Lucy stood under the spray in Bryans enormous shower, feeling cleansed both inside and out. She was glad shed unburdened herself last night. Maybe her confession was a bit more elaborate than Bryan had been prepared for, but shed needed to say it. She hadnt talked about Cruz or her pregnancy to anyone since her miscarriage. Her parents had wanted her to bury the past, forget it had ever happened. But as awful as it was, Cruz and the pregnancy were a part of her now. She felt she had a new perspective on it. Yes, shed been naive, and shed made a mistake. But she wasnt evil.
Thanks to Bryan, she wasnt stuck anymore. She could move on, live normally, leave the sackcloth and ashes behind.
Bryan tapped on the bathroom door. Youre going to use up all the hot water.
He was back from cleaning up the restaurant. Then join me. Shed been fantasizing about herself and Bryan in this decadent shower, with its acres of red glass tile and twin shower sprays, since shed first seen it the day Scarlet came over for her makeover.
Hey. You dont have to ask me twice.
Just when she thought she couldnt possibly make love again, for she ached in places she hadnt known existed, they did.
Eight
Lucy had mixed feelings about her computer work now. Yes, she wanted to solve the puzzle of who the embezzler was at Alliance Trust. But the sooner that person was arrested and all parties brought to justice, the sooner she and Bryan would part.
Duty won out, and she worked hard on her latest project, which was matching up log-in times with the times the illicit funds transfers had occurred.
By lunch, shed eliminated several more candidates. She was closing in. Only five suspects. One of them was Omar Kalif, a loan officer of Iranian descent. Shed always liked Omar. He was funny and hardworking, and he would turn himself inside out to find a way to get a client qualified for a loan. He had a darling wife, two kids.
Well, she would let Bryan worry about that. Her job was to solve the puzzle.
Bryan had told her he would be tied up today and probably wouldnt be home until late. Hed been vague about what he would be doing. She didnt know if he was in the city or had jetted off some place, risking life and limb.
She tried not to think about it. She tried not to worry, to keep herself busy. But she had a vivid imagination. If anything ever happened to Bryan, would she be notified? What about his family? Would anyone explain to them that he was a spy, that hed died defending their country? Or would he just disappear, leaving the family to wonder?
She couldnt live like that long-term. Even if Bryan were willing to change his policy and make a commitment, she didnt think she could. Yes, it was exciting working with and living with a spy. But it wasnt a forever kind of arrangement.
Bryan had told her to go downstairs to the restaurant when she got hungry, that Stash would take care of her. Hed fixed the elevator so it would recognize her voice and had instructed her on passwords and panic pass-wordsin case she was ever in the elevator under duress. Shed laughed at the cloak-and-dagger antics, but hed been serious.
She went down to Une Nuit to rustle up some lunch. She entered through the kitchen, and her face grew warm as she was reminded of what had gone on there the previous night.
Lindsay! Stash Martin greeted her with a double air-kiss. Bryan said youd be down for lunch. Scarlets in the Elliott booth if you want to sit with her.
I dont want to intrude
Nonsense. I am sure she would welcome your charming company. Refusing to acknowledge any further protests, Stash led her into the dining room, where Scarlet, dressed in the most gorgeous teal dress with feathers all around the neck, shared a booth with another woman who had her back to Lucy.
Scarlet looked both surprised and pleased when she saw Lucy. Oh, please join us, she said. We havent even ordered yet. This is Jessie. I dont think youve met her.
The other woman smiled warmly and shook Lucys hand. Nice to meet you, Lindsay.
Same here. Scarlet, I didnt realize you had another sister.
What? both women said at the same time.
Lindsay looked at Scarlet, then Jessie, then Scarlet again. Though they werent as similar as Scarlet and Summer, the family resemblance was unmistakable.
Youre sisters, right?
Scarlet laughed, and Jessie just looked horrified.
What in the world would make you think that? Jessie said, a little more strongly than Lucy thought was called for.
Sorry, I thought I saw a family resemblance, Lucy said, trying to smooth over the awkward moment. My mistake.
Scarlet explained, This is Jessie Clayton. Shes my intern at Charisma.
