Free Twist of Fate by Jayne Ann Krentz Page A

ace in the hole. I’m not just a copy of my father, but if you believe I am then you’ll make some interesting mistakes.” He turned and disappeared into the crowd.
    Gideon sat for a long time at the table. He finished the Scotch and ordered another. Halfway through the third one he decided to make a phone call.
    Steve Decker was half asleep when he came on the line. Gideon almost envied him for a moment. Decker’s wife, a warm, happy woman who was utterly devoted to her husband, was probably waiting impatiently in bed. She would undoubtedly have a few choice words to say about her husband’s boss, who thought he could call at any hour of the day or night. Angie Decker was very protective of her spouse. It might be interesting, Gideon thought, to have a woman feel that protective about him.
    â€œI’m sorry to get you out of bed, Steve, but I wasn’t sure when I’d be able to call in the morning and I didn’t want anyone trying to leave a message for me here at the hotel tomorrow. You know how Mary Ann panics if she can’t find me when she wants me.”
    Steve’s agile brain leaped to the most important question. “Where are you going?”
    â€œI thought I’d go on up to Washington.”
    â€œWashington! But that Maryland project is under control. Why on earth do you want to go there?”
    â€œState of, not D.C.”
    â€œSeattle? You’re heading for Seattle? But why?”
    â€œThought I’d tie up a few loose ends with Accelerated Design.”
    Decker sounded utterly bewildered. “But, Gideon, there are no loose ends. There never are any loose ends!”
    â€œI’m not so sure,” Gideon said, trying to sound appropriately shrewd and businesslike.
    â€œWell, I am. I put through the last of the paperwork yesterday. Gideon, you’re supposed to be in Vegas for a week. You always go to Vegas for a week at this time of year!”
    â€œDoes it strike you, Steve, that I have become somewhat predictable?”
    â€œGood God! Is that what this is all about? Are you worried about becoming predictable?” Decker’s tone carried the profound shock of a man who values above all the comforts of a predictable life.
    Maybe he’d value them, too, Gideon thought, if he were getting the comforts. All he seemed to have acquired from predictability was a sense of weariness. He almost wished he could relive the rush of emotion that he knew Ballantine was feeling tonight. “Steve, I really don’t want to talk about this tonight. I just wanted someone to know that I’d left Vegas so no one would get overly excited tomorrow when he or she couldn’t reach me. I’ll check in with you in a day or two. In the meantime, hold the fort for me.”
    â€œBut, Gideon…”
    â€œThere’s one more thing, Steve.”
    â€œWhat’s that?” Decker asked warily.
    â€œI need the address of Nick Jessett’s sister. The woman with the cane.”
    There was a long silence. “You need it tonight?”
    â€œI’m afraid so,” Gideon said apologetically. Angie was going to be furious.
    Decker let out his breath in an unheard oath. “I’ll have it for you in an hour.”
    â€œThanks, Steve.” As politely as he could, Gideon hung up in his assistant’s ear. Then he started dialing airlines.
    Back in Tucson, Angie Decker sat up in bed, frowning. “That was Cage?”
    Decker finished replacing the receiver and nodded. He yawned as he ran a hand through his thinning hair. “That was Cage.”
    â€œIs something wrong?” Angie was willing to hold her fire until she determined whether or not the phone call had been generated out of a real emergency.
    â€œNot unless you consider Gideon Cage going crazy as something wrong,” Steve said thoughtfully.
    To his surprise Angie didn’t explode. “Actually,” she said calmly, “it’s a rather