Chapter 6

CHAPTER 6

Darkness had already started to fall when she saw Harlan driving up the trail in his jeep with Mack sitting beside him on the front seat. He put on the brakes and stayed in the vehicle while he waited for Mack to see her and then dash out of the jeep and run toward Kira in a delirium of joy.

He watched while she got her usual greeting and then got out and strode toward her. "I thought you might be ready to take charge of Mack and let me escort Domino back to the stable. It was clear Mack was missing you."

"I doubt it. He's far too well trained." But she was kneeling down to give the retriever a hug anyway. "And Domino and I are getting along just fine at the moment."

"Then maybe I was the one who was missing you," Harlan said solemnly. "Of course it could be mere curiosity that brought me running after you. You'll have to decide that for yourself. But you have to admit, your exit line back at the jailhouse was intriguing."

"Intriguing enough to cause you to send a couple of your men running around to check on where I'd gone? Don't you think I realize when I'm being followed? I knew that the first day in Colorado, when you started to follow me in the mountains."

"And I was aware that you knew. I thought you'd feel more secure if you believed that you had at least a modicum of power." He grinned. "I realized you had far more than that by the end of the first day. But by then I was too interested to stop. You were too good at what you did. It was fun just to watch you. It had become a game. I thought you might have had the same idea."

She was silent a moment. "I was just doing my job."

"Truly? I don't think so. We were both annoyed and both determined, but there were too many elements of chance in the chase not to intrigue us both. Yes?"

She shrugged. "Perhaps." But she wasn't going to give up entirely. "That isn't why you sent your men to hunt me down here in the woods today, though."

He shook his head. "Guilty as charged. But I told them not to disturb you. And you have to admit that I had a right to be concerned about your safety at this particular moment." He paused. "And what decision you might make while you were brooding out here by yourself."

"I don't brood," she said curtly. "And I can take care of myself… if that's what I want to do."

"Ah, but you've left me an opening there." His eyes narrowed. "Haven't you, Kira?"

"Yes, I've left you an opening," she said. "I told you that I had to think about what I wanted to do. I only agreed to spend three days with you. Do you want to know what I've decided?"

"I can hardly wait." He started to gently stroke Domino's jaw. "But wouldn't you rather go back to the manor where we'll be more comfortable?"

"No, I like the woods. And I'm not sure I want you to be too comfortable. Because I've decided that I might need you. If you turn me down, I might have to work out some other way to accomplish the same end."

He shrugged. "I try my best to be irreplaceable, so let's hear if you succeeded." He dropped down and leaned back beside her against the pine tree, crossing his arms over his chest. "By all means proceed."

"That's my intention." She reached into her pocket and pulled out her notebook. "You know what was in that letter. Well, I won't let Taylor use me to do his dirty work. But there could be a problem. I might need a partner who wants to get rid of Taylor as much as I do, but also has influence and unlimited funds since I have neither."

"And you've chosen me? I must admit you're not the first to so honor me. But it does come as a surprise. One, I'm not looking for a partner; two, you've indicated in no uncertain terms that I wouldn't be your choice in the next thousand years or so; and three, if I did choose a partner, it would be one who brought something into the game that appealed to me."

She nodded. "I thought about all that while I was sitting here, but I think I've found solutions for both of us."

"Really? Fascinating."

"Naturally, you're mostly interested in what you're going to have to give me."

"Not necessarily. The entire process is riveting."

"Stop joking. I'm trying to be serious. I can't tell you how much it would cost you to link up with me, but I'm sure it would be considerable. Though Fiona says that you have a good deal of capital. I believe she called it zillions."

"That sounds like her," Harlan said, shrugging. "And how many of those zillions are you going to have to take from me?"

"I'm not sure, but it's not as if you won't get it back. I'll see to it."

"From your nonexistent bank account?"

"It won't be nonexistent by then. I'm going to be making a deal that will allow me to reimburse you."

"May I ask with whom?"

"Of course. You have a right to know." She drew a deep breath before she continued in a rush, "There are only two things that Taylor mentioned he wanted in the letter he sent me." She made a face. "One of them was your head on a platter. The other was a similar fate for Fiona, with a suitable dedication to me. I decided the bastard can't have either one."

"For which we're both very grateful," Harlan said. "So we'd better go back to ways and means."

She firmly shook her head. "No, that's where my share of the booty comes in. After we safeguard Summer Island, we go to a place I've become very familiar with in the past few years while I've been doing some in-depth treasure hunting. It's in the Mediterranean and totally owned by an Egyptian national. Which means that any deal I make with him regarding the treasure will stand up in an international court."

"And you've already made such a deal?" Harlan asked. "I thought the ‘wild' rumors about your finding another even more profitable treasure were probably true. So much for totally devoting yourself to taking care of Mack and company."

"Everything I said was true," she said. "I just left a few details to be filled in later. The treasure is real. I can't document how big it is yet. I've seen emeralds, gold, and sapphires. But as I've said, I don't have all the details."

"Details about a treasure that will probably net a fairly fabulous sum? And will cost an equally fabulous amount to retrieve?"

