Chapter 5
CHAPTER
Okay, I’m alone now,” Jessie told Brice as she dropped down in the chair next to her bed. “I just didn’t want you to discuss anything in front of Kendra that might disturb her. She has enough to deal with right now. Fitz said you had questions. What do you want to know?”
“Everything.” Brice’s answer was a soft drawl. “But I’ll start off with why you dealt with Fitz when you needed help instead of coming directly to me. As I remember, I’m the one who set you up with Fitz when you were having problems the last time we were in London.”
“You’re not my client on this job. Why should I bother you? Besides, you’re in Rome working on your next picture. I needed someone on the spot.”
“Ah, yes, I almost forgot I had those insults about my lifestyle—which you know is just as difficult as yours—that I had to address.” His tone now had a distinct edge.
“Now they sound a little bitter and even defensive. So I believe you might have wanted to piss me off so that I wouldn’t read anything you didn’t want me to beneath those little barbs. Right?”
Of course he was right, but it didn’t make her any happier that he knew her well enough to see through every subterfuge.
“You’re free to believe whatever you wish,” she said curtly.
“You persist in thinking I have the same complicated agendas that you deal with on the set. I’m just a simple private investigator trying to do her job.
This one happens to involve my good friend Kendra.
I didn’t involve you because it wasn’t your business. Back off, Brice.”
He swore softly beneath his breath. “You’re about as simple as an Einstein equation, but I’ll let that go at the moment. Rome is just a hop, skip, and jump from London, and there was no reason why you couldn’t have contacted me if you needed someone to smooth the way for you.”
“But I didn’t. I’m getting along just fine. Now I’m going to hang up and get to bed. I hope you have a good evening, Brice.”
He was silent. Then he said softly, “It would be much more interesting if you were here, Jessie. I miss you. Someday you’re going to get tired of pushing me away.
Though even that has its entertaining moments.
You’re always a challenge.” He chuckled.
“But this time you’re not being very satisfying.
That might be a problem. I’ll have to think about it. ”
“Bullshit.”
He laughed. “What a delight you are. Good night, Jessie.”
He hung up.
Jessie slowly pressed the disconnect and leaned back in the chair.
It could have been much worse. Brice was usually much more determined when he wanted information.
This time he’d given up fairly easily. It was always difficult saying no to him.
Since the first time she’d met him, there had been a strong bond between them.
It hadn’t taken them long to become friends after the studio had hired her to work for him.
With Brice there was friendship, laughter, and great sex, but she didn’t want to be involved with him in any deeper way, no matter how much he tried. It could turn out to be a disaster.
But now she’d better go back and make sure Kendra was okay. It had been a rough day for her, and Jessie had almost been able to feel the tension she was experiencing. She got to her feet and knocked on the connecting door, then entered the living room.
Kendra was sitting gazing out the window across the room and glanced over her shoulder at Jessie. “That didn’t take long. I’m guessing Brice wasn’t as difficult as you expected?”
“He didn’t like the fact that I’d called Fitz and not him.
And I told him that he should stay out of my business.
End of subject.” She crossed the room to stand beside Kendra’s chair at the window.
“I expected it, because Brice always likes to run the show when friends are involved. But we don’t need him sticking that extremely famous face in our business when you told me that Justice was being paranoid about keeping it top secret.
” She shrugged. “Forget it. I took care of it.” She leaned out the window and stared out into the darkness that was lit by the vibrant brilliant colors of the Eye, still turning and wheeling a few blocks away.
“Very gaudy, isn’t it? And the music reminds me of Disney.
Though I have to admit it’s pretty spectacular.
We’ve just got to hope it closes down fairly soon so that we can get some sleep. ”
“I don’t think it will be that glorified Ferris wheel that keeps me awake tonight,” Kendra said quietly. “But you go on to bed and try to sleep.” She saw Jessie’s frown and shook her head in exasperation. “Stop acting as if you’re my nanny. You’ve done more than enough. I’ll handle it from here.”
