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really Kean she loved now? Could they really be the same?
Kean nudged her chin until she met his gaze. He saw the question in her eyes and ran the pad of his
thumb over her lower lip in mute understanding. He pulled the coverlet s ends together and rose to
gather the diaries.  We should get some more sleep.
Aideen nodded, still not trusting herself to speak. She waited for him at the study s door while he
secured the cabinet and gathered his shirt and jacket from the floor. A weak chirping from his jacket
startled him and he broke into a smile, pulling his cell phone from the inside pocket. He looked at the
caller s ID and the smile morphed into a broad grin.  The cavalry, at last, he said and tossed Aideen a
wink.
Not understanding what he meant, she listened intently, a growing unease pooling in her stomach as his
smile faded to frown. She felt her own lips pressing into a flat line and Kean hooked her waist with one
hand and pulled her to him. As he spoke to the caller, the side of his mouth pressed against her
forehead in a comforting kiss.
 What is it? she asked when he replaced the phone in his jacket pocket and started to put his shirt on.
 Meyrick s betting we re here, he said, once again retrieving the Bloodstone and Cenn s diary from
the cabinet. He dropped the Bloodstone, still in its velvet bag, into a heavier bag that reminded Aideen
of the lead apron her dentist placed over her stomach when taking x-rays.
 Good bet, she said, her voice smaller than she liked.
Kean managed an easy smile that reached his eyes and he nodded down the hall.  Get dressed, we re
leaving before they get here.
She nodded but hesitated at the door.  What s that for? She pointed at the second bag.
 Meyrick s developed all sorts of tools to pick up the stone s vibrational signal, he answered.  Unless
one of his devices is rubbing up against us, this will hopefully block its signature.
With his hand, he motioned her to hurry while he continued collecting things from the room. Her
stomach gave a little flip as she was going out the door, the flash of his pistol as he drew it from the
desk momentarily catching her attention.  Quickly, Aideen, he cautioned and shoved the pistol into
his waistband.
Aideen raced down the hallway to the small kitchen and bathroom where her clothes were still in the
dryer. She slipped them on, relieved they were dry and hoping they d stay that way. She was stepping
into her shoes when he popped his head into the kitchen and motioned for her to follow him. Back in
the bedroom, he opened a closet door and flipped a panel to reveal another electronic combination lock.
Another door opened and he ushered her through.
 James Bond with a Jag, she half-sighed and was rewarded by a downward turn of his sensuous
mouth.
 Only this is for real, he reminded her.
They were in a small room with a counter and top cupboards on one side. He reached into the cupboard
and pulled out two backpacks. Next, he pulled out a rugged day tourist jacket and handed it to Aideen.
Once she had it on, he put the Bloodstone in the bottom of one backpack along with half a stack of
British pound notes and American dollars. This he handed to Aideen and then he wound her hair into a
high pile and covered it with a bucket cap while she shouldered the pack. Next, he stripped his dress
slacks off and donned a pair of jeans and tennis shoes, with a light windbreaker over his dress shirt that
was just long enough to conceal the pistol. He stuck Cenn s diary in the second backpack, pulled out a
flashlight, and then grabbed her elbow and led her through another door and down into a narrow
passageway that descended underground.
 How long does this go on? she asked. The space was a tight fit made tighter by the packs they were
wearing.
 About two kilometers, he answered.  Comes up in the back of an alley about two blocks from the
public ferry.
 When was the last time you went through here? she asked. The walls were slick with moisture and so
was the floor. Twice she reached out to clutch at Kean s backpack as she lost her foothold on the
slippery rock.
 Mmm& six months ago? he guessed, catching her and standing her upright with only a slight slowing
of his pace.
 What if the walls have caved in? she asked. The possibility squeezed at her and she clutched his
backpack a third time.
 Unlikely, but we won t know  til we reach the end.
Their voices bounced along the tunnel s walls and she asked her next question in a whisper.  We re
taking the day ferry?
 Mm-hmm, Kean answered just as softly.  I don t want to risk running into Meyrick s men alone on
the open waters and they may close in more slowly if they see the Jag and boat and think we re still on [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]