Pearl Cove (20 page)

Nothing new there, either. No matter how much Archer might wish it, he no longer believed
that the answer to who killed Len McGarry lay within Lens computer. Len had made enemies
the way the ocean makes waves-effortlessly, inevitably. But only one of those enemies had
killed him. Only one of them had the Black Trinity.

Find the Black Trinity and he would find Lens killer.

Archer rubbed his face as though to wake up some brain cells. His growing beard grated
over his palms, bringing a surge of memories like molten glass.

Why do they call it beard burn when you only get it from a man who shaves? Ill throw away
my razor. Lovely. Tell me that in a week.

Okay.

Abruptly he shoved back from the computer and stood. He stretched hard, hoping to release
the tension that kept tightening his body until he felt like he was being squeezed by a
boa constrictor. He looked at his watch and wondered if Jake was up yet. He hesitated,
then punched a number on the intercom.

Yeah? The voice was rough, relaxed, and alert.

Its Archer. Howd you like to go one on one?

Only if we keep Lianne out of it. She dumped me on my butt last time. Lord, that female is
quick.

Archer smiled and felt the coils of tension loosen. Ten minutes?

Five. Ive been awake for an hour.

Archer heard Honors sleepy voice in the background, followed by Jakes soothing murmur. No,
don t get up, honey. Im just going to hammer your brother into the exercise mat.

Kyle? Honor asked, surprised into wakefulness. At this hour? Kyle never gets up before
eight unless the place is burning down.

Not Kyle. Archer. Archers here?

Morning, sis, Archer said clearly. Hows my favorite little redhead?

Summer? Honor yawned. Shes asleep in the next room. Must have inherited Kyles genes, thank
God.

She sure got your temper.

Ha. That temper is Jakes all the way.

Conversation faded into the indistinct, soft sounds of lovers saying goodbye. Archer tried
not to think of Hannah and the warm pleasures of sleeping and waking with her in his arms.

One hour, Honor said clearly. Then were coming to get you.

Hannah awoke, murmured sleepily, and searched for Archers warmth. Then she remembered his
icy, brutal instruction.

I you want protection or sex, punch number six.

Emotions shot through her, too many and too sharp to name. Nor did she want to name them.
She didnt have to in order to shove the unruly mass down and cage it in darkness. To
survive. She had had a lifetime of practice at surviving emotion.

Angrily she told herself that there was nothing she could have or should have done
differently last night. She wouldnt repeat the mistakes of the past. The purpose of pain
was to teach you not to go there again. The greater the pain, the deeper the lesson.

Len had been a world-class teacher.

Hannah got up and went to the bathroom. It was clean, cool, done in a refreshing mix of
navy blue, sunshine yellow, and white. The tub was big enough for two. She ignored it and
headed for the shower.

She discovered that it was disconcerting to look out over the slowly thickening traffic
while you showered, even when you knew the glass was one-way. Even more unsettling was the
shampoo she lathered all over herself.

It smelled like Archer.

Trying not to think about him, she toweled herself dry with quick efficiency, raked her
fingers through her hair by way of styling it, and climbed into the underwear she had
rinsed out in the middle of the night when she hadnt been able to sleep.

The clothes she put on were the same ones she had worn in Broome white slacks and a
flowered shirt. The slacks had a tea stain on one knee. The blouse had stains, too, but
they didnt show through the bright flowers. The sandals, at least, were her own. They
looked as worn and ragged as she felt. She thought of makeup, then flinched at the memory
of Archer applying it to her face, his eyes intent and his mouth smiling as he proved how
waterproof the stuff was by kissing her deep and long.

She didnt bother to look in the mirror on her way out of the bedroom. She had done the
best she could with what she had. Stomach growling, she set off down the hall in search of
food. The smell of coffee led her to a big kitchen that managed to look cozy despite its
size. A woman with gold-streaked chestnut hair and graceful hands was sitting at the
breakfast bar, eyes closed, nursing a redheaded baby. Not wanting to intrude, Hannah began
edging back out of the room.

Naturally, she bumped into something.

Lianne, are you up, too? the woman said, turning toward the sound. Oh, hello. You must be
Hannah McGarry.

