never betray Marrok or those dogs.' She met Devon's gaze. 'And that's the truth.' She took down a first-aid kit from the kitchen cabinet over the sink. 'You probably don't want me touching you. Will you wash that cut and stick on a ban dage so that we can get out of here?'
Devon stared at her for a moment. She might be a fool, but she found herself believing Bridget. She had known from the beginning how fanatical Bridget was about protecting Marrok. She could see her going to any extent to do that. She turned on the water and dabbed at the cut on her hairline. 'You killed Lincoln.'
'Yes.' Bridget handed her a Band-Aid. 'It was time to get rid of Lincoln before he had a chance to get rid of me. And it wasn't a falling-out among thieves if that's what you're thinking.'
It wasn't what Devon was thinking. She didn't know what to think. 'Why? You didn't do it to save me. You're the one who set this up.'
'No, I thought you were a risk worth taking. There was a good chance I could control the situation.' She put the first-aid kit back on the shelf. 'I would have killed Lincoln to keep you safe, but I hoped I could time it so that I could get what I needed before that became an issue.'
'What you needed?'
'I knew Lincoln was negotiating with Danner. It was only a matter of time before he made a move on his own. I decided I had to take control before Lincoln brought Danner down on Marrok. But I had to have proof.'
'How did you know Lincoln was dealing with Danner?'
'I have a contact in London who managed to trace the calls between Lincoln and Danner. Not easy. The signal bounced back and forth across the Atlantic four times before Jordan was able to focus in on it.'
'Jordan?'
'Jordan Radkin. My contact in the U.K.' She stepped back. 'Will you put that gun away now? Do you think I'm telling the truth?'
'It's difficult to judge. You change like a weathervane.'
'Well, judging what you did to Enright, the gun's really not necessary.' She added, 'Do what you like. It's up to you.'
Devon hesitated, then slowly lowered the Glock.
'Progress.' Bridget headed for the front door. 'Your duffel is over here where you dropped it when you came in. Tuck the gun in it so you can have it handy if you decide you want to shoot me.'
Devon followed her to the door. 'You still didn't tell me why you needed proof Lincoln was dealing with Danner.'
'Because Lincoln is MI6. If I didn't have proof he was going to betray them and take the dogs for himself, then MI6 would come down on Marrok like a ton of bricks. Believe me, Marrok doesn't need that hassle. So I had to get a tape of a conversation between Lincoln and Danner.'
'And you did it?'
'Yes, very satisfactorily incriminating. He was going to double-cross me and MI6 and go into partnership with Danner. It was very clear he was going into business for himself. I'll send the disk to MI6 right away. They don't like traitors. They'll look upon Lincoln's death as a con ve nient end to a problem.' She strode ahead of Devon. 'Lincoln down, Danner to go. Now let's hit the road. I don't think Danner will be on his way here since he sent Enright to do his dirty work, but I don't want to take chances.' As they reached the porch, Bridget added, 'We'll take Lincoln's car. I left mine a couple miles on the other side of the vineyard.' She headed for the sedan parked a few yards away. 'I took Lincoln's keys before I came in to get you.'
'Very efficient. You've obviously been taught well.' Devon stopped and turned around to look back. She'd killed a man only a short time before in that house. Or, if she'd not done it herself, she'd meant it to happen, and that was the same thing.
'Regrets?' Bridget's gaze was on her face.
How did she feel? Lester had been a torment and a threat. If he'd not died, then he might have gone on destroying everyone around him. Yet to kill a living person was a terrible thing. 'Of course there are regrets. I was forced to take a life.' She headed for the car. 'But I'd do it again.' She got into the car. 'Now where do you think you're going to take me?'
'That's up to you.' Bridget got in the driver's seat and started the car. 'I used you, and I got you hurt. Now you make your own decisions. Not that you wouldn't anyway.' She grimaced. 'I should have told Marrok that when he wanted you tucked away safe somewhere.'
'Screw Marrok,' Devon said. 'I can't believe he told you to do that to me.'
'Yes, you can. You've tapped his protective streak.' She looked away. 'And a few other reservoirs of feeling that he probably didn't know he had.'
'He had no
'Tell that to him.' Bridget took out her phone. 'And I have to talk to him right away. Lincoln had a chance to make a call to Marrok, and he's probably ready to explode. Lincoln probably didn't tell him about Danner, but I'd bet I figured prominently in that conversation.' She dialed the number. 'Marrok, don't talk. Devon is fine. I'm going to tell you what happened and why. Then you can vent all you please.'
MARROK COULDN'T BELIEVE IT. Every word Bridget was saying was stoking the fury that had been burning in him since Lincoln's call.
Fury and a fear that was eating at him until he couldn't think straight.
Vent? He wanted to roar, tear into Bridget and everyone else who stood in his way.
'I may just kill you, Bridget,' he said through his teeth.
'You'll do what you have to do,' Bridget said. 'You handed Devon to me on a golden platter, and I saw a way to use her to rid us of Lincoln.'
'Without consulting me.'
'You wouldn't have let me do it. Now it's a fait accompli. Lincoln's dead. We evidently got a bonus in getting rid of Lester Enright. And Devon didn't get hurt.' She paused. 'Well, maybe a little hurt. She's got a cut on her head when Lincoln hit her.'
'How bad?'
'Superficial.'
'I want to talk to her.'
A moment passed before Bridget came back on the phone. 'She doesn't want to talk to you. She may be as upset with you as she is with me. Devon, will you please say a few words to him so that he won't think I'm lying about you?'
Devon came on the line. 'I'm fine,' she said coolly. 'As far as I know, everything Bridget said is true.'
'What about your head? Is it-'
'Devon handed the phone back to me,' Bridget said.
Shit.
'Where are you? I'm coming to get her.'
'If she wants to see you, she'll come to you,' Bridget said. 'She'll make her own decisions. Between us we've done enough manipulating.' She hung up.
Marrok muttered a curse as he hung up. Profound relief had been followed by anger and frustration.
'Is Devon okay?' Walt asked.
'I think so. She wouldn't talk to me.' He muttered a curse. 'Who could blame her? Not only did I let Bridget set Devon up, but I wasn't there when she was cornered by Lester Enright.'
'Ugly.'
Marrok nodded jerkily. 'Bridget killed Lincoln. She was using Devon as bait to trip him up.'
'You believe her?'
'Yes,' Marrok said grudgingly. 'I can see Bridget doing it.'
'What do we do now?'
That was the question. He wanted to call Bridget back and tell her to bring Devon to him. He wanted to go after Devon and stay with her and keep her safe. He couldn't do either. He'd burned his bridges, and now he had to pay for it.
'Wait. I want to make sure Devon is safe before we make a move on Danner.'
BRIDGET PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE of the road after she hung up. 'I told Marrok you
