Кей Хупер - Hiding in the Shadows

With absolutely no forethought, Faith heard herself say, "Well, there is one thing. You can tell me if it would be as difficult to rappel down from the roof of this building as I think it would."

Sydney paused in putting a stack of plates in the cabinet to give Faith a startled look, then smiled. "Oh. I suppose Kane told you I used to do some mountain climbing."

As a matter of fact, he had not, but Faith forced herself to nod noncommittally, even as she wondered how she had known. Maybe a lingering memory from Dinah? Or maybe something she had plucked out of the air all on her own? This psychic business was very disconcerting.

"It wouldn't be easy for an amateur," Sydney said in answer to the question. "A sheer wall and pitch darkness, the need for silence. But an experienced climber could handle it without much problem, I'd think."

"I see."

Sydney hung her dish towel very neatly on a bar, turning her attention on the task. "I guess Kane also told you that my husband was killed in a climbing accident. "

"I ... No, he didn't. I'm so sorry, Sydney. If I'd known, I never would have..."

"Don't worry about it. David was killed more than two years ago. It isn't a ... fresh wound anymore. In fact..." She laughed suddenly, a sound that was almost convincing. "Never mind. Why don't we finish up in here and go see if Kane's managed to turn this place into a fortress?"

When they emerged from the kitchen, they found that Kane had concluded his business with the security company and was checking with the answering service that had been taking all calls to his main number since the preceding day. He was over by the piano, portable phone in hand, jotting down notes on a legal pad.

"The media, I guess," Sydney murmured.

Faith thought she was probably right, but when Kane got off the phone, he didn't confirm it. Instead, looking at his sister, he said, "The security company had already sent over more people, and the police have made the media move back away from the building, so you should be able to get out of here without too much trouble."

"I should get to the office," Sydney agreed.

"I appreciate your covering for me, Syd."

"It's no trouble. But you should make a decision on the Ludlow building. Max says his foreman has already gone AWOL, and he's going to have to put the crew back to work on Monday no matter what. Either there or on another project."

Kane frowned. "Jed Norris is missing?"

"Well, Max didn't say missing. I mean, he didn't seem worried, just pissed. Said Jed was steady enough when he was kept busy, but apt to vanish if he had too much time on his hands. What do you want to do about the building, Kane? I've already had a couple of calls from the investment group, and they're not happy work has stopped."

In his mind's eye, Kane saw again those cracks in the foundation, and realized that he was no closer now to figuring out the problem. "Let's get an inspector out there to look it over," he suggested. "Maybe he or she can spot something I missed."

"Okay. I'll make the arrangements. Is there anything else I can do?"

"No, thanks."

"What about you two?" Sydney glanced toward Faith, so still and silent by the fireplace.

"We have plenty to keep us busy," Kane said.

But when his sister had gone and they were alone, he found it difficult to speak to Faith. She seemed far away, and he had the uneasy feeling that one wrong word or gesture would send her completely out of his reach for good.

It reminded him of that last morning with Dinah, when he had weighed each word before speaking it, certain that they were at a dangerous crossroads. He hadn't pushed hard enough then, hadn't been honest about what he was feeling.

And I never saw her again. Except cold and mangled on a slab in the morgue.

Kane pushed that terrible image from his mind.

"I've made arrangements to have the bedroom repaired," he said finally, standing in the center of the room with his hands in his pockets as he watched her.

"It'll take several days. The work crew should be here anytime to get started. It'll be pretty noisy in here, I'm afraid. So we should probably go somewhere else for the rest of the day."

She looked at him, finally.

"What did you have in mind? Jordan Cochrane?"

Even the name made rage churn inside him like bile, but Kane was able to keep his voice level. "Not today. I called his office and his home. He's out of town on a business trip. Expected back in a day or two."

Establishing his alibi? Faith wondered. "How long has he been gone?"

"A week. They said. But we can check into that."

Faith knew that the last thing he wanted was to find Jordan Cochrane blameless. Kane wanted to blame someone for Dinah's death.

"And in the meantime?" she asked.

"In the meantime, we both need to get out of here for a few hours. I need to go out to the construction site, for one thing, meet with the inspector. And don't you have a physical-therapy appointment?"

"Oh. Yes." It was Thursday. She'd forgotten.

"What time is your appointment?"

Faith looked at her bare wrist, frowned, then looked at the clock on the VCR. Nearly ten. She couldn't believe how much had happened during this eternal morning.

"It's at eleven-thirty, I think."

"Okay. Why don't we plan to leave at eleven? That'll give security enough time to figure out a plan to get us out of here unnoticed. As soon as the crew gets here, I'll put them to work. Until then, we sort through what was left undamaged by the explosion."

"All right," Faith said.

It was nearly one by the time Faith completed her therapy, showered, and dressed. As usual, the treatment energized her, and she hoped that tonight she'd be able to sleep deeply and dreamlessly.

But she wasn't counting on it.

"Faith."

Just outside the physical-therapy rooms, Faith turned to see Dr. Burnett coming down the hall toward her with a smile. Beyond him, she saw Kane rise from the chair where he had waited for her. Near the elevators, the new bodyguard who had accompanied them today leaned against a wall, seemingly relaxed but entirely watchful. He was dressed in jeans and a sweatshirt, and Faith wondered where he carried his gun.

"Faith?"

She smiled at Burnett. "Hi. What are you doing up on this floor?"

"Checking up on my star patient." The words were light, but his gaze was intent, concerned.

"I'm fine. Even though Tracy tortured me as usual."

"She called me while you were in the shower."

Faith sighed. "I see. And told you what? That I couldn't lift the weight I was able to lift last week? That I lasted only ten minutes on the stair climber?"

"That you'd lost five pounds. Faith, if you aren't taking care of yourself, you're going to wind up right back in here. Is that what you want?"

"No, of course not."

"Then start taking better care of yourself. I can't stand by and watch you lose all the ground you've gained."

"Bullying your former patient, Doctor?" Kane's voice held a distinct warning.

He had walked over and was now standing close to her, and Faith felt trapped, hemmed in between the two tall men. She could feel their dislike of each other as clearly as if it were written on them in neon.

Burnett's face tightened, but he returned Kane's stare without backing down. "I care what happens to her, Mr. Macgregor. Do you?"

"Of course."

"Indeed? And yet you drag her into a dangerous situation where she's shot at, nearly killed by a bomb according to the news..."

"She'll be safe from now on. I've made certain of that."

"By bringing armed guards into her life? By shutting her away so those who care about her can't even reach her? I tried calling yesterday, and..."

"A service is taking calls." There was a hard sheen to Kane's eyes, an edge to his voice. "To weed out those from the media since Dinah's body was found. Surely you understand that, Doctor?"