Page 70 of Wired Target

Raveaux belted in and braced himself as Heri hopped into the driver’s seat of the massive Cadillac she drove with pedal extenders and a pillow under her bottom to see over the dash.

“Tell me the big news.”

“Give me a moment.”Heri grasped the wheel in ring-covered, glittering hands.“Getting out of this airport is always tricky.”She tore the hat off and tossed it in the back seat.“Can’t have anything getting in the way of visibility.”

“Indeed.”Raveaux gripped the sissy strap as Heri backed up and spun the Cadillac around with enough g-forces to throw him back against the headrest.“Ow!”

“Oh, my goodness.Your head injury!”She put on the brakes, and he bounced off the dash.“Sorry!I’ll be more careful.”

“Please.Have mercy.”Raveaux grabbed whatever he could to stabilize himself as she switched lanes with no apparent signal or safety check.

Once they were on the freeway, she patted his arm.“Relax, Pierre.Have I ever been in an accident?”

“I don’t know.Have you?”He was in too much pain to be amused.

“No, I have not.But quite a pileup happened in front of Sophie’s fancy new compound the other day.”Heri launched into an outrageous story of a full-frontal attack by a Pim Wat look-alike on Connor using a rental car.Heri described Connor as “Sophie’s boyfriend,” and seemed to relish the denouement in which Sophie’s father shot the woman and ended up in the hospital.In a final twist, a dramatic attack on Armita in the house revealed the real Pim Wat.“And that should bring you up to speed on what’s been happening on this side of the world.”

“I see why Sophie didn’t have time to come meet me at the airport.”

“Nor did she have inclination to do so,” Heri said crisply.“Give it up, Pierre; she’s just not into you, as they say in America.”

Raveaux fingered the shape of the jar in his satchel without replying.

Heri cranked a left turn into his building’s parking lot and stopped in front of his apartment by hitting the curb; Raveaux gritted his teeth.

Raveaux gathered what shreds of dignity he could scratch together and reached for the door handle.“Thanks for the ride, Heri.”He opened the door and used the handle to pull his aching body upright.“In future, I’ll do the driving whenever we go anywhere.”

Heri’s grin was impudent.“As long as we go somewhere.”

Raveaux almost smiled.“I’ll call you when I’m back on my feet.”He shut the door and headed for his apartment’s walkway.

He could feel Heri’s gaze on his back, almost hear her berating herself for being too blunt, wondering if he would have invited her inside if he hadn’t been hurting, if she hadn’t stung him further with her words about Sophie.He knew Heri well enough by now to know all that, and to like her for it; even so, he couldn’t find the energy to turn back and give her a reassuring wave.

Raveaux fumbled with his keys and got the front door open, the kettledrum of his brain pounding.He couldn’t wait to get to the bathroom and down a big glass of water with a handful of painkillers, then fall into bed.He was exhausted and hurt all over, not least his heart.

Lisette sat on the shiny clean tile in front of the door as he opened it.She looked fat and glossy; the boy had cared for her well.Even so, she mewed her displeasure at his absence.

He set down the satchel and scooped the lanky kitten up as he headed for the bathroom.“It’s good to be home,ma petite.And to be missed by someone I don’t have to say another word to.”

He kissed her head, and she purred in reply.

Day 12

Night surrounded Connor and Sophie as they sat on the bench under thehalatree.The waves, their power banked by a barrier reef a hundred yards out, purled and splashed gently on the beach on the other side of the transparent wall Sophie was so proud of.The two baby coconut palms she’d planted swayed and danced, framing a view she clearly treasured.

Rightly so.They could sit here and watch the moon on the ocean, safe and secure, sheltered even from the breeze that snagged the surface of the water, fragmenting it into a kaleidoscope of subtle colors.Inside the house, sleeping and safe, were precious children, Armita, and Feirn.Watching over the family were their dogs and a trained, caring security team.

Sophie had done this; she’d created this protected place, away from the rest of the world, where they could relax, recharge—and hopefully, reconnect.

Connor sneaked a glance at Sophie’s profile.

Moonlight painted her tawny skin with a pale glow that highlighted her forehead, the slope of her nose, the rich curves of her lips and cheeks.How he loved her.

Just to be here, at her home, with the threats they’d faced behind them—the sense of freedom, of hope and possibility, almost made him dizzy.

And yet, he couldn’t forget all who’d died so that this moment could happen.Their faces surrounded him: Jake, Nine, Sam and Rab, and so many more.Even the former Master was present, watching with a benevolent purple gaze.

“What?”Sophie turned to him, smiling.“You’re staring at me.Do I have something on my nose?”

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