Kate Donovan - Exit Strategy

Joe exchanged nervous looks with the other guard, then murmured, “You have claustrophobia? That’s why you asked us to leave the door open?”

She nodded. “Isn’t it the silliest thing? I’ve had it all my life. But lately, it seems to be getting worse.”

Joe pursed his lips. “Is that why you want to see Mr. Kell?”

“Yes. Ray told me Mr. Kell is a scientist who used to do research into phobias. I was hoping he could help me. I thought he’d do it for Ray. And I also thought he’d be especially sympathetic, since he has phobias himself. Or at least, Ray said he used to. I guess I was naive. Or presumptuous. Or both. I should have realized he’d want some sort of proof that I wasn’t a reporter or fortune hunter or something. Right? I mean, he’s obviously rich if he can hire professionals like you to guard his home.” She rolled her eyes. “I must look like such an idiot.”

“Actually, you look great,” Joe said with a smile. “Whoever Ray Ortega is, he’s a lucky guy. And in my opinion, Mr. Kell should make an exception for you. Just to get a look at you if nothing else.”

“What a sweet thing to say.” She stood and touched his cheek. “Thanks, sugar. And when you see Mr. Kell, please apologize to him for me. And ask him not to hold this against Ray, okay? It’s my screwup, not his.”

A buzzer sounded, and Joe pushed the intercom button. “Go ahead, sir.”

“Miss Aguilar?”

“Mr. Kell? Oh! Thanks for calling back. I owe you an apology-”

“That’s not necessary. Joe? Bring her up to the house. I’ll send Samson down to help Mike man the gate. And Joe?”

“Yes, sir?”

“Keep an eye on her. If she does anything suspicious, shoot her and throw her body in the woods with the others.”

“Sure thing, boss. We’ll be right there.” He pushed another button, and this time the light turned red. Then he told Miranda with a laugh, “There aren’t any bodies in the woods, by the way. Kell’s just a little wacko on the subject of strangers.”

“Thanks.” She touched his cheek again, then turned to the other guard and insisted, “Thank you, too. Mike, is it? I’ll be sure to tell Mr. Kell how sweet you’ve been to me.”

“Tell him I was ferocious,” Mike suggested wryly. “That’s what he pays me to be.”

“I was terrified,” she assured him. “What girl wouldn’t be? Two big strong hunks with guns? I’m sure I’ll have wild dreams tonight. About you guys having your way with me.”

“Yeah, I’ll be dreaming about you, too,” Mike admitted.

Joe cleared his throat. “Come on, Miss Aguilar. We’d better get you up there before he changes his mind. Mike? Go ahead and dismiss her car. Once Kell meets her, I have a feeling he’s gonna want her to stay.”

After the flattering reaction of the guards at the gate, Miranda wasn’t prepared for the reception she received as she stepped inside the stone fortress and was immediately thrown up against a wall by a burly man who proceeded to frisk her with obnoxious thoroughness.

“Hey, Carl. Go easy on her,” Joe protested. “She’s a guest. And she’s a nice girl.”

Miranda flashed her admirer a grateful smile, then she straightened her sundress and gave Carl a haughty glare. Unmoved, he dumped the contents of her purse onto the floor and rifled through them with his foot.

Miranda bit back a smile, knowing that the mixture of cosmetics, brushes, sunglasses, chewing gum and brightly colored condom packages confirmed her reputation as “harmless.” She hadn’t even brought the barrette-camera onto the premises, although it was tucked into a pocket of her overnight bag back at the inn. Knowing of Kell’s paranoia, she had anticipated the search, and had chosen her accessories, as well as her nonthreatening outfit-a lightweight cotton dress, thin sweater, sandals and lacy lingerie-with care.

Carl reached down to retrieve her wallet, passport and cell phone, stuffing the phone into his pocket, then sifting through her money and identification. “She’s clean, boss,” he pronounced finally.

“Then why do I feel so dirty?” Miranda murmured.

“He was following my instructions,” said Jonathan Kell, stepping out of the shadows. He was wearing a surgical mask over part of his face, with a pair of huge blue eyes staring at her over it with hesitant curiosity.

“Mr. Kell? Oh, thank you so much for seeing me!” She leapt toward him, intending to wrap her arms around his neck, but Carl grabbed her by the shoulders and shoved her down to the stone floor.

It took every ounce of willpower she possessed not to fight back, but she forced herself to stay on her knees. “Ow! Be careful.” She glared up at Carl. “If that leaves a mark, my boyfriend will kick your sorry ass.”

“Just keep your distance from now on,” he warned her.

“Right back atcha,” she retorted, scrambling to her feet, then arching an accusatory eyebrow in Kell’s direction.

She could see that the altercation had upset her host, and she realized that he would have been scared to death if she had actually succeeded in embracing him. First of all, he would have thought she was trying to kill him. Beyond that, he had a fear of germs that simply wasn’t compatible with casual displays of affection. Add to that his well-known fear of anything or anyone new, and she was probably lucky he hadn’t had a full-fledged heart attack right there on the spot.

But he had apparently survived, because he suggested softly, “Why don’t we go into the drawing room?” Then he turned to Joe and instructed, “You can go back to the gatehouse. Tell Samson to check the grounds and then let the dogs out.”

“This early?”

“We can’t be too careful.”

Joe shrugged, then gave Miranda a reassuring smile before disappearing through the front door.

She followed Carl and Kell into a huge room with walls made of stone and a beamed ceiling that was at least twenty feet above their heads. The windows, while beautifully crafted of stained glass, were obstructed by bars, adding to the cold effect despite the fire that was blazing in the massive fireplace at the far end of the room. There was a square oak table with four chairs, a black leather sofa and two wooden rocking chairs, all close enough to the fire to keep the chill away. The floors were made of stone, with no carpets or rugs.

“If I promise not to try and hug you again, will you send monkey boy away?” Miranda asked, taking a seat on the sofa. “I don’t want to talk about my personal life in front of him.”

“Monkey boy?” Kell smiled for the first time, but sobered quickly, then sat in one of the rocking chairs. “I’d like Carl to stay. I don’t generally meet with guests alone.”

“He stole my phone.”

“No one is allowed to bring communication equipment into my home. We’ll return it when you’re leaving.”

“So?” She gave him a teasing smile. “You really are scared of everyone? But look at you!” She eyed his short, light brown hair, glowing skin and well-built body. “I was expecting someone pale and thin and quivering, but you’re a good-looking guy. Do you work out? Or are you afraid of that, too?”

Kell frowned but didn’t respond.

“Don’t be offended. Ray told me you have inner strength, and that’s what really counts. Plus, he says you’re a genius, which is one of the reasons I thought you’d be a lot nerdier.” She smiled again. “So? What has he told you about me?”

“Pardon?”

“Obviously, he hasn’t mentioned me by name. But hasn’t he told you he has a girlfriend? I mean, we’ve been seeing each other for almost six months. You guys keep in touch, right?”

“An occasional e-mail,” Kell admitted. “But he never mentioned a girlfriend.”