No One Lives Twice (A Lexi Carmichael Mystery) (28 page)

“He’s right, Lexi,” Elvis said quietly. “We’re in to stay. Save your breath on the arguments. Deal the cards and let us play our hands, too.”

A lump formed in my throat. “Are you guys sure about this? It’s not going to be pretty whichever way it turns out.”

“We’re good to go,” Elvis said. “So let’s get on with it.”

Touched by his steadfastness, I threw my arms around him and gave him a big hug. When I pulled away, his face had turned bright red.

“Did I squeeze too hard?” I asked. “Lars said I was a natural at karate. Perhaps I don’t know my own strength.”

He shook his head quickly and Xavier laughed.

“Well, you guys are the best friends I’ve ever had besides Basia,” I said, sniffling.

“Um, we’re your only friends besides Basia,” Xavier pointed out.

“That’s true. Still, I don’t know how to thank you for everything.”

“I’m sure Elvis could think of a way,” Xavier said under his breath, and Elvis turned even redder. Before Xavier could speak again, Elvis smacked his brother on the side of the head.

“No more fooling around,” Elvis said sternly. “We’re far from done here. We’ve yet to discuss Finn Shaughnessy’s role in all this.”

Indeed. And this was a much harder call to make, primarily because I was unusually attracted to him. We’d made some sort of weird connection, and I didn’t understand it, let alone need my judgment clouded by such a nebulous variable.

“Finn,” I sighed. “Truthfully, I think he’d be safer out of the loop at this point. I don’t see him on CGM’s side, but something about him doesn’t add up for me, either. Perhaps the best course of action is to simply disappear without informing him of anything. Leave him in an operational blackout. That way, on the slim chance he is actually helping CGM, he’s kept in the dark. If he’s just a victim, then he can continue to remain blissfully ignorant.”

“I agree,” Elvis said just a little too quickly, and for a moment, I thought I heard a note of relief in his voice. Jeez, for some reason, he really had it in for Finn.

“Okay, it works for me, too,” Xavier said. “But if something doesn’t add up with Finn Shaughnessy, then it’s time to find out what it is. If he’s got a secret, I’ll find it.”

I didn’t doubt that for a second. “Well, there’s one more thing, guys,” I said. “I’ll need at least three or four minutes alone with Basia before the gathering starts so I can clue her in to what’s going on. Without my warning she might inadvertently play our hand too early.”

“That’s going to be a tough one,” Elvis said. “Once you disappear, the U.S. will most likely be in full cooperation with Swedish authorities and might detain you the second you land in Sweden.”

“Unlikely. Remember, I’m just a dumb kid. They want to watch me, not stop me. They’re more likely to put a surveillance team on me, never suspecting I might notice such a team in the first place. And even if I did, they certainly wouldn’t think I’d be able to ditch them.”

“As long as you keep the element of surprise on your side.”

I nodded. “Yes. It’s painfully obvious that the critical piece in all this is timing. I figure we’ll need at least a week to detail all the operation’s plans. That way we’ll have everyone in place, exactly where we want them, when I pull out my trump card.”

“And that trump card will be?” Xavier asked.

I leaned forward, my determination growing. “The ultimate prize, of course. The whereabouts of Judyta Taszynski.”

Before I could say another word, the doorbell rang. “You expecting company?” I asked the twins with a raised eyebrow.

Elvis stood, shaking his head and heading for the door. Xavier and I followed, looking over Elvis’s shoulder.

I guess I should have been surprised to see Lars Anderson standing there, but I wasn’t. Maybe I had just used up all the shock my nerves were capable of in one day.

He seemed even taller outside the confines of the karate studio and wore a blinding white T-shirt, a pair of white shorts and tennis shoes. His bulging muscular arms were crossed against his chest. The man looked like a country club tennis pro instead of a Swedish karate instructor.

