He was silent. “Shit.” Then he suddenly chuckled. “I’d suggest you start worrying a little ahead of that. Let’s make it a team effort of finding out who the target is and combine it with keeping you alive.”
“Whatever.” She was frowning thoughtfully. “But I think I have to go to MacDuff’s Run and see that photo on the wall.”
“And MacDuff and I both want you to stay away from it. That’s why MacDuff didn’t tell you about the theft when he called you. A man died last night. As far as we know, the estate might still be watched.”
“And why would they do that? They’ve got what they want. You sound paranoid.”
“I’m not certain they did get what they wanted. Not with that damn bloody cross that would draw anyone to look and see your photo right in the middle of it. Not with taking the portrait that looks just like you. It’s more like an invitation.” He drew a deep breath as he saw her expression. “You’re going to go to see it, aren’t you?”
“It’s not real to me.” She shook her head. “I have to talk to MacDuff. I need to see it.”
He was silent. “Okay,” he finally said. “You want to go? Then I’ll take you.” He started the car. “Right now.”
“Now?” She was gazing at him, startled.
“No better time. Why not? If I don’t show you what you want to see, then you’ll find a way to go without me.”
“Exactly. There’s no reason for you to come along. You’re not involved in this, Caleb.”
“I couldn’t be more involved.” He shrugged and said wryly, “After all, I’m the major suspect.”
“That’s totally ridiculous.” She added, “And if it wasn’t, that would be another reason why I shouldn’t let you go with me.”
“But you said it’s ridiculous, which means you trust me not to indulge in mayhem on the way.” He leaned toward her. “Look, you’re going to fight letting me spend the night on the castle grounds as Michael wanted me to do.” His lip turned up at the corner. “He even generously offered to lend me his sleeping bag so that I could share your tent.”
“What?”
He started to laugh. “You can see why I wouldn’t give up easily, and you’d be very upset by the time you found a way to toss me out. So instead, let me take you to MacDuff’s Run and you’ll get something accomplished that you do want to do. You can talk to MacDuff and look at that damn bloody cross.” His smile ebbed as he added grimly, “And let anyone on watch get a good look at you and show them you came when you were summoned.”
She thought about it. “It’s not a bad idea. Except that it’s already almost five in the afternoon.”
“But you’re tempted.” His eyes were narrowed on her face. “Now, what can I do to seal the deal…” He thought for an instant, then said, “I’ll call and have a helicopter waiting at the private airport about twenty minutes from here. That would almost assure you that we’d arrive at MacDuff’s Run by sundown. Then, after you’re satisfied, I’ll fly you to London to be with your family. You’ll probably not get there before midnight, but it will make them happy that you’re going to be there earlier than expected. Michael said that you were planning on arriving at noon tomorrow.”
“Michael evidently managed to confide quite a bit about my plans,” she said dryly. “How much did he contribute and how much did you ask?”
“It was about even this time, as all conversations tend to be.” He paused. “I admit it’s not always like that. He’s an excellent source and I have to know what you’re doing.”
“You used him?”
He shook his head. “Michael knows that we have problems. But he likes me and he believes that I can take care of you. He’s amazingly protective for a youngster. That appears to outweigh his respect for your privacy.”
“Well, it doesn’t outweigh mine. How long have you been ‘chatting’ with him?”
“Whenever it was necessary or whenever I wanted to touch base with my friend.” He met her eyes. “Or whenever I felt as if I needed to have someone tell me what you were saying and doing, so that I’d feel closer to you.”
She couldn’t breathe. She couldn’t look away from him. She could feel her heart begin to pound again. She couldn’t tell whether it was from sheer sexual readying or if he was making the effort to create that sensation. She knew the slightest adjustment of her blood flow could do that, too. “Don’t do this to me, Caleb. Or I’ll make you pull over to the side of the road and let me out.”
“O ye of little faith,” he said softly. “It’s not me, it’s you. I admit I have a tendency to fall from grace on occasion. It’s natural, since I’ve had this passion for you for much too long to claim it’s anything but an obsession. But you can’t blame me for everything, Jane.”
“Yes, I can.” But she couldn’t blame him for her own weakness; she could only try to stay away from him until she could banish it. “And you and Michael shouldn’t have had this…this…collusion.”
“You’re changing the subject. Are you going to let me take you to MacDuff’s Run?” he asked. “Suppose I throw in the offer that I’ll be incredibly nonthreatening until I hand you over to Eve?” His lips quirked at the corners. “But I won’t make the same offer if I have to take Michael’s place in your tent.”
“For someone who didn’t want me to go to the Run, you’re being very proactive about it.”
“I don’t want you going there without me.” He took out his phone. “The helicopter?”
So much for staying away from him, she thought wearily. But since she was being forced to face this bewildering and frightening puzzle, she would have to deal with it any way she could. Who knew? It might actually prove to be a way to cut down the contact with Caleb as much as possible after she let him have his way in this.
Which seemed totally illogical. Everyone knew going cold turkey was always best.
Screw it. She’d do what she could. She needed to go to MacDuff’s Run. She turned away from him and looked straight ahead. “The helicopter.”
* * *
MacDuff’s Run
The setting sun was casting silver-blue lights over the crashing surf as Caleb landed the helicopter in the courtyard of MacDuff’s Run.
Beautiful, Jane thought. She’d have to remember to paint that particular view the next time she was here. She’d already painted the castle many times, but there was always something different to discover and beguile her here. She’d grown to love everything about MacDuff’s Run when she’d first visited all those years ago. The place was full of mystique and atmosphere and seemed to breathe of the Highlands and the generations of Scots who had built their castle on this craggy coast.
“Spectacular.” Caleb was looking at her expression as he set the helicopter down. “It’s no wonder you like to visit here. I hate to think that the memory of last night’s murder might mar the thought of it for you.”