"Guessing those guys weren't the masterminds behind the operation."

  "I could ask Lenox for a name."

  "Lenox?" I asked. "The man on the phone?"

  "Devastatingly handsome and sexy man." Malina fanned herself. "You're lucky you didn't meet him, what with your already tangled romantic life." I flinched and Malina cleared her throat. "I've known him for about two years."

  "He's in your business?"

  She smiled. "Yes, but he specializes in the opposite sex."

  "Men."

  She nodded. "And he believes strongly in human rights on both sides of the marketplace."

  "Very noble."

  "He is quite a man."

  I laughed. "I'm sure."

  There was a pause during which Malina chewed on her bottom lip. "What?" I asked.

  "Dan wasn't supposed to tell you."

  "You too, Malina?"

  "You don't want to join us, Dan says."

  "I don't know what it is," I answered honestly, sitting back into the deep booth, feeling safe and hidden behind its high back and curved wall.

  "You can't expect us all to go back to our lives, Sydney. We are hungry. You know?"

  Someone laughed a little too loud, as though they were listening, and agreed how ridiculous that sounded.

  "Malina, come on," I said, sitting forward. "You're a pragmatist. I can't believe you really agree with Dan. You know it's called Joyful Justice?"

  “Yes," she leaned back. "I know. I like it." Her nose wrinkled as though she was looking at something cute.

  "What is your plan, though? What are you going to do, take on all the evil in the world?"

  Malina shrugged. "We'll take on what we can."

  "So what you're talking about is coordinating a vigilante network?"

  "I knew you'd get it."

  I laughed. "Malina, I do not get it."

  She sat forward quickly, reaching out and grabbing onto my hand. "Yes, you do, Sydney. You know what I'm talking about. There is grave injustice in this world and together, we can change that."

  "You and me?"

  "There are many of us."

  I thought about Santiago, the sultry voice of Lenox on the phone, and all the other people on the Joyful Justice website. Could all of them agree with Malina? "You are no different," Malina said. "Look at what you did this afternoon."

  "That's different, Malina, it happened right in front of me."

  "So it's fine as long as you don't see it?"

  "No," I answered. "It's not."

  "Then what is stopping you? Why won't you join us?"

  I sat back again, taking my drink with me and stared down into the translucent caramel liquid. "How do you know it will be better?"

  "Of course it will be better," Malina said with absolute conviction. "How could it be worse?"

  "But how will you do it, Malina? How will you accomplish such a lofty goal?" I looked up from the cognac feeling deeply tired, the jet lag hitting me like a freight train. "How many people will have to die?"

  Malina leaned forward, the candlelight playing across her exquisite features. "It's a means to a just end, Sydney."

  I winced.

  "What?"

  "You just sound a little bit too much like someone else right now." I stood up. "I'm exhausted. I can't talk about this anymore.”

  Malina stood as well. "You're right. It's late. We can talk more later." I started to turn toward the exit but she stopped me, reaching out and holding my wrist. Her fingers were smooth and cool. "We're not leaving."

  "What do you mean?"

  "Dan, me, your friends. Members of Joyful Justice. We are not giving up on you. We will stay here and help."

  "I don't know what you can do."

  She smiled and put an arm around my shoulder, directing us through the door. "We will see."

  #

  I took off my jeans and T-shirt leaving them bunched on the floor. I showered, washing away the small spatter of blood on my wrist from yanking out that girl's hair. Jesus, that was stupid, I thought. Was Robert right about me? Was I some power hungry psycho?

  I tried not to think about it, turning my mind instead to Malina's appearance, her insistence that the world could be a better place if only someone did something. If we did something. Those thoughts also hurt my brain so I pushed them aside. I dried off quickly and ran the blow dryer over my hair enough so that I hoped not to wake up in the morning looking like a complete freak.

  Climbing into bed I turned off the lights. Blue jumped up and after circling three times settled at my feet, his chin resting across one of my ankles. I looked down at him and admired his ability to just fall asleep. Blue wasn't worried about justice, evil, anything. But then again maybe he had me to do all that for him. Maybe I needed a me and that brought my brain back around to Bobby Maxim and I sat up and turned on the light. Finding the TV controller I clicked it on and then climbed out of bed and found the copy of THE PRINCE that Maxim had given to me.

