Two Lives in Waltz Time Page 11

  “You better go see Cash,” he said quietly.

  Fear tightened her throat, and Maddy’s gaze flew to the doorway. Cash no longer stood at his post. Instead, he sat slumped against the jamb, blood smearing the wall where he’d slid down it. He was still conscious, but his pain was obvious, his features twisted in a grimace as he struggled with his jacket to get it off.

  She was at his side before he could finish, kneeling down to take control of his hands. “Don’t move,” she ordered. “Let me do this.”

  He winced as she yanked at the stubborn sleeve, revealing the crimson stain on his biceps. “Well, hasn’t this been a crackin’ day,” he commented dryly.

  The blood was deceptive. When Maddy tore the fabric for a better look, it revealed a clean furrow where the bullet had grazed his arm. “You’re just lucky she’s a lousy shot.”

  “What the hell happened here?” Lombardi thundered behind her. He came to a sudden stop, paling when he saw the blood staining their clothes.

  “Why don’t you go ask Annie Oakley?” Maddy snapped, jerking her head toward the blonde at the orchestra.

  Lombardi followed her lead and sighed, shaking his head. “I should’ve guessed Pauline would go over the deep end.” He took a step closer to Cash, the lines between his watery eyes softening. “How is it?”

  Balling up the jacket, she pressed it against his injury, trying to staunch the flow of blood. “Just a flesh wound. It looks worse than it actually is.”

  He sighed. “Well, you better get him over to the hospital, get a doc to patch him up. I can’t afford to have him out of commission too long.” He snapped his fingers, and Sammy immediately appeared at his elbow. “Get their car brought around.”

  Beneath Maddy’s touch, Cash stiffened. “Get me out of that,” he murmured, low enough so only she could hear. “If I’m not safe here, how do we know someplace where they can inject anything they want into my body is going to be any better?”

  He had a point. Taking a deep breath, Maddy twisted again to face Lombardi.

  “You sure you want to do that? A gunshot means they’ll call the cops. And if the cops get involved, they’re going to come around, asking all sorts of questions.” When doubt began to creep in his face, she plunged onward. “Let me take Cash home. All he needs is a good dressing and some TLC. I can take care of that.”

  The growing crowd around them snickered, but Lombardi was nodding in agreement. “You’re right. Pauline’s got me rattled into not thinking straight. Okay. Get him home. Keep me updated on how he’s doing.”

  “Boss!” Gino’s voice came from the back of the room, and people parted to allow him to approach. Maddy blanched when she saw an unconscious Ava in his arms.

  “Now what the hell is this?” Lombardi demanded.

  “I found her in the dressing room,” Gino explained. “Someone cold-cocked her a good one. I can’t get her to wake up.”

  Lombardi rubbed a meaty hand over his face. “This kind of shit is not rolling my dice,” he muttered. Then louder… “Lola!” A tall, very thin strawberry blonde broke free from the throng, her nervous gaze unsure just where to look. “Go with Gino to the hospital. You’re her roommate. You can tell the docs what they need to know.”

  If Maddy hadn’t already promised to tend to Cash, she would have insisted on going with Gino. Instead, she settled for getting the bouncer’s attention and saying, “Call me when you know anything, okay?”

  He nodded, exiting the club with Ava in his arms and Lola in tow.

  “I never thought I’d miss the museum,” Cash said. “But at least there, I don’t have to worry about anyone taking potshots at me.” He grinned, in spite of the pain. “Except for you, that is.”

  Though she ignored his soft gibe, inwardly, Maddy smiled. Scooping her arm around his waist, she helped him stand, taking as much of his weight as she could. “Just don’t forget that I’ve got exclusive rights.”

  His breath when he answered was warm on her ear. “Never.”

  Aaron fidgeted with his tie for the thirteenth time, testing to make sure it was straight. It had been nearly forty-five minutes since Kate Beckstrom had called to say she was on her way, and he hadn’t been able to stay still since, each tick of the clock only increasing his agitation. Any moment now, she would knock on his door, and he would have to tell her there was still no sign of her brother. Until Cash was found, he would be forced to deal with her on a close and personal basis.

