brown leather sunglass case. 'I brought you a present, Renata. This case was in Darnell's glove box. As long as you're in this Finding business, I thought you might as well try your hand at Darnell.'
'Leave her alone,' Megan said. 'You can talk to her after I finish.'
But Renata was already picking up the case. 'This Darnell was the one who killed Gardner, Jordan, and the nurse?' Yes.
Her fingers lightly moved over the leather. 'He's nowhere near. I'm getting only a vague impression. He's… happy. Almost exultant.'
'Is he with Molino?'
'I don't know. I told you, it's vague.'
'He may be with Molino.' Megan finished the stitching and started to bandage. 'If he's delivering Phillip to him.'
'I don't like this Vague' business, Renata,' Harley said. 'You sound like something on one of those psychic TV shows. I thought you were supposed to be the genuine article.' He sighed. 'I'm losing faith in you. Maybe all this paranormal business is only a bunch of malarkey.'
'Which you suspect anyway,' Renata said dryly. 'I don't have to account to you, Harley.' She stood up and pulled on her shirt. 'Be as skeptical as you wish. Just don't get in my way.'
'I'll stay humbly in the background while you sniff and howl like a bloodhound on the trail. But I hope you won't mind me tagging along. You may need someone to stand in for Megan when it's time to change your bandage.'
'You can come.' Her gaze slid away from him. 'If Venable manages to get what I need. Perhaps he won't. Maybe Molino has moved his stuff somewhere else.'
There was a note in Renata's voice that Megan had never heard before. She studied her expression and saw the usual trace of bravado, but there was something else. 'What is it? You don't want to do this, do you?'
She didn't answer directly. 'I wouldn't have told you where to find the damn thing, if I wasn't willing to do it.' She headed toward the door. 'I'm heading for Redwing. If there's a chance of locating Molino or Darnell before Megan has to meet him tomorrow night, I'll do it. I'll take the glasses case and see if I can get any vibes close to there. If Venable comes through, call me and I'll meet you.' She glanced at Harley. 'Coming?'
'Of course, how can I resist such a gracious invitation?' Harley murmured. 'I'll follow you in my car.'
'You're shutting me out, Renata,' Megan said. 'I'm not going to let you do that.'
'Yes, you are. If you can contribute, you can come along. Otherwise stay here with Grady and let us do the groundwork. Your job is to make sure Venable comes through for me.' She didn't wait for an answer but walked out of the motel room.
'I'll keep an eye on her, Megan.' Harley made a face. 'Though it may be from six feet behind her.'
'I don't like this. There's something wrong about how…' She drifted off in frustration. 'We'll be in Redwing as soon as we can tomorrow. Don't let anything happen to her, Harley.'
'I won't. I may not have any voodoo talents, but there's something to say for superb intelligence and experience.' He moved toward the door. 'And the willingness to duck and run to fight another day is really handy. You should learn to cultivate that philosophy. I've noticed you have a tendency to attack first and worry about repercussions later. See you tomorrow, Megan.'
She watched the door close behind him with frustration and a sense of helplessness. She was the one who should be going after Molino. Phillip was her responsibility and the reason he was in this predicament was because Molino had found her Achilles heel and was using it against her.
She turned, and began to straighten her medical bag. It was surprising that Renata had managed to subdue Hedda Kipler with that wounded shoulder.
No, not really surprising. Renata had a determination and endurance that Megan had seldom seen before. She would never give up and ignore all obstacles in her path.
'You're frowning.' Grady had opened the door and his gaze was on her face. 'What's wrong now?'
'Me,' she said unevenly. 'It appears I'm not qualified to go after Molino. Renata and Harley have taken off for Tennessee and I've been told to sit here and stay out of their way.'
'Which promptly goads you to do the opposite.'
'Yes. But I won't do it, because they're right. I'm not a Finder. I'm not a Controller. I'm not some hot-shot soldier of fortune like Harley. I have a talent that's not going to help Phillip one bit.' She snapped her medical case shut. 'So I'll step aside and let everyone do their thing until I can see a way to help.'
'That's the smart course to follow.'
'Smart, hell.' She whirled on him. 'It's the only path. I opened my mouth and made Molino come after me frothing with craziness and venom. Do you know what could happen if Molino pulls those feeding tubes?'
'It's not your fault. You did what you thought was right.'
'I thought he'd be coming after us, after me. Who the devil could believe that Molino would be able to snatch Phillip out of that place? But people died because I underestimated Molino. I won't let that happen again. I'm not putting anyone else on the line. What did Venable say?'
'He'll have a man in Molino's Miami apartment within a few hours. The personal object Renata needs will be delivered to us by eight A.M. tomorrow morning.' He glanced at his watch. 'That gives you at least six hours to sleep. Suppose we check in here for tonight?'
'Whatever,' she said wearily. 'Anywhere will do.'
'I'm sleeping with you tonight.' He shook his head as she opened her mouth to speak. 'Sleeping. You've called me insensitive before, but even I have my limits.' He took three steps forward and pulled her into his arms. 'You're stretched tense and fragile as a rubber band,' he said roughly. 'You're full of sadness and worry and guilt and I can feel every single nuance of it. It's driving me crazy. If you'd let me, I could take it away and let you forget. But you won't do that, will you?'
She shook her head. 'No.' But he was taking away some of that disturbance just by holding her and letting her realize that she wasn't alone. Her arms slid around him and she buried her face in his chest. Her voice was muffled. 'Thank you. This feels good. I'm not really… fragile. You know that, Grady.'
'Yeah.' His lips brushed her temple. 'But let's pretend you are for tonight. It will make me feel as if I'm doing something worthwhile. Let me hold you, Megan.'
Let me hold you. Let me share your burden. Let me be part of you. Sweet thoughts, a sweeter reality.
'Okay,' she whispered. 'For tonight.'
'HERE IT IS.' GRADY CAME into the motel room the next morning and tossed a briefcase on the bed. 'Venable's agent delivered it fifteen minutes ago.' He paused. 'He appeared anxious to get rid of it.'
She swung her legs to the floor. 'I'll call Renata and tell her we're on our way. What time is it?'
'Seven-twenty.' He turned and headed for the bathroom. 'We should be on the road in fifteen minutes.'
'Right.' She was already dialing Renata's number. 'We've got it,' she said when she reached her. 'We'll be there in a few hours.'
Silence. 'You've got it?'
'Yes, I told you. Venable came through for us. Were you able to zero in on anything from Darnell's sunglasses?'
'No, the vibes were stronger but still inconclusive. If Molino is in this area, then Darnell isn't with him.'
'Well, maybe you'll have better luck with one of Molino's possessions.'
'Maybe.'
'Where shall we meet you?'
'There's a side road on the other side of Redwing just after you pass a little restaurant called Roadkill.'
'Yuck. What a name. That will stick in my memory. You'll be waiting on the side road?'
'I'll be there.' She hung up.
Megan slowly pressed the disconnect. There it was again; that odd note of which she'd been aware when Renata had spoken about the objects in Molino's Miami apartment. Tension? Fear?
Megan's gaze shifted to the briefcase on the bed.
Why would Venable's agent want to get this briefcase out of his hands?
She slowly reached out and pulled the briefcase toward her.
