by Robert Crais
Pike side-hilled the slope through ivy and ice plants and more orange trees until he was below Vahnich's house, then worked his way up. From his present position, he saw a ranch-style house in need of paint, set on a dead yard littered with rotten oranges. The neighboring house was above it. The drive curved up to a carport at the front of the house. The blue car he glimpsed from the street was blocking the lowrider described by the cousins, and a new Chrysler LeBaron in the carport.
Two men stood at the front of the lowrider, a liquid black 1962 Bel Air that shone like burning coal. The hood was up, and both men were lost in the joys of the engine.
The way the house was cut into the slope, Pike knew a retaining wall and walkway would run along the opposite side of the house along its entire length. He was pretty sure he would find windows, and then he might find Larkin.
Pike started through the skeletal fruit trees toward the near end of the house, but as soon as his sight line changed, he saw her through the sliding glass doors cut into the back of the house. Larkin was sitting on the floor against the far wall in an empty room, facing the sliding doors. A man walked past her moving from left to right, heading for the front of the house. He wasn't Vahnich. Pike thought it through. At least six men were present-the five remaining Ecuadoreans, plus Vahnich.
Pike studied Larkin and felt an enormous sense of relief. He had lost her, but now had found her. She was sitting with her knees together, and her hands behind her back. Pike couldn't tell if she was tied, but he wanted to know; if she was bound, her movement would be limited. She didn't seem uncomfortable or injured. Her head was up, her eyes were open, and she was looking toward the front of the house. The choppy black hair made her look tough and good to go. Pike wondered if she would grow it out again and go back to the red. She was saying something to whoever she was looking at. Pike decided she was angry, which made his mouth twitch. He settled back, thinking, You are one damn fine young woman.
Pike opened his phone to dial Vahnich, and Vahnich answered immediately.
Yes?
He'll transfer the money. He's setting it up now.
This is a wise man. He has made the right choice.
I'm supposed to make sure you didn't cut off her hand or hurt her. He wants to be sure. Put her on for a second.
Vahnich didn't object.
A man entered from the right, squatted beside the girl, and held a phone to her head. It was Vahnich, and now Pike knew Larkin was tied.
Her voice came to his ear.
Joe?
I won't let him hurt you.
He says to tell you he hasn't hurt me.
Stay groovy.
Vahnich came to the glass with the phone. Pike wasn't alarmed. Vahnich was simply looking out over the Glendale Freeway toward the Verdugo Mountains. Pike could have killed him, but three other men were still inside with the girl.
Vahnich said, She is well, you see? I am a man of my word. I will honor our agreement.
His business guy says it's going to take another few minutes to compile this much money for transfer. They have it spread all over hell and back.
I understand.
I'll call you again. At that time, her father will want to personally hear her voice. Just to be sure. Then they'll hit the button.
Of course. I have no problem with that.
Good. You won't have any problems.
A reasonable terrorist. Polite and considerate.
Pike ended the call, then dialed Cole. While he was waiting for the ring, Vahnich turned away from the sliding doors and exited to the left. Pike didn't like it. Now he had Vahnich somewhere in the back of the house, another man in the front, and two men in unknown locations.
Cole answered.
Pike said, She's here. Two men are out front by the cars. The girl is inside in what looks like a family room or den at the back. At least three more men are inside, but I can't say where.
You see Vahnich?
That's affirm.
So Vahnich is confirmed in the house.
Yes.
Bud says he's calling the police.
Whatever. Where are you?
We're across the street.
How about you come up from below to watch the front? Bud can coordinate with the police and stay on the drive-stand by--
A big man Pike hadn't seen before came from the front of the house and pulled the girl to her feet. He shoved her toward the back. Pike didn't like the rough way he treated her, but he also didn't like it that she was being moved. Pike returned to the phone.
They're moving her. I'm going to see what's up.
