Night and Day (28 page)

And she could see Eve's helicopter flying away from her.

Humiliation.

Fury.

It was unbearable.

“Ivan!”

She saw him talking to the men in the next vehicle, gesturing to the departing helicopter.

Instead of paying attention to her.

Another humiliation.

“Ivan!”

He gave her a casual glance and kept on talking.

She wanted to scream.

To curse that woman who had taken Cara, who had made a fool of Natalie when no one could make a fool of her. Who had stolen
her
gold and endangered her relationship with her father. Who had made her turn to that simpleton, Ivan Sabak, for help because there was no one else.

That woman, that supreme bitch.

Eve Duncan.

She
hated
her. She had hated people before but not like this. It was twisting inside her, burning like that hot metal.

Natalie sat there in the snow, ignoring everything going on around her, watching the burning of the vehicle, no longer in a hurry to race after Duncan. She knew it would be too late now. Cara's precious Eve had won.

Phoenix. The flames reminded her of that opera her father had made her attend with him years ago. Something about some silly bird being resurrected from the flames. From defeat to triumph. Death to life.

Don't rest easy, Eve. Always look behind you.

Because, when you least expect it, I'll be there.

*   *   *

The snow was slightly abating by the time Caleb landed the helicopter at the airport where they'd dropped Jane off.

Jane gave Cara an enormous hug and smiled at Jock. “You did it. Congratulations.”

“Let's get going.” Jock turned away. “We're not out of the woods yet.” He strode toward the waiting jet. “We're still on their territory.”

Jane's brows rose as she gazed after him. “A little tense? I guess he has a right.”

“He's angry with me,” Cara said. “It's not you.” She hurried after Jock and caught up with him as he was boarding the plane. “I was right,” she said desperately. “You were wrong. I had to do it. I can't let you take care of me forever. Not if it means losing you.”

He shrugged and finished climbing the steps. “It's not the time to discuss it. Get on board. This time I'm not going to plead with you to do it. I'll leave that to Eve.”

“You didn't plead with me.”

“Didn't I? That's what it felt like.”

She watched him walk down the aisle and sit down beside Joe and Eve.

“He'll get over it.” Jane was standing beside her. “Though I admit I'm surprised. You're the one person that I thought would never be subject to Jock's anger.”

“I'm changing. He doesn't like it.” She dropped down in her seat, her agonized gaze still on Jock. “I didn't know it would happen like this. He helped me so much … what he said to me … it was a gift … but it brought other things with it. And now he's angry. It hurts … Jane.”

“I can see that.” She took Cara's hand. “And that's all I can see. It's between you and that wild Scot and always will be. You'll have to work it out for yourselves. But I'm here for you, if you need me.” Caleb was starting to taxi and she buckled her seat belt and reached over and did the same for Cara. “All I can suggest is that you focus on something else. He's not your whole world any longer. I can understand how in these last days it must have seemed that way.”

It still seemed that way, Cara wanted to tell her. But she was right, there was Eve, whom she had promised to take care of and then became lost along the way. She was being selfish worrying about Jock's anger. “I never even asked Eve where we were going from here.”

“Back to Gaelkar for a little while.” She smiled. “MacDuff has done us some major favors and been injured in the process. He deserves to have our help in finding out whether Cira's treasure is somewhere in that mist.” She added, “And Joe thinks it will be safer for you there until we find a way of getting you totally free of Natalie's clutches. Possession may be nine-tenths of the law, but Immigration may still be set on returning you to her.”

“No!”

“It won't happen,” Jane said quietly. “No one is going to let you go back to her. Believe me, Jock may have been your entire world over here, but we've all been fighting for you in our own ways. I think you should know about that, too.”

Cara listened in stunned silence as Jane related all that had been happening that had led up to Drostkey Park. “All that trouble…”

“No,” Jane said firmly. “All that caring. There's a difference. It's never trouble if you care enough. I think you've already discovered that truth.”

