She shrugged. “When there's so much hate, it spills over and feeds on itself.”

“Like a fire.”

She met his gaze. “Like that fire.”

“You think your father set the fire that killed your mother.”

“I don't know. All afternoon I've been trying to fight my way through the resentment and bewilderment I felt toward him. He hated her. He didn't love me. He didn't want her to have the house. So what happened? The house burned down. My mother died. I ended up in a hospital for two years.”

“But you were a witness. He could have found an opportunity to kill you while you were lying helpless during that period.”

“But it would have been taking a chance. Who knows? I was in a coma. I could have slipped away at any time. And after I woke up, I didn't remember anything, so he would have been safe. It wasn't necessary to get rid of me.”

“Then you do think he did it?”

“I must have thought it was him. I didn't want to believe he was a murderer. If I did, I wouldn't have blocked that memory.”

“A man with blue eyes. Not good enough evidence. What else do you remember?”

She shook her head. “Nothing. You pulled that out of me by sheer brute force.”

“But you fought me. You didn't let me dig deeper.”

“I saw his eyes. The rest of his face was in shadow.”

“The eyes were only your first impression. You thought you recognized him and it sent you into shock. I can help you remember his other features.”

“It was too dark,” she said quickly.

“It wasn't too dark for you to realize he had blue eyes.”

“I must have seen the glint from the reflection of the fire.”

“Or it could be that it happened in a split second and you only received a quick impression. If I freeze that moment, you'll have time to look at separate features.”

“And now you're stopping time? It boggles the mind. My, my, what next?”

“You never can tell. I'm a man of infinite possibilities.” His gaze searched her face. “You're scared, aren't you?”

“I'm not—” She stopped. “Maybe. It's too new. I never realized I suspected my father of being a murderer.”

“Suspect is the key word. Don't you want to know?”

She wasn't sure she did. Every time she thought about it she felt a rising panic. “It's . . . difficult. I could be wrong. It could be a complete stranger.”

“And you don't want it to be your father. There's a basic instinct that makes us want to believe in the goodness of our parents. You recognized it in Carmela. That's probably why you were in denial all these years.”

“You have it all figured out. It's not that easy.”

“I never said it was easy.” He paused. “You're not ready yet, are you? You won't let me help you.”

“I believe I've had enough of your help.”

“No, you haven't. But that's okay. You need time to absorb the shock and become accustomed to the idea that you can't hide any longer.”

“I'm glad you think it's okay.” Her voice was laden with sarcasm as she got to her feet. “I'd hate not to have your approval. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to find George and see if he's found out anything more about that woman friend of Trask's.”

He nodded. “You do that.” He stood up. “And, as I'm sure you'd prefer I stay out of your way for a while, I'll tend to a few of those earthshaking matters I mentioned.”

“What?”

He smiled. “I got a phone call from Travis. Rosa's arriving at the airport in a couple hours.”

“Louisville DFACS has released her?”

“Into Ledbruk's custody. It took some high-level arm-twisting to ignore all the red tape connected with kids removed from the parental home, but they finally did it.”

Relief rushed through her. “Why didn't you tell me?”

“You were a little preoccupied. I'm going to pick her up and take her to the safe house Ledbruk's arranged for her.”

“Why not bring her here?”

“You promised Carmela that Rosa would be safe. Do you really think we'd provide the safest haven for her? You're a prime target, and Trask would get the greatest enjoyment out of taking me out.”

He was right. The greater distance Rosa was from either of them, the safer she'd be. Kerry just didn't like the idea of a child not having anyone but Secret Service agents around her. “She's only twelve.”

“I'm sure Ledbruk will arrange to have a female agent stay with her. And I'll get a phone number from Ledbruk where you can call her.”

She guessed that was as good as it was going to get. “Explain everything to her. Tell her Carmela will be—”

“Oh, for God's sake, I'm not going to just throw her out of the car and into the arms of the law,” he said sharply. “I do have some sensitivity. Hell, I like kids.” He started down the steps. “I'll see you when I get back.”

He was angry again, and she could almost feel the sting of the barbs in his voice. Well, she couldn't help it. She wasn't about to try to soothe him right now when she was being jabbed by a few thorns of her own.

A few? That was an understatement. She felt torn and bruised and, yes, scared. Silver had ripped aside the dark curtain of lies she'd been telling herself for years, leaving her naked and vulnerable. She wanted that curtain back. It had hidden a horror she didn't want to face yet.

But when would she want to face it? She couldn't go back. Silver, with his usual brutal efficiency, had made sure she wouldn't be able to deceive herself again.

What was she thinking? Fear was one thing, self-deceit was another, and she'd had her fill of it. She wasn't prepared to delve deep into that memory right now, but she'd have to confront it soon.

“Good.” Silver was looking at her over his shoulder as he paused before getting in the car. “That's what I hoped when I—”

“I don't care what you hoped,” she said coldly. “And stay the hell out of my mind. You've worn out any welcome you might ever have had.”

He shrugged. “It was only a matter of time before that happened. It's not as if I wasn't expecting it.” He opened the car door. “I'll see you later.”

She had hurt him. She could sense the rawness of his pain as if it were her own. Jesus, she couldn't let him do this to her. She pushed him away, blocking him. That was better. She was stronger than she had thought. She had learned a great deal from him in the past days. Soon she might be entirely free of him. No closeness. No togetherness.

Wrenching pain. Terrible loneliness.

She'd get over it. This addictive intimacy was unhealthy, and Silver had proved he couldn't be trusted not to try to control her. Just because he'd done it because he thought it was in her best interests was no real excuse. He was in a position of power, and he'd misused that power.

She watched him back up and then head down the driveway. It was the first time in days that he'd left the estate without her. Was Trask out there waiting?

Trask would love to get rid of me too.

Why was she worrying when she'd determined she had to fight her way out of this bizarre relationship? Ledbruk's agents would follow Silver and guard him. Dammit, she would not watch him drive toward the gates. Block him out. Get on with life. Find a way to locate Trask.

She turned and went into the house to search for George.

George was on the telephone when Kerry went into the library, but he hung up almost immediately. “Yes?”

“What did you find out about Trask's Helen?”

His brows lifted. “It took you long enough to come and ask me about her.”

“I'm asking now. I was a little preoccupied with something else.”

“That was obvious. I hoped to take the heat off Brad, but evidently you weren't to be distracted.”

“No, but you can distract me now. What did you find out?”

“I believe the lady's full name was Helen Saduz.” George went through the pages in front of him on the desk. “Here it is.” He handed her a dossier. “Though there's every possibility that it was an assumed identity and she was in this country illegally.”