Текст книги "The Naked Eye"

Автор книги: Iris Johansen

Соавторы: Roy Johansen
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Текущая страница: 13 (всего у книги 19 страниц)

CHAPTER 13

Lynch House

3:15 A . M .

DAMN, IT WAS GOOD TO be home.

Adam Lynch smiled as he turned onto Chester Court and headed toward the end of the street. The mere sight of his house eased a bit of the tension from his neck and back. It had been an intense week in Luxembourg, made all the more harrowing by the rapidly developing Eric Colby case back home. It drove him crazy that he was stuck almost six thousand miles away at the exact same time that Colby appeared to be making a grotesque comeback.

There had been some loose ends to tie up in Luxembourg, but with Colby’s reemergence, he’d tossed the responsibility to someone else and headed home. Kendra had been the one to bring the beast down originally, and it was anybody’s guess what shape his sick revenge would take now.

But at least Kendra was safe at this moment. She was in the house that he’d built to keep himself safe, and he knew that as long as she was there there, Colby couldn’t reach her. He was eager to see her. Only a few more minutes and he—

No, it was late and he wouldn’t wake her tonight but wait until they’d both had something resembling a good night’s sleep.

The tall gates opened, and he sped up the driveway to the garage. He parked and pressed his thumb against his phone’s fingerprint sensor to throw open the lock to his house. He stepped inside and dropped his bags inside the door.

Home. Maybe a few minutes of Sports Center, a quick shower, then …

He heard something.

A scraping sound from the kitchen.

Kendra?

Perhaps. But he couldn’t take the chance. It might not be Colby, but any number of old enemies might have their sights on him.

Lynch slowly, quietly turned back, unzipped his large, checked suitcase, and pulled out his Taurus .45 automatic. He checked the magazine. Fully loaded.

Another sound from the kitchen. Louder this time.

Lynch crept through the dark living room with his gun pointed upward.

Footsteps. Coming his way.

A silhouetted form stepped through the doorway.

Not Kendra.

A man, probably five-ten or five-eleven. He was holding something in his hands.

Lynch took aim. “Freeze!”

“Oh, man. Oh, man. Oh, man.”

Lynch cocked his head. His intruder didn’t sound like a trained killer … More like a scared teenager caught raiding his father’s liquor cabinet.

“Whatever is in your hands, drop it.”

Without hesitation, the man let go. Lynch saw one of his favorite dinner plates shatter on the floor.

“What in the hell was that?”

“Cheese sandwich.”

“What?”

“Auricchio provolone on pumpernickel.”

“My Auricchio provolone on pumpernickel?”

“That depends,” he said warily. “Are you Adam Lynch?”

“You first. Who are you?”

“Sam Zackoff. I’m helping Kendra Michaels. She thought I might be in danger, so she put me up here.”

“Suppose we go upstairs and wake her and verify that.”

“Upstairs? No one’s in the house but Beth Avery. Would she do?”

“No, she would not.” Lynch’s hand tightened on the gun. “You’re telling me that Kendra’s not here.”

“No, we tried to convince her to come, but she wanted to stay in her own place. She’s so damn stubborn. Could you put that gun down now?”

“Not quite yet. You haven’t proved shit. Do you have a phone on you?”

“In my pocket.”

“Okay, very slowly, take it out and call Kendra. Put the call on speaker.”

“What if she doesn’t answer?”

Lynch turned on the lamp on the table next to him. His gun still pointed at Sam. “Hope that she does.”

Sam slowly reached down and pulled out his phone with his thumb and forefinger. He punched Kendra’s number, then put the phone on speaker.

Kendra answered on the second ring. “Sam, I’d just gotten to sleep. If it’s important, start talking. Otherwise, it had better wait until morning to—”

“I kind of think it’s important. Adam Lynch is here, and he wants to talk to you. Oh, and as a kind of funny aside, he has a big gun aimed at my chest.”

“Oh, shit.”

