Domino by Chris Barnhart Page A

I?"
    Virginia put her cup down on the coffee table
and stared at Clarissa. "I can help you. You have to do everything
I say. I haven't worked for Morgan for a decade without learning
something of the man. The chance is slim and extremely dangerous. I
can't promise that Morgan won't find you or guarantee any
protection if he does. I can't guarantee you anything. You must
give me your complete trust. Will you do that?"
    "I have a brother in the Middle East," said
Clarissa. "He's works for an American oil company there. I need to
contact him. He'll sent me a plane ticket. I just need to stay here
a couple of days until he can wire the ticket or some money. Will
you let me stay?"
    "That would be too dangerous for both of us.
You have to trust me, Clarissa, if you want to stay alive. Promise
me you will do what I say or I can't help you at all."
    "Marco is out there looking for me,"
Clarissa's hands shook and she set the teacup down. "I really don't
have much of a choice."
    "Fine. I have to make a phone
call."
    Clarissa's look of panic stopped Virginia.
"Not to Morgan."
    Clarissa dug in her purse for Andrew's number
and handed his business card to Virginia. "My brother is Andrew
Hayden at that number. Tell him where I am and what's happened.
Please."
    Virginia took the card into the bedroom and
tossed it into the trash can. Then she dialed a number and waited
for the party to answer.
    "Dusty?" said Virginia. "Virginia Essex. Look,
I need a favor."
     
     
    Clarissa stared absently down at the traffic
on Wilshire Boulevard seven stories below. She felt restless and
uneasy, a gnawing anxiety eating away at the fragile sanctuary she
so desperately needed. She did not completely trust Virginia. Her
reaction to Byron Roth's murder was not what Clarissa expected.
Virginia was not shocked and appalled that her employer was
ruthless and evil. She seemed to already be aware of Morgan's
iniquitous side. A side Clarissa should have suspected but had been
so blind to it.
    Clarissa looked around at the empty living
room. She could hear the low drone of Virginia's voice in the
bedroom. For a moment, a feeling of panic swept her when she
thought that Virginia might be talking to Morgan. The narrow window
of time was open once again. The avenue of escape free and clear.
She was torn between running for the front door and the problem of
nowhere to run. If indeed it was Morgan that Virginia had called,
that narrow margin in which to run was getting smaller and more
critical with every second that passed.
    The thought of putting her trust in someone so
close to Morgan was beginning to wear on Clarissa's nerves. It
suddenly felt foolish to be here at all. She should have gone to a
hotel. The only problem was to remember which ones Morgan did not
own an interest in and could more easily find her. She couldn't
remember any of their names but a smaller motel might be safe
enough for the night. She had a little cash and some credit cards.
But those would be no good, she chided herself. Too easily
tracked.
    Clarissa reached for her purse on the sofa to
check her cash supply.
    "I've made arrangements to hide you for the
night," Virginia's voice stopped her. "It's a place Morgan won't
think to look. At least not for a while."
    "Virginia, I think I should leave," Clarissa
stammered. "I shouldn't have bothered you with this. Really. It
could get you in trouble."
    "Just your being here at all will do that if
he found out," said Virginia. "Besides, Marco is out there
somewhere. He can track just about anything and I wouldn't put it
past him to show up here. We have to move you. You'll be safer at
my friend's place."
    "Alright," Clarissa stepped toward the
door.
    "You can't go out dressed like that," Virginia
told her. "I have something you can put on. Come with
me.
    Reluctantly, Clarissa followed Virginia into
the bedroom. She watched as Virginia pulled a heavy cardboard
carton from the walk-in closet and hoisted it up onto the
bed.
    "I was planning to donate