Running Hot

“Hello?”
    “Hang on,” Fallon said in Luther’s ear. “I’ll be right back.”
    Luther cut the connection.
    “Oh, hello, Mr. Jones,” Grace said. “I thought you were talking to Luther. Yes. Quite near the hotel. We just stepped out to discuss the situation. What? No, the hunter we ran into last night did not have those rogues in his pattern. Yes, I’m sure Mr. Crocker did. When did I last see him? Uh, well, let me think. It would have been shortly before he disappeared. His office requested some research. I delivered a report to him before he left for his private island.”
    Luther braced his back against the tree and watched Grace’s aura as she talked to Fallon.
    “The subject of the research?” She frowned in thought. “It’s been over a year, but as I recall it had something to do with some agricultural equipment requests from a charitable foundation that was doing work in developing countries. The two other men I saw who had similar wave patterns were supposedly representatives of the foundation.”
    There was a pause while she listened intently.
    “Yes, sir, of course,” she said. “Glad to help. Please feel free to call back if you have any more questions. Yes, sir, I’ll tell Luther.”
    She ended the connection, slipped the phone back into her purse and looked at Luther.
    “You’re not going back to Eclipse Bay today, are you?” he said.
    “Mr. Jones instructed me to stay here with you. We’re to return to the hotel immediately and see if we can spot any other Nightshade operatives.”
    “And you agreed.”
    She raised her chin. “Yes, I did.”
    “I don’t like it.”
    “I am aware of that but it’s my decision.”
    “What makes him think there will be more than just the three of them and their bodyguards?”
    “Mr. Jones said that where there are a few snakes, there may be a whole nest.”
    “What are the odds that there’s a whole bunch of Nightshade folks hanging out together at a resort on Maui?” he asked.
    “Very good, actually. Mr. Jones pointed out that Nightshade is an organization. That means it has a formal structure and a strict hierarchy. No organized group of any kind can survive without at least occasional face-to-face meetings. What’s so strange about holding a conference of senior management on Maui? Pharmaceutical companies and insurance firms do it all the time.”
    Excitement had replaced the tension in her voice. He knew when he was beaten.
    “You’re really enjoying the role of secret agent, aren’t you?” he said.
    “I didn’t get out much this past year in Eclipse Bay.”
    He used the cane to push himself away from the tree. “All right. We’ll watch the hotel guests for a day or two. See what turns up. But remember Rule Number One on this job.”
    “I’m afraid that in all the excitement, I forgot it.”
    “Rule Number One is that I give the orders in the field.”
    “I’m your partner and I’m also J&J’s special consultant on the scene, the only one the agency has available at the moment.”
    “You do what I say or you’ll find yourself on a plane before you can get packed, partner.”
    “But Mr. Jones said—”
    “Fallon Jones isn’t here. I am.”

SIXTEEN
    Damaris Kemble’s hands curled into fists on the keyboard as she read the e-mail message from the mysterious contractor. She swallowed hard, fighting the rage and frustration that threatened to swamp her.
Job declined. There will be no refund, as it has come to our attention that you misrepresented your references.
    “Damn, damn, damn. ”
    Somehow the contractor had discovered that she was not the real Winthrup. She had failed Daddy.
    The plan had been brilliant in concept, beautifully simple and daring. But it had not worked. Unfortunately, time was running out fast. Eubanks and the others would be together on Maui for only a few days. She shoved herself away from the computer and picked up the phone.
    Her call was answered on the first ring.
    “The contractor refuses to go through with the job,” she said.
    “What went wrong?”
    The voice on the other end was reassuringly calm, cool and controlled. Her father’s voice. She relaxed a little at the sound of it.
    “The contractor somehow discovered that my credentials were false.”
    “You used the correct security codes?”
    “Yes, of course. I just rechecked them. They were the codes you provided. But somehow the contractor discovered that I wasn’t the real Winthrup.”
    “Interesting. The codes