The Spy With the Silver Lining (9 page)

“Your promise that you won’t let Ruza Balasi out of your sight for the next couple of days. How do you feel about being her bodyguard?”

Lazie grinned, then blew smoke. “I
tink
I’m goin’
ta
like
dis
job just fine.”

Yurii was on his way to meet the Chameleon when he called Nicky. He was on his yacht, the
Bella Vella,
just leaving the Gulf of Salerno.

“Pierce Fourtier works for Onyxx? He’s a level-one agent, Filip tells me. So I’ve been asking myself, why would Onyxx involve themselves with an agent from Quest? What’s in it for them?”

“And have you come up with an answer, Don Petrov?”

“Not yet. But I will.”

“Your news explains what just happened.”

“And what has happened, Nicky?”

“I have some bad news. Fourtier surprised us while we were staking out his cabin. I don’t know how he knew we were there, but… I was careful. Only—”

“Only what, Nicky?”

“Anton was captured.”

“You disappoint me, Nicky. And in the past week I’ve had too many disappointments.”

“I need another man.”

“It sounds like you need more than one. Filip told me that Fourtier is one of Onyxx’s best.”

“I’m sorry, Don Petrov.”

“I want
Kisa
back, Nicky. No excuses. I will send someone to take over the capture.”

“But— Whatever you say, Don Petrov.”

“In four days, Nicky. I want
Kisa
at Nescosto Priyatna in four days.”

“She will be there.”

Yurii didn’t like the idea of Onyxx entering the game. What puzzled him was why they would be interested in
Kisa.
Or was he looking at this all wrong? Maybe
Kisa
wasn’t the interest. Maybe it was him.

He rubbed his jaw, considered the idea.

He said, “Do not fail me again, Nicky. If you do, I will cut your heart out and eat it myself.”

“Yes, Don Petrov. When will you send the men?”

“You will have them tonight. Give me a location where they can meet you.”

“I’m in Le Mystère. The men can find me at a bar called the Ginger Root. I’ll be there all night waiting for them.”

“One more thing, Nicky. After you have sent
Kisa
on her way to me, stay behind and kill Pierce Fourtier. Make sure he suffers.”

Yurii pocketed his phone after making a second call. He sent Nicky five men. Five bloodthirsty Russian
soldatos
who were eager to please him, and one unexpected surprise.

Standing on the deck of his yacht, he again felt anxious to get his business with the Chameleon settled so he could focus his attention on the proper welcome-home gift for
Kisa.

A woman with so much beauty should never sell herself so cheaply. Quest was about to learn a lesson they would not soon forget. They were about to lose one of their best and most talented to the enemy.

“Until death do us part,” Yurii whispered. “
Da,
until death,
Kisa.
”

C
asmir slept in later than she’d planned. She hadn’t been able to fall asleep until close to morning. She climbed out of bed tired and irritable. Already hot.

She sorted through the items in her bag. It wouldn’t take long to figure out what to wear today. She had two choices—a sexy uneven-hemmed pink floral skirt and blouse, or a black silk shift. Both outfits had matching lingerie and sandals.

She hadn’t called Polax after Pierce had left the bedroom. She had wanted to—still wanted to—but she was too angry to speak to him yet. And when she did, she wanted to know everything. She suspected Pierce was holding something back. He hadn’t mentioned why her mother had been sent along. Polax might be planning to sacrifice her for the sake of Quest, but Mama, too?

She believed that Pierce knew the answer to that question, and she intended to get it out of him one way or another. If she was going to be dangled in front of Yurii like a piece of meat, so be it. But not Mama.

She pulled out the pink underwear, grabbed the skirt and blouse, and pink shoes. Fifteen minutes later she walked out of the bathroom, showered and dressed, to check on Mama. Not finding her in her bedroom, she entered the living room, then the kitchen.

When she discovered no one was in the house, she stepped out on the porch to find Pierce leaning against a post, smoking. That was no surprise.

“Where’s Mama?”

“Lazie took her for a boat ride.”

“A boat ride? Where?”

“To tour the bayou, then to lunch at a little place on the river.”

“And you let her go?”

“She seemed eager.”

“I doubt that. You forced her to go with him, didn’t you?”

“I wouldn’t use the word
force.
I didn’t put a gun to her head, or threaten to put her back in the trunk.”

“Cute. Call Lazie and tell him to bring her back.”

“No.”

Casmir swore. “I don’t trust him. Every time he looks at Mama he starts to drool.”

He continued to smoke and look out over the murky water. “I think she likes him.”

“About as much as she likes sour milk.”

“Lazie’s a nice guy.”

“He’s a randy dog.”

“That, too.”

Finally he turned to look at her standing in the doorway. “It seems the stories are true.”

“What stories?”

He looked her up and down. “That the actress never has a hair out of place.”

“Is that some kind of offhanded compliment? If you think flattery is going to score points, you’re wasting your time.”

“Did you call Polax?”

“Not yet. I know that what you told me last night barely scratched the surface. This morning I want to know the rest of it.”

