The Bullet Read online

  “I checked her into the Renaissance Hotel with me. She’s in the adjoining room. I left the door cracked and I’ll hear if she so much as sneezes during the night.” She paused. “How careful should I be, Hu Chang? How much danger is Diane Connors in?”

  “How much do you think?” he asked quietly. “I sent her to you for protection. I would never have done that if I hadn’t needed someone who would give everything in their heart and soul to keep her alive and away from the dragons waiting for her out there.”

  “What dragons? You let me go into this blind.”

  “Because that’s the way she wanted it, and I had to handle the situation carefully. Diane is an exceptional woman but she’s very emotional in this instance.”

  “What dragons?” she repeated.

  “You want a name? Hmm. I fear there are many who would like to destroy her. I believe the most likely and current is Joshua Nalam, but that doesn’t mean another might not pop up tomorrow or the next day.”

  At least she had a name. “Why?”

  “She’ll have to tell you the details. I tried to convince her she should trust you, but she has little faith in law-enforcement organizations.”

  “Even though she told me she was once married to Joe Quinn?”

  “I thought that would have to come out. It might cause her a good deal of trouble. But the key word in their relationship is once. Divorce seldom leaves behind a bountiful amount of faith.”

  “I didn’t even know Joe was married before. It’s just always been Joe and Eve. Are we sure it’s true?”

  “It’s true.” His voice was totally indifferent. “Diane mentioned it to me years ago when she was working with me in Hong Kong, but I didn’t feel it was important. Neither did she. Diane was totally involved in her research at the time. I got the impression they were at opposite ends of the world in geography as well as philosophy. That appeared to be the way Diane liked it. Which is more sensible than she is about a good many other things.”

  She could see how Hu Chang might have felt a past relationship was unimportant. Total acceptance. No curiosity. He probably wouldn’t have mentioned it to anyone unless something pertinent like this had come to the forefront. How many secrets did Hu Chang know that he didn’t consider relevant? “You’re not being very helpful.”

  “I promised her, and you’ll have to get most of it from Diane.” He was silent an instant. “But I’ve been thinking about it, and sometimes a situation demands more than just a nudge to get it to come out the way it should. This might be one of those times. I do not want this to go badly for Diane Connors. I would find the result most distasteful. So I’ll give you all the help I can within those limits.”

  That was a huge commitment for Hu Chang, she realized. Whatever was happening with Diane must have huge ramifications as far as he was concerned. “You wouldn’t consider just giving me the story and letting me start out ahead of the game?”

  “A promise,” he said quietly.

  “Okay. Twenty questions? Tell me about Diane Connors. She said she’s a person of interest, not a criminal. Is that true?”

  “It’s true. She’s very honest, sometimes emotional and stubborn, but no real criminal tendencies past or present.”

  “She said she worked with you in your lab, that you taught her. What did she do?”

  “I did teach her.” He paused. “And she taught me. She was brilliant and innovative. She worked with homeopathic healing herbs she found in the jungle and rain forest and experimented with creating different treatments.”

  “She’s a chemist?”

  “And a doctor.”

  “Evidently not a very good one. She told me she’s made a lot of mistakes.”

  “But they weren’t in the medical field. Yes, she does make mistakes on occasion, and the fact that she’s impulsive tends to make them more serious. She isn’t perfect. But then who is perfect?” He added slyly, “Except me, of course. I come very close.”

  “What does she want with Eve?”

  He didn’t answer.

  “Does this Joshua Nalam have anything to do with Joe and Eve or why Quantico wants Joe to go to Washington?”

  “I have no idea.” He chuckled. “No more, Catherine. I’ve probably told you enough that you can figure some of it out for yourself. Why else did I choose you?”

  “Because I’m the only one who would put up with this nonsense you make me go through to help you?” She paused. “This means something to you, doesn’t it? She’s your friend?”