  He was going to be a wreck by the time it was over. Aaron just knew it.

  When his door opened without a knock, Aaron leapt to his feet, already certain who it was. His heart immediately sank as their eyes met.

  Fuck. She was gorgeous. He was officially screwed.

  Kate would never be able to deny her relationship to Cash. Like her brother, she was tall and slim, with the same taste in dress, her small, high breasts accentuated by the low-cut black shirt she wore with jeans that highlighted her long legs. Dark brown hair was pulled back into a low ponytail, and only a smattering of makeup graced her wide features. Though she was currently unsmiling, there were even hints of the same dimples Cash sported. Only the color of their eyes differentiated them. Hers were brown instead of green. A very penetrating brown.

  Her gaze swept over him in assessment, prompting Aaron to come around his desk. At least he didn’t have to look up to her. That was one point in his favor.

  By the time their eyes met again, a smile curved her full mouth. “Mr. Keating,” she said, sticking out her hand in greeting. “I’m—”

  “Kate Beckstrom,” he finished, shaking her hand. He prayed his palms weren’t sweating. “I know.”

  She paused. “He hasn’t shown up yet, has he?”

  It wasn’t really a question. He should’ve expected her astute observations to be even more so in person.

  “I’ve requested the painting that came for Cash be set out for you to see.” Aaron didn’t know who this calm man speaking was, but whoever had taken control of his body was already pulling his keys out of his pocket, leading her out of his office and into the hall. “I put in the request to receiving to have the shipping information tracked, but that hasn’t come in yet.” He smiled at her in apology. “The temp I have covering the receiving manager isn’t as fast as I’d like her to be.”

  Instead of trailing after him, Kate matched him stride for stride as they headed for storage. “What about the little blonde? What did you say her name was?”

  “Madeline Cardinale.”

  “Has anyone heard from her?”

  Aaron shook his head. “That’s actually more alarming than Cash’s disappearance.” Kate shot him a frown that had him backpedaling. “Well, not for you, obviously, but Maddy’s work ethic is a little stronger than Cash’s. Never late, never calls in sick.”

  “And now they’re both gone.” She sighed, and muttered, “What a bloody fuckin’ mess.”

  Aaron bit back his smile. She was just as blunt in person as she was on the phone.

  They finished the walk to the storage room in silence, Aaron conscious of the way her arm brushed against his with each step, her perfume drifting along to tickle his nose. When they reached the door, he held it open for her automatically, then followed her inside, wondering why Ava hadn’t bothered to stick around to help. She’d been just as worried as anybody about Maddy being gone.

  Kate walked unerringly to where the painting rested on the table. As she came to a stop in front of it, she jerked back, shoulders going rigid as she stared at the canvas.

  “What’s wrong?” he asked.

  She didn’t answer. Her thin hands balled into fists at her sides, and her direct gaze was fixed on the painting. Aaron came up to see what might have caught her attention, but his cursory inspection of the art only said it was modern and likely worthless.

  “Do you recognize it?” he prodded.

  Her nod was sharp. “It’s a H’roven.” Kate sighed. “And it means Cash is well and truly fucked this time.�
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  Chapter Twelve

  Aaron stared at Kate in confusion. “A H’whatsit?”

  “A H’roven. Each is one of a kind, created solely for the recipient.” With a disgusted snort, she pushed away from the table, pacing in agitation as she chewed at a thumbnail. Her constant energy amazed him. The day she stopped moving would be the day she died.

  She came to a sudden halt. “How much do you know about Cash’s history?”

  His gaze jumped from where it had drifted to her long legs to find Kate’s piercing eyes fixed on him. “That depends,” he said carefully. “What should I know?”

  Her teeth clicked together as she considered her next words. “Do you believe in magic, Mr. Keating?”

  He laughed, in spite of her solemnity. “Oh, that.” He dismissed the question with a wave of his hand. “Last Christmas, Cash had a few too many and started telling me about when he used to be some sort of wizard back in England. But he was just blowing smoke out his ass.”

