The Bullet

by Iris Johansen

  “Churches?” Eve asked.

  “Maybe not a church,” Michael said as he covered up with the lap robe again. “It could be … something else. I’ll think about it.”

  “Why would it bother you anyway?”

  “It just does.” He closed his eyes. “I don’t know why. But now maybe he’ll think about me when he sees it, and that might help. It could be enough…”

  His words were frustrating, but she wasn’t going to interrogate him when that vagueness was obviously sincere. “Or maybe it won’t matter if your dad leaves there right away and brings Cara home to us.”

  “No, it wouldn’t matter then.”

  But Eve knew the odds were against that happening, and she had an idea that somehow Michael did, too.

  * * *

  “No,” Cara said precisely. “I hear you, Joe, but I’m staying here until Svardak is caught and we can go home together. No arguments.”

  “Bullshit. Of course, I’ll give you an argument. There’s no reason for you to be here. I told you that I have a firm lead, and I’ll be able to wrap this up in no time.”

  “Good. Then that means we’ll be able to go home all the sooner … together. Did Interpol come through with those names yet?”

  “Yes,” he said curtly. “Liam Lacher, Liverpool, and Simon Abrams, Toronto. Both with very nasty records for the last decade or so. No obvious proof they worked for Svardak, but then Svardak had only minor offenses before he was put in that mental hospital. And he kept his record pristine clean after he escaped and started gathering a crew around him. But Lacher’s and Abram’s travel documents show that they were in the same cities as the victims when the killings took place. The connection to Svardak seems clear.”

  “Abrams…” There was something familiar about the name. She’d heard it before. Then she remembered where. “He was one of the sentries guarding the cabin. I didn’t see his face, it was cold, and he always had his hood pulled up. But it was when I was tied to that pine tree on the first night and Svardak said that it wouldn’t do me any good to call out to Abrams. That no one could help me…”

  “Charming,” Joe said harshly. “With memories like that, why aren’t you running like hell to find a cave to crawl into?”

  “Because I do have memories like that,” she said quietly. “And maybe they can help. They did this time, didn’t they? I was able to verify Abrams as one of his men.”

  “Yes, but that’s as far as I’d want you to go. Go home, Cara.”

  “When you’re ready to go with me. You and Eve saved my life and gave me that home. I’ll wait for you.”

  “Cara.”

  “No, Joe,” she said gently. “Search for Svardak, try to find him. But don’t expect me not to be here if you need me.”

  “I’m not going to let this go.”

  “I know you won’t. You’ll probably call Jock and ask him to bully me. You’ll call me again, and you may even sic Eve on me. But I won’t leave you. You wouldn’t leave me.”

  “Sure I would. I don’t want you here.” He added deliberately, “You’ll get in my way.”

  She knew he had only said those blunt words as a last resort. “Maybe. Or maybe I’ll find another way to help. Good night, Joe.”

  “It’s not a good night. I’ll get back to you.” He cut the connection.

  She set her phone on the nightstand and settled back on her pillows. She felt overpoweringly sad at having to refuse him. Joe was as close to a father as she had ever had. Father and wonderful friend and the self-appointed guardian of their family.

  But Svardak had taught her that sometimes roles had to be reversed. She couldn’t always be the child running to Joe to save her. If you cared about someone, you had to take responsibility for them. If sacrifices had to be made, you didn’t question them.

  And sacrifices might have to be made. She had been careful not to mention that possibility to Joe, Eve, or Jock. But it had been in her mind since she had opened her eyes in that hospital. Svardak had to be destroyed before any of them would be safe. She wanted desperately to live, but not at the cost Svardak might demand. Some prices were too high to pay. Marian Napier had taught her that truth.

  Don’t think about it now. It might not happen. Address the present problems, not future ones. Start plans in motion. She reached for her phone again.

