Don't Look Down Page 24

  "What makes you think I'm that easy?" he said.

  She stepped across the bedroll and pulled him to her, kissing him good, feeling herself shiver because it was him.

  "Right," he said when he came up for air. "This afternoon. Hotel room."

  "Damn straight," Lucy said, and kissed him again, loving the way he made her head reel. "You are definitely my Animal of the Month," she said, and kissed him one more time, and then she sighed and started off for the road until he caught her. "I have to get back," she said, tickled that she'd gotten him that easily, and he turned her in the opposite direction.

  "That's back," he said, pointing through the woods in the other direction.

  Okay, so you're not that easy. "I knew that," she said, fighting a grin. "I was just testing you."

  "How'd I do?"

  "You're adequate," she said, and he swatted her on the rear as she stepped across the bedroll and headed back for the camper.

  By the time Lucy hit the edge of base camp, the sky was just beginning to show pink in the east and she was awake enough to realize that walking out of a swamp with some of her clothes in her hands could cause comment. And then there was the goofy smile she was pretty sure was still on her face from being swatted on the butt by a tight-assed military man.

  Such a human thing for him to do. Much like the things he'd been doing for the rest of the night, she thought, and grinned again. She sidled around the back of the trucks and made it to the camper without seeing anybody, feeling stupid for sneaking, but too damn happy to really care. She'd had great sex with an epiphany in the middle. Let 'em comment.

  Then she yanked open the door and saw Daisy sitting at the camper table, yawning.

  "And where have you been, little girl?" Daisy said, grinning sleepily.

  "In the woods with a wolf." Lucy climbed into the camper. "Why are you up before dawn?"

  "I left my pills in the motel, so I couldn't sleep," Daisy said, and Lucy felt her giddy happiness slip away.

  "But you were so tired and happy-"

  "I was thinking about what you said," Daisy said. "About not shooting tonight. They'll never let you cancel, Lucy. I appreciate you trying, but they won't stop."

  Oh hell. Lucy kicked herself. One night of lust in the woods and she forgot about everything but herself. Daisy was right, there was no way Nash was just going to roll over because she said so. Well, at least they had J.T. on their side. She was developing a touching faith in his ability to save people.

  "But if we make it through this, we're going back to New York with you," Daisy said, and Lucy stared at her. Daisy shrugged. "I'll get a job or work with you, and we'll find a school for Pepper, and maybe I can go to school nights. But you're right, from now on we're together."

  Lucy sat down in the chair across from her. "Daisy, I know you're not happy about New York." So maybe I'll move down here and start over. In the clear light of a satisfied morning, that option was looking better. Not practical, probably not even possible, but better.

  "It isn't New York. I wanted to make it on my own," Daisy said.

  "You have been." Lucy leaned across to take her hand. "That's what's been wrong. Nobody makes it on their own. God, I'd be nuts if it weren't for Gloom. You're supposed to have backup."

  "You never did," Daisy said.

  "Of course I did," Lucy said. "I had you."

  Daisy blinked at her. "I was your backup?"

  "Always. You were always there for me." She tightened her grip on Daisy's hand. "And I'm so glad you're going to be with me again. I know it's selfish but I so much want you with me."

  "Oh." Daisy blinked and swallowed. "Oh, that's really good, that I was your backup. I know it's not true, but it sounds so good."

  "It's true," Lucy said, and thought, I'm just not sure I want to go back

  to New York now. How wimpy was she if one night of great sex could make her move next door to alligators? "About New York-"

  Somebody knocked on the door of the camper and opened it.

  "You left-" J.T. said, and stopped as he saw Daisy. He was holding Lucy's WonderWear, which Lucy took from him smoothly.

  "Thank you," she said.

  "Why does he have your WonderWear?" Daisy asked Lucy, grinning at her.

  "Because we had hot animal sex in the woods last night," Lucy said.

  J.T. swallowed. "So. Well. I have to go now."

  "Chicken," Lucy said. "But go ahead." Her smiled faded. "I have to call the hospital to check on Stephanie, and go talk to Gloom, and then Finnegan will probably call again-"

  "Again?" J.T. said, stopping with the door half closed. "When did he call?"