“Okay.” Jessie nodded. “It’s natural you’re on edge.” She paused. “I’ll make a deal with you. I always carry a deck of cards with me. I’ll sit in here with you and we’ll play poker for the next hour or so, and that will probably relax you. Then I’ll scoot off to bed. How’s that for a compromise?”
“Not very good. It’s a little humiliating.
I feel as if you’re trying to soothingly pat me on the head like a ten-year-old.
” She made a face. “And I have an idea that Brice isn’t the only one who wants to run the show when a friend is involved.
But it’s easier for me to give in for a couple of hours if it makes you happier than having to argue with me.
” She closed the windows and then turned back to Jessie.
Her eyes were suddenly narrowed and fixed intently on Jessie’s expression.
“You’re very confident. I’ll bet you’re damn good and think that I’ll get tired of you winning and give up the game and go to bed. Right?”
Jessie grinned. “Possibly.”
“Then by all means, go get that deck of cards,” Kendra said grimly.
“Give me two hours of play and I guarantee you won’t ever try to treat me in this particularly humiliating way again.
Years ago, when Lynch was working for the FBI, he was sent undercover to take down a powerful mafia-run gambling conglomerate.
He was wildly successful, which was why Justice snatched him away for bigger and better things afterward.
But he’s always had problems giving up a skill once he’s mastered it.
He’s too competitive to limit himself in that way.
I found out later how he never really lost his passion for gambling and particularly poker, and he spent a good many evenings on our vacations in Spain making certain that I’d be a very worthy opponent for him.
I had no objection. I’m as competitive as he is.
” She added softly, “And I think you’ll find I’m exceptionally good at poker . . .”
8:40 A.M.
“Slow down!” Jessie hurriedly finished locking up the flat and then followed Kendra down to the street leading to the book mart the next morning.
“I checked and most booksellers don’t even open their booths until after nine.
We’ll probably have to stand there outside like two pleading orphan kids until she gets there.
That’s not a good look. It’s never smart to show how overeager you are. ”
“I don’t care how it looks,” Kendra said curtly. “In fact, I just want her to see how important this is to me. I have a hunch that might tip the scales in my favor.”
Jessie smiled as she fell into step with Kendra.
“I’m not about to argue with any of your hunches after the way you hung me out to dry playing poker last night.
I felt very chastened when I went to bed.
I was ready to swear you were psychic. If Lynch is better than you, I can see how he could take down that mafia gambling kingpin. ”
“You’re a very good player. But I was a little ticked off because of the way you were treating me, and I suppose that gave me additional incentive,” Kendra said. “And I’m not nearly as good as Lynch. He showed me a number of insider tricks, but he says I don’t have the necessary killer instinct.”
“You could have fooled me,” Jessie said wryly. “So I’ll meekly follow where you lead. But are you sure you don’t want to stop and pick up a couple muffins to eat while we’re—” She broke off and lifted her head. “What’s that smell?”
Kendra could smell the acrid scent, too. “Oil? Maybe someone is cleaning in one of the booths and using—”
Kaboom!
Pain!
“Kendra, dammit! Are you okay?”
She opened her eyes to see Jessie leaning over her . . .
“What the hell?” Kendra asked dazedly as she pushed herself to a sitting position and gazed in confusion around the circle of men and women who were shouting and crowding around them. “What happened?”
Jessie gave a relieved sigh. “Thank God. Yeah, you’re just stunned. I was worried. You hit your head on the edge of one of the booth counters when you went down. I thought maybe the blast took you out.”
“Blast?” Then her eyes widened as she remembered the explosion that must have taken her down. Her gaze flew to the crowd, which had seemed to grow with every passing second.
Panic. Confusion. Terror.
She could hear the wailing of the police sirens down the block.
And now she could smell the smoke and see a glimpse of leaping flames up ahead in the screaming crowd! She got to her knees. “This is all wrong. We’ve got to get over to that Porter woman’s booth and make sure she’s all right . . .”
“Then let’s go.” Jessie was helping her to her feet. “Though that explosion has nothing to do with your postcard lady. We don’t know what happened here.”