On the Hunt

“Did you do it?”

“No. As a matter of fact, it was done by one of Taylor’s own men. Though I suppose it could possibly be laid at my door.”

She frowned, puzzled. “When you didn’t do it?”

Harlan showed her his cell phone screen, which had an image of the dead man’s face. “I got a facial recognition hit on him. His name was Mark Latham, and he flew a helicopter in Afghanistan before he went to work for Taylor. There’s a good chance he was flying that copter in Colorado. It was an unsuccessful mission, and Taylor doesn’t tolerate failure. It’s possible he gave another of his men the task of eliminating the pilot who displeased him by sending him on a suicide mission straight to me, here at the castle.”

Kira looked back at the dead man. “Your people didn’t kill him?”

“Not according to my men.” He shrugged. “Either way, I’ll accept it. Particularly since the assassin left a note in this asshole’s jacket pocket addressed to you.”

“Me?”

“Yes, Captain Darue, the head of the guards, has it now. He’ll give it to you after they process it.” He paused. “Though I’d prefer he didn’t.”

Her gaze flew to his face. “That bad?”

“Not good. Nothing for you to worry about. You’re among friends.”

“Am I?” She glanced back at the bloody corpse. “I still need to see that note. Unless…”

He shook his head as he met her eyes. “No, and it’s not because I’m afraid that you’ll think that I’m guilty as charged. Trust me, I would’ve been happy to shoot him myself. Isn’t that always what you think first?”

“Blood. Death. You? There does seems to be a connection, doesn’t there?”

“But there wasn’t one on the cliffs that night?”

“No, not that night. You saved Mack.” She hesitated. “And me, Harlan.”

“Does that mean I’m making progress?” he asked quietly.

“Perhaps.” She glanced at the stone wall that formed part of the manor’s subterranean level. “That really is a dungeon, isn’t it?”

“It really is,” Harlan said. “It came with the castle when I bought it. It does become useful on occasion. Many properties are equipped with dungeons here in France. You find the concept a bit medieval?”

“All I know is I didn’t like the idea that a fifteen-year-old girl was a victim and you had to stop it. I like her, Harlan. She’s a little crazy, but she loves those horses. And it scared me when I had to tackle her to get her off that palomino.”

“It scares me whenever I remember that bastard who wants to bring her down,” he said. “I can’t let it happen. By the way, did I tell you that she’s right about how good you and Domino are going to be together? You look fantastic on him.”

“Not you, too?” Kira groaned and shook her head. “I’ve been having enough trouble with her.”

“Then I’ll back off.” Harlan was pushing her toward the dungeon. “Come and sit down in the office and I’ll let the police tell you how much they like my staff and appreciate how I include them when I have to organize a particularly difficult search. They really do think I do an okay job, Kira.”

“So does everyone in your hemisphere,” Kira said with a small smile.

“But not you,” Harlan said. “First you look for the blood, and then you make me work very hard so that I can prove my worthiness in your eyes. You’re a very difficult woman, Kira.”

“Then find someone easier.”

“But then there would be no challenge.” He opened the door of the dungeon. “Just listen and learn, and then we’ll discuss everything of importance.”

“I need to talk to Sarah. She’s the most important person in my life right now.”

“It’s already in the works. We’ll be seeing Summer Island very soon.”

“You don’t know that. I haven’t made any firm decisions yet.”

“I think you have. You’ve already told me that you’re going to go after Taylor. That’s all that’s necessary.”