  "Yesterday at the accident, after I threw Nash's phone in the swamp," Lucy said. "He wanted to know if the van was all right and I said no…" Her voice trailed off at the look on his face.

  "How did he know the van was missing?" J.T. said.

  "Nash probably called him," Daisy said.

  "No," J.T. said. "I heard the van go when I saw Nash on the phone, he called whoever it was who stopped the van. I thought it was Finnegan, but if Finnegan called looking for Nash, ir was somebody else." He frowned at Lucy, all business. "Why'd he call you?"

  "I threw Nash's cell phone in the swamp before Finnegan could answer," Lucy said, feeling a little chilled by his focus on work. "So who called Finnegan?"

  "The mole," Daisy said, "whoever that is," and Lucy watched J.T.'s face clear.

  "I know who that is," he said and left.

  Lucy got up to follow him. "Go back to bed," she said to Daisy. "I'll take you and Pepper to the hotel when we get back."

  "Okay," Daisy said. "But when you come back I want to know who the mole is." She raised her voice as Lucy went out the door. "And everything you did last night!"

  Lucy picked up speed to get to the Jeep before he left without her, telling herself that being disappointed because he was back in mission mode was ridiculous. J.T. would find the mole, she knew that, because he would always come through for her.

  And that really is something, she thought, and began to run to catch him.

  Lucy got to him just as he was heading down the road to his Jeep. "Wait a minute."

  He slowed for her.

  "Where are we going? Who's the mole?"

  "Mary Vanity."

  Lucy gaped at him. "You're kidding."

  "Nash and I saw her crossing the lot with her cell phone, and then you came out. The only other person around to see Stephanie take the van was Daisy-"

  "It's not Daisy."

  "So it has to be Mary Vanity," J.T. said.

  Lucy shook her head, flummoxed. That gormless, wet makeup girl had been keeping watch for Finnegan. And Nash had called someone to stop Stephanie. There were traitors everywhere, she couldn't trust anybody, and tonight people actually thought they were going to bring in the helicopter and shoot a stunt? Fat chance.

  "Finnegan say anything else?" J.T. asked, interrupting her train of thought.

  "He wanted to meet me."

  J.T. froze in his tracks. "He's close by?"

  "Well, I would assume so if he wanted to meet." She saw the look on J.T.'s face. "Why? What's wrong?"

  "I was told he wasn't in the country."

  "Told by whom?"

  J.T. headed for the Jeep again.

  "Hey," Lucy said, trying to catch up. "Look, there's no hurry, I told him I'm canceling tonight's shoot, so it's all over anyway. Except for him suing me for four million dollars. Do you think he's really going to do that?" Her head started to throb.

  "I don't think canceling is an option," J.T. said as they reached the Jeep. "Get in, we'll talk about it."

  "It's an option because I'm doing it." She stopped beside the Jeep, wary now. He couldn't possibly be trying to talk her into shooting those stunts, not with everything that had happened. "This is over. No more accidents, no more sabotage, no more people in danger."

  J.T. got into the driver's seat. "Honey, you have to keep the shoot going. Take as many peop
le off as you can, but you have to keep it going. It's important."

  The "honey" sounded good, but the gravity in his voice chilled her. "Tell me you're not part of this."

  "I'm not part of Nash's plan. Get in the Jeep, Lucy, we have to go get Finnegan's number from Mary."

  "What are you part of?"

  He shook his head. "Just trust me-"

  "No." She stepped back from the Jeep, the cold feeling settling in her bones. "You know, it's awfully convenient that you showed up right about the time everything went bad on this shoot."

  "Lucy," he said, looking at her soberly. "You have to trust me."

  "The hell I do." Lucy stepped back again. "I am through being everybody's patsy. You tell me who you're working for, or I walk away and shut down this movie now. I will do it, I will send everybody home and leave Nash alone with his fucking helicopter. I will do it."

  He met her eyes for a long moment and then said, "I'm working for the CIA."

  "Oh, Christ." Lucy looked away from him. Boy, you sure can pick 'cm, Armstrong. "You are the fucking CIA. Literally the fucking CIA."