  “She is my friend. Not like you, Catherine. She does not let anyone get that close. But I’ve watched her over the years, and I’ve seen how she’s gradually changed and transformed herself without even knowing she was doing it. I would go out of my way to make certain that no one destroys the unique person she’s become.”

  “That’s saying a good deal,” she said slowly. “You don’t use the word unique lightly.”

  “No, I don’t. It’s reserved for people like you, Catherine.” He paused. “And for the man whom I was considering calling to take care of this matter before I decided to ask you instead.”

  She could sense a hidden meaning in those last words and instinctively tensed. “What are you talking about?”

  “I just feel it’s only fair that I let you know that you’re not the only one who would put up with my eccentricities if he thought it was worth his while. I thought long and hard before I called you. It was tempting…all that power. I might still have to bring him aboard if I deem it necessary.”

  Now she thought she knew where this was going and couldn’t believe he’d do this. “Bring who aboard?” she asked curtly.

  “Richard Cameron,” he said simply. “I know your relationship with him is complicated, but you can see that he would have the ability to keep Diane hidden indefinitely if he chose.”

  “Cameron!” She swore softly. “Or maybe persuade her to join his army of malcontents, and suddenly another brilliant scientist would just disappear from view. He’s like a damn Pied Piper.”

  “It’s not as if he kidnaps them,” Hu Chang said mildly. “He gives them a choice. A good many people have lost faith in the direction our world leaders and politicians are taking us. They evidently think that it’s not a bad idea to prepare in case we need a Shangri-La to come back to after some idiot sets off the big one. He just provides them with a place and protection so that they can do their work in peace.”

  “And away from government interference.”

  “Their choice,” Hu Chang repeated. “And I’ve never heard of any of the people who have chosen to go with Cameron deciding to come back.”

  “Pied Piper,” she repeated. “He’s brilliant, psychic, and he can talk the birds out of the trees.”

  “So why doesn’t the CIA or FBI know what a threat he is to all of us?” he asked mockingly. “Why haven’t you launched a hunt for him, Catherine?”

  “It’s not as if I can prove that he’s some kind of terrorist or revolutionary. There have been rumors about him, but that’s all they’ve been. Rumors.”

  “And?”

  “He’s not a monster.” She added grudgingly, “And he can be useful on occasion.”

  “My point exactly.”

  “But he’s wrong. He shouldn’t do things like that. He should try to make life better, not just get ready to clean up after all the megalomaniacs.”

  “A matter of opinion. You and Cameron have never agreed…about that.”

  “What do you think?” she demanded.

  “I really don’t care. I’ll cope with whatever comes my way. I just wanted you to know that I might have to call on him if I see difficulties.”

  She remembered something else he’d said. “You said if he thought she was worth his while. Do you think he would?”

  “I haven’t discussed Diane with him yet. But I think there’s every chance he would think her worth it.” He paused. “Still, sometimes one doesn’t have to tell Cameron when someone appears on the scene th
at would interest him. He has his ear constantly to the ground, and his organization knows what he’s looking for.”

  Catherine knew that from past experience. Cameron’s network appeared to be everywhere, and he showed up when she least expected to see him. “She’s that good a scientist?”

  “Totally remarkable. But you needn’t worry yet. You may be able to handle Diane’s problem without assistance.” His voice was suddenly gentle. “I will try not to involve him. I realize your attitude toward Cameron is…conflicted.”

  “I’m not conflicted. Of course I’ll be able to handle this by myself,” she said impatiently. “And the last thing I want is to have to deal with Cameron and try to keep him from persuading Diane that she should run away to never-never land. She seems to be confused enough about what’s happening to her.”

  “Yes and no,” Hu Chang said. “However, if she chose never-never land, she would make a good thing of it. But I will not have her forced to do that if there is another way. You agree to keep her safe for me?”

  “You know I will. I agree to do everything I can. But you gave me practically no information. And I’ll probably end up balancing my job with the CIA against whatever Diane is going to demand Eve do tomorrow. You’re not making it easy for me.”