“The rest?”

“Why was my mother sent with me? If I’m going to be a sitting duck, fine, but I will not allow my mother to be placed in danger.”

“She’s going to be fine. Want breakfast?”

“No. What I want is my mother out of harm’s way.”

“Done.”

“Just like that?”

“Just like that.”

“I don’t believe you.”

“I’m hungry. Do you cook?”

“I can cook when I want to. I rarely want to.”

He walked past her into the house and headed for the kitchen.

She trailed him. “If the roles were reversed would you be willing to put your life in my hands? The life of your mother?”

He opened the fridge. “I don’t have a mother.”

“Everyone has a mother.”

He took out a carton of orange juice. “Want some?”

“No.”

He popped it open and drained the carton, then tossed it into the sink.

“You’re avoiding the question. You probably don’t even know who your mother is.”

“I know. She gave me life, but we never bonded. Not like you and Ruza. You can trust that if you do what I tell you your mother will be out of here before the action starts.”

“That’s not good enough.”

“Maybe if we spend some quality time together you’ll get more comfortable with the word
trust
…and me.” He gave her another head-to-toe. “I wonder what you’d look like in a pair of jeans.”

“If you read my file you already know that I can fit into any mold required of me. In Austria, I—”

“Wore ass-tight black pants and a blue sweater.
Oui,
I remember the day we met.”

“I remember you, too. Whining after you got shot.”

He glanced down to her feet. “Pink sandals. Don’t you own a pair of decent shoes?”

“My shoes aren’t important at the moment. What is, is that Mama is taken someplace safe, and Polax pays for being a lying bastard. I intend to haunt him from the grave.”

“You’re a woman who holds grudges, then?”

“Something to remember.”

“I’ll keep it in mind.”

She had decided just before she’d fallen asleep last night that she would go through with the mission. For a split second she had considered running away, but she was no coward. And because she wasn’t, that left her only one choice—play Polax’s game, and in the end, Yurii’s.

It was crazy thinking, but she wished that Pierce had some superpower she didn’t know about. That he would be able to pull a miracle out of his nice, tight ass pocket and make good on his promise. She would have liked to trust him, but how could she trust an agent who smoked too much, and probably couldn’t sprint a hundred yards without his lungs collapsing?

“What are you thinking?”

“Nothing.”

“It must be something. You’re not usually this quiet.”

She shrugged off his little dig, sat down at the table. It would do no good to share her little secrets now. As he had said, the mission had started, and Yurii knew where to find her. It was only a matter of time now.

He fixed scrambled eggs and toast for the both of them. While they ate, he said, “I need to make a grocery run. Unless you’re interested in trying out mudbugs?”

Casmir sat back and wiped her mouth on her napkin. “I think it would be a good idea if you ran along into town. I’ll stay here and wait for Mama.”

“I’d rather you go with.”

“Afraid Yurii’s going to kidnap me while you’re gone?”

“His men won’t come until tomorrow.”

“How do you know that?” She held up her hand. “Forget the question. I’m sure that’s privileged information. The bait doesn’t need to know when, just be available.”

“I understand how you feel.”

“You don’t know shit about how I feel, so don’t patronize me.” She picked up her empty plate and carried it to the sink.

“Polax wouldn’t have put you in this situation if he didn’t think you could handle it and come out alive.”

“Well, he doesn’t know everything,” Casmir muttered to herself.

“What did you say?”

“Nothing.”

“Do you know something we don’t? Something you left out of your report?”

She turned from the sink. “It doesn’t matter now. As you said, it’s started.”

“If it makes a difference it matters.”

“In my five years at Quest I’ve never been conned by my own agency. At the moment I’m not feeling too loyal, or too generous with anything I left out of that report.”

“Then you did leave something out. What?”

“It won’t ruin your record, Agent Pierce. I’m sure you’ll succeed in getting your data. You’re a tough guy.” Casmir mocked him by flexing her muscles.

“I’ll get you out.”

“Maybe I’d just as soon you didn’t.”

Suddenly he was on his feet. “What the hell does that mean?”

She started past him and he grabbed her arm. “Explain that last comment.”

She jerked free. “If I survive this, it will be my decision, and I’ll save myself. When the time comes, get the data and get out.”

She headed into the living room.

Pierce called after her. “I’m leaving in thirty minutes for Le Mystère. Be ready.”

“Whatever you say, Agent Fourtier.”

“And when we get into town, remember, we’re a happy couple, so sharpen up those acting skills…
amant.
Today you’re in love, and I’m the lucky man.”

Love… Casmir glanced down at the ring on her finger. Sometimes love could be the death of you.

Ruza sat in Lazie’s boat and watched him maneuver them through the bayou. It was far more beautiful here than she’d expected. The crazy thing was she had agreed to leave Cassie asleep at the cabin and go out on the water with the very man who had tossed her into a trunk.

She eyed the man. Today Lazie had left his garish vest and frilly shirt at home. He wore a black T-shirt and jeans. His body looked younger than his suspected age. She understood now why he had been able to wrestle her to the ground yesterday.