Pike closed the phone, then made his way back across the slope to the far side of the yard, then to the walkway behind the house. Pike edged to the window, listened, then took out his gun. Pike didn't have to jack the slide or check to see if it was loaded like they do on TV. Pike kept one locked in the box and good to go. He knew it was loaded because it was always loaded.
He raised up enough to peek in the corner of the window. Larkin, the big man, and Vahnich were in an empty bedroom. Larkin was back on the floor with the big man standing nearby. They were watching Vahnich, who had a laptop open. He was getting ready for Pike's call. He had the girl ready to speak to her father, and his computer to confirm the transfer. After the transfer was confirmed, Vahnich would kill her. Vahnich or one of his men would likely cut her throat or strangle her, then they would drive to LAX and immediately leave the country. Pike wondered if Vahnich would do it himself.
Pike continued on to the carport. As he got closer, he heard the two men. He looked past the LeBaron. The two men had closed the hood, but were still by the car, talking. These two, Vahnich and the big man with Larkin, left two men who might be anywhere. Pike wondered if Cole could spot them from the other side of the house.
Pike drifted back a bit, then phoned Cole again, whispering.
Where are you?
Front of the house. I'm in some holly, downhill from the drive. How about you?
Holly bushes lined the property directly across from Pike.
Pike said, You see the two men by the Bel Air?
Twenty feet in front of me.
Look at the LeBaron. Now look past the LeBaron.
Got you.
Vahnich plus one with Larkin, plus these two are four. Can you locate the missing two from your side?
Stand by--
The two men by the Bel Air suddenly straightened and looked up the drive. Pike knew something was wrong, but he couldn't see what they were looking at. He lifted the phone--
What's on?
Dunno. I'll look.
Pike raised up to see for himself just as he heard Cole's reaction.
Cole said, Oh, shit.
Conner Barkley stalked down the drive.
BARKLEY came down the drive with an expression of blustery outrage, but the men were confused. They probably thought he was a neighbor and would have to shine him on, but Pike knew their confusion wouldn't last. Pike accelerated through the carport. He covered the distance silently and fast, knowing it would go bad. Barkley looked at him, and both men turned to see what Barkley was looking at. Pike hit the nearest man with his gun, but the second man lurched sideways, barking out a shout-Something behind Pike exploded and another man shouted as Cole pushed through the hedges. The two missing men were at the front door, one behind the other, the first man firing again-bam, bam-when Cole shot him in the chest; the shooter crumpling even as the man behind him shoved the door closed on his dying friend. Pike knew he would run to the back of the house.
All of it happened in glimpses: Barkley striding closer on abnormally stiff legs; Bud Flynn appearing at the top of the drive; Cole moving on the second man in a two-hand stance-
-only now the second man was on his knees with his hands up, staring at Cole.
Pike started for the house--
Larkin-
Cole said, Go--
Pike ran back the way he had come. Inside, the front shooter would be sc
reaming about what happened; Vahnich would be confused, then afraid; he would make one or both of his hitters return to see what was happening; and then Vahnich would make a decision-Middle of the day, a bright sunny day, and the world was gone to hell. Their only choices were bad-bad for Vahnich, bad for the girl, and bad for Pike. Vahnich could shoot it out in a hostage situation, or run. Vahnich didn't know how many people were on him, whether he was surrounded, or whether the police were involved, but the hostage card was a loser; if Vahnich stayed he would be trapped. Running was the best of the bad choices, so they would run-out the back and into the neighborhood, run and gun if they had to, invade a home in broad daylight, steal a car, and pray-but it was their last, best, and only chance.
Pike ran hard for the end of the house, and heard more shots as he ran. One shot would have been an execution, but multiple shots gave him hope. They were shooting at the front door to stall off a breach; this meant they were going to run.
Pike believed Khali Vahnich would kill Larkin, but he wouldn't kill her until they were outside the house. Vahnich didn't know what he would be facing and might need her as a shield. If the way was clear, he might kill her just before he went over the fence, but he wouldn't kill her before. He would kill her to punish her father, and he would kill her to punish Pike.
