Page 47

Barcelona, Spain

Sunday

The FBI said no comment because it was an ongoing investigation. Were they looking at anyone else, or was he the only one with the bull’s-eye on his chest? He imagined cops everywhere were on the lookout for him. What about Carla? No, he was the prime suspect. He’d read speculation in the financial columns about whether she could keep the fund operating, or whether it would end in receivership. He was being compared to Madoff, arrogant and indifferent.

But during the long starlit nights lying in a chaise longue in the yard, or in the bungalow with Sasha, he could think of nothing else but the mess he’d left behind in Philadelphia and all the people who’d put their trust in him and cursed him now. Was he still in Barcelona for Sasha’s sake, or because he was a coward?

She looked up, smiled at him, put her novel down, and patted the seat beside her. “You were at the basilica again?”

Archer marveled at how Sasha seemed to see to the heart of his feelings. She’d accepted his claim of innocence without question. He hated what this mess was doing to her, hated that she was afraid. He dreaded her pleas to him when he talked about going home.

“Turn your back to me, Archer, and let me give you a neck rub. Your shoulders are in your ears.”

She finally answered him. He supposed he’d expected tears, more pleas to stay put, to wait, but she said, “I know how hard this is for you, Archer. I know you want to go home and the only reason you’re staying is for me. You know I’m scared, scared for both of us. I don’t know how I could stand seeing you dragged away from me in handcuffs. Please, just a few more days together before we go. I promise to stop being a coward and a wuss. You and I, we’re an unbeatable team. Maybe something will happen, maybe the FBI will figure it out.” She pressed her cheek against him, kissed him.

She kissed his cheek, laid her hand on his forearm. “I know you’ve always been close to Carla, Archer, always believed her to be your closest friend, your ally. You were the one who brought in the clients, and she managed the tech side. The truth is I didn’t want to believe she’d betray you, but now I realize she probably did, she’s the only one who could. I can actually see her doing it, gloating, preening at how smart she is. I guess it’s time I told you the truth. I’ll say it straight out. I never liked Carla, particularly when she was my boss. She was demanding, impatient, cutting—a stone-cold bitch to me. She was all honey coating to you, but to everyone else she was mean spirited. I was happy when I finally managed to slither out of being her assistant and head over to accounting, because otherwise, I would have quit. You were always so nice, not only to me, but to everyone. And then you and I became we.

“Now, how can I help you prove you’re innocent?”