Page 69 of Wired Target

“Now that she’s gone, yes.”Sophie wrapped her arms tightly around his neck and pressed close.

He dropped the crutch and squeezed her length against his, his hands dropping to her waist, smoothing her back.“It’s over.She’s gone.”

“Amen to that.”

Sophie rested her head on his shoulder and sighed deeply, closing her eyes, sinking into his hug.Connor was several perfect inches taller, and her head fit nicely beneath his cheek.They leaned into each other, each drawing strength from the other; she hoped it would always be that way.

39

Day 11

Raveaux had slept in the stateroom for most of the flight home on the Security Solutions jet Sophie had sent to Corfu to pick him up.The authorities on Corfu had let Raveaux go after the arrival of the lawyer the CIA had sent.He had thrown his weight around and translated Raveaux’s statement accurately.

Broken ribs and internal bruising continued to cause a good deal of pain, so Pierre was a bit loopy from medications when he staggered out of the bed to take his seat before the plane landed in Honolulu.He scrubbed his face with a hand and thought of shaving—but Sophie wouldn’t expect him to be looking his best; she’d understand.

The thought of seeing her at the gate energized his battered body and cleared his foggy brain.He gazed out the window as the jet lowered through dazzling cumulus clouds toward the airstrip, whose runway began just beyond the brilliant azure and turquoise water of Pearl Harbor.

The bodies of Sam and Rab, too burnt to identify, had been cremated.

He’d claimed them as colleagues, identified them for the medical examiner as “his men,” mercenaries from Thailand who came with him as a private investigator to gather information on a dangerous assassin hiding on their peaceful Greek island.

With the lawyer backing him, they’d believed him; the evidence of a rigged house had validated him further.

Raveaux been given a small packet of ashes to remember them by.He couldn’t remember their full names in Thai, nor spell them, so “Sam “and “Rab” were written on the clear plastic Ziploc bags which the lawyer had stowed in a small earthenware pot with a lid.

“A sad souvenir from Corfu,” he’d said, handing the lidded jar to Raveaux as he got on the plane.

Raveaux reached into his leather satchel and took out the makeshift urn, about the size of an apple.Made of plain red, bisque-fired clay, the jar wasn’t even decorated.

“What a keepsake,” Raveaux muttered.His eyes stung; he slid the jar back into the satchel and refocused on the view.

He’d see Sophie soon; he’d feel better then.

The plane circled, dropping down to parallel the dramatic green corrugated peaks of the Ko‘olau Mountains.Moments later, the jet touched down and taxied over to the private aircraft entrance gate.

Raveaux only had his carry-on; he thanked the pilot and copilot as he exited, one arm tucked tight against his side to stabilize his ribs.Walking across the hot black asphalt to the entry gate took a long, painful time.

The plane had stopped to refuel in Seattle, where he had gone through customs, so that ordeal didn’t have to be done again.As Raveaux passed through the entry turnstile, he scanned for Sophie’s tall, slender height.

Instead, he spotted a tiny woman wearing a bright orange hat and a big smile: Hermione Leede.

Contrasting with the hat, Leede wore a turquoise skirt suit the color of a parakeet’s plumage.She moved through the crowd toward him.“Pierre!You look in much better health than I was led to believe!”

His gaze flickered past Heri to search the crowd.“Glad to be able to walk,” he said.

“Sophie’s not coming.She sent me to pick you up and take you home.”Heri fiddled with her sparkly glasses.“You’re disappointed.”

Raveaux rallied with an effort.“Just surprised.Sophie got me out of a locked Greek hospital, where I was under arrest on a serious charge.No small feat.Thought we’d update about the case.”He stepped forward to give Heri a careful hug, knocking her hat askew.“Thanks so much for coming to get me.I know how busy you are.”

“And don’t you forget it.My time is quite valuable.”Heri adjusted the hat to its former jaunty angle.“I have news.Much news.But I’ll wait until we’re in the car to give it to you.Listening ears, you know.”

Raveaux tugged at one of his lobes.“Lucky to be able to hear you at all.I lost an eardrum and this side’s damaged, so if I seem to ignore you ...I just didn’t catch something.”

“Oh, no!What else got hurt?”Heri took his good arm, as was her habit; he liked the feeling of her petite warm presence at his side.

“Bruised organs and broken ribs.A concussion.The hearing issues.All things that will mend with time, though the headache I’ve had—mon Dieu!”

“It’s amazing you can walk at all!”She squeezed Raveaux’s arm fervently.“Right over here.I parked in the handicapped stall, naughty me, since I knew you wouldn’t be in shape for a long trek.”

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