  Back in bed I cracked the cover. For my Princess. Ugh, did he actually write that? Gross. I started reading but as my eyes tried to focus on the words I slipped into a deep sleep with the light and TV on.

  CHAPTER NINE

  Time For Some Detecting

  I woke to a strange sound. Something like humming, singing, and vibrating all combined. Blinking my eyes, I saw light streaming through the slit between the curtains. The vibrating stopped but the humming/singing continued. I looked up at the TV where a group of men sat around a camp fire. "Throat Singing," the announcer said, "was popular in Genghis’ camp and is still heard across the Mongolian steppes to this day."

  Blue, still curled at the end of the bed, watched me. The vibrating started again and I fished around in the bedding until I found my phone, Mulberry's name on the screen. "Hey," I said, my voice still rough from sleep.

  "Hey," he said, his voice soft. I found the controller and muted the TV.

  "Did I wake you?"

  "Yes, but it's fine."

  "How did it go last night?"

  I sat up and watched the mute television. Large men on small horses galloped across an open field, bearing down on several yurts where women and children in traditional Mongolian dress waited, huddled together and frightened.

  "I'll meet you where we jogged the other day." I looked over at the clock. It was three in the afternoon. Jet lag, old buddy, old pal. "Give me forty-five minutes," I said.

  "Fine, don't forget we have another strategy meeting this evening."

  "Okay," I said, throwing my legs over the side of the bed. Blue jumped down and stretched, waving his tail in the air and letting out a yowl with his yawn.

  "See you soon."

  We hung up and I quickly brushed my teeth and put on my jogging clothing.

  Mulberry was waiting for us when Blue and I jogged up. I plucked my headphones from my ears and smiled at him feeling good after my run.

  "Sydney," Mulberry looked like he wanted to reach out and hug me. He was in jeans and a loose black T-shirt made of a material that both managed to hang loosely and yet show off the definition of his shoulders and chest. "How did it go last night?"

  I stayed out of Mulberry's reach and dragged my eyes off his body and up to his eyes but they were shining in a way that made me turn to the sea.

  "He said something that made me think my room is bugged," I answered and then turned back to him. "Something about how it's not fair that women get called sluts when men can do what they like."

  It was Mulberry's turn to look away. "Sorry about yesterday."

  "Yeah?" I said, crossing my arms.

  Mulberry ran a hand through his hair, the smattering of silver caught the bright sunlight even in the shade of the tree we stood beneath. "I don't think you're a slut," he said, not looking at me.

  I nodded. "I don't think you're in love with me," I said. "I'm sorry I said that." He looked back at me. I licked my lips, my mouth suddenly feeling dry, leaving me thirsty. "I'm sorry," I said again, biting down on my bottom lip administering a flick of pain. Mulberry turned away first, walking to the stone wall and staring out at the ocean.

  I stepped toward him. "Look," I said. "We need to work together to clear Hugh's name, but I need you to know that Robert Maxim is not to be trusted."

  Mulberry sighed. "Because he said you weren't a slut."

  "No, because he is after me."

  Mulberry turned to me, his eyes dark with anger. "I know that, Sydney. You don't think I know how much he wants you. He wants you to work with him-"

  "And that's why he set up Hugh," I interrupted him, "and is listening to our conversations."

  Mulberry sighed in frustration, turned away and then back to me, opened his mouth, but didn't speak.

  "What?" I said.

  He pursed his lips. "Nothing," he said, shaking his head.

  "What were you and Dan talking about?" I asked him. He looked up at me, his eyes unreadable. "I saw you talking after I left."

  "I apologized," Mulberry answered, taking his time with each syllable, watching for my reaction.

  "Why would you need to apologize to him?"

  Mulberry ran his hand through his hair again and didn't make eye contact. "I knew how he felt about you."

  "You two talked, when we were in India?"

