CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Deliverance

Two weeks later, I sat on Xavier’s living room couch, scrutinizing the Post-it Notes I’d stuck to the window. No amount of planning would be enough to take out those scheming bastards, but at some point, we’d have to pull the string.

If we had all been on the outside looking in, it would have been easier, but there was blood on my hands. Xavier was entangled in their web, so when all was said and done, I couldn’t risk being ensnared in my own trap. Plus, there were innocent people—unknowing subjects—in that organization that didn’t deserve my treachery.

Xavier emerged from the bedroom. “What’s all this?” He picked up the coffee I had brewed for him from the counter.

“I had to visualize it all. I wanted to see how it’s all going to work. Make sure we’re not missing anything.”

He sipped his coffee. “Is Detective Mancini clued in on all this?”

“The pieces he needs to know about.”

He chuckled. “My how you’ve changed since we first met. The Elaine that sat by the fire with me in Paris would have never been so calculating.”

“She’s still here. If this works and we don’t end up dead or in prison, you can have her back.”

“I don’t want her back.” He towered beside me, his gaze roaming over the notes.

“Really? I’m a little surprised by that.”

“Who you are now was forged by our meeting. You are who you are now, because of our shared experiences. Our life together.”

“I guess that’s one way of looking at it.” I tugged on Xavier’s tie, straightening it, and smiled, hoping he couldn’t see the worry behind my expression. He needed to feel my confidence. To know that I was resolved in my decision even though my stomach knotted with anxiety. Those Society assholes were scary, but this was the only way. What choice was there really—die crushing them or wait out the days until I perished by their hand? Those sadists required an offensive approach; prolonged torture to them was a delicacy. I met Xavier’s gaze and grasped his hands. “Thank you for doing this. I know what kind of risk you’re taking and you have your reservations. Are you sure you’re going to be OK at the press conference?”

He raised my hand to his lips and kissed the back of it. “As much as I’d love for us to run away and forget they exist, I know you’re right. They’ll never leave us alone. When we least expect it, they’ll be there. This is the only way. So yes…I’m ready.”

I squeezed his hand. “We’re going to break them, but we can’t fool ourselves that there isn’t a possibility they may regroup. They may be even more insidious than we know. This might not be the end, but it should at least buy us time. I worry about you out there. You’ll be a target.”

He wrapped me in his arms. “I’ll be fine. It’s you I’m worried about. You’ll be there among them. If everything isn’t perfectly timed…” His expression clouded with concern. “Promise me you’ll call it off, if things start to unravel.”

I glanced at the floor. “I can’t make that promise.” Lifting my eyes to meet his, I continued, “I’ll do everything in my power to make it back to you.”

He leaned in and pressed his lips to mine. “Very well. I trust you.” His declaration meant more than any expression of love. We still felt love even when there wasn’t trust. Trust was the glue that would keep us together when this was all said and done.

Rubbing his back in soothing circles, I acknowledged his sentiment. “What will you speak about?”

“I’m going to tell the world a story.” He leaned back to stare me in the eyes. “You remember how exquisite my orator skills are from our little adventure with the Rainmaker, right?” he teased.

I laughed. “If you tell them that story you might get a very surprising response.”

He kissed my forehead. “In all seriousness, I’m going to tell them my story. Complete the puzzle right before their eyes. I had my publicist help me. The media will be tied in knots. Conspiracy theorists will have an orgasm. Twenty-four hour news stations will need to add extra hours to the day to cover all the fallout. I just hope you can handle the media attention.”

I snickered. “The media and I are old friends. I should probably call Stan and get everything arranged.”

I picked up my cell phone, searched the contacts, and listened as Stan’s phone rang. It seemed like forever since I stood in his office at Western and took the envelope containing the tickets to Paris, which had sealed my fate.

“Hello?”

“Stan, it’s Elaine Watkins. How are you?”

“Shit, Elaine, where have you been? They told me you quit without notice.”

I hesitated and took a deep breath, remembering why I quit. “I did, but don’t worry, it doesn’t look bad for you.”

“The hell it doesn’t, remember I got you hired.”

I laughed. “Yes, but I’m in a much better position to help you now.”

“I find that hard to believe.”

“Do you want to hear why I called or not?”

“Shoot. This ought to be good.”

“I’m uh… I’m Dr. Vincent’s new…personal assistant.”

“What? Xavier Vincent?”

“Yes, it’s all a result of my trip to Paris. The reason I’m calling is that I need you to work with Lisa, my old boss, to get ready to set up a press conference at a moment’s notice. I don’t think she’ll be very amenable to me asking.”

“What’s it about?”

