Magnificent Folly by Iris Johansen Page A

woods. “When are we going to be able to free Cassie?”
    “Soon. I didn’t want to move on this one without Andrew’s sanction. Cassie is his daughter, and he has the right—”
    “Cassie is
my
daughter,” Lily said fiercely. “I raised her, I’m the one who cared for her when she was sick and shared—”
    “No one’s disputing your right to her,” Gunner interrupted. “That’s why you’re here.” He paused. “But you may not be able to help her, in this case. She may need Andrew.”
    “Why?” Andrew asked sharply. “You said she was all right.”
    “Physically, she’s fine,” Gunner said. “They haven’t touched her, but naturally all this has been a shock to her. She saw Lily lying on the floor and thought she had been murdered.”
    “Of course it’s been a shock,” Lily said. “For heaven’s sake, she’s been kidnapped.”
    “And she’s very sensitive.” Gunner met Andrew’sgaze. “More sensitive than I first thought. We may have a problem.”
    “Lord,” Andrew whispered. “That’s all we need right now.”
    “What kind of problem?” Lily asked. “What’s wrong with Cassie?”
    They had reached a gleaming dark blue Buick, and Gunner opened the rear door of the car. “I’m jumping the gun. It’s too early to tell if there’s even a problem. We’ll worry about her mental state once we have her away from these jokers.”
    “And when will that be?”
    “Tonight,” Gunner said. “If Andrew thinks Cassie can take it.”
    “Cassie’s tough.” Andrew said, frowning. “I never thought she’d react this way.”
    Lily got into the back seat of the car. “It’s my decision, not Andrew’s. We go after Cassie tonight.”
    “No, Lily.” The softness of Andrew’s voice failed to hide its steely determination. “The operation goes forward when I say so, and not before. I won’t rush in and risk tearing Cassie to pieces.I’ll make a decision after I’ve studied the situation this afternoon.”
    Before she could speak he slammed the door, went around to the front of the car, and climbed into the passenger seat beside Gunner.

SIX

    “H E WON’T TALK to me,” Lily said in despair as she plopped herself down in the chair across the dining table from Quenby. “Andrew just sits in that damn bedroom staring out the window at the chalet where they’re keeping Cassie. I want to
do
something.”
    Quenby smiled sympathetically as she poured coffee into Lily’s cup. “I know how you feel, but believe me, Andrew is doing something.”
    “Thinking.” Lily shook her head. “That’s not enough. We have to help Cassie. I can’t bear …” Her voice broke. “I can’t stand this, Quenby. I don’t understand it. It doesn’t make any sense.”
    “You won’t have to wait much longer. Andrew’s very good at what he does.”
    “And just what does Andrew do so well?” Lily asked with a mirthless smile. “Is he a spy or a mysterious troubleshooter like Gunner? He’s certainly never confided in me about his past—or his present either, for that matter.”
    “He would if he could,” Quenby said gently. “He’s never wanted to keep anything from you. Andrew has always been afraid you couldn’t accept him for what he is.”
    “It might help if I knew what that entailed.” Lily looked into the depths of her coffee. “Or maybe it wouldn’t. It’s too late now.”
    “Don’t say that.” Quenby’s expression was troubled. “The situation is too complicated for you to make decisions, when you don’t have all the facts.”
    “Then give them to me.”
    “I wish I could. It’s not my—”
    “You needn’t give Quenby the third degree.” Andrew stood in the doorway of the bedroom.“You’ll know everything soon enough.” He turned to Quenby. “Where’s Gunner?”
    “He went to the lodge to see about getting a waiter’s uniform. Do you need him? I can go get him.”
    Andrew shook his head. “Just so we move fast. I want to get Cassie out of there right