  "Malina and I were in touch," Mulberry answered, avoiding my gaze.

  "Malina?" I asked.

  "After Mexico, we stayed in touch, she's an incredible lady," Mulberry said. "Why wouldn't I stay in touch with her?" He lifted himself taller as though I was accusing him of something.

  "No reason," I said, shaking my head. I wanted to ask him what he knew about Joyful Justice, but I couldn't. I didn't want to know. Which side he came down on meant too much to me. I couldn't let it sway me.

  "We never talked about it," Mulberry said.

  "It?" I asked, looking up at him, wondering if he had read my mind. He caught my elbow.

  "Did it mean anything to you?" he asked, his face tight.

  I realized he was talking about the other "it". I couldn't look at him and pulled free. "Of course," I answered, my mind transporting me back to my hotel suite in Udaipur, Mulberry's rough hands against my skin, fighting me as hard as I fought him. It was so raw. Then lying in his arms, feeling incredibly safe. I felt my face flush.

  "But you don't trust me?" he asked, his voice low, almost a whisper, like he didn't want the truth to permeate the air with all its horrible facts.

  "You think I don't want to?" I asked him, anger edging my voice. "You think I like keeping my distance from you? I don't. I need you now more than ever." My voice broke and he reached out for me but I backed away shaking my head. Clearing my throat I continued, "I don't want to make a mistake that will cost me my life and Hugh his freedom."

  "Sydney, how could you think I would do anything to hurt you?"

  I wet my lips. "I don't know what's between you and Robert. But I know he's no good for me. That if he had his way, I'd become something I don't want to be."

  Mulberry ran a hand through his hair, leaving the curls standing on end. "I'm sorry, Sydney. I wish you could trust me."

  "Me, too. We should go," I said, turning back toward the hotel. "We have a meeting to attend. And I've got to get some clothing."

  "Didn't you go shopping?" Mulberry called after me as I jogged away.

  #

  When I walked into the strategy, meeting Ashley and Antonio were already there. They both smiled and we greeted each other. The building across the way glowed pink and violet in the twilight.

  I was wearing a pair of tight white jeans, desert boots, and a gray T-shirt that I'd bought on my way back from the jog. They fit pretty well considering I hadn't tried any of them on. But I still looked casual next to Antonio and Ashley with their pressed jackets and collared shirts.

  Before the inane chitchat could begin, Mulberry walked in. He looked over at us, a scowl on his brow. Ashley's eyes were watching him, smiling and flirty. She batted her lashes as she said, "good morning," in a husky tone.

  "Ashley," he nodded. "Let's get right to it. You have a report."

  "Yes," she answered, stepping to the front of the room. Ashley waited for the rest of us to take our seats. No Edwards or Maxim today, I noted.

  "I've been digging into Mr. Taggert's finances," Ashley began, "and have discovered the man had a serious gambling problem. And he wasn't playing craps at the Indian Casino."

  I remembered seeing a casino on the road to the Everglades, right at the edge of civilization. It offered the dream of a big win, a ticket to the good life.

  "He was playing in Ivan Zhovra's poker games." The screen behind her lit up with a picture of a big man, Slavic and scary looking, crossing a street with a shorter, just as dangerous looking, man. "Zhovra’s taken a bigger chunk of illegal gambling in this city over the past three years than any other organization. He is ruthless and suspected in several murders." The screen lit up with the photo of a dead man, his eyes open and glazed white, half buried in wet sand.

  "Zhovra also owns a string of strip clubs across the state. He is suspected of trafficking girls from Russia and other ex-Soviet nations." I sat forward. "Last year, Zhovra started showing up at Defry's. I found him on tapes going back to the first week." The screen showed Ivan Zhovra sitting at a table with Hugh, who wore his chef's smock, and Taggert in a shiny gray suit. The white tablecloth that lay before them was stained with circles of red wine and splotches of dark sauces, all evidence of a meal well enjoyed. As were the smiles on all three men's faces.