  “Actually, he wasn’t.” Her gaze shifted to the table, drawing Aaron’s with it. Within seconds, a rubber glove was plucked by an unseen hand from the box in the middle, rising to hover in midair. It slowly began to inflate, and when the rubber reached its limit, it popped with a loud bang.

  Aaron stared at the glove fragments fluttering back to the table. For a brief moment, he wondered when he’d wandered into The Twilight Zone. All he was missing was the Rod Serling commentary. “Damn. Maybe I was the one who was drinking too much that night.”

  “Cash hasn’t had any power since he left England, but that doesn’t stop magic from existing.” She waved toward the painting. “A H’roven isn’t a picture. It’s a portal to other dimensions. Touching it opens the door, so to speak. Each one is created for a specific individual, and in this case, this one was for Cash.”

  Instinctively, he took a step away from it. “And you know this because…?”

  “Other than the fact that it has H’roven’s signature, Cash is in the picture. The only way to activate it is through touch. You and I both know that Cash is smart enough to know how to handle paintings, which means it had to be the magic of the picture that compelled him to touch it in the first place.”

  Curiosity drew him back to the table, and Aaron bent over in order to examine it more closely. “Where is he?”

  Coming back to his side, Kate leaned over with him, her slim finger aimed straight at a figure near the band. This close, the smell of her perfume, a musky scent of clove, made his head swim. “There.”

  He blinked in order to clear his vision, and then squinted to see it more closely. When recognition dawned, he gasped. “That’s not possible! That looks like Cash dancing with Maddy!”

  Kate’s mouth quirked into a half-smile. “It is possible. Obviously, they touched the painting.” Her smile faded as she reverted her attention back to the canvas. “Is that really her?” she asked, a tinge of disbelief shading her tone. “She’s a lot smaller than I thought she’d be.”

  “That’s her,” Aaron confirmed. For some reason, this didn’t seem as unbelievable as he would’ve expected. Weird, yes, but nothing any more unusual than what he could see in a movie. Plus, he had seen the effects of magic with his own eyes. There was no way Kate could have staged the glove trick beforehand.

  “If you’ve got magical powers too…” he said, turning to face her, “…can’t you wiggle your nose or something to bring Cash back?”

  A single brow lifted, though she looked more amused than anything else. “H’roven wouldn’t have a business if it was that simple. People buy his work to get rid of their enemies. If the portal operated on a two-way system, that would defeat the purpose.”

  “And I suppose destroying the painting isn’t like chopping down a door, huh?”

  “Exactly.” Her eyes twinkled. “You’re not as thick as you look, Mr. Keating.”

  Only Kate could so effectively combine a criticism with a compliment. But when she brushed past him to head for the door again, he leapt from the stunned silence her words had brought.

  “Where are you going?” he asked. “You just got here.”

  The single glance she flicked at the hand he’d curled around her arm to stop her made him let her go just as quickly.

  “There’s nothing more to be done here,” Kate said. “And I have work to do.”

  This time when she started walking, he hurried after. “What kind of work?”

  “You ask a lot of questions, Mr. Keating.”

  “Two of my best employees have gone missing in some mystical painting. I think I have a right to ask a few questions. I think you’re lucky I’m not doing more.”

  She came to an abrupt halt in the hall. When her penetrating gaze swept over him, assessing him yet again, he pulled himself straighter. He’d be damned if he let her see how badly she affected him.

  “I’m going to find out if there are any loopholes to the H’rovens. As much as I appreciate your offer, it’s not really something you can help with.” She cut him off from quarreling by lifting a lone finger. “You can help by protecting the painting. Make sure nobody else touches it. Make sure nothing happens to it. That’s my only brother in there, and I haven’t kept Cash safe for the past decade to lose him now. Do you understand?”

  Aaron nodded. It was more than he thought she would concede, and frankly, all that he thought he could handle. Kate’s smile was blinding and then gone, her firm step echoing as she continued on her way. He watched until she disappeared from sight.

  Waking up was painful, but Ava pushed past the pounding in her head to open her eyes and blink into the glow that seemed to surround her. Although the lights were dimmed, the transition was disquieting, and she had to squint until she grew accustomed to the brightness. There was no need to wonder where she was. The acrid scent of antiseptic was a hospital giveaway. She only questioned whether the crazy girl in the closet had shot her. Probably, Ava thought ruefully. Considering how her night had been going, it seemed a fitting way to end her day.

