On the Hunt

“Really? Fascinating.”

“Naturally, you’re mostly interested in what you’re going to have to give me.”

“Not necessarily. The entire process is riveting.”

“Stop joking. I’m trying to be serious. I can’t tell you how much it would cost you to link up with me, but I’m sure it would be considerable. Though Fiona says that you have a good deal of capital. I believe she called it zillions.”

“That sounds like her,” Harlan said, shrugging. “And how many of those zillions are you going to have to take from me?”

“I’m not sure, but it’s not as if you won’t get it back. I’ll see to it.”

“From your nonexistent bank account?”

“It won’t be nonexistent by then. I’m going to be making a deal that will allow me to reimburse you.”

“May I ask with whom?”

“Of course. You have a right to know.” She drew a deep breath before she continued in a rush, “There are only two things that Taylor mentioned he wanted in the letter he sent me.” She made a face. “One of them was your head on a platter. The other was a similar fate for Fiona, with a suitable dedication to me. I decided the bastard can’t have either one.”

“For which we’re both very grateful,” Harlan said. “So we’d better go back to ways and means.”

She firmly shook her head. “No, that’s where my share of the booty comes in. After we safeguard Summer Island, we go to a place I’ve become very familiar with in the past few years while I’ve been doing some in-depth treasure hunting. It’s in the Mediterranean and totally owned by an Egyptian national. Which means that any deal I make with him regarding the treasure will stand up in an international court.”

“And you’ve already made such a deal?” Harlan asked. “I thought the ‘wild’ rumors about your finding another even more profitable treasure were probably true. So much for totally devoting yourself to taking care of Mack and company.”

“Everything I said was true,” she said. “I just left a few details to be filled in later. The treasure is real. I can’t document how big it is yet. I’ve seen emeralds, gold, and sapphires. But as I’ve said, I don’t have all the details.”

“Details about a treasure that will probably net a fairly fabulous sum? And will cost an equally fabulous amount to retrieve?”

“I could hardly expect you to donate your money or time to anything less. I’ll split my share fifty–fifty with you.” She stared him straight in the eye. “Well, is it a deal, Harlan? You should be glad I offered it to you. You’ll probably make another fortune on it.”

“It’s definitely a possibility,” he said slowly.

“Then say yes. What’s holding you up? I’m being more than fair.”

“And, as usual, very impatient. I prefer to go at a business arrangement like this slowly and make sure I know what I’m doing.”

She stiffened. “Don’t you trust me? The treasure is there. I’ve seen it.”

“That’s not the question.” He got to his feet. “You have excellent credentials. And why shouldn’t I believe you’d want to go after Taylor any way you could? You’re angry and you want to put him away.” He smiled crookedly. “What I should be worried about is exactly what method you’d use to do it. We might be very far apart on that score.”

“You’re right. I don’t approve of taking a life for any reason.” She paused. “Though I can see how you might have cause. Taylor is a beast.”

“Granted.” He added, “But the farthest I could go along with you would be to promise not to go after Taylor without your express approval. If you could accept that, a partnership might be possible—providing that you agree it’s a full partnership in every way.” He smiled as he saw her frown. “You don’t like that? But it’s a perfectly reasonable requirement. It protects what both of us want. Since I’m almost certain that Taylor will be the one who goes after me at his earliest convenience, I’ll be able to keep my word. While you will remain ethically pure as you try to trap Taylor any way you can, I’d be a mere victim struggling to survive. Consider it. In my place, wouldn’t you ask for the same terms?”

“Yes, I would,” she said reluctantly. “And I’ll think about it.”

“But that last item isn’t negotiable with me,” he added. “No way. Forget it.”

“You seem very determined. Why?”

“Why do you think? Because I don’t want to ever feel the way I did when I had to tear you away from Taylor that night on the cliffs,” he said grimly. “It never would have happened if I’d had more control over the situation. Hell, I shouldn’t have let Belson pull you into that Colorado search. But I was too damn eager to go after the bastard, and he knew it. You can bet I won’t permit it to interfere again.”

She gazed at him incredulously. “What are you talking about? I’m the one who made the final choice to go after Taylor. You had nothing to do with it. I make my own decisions.”

He shook his head. “You’re wrong. I had everything to do with it. But have it your way. We’ll be heading for Summer Island at dawn tomorrow. My private jet will take us there. If you still want to continue our arrangement.” He was striding back toward the jeep. “Mack can come with us tomorrow, and I can have Domino brought by air transport the next day.” He looked back over his shoulder. “If you’ve decided that you want Domino on your island?”

She nodded. “I might as well have him examined by my vet and set him up with a few preliminary evaluations. It will make Fiona happy even if it doesn’t lead anywhere.”