  "I am not the CIA," J.T. said, looking grim.

  "No, you jus: work for them. And I trusted you."

  "No, you didn't," J.T. said. "You slept with me. It's not the same thing."

  "I thought it was," Lucy said and started back toward base camp.

  "Oh, come on, Lucy," J.T. said. "Get in the Jeep."

  She turned around. "I was actually thinking about spending the rest of my life with you."

  "What?" He looked so startled that she wanted to throw something at him.

  "Hey," she said, clamping down on her hurt. "Last night meant something to me, okay?"

  He frowned at her. "It meant something to me, too, but I usually don't propose after one night. Slow down a little."

  "Really?" Lucy said. "How long does it usually take you to propose?" She read the look on his face and said, "You've been married before?" trying not to sound outraged. So much for saving him from a lifetime of loneliness. God, you're stupid, Lucy.

  "See, this is why it's a good idea to know somebody longer than three days before you start planning a future," J.T. said. "It would have given me time to mention them."

  "Them?" Lucy said, straightening. "There was more than one?"

  "Two," J.T. said. "If you hadn't rushed me, I'd have told you about them."

  "I'll keep that in mind with the next guy I sleep with," Lucy said and turned back toward base camp. Yeah, you really rescued him.

  "Come on, Lucy," J.T. called after her.

  I am an idiot, Lucy thought as she stepped over the ruts.

  Somehow, the thought didn't make her feel any better.

  Chapter 15

  By the time Wilder had the Jeep started and had caught up with Lucy, she was a hundred yards down the road and moving fast. "Come on, Lucy," he said again, as he pulled up beside her with the Jeep in first gear, his foot working the clutch to keep pace with her stride. "Get in here."

  She didn't look at him at all, just kept striding along.

  Okay, so he worked for the CIA and he'd been married. Technically, the CIA were the good guys here, and hell, he was divorced. She should be happy. Wilder could never figure women out. He guessed that was why he had exes. Thinking of that reminded him of his next move.

  "I'm sorry."

  Lucy's head swiveled, and he was appalled to see her blinking back tears.

  "Lucy!"

  She kept walking, her face stony. "Sorry about what?"

  Crap. Lying to her? Getting married twice before he met her? Get-ling sucked into this mess by the CIA? Being born?

  "Anything I did to hurt you." That should cover it. "Don't cry."

  Lucy came to a halt and turned and faced him, so he shifted into neutral and the Jeep rolled to a stop.

  "I'm not crying," she said, and her voice was steady. She stood there for a minute, digesting his words, turning them over, probably deep-frying them. Women. There was a reason he was in the Special Forces with other manly men. Then she said, "Okay. I'm upset."

  No shit. He nodded, wary.

  "I know I'm overreacting but…" She shook her head. "No but. I'm overreacting, period. You're right, last night was just last night, nothing to get upset about."

  She looked at him narrowly, like she was waiting for him to say something, and he nodded again, not sure what to say but pretty sure whatever he said would be wrong.

  Lucy cast her eyes to the sky in exasperation. "Oh, stop looking like that. I know you don't have a clue what I'm upset about." She looked at him, straight on. "Do not lie to me again."

  Wilder's shoulders relaxed. "Never."

  "Because in spite of your ex-wives…" She took a deep breath. "I really do trust you, you bastard."

  Wilder nodded. "You can."

  She swallowed. "This movie. These people. My family. I'm responsible for them. It's like…" She hesitated. "It's my mission."

  Wilder nodded again.

  "Which is why I'm not going to let the CIA hijack my set and endanger my team. The team is more important than the mission. I'm shutting down the movie, J.T."

  Crap. "Get in the Jeep, Lucy," he said, keeping his voice gentle.

  "No more lying."

  "I didn't lie," he said. "I just didn't tell you the whole truth."

  "That counts," she said and got in.

  He shot her a glance. "Then you lied to me too."

  She snapped to look at him, scowling. "I never-"

  "Daisy's not your sister," he said, knowing she couldn't be. They were just too different.

  "She's my sister in every way that matters," Lucy said coldly.

  "Adopted?"

