“Stop being so hard on yourself, Sam,” Kendra said. “And I want you to stay here. There’s no reason for you to rent a place.”

“Yes, there is. There’s no room here for me. I’ve got to set up a small computer lab. I will find Colby. Besides, that means bringing your computer on-site.” He shook his head. “I’m not going to expose you to that bastard again. Hell, I don’t want to expose myself. But I can’t stand the alternative.” He headed for the bathroom. “He’s messing with my head … and my work. And I have to keep your computer functioning in case he sends me … or you another message.” The bathroom door closed behind him.

“I hate this.” Kendra’s hands closed into fists at her sides. “Damn him. I’ve never seen Sam that upset. He’s right, Colby is messing with his head. He knew just how to reach him.”

“His work?” Beth asked.

“He lives for those computers. It was probably almost like a betrayal that Colby could use them against him. It’s natural that Sam would want to gain the upper hand in his own arena.”

“And possibly dangerous,” Beth said quietly. “If Colby was uneasy about Sam’s ability to trace him. The threat could be directed at Sam as I suggested. You said he was an egomaniac. It would be the thing an egomaniac might do. Even if he isn’t the victim of choice, if he continues to work to find a way to get to Colby, he might end up dead anyway.”

Kendra shuddered. Beth was being entirely too logical to be ignored. “I’m not going to be able to convince Sam. You heard him.”

She shook her head ruefully. “Then you need to have Griffin lock him up somewhere with a few dozen snipers to watch over him.”

“You’re joking, but that’s not a bad idea,” Kendra said. “Except Griffin would immediately try to take over the action and then where—” She stopped as a thought came to her. “But you’re definitely on the right track, Beth…”

CHAPTER 11

“HEY, I WASN’T EXPECTING THIS.” Sam stepped past Kendra into the spacious foyer and looked around. “It’s pretty damn incredible. Like a comfortable Taj Mahal. Who lives here?”

“Adam Lynch.” She closed the door after Beth entered, and it locked itself. “He’d appreciate the description. He always says that comfort is paramount, luxury is only icing on the cake.”

“Beautiful,” Beth murmured. “I had no idea your friend Lynch had either the taste or the funds to build a place like this.”

“What does he do?” Sam asked. “Stocks? Oil?”

“No, you might say Lynch is in services.” She waved her hand, and the lights came on in the entire first floor. “But he does very well.”

“Judging by the whizbang-tech security I noticed on the grounds, there are a lot of people who might envy and like to take a little of that cash away,” Sam said. “And you seem very much at home here. Sure you’re not more than friends?”

“No, sometimes things aren’t the way they seem.” She smiled. “But what is true is that this place is supersafe, and I’d defy anyone to get to you if you stay behind these walls.”

“I don’t doubt it. And Lynch will let me stay here?”

“I’m sure he’ll agree once I can get in touch with him. He offered me the house.”

“You, not me. And if it’s so safe, why don’t you stay here with me? Think what a good time we could have.”

“I want to appear vulnerable to Colby. I need him to act. I don’t want this horror to drag on any longer than necessary.”

“You changed your locks. I’d say that should convince him you feel vulnerable.” He was looking up at the high, coffered ceilings. “Yeah, this house is really cool. The sound should be really great bouncing off those ceilings. You’re sure Lynch won’t mind if I stay for a couple days? Do you want me to call him?”

“No, he said the situation with which he’s dealing is very touchy. He’ll see I called, but I didn’t even leave a message. If he doesn’t get back to me, I’ll try to call him later.” She turned and moved toward the living room. “Let me show you around the place. You may find it a bit odd, but then that’s Lynch.” She looked over her shoulder at Beth and Sam. “For instance, you’ll see a huge banner photo of Lynch’s current girlfriend, Ashley, wearing a bikini and occupying an entire wall. She’s a supermodel and gave it to him as a present, and he didn’t want to hurt her feelings by removing it. It’s right ahead. Brace yourself.”

“I am.” Beth was looking past Kendra to the living-room wall. “But it’s still a shock.”

“Shock? Why? I know it’s—” Kendra’s gaze followed Beth’s to the wall, and her jaw dropped. “What?”

“Shock for you, too, evidently,” Beth said. “No bikini girl. Just Kendra Michaels. Evidently, Lynch got up his nerve to tell his lady friend that he wanted a fresh face on the wall. It’s a wonderful portrait. Did you pose for it?”

“No.” It was a mixed-media picture in which Kendra had been portrayed with her eyes closed. Now that the shock was abating, she was beginning to remember where she had seen that portrait. “Lynch and I were questioning an artist in his studio a few months ago, David Warren, and he kept working while he talked to us. I didn’t know he was doing me until right before we left his studio. Funny, he said that he knew that it wasn’t right until he closed the eyes of the woman in the portrait.”

“Strange. He must have sensed…”

“What can I say? Warren is an artist. I thought it was a bit weird, too.” She shrugged. “Anyway, we left his studio, and that was the last I saw of the portrait.”

“But not the last Lynch saw of it,” Sam said. “He must have gone back and purchased it.” He tilted his head, gazing at the picture. “You know, I might have gone back and done the same thing. The artist really caught you. I wouldn’t mind having that around to look at.” He grinned. “But then, I’m supposed to be your white knight. It’s only right that I should have my lady’s portrait.” He looked Kendra directly in the eyes. “Colby said I was one of many. Is Lynch a white knight, too?”

“Lynch would laugh at that. He much prefers to be a black knight and run his own show.” She cast one more glance at the portrait, then forced herself to turn away. “He probably just liked the work.” She moved toward the kitchen. “This kitchen is state-of-the-art, not that you’ll cook much. I remember how little you used anything but a microwave.”

“And still don’t. Just show me the office or study or whatever. I need to know what I have to work with.”

Kendra nodded and, for the next fifteen minutes, showed them quickly through the office area before taking them to the guest rooms upstairs.

“That’s enough,” Sam said impatiently. “I’ve got the general layout of the place. Now you and Beth leave and let me get to work.”

“I believe we’re getting kicked out.” Kendra was smiling as they started back downstairs. “Come on, Beth. I’m sure that we can find enough of value to do without bothering—”

“No,” Beth said flatly, stopping as they reached the bottom of the stairs. “I’m not going with you, Kendra. I’m staying here with Sam.”

“What?” Sam said, “You are not.”

“Yes, I am.” She ignored him, turning to Kendra. “It’s where I can be the most useful. There are going to be times when you’re going to want to deal with Griffin or Stokes without me. Then I’ll be mad as hell if you run out on me like you did before.”

“You were going to check on those Colby prison visitor contact files from—”

“I can do that here.” She glanced at Sam. “He might even be a help with that.”

“I’m flattered you think so,” Sam said sarcastically.

“Or he might not. Anyway, I’ll have plenty of time to work on it. In between making sure that Sam doesn’t do anything foolish that will get him killed.”

“I beg your pardon?” Sam said.

“He’s pretty safe here, Beth,” Kendra said.

“As long as he stays here. I can see him being impulsive and running out to get a cable or hard drive or whatever.”