“What’s up?” Warren asked.
“I’ll explain it all later—I have to leave for the airport in a few minutes. But there’s a black suitcase by the wall in the garage. I think it might be a bomb.”
“Jesus, you’re joking! Where—”
“I said, later. What I want you to do is pick it up after I’m gone, take it out over the water in one of the dinghies, and drop it down on the end of a line. It’s just a precaution.” Luke looked around and lowered his voice. “Look, I haven’t told anyone this, but Roland is okay.”
“What?!”
“He called me a couple of days ago. I’m not sure, but I think he might be arriving this afternoon with the others. If so, then we’ll be able to straighten everything out after he gets here. You mustn’t mention anything to Julia about this. But in the meantime, just to be safe, I want that thing out of the way.”
Warren nodded. “Okay, Luke. If you say so.”
* * *
Julia finished packing the black leather pilot bag and set it alongside the garment bag, red suitcase, cosmetic bag, and shoulder purse on the bed. She made a final check through the drawers of the vanity and added a few final items to the blue carryall containing her jewelry boxes, personal papers, and some casual clothes and shoes. Then she moved to the window, which overlooked the rear of the house, and peered past the drapes. Luke was just coming down the steps from the yacht. He crossed the rear yard and disappeared from sight into the door at the back of the garage. Julia went from the bedroom to the far side of the suite, where the window commanded a view of the front. A minute or two later, the limo backed out of the garage, turned in the circle at the top of the driveway, and left. Julia went back to the bedroom, picked up two of the bags, and carried them down through the house. “Henry,” she called out as she approached the door into the garage. “Are you anywhere around, Henry?” He appeared as Julia put the bags down behind the Cadillac.
“Yes, ma’am?” His face registered surprise.
“Something has come up suddenly. I have to make a trip. There are some more bags on the bed upstairs. Fetch them for me and load them, would you, while I collect some other things?”
“Er . . .” Henry waved a hand undecidedly and looked perplexed. He seemed far from happy, as if some explanation were called for, yet at the same time conscious of his station.
“It doesn’t matter why, Henry,” Julia said sharply. “I do not have to justify myself to you. Just kindly do as I ask, please.”
“Yes. . . . Yes, of course.” Henry turned and went back into the house.
Julia followed, going to the den, where she retrieved the briefcase and book bag that she had previously filled with documents and files from her own drawers. She took them through to the garage along with her laptop, placing them by the bags that she had left previously just as Henry came back with three from upstairs. He was agitated and unsure, depositing the bags with the others and departing, as if to spend as little time around her as possible. As Henry was about to leave, Warren Edmonds came in through the door from the rear yard. He stopped, seemingly confused.
“Ah . . . has anyone seen Luke?” he asked. It sounded like an excuse. Evidently, he hadn’t expected to find Julia and Henry here.
“He’s just gone,” Henry said from the doorway. “Picking up Vrel and the rest at the airport, remember?”
“Oh . . . right.” Warren gazed around the garage as if reluctant to leave.
“He’ll be back in a few hours. Was there something else?” Julia said impatiently.
“Er, no. . . . No, I guess not. Okay.” Warren turned and went back the way he had come. Henry exited into the house. Julia went through to the front hall to sort coats and jackets from the closet. By the time she returned to the garage, Henry was back and had just lifted the last of the bags into the trunk. Julia opened the driver’s door, threw the coats onto the back seat, prepared to get in, then saw that Henry was watching her strangely. Something needed to be said. It didn’t matter what. Five minutes more and she would be out of this place permanently. “I told you, something unexpected has come up,” Julia told him. “I”ll be back in a day or two.” Henry nodded but didn’t look as if he believed her. She climbed in, started the motor, and backed the car out.