“Because you’re cynical?”
“Yes, I guess that’s the reason. And I don’t like the idea of anyone’s hiring someone like Cameron to manipulate everything and everyone to suit himself. I don’t want someone in an ivory tower making decisions that I want to make myself.”
“Neither do I,” Erin said quietly.
“I can see how you’d let that stand in the way. Is that why Cameron couldn’t recruit you? You said that you hadn’t done what he told you to do. That had something to do with the necklace. He did try to recruit you, right? Did he give you that necklace as an invitation? You weren’t supposed to wear it? Did he warn you that you mustn’t be seen in it?”
Erin held up her hand. “I only agreed with your philosophy. That was not an admission.” She shook her head. “Nor will there be one, Catherine.”
“I didn’t really expect anything else,” Catherine said. “But I don’t think I need one. You tried very hard, but you don’t exactly have a poker face. I may not have hit a bull’s-eye but I came very close.” She got to her feet and picked up her computer. “I’ll let you relax now. I have a word to say to Hu Chang.” She started to leave, then stopped. “And though you have great faith in Cameron, there must be a little doubt in your mind about the people behind him. Because you really do want to believe the fairy tale.” She smiled. “Maybe that’s one of the qualities that are important in their recruits. The ability to believe in fairy tales. I’d never make the first cut.”
She moved down the aisle toward Hu Chang’s seat. He was watching her, and when she stopped beside him, he said, “You disturbed Erin. Was it necessary?”
“Yes, I needed confirmation. It was a bizarre idea, and I wasn’t totally at ease with it.”
“Bizarre? Now I wonder what that could be.”
“Shambhala.”
“Are you watching to see my reaction?”
“No, you’re harder than Erin. You would show nothing. But now that I’ve broken through the barrier, I think you’ll talk to me. Is this conglomerate bad business?”
“I have no idea. Like you, I worked my way through to the same conclusion. Cameron could be doing idealistic work in a wicked world. Or he could be a paid operator with no conscience who carries out corrupt missions.”
“He seems to be close to the monks in the monasteries.”
“Is he deeply religious? Is he recruiting the lamas and monks? Neither to my knowledge. He’s more interested in the plants and brews that they concoct. If he’s after anything but intelligent conversation from learned individuals, I’d say it was their expertise and discoveries in the field.”
“I’ve never felt anything like those blankets Cameron wrapped around Erin and me. They were incredible. They completely blocked the cold. He said a friend invented them.”
“There may be quite a few friends providing inventions and discoveries if the people in the organization are both intelligent and gifted.”
“And that young Indian boy Cameron hijacked off that train going to China might have been tapped to become one of the new breed of gifted in the organization.”
“It’s possible,” Hu Chang said. “It occurred to me at the time.” He paused. “And now you’re excited, and your mind is working triple time. I was afraid of that. Before you were only concerned with Kadmus. Now you’ve got your eye on Cameron and his employers. Much more dangerous, Catherine. They won’t permit you to reveal anything about them to the CIA. The only way they’ve survived and flourished is because they were virtually invisible.”
“I don’t know enough about Cameron to reveal anything. All I have is vague suspicions, nothing concrete.” She added, “And I won’t betray Erin. She went through hell to protect Cameron. But that doesn’t mean that I’m not going to dig until I find out whether I should go after him.”
“You may not have to dig. You may be able to ask him yourself. Cameron won’t leave Erin unprotected.” He shrugged. “And he seems to be able to read you very well. If he thinks you’re on the attack, he won’t wait for you to make the first move.”
“He reads everyone very well.” She paused. “But he promised me that he would stay out and not intrude unless there was some threat to me or Erin. Can I trust that promise?”
“As I told you, he’s kept his word to me. But I don’t know if he would if he sensed a danger to himself.”
“Is he able to do that?”
“It wouldn’t surprise me. How else would he sense the danger to you? I don’t know. Cameron doesn’t want me to know what other talents he possesses. I imagine he feels more at ease if the people around him aren’t aware of anything more than he has to show them. I’ve always been comfortable with that.”
“I’m not.”
“No, you want everything spelled out. Cameron would find that difficult. And I didn’t mean that Cameron was using any mental tricks to read you. He could probably stay out and just use what he’d already found out about you. He was interested enough to make a thorough exploration. He even wanted to see how you and Luke interacted.”
She stiffened. “Luke? That’s not good.”
“Because you think that he could manipulate your relationship if he chose? But there’s always that threat when dealing with Cameron. I find it a trifle bittersweet that he can never get away from having that hang over the heads of anyone with whom he has a relationship.”
“And I only find it terrifying.”
“Yet you’re far more empathetic than I am. And you’re always challenged to find a way to work around a problem that appears unsolvable. Why aren’t you reacting like that toward Cameron?” He added softly, “I am very curious to know why you’re afraid of him when I can’t remember anyone else who intimidates you.”
“I have my moments.” She changed the subject. “When will we arrive in San Francisco?”
“About two hours.”
“Then I think I’ll go back and talk to Luke for a while.” She wrinkled her nose. “If I can tear him away from that electronic game. He seems fascinated.”
“He likes puzzles,” Hu Chang said. “Like his mother. By all means, go talk to him. He may be feeling a little insecure after giving you that jolt with Tashdon.”
“I’m the one feeling insecure.” She turned and moved back down the aisle toward Luke.
And she was definitely feeling insecure about Cameron’s unusual interest in Luke. She had felt an instant of pure panic that had turned into the beginning of fierce anger.
Yet you’re far more empathetic than I am.
Hu Chang was right, her response wasn’t characteristic. None of her responses to Cameron were characteristic. She had been on the defensive since the moment she had seen him and felt that first explosive bolt of sexual attraction. The knowledge of what he was and what he could do had only compounded that initial burst of wariness. His effect on her mind and body was incredibly sensual. She had only to look at him, talk to him, and she felt weak, breathless. Every time she had to make an effort to block it, to stop feeling and fight it.
Empathetic? Yes, she had empathy for Cameron. She could feel what he was feeling because what he was feeling was lust. The electricity between them was like a powerful wall that she wanted to reach out and touch, wrap herself, sink into the flames.
Oh, God, if he was eavesdropping now, then she was lost.
Get control. You’ve been able to keep steady and not do anything stupid or unprofessional. She didn’t even know whether he was one of the good guys or a master criminal. She didn’t care, she realized with shock. All she wanted to do was go to bed with him. She’d worry about the rest later.
Wrong. Worry now. Walk away.
He was too dangerous to her, maybe too dangerous to Luke.
She had reached Luke’s seat, and she smiled with an effort. “Hi, I thought I’d come and let you teach me that game that you’re finding so cool. Hu Chang just pointed out to me that we both have a passion for puzzles.”