The Last Templar - Страница 31

"Tess?" he asked with disturbing serenity. "Are you still there?"

"Yes. You want me to bring you the documents."

"That would be great."

Her mind flashed on her wallet, lying among the clutter on the floor of Vance's cellar, and she chided herself for not retrieving it. She looked out the car window nervously. Only the photographer was near, still taking pictures of the documents. Feeling a constriction in her chest, Tess took a deep breath and turned away from the photographer. "I'm on my way. Please, don't do anything—"

"Of course not," he chortled. "I'll wait for you, then. Is anyone else joining us?"

Tess frowned. "No."

"Perfect." He paused for a moment. Tess wondered what he was doing. "It'll be nice to spend some time and get to know them a bit better," he continued. "Kim is such a delightful little girl."

So she was there after all. That bastard. He lost his daughter, now he's threatening mine.

"I'll come alone, don't worry," Tess said firmly.

"Don't be long."

She heard the phone click off, and for a moment she continued to hold the cell phone to her ear, running through the conversation again, trying to come to terms with what was happening.

She had a huge decision to make. Do I tell Reilly? She knew the answer to that: of course. Anyone who'd ever watched a TV show knew that, regardless of whatever a kidnapper said, you called the cops. You always called the cops. But that was TV, and this was real life. This was about her family in the hands of a demolished man. Much as she wanted to tell Reilly, she didn't want to risk triggering some kind of hostage situation. Not given the state of mind Vance was in.

Grasping at straws, she tried to convince herself he wouldn't hurt them. He hadn't hurt her, had he?

He was even apologetic about what he'd done to her. But now, she had crossed him, and she had his documents, the ones that were crucial to his mission. The documents, as Reilly had rightly put it, that people had died for.

She couldn't risk it. Her family was in harm's way.

She sneaked another look at the photographer. He was done. Still holding the cell phone to her ear, she edged toward him. "Yes," she said loudly, into the dead line. "He's just finished photographing them." She nodded to the photographer, dredging up a smile. "Sure, I'll bring them right over," she continued. "You go ahead and start setting up the equipment."

Clicking the phone shut, she addressed the photographer. "Are you sure they'll come out?"

Her question surprised him. "I hope so. It's what I'm paid for."

She rolled up the papers as he reflexively moved away from them. "I've got to race these over to the lab." There was always a lab involved. She just hoped it sounded remotely credible. She glanced at the camera and added. "Reilly wants those shots developed fast. Can you do that for him?"

"Sure, it's not a problem—given that they're digital," he deadpanned.

Tess grimaced at her error as she walked as confidently as she could back to Reilly's car, resisting the urge to run. When she got to the driver's door, she glanced inside and saw that the key was still there, where she had seen Reilly leave it. She got in and flicked the ignition.

She scanned the faces at the scene, searching for Reilly, hoping not to see him. He wasn't around, nor was his partner. She nursed the car out of its double-parked spot and slowly navigated through the other sedans and police cars, inching forward, smiling sheepishly at the couple of officers who waved her through, hoping the sheer terror inside her wasn't breaking through to the surface.

Once she was clear, she pulled away, checking the rearview mirror, and, moments later, she was speeding up the street, headed for Westchester.

Chapter 40

A s she pulled into the driveway outside her house, Tess misjudged the curb and hit it hard before squealing to a halt.

Sitting there, paralyzed with fear, she looked at her hands. They were trembling, and her breath was coming short and fast. She struggled to compose herself. She had to be calm about this. Come on, Tess. Keep it together. If she could just manage that, maybe, just maybe, she and Vance could each get what they wanted.

She got out of die car and suddenly regretted her decision not to tell Reilly about what had 86

happened. She would have still been able to come here, while he set up . . . what? A SWAT team, men with guns and megaphones all around the house, bellowing "Come out with your hands up."

Hours of fraught hostage negotiations before the inevitable and highly risky—however minutely planned—assault? Her imagination was getting die better of her. She tried to stay focused on the reality around her. No, maybe her choice had been the right one after all.

In any case, it was too late now.

She was here.

