The Spy with the Silver Lining Page 8

  “Anton is watching the cabin.”

  “Good. Stay put, and keep your eyes open while Filip runs a check on Fourtier. Contact me in the morning. I should know something by then.”

  When Yurii hung up he closed his eyes and imagined that Kisa was next to him, curled up on her side like she used to do.

  He always slept on his back. It was better for his injured foot. But tonight he forced himself to curl his body around the image of Kisa in his bed.

  That night he slept better than he had in months.

  The minute Casmir saw her mother sprawled out on the sofa she turned a glaring eye on the gypsy scum who stood in the doorway of the kitchen.

  “If you’ve harmed a single hair on her head, you’re dead, Gypsy.”

  “Gypsy?”

  “You heard me.” She eyed the dish towel around his waist, then the spatula in his hand. “Did you…touch my mother?”

  “I confess I did. She has blisters on her feet. I put a salve on them.”

  “That’s it?”

  “Oui.”

  Casmir didn’t buy it. “I know what you’re planning, and I’m here to tell you to forget it.”

  “I’m planning only dinner for four in a half an hour, cher. Ruza-a…how about another martini?”

  The question had Casmir glancing at her mother again. She looked like a limp rag. The culprit, two empty glasses on the coffee table.

  “I thought I told you to stay put, Mama. I thought I said no martinis.”

  “Cassie, dear.” Ruza glanced at Lazie over the back of the sofa. “You weren’t lying.”

  “Never, mon coeur.”

  Casmir glared at the gypsy.

  Pierce said, “We’re burying the hatchet, remember? Your mother’s fine. What’s for dinner, Lazie?”

  “Mudbugs.”

  Casmir was sure she hadn’t heard right. The gypsy intended to serve them bugs? The repulsion must have shown on her face.

  “Lazie assures me that they’re tasty, Cassie,” Ruza said. “I don’t believe we’ve been properly introduced, Mr. Fourtier. You’re Cassie’s coworker?”

  “Oui. We work for separate…companies, but we have mutual interests.”

  “Interesting.”

  Cassie noticed the way her mother gave Pierce a smile of approval after looking him up, then down. “Mama…” She shook her head. “How many martinis have you had?”

  “I’m not sure.”

  Casmir turned to Pierce, gave him a nasty look, then offered one to Lazie. “I believe I’ll pass on dinner and opt for a shower and a nap. About our luggage. I left it in the—”

  “It’s been recovered,” Lazie said. “I have it in the Eldorado.”

  At least the man had one brain cell, Casmir thought. She glanced around the house, seeing it for the first time. It was clean, and there were no snakes curled up in any of the chairs. The windows were made of real glass, and the roof looked solid. One point for Pierce.

  “The bathroom,” she said. “Which way?”

  “Down the hall to your right,” Pierce said. “You can take my bedroom. It’s across the hall. Your mother can have the one Lazie uses when he’s here. He’ll bunk out back with me in the screened-in porch.”

  Casmir headed for the hall. If the bathroom had a door on it and hot running water she’d give Pierce another point. If the bedroom had a mattress off the floor, she’d scratch another point on his bedpost. If not, she was going to call Polax back and chew him a new earhole.

  After a long shower, Casmir laid down on the bed in Pierce’s room—yes, it had a mattress off the floor—and listened to her mother’s laughter. What on earth could be so funny about eating bugs in the company of that long-haired gypsy? she wondered.

  Either Mama was sipping another martini, or the gypsy had spiked the bugs.

  It was while she began to doze off that she was awakened by a noise outside. She sat up and listened. It sounded like voices. No, it sounded more like someone groaning.

  She came to her feet and pulled out her Makarov. She walked to the window, and carefully opened it. When she heard another groan, she returned to the bed and doused the light on the nightstand. She slipped on her sexy shoes, wishing she had something more suitable. But Lazie hadn’t brought in her luggage yet.