“Dr. Vincent has some very important news about a new discovery, but he’s not quite prepared to talk about it.”

“Hell, that’s fantastic. When do you want me to call it?”

“That’s the hard thing, he’s been working an unusual schedule so it could be anytime, and there won’t be much notice. I just need you to book a venue, round up the usual contacts, and get a press release ready, announcing that Dr. Vincent will be speaking.”

“That is strange. Why not schedule it? And what’s it about?”

“You know Dr. Vincent, he marches to the beat of his own drum. As for the topic, use the mystery to your advantage. Write something that will titillate the press. It shouldn’t take much. They would come to hear him perform a live reading of stereo instructions.” I winked at Xavier.

Stan belly-laughed. “Yeah, that’s what I heard.”

“Thanks, Stan. If you can do this, it would be great for your career.” He was insatiably ambitious, which should ensure his cooperation. “I greatly appreciate your help.”

“Sure thing, Elaine.”

“Keep your cell phone with you. I’ll be in touch.” I hit the End button before Stan could make any more inquiries.

Xavier sat beside me, set his coffee on the coffee table, and placed his hand on my knee. “I won’t lie. All of this has me nervous.”

I bit the inside of my cheek, trying to keep my own nerves at bay. “Do you think we should call it off?” I wanted to kick myself for even suggesting a retreat—I knew in my soul this was what needed to be.

“No. But it’s risky. We’re trusting people we know little about. If this doesn’t go off as planned…then what?”

“Even if it does go off as planned, the outcome is uncertain, but doing nothing only leads one place.” I sighed and ran my hands through my hair, willing away the doubt. “Kirk will take care of the raid. Sebastian will come with me to Ellington House in case things go bad. Annie can get him in the back door, so they’ll all think I’m there alone. Just before I head in, I’ll call Stan and have him arrange for you to speak to the press. Kirk’s men will raid the house. I already gave him the bag of evidence my father left me. He has the video queued and ready for the press conference. I’ll keep them busy in the council room until Kirk’s team gets there. Before they have a chance to react, you, beloved cancer-curing Dr. Vincent, will captivate the world as soon as the raid starts with your harrowing tale of life at the hands of the people who created the Basement Killer.”

“Maybe you should be my publicist.”

I grinned at him, patted his knee and winked. “Maybe I should be.”

He ran his hand up my thigh and pressed his lips to my neck. “Mmmm… I can think of interesting ways for you to earn your wages, Ms. Watkins.”

“I haven’t even started the job and I’m already being sexually harassed.”

His breath blew across my ear, causing me to shiver. “Would you have it any other way?”

I shook my head and smiled. “No. But you’re going to have to save your frisky business for later, this is serious. We need to make sure we have this all figured out.”

He kissed my cheek, removed his hand from my thigh, and reached for his cup of coffee. Raising the cup to his lips, he urged, “My apologies. Continue.” The hot liquid slurped between his lips and he raised an eyebrow in interest.

“Marco will be with you as your scout while you’re speaking. As soon as Victoria is in custody, Kirk’s requesting orders to search her home and office. He’s aware of the pen and the voicemail message I left from Marco’s SUV. I don’t think we have to worry about those making it into evidence. There should be no way the Society can survive. If any of them do, they will be fragmented and won’t be as powerful.” I slouched back against the sofa, recounting every step in my mind.

“It should work, but a lot could go wrong.”

“I know, but it isn’t going to get any easier. Hopefully my many calls to Victoria this week, asking questions and playing naïve, will help lessen her guard.”

He kissed me and grabbed my hand, stroking his finger along the band of my ring.

I stared into his eyes. “Xavier, do you think this was Lydia’s plan all along? She is at the center of everything. Even though we have no evidence that she put me in your path in Kansas City, it almost seems less plausible that she had nothing to do with it.”

“I don’t care either way. Whether it be fate or orchestration, all that matters to me is that you’re mine. If somewhere along the line we find that this was all a setup, then so be it.” He looked away from me.

“What’s wrong?”

“All the things she did to protect me. To keep me from becoming like them. It feels so strange to go from admiration, to betrayal, and now gratitude with her in such a short period of time. I don’t know that it’s possible for me to settle on just one feeling for her.”

“I don’t know that you have to. Each of those emotions has a purpose. Eventually you’ll come to some understanding.”

“I’ll never get the chance to thank her.” He stared down at the floor past me.

I cupped his cheek and stroked my thumb along his stubble, raising his gaze to meet mine. “I think the man you’ve become is thanks enough. Legacy was everything to her, and you’re about to become even more legendary than even she probably imagined. She would be so proud.”