“And we both know the bastard could have been stringing you along,” Venable said bluntly. “Luke could have been killed right after that first call.”
“No question. But if he wasn’t, and Luke is alive, there might be something in those surveillance records that will give me some direction.”
“Well, go damn carefully. I don’t want you blowing our relationship with him until we’re ready to pounce. You owe me that much.”
“Screw you. I don’t owe you anything.”
“I kept your son alive. I was always a presence reminding Rakovac how dangerous it would be to go too far. It had to have had an effect.”
“Maybe. Neither of us knows whether that’s true.”
“But you’re being positive. That’s what this is all about.” His voice harshened. “Look, you’ll see by the info on the last section of that file that it’s not only the Company that is working at parting ways. Rakovac is going down a path that’s dangerous for all of us. He’s left his apartment in Moscow and dropped off our radar. We’re trying to find him, too. We’re going to have to handle him very delicately until we get to a point where we can get rid of him.”
Catherine’s eyes widened. “You’re going to kill him.”
“It’s quite likely it will be necessary. If we can’t work it any other way.”
“You can’t do that. Not yet.”
“It’s not going to happen tomorrow. All I’m asking is that you keep it slow and easy and not cause us to have to move prematurely.”
Catherine drew a deep breath. “I’ll think about it. I can’t promise. I’ve waited too long.”
“Then I may have to work at slowing you down myself,” he murmured. “I’ll have to see what roadblocks I can toss in your path. I know you may not believe it, but I’m on your side, Catherine. I’ve always wanted the best for you.”
“Listen to me.” Catherine’s voice was shaking. “You’re telling me that there’s going to be an explosion between you and Rakovac, and it might be soon. I know him. If Luke is alive and has even a tiny bit of security now, that will vanish in a heartbeat the minute Rakovac breaks with Washington. I have to get him away before that happens.”
“But what if you’re the one who causes it to happen?” Venable asked softly. “If you’re clumsy, you might push Rakovac into making the break before any of us are ready. Slowly and delicately, Catherine.”
“I can’t-” She stopped. “I’ll try to not rupture your precious alliance with Rakovac before you’re ready. Hell, I may even act as a diversion. But you can’t kill Rakovac until I’ve found Luke. Do you understand? My son could be lost forever.”
“We’ve always tried to keep Luke safe for you,” he said. “Eve, you can see that the situation is very difficult. I repeat, it would be wise of you and Joe to stay out of it.” He added wearily, “No one is trying to victimize Catherine. We’re just trying to do our jobs.” He hung up.
“Slow and easy,” Catherine repeated bitterly, as Eve pressed the disconnect. “When that’s what I’ve been doing for nine years. And now he wants me to stand by while they kill Rakovac. Do you know how long I’ve wanted Rakovac dead? I would have found a way to kill him myself if I hadn’t been afraid I’d lose my link to my son. It’s not going to happen. I won’t permit it.”
“You’re upset,” Eve said quietly. “Why don’t you go out on the porch and relax for a while.”
“No.” Catherine turned back to the worktable. “I have work to do. I promised you. We have an agreement.”
“It won’t hurt to take a break. Don’t you want to read that file?”
“I’ll do it after we finish for the day.” She smiled grimly. “That phone call may have been one of the roadblocks Venable was talking about putting in my way. He knew it would upset me.”
“And slow you down.”
She nodded. “You heard more than you wanted to hear, didn’t you? You may not like secrets, but it’s sometimes safer to not be privy to them.”
Eve shook her head. “I don’t like cocoons. I’ll take honesty every time.”
Catherine stared at her for a moment. “I’m grateful, you know. Ask me anything. I’ll do it.”
Eve smiled. “I’ll think about it.”
Catherine nodded. “In the meantime, no secrets. I promise. It will be difficult for me. I’ve lived with secrets and deceptions all my life.”
“Catherine, I don’t want to invade your privacy.”
She shrugged. “It’s the only gift I can give you right now.” She turned back to the worktable. “I’m better now. My hands aren’t shaking any longer. I can go back to work.”
But Catherine was still in an emotional tailspin. She needed a major distraction. “I’m not ready yet.” Eve got up and headed for the kitchenette. “I want a cup of coffee. What about you?”
“I don’t need it.”
No, Catherine wouldn’t admit to any weakness. “But do you want it?” Eve asked.
Catherine hesitated, then slowly nodded. “Yes, thank you.”
Eve nodded as she pressed the coffee button. “Drag your stool around to my computer. I might as well go over the transitions I’ve completed while we take a break.”
Catherine’s eyes lit with eagerness. “Are you that close?”
“I have two more transitions before I reach the final stage.” She filled Catherine’s cup. “But I’m far enough along that you may find it interesting.”
“Oh, yes. I’ll definitely find it interesting.” She smiled ruefully. “I’m like a kid waiting for the gates of Disney World to open.”
Eve crossed the room and handed Catherine her coffee before sitting down on her stool. “I only hope my work isn’t as fantasy-based as Disney. I did the best I could.”
“Show me.”
“I was going to skip age three, but a lot happens in that year.” She pulled up the first transition of Luke at age three. “Do you see that the eyes are slightly more elongated and less rounded? The interorbital distance is almost established. The cranium had expanded to accommodate the growing brain. Look at the teeth. The maxilla and mandible have become larger and widened to allow room for his deciduous teeth.”
“Deciduous?”
“Baby teeth. The changes are subtle but important.”
“He already looks different. Beautiful…but different.”
“Your Luke was a baby. That doesn’t last long.”
“No.”
Eve saved the transition and brought up the second one. “Luke, age five.”
“Dear God.”
“He doesn’t have a button nose any longer, the bridge of the nose rises up and lifts some of the excess skin from the medial corners of the eyes. His chin has taken shape. His face continues to elongate, the nose lengthens. The growth pattern of the hair should have become established. I kept it fine and silky and as dark as yours. I figured that there was a good chance that would be a constant.”
“Constant?” She cleared her throat. “There doesn’t seem to be much else that’s constant in this progression. I knew in my mind that he would change, but it’s still coming as a shock.”
“Do you want me to stop? You said you wanted to see all the transitions.”
“I did. I do. But it’s not school photos. It hurts.” She swallowed. “Go ahead.”
She brought up the next progression. “One more. Luke, age eight. The forehead has become less prominent and bulbous-looking. But the principal changes involve the nose. The bridge continues to rise, and the nostril size and nose width increase a little. The forms of the lower cartilages of the nose become apparent, and the tip takes shape. He now has a mixture of permanent and baby teeth, and his mouth has widened to accept them.” She turned to Catherine. “That’s all I have right now. I’ll do one transition at age nine and the final one at eleven.”
Catherine didn’t answer, still staring at the photo on the screen.
“Catherine?”
“I’ve missed so much.”
