Killer Dreams by Iris Johansen

Author:Iris Johansen [Johansen, Iris]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Fiction, Suspense
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
Published: 2006-06-14T04:00:00+00:00

11

Midmorning sunlight was streaming into the hotel room when Sophie opened her eyes the next day.

Royd was no longer beside her. Loneliness surged through her.

Stupid. Of course she was alone. She’d drifted in and out of sleep during the night and he’d been there but that didn’t mean he—

“Good morning.” Royd stood in the doorway. “How are you doing?”

“Better.” Her lips twisted. “Or maybe not. Maybe I’m just numb. But, at least, I can think now.”

“Then you’d better grab a shower and get dressed. We’ve got to get out of here.”

“Now?” She sat up in bed. “Right away?”

“The sooner the better.” He tossed her the newspaper. “You’re on the front page again. Rehash of the same story but it’s a good picture and we don’t want anyone recognizing you.” He paused. “There’s a picture of Michael too. The police are concerned about his safety.”

“So am I.” She looked down at the photo of Michael. “They think I’d kill my son? They think I’m that nuts?”

“Your father killed your mother.”

“And insanity runs in the family?” She swung her feet to the floor. “I’ll be ready to leave in thirty minutes. Is that good enough?”

He shook his head. “I’ll start packing for you.”

She got out of bed and headed for the bathroom. “I can do it.”

“I’m spinning my wheels waiting for you.” He went to the desk and unplugged her laptop. “I need something to do.”

She could see that. He looked restless and on edge. “Then look up the Constanza. I didn’t do it last night.”

“You were a little preoccupied,” he said. “But I checked on it when I got up this morning. It’s a Portuguese vessel but flies under a Liberian flag. Forty-two years old and can be leased to the highest bidder.” He paused. “It’s interesting that the last person who leased it was Said Ben Kaffir.”

She stopped at the door. “And who is he?”

“A weapons dealer who supplies every religious fanatic and scumbag in Europe and the Middle East.”

“Weapons dealer,” she repeated. “And REM-4 creates a hell of a powerful weapon.”

“Everything from suicide bombers to skilled assassins willing to risk their lives without question.”

“And you think Ben Kaffir is involved in Sanborne’s plans?”

He shrugged. “Who knows? But it’s an interesting coincidence.” He slipped the laptop in its case. “I’ll have to explore it further as soon as I get the chance. Snap to it. Fifteen minutes, Sophie. I’ll meet you at the car.”

“Ten minutes,” she said. He was curt and businesslike and completely different from the man who had held her through the night, she thought as she closed the bathroom door. No, that wasn’t true. Royd may have been different last night, but this was no Jekyll and Hyde transformation. He had held her, helped her, but his gentleness had been awkward, and he was the first to admit that he had said all the wrong things.

But he had been honest, and that frankness had been devoid of any hint of phoniness. Perhaps that was why she had been able to accept his sympathy.

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