  With her gun in hand, she climbed out the window into the hot, humid air. Staying close to the house, she listened again. Polax had sounded a bit strange on the phone when she’d called him, and she couldn’t forget the last words he’d said to her.

  Stay put. Yurii’s about to take the bait. Once he’s bitten you’re halfway home.

  Something slid over her foot. Oh, God. If that was a snake, she was going to scream. What had Polax been thinking, sending her and Mama out here in the middle of a swamp? It just didn’t make sense.

  Another groan—this one closer—had her sucking close to a tree. Who was out here? She wished she had alerted Pierce to the fact that something was amiss before she’d left the cabin.

  She heard the sound of a car start up somewhere in the distance. Pierce’s Jeep was still parked out front. As was Lazie’s car.

  She stepped on a twig and it snapped loudly. She silently swore, then kicked off her shoes and left them, hoping they would still be there when she returned. She ventured deeper into the woods, creeping softly. She again refused to think about the reptile population, or their nightly habits.

  She raised her Makarov, stopped and listened. Nothing.

  She decided to return to the cabin and inform Pierce of what she’d heard. She started back, but she never made it. In a blink of an eye she was tackled. Before she landed, her instincts went into play and she kneed her assailant and elbowed him in the ribs.

  She lost the Makarov, and she opened her mouth to scream, but before she could make a noise, a hand covered her mouth. She fought hard. Scratched and clawed.

  “Stop it, Cass. It’s me, dammit.”

  He removed his hand and she stopped fighting. Squinted in the darkness to make out Pierce’s face. “What are you doing?”

  “That’s a good question. What are you doing?”

  “I heard something.”

  “That’s not unusual. This is a bayou, after all.”

  “I heard groaning and it didn’t sound like an animal.” Casmir pushed on Pierce’s shoulder. “Let me up.”

  He rolled off her and came to his feet. Offered her a hand up. “You probably heard Charlie.”

  “And I suppose Charlie can drive? I heard a car.”

  He didn’t let go of her hand. Pulling her along behind him, he said, “Let’s go back inside.”

  “I lost my gun.” She pulled away from him, and that was when something stabbed her in the foot. “Ouch.”

  “What’s wrong now?”

  “I stepped on something.”

  He produced a flashlight from his back pocket and directed the beam of light down to her feet. “Where the hell are your shoes?”

  “Somewhere between here and your bedroom window. I took them off so I could move more quietly.”

  “Out here you never go anywhere without shoes.”

  “Do you remember what my shoes look like? They’re not exactly designed to take a hike through the woods in the middle of the night.”

  “And whose fault is that?”

  “Are we fighting again?”

  Without warning, he lifted her off her feet and started to carry her back to the cabin.

  “Put me down. I need to find my gun.”

  “Forget it.”

  “You’re so damn stubborn.”

  He stopped and looked at her. “And you’re not?”

  “I’m determined. There’s a difference. Stubborn is defined as willful and inflexible. Determined means firm and steady.”

  “Whatever.”

  “I rest my case. A determined woman would never use the word whatever. But a stubborn man who had just been bested by a woman would dismiss the conversation as quickly as possible.”

  H
e started walking again.

  “Not through the front door. Mama will ask a dozen questions. And don’t mention Charlie. She won’t sleep a wink if she finds out that you’ve trained the reptiles to drive.”

  “Cute.”

  “So you have noticed.”

  “Has anyone threatened to sew your mouth shut?”

  “I’m calling Polax in the morning and demanding he send us someplace else.”

  “I thought you said you were determined. A determined woman stands firm, remember?” He pinched her ass. “Not bad. Now if you could just learn to keep your mouth shut.”

  “My mouth is what has kept me alive for five years. Most men love my mouth.”

  “So you talk a man to death, is that it?”

  “No. I kiss him to death.”

  “No wonder Polax asked for our help on this mission.”

  “There’s that word again. I wouldn’t exactly call this a mission. Not unless you know something I don’t. Do you?”

  They had reached the bedroom window. He aimed her legs at the open window and thrust her inside. “You missed supper?”