“Hello, Kendra,” Lynch spoke from across the room.

“Lynch … What are you doing there?”

“Last time I checked, it was still my home. Though I could be mistaken.” He put away the gun. “So I assume you’re vouching for this guy?”

“Of course. That’s Sam Zackoff. He’s a flat-out genius. Sam’s no threat, and you should get along with him. At least, I’d very much appreciate your not shooting him.”

“Thanks, Kendra.” Sam grinned. “I’m sure we’ll get along fine now that I’m no longer in danger of being mortally wounded by him.”

Lynch shrugged. “I wouldn’t say that.”

Sam’s grin faded.

“Sorry about this,” Kendra said. “I had no idea you were on your way home, or I would have—” She stopped, and said wearily, “No, I probably wouldn’t. Things have been– Do you want me to come up there?”

“It’s where you should have been to begin with,” Lynch said coolly. “But we’ll discuss that later. Go back to sleep. I’ll deal with it when I finish here.”

He nodded at Sam, who promptly cut the connection.

“I thought you knew,” Sam said. “Sorry.”

“Ordinarily, it wouldn’t be a big deal. I’m just a little wigged out right now.”

“I can imagine, coming home and finding a stranger in your kitchen.”

“No, actually I’m wigged-out that you were about a millisecond away from being dead on the floor with a bullet in your heart. You don’t know how close that came to happening.”

“Oh.” Sam was taken aback. Then he recovered. “Well, you don’t know how close I came to emptying my bowels when I saw you in here with that gun aimed at me. So I guess we’re both a little wigged-out.”

Lynch smiled. “So what kind of genius are you?”

“Computers. Software, hardware, networking … Kendra’s psychopathic buddy, Colby, has suddenly gotten very proficient with this stuff, so she called me to help out.”

“I’m no genius, but I’m pretty handy in that area myself.”

“I figured, with all the gear you have around here. You know how to use all the things I saw in your office?”

“I actually designed some of them. I recently wrote a custom application that lets me crack into anyone’s phone within thirty feet or so. I can access their address book, call logs, and personal information.” Lynch held up his phone. “As a matter of fact, I’ve used it to tap into your phone since we’ve been standing here.”

“Really?”

“Yes, it comes in handy. I can even—” Lynch froze as he glanced down at his phone screen. Puzzled, he turned it around to show Sam. In large letters, a warning message read: STAY OUT OF MY PHONE, ASSHOLE.”

Sam smiled. “I’ve written a custom app of my own. It keeps assholes from hacking into my phone.”

“And it’s obviously very effective.”

“I even have a setting that takes the snooper’s phone and wipes it clean. Turns it into a brick.”

Lynch went still. His face remained almost impassive, but there was the barest flicker of expression. “Indeed?”

“Don’t worry, the setting isn’t turned on at the moment.”

Lynch pocketed his phone. “Small favors, I guess.”

“You’re welcome.”

Lynch suddenly chuckled. “Kendra’s right. I think you and I will have a lot to talk about.”

“Whew.” Sam let out a relieved sign. “I wasn’t sure you weren’t going to pull out that gun again.”

“Suppose we go on to less explosive subjects. How can you get in and out of here without Kendra swiping her finger across her phone screen?”

“I cloned the app and had her swipe her finger on my phone. I modified the software so that her fingerprint registers every time I use it to come or go.”

“Hmm. I might have to rethink the security system here.”

“It’s actually pretty incredible, but of course, I’m pretty incredible.” Sam paced around the living room. “Kendra called it the Suburban Fortress, but I had no idea how right she was. I don’t think even Kendra knows.” His eyes were bright with eagerness. “If my calculations are right, this place could withstand an assault of an entire battery of forty-millimeter grenade launchers.”

“That’s correct. Of course, my neighbors wouldn’t be too thrilled about it.”

“Expecting an army?”

“Well, I’ve upset some people who do have small armies at their disposal.”

“Two questions. First of all, what people? And second, upset them how? This has to be good.”