“Hey, Lexi,” he said, ignoring the twins and looking straight at me. “I saw your car parked in the driveway. I need to speak to you right away.”

I wondered if he always drove around town looking in driveways for other people’s cars, but figured now wasn’t the time to ask.

“Hey, karate man,” I said, stepping past Elvis and onto the porch. “Thanks for passing on my number to Basia. She called.”

“I know. That’s why I have to speak with you.”

“So, speak.”

Lars narrowed his eyes. “Alone.”

To my surprise, Elvis stepped in front of me. “Say what you have to say right here. She’s not going anywhere with you.”

Lars bristled. “Back off, geek. This is for her ears only.”

Elvis stiffened and Xavier stepped forward to stand beside his brother.

Sensing an unwelcome rise in testosterone, I held up a hand. “Whoa, back up just a minute, everyone.” When no one moved, I frowned. “I mean it. All of you stand down.” Jeez, the last thing I needed right now was a pissing match.

“Look, it’s okay,” I reassured the twins. “Let me talk to him alone. I’ll be right over there in the driveway.”

The guys all glared at each other for another moment and then Lars stalked off toward his car. I followed him across the lawn to the driveway where his sky-blue Ford Mustang was parked next to my Miata.

“What’s up?” I asked.

Lars reached into his shirt pocket and pulled out a folded piece of paper. He handed it to me without a word.

“What? No small talk?” I quipped.

“Just read it,” he answered. Evidently he wasn’t in the mood for humor. I opened the note and scanned the brief, scrawled message.

Meet me on the Island of Djurgarden near Stockholm this Monday at 11:30 p.m. Come alone. Wait by the front entrance of the Nordiska Museet (Nordic Museum). I’ll find you. Basia

“Is this some kind of joke?” I said, looking up incredulously at Lars. “This isn’t her handwriting.”

“No, it’s mine. Memorize it.”

“What?”

“You heard me. Memorize it. I’ll give you fifteen seconds.” And with that, he pulled a lighter out of his pocket and flicked it on.

“Jesus H. Christ,” I cried. “You’re nuts!”

“Ten seconds.”

Panicked, I glanced back at the paper and committed the information to memory just as Lars snatched it out of my hand and held the lighter to it. He waited until the flames licked his fingers before letting what was left of the paper flutter to the ground where he stomped it into ashes.

“What’s with all the drama?” I demanded. “Been watching too many reruns of
Mission Impossible
or something?”

“Just be there,” he said, turning away.

“Wait,” I said, grabbing his arm. “I’m actually formulating a plan right now to help her. Can you get her another message?”

“She’s not scheduled to contact me until next Thursday,” he said. “Sorry.”

“That’s not good,” I said, starting to panic. “Monday is too soon. I need more time. Please, Lars, it’s urgent.”

He looked at me for a long moment. “I’d do it if I could, Lexi,” he finally said, and for some reason, I believed him. “She’s really going to be out of contact until Thursday.”

I started to breathe faster. “Oh, man. This isn’t good. You’ve
got
to tell me how you’re connected to Basia.”

“That’s up to her,” he said, climbing into the Mustang and turning the key in the ignition. “Good luck.”

He sped away, leaving me standing there in his dust. I watched him until the car faded out of sight. Then, utilizing all the cuss words I knew, which sadly weren’t that many, I returned to the twins’ house.

Xavier and Elvis stood stoically on the porch. “What was that all about?” Elvis asked, frowning.

“I’ve just had the timeline moved up. Lars said Basia contacted him and she wants me to meet her in Sweden on Monday night.”

He raised an eyebrow. “This Monday? It’s already Saturday.”

“I know. I told him I needed more time. But he says he won’t be in contact with her until Thursday. I don’t dare miss the meeting in case we don’t have another opportunity.”

“Do you trust Lars?” Elvis asked.

“Basia said I should. And he did pass on my number to her. I guess that means he’s on the up and up.”

“Why is he helping her?” Xavier said, leaning against the porch railing.

