Night and Day (29 page)

Eve chuckled. “Cara, stop it. I'm fine.” She was rifling through her handbag and pulling out pill vials. “And, at this rate, everyone in camp is going to know just how fine I am. I was trying not to let it interfere.” She put the vials in Cara's hands. “But it appears that's not going to happen.”

Cara looked down at the vials. “Are you angry with me? Was I too nosy? I won't look if you don't want me to.”

“Even though you think you're obligated to take care of me?” She was smiling gently. “By all means, look. I believe Michael would want you to know.”

“Michael?” Cara was looking through the vials one by one. She was frowning as she read the labels. Then she drew a deep breath of relief. “These are just vitamins.”

“Not just vitamins. Read a little closer.”

Cara's brow knitted as her gaze went back to the label. “Prenatal? What's that supposed to—” Her gaze flew to Eve's face. “Does that mean—”

Eve nodded.

Cara stared at her, stunned.

Eve laughed. “It's fine. It's wonderful. I'm healthy. The baby is healthy. I just take the vitamins to make sure Michael keeps on being healthy.”

“Michael…”

“I'm going to have a little boy, Cara. His name is Michael.”

“When?”

“About seven months.” She touched her abdomen. “Though I believe he's going to be very impatient. He's shown the signs repeatedly of wanting his own way. Maybe he'll talk me into going along with him.”

“No, you should do everything the doctor tells you to do,” Cara said eagerly. “I'll help you. That's why I'm here. Jenny told me that you were going to need me. This has to be why.”

Eve's smile faded. Cara had told Eve repeatedly that Jenny, Cara's sister who had given her life for her, had come to her in dreams and told her that she was to go to Eve and take care of her. Eve had never thought it would take this turn. “Cara, the reason Jenny wanted us to be together is so that we can help and support each other, to be family, not because she wanted you to be some kind of nursemaid. You are just as important to me as Michael.”

She shook her head. “But why now? There has to be a reason why I came to you now. It must be because of the baby.”

“We're going to have to have a few conversations about this.” She looked at her quizzically. “I take it you're happy about Michael?”

Cara smiled luminously. “Oh, yes. A baby. I've never been around a baby before. I'll take good care of him, Eve.”

“You're not listening, Cara. That's not the attitude you should have. That's my job, not yours.”

“But there has to be a reason.” She was stuffing the vitamins back in Eve's handbag. “It has to be Michael. It has to be you.” She handed her the handbag. “Those vials are almost empty. You need to get some more vitamins.”

“I've been a little busy. I'll get around to it now.”

“Do you want me to call someone for you? Do you have a doctor here?”

“Yes, in Glasgow.” She held up her hand. “I'll take care of it, Cara.”

She nodded. “But you'll let me go with you?”

“I'll think about it.” She shook her head as Cara started to speak. “Look, I don't like the idea of your not being where you have protection. You were almost killed in Moscow, and Natalie doesn't give up. I'm not going to put you at risk until I'm sure she can't touch you.”

“What about you?” Cara said. “I think she hated you before, but now it will be different.” She swallowed. “She … hates to lose. I could see it when she talked about her brother. And whenever she loses, someone dies. She lost to you.”

“Then we'll just have to take care of each other, won't we?” She gave Cara a warm hug. “And we won't take chances.”

“But I'm not enough,” Cara said. “I'm just a kid. Could I tell Jock about the baby?”

“I thought you were on the outs with Jock.”

“It's not about me, it's about you and Michael. You should have all the protection we can give you. Nothing else matters. May I tell Jock?”

She shook her head ruefully. “Why not? Practically everyone else knows now. So much for keeping it confidential.”

“Jock … knows how to do things … that can protect you and Michael.”

“Things you didn't want to let him do for you on that plateau,” Eve said quietly.

“Maybe he won't have to do anything. Maybe there's something I can do instead.” Her gaze met Eve's. “But we have to protect Michael, don't we?”

