Wilderness of Mirrors Read Online Free Page A

she’d met Brad. He’d been playing the piano at a wedding, and she’d thought him hired – not a guest like herself. “Nothing. It was dead on. He was delicious, hilarious, rich, and a
great
shag. He should have had it tattooed on his cock.”
    “So why break up with him? At least, for a few weeks, you went o…u…t. You know, that place beyond these walls.”
    “I go out,” Sam ground through clenched teeth. “In fact, I travel to Asia more times a year than you go clubbing.”
Granted I don’t want to be there. And I’m doing things that would make your head spin
. Her mind flitted to the little Beijing museum and the pretty white vase she’d just stolen.
    Jane wasn’t easily thwarted. “I’m talking about out with friends, out with members of the opposite sex. That kind of out.”
    The last thing Sam needed was Jane playing cupid. It was a bloody dangerous game in Sam’s hidden world. “It doesn’t matter. We were never dating anyway, just having a good time.”
Though I wish it had lasted a whole lot longer, Mr. Brad Milton. You’ll never quite understand how much your friendship meant to me.
    It was regrettable that Jane was as tenacious with gossip as silk and dye. “You don’t do ‘good times’; and you were damn lucky he didn’t - ” Thankfully, Jane finally registered the label’s fresh design. “Let me see those.” She opened her hand, curling fingers in Sam’s direction.
    Sam tossed them over, beyond relieved by the interruption.
    “They really are gorgeous.”
    “Thanks.” Sam traced the label nearest her. “I used Uncle Loch’s font. It’s based on 19 th century manuscripts. French ones. I thought I’d use it on the new stationery. Considering…”
    A small pinch of distress marred Jane’s smooth brow. “How’s he doing?”
    In truth, Sam wasn’t certain. When her Uncle John died, she’d finally told Loch about AG, terrified that John hadn’t really died of cancer. There had been a job – careful though she was about saying no – that Samantha had yet been unwilling to take.
    But when Loch convinced her the organization had nothing to do with his husband’s death, he had nevertheless closed up their apartment and vanished in a puff of withdrawn cash.
    ‘
If I’m gone, they’ll have nothing left to use against you.’
    And away went yet another man in her life, the loss almost unfathomable in its devastation. “I got an electronic postcard from Antarctica. Apparently grief therapy comes in the form of penguins now.” Her resentment and guilt over the matter were toxins hardly touched by humor.
    Fortunately, Jane was still focused on the label. “I like the paw print between the B and T.
Posh Paws
, like our latest fabric.”
    It’s for you too, Uncle John, for giving me Tamar
. Thirteen years ago they’d walked into the shelter, on the suggestion of one of John’s police friends, a canine officer who did freelance companion training on the side.
    In the end, she hadn’t the heart to tell Loch that she wouldn’t be leaving. Not yet anyway. After thirteen years, even if Loch could manage to stay hidden, there was no way she’d put Tam’s life in danger. Never that.
    Only when Tam was gone. Only then could she leave.
    Jane parked the roll beside her cell and glanced apologetically at the remaining mess. “Sorry, Sammy, I’ve got to run. Got a date with more play dough.” She slid her scarf from the back of the metal stool nearest her. “Shite. More bloody hair.”
    “Count your blessings it’s not drool.” Sam kicked her shoes into view and slumped onto the nearby stool.
    Jane shuddered into the cashmere couture of her scooped-up coat. “That’s got to be a sin in some religion.”
    “Pradism.”
    They shared a short laugh.
    Two buttons later, Jane looked up. “We’ll be at Bella’s. Come by if you want. Dan’s got a brilliant friend. I think he flies planes or something.”
    “Remind me not to fly that airline.”
    Jane’s jaw tensed.