You know, Jessie said, Ive really got an awful lot of work to do. I think Ill skip lunch. She tried to slide out of the booth, but Scarlet leaned over and put a hand on her arm to stop her.
Oh, come on, Jessie, Im not a slave driver. You can take time for lunch.
No, really, I have to go. She stood and made good her escape despite both Lucys and Scarlets protests.
Lucy sat on the recently vacated leather banquette. Sorry. I didnt mean to scare her off.
Scarlet looked perplexed. That was strange. I wonder what got into her? Maybe she was distressed at the idea that she looks like me.
Oh, yes, youre such an ogre, Lucy said. No one wants to look like you.
Do you really think theres a resemblance? Because I thought so, too, when I first hired her, but then I decided I was imagining things.
Well, lots of people look similar, Lucy said, downplaying the uncanny resemblance. Shes probably got Irish in her, like you.
Scarlet ordered mineral water and her favorite salad Niçoise, which came adorned with tiny eggrolls. Lucy, who continued to be delighted by the French/Asian blended menu, ordered an egg-drop soup Florentine.
Thats all youre having? Scarlet asked.
After that huge dinner last night, I havent been very hungry. Not to mention the orange-chocolate-mint cake.
So wheres Bryan today?
Out and about. Im not sure.
So he doesnt tell you any more about his business than he tells anyone else?
I dont want to be nosy.
Well, I am. Honestly, the whole family is a little fed up with him. Hes been so secretive lately. We all thought maybe you were the secret, but apparently not, since hes still doing his disappearing act.
Hell be back tonight, Lucy said, trying to mask her reaction. She wondered if Bryan knew just how worried his family had become about him. That was something hed tried to avoid at all costs.
Scarlet asked about Lucys clothes, how everything was working out and whether she needed anything else. Were doing a shoot tomorrow with the most gorgeous Givenchy eveningwear. One of the dresses would look perfect on you. Hey, maybe you could model it. We pay well.
Lucy laughed. That was all she needed, her picture in a national magazine. She might as well send a map to the embezzler with a dotted line leading straight to her.
No, I dont think so. I have work to do.
Oh, your novel! Im so glad you decided to give it another try. Hows it going? I know an agent at William Morris. I could probably get you a read.
No, I dont think so. I have work to do.
Oh, your novel! Im so glad you decided to give it another try. Hows it going? I know an agent at William Morris. I could probably get you a read.
Im a long way from having anything to show. And, boy, wasnt that the truth. But thank you. Youre awfully nice to me.
Thats because I want you to stick around. Bryan clearly needs you in his life. I dont think Ive ever seen him quite as happy as he was last night. He couldnt stop staring at you.
Lucy blushed. She wanted to reassure Scarlet that she would stick around. But, of course, she wouldnt.
Scarlet, hi! A striking woman with the brightest red hair Lucy had ever seen stopped at their table. Scarlet stood to give the other woman a hug. The redhead towered over Scarlet, no easy feat. She had to be well over six feet tall. Then Lucy realized her face was familiar. She was a supermodel. She went by Redd.
Redd, Scarlet said, this is Lindsay Morgan, Bryans girlfriend.
Lucy had never quite gotten over her awe of celebrities, even after the Cruz disaster. She babbled something to Redd, who eventually left to find her own table.
It must be fun, seeing celebrities all the time, she said.
Youll get used to it.
Lucy only wished she would have the opportunity to get used to it.
Bryan didnt get home until close to nine that night. Lucy couldnt help herself. She launched herself into his arms the moment he got off the elevator.
Hey, hey, he said, returning her hug, rubbing her back. Is something wrong?
I was just worried about you.
Why? I told you Id be late.
I know. But I didnt know what you were doing, and I have a vivid imagination. I saw you getting shot, stabbed, poisoned
Oh, Lucy. He kissed her tenderly. I wasnt doing anything dangerous. Just boring legwork. Checking in with snitches, trying to get a lead on Stungun. I met with Siberia.
Does he know Stunguns true identity?
No. Only the head of the agency knows. But hes going to find out. Hes making a case to the director tomorrow. Weve got to find him.
