The Perfect Witness (12 page)

She had even appealed to him that night in the forest and the weeks at the lodge afterward.

He had found himself caught, held, torn between that fire and emotional storm that had shaken him as he interacted with her and the anger that he’d feel this way. It had not been in his plan to have Allie have an effect on him. His duty as a Searcher called on him to seek out and help those who had troubling gifts such as Allie possessed. Yet he was always careful to distance himself when he was dealing with a victim. But he hadn’t been able to distance himself that night with Allie. She had touched him with a wild multitude of emotions. A few times he had felt as if he was getting too close …

But he’d managed to take control and move forward with the plan. Everything had been in place, and he’d insinuated Allie faultlessly into the life he’d chosen for her. A small university far from Camano’s stomping grounds. Two very respected retired teachers to pretend that Allie was a distant relative they’d allowed to come to live with them while she finished her education. Throw in a relatively small student body to give Allie her best chance to keep from going crazy by being bombarded by her fellow students’ memories, and the groundwork was there for her to survive. The weeks of intensive working with her when she’d arrived at Flagstaff had been enough to keep her steady and start her on the right path. He’d deliberately kept himself away from her for the next six months and let her adjust to Lee and Natalie after he’d turned her over to them. He’d noticed big progress in those months though Allie was resentfully aware that she still needed him. That resentment had persisted through the years. The bonding had lessened but never left them, and when he had to reinforce her early training, it slipped effortlessly into place. Allie didn’t want to rely on anyone or anything, and she was still as suspicious of him as the night they met.

And so she should be, he thought. He had never lied to her nor would he. But he had never told her anything close to the entire truth.

But that time was coming.

Yet his talk with Lee Walberg had made him uneasy. Lee would not tell her anything unless it actually came down to trying to save her from Mandak. He was too grateful for Mandak’s help in finding Simon, and loyalty was ingrained in him. But he’d added an element of uncertainty, and it might mean he’d have to escalate the plan.

His cell phone rang. Josh Dantlow. He hadn’t been expecting him. He hoped to hell Lee Walberg hadn’t called him and tried to— “What is it, Dantlow?”

“A little courtesy would be nice,” Dantlow said dryly. “Considering the cooperation I’ve been giving you all these years, Mandak, I think I deserve it.”

“You gave me cooperation because you thought Allie Girard would someday be able to give you information that would bring Camano and the other crime bosses down in one glorious trash heap.”

“But she hasn’t done it. Seven years is a long time. When can I expect something, anything, from her? It’s not as if I can justify budget expenditures for protective surveillance involving her when you wouldn’t even let me keep her record on file. It wasn’t reasonable that you—”

“Why are you suddenly so concerned?” He didn’t like this. Dantlow was not usually on edge. “You agreed that it was worth the wait. I promised you that you’d get what you needed eventually.”

Dantlow was silent. “I may need it now. I don’t like the way things are shaping up in Allie’s case. There are … problems.”

“Spit it out,” Mandak said harshly. “What the hell do you mean?”

“Budget. We have a new administration, and they’re making us cross t’s and dot i’s. I couldn’t just bury the Allie Girard file completely.”

Mandak muttered a curse. “Dammit, I took care of all the living expenses for the Walbergs and Allie.”

“But I still had to make sure that there was protection for such a valuable witness. It was part of my job.” He paused. “And I had to justify that protection.”

Mandak asked slowly and precisely, “And just how did you justify it, Dantlow?”

“I didn’t enter it into the computer. It was a one-page file that had only the scantiest information. Just enough to—”

“Satisfy the bureaucrats and possibly put Allie in jeopardy. What was in that file?”

“I’ll send it to you,” Dantlow said. “Seven years, Mandak. I didn’t think there was a chance in hell that anyone would still be interested in that kid. I thought we were safe.”

“But someone was interested, weren’t they? That file was compromised?”

“I can’t be sure that it was her file, but the record room showed an intrusion, and the file drawers on that side of the room had been opened and examined.”

“And photographed.”

“More than likely.”

“I could break your neck.”