  “The menu was bugs,” she reminded him, popping her head back out the open window. “I guess that’s another difference between us. Taste matters. What about my shoes and my gun?”

  “You can look for them in the morning.”

  “By morning there will be nothing left of my shoes. They’re expensive.”

  “So is my time.”

  She scowled at him. “If one of your groaning neighbors eats my shoes I’m going to—”

  “Don’t go out again.”

  “About my luggage…”

  “What about it?”

  “I have nothing to wear to bed.”

  “You should be used to that. Isn’t that part of the package when you’re kissing a man to death?”

  Before she could answer he stepped back and disappeared into the darkness.

  “Pierce?”

  No answer.

  “Pierce.”

  Casmir swore, then turned around to find her mother sitting on the bed.

  “Hi, Mama. How long have you been sitting there?”

  “What’s going on, Cassie?”

  “I…was just talking to Pierce.”

  “Usually the door is the best way to get outside.”

  Caught, Casmir decided the truth would be best. “I thought I heard something.”

  “So you went out the window to see what it was?”

  “I know that sounds strange.”

  “Where are your shoes?”

  “I…took them off. You look tired, Mama. It’s been a long day. You should get some sleep.”

  “Why do you suppose Mr. Lazie brought me to the cabin in the trunk of his car?”

  “In the trunk?”

  “He said you told him to do that.”

  “You must have misunderstood.”

  “No, I don’t think so. I heard every word.”

  “Are you sure? You know how you get when you drink, Mama.”

  “I didn’t imagine being kidnapped and tossed in the trunk. What’s going on, Cassie?”

  “I don’t know why Lazie put you in the trunk, Mama, but I’ll talk to Pierce about it. Come on now.” Casmir held out her hand to her mother. “Let’s get you to bed.”

  Ruza yawned, then got to her feet. “Did you find out what the noise was?”

  “Just an animal. That’s why you need to stay inside. Promise me.”

  Ruza patted Casmir’s hand as they strolled down the hall. “Of course, dear. You go to bed, too. I’ll see you in the morning.”

  Pierce dropped Casmir’s shoes beside the sofa, then went to find Lazie. He was in the kitchen, alone. Ruza Balasi must have gone to bed.

  Lazie turned from the sink with soap suds clinging to his hands. “You catch dem?”

  “Oui. One. He’s tied to the old oak tree fifty yards from the back door. I want you to take him into New Orleans and lock him up at the Glitterbug. I’ll call Merrick and have him send someone to pick him up.”

  “You don tink much of dis plan, do you?”

  “No plan is ever perfect, but this one stinks.”

  “Da Balasi women are a handful, dat’s a sure ting.”

  Pierce couldn’t argue with that. “Cass is asking questions. She isn’t buying why she’s here. I don’t like keeping her in the dark like this. Too dangerous.”

  “Den don’t. Tell her da truth.”

  “Merrick won’t go for that.”

  “Change his mind. You were always good at dat. Running a good argument.”

  “Petrov knows where she is now. In a few days he’ll make his move.”

  “You want me to set up a little welcome for him?”

  “Oui. I don’t want it to be too easy for him to take her from me. That could make him suspicious. So feel free to use your imagination.”

  Lazie grinned. “It’ll be a pleasure, mon ami. It’s been years since I’ve had a chance to go a little crazy.”

  “When you get to the Glitterbug and settle our friend, hire Frog to guard him overnight. Tell him there’s a grand in it if he wants to play.”

  “He’ll play for less.”

  “But he’s worth a grand. Tell him I said so.”

  Lazie dried his hands, and untied the dishcloth from around his waist. “I’ll take off right away.”

  “Remember, these guys enjoy playing rough. Watch your back.”

  “And you watch da ladies. I want ta learn more about Cookie. She’s da kind of woman a man meets once in a lifetime.”

  Pierce didn’t comment, though he wasn’t sure when Lazie learned the story behind the famous stage actress he would like any of it.

