[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

Kit smiled grimly.  Don t worry about me. Don t forget
that I have the advantage. Quinn has no idea Ortega was
Carmen s brother, and Ortega is ignorant to the fact that Quinn
was her lover and killed her. Imagine the surprise on their
faces when they find out.
Helen Dickson 265
 Kit, Amanda said very quietly, raising her head and
gazing into his eyes, feeling herself being drawn into the vital,
rugged aura that was so much a part of him.  Please be careful.
Remember that some things can only be accomplished when
one s mind is at ease. I know how much you must hate Mr
Quinn. Please don t kill him. It wouldn t help matters. Leave
it to the police. I need you. Sky needs you. Promise me.
 That, Kit said slowly, softly, with the icy calm so charac-
teristic of him,  I can t promise you.
There was no time to say anything else, for at that moment
an exuberant Henry returned with Caroline. She was all
surprise and beaming laughter, as though the conversation
she d had with Amanda earlier had never taken place. The
butler came in bearing glasses and a bottle of champagne in
a bucket of ice. Thankfully Ortega was not with them. When
Henry had given him the good news, Ortega had offered
stilted congratulations and feigned an excuse for not joining
in the celebrations.
The moment Kit had waited for since coming to Eden Park
had arrived. The hour was late; the place he chose was a barn
used for storing hay and straw at the far end of the paddock
far enough away for no one to notice and interrupt their meeting.
He sent two notes, one to Quinn and the other to Ortega asking
them to meet him there at eleven o clock, purposely arriving late
himself. When he pushed open the door, Quinn was pacing up
and down restlessly, while Ortega sat on a bench, not speaking,
each curious as to the nature of the summons.
Having spent the two days since Sadie s body was found
avoiding the constables, who seemed to have taken up residence
at the house while they made their enquiries into her death,
Quinn was pale and saggy red pouches underscored his eyes.
Kit stared at them both, the contempt in his eyes unmasked.
266 Rogue s Widow, Gentleman s Wife
When he spoke his voice was like splintered glass.  Welcome
to my party, gentlemen. I m so pleased you were able to
come. It s a strange chain of events that has brought the three
of us to this unlikely crossroads. Since I cannot abide the sight
of either of you, my business here will be brief. I think it is
time the three of us became better acquainted.
Kit had the satisfaction of seeing Quinn blanch and his
body tremble when he told him Ortega s true identity, and
Ortega was close to killing Quinn when he learned he had
been Ortega s sister s lover and murderer. Kit s proof of this
was damning. When Kit introduced himself to Quinn as
Christopher Claybourne, at first Quinn was disbelieving, in-
credulous hadn t Christopher Claybourne been hanged in
Charleston Gaol? When he realised Kit was deadly serious,
fear burned away Quinn s acquired surface of reserve and his
air of arrogance deserted him. Shocked, afraid and over-
whelmed, his eyes blazing with madness, he confessed to
killing Carmen Rider.
Kit moved towards Quinn, his tone soft, bland, almost
pleasant, while murder lighted his eyes.  You killed Sadie, too,
didn t you, Quinn?
Quinn s features had sharpened to a foxlike awareness of
being trapped.  Sadie? What has Sadie got to do with any of
this?
Kit looked at the older man, his eyes scornful.  You killed
Sadie for the same reason that you killed Carmen because
Sadie had started looking more favourably on someone else
on Ortega.
All Ortega s attention was fixed on Quinn, his eyes naked
with hate.  You murdering dog. I ll kill you for this.
 There s no need, Kit informed him coldly.  I informed the
police of our meeting. They will be here any minute.
 By then it will all be over. Beyond all caution, Ortega
Helen Dickson 267
quickly produced a little pocket revolver that nestled in his
shoulder holster beneath his jacket and pointed it at Quinn.
Kit stiffened.  Put up your gun, Ortega, he said quietly.
 Not a chance. I ll give this murdering bastard what he
deserves.
Quinn s lips moved in a snarl and he was electrified into
action. He made a dash for the door. Kit exploded into
motion. Bringing his arm down, he knocked the pistol from
Ortega s grasp and stepped into Quinn s path, holding his own [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]