Hiroko smiled nervously and then her expression turned somber. “You asked about the other children?”
“Yes?”
“The Steers family has great wealth, and in such families there is always a. . .contest to see which child will carry on the running of this. . .great wealth.”
“And is that what happened with the Steers family?”
Nash was hoping that he was getting close, finally, to learning the details of Steers murdering her own siblings.
“In a way, yes.”
“And Ms. Steers is the only one left, so I assume she won this. . .struggle?”
But Hiroko shook her head and looked at him fearfully. “Dillon-san, do you care for Victoria-san?”
This query shook Nash, who had not been expecting it. “I. . .I work for her. My job is to protect her. So, yes, in that way, Idocare for her,” he said slowly and, he hoped, convincingly.
“I have never told anyone this.”
“What?” he said quickly.
At that moment Nash’s phone buzzed. It was Thura.
“Lady wants you, right now,” said Thura.
“What lady?”
“Who you think? Masuyo. Something about going out again without thebaggage.”
Shit.“I’ll be right there.”
He put his phone away and looked at Hiroko. “I have to go now, but may I come back and talk some more, Hiroko-san?”
“I would like that very much.”
“Is there anything you need? Anything I can bring you?”
Her face brightened. “I am quite fond of chocolates. Lindt? And Ferrero Rocher? The gold packaging symbolizes good fortune.”
“I’ll get both.”
“Thank you, Dillon-san. And thank you for caring for Victoriasan. There are few who know her well. But for those who do, she is. . .different than one may think.”
Nash didn’t know how that could possibly be, since he had seen the woman blow the brains out of Lynn Ryder, and she had killed her siblings and God knew how many other people. But for her old nanny,Victoria-sancould apparently do no wrong.
He rushed to the elevator and headed up to deal with another female Steers, and he was not looking forward to it at all.
CHAPTER
35
JUST YOU, DILLON,” SAID MASUYO. “Not him.” She gave Thura a derisive look.
Thura took the insult with good humor, giving Nash a mischievous glance.
“Yes, ma’am,” said Thura. As he walked off he added in a voice only Nash could hear, “Watch your back.”
“Where would you like to go, Mrs. Steers?” Nash asked.