"It will help you get Molino."
"Who am I supposed to hear?"
"Edmund Gillem."
She moistened her lips. "Is he... dead?"
"Yes, he was supposed to have killed himself six weeks ago."
"Supposed?"
"He's dead. He probably did commit suicide. But I need to know the circumstances."
"Why?"
"I'm searching for a Ledger. I believe he knew where it was."
"And you think I'll be able to find out?"
"There's a strong possibility." He paused. "Or I wouldn't make you go through this. It's going to be ugly."
"You're warning me."
"Yes. Just because I want you to do this is no sign I want you to go in blind. Be prepared, Megan." She gazed down into the coffee in her cup. "That Ledger must be very important to you."
"It's important to quite a few people. Do you want me to tell you about it?"
She thought about it. Then she shook her head emphatically. "I don't want to know anything about it. I don't want to be involved in what you're doing. I want to find out what you want me to find out and then go after Molino."
"Ah, I see. You want to stand apart until you can go in for the kill?" She flinched. "If that's the way you want to put it."
"It's the way it is." He shrugged. "And I can't blame you. You're still teetering on the bank of the quicksand and trying not to fall. It's perfectly natural to try to protect yourself as much as possible." He gestured to the waiter. "Are you ready to leave? The inn is about twenty miles from here and it seems pretty comfortable. At any rate, we'll only be there for one night. Providing Harley does his job and we get you in safely."
"Why shouldn't it be safe?"
"I just like to be certain. There's a possibility Molino might have staked the place out or hired someone to watch or report."
"I can't believe he's expecting a Listener. That's too weird."
"No, he was expecting me. But I managed to slip in and out in Rome without him knowing I was on the grounds."
"What grounds? Where are we going?"
He threw down cash on the waiter's tray and rose to his feet, "The circus."
CHAPTER EIGHT
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN, CIRCUS?" Megan asked as soon as she got into the car.
"Exactly what I said. Edmund Gillem died in his trailer at the Carmegue Circus. He was outside Rome at the time. The circus travels all over Europe and Chantilly is the second stop since Rome."
"And I'm supposed to go and sit in his trailer and wait and see what happens?"
"That's right."
"If he died in Rome, how do you know that the trailer is still with the circus?"
"It's owned by them. They only rent the trailers to the performers."
"Was Edmund Gillem a performer?"
Yes.
Her lips twisted. "A fortune teller?"
"No, he wouldn't take the chance of being that obvious. He was a horse trainer. He had a powerful empathy with animals and had six beautiful horses that did some pretty neat tricks. Nothing fancy. Nothing that would get him a contract in Las Vegas. But that's the way he liked it. He didn't want to attract too much attention and the job allowed him to constantly travel around the continent."
"He sounds like a gypsy."
"He enjoyed the vagabond factor but he regarded the travel as part of his job."
"Was he married?"
"Not at the time of his death. He was married several years ago to a German shopkeeper, but they were divorced after five years."
"You know a good deal about Gillem."
"I researched him extensively before I decided he was the man I was looking for and zeroed in on him. He was a good man. I think I would have liked him."
"He must have been unstable if he committed suicide."
"Maybe."
"You said that the voices were only centered and heard in places that had known extreme high stress or tragedy."
"As far as we know."
"Then you think that trailer was the site of one of those factors. Suicide is certainly a tragedy, but it doesn't have to always be high stress. Sometimes it's only sad and resigned."
"I don't believe Gillem's death was either quiet or resigned. He died violently. He cut his throat with a jagged piece of mirror."
Horror sleeted through her. "Why?"
"He left no note. You'll have to tell me."
"If I can." She shook her head. "I don't know anything about this. I don't know if I'm even capable of hearing anything but a meaningless jumble."
"You were able to distinguish conversation in that cave."
"But can I do it again?" And did she want to do it again? Of course, she didn't. She was already dreading going to that trailer. "You said yourself you didn't know what to expect from a Listener. And I have to be the most inexperienced Listener on the face of the planet."
"Are you backing out?"
Yes.
"No." She wouldn't run away at this first challenge. It wasn't only her deal with Grady, but the fact that if she didn't face the voices again, she would fear them all her life. "I won't back out." She looked out the window of the car. "But I want your promise."
"That I'll help you?"
"No, that you'll stay out of it. I want to be alone in that trailer. I don't know if you're able to make things easy for me. You said you weren't able to do it that night at the cave. If you can, I don't want that to happen."
"I couldn't do much unless you let me. You're too strong now." His hands tightened on the steering wheel. "Let me, Megan. Don't close me out again."
"I don't want you. I have to handle this by myself. I won't be a cripple. Promise me."
He was silent before he reluctantly nodded his head. "Okay, you have my word." He added bitterly, "Happy now?"
"No." She tried to steady her voice. "I'm scared. But it doesn't make any difference. It's the way it has to be."
"You mean it's the way you want it."
It wasn't the way she wanted it. She wanted to lean on his strength. She wanted to be cocooned and protected against sharp winds and the voices that never stopped. She repeated, "It's the way it has to be." She changed the subject. "Are we almost at the inn?"
"A few miles ahead. I booked a cottage with adjoining rooms. I want to keep an eye on you."
"Good idea. I've no objection to being kept safe. I have enough on my plate. As far as I'm concerned, that's your job."
"And I'll do it. I wish you'd—" His cell phone rang and he glanced at the ID. "Harley." He picked up the call. "What's the word?" He listened for a moment and then looked at Megan. "He's scouted out the circus and he sees no sign of Molino or his men. We can't be absolutely sure and he's still checking. He can arrange for you to have the trailer either tomorrow night—" He paused. "Or tonight. Your choice."
She tensed. She hadn't expected to have to make that decision. She had thought she'd have time to mentally prepare herself.
"No pressure," Grady said quietly. "Tomorrow night is fine."
But that would mean she would have all those hours to dread and imagine what waited for her in that trailer. And how could she mentally prepare herself anyway? She didn't have any idea what was going to happen. "Tonight."
He hesitated and she thought he was going to argue with her. Then he said curtly into the phone, "Tonight." He hung up the phone. "It's only nine now. We'll have to wait until about three A.M. before we move. We'll go on to the inn and get settled."