“What are we doing out here?” Val asked once they were at the edge of the veranda.
“It pays to be paranoid, Masini.” Margaret moved to the outside stereo, turned on a rock station. “That should work.”
“Jesus, Meg, you’re scaring me.”
Val noticed that Ryder had lost the color in his face, but had yet to say a word.
“If someone has a camera, they might have audio.”
Michael’s jaw clenched.
Val hated that his guests were this concerned about a breach in security. Who was he kidding? Security had already been blown up. The only element missing was a leak to the media.
“I need to notify my security,” Val told them.
Meg offered a nod, but didn’t look into his eyes.
Once Lou was told of the latest breach, Val returned to the Wolfe party. They were looking at the photograph with rapt attention.
“How did this happen, Mr. Masini?” Michael asked.
“I don’t know, but I will find out.”
Ryder finally spoke. “We should leave.”
Michael shook his head. “And appear guilty? I don’t think so.”
“Mike.”
There it was, a look between two people that couldn’t be faked or acted. Everything became perfectly clear. Michael Wolfe and his lover, who was not Margaret Rosenthal, were afraid their relationship was about to become public knowledge.
Val thought of the first two pictures in his in-box. He hated to worry his guests, then realized the only ethical thing was to open his mouth. Even though it threatened his ability to taste Margaret again.
“Someone is watching you.” He directed his comment to Margaret. “I’m not sure if the attention is on Margaret or you, Mr. Wolfe.”
“The picture is of me.”
“True. And while I hold no issue of it becoming public, it threatens your ploy here. The other one, however, plays into the ploy.”
Margaret met his gaze.
Her body went rigid. “Other one?”
Good thing Lou showed up when he did. There was no telling what kind of bodily harm Meg was about to evoke on the man she’d kissed. She’d even cooked for him, for God’s sake.
To learn that the first picture had shown up the day after they arrived on the island and she was just now hearing about it ticked her off.
Lou wore a three-piece suit similar to Val’s. Only Lou had a shitload of body behind his threads. He looked familiar, too.
Val handed Lou the picture. “I want to know exactly where that was taken.”
“Right away, Mr. Masini.”
He turned to leave and Meg jumped in front of him. “You’re the main guy . . . right? Security?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
The man was taller than her, and impossible to look around. Common sense told her to filter her words. “Sweep the villa. Make sure there are no bugs.”
Lou looked beyond her.
She waved a hand in front of his eyes. “Now, Mr. Myong. I need to know no one is listening to me pee.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Meg followed him into the villa, leaving Michael and Ryder outside. Val followed.
Val had Lou helping him out . . . but Meg had more resources. She’d never been happier about her connections than at that moment.
She picked up the phone.
“Who are you calling?” Val asked.
“Backup.”
Rick answered with his usual, “Hey.”
“Rick, just the man I need to talk to.”
“Hey, Meg. How’s paradise?”
She rubbed her forehead. “I need to know if this line is secure.”
“What?”
“You heard me.”
“Shit.”
“Double shit.”
“Margaret?” Val said behind her.
“Zip it, Masini.” The line clicked a few times. Worry crawled up Meg’s spine. “You there?”
“I am. My line is clear. I sent word to Neil. Call him and he’ll do a second check,” Rick said.
“Got it.”
“Call me back if we’re clear.”
“I will.”
She hung up, dialed Neil’s number, and went through the same routine. Neil was less than jovial. “You’re clear.”
“Thanks, Neil.”
“Can you talk?”
She looked around the room, worried that ears were hidden behind a clock. “I don’t know yet.”
“Contact us when you know.”
“Oh, don’t worry. I will.”
She hung up only to start dialing Rick again.
“Why do I have the feeling the secret service has invaded your body?” Val asked.
She thought of the different marriages she’d arranged, the enormity of wealth and power behind those people . . . her friends. Judy, Michael . . . her boss, Samantha. Maybe the loyalty card hadn’t skipped her, just bounced away from her blood relatives and moved to her friends.
“The secret service would be lucky to have me,” she told him without a thread of humor.
Rick answered on the first ring. “I’m going to hand the phone to Lou. He’s Valentino Masini’s head of security. Make sure this guy can back up his bulk, won’t you?”
“You got it. Judy wants you to know we can be there in four and a half hours.”
She smiled. “Have Sam’s pilot on standby.”
“You got it.”
Meg found Lou in her bedroom searching through everything. “Talk to Rick. Give him your name.”