“I work freelance, so it depends on my employer of the moment.”

“I was under the impression that you did government work.”

“That’s true. But I work for various agencies with different agendas. I’ve helped bring down crime families here in the U.S., warlords in Africa, and even a corrupt dictatorship.”

“Hey, cool. How exactly do you do that?”

Lynch was silent, gazing at him. Zackoff didn’t even realize that the questions he was asking could prove both offensive and dangerous. He was like a curious kid probing an intriguing new puzzle. But the answers weren’t anything confidential or top secret, and that eagerness was somehow appealing. It wouldn’t hurt to go a little further. “How do I do it? Persuasion, mostly. I’m pretty good at convincing people that my goals should be theirs.”

“Ah, the Puppetmaster at work.”

“Kendra must have told you that. I’m not fond of that name.”

“But it sounds like an accurate assessment of your skill set.”

“Still, it doesn’t make me like it,” he said flatly.

Sam held up his hands. “Sorry. See, I’m backing off. But sometimes we have to live with the nicknames we earn.”

“And what do people call you?”

Sam rolled his eyes. “My last name is Zackoff. One guess what people have called me my entire life.”

“Hmm. That which does not kill us, makes us stronger.”

“I never needed schoolyard bullies to make me strong.” Sam shrugged. “I entered arrest warrants for them in the local police databases. By the time it all got sorted out, most them spent at least a night in juvie.”

Lynch smiled. “Well played. I’ll remember to stay on your good side.”

“You’re already there. Any friend of Kendra’s…”

Lynch grabbed his suitcase and carry-on bag. “Speaking of whom, I think I’m going to go and get her now.”

“Now?”

“You have an objection?”

“It’s almost four in the morning. Didn’t you just tell her to go back to sleep?”

“I did. I just changed my mind. I’m a tad upset. Why should she sleep when I’m not going to be able to do it? I’ll take my bags up to my room, then head over to Kendra’s place.” He gestured up the stairs. “I assume you didn’t take my master bedroom?”

Sam made a face. “Uh, I’ll get my things out of there. You weren’t even supposed to know about it. I meant to be out the instant I heard you were on your way back. It’ll only take a minute.”

He bounded up the stairs.

*   *   *

HER PHONE WAS RINGING, KENDRA realized. She had been lying here in bed, unable to sleep after that upsetting conversation with Lynch. He probably hadn’t meant her to sleep. He had sounded pissed off when she had spoken to him and Sam. Who could blame him? She had violated the one sanctuary he allowed himself without his permission. Hell, she couldn’t please everyone, and keeping Sam safe had been more important than pleasing Lynch.

She snatched the phone from the bedside table and pressed the access.

“I’m downstairs. Buzz me in,” Lynch said. “Now.”

“Why? You told me to go back to bed. Yet here you are in the middle of the night.”

“Buzz me in, Kendra. I’m barely holding on to my control. You don’t want to test it.”

She was tempted to do just that but pressed the button instead. The she jumped out of bed, grabbed her robe, and strode to the front door.

“I know you have reason to be annoyed with me,” she said when she threw open the door. “But I don’t appreciate your growling at me. I’ve had enough trauma for one week.”

“So I’ve heard.” He came into the condo and slammed the door. “But I haven’t had an easy time of it either, so I’m not in a particularly sympathetic mood.”

He jerked her close and kissed her.

Heat. Anger. Sex.

She was too surprised to move.

Then he released her and turned toward the kitchen. “I needed that. Now I’m going to get a cup of coffee. Come on and act the polite hostess and keep me company.”

She hesitated, then trailed behind him because she didn’t know what else to do. Her lips felt warm, tingling, and her breasts were taut and ready. The response had to be because of the shock of that unexpected caress.

No, she was lying to herself. The chemistry between them had always been there, hot and sexual, like a volcanic undercurrent. An undercurrent that Kendra knew should never be acknowledged if she continued to work with Lynch. It would be a distraction. He would be a distraction.