  He chuckled. “Very true. But when did you ever want anything easy? From the time I first met you in that shop in Hong Kong, I could see what you were and what you were going to become. It is all very simple. You will get what information you need from Diane and I will keep my promise. You’ve balanced your duties with the CIA before and will again because they realize that you’re an expert operative and they value you. As for Eve, you knew you had to go with Diane to see her so that you could judge whether you had to protect your friend as well.”

  “Yes, all very simple.”

  “And I thank you for doing me this favor. I believe that after it is all over, you will agree it was interesting and valuable enough to be beneficial.” He paused. “I will keep you informed if I hear word of any problems. Call on me if you need me.”

  “Believe me, I will,” she said dryly. “Good night, Hu Chang.” She pressed the button to disconnect.

  She leaned back against the headboard with a sigh of exasperation. Not simple at all. Hu Chang had been his usual enigmatic and complex self, but it had been clear Diane was important to him—so important that he’d considered using Cameron. In fact, for an instant Catherine had wondered if he’d mentioned the possibility to make sure her instant rejection would reinforce her own decision to stay with Diane. Anything was possible with Hu Chang.

  And even though she’d denied it, he knew that conflicted was hardly the word for her relationship with Cameron over the years. From the day they’d met in Tibet, she’d found him stormy, erotic, passionate, and completely fascinating. It hadn’t mattered that she’d disagreed with his philosophy or that they were often on different sides. The attraction was there and the only sensible thing was not to see him, which she’d been trying to do. Though it would have been easier if Cameron would stop dropping in on her unexpectedly whenever he found she was in the same city.

  Don’t think of him. At least she wasn’t going to have to deal with Cameron in full attack mode, since Hu Chang wasn’t going to turn him loose on Diane Connors. But that meant Diane was definitely in Catherine’s court, and she would have to do her best for the woman no matter how difficult. To do her job she had to know her, how she thought, what was important to her, just as she did with any subject she was investigating.

  Information. Find out everything she could about Diane that Hu Chang had been so chary about telling her. She might as well start right now; she was too charged from Hu Chang launching the threat of Cameron showing up on the scene to sleep anyway. Everyone had secrets, but by tomorrow she wanted to know as much as she could about Diane Connors’s past, her present, and everything that made her tick.

  She took out her computer and got to work.

  * * *

  Diane and Catherine had eaten breakfast and were on the road by nine the next morning.

  “You’re very quiet.” Diane gave Catherine a sly smile. “Have a bad night?”

  “You might say that,” Catherine said. “I had a few things to sort out. But I got through them.”

  “Did Hu Chang help?”

  “Not much. He gave me his version of support, which mostly added to the confusion. So I decided I had to clear it up for myself.” She glanced at Diane. “You’re almost as much an enigma to me as Hu Chang. I can only accept one at a time since I’m such a simple person. So I did a little research and got to know Diane Connors a little better.”

  “Really?” She tilted her head curiously. “Did you find me interesting? How far back did you go?”

  “I didn’t find your early years very interesting at all, so I skipped through them. You were just a rich kid, and your parents seemed to have spoiled you rotten because they didn’t want to deal with your tantrums. Though you were very intelligent and your grades in college were exceptional when you were interested enough in a subject to put out the effort.” She paused. “Which wasn’t often. Then Joe Quinn appeared in your life and something changed. Actually, he’d been around for a while. Your families had known each other for years. But he was nothing like you. Night and day. Which didn’t seem to matter, because you married him within six months.”

  “Yes, I did,” Diane said coolly. “But I believe I told you that any conversation about Joe Quinn was out of bounds. I meant it, Catherine.”