  “Complaints?” Kaskov said when he answered her call. “What do you want now? I assure you that I put my best men on protecting Eve and the child. I contacted an associate in London, and Jane MacGuire will be absolutely safe. I haven’t been able to find Joe Quinn yet, but as soon as I do, I’ll have him—”

  “He’s somewhere near Wheeling, West Virginia,” she interrupted. “Moving north. He’s on the track of Liam Lacher and Simon Abrams, who evidently escaped the explosions on the mountain. They killed a farmer and took his truck and were seen heading into the Appalachians.” She paused. “Possibly to meet with Svardak. I need you to send someone up there to find them and help Joe if he needs it.”

  “Help Joe Quinn who’s an ex-SEAL and probably could mop up anyone I sent after him?” Kaskov asked mockingly. “Not an intelligent distribution of my resources.”

  “I don’t care about your resources. I want Joe safe. He has to be safe. There’s a small chance that he’ll come back here and try to get me to go to Eve before he goes after Svardak. But it’s too small to count on. He’ll probably talk Jock into standing temporary guard over me while he goes after Svardak. That means that the odds will be three against one even if Svardak isn’t able to gather anyone else. Get him help, Kaskov.”

  “Orders, Cara?” He thought about it. “But you’re probably right. From my reports, Jock is already hovering over you, and Quinn will probably guess that’s happening.”

  “Your reports? Oh, I forgot for a moment how important it is to you that Svardak not get the best of you again. Of course, you’re keeping an eye on me. I even told Eve that you would.”

  “Very wise. I’m sure it added enormous points to your arguments for her to leave you.”

  “Not particularly. She doesn’t trust you. But I had to take what I could get.”

  Silence. Then he chuckled. “Always honest. But you were far more polite before. It’s interesting how you’ve changed.”

  “I don’t mean to be impolite,” she said wearily. “I’ve always thought good manners were important, like the opening movement of a concerto. They prepare the way for what comes next. It’s just that there doesn’t seem time right now. And I believe that everything between us has to be very clear. It never really was before.”

  “No, it wasn’t.” He paused. “Not unusual when one realizes that you could never trust your mother, and I was only a stranger standing on the outside who used your talent to amuse me.”

  “But it didn’t really matter. I didn’t matter. You were there when Eve needed you. And Michael lived. Jock never realized that was all that was important.”

  “I wonder why,” he said mockingly. “When it appears to be crystal clear to you. Anyone should be able to see where his priorities lie. But perhaps Jock doesn’t wish to see too deeply in this situation. What do you think?”

  There was something in his tone. “What do you mean?”

  “What could I mean? When we’re being so honest and clear with each other.” His voice lowered silkily. “I take it that Svardak hasn’t called you yet?”

  She inhaled sharply. “Why would he do that? There’s no reason. My family is safe. He could threaten, but he couldn’t follow through.”

  “Yet you’ve been expecting it. You have a relationship with him. You believe he’ll go after you no matter what the circumstances. I was wondering if you’d be tempted to assure the safety of your family by striking first. I would.”

  “But I’m not you.”

  “No, you’re not. But you took a step closer when Svardak raised his serpent’s head. I found it interesting, but for some reason, it disturbed me.”

  “It didn’t distu
rb me. I’m not like you or my mother or any of my family. Jock told me once that I have my own soul and my own choices. I wouldn’t choose your way.”

  “But I believe your choices might disturb Jock even more than the possibilities that I found interesting. I always suspected you might prove to be an idealist.” His tone turned hard. “Idealists have the stupid habit of falling on their swords. I find the idea unacceptable. It would rob me of something I value.” He paused. “I’ll send men to make certain that Quinn is safe, but you’ll not play Svardak’s games. Do you understand?”

  “I understand. Thank you. Send Joe help, and perhaps there won’t be any games to play.”

  “You don’t believe that.”

  No, she didn’t. Svardak would never give up until he killed her. She had realized on that last day that nothing else would satisfy him. “I want to live. I’d like to believe it. Please let me know when your men make contact with Joe.” She pressed the disconnect.

  This seemed the night for her to hang up on brilliant, forceful men who wanted to dominate her, she thought bitterly. Even Kaskov had been giving her problems toward the end of the conversation. Amazing.