“What kind of coffee do you want?” Lynch called over his shoulder as he put his cup in the automatic coffeemaker.

“I don’t want anything. I’m hoping to go back to bed.”

“That won’t happen right away. Though I’m not going to stay long.” He took his coffee to the table and sat down. “Right now, I need to drink this and have you tell me why you didn’t call and tell me what was going on with you. I didn’t hear anything until I was hopping the plane out of Luxembourg and got through to my contact in Griffin’s office. And that was damn scanty.”

“You were having your own problems. You told me so.” She sat down across from him. “How did the hostage situation turn out?”

“Touchy. Almost lost one.” He shrugged. “But I was able to negotiate my way out with him. I did have to go undercover, as I told you I might. Which is why I didn’t have access to my own phone until I got him out.”

He looked tired, she thought. His eyes were sunken, and his demeanor had that charged restlessness she had noticed was always present when he’d been stretched too far. “I’m sorry. I’m glad that it worked out.”

“So am I.” His lips tightened. “Isn’t it nice I was able to concentrate because I didn’t have to worry about you? I was relieved when I finally got my phone back. I thought for once you’d actually done something I’d asked you to do.”

She frowned. “What?”

“No wonder you’re puzzled. It never happens, does it?”

“What are you talking about?”

“I drove up to my house feeling confident, even grateful that you’d be there, safe, in a controlled environment I’d created myself. And, lo and behold, who did I find there but Super Sam, the computer man.” He took a swallow of coffee. “Interesting man but not who I expected. I thought I was coming home to you.”

“I had to find a safe place for him. I left a message for you, but you must have gone undercover already. I meant to call back, but things kept happening.” She shook her head. “But why did you believe I was there?”

“You had the key app on your phone. I received an apps text when you activated it. I thought you were doing what I asked you to do.” His eyes were glittering in his taut face. “What you should have been doing. My God, when Sam told me what you’d been through, I couldn’t believe you were still out here letting Colby take aim at you.”

“I was safe here. I changed all the locks. I’m on the alert. Besides, he doesn’t want me yet.”

“Yeah, Sam said that was the excuse you were using not to stay at my place.”

“It’s got to be over,” she said unevenly. “I can’t take any more. I have to draw him out.”

Lynch muttered a curse. “The hell you do.”

She just looked at him.

“Look, do it some other way. We’ll talk about it, explore the options, set a trap.”

“I’m doing everything I can. I just can’t have him go underground because it’s too difficult.”

“Too difficult to put your severed head on a pole?”

She smiled faintly. “Something like that.”

“Stop smiling. It’s not amusing. I can’t take this, Kendra.”

Her smile vanished. “To hell with you, Lynch. Don’t tell me what you can’t take. Earlier today, I had to see a man who’d been tortured beyond the boundaries of what a person should be able to bear because Colby decided to give his life to me as a gift. I can’t let that happen again.”

He was silent. Then he reached over and covered her hand on the table with his own. “We can’t let it happen again.”

Warmth. Comfort. Understanding.

She could feel her throat tighten. Don’t break down. She had held on tight so far. She couldn’t let go just because Lynch was here, and everything seemed better, safer.

“Hey, easy.” He released her hand and raised his hand to touch her cheek. “We’ll be okay. We can take care of this together. Talk to me. Tell me what’s happened. Tell me what road we’re taking to get this psychopath.”

Persuasive, fascinating, coaxing, the Puppetmaster in full force. Only now she thought she could see something deeper, less complex, more sincere. “I’m sure that Sam told you what was happening.”

“In brief, from his point of view. I want your point of view. I want to watch your face while you tell me.”

“Whatever.” She shrugged. “Not a pretty story.”

She began to speak.

It wasn’t easy, the wounds were too fresh, the memories too horrible. But she got through it without breaking down.

At least she thought she had.

“Ugly.” Lynch’s fingers touched a tear that was running down her cheek. “Very ugly.”

