Page 20 of The Bride Wore White

Chapter 8

Don’t panic, Miss Ryland,” Luther Pell said.

“Too late, Mr.Pell.” Prudence was very careful not to look at Jack. “I’m afraid I’m far beyond panic. I may become hysterical at any moment. You can’t possibly be serious about assigning Mr.Wingate to my case.”

Luther had the grace to appear mildly apologetic. “Dealing with Wingate requires patience. The problem is that he tends to jump several steps ahead and land on a conclusion—or, in this case, a plan—without taking the time to outline his logic.”

“I see,” she said. She looked at Jack. “I can’t wait to hear this logic, Mr.Wingate.”

Her sarcasm evidently eluded him—or maybe he was just accustomed to having that effect on people, she thought. Whatever the reason, he nodded once, clasped his hands behind his back, and began to pace the room in front of the open French doors.

“The goal is to draw out the killer and set a trap,” he said. “You are the bait, of course.”

“Bait?” she repeated.

“I’m afraid you are all I have to work with. A little acting will be called for, but you obviously have some talent in that department.”

“Because I once had a career as a psychic?” she asked, controlling her temper with sheer willpower. “And because in your opinion all psychics are frauds and, therefore, excellent actors?”

He stopped in front of the balcony doors, his face once again unreadable against the glare of the sun behind him. “No. Because you have considerable experience in the role and because our quarry knows who you are and what you look like. I’m afraid no other woman will do.”

“You’re saying you’re stuck with me,” she said.

“Exactly.” He sounded approving and greatly relieved that she had managed to grasp the logic of the situation. “We could attempt to put on our little drama in San Francisco or Adelina Beach, but it makes much more sense to draw the killer or killers here, where we have the high ground.”

She was flabbergasted. “Killer orkillers? Do you really think there might be more than one murderer involved?”

“At this point I don’t have enough information to come to a conclusion, at least not one with a high probability of being correct. Killers have been known to copy the tactics and techniques of other killers.”

She tried to ignore the frisson that flickered across her nerves. “That is a disturbing thought.”

“But a very real possibility,” he said. “In addition to the killer or killers, our play will very likely draw Clara Dover. Once she knows where you are, she will come looking for you.”

“Are you certain?”

“Very,” Jack said. “Trust me, if she was as obsessed with her plan to use you to save the Dover bloodline as you say, the beliefthat you murdered her chosen heir will push her over the edge. Because of you, she has lost her vision of founding a dynasty.”

“Jack has a point,” Luther said quietly. “In spite of appearances to the contrary, he usually knows what he is doing.”

“Usually?” Prudence kept her voice perfectly polite.

Jack gave her a cool smile. “Statistically speaking, I have an excellent success rate when it comes to predicting results and outcomes in an investigation.” He started to raise his left hand in an unthinking gesture. “But when I screw up, it’s usually in a memorable way.”

As if he had realized he was about to touch the ruined side of his face, he immediately lowered his hand.

“I understand,” she said. “I had a very high rate of success when I was in the dream reading business, but occasionally readings ended badly.”

“The Tapson reading, for example?” Jack suggested.

Once again Luther stepped in before the discussion could deteriorate further. “Jack has a talent for putting the pieces of a puzzle together. When he’s finished, each piece will connect with the others around it. We’ll have a complete picture. But at the moment there are a lot of unknowns. You need an investigator, but you also need around-the-clock protection. Jack can provide that if you will allow him to do so. Frankly, moving into House of Shadows and resuming your role as Madame Ariadne will solve a lot of logistical problems.”

“House of Shadows?” she said.

“My place a few miles outside of town,” Jack explained. “No, I’m not in the habit of naming houses. The original owner was a movie star. He named the place after his last film.”

“I remember that movie,” Prudence said. “It was a scary horror film about a haunted mansion. It starred Brent Forrest, the actor who died in a fall.”

“The family had to sell the house. I got a deal.”

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