“Well, you’ve always been dangerous company. That’s right in my wheelhouse.”
“Do not do this out of any sense of loyalty to me. I have not treated you well. As I told you before, I am not a good person. You have your life to lead. I suggest that you lead it.”
“But before, you told me that you would need my loyalty, my ability to protect you.”
“I did, yes. But I have rethought things, and I have decided that is too much to ask anyone to do.”
“But what if Lord turns you down?”
She once more looked at him. Her eyes now seemed depthless. “My future does not depend on his answer, at least not solely. And regardless, I will be dangerous company.”
As the plane flew along Nash finally worked up the courage to tell her. “Victoria-san, I have information about your mother.”
In a distracted voice she said, “What sort of information?”
“Such that I do not understand, but that has been communicated to me by a credible source.”
“What is it?”
“That your mother was never a prisoner in Myanmar. I believe that she was brought there solely so we could bring Masuyo to you. And since you told me that Connor Lord controlled the prison, that means he was part of this plan. That might impact your business with him.” He paused. “I just found this out and thought you would like to know.”
Nash didn’t know what he expected her reaction to be. Steers had lost control only once in his presence, when she had been threatening to kill herself before Hiroko had intervened. So he didn’t expect anything as extreme as that.
Steers closed her eyes and jerked her head sideways once and then twice, as she had done before, when she had been confronted with something extraordinarily difficult.
And then the woman rose without a word and retreated to her cabin for the rest of the flight.
CHAPTER
66
UPON LANDING AT THE SANTAMonica Municipal Airport, Steers and Nash were met by a man holding up an iPad with her first name on it. They were led out to a black Chevy Tahoe, and the man loaded their bags into the rear cargo hold while a second man wanded them for weapons and listening devices. Nash’s pistols were taken from him. He had started to protest, but Steers motioned for him not to.
They were the only passengers, but Nash noted that another large SUV fell in behind them on their way out of the small airport.
“Guess landing here made more sense than LAX,” said Nash in a low tone that the two men in front could not hear.
“It’s more private and we’re heading northwest, toward Malibu,” noted Steers. “Mr. Lord is not an urban sort of person. I have found that he treasures his privacy.”
“I’m not sureprivacyin this situation makes me feel better. Why not meet him in the middle of Dodger Stadium with lots of people around?”
She smiled and tapped his hand, as though in reassurance. “We will see what we will see.”
“You have more confidence than I do,” replied Nash worriedly.
“Sometimes that is all one has.”
On the way they passed stark remnants of the 2025 fires, before the SUV turned in to a canyon in Malibu. Nash noted that the tail vehicle rode a precise two car lengths behind them.
They pulled through a set of gates and stopped in front of a large, three-story Mediterranean-style home with lush landscaping and a paved motor court.
“Does he own this place?” asked Nash after they had gotten out of the vehicle.
“I do not know,” said Steers. “As I already told you, he does not publicize his wealth or assets.”
“Smart guy. Only I’m betting you’re smarter.”
They were led through the front door and passed from one lovely room to the next until they exited out the rear of the home through a towering set of French doors into a beautifully landscaped rear yard. It held a lap pool, flagstone paving with grass growing in between, high-end outdoor furniture and umbrellas, a stone fire pit, and a table with three chairs set around it.