The man had muscular arms, and the agility of a man in his thirties, not his late fifties. But then, age was experience, and this man looked as if he’d lived his life to the fullest.

He had given her a brief history of the area, named every tree they passed, and where every water trail went. The information had her head spinning. Or was it Lazie himself that was spinning her head?

She had never in all her travels met anyone like him. He was rough around the edges, and spoke a language all his own.

“I’ve been waiting to hear why you accosted me yesterday, Mr. Lazie.”

He turned to look at her. “Is
dat
why you said
oui
to
dis
boat ride, Cookie?”

“I guess it is.”

“
Non.
I
don tink
so.”

“What do you think my reason was, then?”

He grinned. “I
tink
you like me.”

“And why would I like a man who tossed me in a trunk?”

“I’m sorry about
dat.
In a day or two, maybe three, you’ll understand, but for now, I
tink
let’s just enjoy each other. Are you gettin’ hungry yet, Cookie? Bubba’s Place is a few miles up and around
da
bend.”

“Bubba’s?”

“Bubba’s got
de
best rib shack on
da
river.”

“A restaurant?”

“You could call it
dat.
It started out as a fishin’ shack.
Den
the word got out
dat
Bubba could cook like his mama. Been cookin’ for
da
folks around here ever since.”

She would be hungry soon. She’d only had a piece of toast for breakfast after she’d seen what Lazie was having—leftover mudbugs from the night before.

“Ribs, you said?”

“Barbecued ribs and hush puppies. Bubba’s are
da
best I ever ate.”

Ruza wasn’t sure if that was a good selling point. Lazie’s taste in food was questionable. She had given the mudbugs a try last night, and they hadn’t tasted too bad. The problem was touching them. And there was no way she could put the head of the thing in her mouth to suck the juice, as Lazie had showed her how to do.

“So, Cookie, should we stop?”

She needed to use a bathroom. “All right, Lazie, we’ll eat at the restaurant, but only if you promise I won’t be disappointed, there’s a bathroom, and I won’t be accosted by the natives.”

Her last comment drew a smile. He said, “If any man lays a hand on you,
mon coeur,
I’ll cut him in half.”

“It’s comforting to know you’re watching my back, Lazie.”

He patted the wicked knife strapped on his belt that was too big to fit in his pocket. “A comfort for you, and my pleasure.”

In a strange way Lazie reminded her of Jacko. Not in appearance or dress, but they were both take-charge men. Maybe that was the attraction. Cassie’s father had had a wild side, too. He’d been exciting and handsome. Lazie could be wickedly handsome in his own way.

She wondered what he would look like with his hair cut, a shave and new clothes.

She caught Lazie staring, his devil eyes moving slowly over her breasts and legs. He was thinking nasty thoughts again. She set aside the picture in her mind of him clean shaven. It would take more than a few surface improvements to make him fit into her world.

They rounded the bend and that was when the rib shack came into sight. Ruza wasn’t surprised by its size. Lazie had said it was small. What surprised her was how many boats were tied up to the floating dock.

Bubba’s ribs must be edible, she thought.

When Lazie tied up the boat, he helped her climb out. Once on the dock, he let her go ahead of him. She knew why, knew his eyes had drifted to her backside.

She said over her shoulder, “That’s not what I meant when I said watch my back.”

He chuckled. “
Mais
yeah, a spirited
ange. Da
best kind, my Ruza-a….”

Merrick went to visit Sarah Finny at the flower shop and to pick up the two dozen roses for Johanna. He spoke to Sarah kindly, and even found himself flirting with her. She smiled, and that was when he asked her to dinner.

He and Sarah had been steadily getting closer, but he hadn’t kissed her yet. Maybe tomorrow after dinner he would take the next step. He liked her company, liked how easy she was to be around.

A woman’s voice, her laughter… Yes, he’d missed both. Johanna had loved to laugh.

He left the flower shop with the roses and drove to the cemetery north of the city. As he walked to Johanna’s grave, he began to feel guilty. He’d just arranged a date with Sarah, and now he was planning to spend the afternoon with Johanna.

He couldn’t stop seeing Johanna, and yet he ached for a real life. For a woman to touch, and to be touched.

Would Johanna understand? She had been a jealous woman when they were together, but not nearly as jealous as he had been. If a man looked at her twice he had wanted to take his head off.

So what was he doing? Sarah deserved a man who could love her with his whole heart, and that would never be him.

At Johanna’s grave, Merrick placed the roses in the silver vase, then went to sit on the bench.

“It’s sunny today, Johanna. The sky’s clear and the air summer warm. Do you remember what day it is? Today is your birthday. You’re forty-one. Remember what we always did on your birthday? Dinner at LuCasa and a movie. It never mattered what movie. Then afterward…”

Merrick closed his eyes as the vision of the two of them took shape by the fire in the home they had shared. They would talk of their dreams for a family, of growing old together. Then make love.