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C atherine sighed in exasperation as she pressed DISCONNECT , but she wasn’t about to put off talking to Eve. She knew she’d only be on edge until she could actually get in touch with her. She dialed the Lake Cottage and put the call on video.

“Catherine?” Eve’s smiling face appeared on the screen.

“I was just thinking about you. I received a few pictures of the baby from Jane, and they’re absolutely priceless.

You haven’t seen any photos since Jane had the baby so you can’t complain I’m one of those relatives who constantly bombard all their friends with pictures.

” She made a face. “And Cira is positively enchanting and we haven’t had a baby around for a long time, so I figure I deserve a few bragging rights. Michael is almost twelve now.”

And Catherine could see that Eve was positively glowing as she spoke about her family.

Perhaps those photos would help to give Catherine the opening she needed.

But blast it, she didn’t want to break this mood.

Eve worked so damn hard that she deserved a little downtime.

“And how is Michael?” she asked. “Does he mind playing big brother to Jane’s baby? ”

“Nah, he’s crazy about Cira. They’ve seemed to have a kind of bonding since we introduced them to each other.

So Jane says. I haven’t seen them together as much as I’d like lately.

Jane is still supervising the repairs on the castle in Scotland, and I had to come back and get to work myself.

” She was suddenly smiling brilliantly. “But I’ll have all of them here soon for a visit. That will be fantastic.”

“Yes, it will,” Catherine said. “And may I see those photos now?”

“Soon.” Eve’s eyes were narrowed, and her gaze was suddenly searching.

“I believe we should discuss what you really called me about first. I think you’ll enjoy it more after you stop worrying about anything else.

” She smiled. “And I know I will. What’s going on?

Does it have anything to do with that assignment Professor Fallon wanted me to take? ”

“Oh, shit,” Catherine said in disgust. “Your son isn’t the only one in the family who’s a little psychic.”

Eve chuckled. “You’re a magnificent CIA agent, and I’d trust you with my life.

But deception is not one of your gifts. Not when it’s anyone you care about.

For that matter, Professor Fallon wasn’t very good, either.

You should both remember that I stare at forensic sculptures that I’ve created every day, and most of the time I can read what’s in front of me.

What’s happening with the good professor? ”

Catherine sighed. “I don’t know for sure, but you shouldn’t take that job Fallon offered. There’s a very bad actor involved. It’s better if you’re not connected with it at all. I was relieved to hear you didn’t seem tempted to leave the Lake Cottage.”

“Fallon was lying?” Eve frowned. “That’s disappointing. I’ve known him for years, and he’s always been honest with me.”

“No, Fallon may have just been manipulated. He was probably telling the truth as he knew it. Alex Dominic can be very clever, and he convinced Fallon that you’d be better off with him and his team if you decided to take the assignment.

” She shrugged. “And that could have been the truth, too. He’s Cameron’s partner, and they don’t make mistakes. ”

Eve gave a low whistle. “I know they don’t. And it must have been difficult for you to go against them.”

“No, it wasn’t,” Catherine said sharply.

“Cameron and I have different viewpoints, as you know. He thinks the politicians are ruining the world as we know it, and that we should have a Shangri-La ready to run to if they manage to destroy this one. I told him that it’s our job to try to save the world we have.

And I clearly warned Alex Dominic that I was going to be honest with you, but I promised him that it would be the entire truth as I know it.

” She added reluctantly, “Though if you’d actually needed someone to help you survive that trek up the mountain while you were searching for that very elusive village, I suppose you could have trusted Dominic and his team to come and rescue you. ”

Eve started to laugh. “That was a trifle grudging. I guess I’m lucky I’ve already decided to not go looking for that sarcophagus.

” She tilted her head wistfully. “Though Fallon made creating that queen’s death mask sound like a very tempting challenge.

If I only didn’t already have my family coming… ”

“Don’t even think about it,” Catherine said flatly.

“I won’t.” Eve was grinning again. “No contest.”

“Good,” Catherine said. “Now show me those photos. I need a reward.”

