Touch the Horizon by Iris Johansen Read Free Book Online Page A

Donahue agreed. “I don’t know if it was a natural recovery or the battery of doctors Karim commandeered from all over the world to treat him.” There was a touch of amusement in his grin. “Karim had stepped down from his position as ruling head of Sedikhan, presumably for reasons of health. Actually, I think he just wanted to give Alex the experience of running the country while he was still hovering in the background. He needed something to focus his attention on, and he chose David. He whisked him away to Zalandan, using the excuse that Alex and Sabrina needed the time to get used to their new life at Marasef.” Donahue chuckled reminiscently. “They didn’t like it any too much, but tried to give in gracefully. Karim was an old man and had recently been very ill. Karim was all prepared to look upon David as a remote analytical problem to be solved and then returned to Sabrina and Alex. It didn’t turn out that way, though.”
    “How did it turn out?”
    “Karim learned to love David,” Donahue said simply. “I don’t think the old tiger had ever really loved anyone before in his life. He had a guarded affection for Alex and Alex’s cousin, Lance, but they were both such strong, independent personalities that there was an element of competitiveness that kept him from giving that love totally. With David that barrier didn’t exist. He was a beautiful, very special child who might remain that way for the rest of his life.” His blue eyes twinkled. “Little did Karim know that once David recovered, he’d have another powerhouse to contend with. By that time it was too late. David had breached all the old man’s defenses, and Karim was utterly devoted to him.” Donahue’s expression was suddenly thoughtful. “In spite of his regained mental powers, there’s still a quality of childlike honesty and simplicity about him that’s very moving. It arouses a fierce protectiveness in the people who care about him. If you do have any aims that might interfere with that protectiveness, you’d be wise to think twice, Miss Callahan.”
    “Are you back to that again?” Billie asked with a sigh. Somehow she was no longer feeling the anger she had before at Clancy Donahue’s insinuations. There was something very likable beneath that grim facade. “I thought you’d come to believe that I knew nothing about David Bradford before I came to Zalandan.”
    “I want to believe you,” he said soberly. “You’re a very charismatic woman, and, I hope, an honest one. It’s just my job to make sure of that, Miss Callahan.”
    “I suppose it is,” Billie said with an impish smile. “It might be interesting, at that, to be regarded as some sort of
femme fatale
.” She fluttered her long lashes vampishly at him. “Is this the way it’s done? You’ll have to excuse me, but I’m sinfully inexperienced in the role.”
    “I’m afraid it’s very obvious,” he said, his lips twitching. “Mata Hari you’re not, Miss Callahan.”
    “Billie,” she prompted as they paused before an intricately carved teak door. “It’s ridiculous to be formal when we’ve already been through so much together. Anger, suspicion”—her voice lowered dramatically—“intrigue. And now you’re evidently planning to play executioner.” She gestured to the door. “The tiger’s cage?”
    “The tiger’s cage,” Donahue agreed with a grin. “But I have an idea you just might be able to handle him…Billie.”
    “Oh, I’ll be able to handle him,” she said breezily, reaching for the doorknob. “There’s not much I can’t handle, Clancy. Come along and watch my style.”

THREE

    S HE STOPPED SHORT just inside the door, her gaze on the portrait hanging on the wall over the desk.
    “David,” she whispered.
    It was David and yet not David. The man kneeling with a trowel in his hand and the sunlight burnishing his hair to white gold was younger, more aesthetic-looking, less virile somehow. But beautiful. No one could argue