Stealing Shadows - Hiding In The Shadows Part 33

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

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

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

It reminded him of that last morning with Dinah, when he had weighedeach word before speaking it, certain that they were at a dangerouscrossroads. He hadn't pushed hard enough then, hadn't been honest aboutwhat 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 hewatched her.

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

She looked at him, finally. "What did you have in mind? JordanCochrane?"

Even the name made rage churn inside him like bile, but Kane was able tokeep his voice level. "Not today. I called his office and his home. He'sout 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 Cochraneblameless. 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. Ineed to go out to the construction site, for one thing, meet with theinspector. 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 theVCR. Nearly ten. She couldn't believe how much had happened during thiseternal 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'sshot 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 thosewho 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, anedge to his voice. "To weed out those from the media since Dinah's bodywas found.

Surely you understand that, Doctor?"

"I left a message, Mr. Macgregor. Which Faith clearly never received."

Faith looked up at Kane. He hadn't mentioned a message for her, and shehad to wonder why.

"It's been a busy morning," was Kane's only reply.

"I imagine so," Dr. Burnett said. "It's been all over the news aboutthat reward you offered. You've got the whole city stirred up. That'swhat all this is really about, isn't it, Mr. Macgregor? All you'rethinking about is finding the people who killed your fiancee, isn'tthat true? Nothing else matters to you. And you'll drag Faith along withyou, wherever the search takes you, whatever the danger-"

It was suddenly too much, and Faith, feeling smothered, cut him off.

"Enough. Doctor, n.o.body dragged me into this situation-except the peoplewho tried to destroy my life." Faith-"

"No. No more. I realize I'm your pet project. I also realize that Iappear somewhat frail at the moment.

But you're making a very big mistake if you imagine I'm nothing morethan a doll with no mind of my own. I am perfectly capable of takingcare of myself."

She shifted her gaze to Kane and lifted her chin. 'It's time I starteddoing that."

She brushed past them both and walked toward the elevators, leaving themstaring after her.

CHAPTER TWELVE.

Kane caught up with her at the elevators, but since the bodyguard joinedthem, he didn't say anything to her.

As for Faith, she realized with some surprise that she was angry-andthat it felt good.

She was angry at Dr. Burnett for seeing her always as walking wounded inneed of his professional advice and concern, angry at Kane for leapingto her defense as if he also believed her in need of his protection, andangry at herself most of all for having apathetically accepted theatt.i.tudes from both men.

Maybe her legs were a bit shaky these days, maybe her memory was asblank as a mime's face, and maybe she was an emotional mess. But she wasalso a grown woman who'd had the guts to leave an abusive husband,travel three thousand miles across the country alone, and start her lifeover again.

It was a realization to hold on to.

Their car and driver were waiting for them, and even though thebodyguard got into the front, leaving Faith and Kane alone in thebackseat, there was no part.i.tion to give them any privacy.

So Faith kept her voice low and even indifferent when she asked, "Whendo you have to meet the inspector?"

"Three o'clock."

She felt him looking at her but didn't turn her head to meet his gaze.

He drew an audible breath. "Faith, I'm sorry I didn't tell you aboutBurnett's message when I called the service this morning."

"All right. You're sorry."

"You don't believe me?"

"Of course I believe you. Why wouldn't I?"

"Faith-"

"If we have time, would you mind going by my apartment today ortomorrow? I want to get my watch." She looked down at her bare wrist. "Ididn't even realize I wasn't wearing it until this morning. I suppose Iforgot to get it the other day when I packed up my things."

"Of course we'll have time."

"Thank you." Her tone was polite.

Kane glanced at the two men in the front seat and resisted an urge toswear. For this kind of security and safety, privacy had to besacrificed-and he didn't like it. He also didn't like feeling so raw andtouchy; he knew all too well that he had overreacted with Burnett, andin so doing had upset Faith.

But the truth was that he was raw, his emotions too close to the surface and all too easily touched.

Most of all, he was angry. Angry at Burnett for his possessive att.i.tude

toward Faith. Angry at Faith for getting under his skin. Angry at Dinah for getting her- self killed.