Eve was already posting them on the phone. “But I warn you, you’ll want to have one just like our Cira. She’s almost eighteen months and she’s…”

“Adorable,” Catherine finished for her as she gazed at the photos. “Those huge eyes are fantastic… like amber crystal… She looks a little like Jane.”

“Only a little. She looks far more like her father.” Eve was gazing critically at the photo. “That intensity is all Caleb…”

“Really?” Catherine hesitated and then lifted her gaze to meet Eve’s. “And that doesn’t bother Jane?”

Eve understood immediately what Catherine wasn’t saying.

“You’re talking about the baby possibly inheriting Caleb’s mental gifts as well as the physical?

” Eve asked. “Jane knew that was a possibility, and she accepted it. She knows what a hellish time Caleb had growing up—and he still turned out to be a man she could love with all her heart. She told me she could only imagine what he would have become if his parents had shown him any affection instead of total rejection.” She smiled.

“You can bet that little Cira is going to have all the love in the world heaped on her to balance any lethal inheritance she might have gotten from Caleb. Jane isn’t worried in the least about that problem when she’s sure she has the solution. ”

“And I trust Jane’s judgment,” Catherine said. “But the head of MI6 once told me that Caleb was the most deadly agent they’d ever contracted. What do you think, Eve?”

“I think that we’re all lucky to have Cira in the family, and I’ll love her as much as her parents do.” She paused. “And I’ll trust them to make the right decisions, and I’ll always do what I can to protect them. Okay?”

Catherine nodded. “Absolutely. And I hope you realize that I wasn’t being nosy or interfering. I only wanted to know if I could help in any way.”

“That goes without saying. You’ve known our family for a long time.” Eve’s eyes were twinkling. “Or you wouldn’t have called me and tried to save me from Professor Fallon. If I accept one service, then I can’t complain about you worrying about Jane and the new baby.”

Catherine nodded. “But I regard it a privilege that you let me even see those photos. Cira is gorgeous. I hope I see her in person sometime soon.”

“They’ll be here in a few weeks,” Eve said. “I’ll let you know when they get here, and you can come for tea. I can’t wait.”

“Neither can I,” Catherine said grimly. “But I’m mainly eager because I’ll be able to call Dominic back and tell him that you’re definitely not interested in accepting Fallon’s death mask assignment.

I guarantee he won’t like it, but I’m delighted.

” She straightened as she added, “And if you don’t mind, I believe I’ll say goodbye to you and call him right now. ”

“That’s up to you,” Eve said absently. “At the moment, I need to enlarge these photos and then find frames that will do Cira justice…” She was suddenly smiling.

“You’re right, family is the only thing important to me right now.

All I want to do is talk to Joe so that we can admire this younger generation together! ”

“Yes, Jane sent me the new photos of Cira.” Joe interrupted Eve almost as soon as she reached him by phone.

“They’re wonderful, and she’s absolutely giddy about showing the baby off to you as soon as possible.

She and Caleb are talking about taking his Gulfstream and starting out this weekend instead of waiting until Michael finishes his finals and gets out of school next week so that we could all travel together.

She said she wants a little alone time with you so she can show you how clever Cira is becoming if she doesn’t have to constantly compete with Michael.

Though neither one of them appears to mind it.

And Cira seems to have Michael wrapped around her finger.

You’d be amused how serious and intent he is whenever he’s with her.

It’s as if he’s listening to her every word. ”

Eve threw back her head and laughed. “Good for Cira. I knew from the moment she was born that she was going to be a very special little girl. I’m glad Michael appreciates her.

And I don’t care how you arrange the travel, as long as I get you all here as soon as possible.

” Her throat was suddenly tight, and she had to clear it.

“Look, I know setting up all those labs in Europe to distribute the silver bullet cure-all medication is important. But Lord, how I miss you, Joe.”

“You think I don’t?” he asked roughly. “I’m damn tired of trying to save the world.

All I want is you. Is there any chance you can come back with me to Scotland when this little vacation is over?

I know your work is important, too, but I’ll move heaven and earth to clear the way to set up a workshop here that will give you everything you need. ”