“It might be okay. They might not have been after info about Allie. My witness files could be invaluable to any number of crime figures. I’m just pissed off someone managed to breach my security. They were experts, and they could have been wanting to sell the information to the highest bidder. And we can’t be sure that anyone will even recognize her as the same girl. She’s changed. I made no mention of Teresa Casali.”

“She’s not changed that much.” But he had to hope that Dantlow was right and the theft was a random hit and that he’d have time to explore the situation.

And get Allie away before all hell broke loose.

“You’ve seen her more often than I have during these years. Last year when I checked in on her, I was pleasantly surprised. Gorgeous and not at all like the uncivilized urchin you turned over to me that night in Kentucky.”

“She must have been on her best behavior,” he said dryly. “She’s not shown me that side of her character lately.”

“Because she didn’t trust you?”

“Maybe. At least I wouldn’t have put her file in a cabinet for anyone to grab.”

“Computer files can be hacked, too. In fact, it’s more likely. She may still be safe.”

“And she may not. You wouldn’t be putting pressure on me to get her to perform and lasso your bad guys if you didn’t think that there’s a chance that she might be a target.”

Silence. “It’s possible.”

“When were your files compromised?”

“Two nights ago.”

“And you didn’t call me right away?”

“I was investigating the situation. I sent out feelers to our informants in the Camano organization to see if there were any ripples.”

“And?”

“Indeterminate.”

“But you were uneasy enough to call me and try to prod me into saving your ass.”

“Bullshit. I don’t play that way. My ass has been on the line before. I wanted to do my job and complete what we started out to do.”

He was probably being honest. Mandak wouldn’t have dealt with him if he didn’t know he had integrity. But the anger was still flaring and he had to control it. “And still not have trouble with your damn budget.”

“Okay, I made a mistake. Can you wrap Allie Girard up?”

“I was on my way to doing that. It will just take a little more time. Do I have it?”

“I told you that the status was indeterminate. I can let you know if I hear anything from Camano’s camp.”

“I want Allie’s security doubled until we’re certain one way or the other.”

“I’ve already taken care of that. Joseph Gillen and Bill Pontlin are reporting to me every two hours. Nothing unusual so far.” He paused. “This isn’t only about Allie. Can’t you persuade her to come in and give us a statement? It would take guts, but I’d judge that she might do it.”

“And then I’d have to start all over, and it would be a miracle if she lived to go to court. Let me handle it. You just keep her safe until I juggle some priorities and work this out.” He hung up.

Son of a
bitch.

Just when Mandak had been planning to make his move, Camano might be raising his cobra head to complicate issues.

Complicate, hell.

He’d have a tough time just keeping Allie alive, much less moving her toward his agenda.

He heard the ping from his phone and he accessed the Allie report Dantlow had sent him.

It was as scanty as Dantlow had said. Lots of double talk and not giving specific addresses or true names.

Except for the name of the university.

And the name Allie Girard.

And that might be enough, dammit.

He looked at Allie’s photo. It was hard to be objective when that face had been in his mind for the last seven years. There were some changes. As a sixteen-year-old, she’d had a thin, pale face and her enormous brown eyes had seemed to dominate it and given her a waiflike quality. Her short, curly, dark hair had added to the urchin look.

The face of the woman in this photo had the same huge brown eyes, but her features had matured. Her lips were beautifully formed and her high cheekbones interesting and no longer waiflike. He’d told her to grow out her hair, and it hung below her shoulders now and shone with auburn highlights. She kept her skin bronze the year long with a self-tanner to add to the contrast with that elfin appeal. Dantlow was right. She was gorgeous, and a casual glance would not identify her as that kid running through the woods so long ago.

If
that report was casual.

But it was Allie’s expression that he was most worried about. The features might have matured, but the expression was the same. Bold, challenging, ready to take on the world. Why couldn’t Dantlow see it? Mandak had been so aware of that spirit that he’d not allowed himself to notice the cosmetic changes.

But there were people in Allie’s past who had faced that expression every day of her young life. Her mother, teachers, the goons Casali had kept around him during her childhood.

If they had cared enough to notice.

He could only hope that they had not cared and that the hunt had not been specifically for Allie.

And that he had enough time to set up a new scenario to keep her from getting killed.

