Wish You Were Here (20 page)

“
So, what’s the plan here?” she asked. “You can’t get the plate, so you’re gonna use me to get money out of my father? Is that it?”

“
Something like that,” he said, the Irish lilt trailing out of his voice. “The plan has, of necessity, evolved.”

A shot of ice went down Freya
’s spine at the sudden hardness in Malcolm’s eyes. “What do you mean, the plan has evolved?”

“
I mean,” he said, the anger suddenly showing in his taut face, “that he ruined my life, and now I’m going to ruin his.”

Freya took in a breath, suddenly deathly curious to see her father from a new angle, even if it was a hostile, mentally unstable one.

“Ruined your life? How, Malcolm?”

Malcolm held up one finger and closed his eyes.
“Say my name again.”

Freya glanced around the area, looking for something to hit him with while his eyes were closed, but the only potential weapon was the whiskey bottle, and he had his hand on the base, so she just sighed and said,
“Malcolm.”

“
Ah.” He opened his eyes, which had gone misty. “You even sound like her, you know? She had that same note of exasperation in her voice when she said my name.”

Freya went still.
“Who?”

“
Why, your mother, of course.” Malcolm’s eyes trailed heavenward. “Veronica Jensen, the most beautiful girl I’ve ever known, before or since.” He looked at Freya, a light, sad smile on his face. “I killed a man for her, you know.”

Freya felt sick as the realization came to her.
“The security guard?”

Malcolm
’s eyebrows raised in surprise. “Your father told you, did he?”

She leaned forward.
“My mother was there?”

Malcolm nodded.
“She found out the three of us were going to break into the exhibit. She came to stop Richard. She didn’t give a good crap what happened to me, or Mick. It was Richard. Always Richard.” He sighed. “When she showed up, she found me out idling the van, and she cried, begged me to get Richard out of there. And I thought my heart would break. A man can handle anything except the sight of the woman he loves in pain.”

The woman he loves
... Freya reached for her glass and downed the last drops.

Malcolm slowly, carefully twirled the whiskey bottle at its base, staring at it as he talked.
“I sent her home and went in to get Richard for her, but a security guard caught me, and asked about Veronica. He’d seen her.” Malcolm raised his eyes to Freya’s; they were red-rimmed and dreamy. “I had no choice, you see. It would have ruined her, being placed at the scene like that. So when the alarms went off—Mick denied it, but I know he tripped them, the clumsy bastard—I shot the guard. For her.” He lowered his eyes again. “And she repaid me by running off to Boston with your rat bastard father.”

He opened the whiskey bottle and absently poured them both two fingers. Freya took hers and sipped it, while Malcolm just stared into his, sniffing it.

“I told her, you know,” he said, more to his glass than to Freya, although she listened intently. “I told her I loved her and that I wanted to spend the rest of my life making her happy.” He laughed bitterly. “And she told me that she loved Richard. So, I said some things that were maybe not so flattering to her, and she told me... I will always remember it... she said...” He closed his eyes again and Freya eyed the whiskey bottle in his hand. “‘Malcolm, if you ever thought there could be anything between us, you were deluding yourself, you crazy fuck.’” He opened his eyes, and Freya looked up to see that his cheeks were ruddy with laughter. “She had a mouth on her, your mother. I always loved that about her.”

Freya leaned forward, fascinated despite herself.
“Really? I don’t think I ever heard her swear.”

“
Well, you wouldn’t,” Malcolm said, seeming offended at the idea. “You were just a child. Veronica was a lot of things, but she was always good around children.”

Freya sat back and reached for her glass. As hungry as she was to hear stories of her mother, this woman he
’d loved didn’t sound like her mother at all. She sounded, honestly, more like Freya herself.

“
All these years,” Malcolm went on, stuck in his own reverie, “I’ve wanted revenge on your father for stealing Veronica from me. And then come to find, Mick had that plate with your father’s precious prints on it, all these years.” Malcolm laughed. “Can you believe that? He’d been saving it just in case the murder ever came to light, he could pin it on your father. And then your father made all that money and my brother got an idea.” Malcolm held up one finger, then reached across the kitchenette and pulled open a drawer. He withdrew a stack of envelopes and dumped them on the table in front of Freya. “Five thousand a month. Pitiful. The man had no vision, I tell you.” Freya picked up an envelope; it was a bank statement under Mick’s name, with a five-thousand-dollar direct deposit from Daly Developers, Inc., showing on the fifteenth of the month. She picked up another one. Same thing.