Walking up to the door, she suddenly hesitated. She could imagine what had happened here. Vance would have rung the bell, spoken with

Eileen. A few words about Oliver Chaykin, about Tess, and Eileen would have been completely disarmed and probably charmed too.

If only she had told Reilly.

Sliding her key into the lock, she opened the door and walked into the living room. The scene that greeted her was surreal. Vance was there, sitting with her mother on the sofa, chatting amiably, sipping a cup of tea. Tess could hear music coming from Kim's room. Her daughter was upstairs.

Eileen's mouth dropped when she saw the disheveled state her daughter was in. She jumped out of her seat. "Oh my God, Tess, what happened to you?"

"Are you all right?" Vance stood up, sounding genuinely surprised.

He has the nerve to ask that. Tess stared at him, doing her utmost to keep her rage, which had by now overwhelmed any feelings of fear that she had, under control.

"I'm fine." She managed to find a smile. "There was a leak in the street outside the office and this truck drove straight through the puddle just as I was standing there, and, well . . . You don't want to know."

Eileen took hold of her daughter's arm. "You've got to get changed, dear, you'll catch cold." She turned to Vance. "You'll excuse us, won't you, Bill?"

Tess stared at Vance. He was just standing there, radiating warmth and concern.

"Actually, I'm afraid I really should be going." His eyes bored into Tess's. "If you want to give me those papers, I'll be on my way. Besides, I'm sure the last thing you want is a guest in the house right now."

Tess stood there, glaring at him. The silence was deafening. Eileen looked at Vance, then at Tess, who could tell her mother was clearly sensing something uncomfortable in the room. She quickly snapped out of it and smiled at Vance.

"Of course. I have them right here." She reached into her bag and pulled out the manuscripts. She handed them to him. He reached out to take them, and, for a few seconds, they were both holding on to them.

"Thanks. I'll get to work on them as soon as I can."

Tess forced another smile. "That would be great."

Vance turned to Eileen. He took her hand and cupped it in his. "It's been a pleasure."

Eileen relaxed and blushed, her face beaming from the compliment. Tess felt hugely relieved that Eileen was spared the truth of who Vance really was. For now, at least. She turned back to Vance. She couldn't read his look. He was studying her.

"I should be going." He nodded at Tess. "Thanks again."

"Don't mention it."

He stopped at the door and turned to Tess.

"I'll see you soon." And with that, he walked out the door.

Tess left Eileen and stood at the door, watching him drive off. Eileen joined her.

"He's such a nice man. Why didn't you tell me you knew him? He told me he's worked with Oliver."

"Come on, Mom," Tess said in a low voice, as she quietly shut the door.

Her hands were still shaking.

Chapter 41

In the long mirror in her bathroom, Tess finally saw herself. She'd never been as dirty, bedraggled, or pale. Even though tremors of tension still pulsed through her legs, she resisted the urge to sit down. After all that had happened today, if she did sit down, she knew she probably wouldn't be able to get up again for a while. She also knew the day wasn't over yet. Reilly was on his way. He had called shortly after Vance had left and he was now rushing over. Even though he sounded reasonably calm, she knew he was furious with her. She would have some serious explaining to do.

Again.

Only this time would be a bit more difficult. She would have to tell Reilly why she didn't trust in him enough to ask for his help.

She stared at the stranger in the mirror. The confident, lively blonde was gone. In her place was a wreck, both physically and mentally. Self-doubt was besieging her mind. She thought back to the day's events, questioning her every move and kicking herself for putting her mother and daughter in danger.

It's not a game, Tess. You've got to stop doing this. You've got to stop now.

As she got undressed, she felt the onset of tears. She had resisted it when she went to hug Kim after Vance had left. She had resisted die nervous tears of laughter when Kim had pushed her back, saying "Ew, Mom, you stink. You need a shower big time." She resisted it on the phone with Reilly, all the while making sure her mom and Kim didn't overhear her conversation with him. Thinking about it, she couldn't remember the last time she had cried, but right now, she couldn't help it. She felt awful, shivering as much from the fear as from the "what if worst-case scenarios she was imagining.