Giving my hand a squeeze, Swansy sat back in her chair and resumed rocking.
No one was home at Cooper’s house.I busied myself visiting people in town until noon, when he returned.He wanted to know first thing about my trip, so I gave him a rundown on the show.Then he asked about the night I’d spent with my family.
“They’re the same,” I said lightly.“They always will be.Dad and Ian are like two peas in a pod.They see life in terms of dollar signs.Samantha is the social climber.My mother is the political power broker.Dinners at the Madigan house are high-pressure affairs.”
Cooper watched me closely with those dark eyes of his.“You seem pretty calm.It didn’t throw you so much this time?”
“No.Maybe I’m finally getting stronger.”
“Maybe you had other things on your mind.”
“Maybe.”I wasn’t sure how much of that I wanted to broach with Cooper.
I was trying to decide, when he said, “Peter called before I left this morning.He mentioned that he’d spent time with you.”
“He did?”
Cooper nodded slowly.
I moved to fill what promised to be an awkward silence.“I watched him work.He has associates running here and there doing research and preparing motions while he focuses on the creative end.It’s very impressive.I wish you could have been there.”
“No, you don’t.”
The look on his face told me I wasn’t going to get away with much.“You’re right.It would have been embarrassing, what with us making love on top of the desk.”I took a quick breath, then raced on.“Cooper, we have to talk about Benjie.”
Cooper’s mouth twitched at the corners.“Did you really do it on a desk?”
I made a face.“Of course not.”Then, serious again, I repeated, “Benjie, Cooper.Is anything special going on with him?”
“But you did make it together?”
I sighed.“Do I ask what you do with your women?”
“No.But this is different.Peter is the first man I’ve met in a long time who’s strong enough for you.”
I looked him straight in those opaque eyes ofhis.“I want to talk about Benjie.”
He eyed me right back.“I don’t.”
“Why not?”
“Because there’s no need.Benjie is my concern.No one else’s.”
I’d already blown my chances for subtlety, so I went right to the heart of the matter.“I think he’s hiding something.I think he knows more about those diamonds then he’s letting on.”
Cooper’s eyes narrowed slightly.“What makes you think that?”
“He’s been so surly lately.He resents my presence, and Peter’s presence.I think he’s afraid we’ll uncover something he doesn’t want uncovered.”
“Like what?”
“Like …Idon’t know.Like maybe he saw someone board the boat and stash the diamonds.Like maybe he knew the person.Like maybe he was doing someone else’s bidding and stashed them there himself.”I tossed a hand in the air.“It’s bizarre to be thinking that a twenty-year-old could have done that, especially when he’s your brother, but something’s strange about this whole thing, Cooper.”
I paused.Cooper’s feelings were totally shuttered behind his dark eyes, but the darkness itself made me uneasy.It was thicker than usual.
I sighed.“Do you know anything?Has Benjie said anything to you?I know that you’ve always tried to protect him, but if he’s somehow involvedin this and you don’t speak up, you’ll be the one to take the fall.”
Cooper stretched his long legs in front of him, but there was nothing easygoing in his lines.“I want Benjie left out of this.”
