Music Room
9:40 P.M.

“Maria told me you were in here,” Tanner said as he strolled toward the chair where Lara was sitting before the keyboard. “I see Mallory got you set up.” He looked around the tiled floors, the beautifully crafted amber windows and arched ceiling. “Your keyboard looks like a poor relation in here. I don’t blame you for just sitting there and not playing. This room deserves a grand piano, but Sandrino never got around to finding one and left it up to me.” His lips twisted. “I got busy and disappointed him as I did you. Life has a habit of getting in the way. But I’ll still keep my word to you. Did you and Maria have something to eat?”

“Rennell’s stew,” she said curtly. “It was excellent.” She got up from her chair. Then she braced herself and turned to face him. “And I don’t give a damn about this fancy music room. Once I start playing, I don’t notice anything else. And the reason I’m not playing right now is that I didn’t want to become distracted before I got answers. Are you ready to give them to me?”

“It’s why I’m here,” he said simply. “Rennell brought it to my attention that I had no choice. You were making him very edgy. Which meant you were obviously going to cause me too much trouble unless I got you on my side.” He shook his head. “Correction. I wouldn’t expect you to go quite that far. Ask your questions, Lara.”

“I’ll start with the most important one. Have you heard from your friend Sherman about any attacks happening at the airport yet?”

“Not a word. I would have told you right away. You’ll know everything as soon as I do.” He paused. “But it’s probably only a matter of time.”

“I know that. It’s always only been a matter of time with my father and Volkov,” she said bitterly. “But this was different, I had a chance. I could give Maria a chance. I won’t give that up. Second question. Why did you bring me here?” She took a step closer to him. “Who is this Sandrino? And what do I have to do with him? You nodded at me when you were talking to Rennell about him. Does Sandrino have anything to do with Kaskov?”