Page 14

“None. Except that I’ve studied Caldwell’s behavior in the past, and he’s very efficient when he goes after something.

Since he’s also completely ruthless, he doesn’t waste any time with people who don’t function as he wishes.

He rewards the men who please him and punishes those who don’t.

” He paused. “But for some reason he wanted to keep Jossland alive even though you’d done all the punishing yourself in the encounter.

Perhaps he has plans for you later.” He thought about it.

“But in that note that he sent you, he indicated that the Barnaby killing had been done because he wasn’t free to get you in his sights. ”

“Yes, he did,” she said hoarsely. “I’ve got the damn thing memorized. And he wanted me to know that he was going to hurt him and that it was my fault.”

“So allowing Barnaby to be killed was done to pacify Jossland when he wasn’t permitted to go after you? He was obviously saving you for something special.”

“You’ve got it all figured out. Except that it doesn’t make any sense.”

“It makes a great deal of sense,” Dominic said.

“You’ve just got to adjust to the idea that Caldwell is the central scumbag who arranged the killing of your friend Barnaby, though he used Jossland as the weapon.

” He reached into his wallet, pulled out a photo, and handed it to Celine.

“I decided that it was safer if you had an idea what Caldwell looked like. I’m afraid the chances are that you’ll be getting to know him very soon.

He’s almost six feet tall and in his forties, with slicked-back gray hair and blue eyes. ”

“And before the other night, I never saw this man you say could be in charge of whether I live or die.” Celine tossed the photo on the coffee table. “Would you care to tell me how you know so much about him?”

“He’s an assignment I took on when I found out what a son of a bitch he was. You might say I do vigilante-type work when I deem it necessary.”

“I don’t remember ever hearing about vigilantes working with police commissioners,” she said caustically.

“It happens under special conditions. My work is entirely legal and acceptable to law enforcement, or I wouldn’t have such influential backup.” He smiled. “I can give excellent references.”

“I saw that last night. It doesn’t mean you’re telling me the entire truth.”

“No, and you may not believe totally in me, but I think you have faith in yourself, and you’ll have to decide how far and on what grounds you’ll let me help you.”

“Help me?” she repeated warily. “I haven’t asked you to help me do anything. Just because you practically kidnapped me and brought me to this swank hotel doesn’t mean that I want you to do anything else.”

“No, you haven’t asked me for anything else,” he said.

“I don’t think you’ve made up your mind yet, and I can understand that.

I just want you to know that I’m available to you.

I have more knowledge about Caldwell than you do, and I have people who will help in whatever we decide is best to do to him.

Right now, you’re upset and it’s difficult to decide which way you need to go.

I’ve checked you into this hotel for the next week, and Rashid will be on hand in case he’s needed.

That will keep you safe while you get a chance to think.

You’ll be alone except for Rashid. You won’t hear from me unless you call me and tell me you want to see me.

” He handed her one of his cards. “Or if there’s anything I can do to make your way easier. ”

She looked down at the card. “I won’t call you. I can take care of myself. I’ll probably go back to work in a couple days.” She grimaced. “If I still have a job to go back to. I’ll have to call them and see. The hospital doesn’t tolerate its interns not showing up for duty.”

“I don’t think you’ll have too much trouble,” Dominic said with a slight shrug. “The surgical director of your unit would fight to keep you. He says your first two years of internship have been remarkable; he thinks you may become the most brilliant brain surgeon the hospital has ever turned out.”

She was staring at him. “You actually talked to him?”

“I told you I had to know who you were. I thought your hospital director would be one of the best people to ask.” He smiled. “I was going to talk to the head of your art studio next. Do you think I should?”

“It would be pretty much a waste of time. He’d only tell you I have strength and stamina and an interesting face. Nothing important.”

“I disagree. All of those qualities have an importance to the right person.”

“Then maybe I’m not the right person.” She gazed at him with narrowed eyes. “But I think you know quite a bit about people, don’t you? You work at it?”

“I find most people very intriguing,” he said.

“And some are extraordinary. For instance, it was a pleasure to explore you, Celine.” He smiled.

“And at no time in the process did I ever consider you ‘a thing.’ There are some people who would consider referring to you in that way as almost a sacrilege.”

“Bullshit.”

He chuckled as he nodded goodbye as he headed for the door. “And that remark exactly illustrates my point. Goodbye, Celine.”

“Wait.”

He looked back at her.

“I should probably say thank you.”

“Not if it particularly pains you.”

“Oh, be quiet. I’m trying to say something.” She met his eyes. “I was hurting last night. I would have felt really alone and sad if you hadn’t stayed with me. That was a good thing that you did. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” He grinned. “Since you’re obviously destined to be a phenomenal brain surgeon, perhaps you can return the favor someday. Rashid is always telling me that I don’t think like other people and I need some serious work up there to straighten me out.”

She smiled faintly. “You’ll have to wait a bit before I qualify.”

“I’m a patient man.”

She frowned. “And besides, I’m not sure that what you did for me will make up for how rude you were when you virtually threw me into that limo with Rashid.”

“Then that’s another thing you’ll have to decide, isn’t it?

” he said. “What a lot of decisions.” He paused.

“And here’s another one for you. I checked and found that Barnaby’s wife has arranged for his funeral, since his body has been released.

It’s going to take place three days from now.

Why not stick around here in the hotel until after his funeral to honor him and perhaps comfort his wife? ”

He opened the door and the next moment he was gone.

Celine didn’t move for a long time after Dominic had left.

She stayed sitting there, staring at the door and remembering everything he had said and all the agony and bewilderment those words had brought.

She wanted to reject all of it, but how could she when she was living with the thought of Barnaby’s death and her own part in it.

Dominic’s s explanation was no more crazy than a complete stranger attacking her that night for no reason and what had followed afterward.

And somehow Alex Dominic had made his explanation about the involvement of Caldwell seem almost logical with his knowledge and documentation of the man.

For heaven’s sake, he’d even given her a blasted photo!

Of course, Dominic could be rigging some kind of scam, and there was no doubt he was the most unusual individual she had ever run across.

But she couldn’t accept that the man who had sat with her all night in that morgue just to keep her company would be anything but what he presented himself to be.

Oh, she just didn’t know, and she was too weary and depressed right now to figure anything out.

As Dominic had said, there were too many decisions to make, and she wasn’t capable of facing them right now.

She’d go to bed and try to sleep; maybe in the morning she’d be able to put everything together and come up with answers.

Dominic had said something about answers, she remembered, as she climbed into bed and closed her eyes. He’d said that he could better help her because he knew things she didn’t… Was he right?