She nodded slowly, still bemused. “But all my life I've had Jenny and Elena, then no one. It seems strange that you all would want to—Oh, maybe Eve, but it causes so much—”

“Trouble?” Jane finished with a smile. “You'll just have to become accustomed to the idea and the differences, Cara. I believe you've acquired an extended family.”

“You, Jane?” she whispered.

“Me, Cara,” she said gently. “You had a head start with me. We had the Eve connection. But you came the rest of the way on your own.” She nodded at Eve. “But now we've both got to focus on that connection. She's going to need both of us.”

“Of course, I'll do whatever—” Her eyes widened as she saw Jane's grave expression. “What's wrong? Is she sick?”

Jane quickly shook her head. “I didn't say that. I just said that it's time to focus on Eve.” She leaned back in the seat. “Now settle down and relax. You have to be exhausted from that trip down the mountain. It would be a good idea if you could manage to nap. You don't need to do any more soul-searching than you've already done.” She closed her eyes. “And forget about Jock.”

Not possible. Any more than she would be able to forget everything that Jane had told her. Any more than she could forget that odd hesitance Jane had made when she had asked if Eve was sick. Her gaze flew to Eve across the aisle. She didn't look sick. She had wonderful color. But she did look tired. That was probably Cara's fault. Everything that had happened recently to her “extended family” was probably her fault.

“Cara.” Jane didn't open her eyes. “Sleep.”

Cara's lids shut. Rest. Find a way to repay everyone. But concentrate on Eve.

Focus on Eve.

 

CHAPTER

12

“I'm not in the mood for tears at the moment, Natalie,” Kaskov said coldly. “I prefer answers.”

“I told you what happened,” Natalie said as she put her hand on his arm. “I even told you I might have a way to get her back. We're still doing everything we can to find out exactly where Duncan is keeping our little girl. I'm so glad you're home, Daddy.”

He turned to Ivan Sabak. “Why did you fail to get her back? I gave you every tool I had to hunt them down. A bribe, Sabak?”

“No,” Sabak said quickly. “Would I still be here if I'd betrayed you? I know the rules and the penalties.”

“Then why?”

“They had someone very good on the inside, and the plan was well coordinated. But we almost intercepted.”

“Not good enough. You say she's out of Russia now?”

“Scotland. But well protected by MacDuff, who has contacts in high places.”

“I can get to anyone I choose. I just have to decide if it's worth it.”

“Of course, it's worth it,” Natalie said. “But I've been thinking that perhaps there's a way that would be less of a risk for you … and for Cara, naturally.”

Kaskov nodded. “So you've told me.” His lips twisted. “A very ugly little scheme. You have such a soft heart, it surprised me that it would occur to you.”

There had been a hint of sarcasm in that remark. She ignored it. When all this was over, she'd be able to ease her father back to the point where she'd had him before. “I'm just a mother fighting for her child.” She smiled unsteadily up at him. Make it convincing. It might be ugly, but that was what made it perfect. “I have it all planned. All I need is a little help from you, Daddy. Let me tell you all about it, down to the last detail…”

LOCH GAELKAR

“Welcome home.” MacDuff smiled as he came forward to greet Cara. “You're looking remarkably well for all that Jock has told me you've gone through.” He glanced at Jock, who had only nodded, then followed Jane and Caleb away from them toward the lake. “Though I can't say the same about him. Very moody at the moment. He treated you decently, I hope.”

“He saved me,” she said quietly. “He just didn't like the way he did it.” She smiled at MacDuff. “And you're looking wonderful, sir. I was so worried about you.”

“Then we've both come out of this on top.” He grimaced. “Even though I was sidelined from the action because I came too close to being blown up.” He turned to Eve. “Where is Quinn?”

“He went to see Agent Toller. He wanted to see if he could budge him on letting us go back to the U.S. and retain custody of Cara. Not much hope, but we'll make the effort.” She smiled. “Otherwise, you may be stuck with us for a little while. We're not letting her go.”

