Part 35 (1/2)
He sat at the desk with papers in front of him, but was staring out the windows at the glorious view. It would be difficult, if not impossible, to remove the bugs as Landis had asked, since all were in view of where he was sitting.
”Dario, I need to talk to you,” she said seriously.
”Oh?” He looked at her with a neutral expression. ”What's this about?”
”I'm going home.”
He almost smiled, but there was no humor in it. ”No, you're not.””I can't do this, Dario. I thought I could, but I honestly think it's time I made some changes.”
”What kind of alterations are you thinking of?”
”They aren't just thoughts. I've decided I can't sell myself for a living anymore. Not for you, not for anyone. G.o.d knows I need the money, but not at this price. Last night I realized I'm too good for this.” Heather dropped the envelope with the money Dario had given her on the coffee table. ”It's all there.” Dario didn't even look at it. ”It wasn't my idea for you to have s.e.x with a woman, and you hardly...finished anyway.”
”This isn't about last night or the...woman. It's about me.”
”I see. And you decided to change your life over the course of ten hours.” It was more a statement than a question.
* 269 *
”It would appear so.” Heather was getting irritated with his blase att.i.tude.
”And how exactly do you plan to get back home?”
”I arranged a ticket early this morning.” He wheeled himself to the middle of the room. ”Is there something else you're not telling me, Heather?” Her face burned despite her efforts to remain calm. ”Something else?”He crossed his hands and smiled. ”My work is very important and very profitable.”
”This is not about money, Dario. I-” He lifted his hand. ”I am very well aware what this is essentially about. You see, with money comes power. And with power comes responsibility.”
She didn't know where this conversation was leading, but she didn't like it. ”Why are you telling me this?”
”People envy what I have, Heather. They want to take it away from me.”
”I'm sorry to hear that,” she said carefully.
”As am I.” He shook his head theatrically. ”So you see, I have to be cautious. Choose my friends carefully and eliminate anyone who poses a threat.”
”Eliminate?” That word coming out of Dario's mouth had a different meaning when it came to friends parting ways.
”Yes. Don't you think it wise to eradicate danger?”
”Of course.”
”I thought in due time we could become friends, Heather.”
”I'm not looking for friends.”
”And one can only be a true friend through the test of loyalty.” He ignored her response. ”It would appear Amber is the one I had ambitions for that friends.h.i.+p, and not Heather.”
”I don't understand what you're saying.”
”Amber was honest and her intentions clear,” he explained, flicking lint off his trousers. He paused and looked up at her with eyes of ice. ”Heather, on the other hand, is a liar. A fraud.”
”Why are you saying this?” She glanced toward the door.
* 270 *
”Like I said, people I choose must be tested for their loyalty.
And I regret to say you did not pa.s.s the test.” He reached into his pocket. ”Jules,” he said, referring to the guy who tended him and wheeled him around, ”has been a friend for years. Someone I trust will do what's best for me. He is a bit overprotective, but I do so appreciate that quality. Especially since he found this in your luggage.” Dario pulled the transmitter and wire from his pocket and held it up.
She felt dizzy. She'd hidden the wire in a compartment of her suitcase last night before going to bed, but she was in such a hurry to pack and leave a little while ago she hadn't bothered to check whether it was still there. Jules must have snuck into her room while she was asleep and snooped in her things. ”I don't know what I'm looking at. What is it?”
”I'm sure you do know.” He checked his watch. ”But I fortunately don't have the time or inclination to listen to your lies.
Unless, of course, you want to try something new, like...the truth.”
”I...I...” She honestly didn't know what to say. ”I've never seen that...whatever it is, before.” Her stomach churned. She knew her blush was giving away the lie.
”I'm going to ask you one question. And only once. So think carefully before you answer.”
”I already told you-”
He smiled. ”Or I will do with you what is done with wood in the furniture industry. Recycle.”
”Recycle?” Oh, my G.o.d. Was he going to cut her open and sell her organs? She fought a sudden urge to vomit.
”Whom are you working for?”
She contemplated a suitable answer. She couldn't tell him about Landis or Jack, because who would believe her, since she didn't even know who they worked for. Jack had never mentioned her last name and Landis...well, Landis had. But was it her real name? She had already changed her first name from Brett to Landis-what if Landis was a fake name as well? Even her friend and colleague didn't know she was a novelist. Maybe all of it was just a lie and she was being framed. Besides, if she admitted to anything at this * 271 *
point, it would make her seem an even bigger liar. ”Working for?” She tried to look shocked. ”I don't work for anyone.”
”You brought the listening device along for...fun. As part of your show?”
”I told you I have no idea how that-”
”Jules,” he called. The big man materialized and Dario told him, ”Please let the police in.”
”Police?” Her heart was pounding so hard she was afraid Dario might see it. ”What for? I haven't done anything wrong.”
”On the contrary,” he replied. ”You've done everything wrong.” Two uniformed Chinese policemen stormed in before she had time to reply. One grabbed her from behind while the other stopped in front of Dario.
”Let me go. I haven't done anything,” she shouted. ”Why are you doing this?” she asked Dario, her panic rising.
”In her purse,” he told the policeman. ”It's in her room.” The cop went into Heather's bedroom and came back with her beige handbag. He rifled through it and pulled out a small white bundle wrapped in clear plastic. It looked a lot like cocaine.
”That's not mine,” she screamed, and looked at Dario. ”He put it there.”