“I wish I knew. He’s not talking and I don’t think Basia wanted to give it away over the phone. It’s not like I enjoy trusting him blindly, but at this point I don’t see how I have another choice.”

“Then you’ve got to get to Sweden by Monday night,” Elvis said resolutely. “That means you leave ASAP.”

“Yes.”

“Well, you can’t simply fly to Sweden from here. It would be too obvious,” Xavier said.

“I know. That’s why I’m not going to fly from the States.”

“You’re not?”

“Nope. I’m going to go out of Canada. It’s possible the NSA will be electronically monitoring the airports there, but it’s also possible they won’t. Either way, it seems like a sensible, if not amateur, attempt to get to Sweden, all the while pretending to throw everyone off track.”

“Not bad,” Elvis admitted. “But it means you’ll have to start out tonight and essentially drive all night. And
that
means we have a lot to do before you leave.”

For the next several hours the twins and I hammered out all the operational details of our plan. I would never have been able to pull it off alone but with the twins on my side, at least I had a fighting chance. There was no question it was risky and had a better than good chance of failure, but it was the best we could do on short notice. And if everything went
exactly
as planned, it might actually work.

I left their house just before five o’clock and noticed a dark blue sedan I’d never seen parked on the street about three houses over. The driver didn’t seem to be trying to hide. I would have gladly bet my thong underwear he was FBI surveillance. Guess they had advanced from discreet to overt surveillance. I drove home with the dark sedan tailing me. The phone in my kitchen was ringing when I walked in, but instead of answering it, I immediately unplugged it. The cell phone was still turned off. I couldn’t risk talking to Finn or Slash at this point. Anyone else would just have to wait.

I tossed my keys on the counter and was heading for the bedroom when there was a knock at the door. I froze and then crept to the peephole. Slash stood there, his thick arms crossed against his chest. He wore an olive-green T-shirt, black shorts and sandals. His dark hair had been slicked back behind his ears, and his shades were still on.

Crap.
He was the last person I wanted to see right now. I silently moved away from the peephole and leaned back against the wall.

“Lexi, open the door,” he demanded. “I just saw you go inside.”

“Go away. No one is home.”

“I need to talk to you.”

“I’m not in the talking mood.”

“It’s important,
cara.
”

I thought about walking back to my bedroom and refusing him entrance. He’d bypass my alarm and come in anyway. Sighing, I opened the door a crack but didn’t invite him in.

“What do you want?” I asked.

“Forgive me,
cara,
but I am worried about you. Why aren’t you answering your phones?”

“Maybe I didn’t feel like talking to anyone.”

He frowned. “I need to know you’re safe.”

“So now you know. Goodbye.”

I tried to close the door, but he wedged his foot in, blocking me. “Basia called you,” he said.

I stopped trying to close the door and leaned against it. “Yes. And since I’m apparently bugged to high heaven, I knew you’d find out.”

“You are angry with me. What happened? Do you no longer trust me?”

“Did I ever?”

“I’d like to think so. Please, may I come in?”

I sighed and then, against my better judgment, I opened the door and let him in. He followed me to the kitchen, where I leaned against the wall, my arms crossed against my chest. He stood too, leaning back against the sink. We stared at each other like two gunslingers ready to square off in the middle of Main Street, but neither of us made the first move.

“Well?” I finally asked. “Are we going to stand here and stare at each other all day?”

“Don’t do it,
cara.
”

“Do what?”

“Whatever you are plotting in that lovely mind of yours.”

“Why do you think I’m plotting something?”

“Because you wear your emotions on your face. Surely you aren’t thinking you can help your friend on your own.”

I stuck out my chin. “Why not? I do believe I have Basia’s best interests at heart.”

“You’re so certain I do not? Do you really think I have cause to bring harm to her?”

“Do you?”

“No. Now please tell me what I have done to make you so angry.”