“That's not a question to ask me right now. I
will
protect my child, Cara.”

She nodded. “And I
will
protect you …
and
Jock.” She smiled with an effort. “You're right, it's going to be fine. You're healthy, Michael is healthy, and I'm here to take care of both of you.” She started back down the slope. “And now I'm going to go talk to Jane and tell her she doesn't have to worry about not being able to tell me about the baby. I think it bothered her.”

“I'm sure it did. Jane cares about you.”

“Yes, she does.” Cara grinned over her shoulder. “And it's not just the Eve connection. She told me so.”

Eve watched Cara wave to Jane as she walked down the slope. It was good to see the two of them so close. Their backgrounds so similar and yet with stark, painful, differences. But both of them were honest and independent and loving.

Eve was lucky they had chosen to have her as their “connection.”

“I thought you'd be down at the tents settling in.” She turned to see Joe on the slope behind her.

“I had a slight delay. Cara decided that I had some dire disease when she saw me taking my vitamins. I had to explain … in detail.”

“And how did she take it?”

“How you would expect her to take it. Loving, happy, excited.” She grimaced. “And protective as hell, and convinced that her job in life was to take care of me and Michael. We have some attitude adjustment to work on.”

“Maybe not quite yet.” He took her hand as he reached her. “I kind of like the idea of everyone around you wanting to take care of you and my son.” His lips twisted. “Particularly after talking to Toller.”

“Not a good conversation,” she guessed. “You were back entirely too soon for any progress.”

“Well, I did succeed in staving off extradition, which he wanted to put in motion the minute he saw me. But that was only because one of the magistrates MacDuff has in his pocket was standing beside me.”

“You couldn't convince him that Cara was in danger while she was in Moscow?”

“Natalie is still her mother, and we have no proof she tried to kill her daughters. Toller wants her returned to her mother and out of U.S. jurisdiction.”

“And she'd end up dead before the day was over,” Eve said hoarsely. “We can't let that happen to her after all she's been through.”

“Easy.” His hand tightened on hers. “We'll find a way to keep her safe. We got her back from Natalie, didn't we?”

“For the time being. Who knows what Natalie is planning?”

“I called Dima Palik while I was driving back from talking to Toller. The Kaskov camp is being remarkably silent after Natalie lost Cara and the chest of gold. Kaskov, himself, did some initial investigations, but he's not been taking any overt actions as yet.”

“And what would that be?”

“He hasn't given the order to kill Ivan Sabak, which would be the usual action if he suspected him of being either a failure or betraying him. Which means that Natalie appears to be protecting Sabak and herself with utmost efficiency. And she has to have offered her father something that's appeased him in some way.”

“What?” Eve murmured. “She doesn't have the gold. She wouldn't share with him anyway. All her plans were aimed at protecting herself.”

“I've asked Palik to probe as much as he can. I don't like this silence.”

Neither did Eve. The black widow was weaving her web, and now she appeared to have the approval of Kaskov. It was enough to cause a chill to go through her. “Cara's safe here, right?”

Joe nodded. “MacDuff doubled the guards. Security is very tight. No one's going to try to take Cara … or you.” He paused. “But, if you'd feel better about it, I could take Jock and Caleb and we could pay another visit to Moscow. It's time this was ended anyway.”

“I wouldn't feel better about it. I want you here with me, safe. It would scare me to death.”

“We don't want that.” He lifted her hand to his lips. “But make up your mind that it will happen, Eve. We can't let this go on much longer.” He smiled. “Michael wouldn't like it. He doesn't like you upset.”

“But he doesn't have your background or mind-set.”

“How do you know? There are all kinds of possibilities. Reincarnation, racial memories … After all, he has my DNA. Maybe he also has some of the other stuff, too.”

She shook her head. “Then heaven help us, Joe.”