"I could hardly expect you to donate your money or time to anything less. I'll split my share fifty–fifty with you." She stared him straight in the eye. "Well, is it a deal, Harlan? You should be glad I offered it to you. You'll probably make another fortune on it."

"It's definitely a possibility," he said slowly.

"Then say yes. What's holding you up? I'm being more than fair."

"And, as usual, very impatient. I prefer to go at a business arrangement like this slowly and make sure I know what I'm doing."

She stiffened. "Don't you trust me? The treasure is there. I've seen it."

"That's not the question." He got to his feet. "You have excellent credentials. And why shouldn't I believe you'd want to go after Taylor any way you could? You're angry and you want to put him away." He smiled crookedly. "What I should be worried about is exactly what method you'd use to do it. We might be very far apart on that score."

"You're right. I don't approve of taking a life for any reason." She paused. "Though I can see how you might have cause. Taylor is a beast."

"Granted." He added, "But the farthest I could go along with you would be to promise not to go after Taylor without your express approval. If you could accept that, a partnership might be possible—providing that you agree it's a full partnership in every way." He smiled as he saw her frown. "You don't like that? But it's a perfectly reasonable requirement. It protects what both of us want. Since I'm almost certain that Taylor will be the one who goes after me at his earliest convenience, I'll be able to keep my word. While you will remain ethically pure as you try to trap Taylor any way you can, I'd be a mere victim struggling to survive. Consider it. In my place, wouldn't you ask for the same terms?"

"Yes, I would," she said reluctantly. "And I'll think about it."

"But that last item isn't negotiable with me," he added. "No way. Forget it."

"You seem very determined. Why?"

"Why do you think? Because I don't want to ever feel the way I did when I had to tear you away from Taylor that night on the cliffs," he said grimly. "It never would have happened if I'd had more control over the situation. Hell, I shouldn't have let Belson pull you into that Colorado search. But I was too damn eager to go after the bastard, and he knew it. You can bet I won't permit it to interfere again."

She gazed at him incredulously. "What are you talking about? I'm the one who made the final choice to go after Taylor. You had nothing to do with it. I make my own decisions."

He shook his head. "You're wrong. I had everything to do with it. But have it your way. We'll be heading for Summer Island at dawn tomorrow. My private jet will take us there. If you still want to continue our arrangement." He was striding back toward the jeep. "Mack can come with us tomorrow, and I can have Domino brought by air transport the next day." He looked back over his shoulder. "If you've decided that you want Domino on your island?"

She nodded. "I might as well have him examined by my vet and set him up with a few preliminary evaluations. It will make Fiona happy even if it doesn't lead anywhere."

"Why did I know that was going to be your answer?" Harlan asked wryly. "My niece is nothing if not persuasive." He got into the jeep. "Go ahead and take Domino back to the stables. I'll follow you."

"That's not necessary."

"It is for me." He paused. "Look, Kira, I agree to your terms. But I'm going to insist you let me know what you're planning very soon so that I can make my own arrangements. Other than that and a few other minor disagreements, you'll find me to be an excellent provider, and I'll look after everyone you want protected. In short, I'm undoubtedly the best option you could hope for. Can you see that?"

"Within certain limits." She met his eyes. He was right. He was a very valuable asset, and clearly, he was not going to change his mind. "Whatever." She pulled on Domino's reins and whistled for Mack to follow her. "I was ready to go back anyway."

He suddenly smiled. "How lucky for me."

But she noticed he didn't move until she went ahead on Domino. "Yes, it is." She nudged Domino past the jeep. "I'll see you back at the manor."

He shrugged. "Perhaps not. I have quite a few arrangements to make before dawn tomorrow…"

And she suspected she would not have any input into those travel arrangements. But things would change once she reached Summer Island. She would be more in charge and able to run her own life.

And perhaps she'd also be able to do a little work on arrangements to show Harlan how very well she could perform when she was left to her own devices…

"What's the word?" Taylor asked the minute Donovan appeared on the deck of his cruiser. "Did you get the bitch?"

"No, Kira Drake got away and we didn't get either her or the niece." Donovan shrugged. "You knew attacking the castle was going to be a lost cause with all Harlan's men on watch there. Maybe next time."

Taylor cursed low and explicitly. "Don't tell me that. I told you I want her dead."

"And you'll get it. Don't I always come through for you? It wasn't me who left you in the lurch when we were on the cliffs. Mark Latham was the fool who did that." He added quickly, "And before you ask me if I took care of him, I did. The poor fellow didn't make it past the first raid on the castle. What a shame. And I managed to slip the note you gave me into Latham's pocket before I shot the bastard. Are you pleased with me?"

"I'm pleased. I'd be more pleased if you'd rid me of that bitch."

"But that would have been awkward. Though I did find out that she's being taken back to Summer Island by private jet tomorrow. I could set up a trap on the island and maybe bag both the woman and Harlan. Would you like that?"

"On Summer Island? You'd never make it. Harlan will have the damn place packed with his private army after the mess you made of that raid. You can scout around and see what you find. But your chances are practically nil."

"I might get lucky."

"Keep a sharp eye out. I want to see where the Drake woman goes next. That might be far more valuable…"