Part 34 (1/2)

Grey lifted one corner of the damp cloth. He eyed her. ”I took your point.”

”Oh. I wasn't sure.”

He let the cloth fall back in place. ”If you're right, then I may have made a small error in judgment this morning. I probably shouldn't have hinted to Garret that I may have regained my memory.”

Berkeley's heart sank. ”You didn't.”

”Afraid so. Watching him, seeing him laugh, so obviously enjoying the fact that he was a stranger to mea well, after you were gone I got a little of my own back.”

”Do you think he believed you?”

”I think he's uncertain. That's all I wanted to achieve. I wanted him to wonder.”

Berkeley groaned. ”I knew I shouldn't have left you alone with them. What are we going to do?”

”I'm going to the bank in a few hours to meet with Anderson. I'm paying him to leave California. I'll need the diamond necklace back, I'm afraid. He's not leaving poor.”

Now it was Berkeley who lifted the cloth from Grey's eyes. ”You need it back? How much did you agree to pay?”

”Fifteen thousand in gold. I wouldn't require the necklace if so much of my money weren't tied up in the Phoenix. Those diamonds were an extravagance I couldn't properly afford.”

”I knew that. It was an expensive lesson. For both of us as it turns out. It seems Anderson didn't tell you he's already in possession of the necklace. That's what he extorted from me. And I promised him even more.”

”Dear G.o.d.”

Berkeley leaned to one side and dropped the cloth in the basin. She began to wring it out, but Grey stayed her hand. He started to get up. ”Where do you think you're going?”

”If I don't have the necklace, then I'm going to have to arrange for some funding from other sources. Bankers don't generally give loans that profit blackmailers. I'll have to think of some reason for requiring the money.”

Bowing her head, Berkeley studied her hands for a moment. ”Let's not pay him anything,” she whispered.

”What?”

”Nothing,” she repeated. ”No money at all.”

”I thought you wanted him out of your life.”

”I do.” Her voice was earnest. ”But I realize I can get rid of him by telling you the truth. If he has nothing to hold over my head, then he has nothing. He'll leave when he sees that you know the truth and it doesn't matter to you.”

Grey frowned slightly. ”What truth is that, Berkeley?”

She took a short, shallow breath. ”I thought he was dead when I married you. You know I did.”

”Yes? What has that toa””

Berkeley held up her hand and cut him off. ”Anderson Shaw was my stepfather. I never lied about that. But I didn't tell you everything.” She hesitated the length of a heartbeat, then plunged ahead. ”I didn't tell you that after my mother died he also became my husband.”

Chapter Fifteen.

The bank was not crowded when Grey arrived. He made an inquiry into his account at the teller's window and a small withdrawal, then he waited on a narrow bench in the lobby for Garret Denison and Anderson Shaw. He watched the clock and occasionally patted the inside pocket of his vest for the pa.s.sage vouchers he had purchased for them. Grey wished he could derive more comfort from the gesture. Having the vouchers was not enough, not when there was no guarantee that a s.h.i.+p would be leaving San Francisco today. The best he was told he could hope for was that one would be sailing back East in forty-eight hours.

Grey stood. He leaned a shoulder against the wall and crossed his arms. His head was c.o.c.ked to one side, and his eyes were cast downward. No observer of this casual posture would have known it was tension that had driven him to his feet. His hooded glance seemed more thoughtful than worried, and the slight curve of his mouth gave the impression of humor turned inward. For all intents and purposes he appeared quite at his ease if slightly aloof. Several times he responded to greetings that were made in pa.s.sing but he didn't invite or engage in conversation. No one of his acquaintance pressed.

Anderson Shaw entered the bank alone. His head bent, eyes on the floor, Anderson walked directly past Grey without noticing him. He stopped suddenly and turned, aware of Grey for the first time. Surprise made him slow to mask the malice in his expression.

Grey pushed away from the wall. He did not move to close the distance between them. ”Shaw,” he said.

Anderson made a slight nod. His acknowledgment was equally curt. ”Janeway.”

”Not here,” Grey said. ”Outside.”

One of Anderson's brows arched as he considered this. It was certainly not a request. Before he gave any indication that he was going to go along with it, Grey walked out. Anderson waited, his eyes darting toward the clock. He stood there a full minute before he determined that Grey Janeway was not going to return. Slowly, his mouth tightening, he left the bank.

Grey was waiting on the lip of the sidewalk beside his carriage. When he saw Anderson he untethered the horses, climbed in, and took up the reins. He did not issue an invitation to Anderson except to glance in his direction.

Anderson climbed aboard. He sat back in the stiff leather seat beside Grey. ”Where are we going?” he asked as Grey snapped the reins.

”Nowhere in particular.”

Anderson looked around. Grey's open carriage gave him an un.o.bstructed view of the street ahead. Wagons filled with feed and hardware lumbered cautiously along the rutted avenue. The rough plank walks on either side were considerably crowded with people moving briskly from one place of business to the next. Behind him he saw a pair of miners jump off the walk as soon as the carriage pa.s.sed and head for the saloon across the street. ”But you want witnesses,” Anderson said shrewdly.

”Something like that,” said Grey.

”A public place where we wouldn't be overheard.”

Grey nodded. ”Where is Garret?”

”Following us, I believe.” Anderson glanced over his shoulder again and saw Garret Denison a discreet distance behind them. ”Yes, that's him on the cinnamon mare.”

Grey didn't turn. ”And how many Ducks trailing in his wake?”

Anderson shrugged. ”You'll not get that from me,” he said. ”I a.s.sure you, their number will be revealed if you renege on our agreement.”

Pulling up the reins, Grey held back his team to give a wagon stacked high with chicken crates a wide berth. ”About our agreement,'' he said, waiting for the wagon to rattle past them. ”I'm going to allow you to keep the necklace you took from Berkeley, but that will be the extent of our charitable contribution.”

Anderson was jerked unexpectedly into the uncomfortable corner of the carriage as Grey urged the team forward again.

Grey glanced sideways. ”Sorry. They got away from me that time.”

Anderson made no comment. He didn't believe for a moment that the apology was sincere or that Grey's handling of the horses had been anything but deliberate. He sat up straight and braced one arm on the side of the carriage. ”Tell me what you mean about the necklace,” he said instead.

”I'm certain I was clear.” Grey reached into his vest pocket and removed the pair of vouchers. ”The earliest departure from the city will be in the next forty-eight hours. These will guarantee you pa.s.sage on the Albany as soon as her repairs are completed. The captain a.s.sured me you and Garret can move into your cabin now while the work is being done. There will be no chance you'll be left behind.”