Silver Linings

of it. Also, I'm not quite sure how much of his past Hugh wants dredged up. I think we need diplomatic advice.”
    “Who from?”
    “From someone who knows about handling delicate situations like this. My aunt Charlotte.” Mattie was already punching in Charlotte Vailcourt's private number, the one that reached her anywhere, day or night.
    When Charlotte came on the line, Mattie explained the situation as rapidly as possible. Charlotte's response was immediate.
    “Say nothing about the Rainbird connection for now,” Charlotte advised. “You're right, we don't know how awkward any of this could be for Hugh or his friend. It's not up to us to start raking up their past, not after all the work they've done to conceal it. Also, he wouldn't want us calling attention to whatever he's planning to do on Purgatory.”
    “I agree. He said it was personal business. What about this creep on the floor? Just another ordinary, run-of-the-mill rapist-murderer foiled by two savvy young businesswomen?”
    “Exactly. As far as you know, you are two innocent women who were followed home by a homicidal pervert. These days no one, especially a cop, will even blink at that explanation. Happens all the time. And he probably won't say much of anything at all to the police without a lawyer. It's in his own best interests to keep his mouth shut.”
    Mattie shuddered. Then she heard the sirens out in the street. “They're here, Aunt Charlotte. I'll call you later.”
    It all happened just as Charlotte Vailcourt had predicted. The gun was a particularly damaging piece of evidence against the intruder, and Mattie's pristine background as a law-abiding, taxpaying member of the business community was unassailable.
    When the furor had died down and the police had taken their leave, Mattie and Evangeline made tea. Evangeline toasted slices of whole-wheat sourdough bread while Mattie tried to call Hugh.
    “No answer,” Mattie said, replacing the receiver reluctantly. “I'll try Abbott Charters.”
    The phone in the office of Abbott Charters was answered on the third ring.
    “Yeah?”
    Mattie frowned at the chewing noises on the other end of the line. She was surprised how clearly she could hear them overseas. “Is this Derek?”
    “Yeah,” said Derek. “Who's this?”
    “Mattie Sharpe. I'm calling for Hugh.”
    “I thought he was in Seattle.”
    “You haven't seen him?”
    “Not since he left for his vacation.”
    Mattie decided not to mention the fact that Hugh's trip to Seattle was not supposed to have been a mere vacation. “What about Silk?”
    “Didn't see Silk last night in the Hellfire, come to think of it. Hang on a second.” Derek yelled across the room. “Ray, you seen Silk lately?”
    “Not for a couple of days at least.”
    Mattie felt herself getting increasingly tense. “Derek, listen, this is important. If you see Silk or Hugh, please ask them to call me or Charlotte Vailcourt immediately.”
    “Right. I'll leave a message on Abbott's desk, and I'll take a note down to Silk's boat. I'll also let Bernard at the Hellfire know. That do?”
    “Yes. Thank you.” Mattie hung up the phone and looked at Evangeline. “That man who broke in here said Hugh and Silk were headed for a trap.”
    “Uh-huh.” Evangeline spread marmalade on a slice of toast. “Sure did, honey. What are you going to do?”
    “I don't know. I can't reach Hugh. No one's seen him, but he should have gotten to St. Gabriel yesterday.”
    “Could have had trouble with connections.”
    “Not this much trouble.”
    “No, guess not.”
    “I'm worried, Evangeline.”
    “Don't blame you. But I don't see what you can do except try to get word to Abbott that he might be walking into a setup of some kind.”
    Mattie jumped to her feet. “I'm going out there.”
    “St. Gabe?” Evangeline stared at her in amazement. “I don't know if that's such a good idea, honey.”
    But Mattie was already heading for the closet where she kept her suitcase. “Something's wrong. I can feel it. I told Hugh he should have taken me with him. Damn it, I told him. He never listens to me.”
    “So what else is new? Men never listen to women.”
    “I've got to go out there and find him. There's a flight at six. If I hurry, I can just make it.” Mattie hauled the suitcase out and opened it on the floor. She went into the bathroom and started collecting her toiletries. “As it stands now, I know more than anyone else does about this whole mess, and I can't get