Pike took cover in the orange trees beyond the house just as the window came up. The big man climbed out first, dropped to a knee, then said something into the window. They pushed Larkin through; she fell straight down and landed with a sharp gasp. Vahnich landed on top of her, and then the final man came out, a short muscular guy with a bandana tied around his head, everyone tangled together, and then Vahnich pulled her close.
Pike steadied his gun against the orange tree.
When Cole came around the far side of the house, the bandana saw him, popped off one shot, and Cole fired back. The bandana went down with a high keening whine, but pushed to his knee and fired again. Cole dropped for cover as the sliding glass doors flew open, and Bud Flynn came out, gun up and ready. Bud must have forgotten himself.
He shouted, Police!
The bandana swung toward Bud, and Pike shot him in the head.
Vahnich and the big man saw Pike, and Vahnich jerked the girl in front of them for a shield as they scuttled backwards toward the slope. The big man fired at Flynn, then Cole, but the shots were wild and pointless.
Pike said, You're done.
Bud was behind a heavy clay pot, shouting.
Drop your weapons! Drop'm now!
Conner Barkley came through the doors. He had no gun and did not look for cover. Maybe he didn't know that's what you were supposed to do. He stormed past Bud into the yard and stopped-out in the open, in front of Bud, and alone.
Spittle flew from his face when he shouted.
You let her go! Let my daughter go!
The big man shifted out from behind the girl to fire. He only moved an inch or two, but the sight picture was perfect, like a dot on top of an i. Pike shot him before he could fire, and the big man fell like a sack.
Bud was still screaming, but he had crabbed sideways so he wouldn't shoot Barkley.
Drop your weapon, goddamnit! Put it down! You're done, you sonofabitch! Down!
Barkley was screaming, too; screaming as if he was having a tantrum.
You let her go. Let GO!
Pike stepped out from behind the orange tree. Vahnich caught the movement and angled to watch him, keeping the girl between them. Vahnich had drawn himself as small as possible behind her, and peeked from behind her head. His gun was pressed hard into her neck, but Pike couldn't have that. He moved into the open, set himself, and lined up on Vahnich's eye. He found the rhythm of Vahnich's fear. The eye moved, the gun moved; the eye and the gun became one.
Pike said, Dead man.
The first kiss of sirens whiffed up the hill. Bud and Barkley were still screaming. Pike did not see Cole but trusted he was on target. He did not look at Larkin because she might see his fear. Pike saw only Vahnich's eye and the eye looking back.
Vahnich dropped his gun. The gun fell, but nothing else moved. Vahnich had made his decision. He would take his chances with the courts.
Vahnich called from behind the girl.
I dropped it. I'm giving up. I surrender.
Bud shouted the instructions Pike had heard a hundred times.
Raise your hands above your head. Raise them high! Lace your fingers on your head!
Vahnich raised his hands. He laced his fingers on his head. The girl still had not moved, and neither had Pike.
Pike said, Larkin. Go to your dad.
She started toward Pike.
Go to your father.
She ran to her father.
Vahnich said, I give up!
Bud had come out from behind the pot. Cole was covering the men they had shot. Pike crabbed sideways across the yard until he was between Vahnich and the girl, his gun never leaving the eye.
Behind him, Bud said, Joe. Son, the police are coming.
Pike said, Larkin, you okay? You good?
He was going to kill me. He was--
I know.
Bud said, Officer Pike--
Pike pulled the trigger. The gun made a loud pop that sounded hollow in the open air. The body fell.
Pike walked over to secure their weapons. He checked the bodies. All three were dead.
Bud was staring at him with his hands at his sides as if he had been drained of life. Conner Barkley was holding his daughter. Cole tucked his own pistol into his waist as he came over.
Cole said, You okay?
Sure. How's that leg?
Better. At least we didn't get shot this time.
Pike went to the girl. Conner watched him coming, and Pike saw he was crying. Billionaire tears looked like everyone else's.
