Maritz to trial, Gardeaux would see that the jury was fixed.”
“I can’t believe that’s true.”
“Then don’t believe it, but it is true.”
It was the indifference in his tone that convinced her. He was stating a fact, not trying to persuade her. “Then you’re telling me to forget about Maritz?”
“I’m not a fool. You’ll never forget. I’m asking you to leave it in my hands. I’ll make sure that Maritz is brought down with Gardeaux.”
“Brought down?”
Tanek smiled.
“You’re going to kill him,” she whispered.
“At the earliest opportunity. Does it shock you?”
“No.” It would have before Medas, she realized. Not now. “Why?”
“That doesn’t matter.”
“You seem to know everything about me, but I’m not to know anything about you?”
“That’s the picture. What should concern you is that I’ve been committed for over a year and I’ll devote myself to that goal with the same passion you would.”
“You couldn’t.” There was not that much hatred or passion left in the world.
“You say that because you have tunnel vision right now. Once you’re able to see other points of view, you may—”
“Where is he?”
“Maritz? I have no idea. Hiding under Gardeaux’s wing.”
“Then where’s Gardeaux?”
“No,” Tanek said firmly. “Gardeaux and Maritz are a package deal, and you don’t touch that package. You go blundering into Gardeaux’s playground and you’ll end up dead.”
“Then show me how not to blunder.”
“The way to avoid blunders is to stay away from them both. Look, Maritz was a Seal. He knows more ways to kill than you can count. And Gardeaux has men murdered just for stepping on his toes.”
“But you think you can get them.”
“I
will
get them.”
“You haven’t done it yet. Why has it taken you so long?”
She had struck a nerve. His lips tightened. “Because I want to live, dammit. I won’t kill Gardeaux and then be killed myself. That’s no victory. I have to find a way to bring him down that won’t—”
“Then you won’t go after him with the same passion.” She met his eyes and said simply, “I don’t care if I die after I kill him. I just want him dead.”
“Christ.”
“So show me, use me. I’ll do it for you.”
“The hell you will.” He stood up and headed for the door. “Stay out of this.”
“Why are you angry? We both want the same thing.”
“Dammit, listen to me. Gardeaux wants you dead.” He opened the door. “I don’t stake out goats to attract the tiger.”
“Wait.”
“Why? I think we’ve said it all.”
“How did you find out so much about me?”
“I had a dossier drawn up. I had to know why Gardeaux might want you dead.”
“But you didn’t find out.” She gestured in frustration. “How could you? There
is
no reason. None of this makes sense.”
“There’s a reason. We just don’t know what it is yet. I’m still working on it. May I go now?”
“No, you still haven’t told me why you insisted on coming to my room that night.”
His expression didn’t change, but she was aware of a sudden underlying tension. “What does it matter?”
“Everything matters. I want to know.”
“I was given information that you might be involved.”
“Involved in what?”
“The information wasn’t clear. I decided it wasn’t valid in your case.”
“But it was?”
“
Yes
, goddammit. Are you satisfied now? I made the wrong decision and I left you to Maritz.”
She studied him. “You’re blaming yourself. That’s why you’ve gone to all this trouble and brought me here.”
He smiled without mirth. “Isn’t it comforting to know you have someone to blame besides Maritz?”
It would be comforting. She wished with all her being she could lay the fault at his feet. “I don’t blame you. It wasn’t your fault.”
She saw the surprise in his expression. “That’s very generous.”
“I’m not being generous. You didn’t know. You weren’t there when
“I can’t believe that’s true.”
“Then don’t believe it, but it is true.”
It was the indifference in his tone that convinced her. He was stating a fact, not trying to persuade her. “Then you’re telling me to forget about Maritz?”
“I’m not a fool. You’ll never forget. I’m asking you to leave it in my hands. I’ll make sure that Maritz is brought down with Gardeaux.”
“Brought down?”
Tanek smiled.
“You’re going to kill him,” she whispered.
“At the earliest opportunity. Does it shock you?”
“No.” It would have before Medas, she realized. Not now. “Why?”
“That doesn’t matter.”
“You seem to know everything about me, but I’m not to know anything about you?”
“That’s the picture. What should concern you is that I’ve been committed for over a year and I’ll devote myself to that goal with the same passion you would.”
“You couldn’t.” There was not that much hatred or passion left in the world.
“You say that because you have tunnel vision right now. Once you’re able to see other points of view, you may—”
“Where is he?”
“Maritz? I have no idea. Hiding under Gardeaux’s wing.”
“Then where’s Gardeaux?”
“No,” Tanek said firmly. “Gardeaux and Maritz are a package deal, and you don’t touch that package. You go blundering into Gardeaux’s playground and you’ll end up dead.”
“Then show me how not to blunder.”
“The way to avoid blunders is to stay away from them both. Look, Maritz was a Seal. He knows more ways to kill than you can count. And Gardeaux has men murdered just for stepping on his toes.”
“But you think you can get them.”
“I
will
get them.”
“You haven’t done it yet. Why has it taken you so long?”
She had struck a nerve. His lips tightened. “Because I want to live, dammit. I won’t kill Gardeaux and then be killed myself. That’s no victory. I have to find a way to bring him down that won’t—”
“Then you won’t go after him with the same passion.” She met his eyes and said simply, “I don’t care if I die after I kill him. I just want him dead.”
“Christ.”
“So show me, use me. I’ll do it for you.”
“The hell you will.” He stood up and headed for the door. “Stay out of this.”
“Why are you angry? We both want the same thing.”
“Dammit, listen to me. Gardeaux wants you dead.” He opened the door. “I don’t stake out goats to attract the tiger.”
“Wait.”
“Why? I think we’ve said it all.”
“How did you find out so much about me?”
“I had a dossier drawn up. I had to know why Gardeaux might want you dead.”
“But you didn’t find out.” She gestured in frustration. “How could you? There
is
no reason. None of this makes sense.”
“There’s a reason. We just don’t know what it is yet. I’m still working on it. May I go now?”
“No, you still haven’t told me why you insisted on coming to my room that night.”
His expression didn’t change, but she was aware of a sudden underlying tension. “What does it matter?”
“Everything matters. I want to know.”
“I was given information that you might be involved.”
“Involved in what?”
“The information wasn’t clear. I decided it wasn’t valid in your case.”
“But it was?”
“
Yes
, goddammit. Are you satisfied now? I made the wrong decision and I left you to Maritz.”
She studied him. “You’re blaming yourself. That’s why you’ve gone to all this trouble and brought me here.”
He smiled without mirth. “Isn’t it comforting to know you have someone to blame besides Maritz?”
It would be comforting. She wished with all her being she could lay the fault at his feet. “I don’t blame you. It wasn’t your fault.”
She saw the surprise in his expression. “That’s very generous.”
“I’m not being generous. You didn’t know. You weren’t there when
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