Stealing Shadows - Hiding In The Shadows Part 29

"He wore gloves," Faith murmured.

Richardson turned to her. "I thought you never saw him."

"I didn't. Not really, I mean." She avoided Nolan's interested stare andshrugged at Richardson. -You know."

A look of enlightenment dawned. "Ali. Another of your dreams?"

"Something like that. I think he wore gloves. Black gloves. That he wasdressed all in black."

"They mostly are," Nolan said practically. "At I night, I mean. Helpsthem disappear." Richardson asked, "When will you know for sure if thisb.a.s.t.a.r.d is in our files?"

"Probably by afternoon. Nothing much going on right now, so I can givethis priority."

"Thanks." As soon as Nolan left, Richardson looked at Kane. "Dandy idea,your reward," he said sourly.

Kane returned the stare but said nothing. He had said very little sincethe police and fire department had arrived, and hardly more before that.

Picking himself up from the floor, asking Faith if she was all right,making sure Bishop was okay, calling the police-he had done it all as ifby rote and without visible emotion.

Faith said, "That couldn't be the cause, surely? I mean so quickly?

Besides, how could the bomber have known I was in that particularbedroom?"

"Maybe he didn't," Richardson suggested. "Maybe the intent was to removeKane-and the threat of that reward. I doubt his estate would have paidit."

That hadn't occurred to Faith. She looked at Kane, sitting so still andsilent, his face pale, and she swallowed hard. She felt very coldsuddenly. The blanket he had found for her before the police came wasaround her shoulders, and she drew it a bit tighter.

Bishop said, "Either way, I'd like to know where those expensivesecurity guards were."

"Out cold. Neither one remembers a d.a.m.ned thing before all the lightswent out. And the regular building night security guard was at hisstation off the lobby watching an infomercial with his feet up, sothere's no luck there."

Kane said, "So this guy was good enough to take out two experiencedsecurity guards without raising an alarm, good enough to rappel downfrom the roof and climb back up again, and good enough to gain accessthrough a bedroom window wire with a security system without setting itoff. But rather than use a gun or something high-tech, he 'just tossed apipe bomb in through the window?"

Faith was surprised. She hadn't been sure Kane had been aware of whatwas going on around him, much less what had been said.

"That makes no more sense than the rest," Richardson said. "And theproblem as I see it is knowing where to focus our attention. Was Dinahon to some- thing big and all this is the result? Did she and Faith stepin something nasty while they were poking into corners? Did Faith bringtrouble with her when she came to Atlanta? Which is it?"

"Maybe all three," Kane replied.

"s.h.i.t." It wasn't said in disbelief, but weariness and frustration.

Richardson shook his head. "I need more than four hours of sleep tothink about this. In the meantime, Kane, are you planning to stay here?

I know there was hardly any damage outside that one bedroom, but-"

"This is probably the safest place we could be now," Kane answeredcalmly. "Especially once I hire a few more guards-this time with dogs-tosurround the building very visibly. And a new security company to closeup all the G.o.d d.a.m.ned holes in the electronic security net. If we haveto live In a fortress until we get to the bottom of this and findDinah's killers, so be it." Faith looked at him but said nothing.

Richardson was clearly not pleased, but he didn't argue. "I can step uppatrols in the area. The mayor frowns on bombs and so does the chief.

But I want all of you to be careful. d.a.m.ned careful. If the bomber wasafter Kane to stop that reward, he's obviously panicked and moving fastenough to be careless. And if he was after Faith, failure to get her may just make him more desperate."

"We'll be careful," Kane said.

n.o.body in the room believed he meant it.

"s.h.i.t," Richardson said again, unhappily this time.

Bishop's cell phone rang, and he retreated to his bedroom to answer it.

"I won't seal the room," Richardson said, "but I'm asking you to stay

out of there as much as possible until the damage is repaired. The firedepartment covered the hole in the wall with heavy-dutyplastic to keep out the worst of the weather, and we believe the flooris safe enough, but don't waste any time getting a crew in there, Kane."

"No. I won't."

Richardson looked at him restlessly, seemed about to say something else, then swore. "h.e.l.l. I'm going.

Call me if anything-and I mean anything else happens. Understand?"

Kane nodded.

When the detective had gone, Kane said formally, "We'll have to see

what's salvageable in the way of clothing for both of us. The closet ismostly intact, and I think the chest of drawers as well. Some things mayhave to be cleaned, but since there was virtually no fire, we probablywon't have to worry about everything smelling of smoke."

Faith wasn't looking forward to going back into the blackened sh.e.l.lanyways. I'll go through everything and see what has to be sent to thecleaners, what's usable."

"Thank you."

She wondered how long she'd be able to bear his politeness.

Bishop came back into the room, drawing their attention easily. He was

scowling, an expression made more savage by the scar on his face and so unusual for him it was almost shocking.

"What's up?" Kane asked.

"It looks like I am," his friend replied tersely.

"Back up to Quantico."

"Your breaking case?"

"Just broke wide open."

"Then go. And good luck."

"I don't like leaving, Kane-not with all this going on."

"We'll be fine. I'll ring this place with security, so don't worry about us. We'll be safe and sound here. "

"Listen to Richardson. Don't make yourself a bigger target than you already have."

"Noted. Go pack, Noah."

It seemed for a moment that Bishop had more to say, but finally he shook his head and went to pack.

When they were alone once again, Faith took a long breath and said, "So he's not liable. I had wondered about that."

"I don't know what you mean."

"Sure you do. But if you have to have it spelled out-I mean that this time Bishop's famous bulls.h.i.t detector failed him. Or does it work only when he touches somebody? Anyway, he believed you."

"And you don't."

"No. I don't. I think you have no intention of sitting here surrounded

by security while other people look for answers. You intend to find out who killed Dinah, even if that means standing 'in the line of fire."

His voice remote, Kane said, "You'll be safe here, I promise you that.

No more bombs. No more intruders. You can move your things into the

spare bed- room, stay there until we get the other room repaired.

No one will hurt you, Faith."

Too late.

But all she said was, "So you expect me to stay In a nice, safe coc.o.o.n

while you go after them alone?

That is not going to happen, Kane."

"No?

No."

He shook his head. "Don't try to fight me on this, Faith. I'll win."

She drew a breath. "My memory may be nothing but shadows, my legs may be

shaky, and I may scare easily these days-but I have just as much right

as you to go looking for the people who destroyed my life."

She rose to her feet, holding the blanket tightly around her, and added, "I'll get changed and see what can be salvaged in the bedroom."

She pa.s.sed Bishop in the hall, and Kane heard her bid him a simple farewell. The agent came into the living room carrying his luggage.

"I always forget how quickly you pack," Kane commented.

"Years of experience. I've called a cab, so I should be on my way shortly. I'll check in with Richardson to keep abreast of the investigation. But if I am stuck at Quantico or elsewhere longer than I expect, I'll still fly down for the funeral or memorial service."

Kane didn't want to think about that. "I'll let you know. When it's set,

I mean."

"Good." Betraying an unusual restiveness, Bishop said, "I wouldn't leave if it were anything else. You know that."