Pike placed his hand on Larkin's back and whispered.
I won't let them hurt you. I won't let anyone hurt you.
She turned to him then and hugged him. She buried her face against his chest, and Pike rested his chin on her head. Bud was watching him. Bud looked sad and disappointed.
Pike said, I still hate bullies. Live with it.
Pike was holding the girl when the police arrived.
OCEAN AVENUE was lit with smoky gold light that time of morning, there at the edge of the sea. Pike ran along the crown of the street, enjoying the peace and the rhythm of his body. It was three fifty-nine that morning. No cars had disturbed him for more than two miles, and the coyotes did not pace him. He was the only beast in the city, but this was about to change. She turned onto Ocean at San Vicente and roared toward him through the darkness. He recognized her new car, so he stayed on the center line and did not break his stride.
Larkin zoomed past, swung around, and idled up alongside him. She had gotten a pearl white Aston convertible. The top was down. She had kept the short hair, but had gone back to red. She grinned the lip-curling smile. Pike was glad her confidence was back.
Only a lunatic runs this early.
Only a lunatic driving this early would find me.
I asked your boy Cole. Since you won't return my calls anymore.
Uh-huh.
I think he wants to kiss me.
Uh-huh.
Pike had stopped returning her calls. They had talked often in the weeks following the incident, but he didn't know what more he could say.
She said, Can you talk while you run?
Sure.
She took a moment to get it together, then told him what she came to say.
I'm not going to bother you anymore. Now, just because I'm not calling you doesn't mean you can't call me if you change your mind. You can call whenever you want, but I get it you want me to stop, so I'm going to stop.
Okay.
The old flash of anger darkened her eyes.
My friend, that was WAY too easy. The least you could do is pretend.
Not with you.
The car idled alongside him. Pike caught
a glimmer on the bluff, and wondered if it was a coyote.
After a bit, she said, Do you believe in angels?
No.
I do. That's why I go driving like this. I look for angels. They only come out at night.
That was something else Pike didn't know how to answer, so he said nothing.
She looked up at him.
I'm not going to call anymore because that's what you want; not because I want to stop. You probably think you're too old for me. You probably think I'm too young. I'll bet you hate rich people.
Pick one.
Larkin smiled again, and Pike was glad to see it. He loved her in-your-face smile. But then her smile faded and her eyes filled, and he didn't like that so well.
She said, You probably think I'll get over it, but I won't. I love you. I love you so damn much I would do anything for you.
I know you would.
I'd even stop calling.
The Aston Martin roared away, its engine screaming with pain.
Pike watched her taillights flare. She turned east on San Vicente, and raced toward the city.
Pike said, I love you.
He ran alone in the darkness, wishing the coyotes would join him.
The Last Day Goodbye Kiss 46
TURTLE ISLANDGULF OF THAILAND
182 DAYS LATER
JON STONE gazed out over the azure gulf and dreamed of ships at sea. Sailing ships of the late 1700s; not these silicon-chip water-rockets any geek could sail, but wooden ships built by hands and sweat, and sailed by men who lived by their belief in monsters. Jon imagined his ship rounding the point, a forty-gun frigate, himself a lieutenant in the Royal Navy, bound to the mast by duty and honor here on the far side of the world. Those were days of beauty, and Jon Stone wished he had been part of it.
The dude's house had put him in the mood; top-of-the-line, no-expense-spared new, for sure, but with a wild, primitive freedom that screamed for those earlier times. The walls were these big plantation shutters that could be pushed aside so the inside and the outside were one, opening the house to the sea and the jungle and a warm breeze that smelled of flowers caught in a woman's hair: a neo-plantation tropical palace overlooking the Gulf of Thailand-the beautiful chaos of the jungle bowling away to a coconut orchard, the orchard giving way to an immaculate white beach and the blue-on-blue sweep of ocean and sky, all of it like a rich boy's fantasy of Tarzan's tree house, maybe, or one of those African manors where British admirals retired.