I took a step forward, glaring at him. “All right, you want me to tell you why I’m royally pissed at you? You already knew about the cloning, didn’t you?”

He let out a deep breath. “So, that’s it. No,
cara,
we didn’t know for certain about the cloning, but, indeed, we suspected it.”

“Suspicions you conveniently kept to yourself,” I said. “I thought we were on the same side.”

“We are, but we had to know for sure about the cloning before we started making accusations about CGM and Bright Horizons. Now, thanks to you, the twins and Finn Shaughnessy, we know for certain what we once only suspected.”

“You used me,” I said coldly. “You used me to get to the twins and to Finn Shaughnessy. You’d probably been trying to hack into CGM for a while, but were unsuccessful.”

His voice was calm and controlled.
 
“
Si,
that part is true. But I did not use you. You and the twins came to me first. It was a stroke of good fortune, or perhaps destiny, that we found each other. Rest assured,
cara,
that my goal has always been the same as yours—to shut down CGM’s Bright Horizons cloning operation and find out who is killing those young women.”

I folded my arms against my chest. “So, how does
Sodalitium Pianum
and the Vatican play into all this?”

It was the first time since I’d met him that I saw a crack in his cool composure. He jerked as if I’d hit him in the chest. Then he slowly pushed his sunglasses to the top of his head, his dark eyes assessing me thoughtfully.

“How did you find out? The twins?”

I was surprised he didn’t deny it or try to cover up with some plausible explanation. “I asked them to check you out.”

“You are far more capable than I ever expected.”

“Yeah, well, meet the real me.”

He fell silent and I could see he was debating what and exactly how much to tell me. Then his jaw tightened. “The less you know about
Sodalitium Pianum,
the better.”

“That’s what I mean. If you’re not keeping me in the loop, then why should I trust you?”

Slash rubbed his unshaven chin, looking decidedly uncomfortable. “I am bound by many oaths of secrecy,
cara.
”

“But the Vatican
is
involved,” I persisted. “Why?”

“There are many people and organizations involved,” he answered. “But think about it. You don’t need me to tell you why the Vatican would be opposed to human cloning.”

He had a point. “I guess I don’t,” I said, my anger abating.

Walking around the kitchen table, Slash stood in front of me, holding me by the shoulders. “I want to tell you something. It’s been a long time since I’ve felt so protective of a woman. We are just starting what I hope will be a long and mutually beneficial relationship. If you try to do whatever you are plotting without my help you
will
be in terrible danger.”

“I’m already in terrible danger.”

“Imagine ten times that. I can protect you, but you must help me. What did Lars Anderson give you today in front of the twins’ house?”

So he knew about that, too. The FBI surveillance team was earning its paycheck.

“Oh, that. Lars gave me his phone number. He wants a date.”

“Then why did he burn it?”

“He’s a good-looking guy. Guess he didn’t want it getting around.”

Slash’s eyes darkened. “Don’t play me,
cara.
It’s not wise.”

“Who’s playing whom?” I retorted, my anger rising again. “Why are you so afraid for me? You hardly know me.”

Slash gazed at me for a moment and then said quietly, “For a very smart woman,
cara,
you are incredibly obtuse in matters of the heart. That might work on another man, but not me.” Grabbing a fistful of my shirt, he yanked me toward him. I think I yelped but the sound slid down my throat as his mouth crushed against mine in a flash of heat and speed. In an instant, my entire world turned upside down. I’d never,
ever,
been kissed like this and yet somehow, it seemed exactly right. I felt him pause, the briefest of hesitations and suddenly realized that he asked for permission to continue. He ran his fingers across my hair and murmured something against my mouth in Italian. I slid my arms around his neck, wound my fingers in his hair and kissed him back. I could feel the satisfied curve of his lips against mine as his tongue stroked inside my mouth. Blood pounded in my ears and my emotions whirled and skidded like a multi-dimensional number racing onward toward infinity.