Stealing Shadows - Hiding In The Shadows Part 38

Faith felt a jolt of pain. But then scenes flashed through her mind,countless moments when Dinah had touched him just that way.

"Kane, I-"

He stood up and left the room.

Faith was conscious of her heart beating quickly.

She stared at her hand, at the oval nails that were polished red. Shehadn't realized she was holding her breath, but now let it go in aragged sigh.

She had forgotten. In the excitement of fitting puzzle pieces together,she had forgotten what this was really all about. She had forgotten herblank past. She had forgotten blackmail and torture and death.

She had forgotten Dinah.

Consciously, she had forgotten.

Whispering even though she was alone in the room, Faith said, "Dammit,Dinah. It's getting harder and harder to know where you end and Ibegin."

Chapter FOURTEEN.

The bodyguard was not happy when he was ordered to stay in the car with the driver once they reached Jordan Cochrane's secret condo.

"Mr. Macgregor, you hired me to protect the two of you and I can't-"

"I know, Sam, but we can hardly take you with us into a private home and

then expect the man to talk to us. Don't worry, we'll be all right."

Sam. So that's his name.

"At least take my weapon," Sam said.

"I'm armed. You stay here."

"Yes, sir," Sam replied reluctantly.

The first drops of rain fell as Faith and Kane went up the secluded

walkway to the condo. Even though it was only about four o'clock, it was already getting dark.

i didn't even know you had a gun," Faith murmured.

"I know how to use it, so you don't have to worry about that."

They were, Faith thought, being very polite. Both of them were acting as though nothing had happened between them, as though this tension didn't exist. But it did. And for an instant as Kane rang the doorbell, Faith was tempted to suggest that they leave right now, that they let the police do their Jobs and find out whether Jordan Cochrane was villain or victim. But then the door was opening, and it was too late.

"Cochrane. I'd like to talk to you," Kane said.

The man 'in the doorway was in his forties, hand- some in a dark, rather

saturnine fas.h.i.+on, and completely unsurprised by their arrival on his doorstep.

"I see." His voice was matter-of-fact, betraying no concern or

animosity.

But there was something, Faith thought, some- thing she felt more than

heard or saw. Then his gaze focused on her, and she heard Kane introduce her, saw Cochrane's polite nod.

"Come in," he said.

Kane was visibly wary as they stepped into the elegant foyer and watched

Cochrane close the door behind them. He led the way to a comfortableliving room where a cheerful fire burned in the fireplace. He used adimmer switch to brighten several lamps, then invited them to sit downand offered d s or coffee.

A winegla.s.s on the coffee table was evidence of what he'd been drinking. Faith wasn't terribly surprised when both men remained on their feet. Echoing Kane's refusal of refreshments but a bit more politely, she sat down on the long couch where she could see both men.

Watch. Listen.

The abrupt return of the voice in her head was eerie, especially since

it had been absent-except in her dreams-since she had learned ofDinah's death. But all Faith could do was obey it, settling back with a pretense of relaxation.

Cochrane said, "Would you mind telling me how you knew I was in town?"

"Lucky guess," Kane answered.

"I see. And how you found out this condo belonged to me?"

"Good research."

Cochrane's slanted brows drew together, lending him a distinctly ominous

expression. "May I ask why you were researching me, Mr. Macgregor?"

Faith heard his question echoed by the faraway sound of a bell tinkling, but it was such a fleeting thing she wasn't at all sure of it.

"Because I wanted a few answers." Kane barely waited for that to sink in

before going on. "Your company does own the warehouse at 281 Ivy,

doesn't it?"

"Yes. But 'it hasn't been used in months, not since we built a new plant with adequate storage room last April."

"Then why the guard dog?"

"To protect against vandals, of course. Empty buildings are always targets, you must know that.

What is this all about?"

Now.

Faith heard herself ask, "Mr. Cochrane, did you ever meet Dinah

"

"No."

He's lying.

"I don't think you're telling the truth, Mr. Cochrane."

"I can't help what you think, Miss. Parker."

I came to see him. Here. October eighth.

Faith felt a chill and was surprised she was able to keep her voice

steady. "Here. On the eighth of October. She came to see you, Mr.

Cochrane." Kane said, "That was two days before she disappeared."

Cochrane didn't take his eyes off Faith, and it was to her that he spoke, in the matter-of-fact tone of before. "I suppose she told you."

Had she? Faith didn't know. She 'just didn't know.

But what she said was, "She asked 'if you were being blackmailed. Whatdid you tell her, Mr. Cochrane?"

At first it seemed he wouldn't answer, but then he shrugged, acceptingsomething he knew he couldn't change. "I told her I had been approachedby someone demanding money. I also told her it was none of her G.o.dd.a.m.ned business."

"And she went away meekly?" Faith smiled slightly, aware of that ghostlybell ringing again.

Cochrane's mouth softened in an answering smile.

"Hardly."

"She knew you had a mistress?"

Kane's sharp question drew Cochrane's gaze, and his reply was just asintense. "She knew I was ... involved outside my marriage. She also knewthat my wife would never consent to a divorce-and would make my life aliving h.e.l.l if she found out about the other woman. To say nothing ofwhat would happen to me politically."

The bell rang again, and Faith looked around.

What on earth was that?

"Was it a secret you were willing to kill to keep?" Kane demandedharshly.

"I am not a killer."

"I'm sure you told yourself that. But you had so much to lose, didn'tyou? And there really wasn't another way out for you, was there?"

"It wasn't like that."