“That's what I say. You deserve everything Michael and I can give you.” He kissed her hand again. “Heaven help us, Eve.”

LOCH GAELKAR

THREE DAYS LATER

The Amati violin was lying on the ground in front of Cara's tent when she left it to go to breakfast that morning.

She stood looking at it for a moment before she could bring herself to go over and open the case.

Jock smiling that beautiful smile that night before Drostkey Park as he took the violin from her room at the gatehouse.

“I'm not letting you go through all this without getting something of value out of it. You love that violin.”

And he had kept his word.

She swallowed hard as she gazed at the violin. She reached out and touched the beautiful, satin-smooth wood with a caressing finger.

But he hadn't bothered to give the violin to her himself this morning. He had set it outside her tent as if it were just a duty he'd had to perform. He hadn't even let her thank him.

It … hurt.

She'd hoped the anger would go away, but it had been days, and she'd barely seen him. She could only hope with the passing of time that he'd forgive her for not being what he wanted.

But she had to thank him in some way for not only her violin but all the other gifts he'd given her.

You have a soul. You have choices.

Even if the choices weren't the ones he wanted her to make.

There was only one way she could thank him although she knew he wouldn't acknowledge it. One way that might remind him that she wanted everything as beautiful for him as this violin was to her.

She slowly took out the violin and tucked it under her chin.

She started to play the Tchaikovsky.

LOCH GAELKAR

FIVE DAYS LATER

The mist was heavier than ever this morning, Jane thought, as she looked out at the north end of the lake. It was as if Cira had drawn all her misty robes around her as if in defiance of the work being done on the lights illuminating the shore.

What a thought, she thought ruefully as she jammed her hands into the pockets of her jacket and strode into the mist. She had been trying to ignore those vibes since Caleb had mentioned her less-than-objective attitude toward this hunt for Cira's treasure. But why should she? she thought with sudden defiance. It was more her hunt than anyone else's except MacDuff. Maybe more than MacDuff, too. After all, he hadn't been dreaming about Cira since he was seventeen. It didn't hurt anything to let herself drift along and let the possibilities …

“I was wondering when you'd be along.” Caleb had suddenly appeared ahead of her out of the mist. “You resisted longer than I thought you would today.” He came toward her. “I thought I might have to come and get you.”

She stiffened. “Why would you do that? Did something happen? Have you found something?”

He tilted his head. “Do I detect a hint of disappointment?” He smiled. “Is it because you didn't find it yourself?”

“Did you find something?” she repeated.

He shook his head. “Just the opposite. This mist is so thick today that MacDuff said early this morning that we'd scrap the work and hope for a better day tomorrow.” He made a face. “With appropriate obscene oaths to accompany the sentiment.”

“But you couldn't resist dangling the possibility in front of me,” Jane said dryly. “If you're not going to try to help put up those lights today, why are you still here?”

“Why do you think? We both know that helping MacDuff isn't high on my agenda. I'm all for seizing opportunities when they occur.” He smiled recklessly. “And, since you've been cautiously avoiding giving me any opportunities, I decided Cira must be doing it for you.”

She instinctively braced herself. There was something very different about him today. Caleb was always an enigma, but the recklessness she was seeing at this moment was white-hot and casting out an emotional wave that put her on her guard. “Cira? Only you would think that Cira would bother to make anything easy for you. Cira always thought everyone should take care of themselves.”

“Like you do.” He nodded. “According to my research, you're a good deal like Cira. Except maybe where the people you love are concerned. Then you're willing to use whomever you have to use to protect them. Was Cira like that, too, Jane?”

“Perhaps. Why are we standing here talking about Cira?”

“Because I've been thinking a good deal about her lately. I haven't had much else to do in the past few days. You've been avoiding me and, as you know, that has an unsettling effect on me. I have a tendency to be a trifle undisciplined if I become restless.” He held up his hand as she opened her lips to speak. “So I decided that I had to take care of it before it came to that point.”