Um, yes.

Im Honor Mallory, Archers sister. Kyles, too, but I try to keep that a secret.

The mischief in Honors voice and her striking, green-gold eyes put Hannah at ease
instantly. Good morning, Honor. Sorry to disturb you. Ill come back later.

When Summers nursing, you couldnt disturb her with a ten-ton bomb. She has her daddys
focus. Hannah thought of Archer, the laser intensity of his eyes and mind when he wanted
something. Or her

uncles. You mean Archer? Right. The flavor of Australia made Honor smile. She certainly
has Archers eyes.

Drawn by the contented baby, Hannah walked closer. As though sensing her presence, Summer
opened her eyes and stared. An odd, silvery feeling went through Hannah, part pleasure and
part pain. No matter what problems it might bring, the thought of holding Archers baby
called to her at a level too deep to deny.

Youre right, she whispered. The baby has Archers eyes.

If Summer gets his discipline along with it, shell be the first female president of the
United States. Honor yawned. If she gets my discipline, shell be hell on wheels.

Summer released the nipple with a distinct pop and waved her little hands at her mother.

All through, pumpkin? Honor asked, laughing softly as she tucked herself back into her
clothes. Lord knows you ate enough cereal for both of us.

For the first time Hannah noticed the tiny gobs of cereal splattered here and there on the
counter. And on Honor.

The counter ate enough to be full, too, Hannah said, laughing. Wheres a rag?

Theres a clean sponge in the sink, but you dont have to wipe up after my messy daughter.

You can pay me back by letting me hold her. Unless she doesnt like strangers?

Shes never met a stranger. Theyre all just big toys to her. Here, take the butterball and
give me the sponge.

Though Honors words were casual, her eyes were intent while she handed over the baby. When
she saw Hannahs easy expertise as she supported and cuddled Summer, Honor relaxed and
began mopping up after the arm-waving baby who was determined to feed herself and
everything else within range.

I can see Summers in good hands, Honor said. Do you have kids?

The pain was accustomed, but still sharp. No. At first my husband didnt want any. Then...
it wasnt possible.

Im sorry. My tongue wakes up a lot sooner than my brain. Jake said something about you
losing your husband recently.

The sympathy in Honors eyes made Hannah feel like a fraud. She wondered how she could
possibly explain her relationship with Len. Or more precisely, her lack of one.

For the last seven years, Len and I shared a name and a place. Thats all.

Honor looked at the other womans dark indigo eyes, saw the lines of tension and
unhappiness around her mouth, and felt even worse.

Summer waved her fists, caught one of Hannahs hands, and began gumming it
enthusiastically. When she got to the big silver-blue diamond, she settled down to gnaw in
earnest.

Teething, arent you? Hannah murmured, smiling. Uh-oh, the drool factory is in full cry.
Here, you dont have to put up with that. Dont worry. My hands are clean. Honor blinked,
then laughed. I wasnt worried about that. She cut her first tooth on a fish cosh. Whats
that?

A blunt instrument used to put fish out of their misery as soon as we get them aboard.
Honor smiled and looked hopefully at the other woman. Do you like to fish? I cant get
Faith out on our boat. Faith is my twin sister.

The only thing Ive ever fished
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for are oysters, so I dont know if I like to fish. Hannah nuzzled

Summers fine, fiery hair and inhaled the paradoxical scent of a baby fresh powder and wet
diaper. She had skin that made a petal look like sandpaper. Eyes as wise and mischievous
as a monkeys. The Yanomami tribe we lived with were land people. Monkey hunting,
slash-and-burn agriculture, that sort of thing. No fishing. Although some tribes hunted
Amazon catfish that were bigger than men.

Yanomami? Are we talking Brazilian rain forests?

Right. Hannah shifted Summer onto her hip, giving the baby a better grip on her hand, and
herself a better grip on the baby. The motions were unconscious. Along with every village
girl over the age of five, she had been a babysitter for the younger children while the
mothers worked in the small, burned-over fields. From the time I was five years old until
I ran off to get married at nineteen, I lived with the Yanomami. My parents were
missionaries at the time. My father still is.