  Lucy swallowed. "Same foster home."

  Shit. "I'm sorry."

  "Don't be." Lucy faced forward again. "It was a good home. Nobody hurt us. We were fine. And she's my sister. She is absolutely my sister."

  Yeah, Wilder thought. Foster kids always have a good time. Boy, does this explain a lot. "Look-"

  "Daisy and I have been sisters since she was one year old and I was five. That's twenty-nine years and that's good enough for me."

  Okay, then. "Fasten your seat belt," he said gently.

  "J.T., we were fine," Lucy said, but she buckled herself in just as a black car came from the direction of base camp and swerved, screeching to a halt in front of them and blocking their way. Wilder recognized Crawford behind the wheel, dressed in a suit and looking older than the kid he'd been in the diner. Crawford stared at him, a cold look, different from any expression he'd shown before.

  "Who the hell is he?" Lucy asked.

  "I don't-" Wilder caught himself. "My CIA contact. Name is Crawford."

  "What's he doing here?"

  "I don't know." Okay, this truth thing is working okay so far. Two for two. "Listen, I wasn't lying when I came on the set. Bryce did hire me. Everything was aboveboard as far as I knew. But the CIA set it all up. That guy"-he jerked his head at Crawford, now coming toward them-"called me out of the blue to meet me after the first day. That was the appointment I went to that day, the day I got Pepper the Wonder Woman doll. He told me about Finnegan."

  Lucy tensed. "What about Finnegan?"

  Hell, where to start with that? Wilder opened his mouth to answer, but then Crawford was there at his door. He flashed an ID, and Wilder squinted at it. It said Crawford was a Special Agent with the FBI. What the fuck?

  "Sir, may I speak to you?"

  Wilder couldn't resist. "What?"

  "Please step out of the vehicle," Crawford said with a straight face. Either he was very good or he didn't get it. Wilder wasn't so sure anymore.

  Wilder opened the door and got out. Crawford put a hand on his arm and directed him away from the Jeep.

  "What the hell happened?" Crawford demanded once they were out of earshot. "There's a police report on an accident with a van from the movie shoot."

  "The assistant to the director of the film, Stephanie-"
Wilder realized he didn't even know her last name. "She took the stunt van to stop the picture from shooting tomorrow because she thought the stunts didn't belong in the movie. Nash has the stuff from the van back."

  "Good," Crawford said.

  " 'Good'?" Wilder echoed.

  "The movie goes as scheduled."

  "Why?"

  Crawford ignored the question and nodded toward the Jeep. "Who's she?"

  Wilder looked back at Lucy, watching them with her arms folded and her eyes narrowed. "That's Lucy Armstrong, the director."

  Crawford nodded and dismissed her. "So you ran this Stephanie into the bridge?"

  Yeah, and then we waited for the EMTs. "No. It happened before we got there. We called 911 and then waited for them to show."

  Crawford nodded. "Just checking. The cops say it looks like she lost control."

  Wilder didn't say anything.

  "There's no sign of foul play," Crawford continued, filling the silence. He stared at Wilder. "Do you have any reason to suspect otherwise?"

  "Other than the situation?" Wilder shook his head. "Armstrong's going to cancel the shoot."

  "No. I told you. Everything goes as scheduled."

  "And I asked you why, and you ignored it, so I'm ignoring you," Wilder said even as his brain supplied the answer: Because you know Finnegan is close, you asshole.

  Crawford fixed Wilder with a stare that added ten years to his personality. "That's an order."

  "You can order me," Wilder allowed, "but you can't order her."

  "I can order you to persuade her."

  "How?"

  "Use your imagination," Crawford said. "If you haven't already."

  Wilder didn't take the bait, and Crawford backed up slightly. "Listen, this is very important." He nodded toward the Jeep. "You get her back to wherever she belongs. Meet me at the diner in two hours. I'll explain it to you. For now, you need to maintain your cover."

  Covers blown, kid. Wilder shook his head and walked back to the Jeep.

  "What did he want?" Lucy asked when he was sitting beside her again.

  "He wants to meet me in two hours." He looked over at her. "That gives us plenty of time to roust Mary Vanity."