  She didn’t bother to set the phone back on the nightstand. Jock would probably be calling her soon to reinforce the wisdom of Joe’s admonishment to go home.

  Another forceful man wanting his own way.

  No, another unique, wonderful man wanting to save her from Svardak.

  She stared into the darkness. Svardak was out there somewhere, a beast filled with hate, waiting for his chance to attack again. She could almost feel that vicious malice she had grown to know so well.

  But there’s so much goodness in the world, so many wonderful people. No one will let you survive for long. We’re waiting for you, too.

  But right now all she could feel was that hate reaching out to her in the darkness.

  LAKE KEDROW RANGER STATION WEST VIRGINIA

  “More coffee?” Svardak asked Abrams. “I believe there might be some frozen dinners in the freezer if you’re hungry. Evidently those rangers didn’t like driving all that distance to town for groceries.”

  “Maybe later,” Abrams said. “We picked up some burgers in Wheeling.”

  Both Abrams and Lacher were acting distinctly wary, Svardak thought as he poured himself a cup of coffee. He didn’t blame them. When Lacher and Abrams had driven up to the ranger station an hour ago, he had forced himself to be almost cordial. It probably wouldn’t last long. He was already losing patience. He’d thought that it might be expedient since he was wounded, short of men, and needed them, but they were not and never would be his equal. Abrams was barely tolerable. Lacher was shallow and stupid. “Suit yourself. I just wanted to offer you something after your long trip.”

  “Maybe we should leave this place,” Lacher said awkwardly. “One day’s drive, and we could be over the Canadian border. It’s not safe here.”

  “Is that your opinion?” Svardak asked. “How kind of you to share it with me. But I make the decisions, Lacher. Your job is only to listen and do what I say. Understood?”

  “Of course.” Lacher immediately backed down. “But you didn’t see what we went through on that mountain. I didn’t want anything to happen to you. It seems smarter to lay low for a while, then come back and hit them later.”

  “Smarter? Thank God I don’t pay you to have even a modicum of intelligence.” He turned to Abrams, who’d had the sense to keep silent. “What’s safer than hiding out here in the middle of this wilderness with the United States National Forest Service as a cover? Canada? I won’t let Kaskov and that bitch think they’ve got me on the run.” The mere idea was making his temper rise. “I’ll go after them as soon as I can. How many of my men can I still count on?”

  “Seven. Maybe eight,” Abrams said. “They’ll contact me, and I’ll arrange to bring them here. I was able to contact Laidlow after we got away from Coal Town. He was with two others, but they didn’t have a vehicle, so I don’t know how quickly they can get here. He said that he hadn’t been able to reach any of the camps on the cliff trail before he went on the run. He thinks they hit them first.”

  Svardak was swearing. “How did Kaskov’s men get that close without any of you fools spotting them?”

  “Kaskov’s men didn’t show up until later,” Lacher said. “It was that Detective Joe Quinn, whose picture you gave us, who set off those explosives.”

  “Quinn?” Svardak stiffened. “Are you certain?”

  “Hell, yes. You offered us a bonus for him if he showed up. I memorized his damn face,” Lacher said. “The bastard was picking us off from the trees after the blast.”

  “And he was alone?”

  “At first, then there was someone else with him. After Kaskov’s men came, we didn’t stick around to check IDs.”

  “The other man’s name was Gavin,” Abram’s said. “I heard Quinn call him when he was running up the trail toward the thicket. I can ask Laidlow if he knows anything more about him.”

  “Do it.” But Svardak was only slightly interested in anyone beside Joe Quinn. The fury was searing through him. He had been right to be wary of Cara’s guardian. He didn’t know how the son of a bitch had managed to pull this off, but he’d found a way to not only humiliate him but give Cara grounds to hold him up to scorn. It was totally unbearable. He could still see the triumph on her face after she’d stabbed him. That look had been more painful and infuriating than the wound itself. All the time he’d been here recovering and planning, he’d thought of little but how he could make her pay. Now that time was almost here. “Find out anything you can about him. But it’s Quinn I need. It’s Quinn I have to have.”