  “That’s all right. I wasn’t going to probe; you didn’t stay married to him that long.” She shrugged. “And I admit you only became intriguing to me after you divorced him. That’s when you left Atlanta for L.A. and disappeared from view. You went back to college and then to medical school and earned a doctorate in medicine and several associate degrees. Within five years you were working with a unit of One World Medical in the South Seas and the Amazon jungle in South America. Quite an unselfish decision and accomplishment considering your rather self-indulgent background. Quinn’s influence?”

  “You’re thinking he saved my soul?” She grimaced. “Be for real. Joe had nothing to do with it. I liked the idea of healing people, particularly kids. I’ve always been fascinated with medicine and finding and developing new drugs. I needed a change after that last horrendous mistake of a marriage, and I went out and worked until I erased it from my mind.”

  “Erased? Yet evidently you seem to have remembered Eve quite clearly.”

  “She’s essential. I always remember anyone that’s necessary to me. I’m sure you do, too.”

  “Yes.” She paused. “And I agree Eve is essential. She always will be to me, Diane.”

  “You don’t have to warn me. I’m not going to force an issue. It’s either yes or no.”

  “I just wanted you to be—”

  “I hear you,” she said jerkily. “Look, we’re almost at the cottage. It’s the turn ahead. Do you want to go in and tell Eve of the treat she has in store for her? I can wait in the car.”

  “I called her before we left the hotel to be sure that we’d be able to talk to her in privacy. I didn’t mention you by name, so I’ll just run in and explain.” She was suddenly frowning. “How did you know we’re almost at the cottage?”

  “Evidently you didn’t do that good a job of investigating my marriage with Joe.” She made a face. “He had this house when we were still married. We never spent any time here. I was planning on renovating it.”

  “Shit.”

  She nodded her head. “I know. Some things change, some things don’t. I wasn’t sure I’d remember the way, but it came back to me.” The cottage was suddenly in sight and she stiffened. “I see Eve agreed with me, they’ve done some building. It’s much larger than it was the last time I saw it.”

  “Eve and Joe’s place always looked just cozy to me,” Catherine said. “And it’s hard for me to think of anyone living there but them.”

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p; “And you resent it.”

  Catherine nodded. “I think I do.”

  “I can see how you would. She’s your friend, and it must seem as if I’m stepping on her turf.” She shrugged. “I guarantee I won’t bring it up when I’m talking to Eve.”

  “You’d better not. You’re the interloper here.” She pulled up into the driveway. “I won’t have her upset.”

  “Don’t worry,” Diane said wearily. “I’ve been an interloper too often to forget my place in the scheme of things. I don’t promise not to upset her, but it won’t be intentional.”

  And Catherine believed her. Diane would do her best not to create any more havoc than was needed to protect herself. In this moment, she appeared very vulnerable. Catherine’s first impression of a stunning woman who had all the confidence in the world was fading the more time she spent with Diane. Yes, she might be able to hold her own, but Catherine had no real idea what the odds were that had brought her here and made Hu Chang so concerned. “Eve is very strong. She can take care of herself.” She got out of the car and headed for the porch steps. “I’ll be right back.”

  * * *

  “Diane Connors?” Eve’s eyes widened in shock. “What the hell, Catherine? I haven’t heard from her in years. I haven’t even thought of her since I heard she and Joe had filed for divorce years ago. I wasn’t here when it happened. She just disappeared, and Joe said something about her going to California.”

  “She did go to California and quite a few other places,” Catherine said. “She’s a doctor now and has somehow managed to get herself into a situation where even Hu Chang is concerned about her.” She paused. “And didn’t you think it unusual that she would just disappear?”

  “Of course it was unusual.” She grimaced. “I suppose I just didn’t want to think about her after she divorced Joe. I didn’t know her that well, and he never talked about her. At the time we weren’t romantically involved; we were just friends. I guess I thought she’d made him unhappy and I didn’t want to rub salt into a wound.” She rubbed her temple. “I don’t know what I thought. It doesn’t matter now, does it? You say she wants to talk to me, not Joe?”