If anyone ever took me away from the sea, Id miss it. Do you miss your rain forest?

No. The curt reply echoed, making Hannah wince. I missed the place where I had spent my
first five years Maine and the kaleidoscope of seasons. But there were some good things
about the rain forest. The scent of the air at dawn, the flash of butterflies bigger than
my hand, the incredible liquid light after a rain, campfires at night, the laughter and
mischief of the children... She nuzzled Summer again. But I never felt at home there. Not
like my parents. I suspect that they loved the rain forest and the Yanomami even more than
they loved God. I know that they loved their tribe more than they did me.

Honor laughed. Then she realized that the other woman had spoken the simple truth.

Mother was forty-four when I was born, Hannah said calmly. They had lived among the
Yanomami for twenty years. They called me a gift from God, and accepted that they had to
leave the rain forest for my first few years. The risk of childbirth and babyhood in Stone
Age conditions is just too great. It must have been terribly hard on my parents to leave
the land and people they loved. They gave me five years to grow strong before they went
back. They were very dutiful parents.

But not to be loved, Honor protested. Hannah shrugged. Their love and loyalty was
unselfish, given to God and humanity rather than to a selfish personal concept of family.
She rubbed her cheek against the sweet, soft baby. I

m not that generous. I want to love and be loved, to have a family of my own.

Summer looked up at Hannah. Archers eyes, clear and gray, hints of green, a whisper of
blue; another layer of pain growing in Hannah like an oyster creating a pearl, layer after
beautiful layer, growing in silence and darkness, waiting...

The shadows in Hannahs eyes made Honor wish she could go to her, hug her, tell her
everything would be all right. Whatever everything was. But Honor was old enough to know
that a lot of things didn t turn out all right. She looked at the clock and stood up
quickly.

Time to get Summers daddy, she said. Come with me and meet the monsters maker.

When Honor reached for Summer, the baby frowned, gnawed harder on Hannahs ring, and clung
more tightly to her prize. Hannah laughed.

Ill carry her, she said to Honor.

She weighs a ton.

Thats the nice thing about healthy babies. Theyre an armload.

Honor coded their way into the elevator and out at a lower floor. The smell of a swimming
pool greeted them as soon as they stepped out of the elevator. Along with chlorine came
the musky odor of a well-used gym.

Ah, Honor said, making a wry face, the sweet scent of men. Women dont sweat? Hannah asked,
her dark eyebrows raised. Of course not. We glow like the delicate little flowers we are.

Hannah was still laughing when they rounded a corner. The double doors leading to the gym
were wide open, giving a good view of the various instruments of torture that were the
hallmark of a well-equipped gym.

She barely looked at the collection of bars, barbells, pulleys, rowing machines, and the
like. Her whole attention was fastened on the two big, physically well-matched men who
looked like they were doing their best to kill one another. Hands, elbows, knees, and feet
moved in blurs of speed as the men sparred

dodging, weaving, luring, trapping, and escaping in a deadly ballet. Blows landed, a man
grunted and spun away, only to return with flashing speed.

Frozen, she stood and stared. She hadnt seen anything like it since Archer had fought
their way through a riot. Then he had been burdened by Len. Today Archer was free. His
speed and stamina were frightening.

Whew, Honor said. Archers not wearing any padding. He must have really needed a
full-adrenaline workout. Either that or Jakes getting fat and lazy.

If Jake is the one fighting with Archer, hes not fat or lazy. Yeah. Honor smiled and
silently saluted Jake as he ducked under a blow and flipped Archer over his

back. Looking good, honey. Looking real good.

Catlike, Archer landed fully balanced and ready to counterattack. Jake went down as his
feet were scissored out from under him. More blows landed while the men scrambled to their
feet and fought for position. Archer was protected only by his speed, his skill, and his
partners unwillingness to do real injury. Though padding protected Jake, Archer still
pulled his punches; he wanted to keep the edge on his fighting skills, not to hurt the man
who was his best friend and his sisters husband.

He threw Jake, followed him down, and set up for a killing blow. Jake could have dodged or
counterattacked. Instead, one of his hands slapped the mat. Thats it, Archer. This old boy
is ready for breakfast.