CHAPTER SIX

“OKAY, I’M DONE. I’M GOING
to bed.” Allie yawned as she threw down her cards. “You two cardsharps can fight it out between you. I’ve got an early class.”

“Excuses. Excuses,” Natalie murmured. “We keep giving you our very best instruction in this fine art, and you never quite get it.” She looked at Lee. “And Lee would be so easy for you to beat if you concentrated. You wouldn’t even have to bluff. He’s much too soft where you’re concerned.”

“True.” Lee smiled. “But I’d rather watch your expressions when you’re conniving than spoil it by going for the jugular.” He glanced at Allie. “Your class isn’t with our revered history professor?”

“Hell, no. I wouldn’t even have to prepare if it was him.”

“I’ve been thinking about that.” He looked back down at his cards. “Perhaps it’s time you continued your studies somewhere else.”

She froze. “What are you talking about?’”

“You need more of a challenge. I could arrange for you to go to a university in Utah or Colorado that would be more interesting for you.”

Her eyes widened. “You want me to go away?”

“No,” Natalie said quickly. “Lee is being very clumsy about this. We love having you with us. But that’s the point, Allie. You’re with us most of the time. As long as you’re here, you’re not out with people your own age and reaching out for the brass rings.”

“Screw the brass rings.”

“You haven’t had more than a half dozen dates in the last four years. You’re a wonderful, loving woman. We want you to have normal relationships.”

“So you’re sending me away?”

“God, no,” Lee said. He glanced at Natalie with disgust. “You didn’t do any better than I did. Now she thinks that we believe she’s not normal.” He said to Allie, “We thought you’d like a complete change of scene. Natalie and I could scratch together enough to hire your own security and get rid of Dantlow. You’d be on your own and free. It was only a suggestion. I just wanted to get your take on it.”

“It’s a lousy suggestion,” Allie said. “That’s my take. I don’t want to go away from you.” She paused. “Unless you’re finding me a bother. If that’s true, I’ll go wherever you want me to go.” Her gaze searched Lee’s face. “But I don’t think you do feel that way. I believe I’d sense it. I’m far too insecure as far as relationships go to ever take it for granted.” She moistened her lips. “I don’t give a damn about dating and brass rings and hobnobbing with people my own age. For the first time in my life, I feel as if I have a family. We started off kind of shaky, but as time passed, I knew that you felt something for me. And I was sure I felt something for you.” She made a face. “See how clumsy I am? I’m afraid to say the word.” She was silent, then said awkwardly, “I love you guys. I love and respect you, and I’m grateful you’ve let me come into your lives. I’ll do anything you say if you’ll just let me stick around.”

“Of course you can stick around,” Natalie said crisply. Her hazel eyes were glittering with moisture belying that brusqueness. “But you have to promise us that you’ll think about going to another university. Being selfish is a privilege of old age, and Lee and I are too young to have earned that privilege.” She made a sweepingly dismissive gesture. “Now go to bed. Though all this emotional nonsense will probably keep you awake anyway.”

Allie hesitated, gazing at them uncertainly. It had been a difficult and uneasy few minutes, and she wasn’t sure what was expected of her. Then she came forward and gave Natalie a kiss on the forehead. “It wasn’t nonsense,” she said quietly. “Loving you and Lee is the most intelligent thing I’ve ever done in my life. The rest of it has been a crazy jumble of incoherency and mistakes, but that shines out bright and true.” She gave Lee a quick kiss on the tip of his nose and headed for the stairs. “So finish playing cards and have your discussion about what’s good for me. But unless you take a sudden dislike to me, you’re going to have to kick me out.”

“No danger,” Lee said gruffly. “But just do what Natalie suggests. Think about it. Okay?”

“Okay.” It wasn’t okay. She had hoped the subject had been dropped. This sounded like she might have to face this conversation again. She started up the steps. “Good night.”

She paused on the landing to look back at them. They had not started the next game of cards. They were sitting before the fire, gazing at each other. Troubled. She knew that expression, she knew all their expressions. When she had found that she had stumbled on that wonderful bonanza lode of affection, she had wanted to experience every facet of it.