“Yes.” She got up and grabbed a tissue from the box on the counter. “And I can’t let Stokes die for nothing. I have to find a way to keep Colby from abusing anyone like that again.” She dabbed at her cheeks with the tissue. “So there it is. Satisfied?”

“No. I’m not satisfied.” He leaned back in the chair with his legs stretched out before him. “I wasn’t here.”

“You couldn’t have done anything.”

“Wrong. In case you’ve forgotten my reputation, I’m not paid exceptionally well for sitting twiddling my thumbs.” He frowned thoughtfully. “And it seems first on the agenda is locating Colby’s pet computer expert. You say you were going to contact SDPD to help?”

“It seemed a good idea. Even though the police and the FBI will want to run their own show, and I thought it might be dangerous.”

“They will, and it would,” Lynch said. “I’ll handle it. I have contacts both in law enforcement and the underbelly of the criminal hierarchy. I’ll tap Zackoff for info on his contacts in the computer field. I’m sure that he has an amazing collection in every category. We should be able to get it done.”

Kendra felt a rush of relief. “How long will it take?”

He shook his head. “I’ll work fast, but it will take as long as it takes.” He paused. “But I won’t be stalled by having to worry about you. That would get in my way, and I’m not having it.”

She stiffened. “I told you that—”

“You told me you intend to play the sacrificial goat waiting for the tiger. Ain’t gonna happen. We’ll work something else out.”

“You’re giving me orders.”

“Would I do that? I’m telling you that your being here and not at my house will cause me to constantly keep an eye on you. Which would result in a slowdown to any attempt to go forward. Is that what you want?”

“No.” She thought about it. She wasn’t sure that he wasn’t manipulating her, but there was a possibility that it might be true. Lynch was very protective, and she didn’t wish him to have to juggle priorities. “It might be possible.”

“Good.” He finished his coffee. “Go and dress. Pack up a suitcase and any evidence or info that you have. Then we’ll be out of here.”

“Right now? There’s no rush at the moment. You go on home. I’ll come in the morning.”

“It’s morning now—4:22 A.M.” He grinned. “Stop stalling. I’m not leaving until you walk out that door with me.”

And he wouldn’t do it, either, she thought ruefully. As long as she’d already acceded to the demand, she might as well give in on this point. “Okay, but I’ll follow you. I want my own car.”

“Of course you do. I’m not trying to keep you prisoner.”

“I wouldn’t put it past you,” she said dryly. “Just don’t try to put an ankle manacle on me.”

“Perish the thought.” His gaze traveled down her bare legs to her ankles, then her feet. “But it’s very tempting. You have very sexy ankles, and I’ve always liked to see you barefoot. I can remember when you were staying with me after we found out that Colby might be alive. I always looked forward to seeing you pad around, digging your toes in the carpet—”

“Weird. If I’d realized you had a foot fetish, I would have been more careful. I’m glad you let me know.”

He sighed. “Talking nether extremities, I’ve just shot myself in the foot.”

“Yes. Better than putting a bullet in my friend, Sam.” She headed for the door. “I’ll be ready to go in fifteen minutes.”

*   *   *

“DOES THAT SUITCASE MEAN WHAT I think it does?” Beth opened the door as Lynch and Kendra approached. She was fully dressed in jeans and shirt though it was only a little before five. She glanced at Lynch. “You’re Adam Lynch? You should have gotten here sooner if you have that kind of clout with her. We’ve been trying to get her to come ever since she brought Sam here.”

“No clout. I merely appealed to her reason. I assume you’re Beth Avery.” He shook her hand. “Welcome to my home. Or should that be your line?”

She chuckled. “Sam said you were a trifle annoyed that we’d invaded your space. He had to come upstairs and wake me and tell me about it. It sounds like a priceless encounter. I was sorry I missed it when you had him at gunpoint.”

“I’m not,” Kendra said as she closed the door. “You would probably have tried to put Lynch down, and that wouldn’t have been wise. He’s no Bubba, either.”

