Wildest Hearts

started back in the opposite direction. “But what if someone else is out to avenge him?”

    Oliver had his teacup half way to his mouth. He narrowed his eyes at Annie and set the cup down again very slowly. He saw Bolt frown consideringly.

    “I doubt that gunrunners have the kinds of friends who would go out of their way to avenge each other,” Oliver said. “Especially five years after the fact.”

    “Who said anything about friends? What about family?”

    Oliver shook his head. “Gresham didn't have any family. There were no relatives listed in his file. No one came forward at the time of his death.”

    “You and your precious files.” Annie walked over to the desk and poured herself some more tea. “Almost everyone has family, Oliver.” She looked at him over the rim of the cup. “And we both know how far some people will go when it comes to protecting family.”

    Bolt nodded gravely. “She's got a point, Mr. Rain.”

    “You're both forgetting that Gresham died five years ago. Where has his avenger been all these years? Why did he wait until now to get even?” Oliver asked.

    “Who knows?” Annie said. “Maybe whoever is doing this took five years to find out exactly what happened and who to blame.” Her eyes widened. “Good grief. I just thought of something.”

    Bolt sat forward. “Yes, Mrs. Rain?”

    Annie looked at Oliver. “Remember our wedding day?”

    “Quite clearly,” Oliver said dryly. “It was less than two weeks ago.”

    “Yes, well, remember how Barry Cork came running up to me and told me that you had very likely murdered Walker Gresham in order to get hold of a company?”

    Oliver watched her steadily, but there was no sign of suspicion in her eyes, just intent concentration. “I remember.”

    “How did he know about Gresham?” Annie asked.

    “I told you, the incident was kept quiet because I didn't want publicity. Also, it happened a long way from Seattle. But it wasn't a secret.”

    “Barry Cork was not in Seattle five years ago. He comes from Virginia,” Annie said. “How did he learn about Gresham's death?”

    “Cork was selling information to a lot of people,” Bolt said. “He might have run into someone who knew something about the incident.”

    “Or,” Annie announced triumphantly, “he might have known about it because he came out to Seattle to get revenge on the two people responsible. Maybe he took the job at Lyncroft Unlimited just so that he could get close to my brother and plot against him. And then he went after you, Oliver.”

    Oliver gazed at her with unwilling admiration. “An interesting theory. But it leaves open the question of who tried to kill Cork.”

    Bolt spoke up. “That could be an unrelated event, sir. We already know Cork was playing dangerous games. People who sell information frequently go in for other sidelines such as blackmail. Maybe one of his victims took drastic steps to silence him.”

    Annie nodded in agreement. “If Barry is a blackmailer, he probably has all kinds of enemies.”

    “This is what comes of keeping incomplete files,” Oliver said. “I tried to impress upon Daniel the importance of maintaining good records on key people. He was always far too trusting.” He ignored Annie's grimace and looked at Bolt. “Pull up Gresham's old file. It will be in my personal archives. I never throw that kind of thing away.”

    “Naturally not,” Annie murmured.

    “I doubt that we'll get anything out of it,” Oliver said, “but it won't hurt to see if there's any indication that Gresham might have been related to Cork.”

    Bolt stood, looking almost eager. “I'll get right on it.”

    Oliver waited until he and Annie were alone. “I'm sorry,” he said quietly. “Everything we learn makes it less and less likely that Daniel's plane went down by accident.”

    “I know.” She turned back toward the window and drew the back of her sleeve across her eyes. “But I still believe he's alive, Oliver. I'd know if he were dead.” She hesitated. “Just as I'd know for certain if something ever happened to you.”

    Oliver could not think of anything to say to that. He got to his feet and went to her. He rested his hands on her shoulders and tugged her gently back against him.

    For a long while they stood together in silence and gazed out into the blackness of the winter night.

19

    Joanna, calm down, everything's going to be okay.” Annie huddled over her cup of steaming latté and wondered