“No problem. She hasn't gotten in my way yet.” His lips tightened. “Though her mother has caused me a bit of bother. I was hoping we'd be through with her once and for all.”

“We all were, but we'll take what we can get.” She touched Cara's arm. “And we got Cara. That's a major triumph.”

“I'm sorry that Natalie has done all those bad things,” Cara said jerkily. “I'll try to make it up to you, sir.”

“You're not your mother's keeper,” MacDuff said. “You can hardly be blamed.”

“I know that. Jock said I have my own soul, and I believe him. But if I hadn't been here, then she wouldn't have had a reason to cause you trouble. I'm sorry I was here and did that.”

He inclined his head. “Then I accept your apology. We'll start over.” He turned back to Eve. “And I'm just as happy that you're going to stick around and help me find Cira's treasure. I wouldn't want to have to keep Jane on task by myself, and I've always thought Jane was the key.”

“Tell me something I don't know,” Eve said dryly. “If it means anything to you, I believe that Jane is totally committed to helping you now, MacDuff.”

“It means something. Everything that you do and say is important to Jane. And I've particularly noticed how protective she's been of you lately. If you stay, she'll stay. If you go, she'll examine her options.”

Eve couldn't argue with him when Jane had insisted on coming to Moscow when she'd known Eve was going. “It's been difficult … The situation isn't as crucial now. We're not joined at the hip. Jane is her own person.”

“Still, I believe we'll try to escalate the hunt so that Jane won't have anything ‘crucial' to worry about in the near future. See you at the camp.” He lifted his hand as he turned and strode down the slope toward the loch.

Eve stared after him a moment before she started down the slope with Cara beside her. “Did all that about your mother bother you?” she asked quietly. “MacDuff didn't mean anything personal toward you. As you know, he's not always the most tactful man on the planet.”

“But he's a good man,” Cara said. “Jock wouldn't love him if he wasn't a good man.”

“Did it bother you?”

“A little, until I thought about it. Jock told me that she gave birth to me, but she wasn't really my mother. I have to believe that, Eve.”

“It's the truth. Believe it.”

“I will. But it takes getting used to.” She looked down the slope to where Jock and Caleb were standing by the lake. “And there are all kinds of things it brings out that I never thought about. It's confusing, Eve.”

“You'll work it out.”

“I have to do it.” She looked back up at Eve and said simply, “Because I can't live without Jock now.”

Eve felt a ripple of shock. She'd been aware that the ties between Jock and Cara had been unusually strong since their first meeting, and it was clear their time together in Moscow had only strengthened that bond. “Sometimes we have to do without people we love, Cara.”

She shook her head. “I won't do that. I'll find a way.” Her gaze shifted back to the lake. “MacDuff was right about Jane. She won't stay if you don't. She's worried about you.”

Eve's gaze flew to Cara's face. “She is?” she asked cautiously.

“You know she is,” Cara said. “You're very smart, Eve. And you and Jane love each other. You'd know everything that she's feeling.”

“And how do you know that she's worried.” She paused. “Did she say anything?”

Cara still didn't look at her. “She said that you were going to need us. She said that we have to focus on you from now on.” She moistened her lips. “It scared me. I thought maybe you were sick.”

“I'm not sick, Cara.”

“But would you tell me if you were? Lots of times people don't tell kids stuff like that. You don't look sick.”

“I'm not sick, Cara.” She put her hands on Cara's shoulders and turned her around to face her. “I feel fine. I feel great.”

“Then why do you take pills?”

Eve's eyes widened. “Pills?”

“Jane told me I had to focus on you. So I focused while we were on the plane. Twice you went to the back of the plane and poured a glass of water. You had four bottles of pills. You took two each time you went back.”

Eve shook her head in amazement. “Good heavens, you should train to be a detective.”

“Why do you take pills if you're not sick?”

“For a perfectly good reason.”

“Why? I have to take care of you. If you're sick, I have to know about it.”