  A large shape at her side caught her attention, and as slowly as she could manage, Ava turned her head, eyes widening slightly as she saw a somber Gino wedged into a tiny chair. “Hi,” she said in surprise.

  She was rewarded with a cautious smile. “Hey.” There was a moment of awkward silence before Gino added, “You need anything? I can get the nurse to come in, maybe bring you water or something.”

  “Can they get me a new head? Because I think I’ve broken this one.”

  They chuckled together over her small joke. “Pauline clocked you a good one, but the doc says you’ll be tip-top in no time. They’re just keeping you in for…”

  His voice trailed off. It took only a moment for Ava to realize he was trying to recall what word they had used. “Observation,” she prompted gently.

  Gino’s face creased with relief. “Yeah, that’s it.”

  “It’s nice to know I’m not—” Her eyes went wide as the rest of the memories of her encounter in the closet came flooding back. “Cash!” she exclaimed, and then winced from the sudden pain stabbing within her skull. She tried again, quieter this time. “That girl was going to—”

  “He’s jake,” Gino interrupted. “Pauline got a shot off, but it was just a scratch. Maddy took him back to their place.”

  Ava had to bite her lip to stem the questions that threatened to bubble forth. Just go with what you hear, Maddy had said. But…living together? And that woman with the gun, she’d been pretty clear about something going on between Cash and his new girlfriend. What exactly had happened to the pair when they came through the painting? She couldn’t ask about her own friends, though. She had to start someplace safer if she wanted some answers.

  “What about…” Ava searched for the name he’d only just said, “…Pauline? Is she going to jail now?”

  Gino’s laugh was more of a bark. “You kidding?” he asked, incredulous. “Mr. Lombardi will probably just give her the gate. No way does he want the co
ps crawling around the Sun. They find out he’s got pro skirts on the books, he’ll get closed down faster than they could spit in your eye.” He sobered. “And I’m glad Maddy talked him out of putting you on the roster with the rest of them. You don’t want that kind of mess in your life.”

  “You don’t think it’s better than selling cigarettes?” Ava was confused. How could dancing be so bad?

  “No.” His reply was firm, almost adamant. “Cash definitely has the right idea. Soon as Maddy said yes to getting hitched, he went in and demanded Mr. Lombardi take her off the active list. He said no way was he going to share his dame with anyone, even if it was her job. I don’t blame him. I don’t think I’d be able to see straight if I thought my girl was sleeping with half the town.”

  Her mouth made a tiny O. Suddenly, everything got a whole lot clearer. Memo to self: Thank Maddy.

  “Is it the money?” Gino said. “’Cause, you know, I don’t have much, but if you need a loan or something—”

  “No, no,” Ava assured him. “That’s sweet, but very much no.” His offer made her wonder if maybe there was more to their relationship than she had originally assumed. “Did you…bring me here?”

  The way he ducked his head, avoiding her direct gaze, betrayed the truth of his crush. “Me and Lola. But she made tracks as soon as the docs had what they needed.”

  “But you didn’t.”

  Her gentle statement seemed to have the opposite effect than she intended. Pushing against the thin metal arms of the chair, Gino pried himself out and rose to his feet. “I should probably be going,” he said, backing toward the door. “Maddy wanted me to call her and let her know how you’re doing. I don’t want to leave it too late, or she’ll kill me for waking her up.”

  Ava watched helplessly as he grabbed his coat from a hook by the door and slid it over his broad shoulders, the fabric straining tightly across his back. “I’m glad you were here,” she said as his hand touched the doorknob. “It was good to see a familiar face.”

  When he hesitated, she thought he might have changed his mind about leaving. “The doc said…” Gino coughed, clearing his throat. “…if everything’s jake in the morning, you can go home. Lola was supposed to come by, but she’s not the most reliable type. If you want, I could…come instead. You know, pick up your stuff from Lola and bring it over. Take you home if you get the green light.”