  This mission was a can of worms, as his friend Bjorn Odell would say. He didn’t like the way Merrick and Polax had chosen to keep Casmir in the dark. Maybe Lazie was right. Maybe when he called Merrick about the two men spying on them in the woods, he’d express his feelings. She should know the game and how she was supposed to play her hand. And there was also the possibility that she could take off with her mother before the game started.

  “You said you picked up their luggage?”

  “It’s in da car. I’ll toss it out before I take our friend for a ride.”

  After Lazie left, Pierce called Merrick. He told him that Petrov knew their location, and that he’d apprehended one of Yurii’s spies. He told Merrick he could pick up the man at the Glitterbug in New Orleans in the morning. He also told him that he wanted to share the mission information with Casmir.

  Merrick didn’t agree that it was necessary, but Pierce turned stubborn in his argument, and in the end Merrick conceded.

  “All right, I’m giving you clearance to tell her just enough to keep her butt grounded in Le Mystère until Petrov makes his move. Lev won’t be happy about it, but I’ll tell him what you said. We can’t afford for her to take off. Balasi is this mission. Without her we have nothing.”

  “Exactly.”

  Pierce hung up, then picked up the luggage off the porch where Lazie had left it before he’d rounded up their hostage and headed for town. He stepped back inside and set Ruza’s bag down behind the couch, then hooked a finger through the straps on Casmir’s sexy blue shoes.

  He grabbed her travel bag, and had just started down the hall when he saw her dart out of the bathroom and into the bedroom wearing nothing but a towel.

  Chapter 9

  When Casmir spied Pierce in the hall she didn’t say anything; she breezed into the bedroom never expecting that he would follow her. Her hand was on the door when he pushed his way inside.

  “Why don’t you come in?”

  “I thought you’d never ask.” He handed her shoes to her, then dropped her bag on the bed next to her clothes.

  “A nice gesture. My gun?”

  He pulled it from his pocket and laid it on the nightstand. “We need to talk.”

  She noticed his jaw was set. He was here to tell her something she was
n’t going to like.

  She closed the door, then bent to set her shoes on the floor.

  “Another shower?”

  When she straightened, she caught him eyeing her thighs. “My feet were dirty. Do you have a robe I could use?”

  “Never owned one.”

  “That doesn’t surprise me.”

  “Shy in front of your fiancé.”

  “Very funny.”

  She rounded the bed and unzipped her bag. Much to her disappointment, she saw that she was going to have to live without a robe, and a lot more than that. Whoever had packed for her obviously didn’t know where she was going, or how long she was staying. There were three outfits inside—none of them appropriate for the swamp. Ditto on both pairs of shoes.

  When she looked up, Pierce had grabbed her teal blue bra from the bed.

  “Interesting color.”

  If he got a thrill fondling her bra, let him. If he was trying to intimidate her, let him try.

  Casmir went to sit in the wicker chair in the corner of the room. She settled her butt down and tucked the towel firmly into place above her breasts. As she relaxed and crossed her legs, she noticed Pierce’s eyes zeroing in on the edge of the towel. Any second now he would begin to picture what he couldn’t see.

  She raised her hand and ran her fingers through her hair, spreading the wet strands over her shoulders. “You wanted to talk.”

  “I didn’t come to play one of your games.”

  “Then maybe you should put my bra back where you found it.”

  “Territorial? That wasn’t in your file.”

  “Neither was your fetish for lingerie.”

  He smiled, then tossed her bra back on the bed and walked to the window. He pulled the curtains together, and when he turned to face her he was no longer smiling.

  “Since I was recruited this morning I haven’t agreed with the agenda for this mission. When an agent steps into a snake’s den you don’t go in with your eyes closed.”

  “Are we on a mission, Pierce? I was told I was on vacation.”

  “Oui, we’re on a mission.”

  “Are you here to open my eyes and tell me what kind of snake den has brought us together?”

  “Oui. The why of it, at least. I told Merrick a little while ago that I don’t care how good the reason is—deaf and dumb, in my book, gets you dead.”