  "Then, in the past four months, Ivan has been eating at Defry's more regularly, and from the cursory examination we've been able to do on the bills, not paying for anything. All of his meals have been put onto Taggert's personal account. I have an appointment with Mr. Defry tomorrow to find out what he knows about the two men's relationships, but, I think at this point we can certainly consider Ivan Zhovra as a suspect."

  "Ivan Zhovra," I whispered to myself.

  "Did you say something?" Mulberry asked.

  I looked over at him. "Do you think Lawrence was involved with the girls?"

  Ashley answered me. "We don't have anything to confirm or deny that at the moment but I think he was mainly a gambler."

  "There is no way Hugh would have gone along with it," I said. "He wouldn't have let them use his restaurant as a cover."

  Antonio cleared his throat and adjusted in his chair. I looked over at him, raising my eyebrows. "Seems to me," he said, "we shouldn't avoid any avenue of investigation. You never know what you might find while looking for something else."

  "You're right," I said. "We must be fearless with our inquiry, no matter where it leads."

  Antonio’s brows twitched into a frown, but then reset themselves as he gave a friendly smile and nodded.

  "Any other questions?" Mulberry asked, looking around the table, his eyebrows raised. When no one spoke, he said, "All right, Sydney and I will go and interview Ivan tomorrow. We can also see Hugh beforehand. So Ashley, you just keep going through those tapes."

  Ashley tried to cover up her disappointment, but there was no denying the falter in her smile, the tightness around her eyes. I felt a pang in my stomach recognizing that she'd done the work, found the lead, and now she had to sit on the sidelines. I hated that shit.

  Pulling the thumb drive out of my bag, I offered it to Mulberry, as Ashley took her seat. "I went by the gas station last night, where Hugh stopped on his way to the Everglades and got their footage for the past six months."

  Mulberry cocked his head at me, questioning when I'd gone out to the gas station, but didn't say anything. His fingers brushed against mine as he took the small object from me. He passed it onto Ashley. "Take this to the viewing room with you. I'll stop by tomorrow."

  "Also," I said. "Hugh only put about $10 in his tank."

  "That's right," Ashley said. "$10.80. I checked his credit card statement."

  "So, that's definitely weird. Even the guy at the gas station agreed."

  "I'll pass it on to Edwards," Ashley said.

  "Fine," Mulberry said. "What about the tox screen?"

  "Came back totally negative," Ashley said.

  "Have you spoken to Edwards about it?" Mulberry asked.

  "He says it must be something they don't normally test for."

  "Right," Mulberry said and then turned to Antonio. "What have you got?"

  "I spoke to Taggert’s wife. She was in Africa on a safari and only got home three days ago. She is making the funeral arrangements but seems in okay spirits. Wearing all black and looking good in it." Antonio glanced down at his iPad. "She couldn't think of why anyone would want to kill her husband and was shocked that Hugh would do a thing like this. She'd only met him a couple of times but he seemed, 'very sweet'."

  "Do you think she knew about the gambling?" I asked.

  Antonio looked up at me. "I'm guessing no, but I'll ask her. She is loaded. Her family owns Tenson Pharmaceuticals. She travels a lot, a lady of leisure if you will," Antonio said with a smile. "They didn't spend much time together."

  "So she doesn't work in the family business?"

  "She's one of the members of the board and does a lot of work with the family foundation."

  "The foundation?"

  Antonio nodded and began flipping through his iPad again. "Yeah, they provide free vaccines around the world and also put some money into research. Apparently Lawrence was also passionate about the foundation and organized the gala every year."

  "Do you think she was involved?" Mulberry asked. "Gut feeling."

  Antonio shrugged. "She seemed to have genuine affection for him, if not true love. She said he was fun and easy to be married to. Didn't tell her what to do."

  "Hmm," I said. "I can get that."

  "Me too," Ashley said, and then immediately turned bright red, her eyes darting around the table, surprised she'd spoken aloud.

  CHAPTER TEN

  The Devil's Breath

  I called Lenox. "Sydney," he said. "I hoped you would call." His voice was as good as I remembered it.

  "Hi, Lenox," I said, sitting down on my bed. "I wanted to call and thank you."

 

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