron, she said, ignoring him.
Flynn didnt deny it.
But why? she asked as the detective knocked impatiently on Flynns window. Why didnt you just tell me what you were doing? Why did you have to lie about the computers and the homicide
Actually, the homicide was not a lie.
You could have just said
No, I couldnt have, because we thoughtat least in the beginningthat you were perhaps involved somehow.
This had to be her worst nightmareand she was humiliated beyond comprehension. She should have trusted her instinctsguys like Flynn did not fall for chicks like her. You honestly think that I could do something like this? she demanded, fighting tears.
Of course not! he said. But there are other opinions to consider.
Oliver! Lets go! the detective yelled.
He had doubted her. He had wondered if she could be part of this, and Rachel was out of her mind now, because the only person who could clear her was a man who had used their friendship unconscionably.
It was more than she could endure, and abruptly, she was moving with blind emotion, fumbling with the door, practically falling out of the car, racing to Myrons apartment as the detective yelled at her to stop. But she didnt stop, she ran up the steps and banged on the door, and shouted Myrons name.
He opened the door a moment later. He was stoned again, she could tell from the lazy look in his eye and the fact that he laughed when he saw her. Rachel ! he exclaimed. What a surprise! What are you doing here?
I want my goddamn phone back! she shouted.
Myron blinked. All right already And then his eyes bugged out, just like in the cartoons.
As it turned out, that was the last thing Myron would say as a free man, because at that precise moment, Flynn came flying past Rachel to grab Myron by the collar and push him up against the wall.
But Rachel tripped when he shoved past, and fell into Flynn and Myron, which made Myron flounder and try to struggle free, and Dagne shrieked, and there was a flurry of arms and legs and a lot of scuffling around and then Flynn was manhandling Myron as he bellowed like a cow.
Everything seemed to happen in one huge blur. Someone was helping her up; Myron was sitting on the floor with his hands cuffed behind his back. Flynn and Detective Keating and two cops in uniforms were inside the condo, and one of the cops had another man up against the wall, spread eagle as he patted him down.
There were several antiquities inside, too, scattered around the small living roomchina, silver candelabra, hand-painted bowls, and gold commodes set into mahogany chests.
The other man, the one against the wall, was a Brit, as it turned out. He handed Flynn his identification as Rachel wandered around stunned. Flynn took one look, said, Hallo, Geoffrey. Fancied a life of luxury, did you?
And then more cops came, taking statements from everyone. Flynn and Joe asked Rachel a long list of ques-tions. When did the items first begin to appear, how many of them had she seen, where they were kept, what had she done with them. Had she ever asked Myron why he continued to bring her gifts, since they were no longer lovers? How long had it been since she and Myron were lovers? How long were they actually lovers? They were lovers, werent they ?
Rachel went from frightened to humiliated to numb.
Later, after they had taken Myron and the British guy off in handcuffs (and Rachels phone was given over to evidence), the detective and Flynn drove Dagne and Rachel to the Hilton Head airstrip, and ordered her plane to be readied for the flight back to Providence.
So what happens next? Dagne asked the detective.
Well stay behind to inventory the stuff and get our reports in order, he said.
I still dont get it, Dagne said thoughtfully. What were they going to do with all that stuff?