Beth was gazing appraisingly at Lynch. “I can see that.” She smiled. “It’s lucky that I wasn’t tested. But it might have been interesting. I’ve heard a good deal about you from Kendra, Lynch. And I’ve learned more just by living in your house. I hope you’ll forgive us for intruding.”

He shrugged. “It’s over. You’re no longer an intruder. You’re now guests. I’m delighted to meet you. Both Zackoff and Kendra shared a few interesting stories regarding your rather unique character.”

“Unique. Is that a synonym for weird?” Beth didn’t wait for an answer but turned to Kendra. “I’m glad you decided to come. I need someone to help keep Sam in line. Ever since Griffin got his Quantico computer wonder guy to work with Sam, he’s been slaving night and day to try to get a clear line to Colby. Sims is very sharp, and I think it’s becoming a competition thing.”

“Could be,” Kendra said. “He always has to be best.”

“It sounds like he needs a distraction.” Lynch turned and headed for the office. “I’ll see what I can do to give it to him.”

Beth smiled as she watched him disappear into the office. “A powerhouse,” she murmured. “It’s no wonder he was able to whisk you back here.”

“As he said, he used reason.” She wrinkled her nose. “And the faintest tinge of blackmail.”

“A powerhouse,” Beth repeated as she started for the stairs. “Come on. I’ll show you to a guest room.” She laughed. “Though you know the house far better than I do. I guess I’ve kind of taken control since I got here.”

“And I’m glad you have.” Kendra followed her upstairs. “You’ve been a godsend, helping with Sam. It lifted a giant weight off my shoulders.”

“Then I’m glad I could be here for both of you.” She stopped at a door. “Is this room okay?”

“It doesn’t matter. They’re all great. Lynch made sure of that.” She opened the door and glanced inside. Spaciousness. Luxury. Taste. “It will be fine.” She turned back to Beth. “He’s going to try to find Northrup for us, Beth.”

“I figured that might be in the cards.” Beth gave her a hug. “I’ve got a good feeling, Kendra. We’re all together and safe. We have a strong lead and smart, innovative people to follow it. Maybe the dark days are over.”

“Maybe they are.” Her arms tightened around Beth. Lord, she hoped she was right. Sunlight instead of darkness. Life instead of death. It seemed almost too much for which to hope. But Beth was hoping, and she had to follow her star. She gave her another hug and stepped back. “Just let me unpack and take a shower, then I’ll be downstairs. I didn’t get a chance to even freshen up before I left the condo. Lynch was hovering.”

“I can see how that would be distracting.” She turned back toward the stairs. “Come on down when you’re ready. I’ll start breakfast in forty minutes…”

Kendra closed the door and stood there for a moment.

Maybe the dark days are over.

Colby was the quintessence of darkness, and where he was, there would always be darkness.

But Colby was not here now. So shut him out, don’t let him make her weak and apprehensive. If she could not be positive, she could at least look forward and not back.

And the future was always what you made of it.

Beth was right. They had all the weapons they needed. They had a chance.

All they had to do was reach out and take it.

*   *   *

HIS CHAMBER HAD NEVER LOOKED more beautiful.

Colby thrust his mop into the twenty-gallon cart and stepped back onto the stairs for a better look. The floor and walls were now coated with a thick coat of warm, dark tar, which seemed to capture and absorb all light. The cream-colored embalming table stood in stark relief, almost appearing to float in the void.

Beautiful. Simply beautiful.

He’d been working all night in his chamber, preparing it for his grand finale. It would certainly be the last time he’d ever use it, and he envisioned a spectacular end for a place that had served him well for so many years.

He touched the wall closest to the stairs. The tar there was already hardening and cool to the touch.

Perfect.

Just as the rest would be perfect.

Colby smiled. He had been patient, and now he would have his reward.

After all these years, it was going to happen.

All he had to do was reach out and take it.