Ive made some progress on my end.
Really?
Do you want something to eat? Stash delivered a huge dinner. I didnt eat a third of it.
He didnt let her go. Im starved, but not for food.
Hmm. I think you tend to confuse your appetites. She slid out of his grasp. Sit. Ill warm up a plate and explain what Ive found.
As she heated up the coq au vin tempura, she told him what her research had led her to that afternoon. And she didnt like it one bit.
Ive eliminated everybody but one person. Ive double- and triple-checked, and she is the only one who has been logged in every single time there was an illegal withdrawal.
She?
Peggy Holmes, Mr. Vargovs personal secretary. Shes a mild-mannered grandmother whos been working at the bank for more than twenty years. I dont really see how she could be a terrorist sympathizer.
Youd be surprised. One of her children is married to a man who travels frequently to the Middle East with his business. Nothing wrong with that in itself
You already know that?
Ive done background checks on everyone at that bank. Now that youve identified Peggy as a viable suspect, Ill zero in on the son-in-law.
But Peggy Holmes? I just dont see it. Of course, she does enjoy helping others and being of service. She lives to please Mr. Vargov. So maybe if someone approached her, made it sound like shed be doing a great service
What about Mr. Vargov? As the bank president, hed be in a position of authority and power. You havent said much about him. He has relatives in former Soviet republics
She shook her head. It couldnt be him. I was able to eliminate him as a suspect first thing. He was in a meeting during every single transaction.
Every single one?
Well, the first few that I looked at. I stopped checking after I was able to eliminate him. When Bryan still looked skeptical, she added, Mr. Vargov does attend a lot of meetings.
Just for fun, lets see where he was during all of the transactions.
All of them? There are dozens.
All of them.
Three hours later Bryan had the answer he was looking for. Mr. Vargov had been in some type of meeting on the bank premises during every single illicit transaction. During the two weeks he was on vacation, not a single withdrawal took place.
But he wasnt even logged onto the computer during most of the transactions, Lucy objected. He couldnt have performed those withdrawals without logging in and using a password.
And how hard do you think it would be to figure out his trusty secretarys password? She probably has it written down someplace.
But how could he have
On his PDA. Your conference room has wireless capability. He could carry on a conversation, casually tapping on his Palm Pilot as if recording lunch plans, log on to the banks system using Peggys password, and move money around. Easy as pie.
I cant believe I didnt see it. Its so obvious! Oh, but Mr. Vargov is so nice. Hes like a father to me. Hes always been kind, gave me a job when he didnt know me at all, paid me more than I was worth, gave me a really nice office.
Think about it. If you were going to raid pension funds, who would you want doing the audits?
Now Lucy got it. Someone inexperienced. Under-qualified. Stupid.
You would want to pay that person handsomely, keep them happy. A happy employee is much less likely to rock the boat than a dissatisfied one. But you were too smart for him. And too conscientious to forget what you saw just to hold on to your cushy job.
It all makes sense now. She swiveled in her chair to face Bryan, whod been sitting behind her looking over her shoulder. That has to be the answer.
We are a good team, you and I, Bryan said with a broad grin. I never could have figured this out without you. He pulled her into his lap and nuzzled her neck. What do you say we celebrate?
She kissed him hungrily. After her long day at the computer, and all her worrying about Bryan, she craved releaseand she knew just how to get it.
Youll never guess who I met today, Lucy said later as they lay in bed. Redd, the supermodel.
She comes in a lot. She likes the wasabi pate.
Dont you love owning a restaurant? I think it would be so fun, like entertaining every day. Making up special dishes for special customers, recommending wineWell, okay, Id have to learn about wine. But you must enjoy it.
I do. I wish I could devote more time to it.
Lucy hesitated, then decided she owed it to Bryan to be honest with him about what shed heard from his relatives. Your whole family is worried about you, you know. Theyve noticed your long absencesand your injuries at your brothers wedding. What was that all about?
Car accident.
Thats what your father said, but he didnt believe it. Bryan sighed. It was actually a car bomb. In France. I realized something was wrong and got out just before the explosion. No one was seriously hurt, thank God.