“
Son of a bitch,” she said.

“
Yes, quite,” Malcolm said, pushing up from the table. “Time to go.”

“
What?” Freya said. “Go where?”

“
Up to the house,” he said. “You’re going to fetch me that plate.”

The house. Piper.
Freya pushed herself up from the kitchenette table. “No, I’m not.”

He looked surprised and raised the gun.
“Say that again?”

“
What do you even need the plate for? You’ve got me.”

“
Yes,” Malcolm said. “I do. But you won’t ruin your father’s reputation forever, now will you? My plans have evolved, they haven’t changed entirely. I still want that plate, and you’re going to give it to me.”

“
No,” she said. “I’m not taking you to the house. I won’t.”

She got up and started toward the door, but stopped when she heard Malcolm
’s voice behind her, cold as ice, saying, “Maybe take a moment to think this through, girl.”

She turned to find him standing, the gun pointed at her, and for the first time since he
’d approached her on the dock, she felt stark fear.

He smiled coldly.
“If I shoot you now, then the next best hostage for me to take would be the little girl, would it not?”

Freya took a step toward him.
“You touch her, and I swear—”

“
Your ability to protect her will be seriously limited,” he said, “if you are dead.” He paused for a long moment and when Freya didn’t move away from him, he smiled. “That’s my girl.”

“
I am not your girl, you miserable piece of shit,” she said, and walked out in front of him.

Behind her, Malcolm chuckled.

“I see you got something else from your mother besides her eyes,” he said.

Eighteen

Nate
slapped the pile of cards in the middle of Piper’s bed.

“
Illegal slap!” Piper called, picking up his hand and going through the cards underneath.

“
That was perfectly legal,” he said, reaching into the card pile as well. “Look, seven of clubs on the six of hearts.”

“
No,” she said, going through the cards. “That’s wrong. I put down a three of spades after the six. They got mixed up.”

“
Looks right to me,” Nate said. “Nobody likes a sore loser, Pipes.”

“
Nobody likes a big, fat cheaterpants, either!” she said, and plucked a card out of the pile. “Ha! The three!”

“
Oh, sure!” he said, laughing. “Pulled from the middle of the pile!”

“
It’s not—” Piper stopped suddenly and went quiet. Nate listened, and heard the sound of the front door opening. They looked at each other, and Piper smiled.

“
I bet it’s Freya,” she said, and patted Nate on the knee. “Go talk to her, and if it doesn’t work, call me down and I’ll cry.”

“
What?” Nate said, laughing.

“
Go, go, go!” she said in a stage whisper, urging him on. He grinned and hopped up off the bed, just as the phone rang.

“
Shit,” he said. “I’m expecting a call from the guys at the restaurant.” He looked at Piper. “You go down and keep her here until I get there, okay?”

Piper saluted and hopped off the bed. She ran out of the room and darted down the stairs, and Nate hurried into his bedroom to get the phone.
“This is Nate.”

A man
’s voice he didn’t recognize said, “Nathan Brody?”

It wasn
’t either Clint or Eddie. “Yes?”

“
This is Richard Daly. I need to speak to my daughter. Is she there?”

“
I think she just came in,” he said.

“
I’ve been calling her cell phone all day,” Daly said. “There’s been no answer.”

“
Yeah, her cell phone burned up in the fire,” Nate said.

There was a stark silence,
then Daly said, “Your uncle Malcolm. Have you seen him?”

“
Not in almost ten years,” Nate said.

“
You need to keep Freya with you at the house,” Daly said. “Don’t let your uncle in, under any circumstances. I’m about an hour away. I’ll be able to deal with him when I get there.”

“
What’s going on?”

“
He’s threatened Freya,” Daly said. “He wants her to get to me.”

Nate
’s body tensed. “Threatened how?”

“
Is she there?” Daly said. “Put her on the phone.”

Nate listened for the sounds of Piper and Freya talking downstairs; there was silence.

