Donovans 02 - Jade Island

door, opened it, and pulled it shut behind him.
    Lianne was still standing midway across the room, utterly absorbed in and by his mother’s art. He had seen many reactions to Susa’s paintings, ranging from a polite “Interesting” to excited arm-waving about brush strokes and energy, color and genius; but he had never seen anyone simply give herself to the paintings the way Lianne did.
    Kyle felt a sudden, fierce desire to pull her down on the rug and find out if she had the same reckless ecstasy in her soul as the paintings had. While he was telling himself that that would be an unusually stupid thing to do, even for him, the phone rang. Or rather, the phones. There were several in the big room.
    Lianne jerked, startled.
    The closest phone was on a low table near one of the walls of windows. Kyle picked up the receiver before the second ring.
    “Hello.”
    “Everything all right?” Archer asked.
    “Yeah.”
    “You took off out of that auction like you had diarrhea.”
    “Lianne was feeling, uh, faint,” Kyle said.
    “The jade suit?”
    “Enough to make anyone faint.”
    “What did she say about it?”
    “Some lecture Farmer gave, wasn’t it?”
    It didn’t take Archer two seconds to catch on. “Shit. You’re not alone.”
    “You got it.”
    “Blakely?”
    “Yeah.”
    “Good work.”
    Kyle made a muffled sound. Lianne had turned back to study the paintings, but she was only ten feet away. She could hear every word he said.
    “Going to stay the night?” Archer asked.
    “You’re half right,” Kyle said.
    “Sleeping single?”
    “Yes.”
    “Too bad.”
    “Not all of us are drop-dead handsome.”
    “Yeahyeahyeah,” Archer agreed with a total lack of conviction. “So why are you back home?”
    “I decided you were right about the tux. It fits better now.”
    There was a half-beat pause before Archer asked, “Did you decide that before or after Farmer detonated his jade bomb?”
    “Before.”
    Silence, then a soft whistle as Archer realized the ramifications: even before Farmer, Kyle had felt the lack of a weapon. Kyle, who wasn’t particularly fond of guns. “Need any more help than I left in the safe?”
    “I’m not sure I need this much,” Kyle said. “But I’d hate to be the only one not dressed for an occasion.”
    “What was the tip-off?”
    “Three is a crowd.”
    “Somebody following you?”
    “Half right again.”
    “Lianne is being followed?” Archer asked.
    “Yes.”
    “Does she know?”
    “Yes.”
    “Did she recognize him? Or was it a her?”
    “You know how it is with men,” Kyle said smoothly. “In the dark, one looks pretty much like another.”
    “Did you get a look at him?”
    “I suspect it came with a USDA stamp of approval.”
    “Interesting.”
    “Yeah. If you have time, ask around. I’d hate to accidentally eat Uncle’s lunch.”
    “More likely you’d get eaten,” Archer said.
    “Have faith in your teaching.”
    “Faith is our sister, not a way of life. Stay where you are. I’ll come and—”
    “Thanks,” Kyle cut in, “but we’re headed back to the Towers. Penthouse party and all that.”
    “The Tang Consortium rented the penthouse floor.”
    “So I’m told.”
    “Come in the south door of the hotel. I’ll check you for lice.”
    “Sounds good. Call me tomorrow, okay? We’ll do lunch.”
    “Get stuffed.”
    “Now there’s an idea.”
    “Did Lianne know ahead of time about the jade suit?”
    “No.”
    “You’re certain?”
    “Ninety-five percent.”
    “Anything useful for me to feed Uncle?”
    “No.”
    “Shit. Will you be able to talk to me at the hotel?” Archer asked impatiently.
    “Thanks, but there’s no need. Tomorrow is better.”
    “I don’t like waiting. Not when you’re wearing my gun.”
    “Get another. One size fits all.”
    “I think I’ll stuff you myself.”
    Smiling rather grimly, Kyle hung up the phone before Archer did.

Chapter 8
    L ianne didn’t look away from the art when Kyle walked toward her. Instead, she slowly drifted closer to the vivid rectangles that were seething with color and energy. The paintings would have called to her at any time, but they were especially compelling tonight, when she needed a feeling of strength to combat the fear that came when she thought about the Jade Emperor, burial shrouds, and her unacknowledged grandfather, Wen Zhi Tang.
    “We can give your party a pass,” Kyle said, studying Lianne’s expression. “We’ll just have a drink, enjoy