  “More than the woman?” Abrams asked.

  Svardak was tired of pretending that these men were anything but servants. “For God’s sake.” He got to his feet and headed for the door. “One will lead to the other. Quinn will give us Cara Delaney. And, after I’ve punished her for making me go through all this hideous trouble, she will give me Kaskov. But first I need Quinn.” He looked over his shoulder at them. “And Quinn will feel that he needs me. He won’t like the idea that I mistreated his sweet little ward. It will hurt his pride. He’ll want revenge.”

  “He’ll come after you?” Lacher moistened his lips. “But that might be another reason for us to go to—”

  “If you don’t shut up, I’ll tell Abrams to cut your throat, you yellow hyena,” he spat. “Listen carefully, and I might let you survive. Quinn will try to hunt me down. Your job is to hunt him down. He’ll expect my wound to hamper me and that I’ll be on the run. But we’re going to sit here and wait for him.”

  “Wait for him?”

  “There are two rangers that I disposed of in the shed in the back. Go bury them and put on their uniforms. Then go to neighboring towns and leave signs that will lead him here. Use the truck that you stole from that farmer. Talk to the merchants and police and tell them that you’d had tips that that the truck had been seen somewhere in this lake area and ask if they knew anything about it. Point them in this general direction because that’s where they’ll point Quinn.” His lips twisted. “You will be friendly and wholesome and smile a lot. Everyone will look at your uniform and be sure that you represent all that’s clean and environmentally correct in America.”

  “It might not work,” Abrams said slowly.

  “Make it work.” Svardak went out on the porch. “You really don’t want to disappoint me.”

  HOLIDAY INN

  “Wake up, Jock.” Cara pounded on his door. “I want to get out of here. I’ve waited for you long enough.”

  “It’s only 6 A.M.” He opened the door. “And I don’t believe we had an appointment.” He was fully dressed, and his hair was slightly damp from the shower. “Of course, I could be mistaken.”

  “But you know me. And you knew I’d be waiting for you to call me after you talked to Joe. Why didn’t you do it?”

  “Would it have done any good?” His lip
s tightened. “I told Joe that I was done with trying to talk you into anything. I’m strictly into damage control from now on. It’s hardly my fault that you expected anything else. Did you have a bad night?”

  “Yes. You probably knew I would. Everything you do and say has an effect on me. I can’t dismiss it. I tend to worry. Was it supposed to be punishment?”

  “Perhaps. Though I wasn’t aware of it. I’ve been a bit frustrated lately. I had a few things to do and thought I’d be better served doing them than arguing with you.”

  “What things?” Then she made an impatient gesture. “Never mind. Later. I have to get out of here. Are you coming with me?”

  “Certainly. Damage control is impossible long-distance.” He came out of the room and locked the door. “And where am I supposed to be going?”

  “Just away from this hotel.” She was crossing to her rental car, parked in front of the door of her room. “I was smothering, and I knew that if I took off on my own, you’d be tracking me down like Joe’s doing to Svardak. So I thought I’d just take you with me.”

  “Wise decision. It saves so much time.” He glanced at her violin case on the backseat of the car. “And I see you invited another old friend to come along. I’m sure the Amati is considerably more welcome than I am right now.”

  “Well, it doesn’t cause me as much trouble.” She opened the driver’s door. “Though I couldn’t play last night. Violin music is generally not welcome in the middle of the night in hotels. Particularly not old hotels with walls as thin as this one. I needed to play, and I couldn’t do it.”

  “Obviously I’m not the only one who was feeling frustrated last night.” He got into the passenger’s seat. “Those other guests don’t know what they missed. Where do you want to go?”

  “You tell me.” She backed out of the parking spot. “I don’t know anything about this place. You might say I’ve had limited access up in that canyon. You must have explored the entire area while you searched for me. Just somewhere I won’t bother anyone.” She shivered. “And that’s not anywhere near Lost Canyon.”