Kate Donovan - Parallel Lies

Theo scowled. “Hypnosis is serious business, Breezie. You’re too upset right now to be a proper candidate. Maybe later—”

“I insist, Uncle Theo. It’s the quickest way to find out what Johnny wants from us. Once we know that, we’ll be in a better position to guess where he took Shelby.” When Theo hesitated, she repeated firmly, “I insist. If you refuse, I’ll pay a psychologist to do it.”

“It’s settled then.” Zack’s smile was triumphant. “We’ll go easy on you, I promise. Just a quick in and out. Two, three questions tops.”

Sabrina shook her head. “Take your time. Like I said, this is our best resource, so don’t be afraid to use it.”

Theo seemed unconvinced. “We don’t need to do it right away, do we? I want you to relax and eat some lunch first.”

Sabrina laughed. “What’s the point? I’ll just vomit it up. Remember?”

“Whoa!” Zack shook his head. “We aren’t using DT3 on you. Just conventional hypnosis.”

“But—”

“Do you have to argue about everything?” he asked, adding more reasonably, “DT3 is designed for an unwilling subject. You’re submitting to the process willingly, so we don’t need it.”

“But—”

“Zack’s right, Sabrina,” Theo interrupted. “We don’t need it. And given the intensity of your allergic reaction last time, another dose could send you into shock.”

She grimaced. “Really?”

“It’s settled,” Zack said, pulling out his cell phone. “You two have some lunch—and a nice visit—while I make some calls. I want to check for activity at the airports, particularly on Shelby’s passport.”

Sabrina remembered the men’s conversation about the videotape of her father’s funeral. She really wanted to hear that eulogy Zack had raved about, so she decided to jog her uncle’s memory. “Do you have any pictures of Dad? I’d love to reminisce a little.”

“Of course!” Theo exclaimed. “And I want to show you the funeral video, too. I’m glad you reminded me.”

Zack’s attention instantly refocused on Sabrina, his eyes narrowing, and she knew she had made a strategic mistake.

Then his gaze shifted—from her face up toward the ceiling, then back again—and she knew he was on to her. Confirming the suspicion, he spun around and stalked out of the study.

“What set him off?” Theo demanded.

Sabrina gave an innocent shrug. “He’s a hothead, remember?”

“I’m sorry he talked to you the way he did, Breezie. In his defense, he was a die-hard fan of your father’s.”

“You said Dad recruited him? And also Johnny?”

“Yes. Connor, too, actually. They were all friends at one time. The future of Perimeter, according to Sully. Strange, isn’t it?”

Sabrina nodded, but her attention was focused on the room above her head. There was no noise. No sound of a brass trunk being pushed aside. Maybe Zack hadn’t figured it out after all.

Then he strode back into the room, as quickly as he had left, and tossed the knot of oak into her hands. “Here’s a souvenir. Sebastian’s getting his saw as we speak, so your eavesdropping days are over.”

Sabrina struggled not to smile as Theo asked his employee, “What are you talking about?”

“Believe me, boss, you’d rather not know.” Zack arched a teasing eyebrow in Sabrina’s direction. “How old were you when it started?”

“Seven. But Shell was only five. She’s the one who did the drilling.”

He laughed. “Derringer better watch his step.”

“Believe it.”

Theo glared at them. “Did I miss something?”

“I’ll tell you later.” Sabrina patted his arm. “Meanwhile, I’m anxious to get started on the hypnosis. Do you mind if we do it before lunch?”

“Works for me,” Zack agreed. “The sooner I hit the road, the sooner I can search your sister’s place and pick up Derringer’s trail.”

“I’m coming with you,” Sabrina told him.

“No way. You’re safest here.”

“I don’t want to be safe. I want to find my sister. I can do it with you. Or I can do it alone.”

“If Derringer can’t get what he wants from Michelle, he’ll come after you. You’re safest here.”

“With your crackerjack security? Give me a break.” She shook her head. “There’s nothing in Sacramento anyway. I searched Shell’s house from top to bottom. If we’re going to find a clue, it’s through Derringer.” She turned to Theo. “I need to see everything you have on him. He worked for Perimeter, right? That means there are employment files. Background checks. References. Every shred of information.” To Zack she added cheerfully, “I bet I find him before you do.”

“You already had him, remember? Standing right in your living room.”

“Because your staff let him walk right up to my front porch.”

“But you let him in. What happened to your so-called training? You fell for the oldest trick in the book—a lost cat. So lose the attitude, would you? We’re just trying to help.”

Sabrina turned away, stung by the truth. It was the oldest trick in the book.

Johnny had stood there on the porch, with that radiant smile and hunky broad shoulders, and all her training had flown out the window. That was the part she hadn’t shared with Theo and Zack, although Zack had clearly picked up on it. She had been instantly attracted to Johnny, for reasons that had nothing to do with Zorro’s leg. Her lonely body had reacted to the handsome stranger like a child reacts to Christmas.

“Hey.” Zack came up behind her. “I was out of line. Again. Sorry.”

“You were right,” she countered, turning to grace him with a cool smile. “I thought he was the world’s greatest guy. Apparently you did, too. Best friends—almost like brothers, right? Dad liked him enough to hire him. Uncle Theo trusted him enough to send him to the Canary Islands to guard our most valuable client.

“We were all conned by him,” she finished with a flourish. “So let’s just move on. Hypnotize me now and get it over with. Then you can hit the road.”

“Maybe you should just leave now, Zack.” Theo gave his employee a withering look as he patted Sabrina’s arm. “I can hypnotize Sabrina myself. If we learn anything of value, we’ll call you.”

Zack spoke between clenched jaw muscles. “I have the most training. And we both know you’ll go too easy on her. What’s the point?”

Theo shrugged. “To be successful, she has to be relaxed. And she has to trust the hypnotist. I don’t see that happening with you here.”

“I want Zack to do it, Uncle Theo.” Sabrina touched her host’s cheek to soften the interruption. “He’s right. You would be too careful. We have to be thorough, for Shell’s sake.”

Theo shrugged again. “I want to okay the list of questions then—”

“No way,” Zack said with a growl.

“I agree,” Sabrina murmured. “He needs to follow his instincts. That’s what Dad would say if he were here, right?” Turning to Zack, she insisted cheerfully, “Let’s do it.”

“One hundred, ninety-nine, ninety-eight, ninety-seven…ninety-two… three…” Sabrina yawned, losing interest in the numbers as she succumbed to an uncharacteristic feeling of peace and tranquility.

“Sabrina Sullivan?”

“Yes?”

“How do you feel?”

“I feel good.”

“Good.” Zack cleared his throat. “I’m going to ask you a few questions. Just do your best, okay?”

“Okay.”

“If you start feeling uncomfortable—for any reason—just let me know and I’ll wake you up. Okay?”

“Okay.”

“Good. Now tell me about John Derringer.”

“Johnny?”

“Right.”

She sighed. “I liked him. A lot. Now I hate him.”