“I’ll have her call you,” Nate said, and hung up, then shot out of the room and down the stairs to see Uncle Malcolm leaning over Piper, pinching her cheek. Behind him stood Freya, looking tense and drained.

“
Well, aren’t you just the loveliest thing?” Malcolm said. “And how old are you now, girl?”

“
Eleven,” Piper said. “Gonna be twelve in August.” She looked at Nate. “Dad, you never told me I had an Uncle Malcolm.”

And then Malcolm stood up straight, and Nate saw the gun tucked into his waistband under his tweed jacket.

***

Freya
’s heart raced as she caught Nate’s sharp look; he’d seen the gun.
Good.
He’d get Piper out of there; he’d think of something. She relaxed, slightly, as Nate moved closer to Piper.

“
Piper,” Nate said. “Come over here.”

“
Dad?” she said, looking curious.

“
Now
.”

Piper walked over to him and he stepped in front of her, blocking her from Malcolm. Freya released a breath, but then Malcolm put his arm around her, drawing her close, his other hand on his waistband, near the gun.

“And how are you, m’lad?” Malcolm said, and his eyes lit as he looked at Nate. “Been a long time.”

“
Piper,” Nate said, not taking his eyes of his uncle. “Go to your room.”

“
Oh, no,” Malcolm said, moving his hand a bit closer to the gun. “I just met the child. You can’t cut the reunion short. I might get insulted.”

Piper peeked out from behind Nate, looking confused, and Nate put his hand on her and gently pushed her back.

“Dad—” she started, but he said,
“Piper,”
and she went quiet. Just then, a door opened upstairs and Freya looked up to see Ruby coming down the steps.

Damnit
.

“
Who was that on the phone?” Ruby asked as she descended into the foyer, then raised a surprised eyebrow at Malcolm. “Why, hello, Mr. Bayheart. Everything okay on your lot?”

Then Ruby
’s eyes went to his waistband and his arm around Freya and she shifted over to stand next to Nate, blocking Piper from Malcolm entirely behind her bulk. Freya wanted to cry with love for the woman.

“
Go upstairs, Piper,” Ruby said, and Freya held her breath, hoping against hope that Malcolm would let the rest go and just deal with her. It would be so much easier if it was just her.

“
No one’s going anywhere,” Malcolm said. “It’s a family reunion.”

“
You know what?” Freya said, turning slightly toward him. “I really don’t think you need anyone but me, right, Malcolm?”

Malcolm opened his mouth to say something but Nate said,
“No. Uncle Malcolm, I’ll stay. Everyone else can go.”

“
No,” Freya said, “
really
.”

Nate looked at her, his eyes hard and angry.
“Knock it off, Freya.”

“
Nate,” Freya said, trying to convey her conviction in her tone. “You don’t understand what this is all about—”

“
I don’t care what it’s about.” Nate looked at Malcolm. “Malcolm and I can settle this between us.”

“
No, Nathan, I think I’d like Freya to stay.” Malcolm dug his arm into Freya’s back and side as he clutched her ever closer, and she winced.

“
Malcolm
,” Nate said, his eyes on Freya as he closed in tighter to Ruby, further blocking Piper. “Let her go.”

“
It’s a simple problem with a simple solution,” Malcolm said. “And the solution is, someone here has got to get me my goddamn plate.”

***

First get them out,
Nate thought.
Then kill him.

“
All right,” Nate said, holding up one hand. “Just stay calm, okay?” He touched Ruby on the hand, keeping his eyes on Malcolm. “Ruby, take Piper up to her bedroom and get the plate.”

Ruby, God bless her poker face, simply nodded. Nate turned to Piper and gave her his I-mean-it look.

“Piper, go show Ruby where the plate is.”

“
How did you—?” she started, but Nate shushed her. If he could just get Ruby to the room with Piper, she’d see the fire ladder in the window and get them out. Then he could find a way to get Freya out.

And then he would deal with his uncle.
But first things first.

He knelt in front of Piper and put both hands on her shoulders.

“Go up to your room,” he said firmly, “and get the plate.”

She lowered her eyes.
“Okay.”

Nate swallowed and stood up, turning to face Malcolm again. He touched Ruby
’s hand, and she turned toward the stairs and put one hand on Piper’s shoulder.

