Blue Velvet by Iris Johansen

Sedikhan unless you want to.”
    “But I want to.” He suddenly relaxed and the grin he gave her was lazily mocking. “Why not? Besides the amusement value, Donahue’s lieutenants become very wealthy men in an amazingly short time. Living with Beau I’ve developed a taste for the kind of power money brings.”
    “I don’t see how you could, living at sea on a ship like this,” Kate said. “Surely life is very simple and uncomplicated.”
    “Don’t kid yourself.” The captain’s lips twisted. “On the high seas we may be back to basic values, but once we hit port all the material values swing into focus. The Lantry conglomerate is one of the most powerful in the world. AllBeau has to do is to step ashore and the bowing and scraping starts. Maybe that’s why he keeps such a low profile.”
    “A low profile?” Kate echoed blankly. “I didn’t notice he was shy or retiring.” She had a mental image of him tumbling through that warehouse window, a blazing torch in either hand. “Quite the contrary.”
    Seifert grinned. “Maybe I should say he keeps a low profile where society and government types are concerned. You’re right, he’s far from shy. You couldn’t expect him to be. He was one of the most publicized orphans in the world, with all kinds of custody suits flying around him. He knew from the time he was out of diapers just how valuable he was to the world.” His lips curved cynically. “Or how valuable his money was to it.”
    “I’d think that would make anyone a little spoiled.”
    “Beau’s not spoiled,” Seifert said, his smile fading. “You don’t know him at all if you think that. I’m not saying he can’t be self-indulgent on occasion, but all of us are guilty of that. He may do what he damn well pleases, but if there’s aprice, he’s always willing to pay it.” His expression was serious. “And I’m not just talking about cash. Growing up with that kind of money doesn’t guarantee to make things easy. Did you know that Beau was an alcoholic?”
    “No!” Her voice was as shocked as her face.
    “He licked it several years ago but you don’t go through something like that and stay an immature kid. He’s tough as hell under that playboy façade.”
    “No wonder you get along so well.” Kate’s blue eyes were twinkling. “Like to like.”
    “Well, we did discover we had a certain affinity,” he admitted with a slight smile. “We were both betwixt and between, so to speak. And we were both searching for something.” His gaze was narrowed on the horizon again. “I knew what I was searching for: rest, peace, maybe even sanity, but I don’t think Beau even knew he
was
searching.”
    “The
Searcher
,” Kate mused. “This ship is named the
Searcher
.”
    Seifert nodded. “I renamed it. Beau had just bought it when we got together in Miami. He left it up to me to give it a new name. He didn’tcare what I called it as long as it wasn’t the name of one of his past mistresses.” His eyes glinted mischievously. “He didn’t want any of them to think he had any lingering passion for them. I believe he had an expensive enough time getting rid of the ladies in the first place.”
    “I imagine he did.” Kate remembered with a sharp pang Beau’s remark about allowing her to change her mind later about the compensation she wanted from him. How many experiences with avaricious women had developed that bitter cynicism in him?
    Seifert shrugged. “Well, anyway, he didn’t care one way or the other, so it became the
Searcher.
” His expression grew thoughtful. “I’ve often wondered if maybe that was what Beau was subconsciously looking for. Something that really mattered to him, something he could give a damn about.”
    Kate shook her head with a smile. “I can’t say that I’ve noticed any lack of intensity in him.” She wrinkled her nose. “Nor any lack of emotion. At the moment I have the impression he’d like to channel that intensity in my direction with