“
Just a minute,” Malcolm said, and Nate felt Ruby stiffen next to him. “Since when does it take two people to get a plate?” He looked at Piper through the crack between Nate and Ruby’s shielding bodies. “Go on, child. Be a good girl, and go fetch the plate for your Uncle Malcolm.”

“
Go,” Nate said forcefully, and Piper nodded and retreated up the stairs. Nate closed his eyes. She was smart. She knew something was wrong. She’d go out the fire ladder, run to the office and wait there. Maybe she’d even call the police, but he didn’t care about that right now. He just wanted her safe.

She
’d be safe.

Now he just had to get Ruby and Freya
out of there...

Malcolm smiled, his eyes cold but clearer than Nate had ever seen them before.
“It’s a shame to see you again under these circumstances, Nathan. I’ve always liked you, despite the fact that you came from my useless fuck of a brother.” He turned his eyes to Ruby. “And it’s nice to meet you as myself, Ruby. I apologize about the Mr. Bayheart thing. The deception was a necessary evil, you understand.”

“
Nice to meet you, Malcolm,” Ruby said evenly. “You hurt anyone in this family, and I’ll kill you.”

“
He’s after my father,” Freya said, keeping her voice low. “There’s no need for him to hurt anyone in this family if you guys would
just go
.”

Ruby kept her eyes on Malcolm.
“When I talk about this family, that includes Freya. Just so’s we’re clear.”

“
Look,” Nate said, but then he heard the telltale tap of little feet on the stairs. His heart sank, and he turned to see Piper coming down the steps.

“
Piper, I told you to go!”

Piper stepped into the foyer, a curious expression on her face and a Saran-wrapped, purple-rimmed plate in her hands.

“No, you didn’t,” she said, approaching slowly and looking at Nate as though he’d gone nuts. “You said to get the plate.”

“
Ha ha!” Malcolm said, releasing Freya and moving toward Piper. “That’s a good—”

Nate stepped between them, grabbed the plate from Piper, and shoved it into Malcolm
’s chest.

“You have your goddamned plate,” he growled. “Now get out of my house.”

Malcolm straightened, took the plate, and stepped back. For a moment Nate thought it was over, and he almost started breathing normally. Then Malcolm placed the stupid thing on the hall table and put his arm around Freya again. He grinned and winked at Piper.

“
That’s a good girl, Piper,” Malcolm said. “Out of this entire family, you are officially my favorite.”

Piper watched Malcolm suspiciously for a second,
then raised guilty eyes to Nate. “I’m sorry, Dad. I found it in Ruby’s room and I knew we’d go back to Cincinnati if you found it, so I hid it.”

Nate looked at her and tried to smile encouragement.
“It’s okay, Pipes. I’m not mad.” He looked at Malcolm. “You’ve got what you want. Now get out.”

“
I’m not going anywhere,” Malcolm said.

“
Fine,” Nate said. “Then let them go, and you and I can talk.”

Freya stamped her foot.
“Would you
listen
?
He doesn’t want you, he wants—”

“
Hush, girl,” Malcolm said, cutting her off with a sharp squeeze to her arm that made her wince and made Nate want to kill him on the spot.

Malcolm glanced from face to face,
paused for a moment, and said, “I’m not unreasonable.” He looked at Ruby and nodded toward the door. “Take the child and go to the office, but if you call
anyone
...” He looked at Nate, then back at Ruby, his eyes cold with the implied threat. “Are we clear?”

Ruby nodded and
took Piper’s hand, carefully keeping her body between Malcolm and Piper. She opened the door and nudged Piper out, then looked at Nate, her poker face dropping for a moment as he could see the wheels churning in her mind. Nate shook his head.

“
Take her to the office,” he said. “Play cards, keep her occupied. I’ll take care of things here.”

Ruby nodded.

Nate turned back to Malcolm. “Freya goes, too.”

“
Oh, no,” Malcolm said, pulling Freya closer. “This one stays. I’ve still got some business with her father.”

Goddamnit.
“Malcolm, there’s no need—”

“
Get going, you two,” Malcolm said, nodding at Ruby and Piper. “Before I change my mind.”

Ruby shot Nate one last look and then hurried out with Piper, shutting the door behind them. Nate watched through the living room window until they were safely away from the house,
then locked his focus on his uncle.