Hard Target

by Barbara Phinney

  "No! Downstairs!"

  One barrel-chested man twisted Tay's arm around to his back and propelled him out the door. Despite the agony, Tay fought back.

  When they were free of the mantrap, Tay doubled over, flipping the heavy firefighter over his back. Another firefighter behind him shouted. Tay grabbed him, fully prepared to drag that firefighter into the basement if he had to.

  "Hastings!"

  Tay spun. Ambassador Legace was striding up the broken concrete toward the front steps, a bodyguard beside him, and one behind him.

  "What do you think you're doing, fighting the firefighters?"

  "Dawna's downstairs in the shelter. I need help! The entire shelving unit has collapsed on top of her and is threatening to slice open her throat. I couldn't lift it off and drag her out at the same time."

  The ambassador barked out several orders in Spanish to the firefighters. Several of them charged back into the building. One called out to the rescue truck just entering the compound, where two others sprang into action. Tay turned back to the door.

  Again, the ambassador rattled out something in Spanish, and one of his bodyguards leapt up to latch onto Tay.

  Tay swung around and plowed his fist into the man's face. The bodyguard staggered back and immediately, the other swung into action, as did a vigilante, both pinning him to their sturdy frames.

  "Hastings!" Ambassador Legace held up his hand. "Don't be a fool! Leave those firefighters to do their job."

  "No, I won't! I promised Dawna I wouldn't leave her. Not this time. And you must stop Lucy!"

  The ambassador hesitated. "Lucy?"

  "Trust me! Find her! But let me go to Dawna!"

  He locked gazes with the ambassador, daring the older man to defy him.

  A small, approving smile appeared on Dennis Legace's lips. "Go, then."

  Some locals were calling out to her. Dawna wanted to answer, but didn't dare. She couldn't find the words in English, let alone Spanish. The blood on the jagged steel shard had darkened and she could feel its wetness on her skin.

  Tay was coming back for her. She knew it. She refused to believe otherwise. Even if those locals found her and managed to pull this mangled shelf off her, she would not move until Tay returned.

  "Dawna!"

  She shut her eyes, a soft smile hovering at the corners of her mouth. "Tay," she whispered.

  She could hear him plowing past the other men. She wanted to laugh out loud, but not with this knife at her throat.

  "Here!" Tay was at her head. Without another word, he wrapped his hand around the steel shard and protected her throat from it. Voices, so many of them, all Spanish, all talking at once. It hardly seemed possible that they could get organized enough to lift the shelf off her, but they did.

  Tay let go of the steel shard. His palm was bleeding, dripping down on Dawna's cheek. Carefully, they settled her onto a backboard. Someone strapped her in tight, at bit too tightly considering they had to twist her arm around. She shut her eyes against the agony.

  Someone padded her head. She knew she was bleeding.

  Tay held her hand. At that very moment, she didn't care if she bled to death, as long as he held her hand.

  He'd come back. She knew he would.

  Outside, more Spanish voices. Cheering, a shout from a camera crew. In English, even. Dawna recognized Ambassador Legace's face as she was whisked into the ambulance. Tay's hand slipped from hers.

  But she heard his voice in her ear. "I'll follow. I'll meet you at the hospital."

  I know, she thought, unable to muster the energy to even speak.

  Daylight streamed in through the high windows beside Dawna. She peered around the room.

  "Awake yet?"

  She looked to her left. Tay was there, holding her hand, smiling at her. The corners of her mouth twitched up. He was there. He was waiting for her.

  "Welcome back."

  She swallowed, her throat parched. "How long have I been out of it?"

  "A couple of days."

  With a groan, she dropped her head back onto the pillows. She could feel Tay's bandaged hand tighten around hers.

  "But, more importantly," he added, still clinging to her hand, "you're finally awake. How do you feel?"

  "Pretty good, all things considered."

  Tay chuckled. "That's the morphine. You've got enough in you to keep you smiling into next week."

  She tried to peer down at her arms. "Do I still have everything? I didn't lose an arm or a leg, did I?"

  "All you lost was too much blood," Tay answered. "You had a dislocated clavicle and some cuts and scrapes, but they're all on the mend now."

  Testing her fingers and toes, she laughed. "Everything's working, all right." Her laughter died away. "Tell me what happened."

  "After you were loaded in the ambulance?"

  "About Lucy."

  "I don't have all the details, yet. I haven't spent much time at the embassy, I'm afraid. Lucy lured the new vigilante out of the security room by pretending to be you on the phone. And she wanted to get rid of me. She saw me putting my sidearm away and shoved me into the vault. She must have moved incredibly fast when she grabbed my weapon, too. I think she was planning-"

  "To frame me. I know. Lucy noticed we were fighting and took advantage of it. If her plan had worked, I would have been blamed for shoving you into the vault, and then of trying to blow up the embassy. She made it look like the bomb exploded prematurely."

  "We figured that much." He caressed her hand.

  "How did you get out of the vault?"

  "I used the embassy's cell phone to call Andy, who called the security office."

  "You're lucky the signal got through the steel."

  "I wasn't sure it had. There was a lot of static. How did you know Ramos was Chayo?"

  "I remembered the fax. I'd only skimmed it, but your friend had highlighted Chayo's name, along with Lucy's and her son's names." She shifted to get more comfortable. "Ramos, I mean Chayo, was bothered when we were at the policia. He was getting nervous, starting to suspect what might be happening."

  With a nod, Tay agreed. "And Cabanelos knew the real Ramos from years ago. He told us Ramos wasn't who he seemed."

  "Then when I saw Chayo's name linked to Lucy, I guessed he'd been impersonating his cousin. I'm not sure why...."

  "I do. Chayo worked with Bolivia's diplomatic staff, and had immunity against charges of manslaughter. But times are tough, and he needed work, so he returned to the only work he knew, in embassy circles, posing as his cousin, Ramos who'd miraculously returned from being missing and presumed dead. I imagine they looked similar enough."

  "Chayo is wanted for manslaughter?"

  "He'd been driving the snowmobile that killed Joseph Porter, Senior, twelve years ago. But he had diplomatic immunity and left the country a few days later. He'd been drunk at the time, and the police wanted to charge him with a whole slew of offenses."

  Tay looked disgusted. "Lucy couldn't handle the stress and after her breakdown, she lost custody of her son, who was adopted by a diplomat from California who'd been in Ottawa at the time."

  Dawna bit her lip. "How's Lucy doing?"

  Tay looked grim as he tightened his grip on her hand. "We can't find her."

  Chapter Twenty-four

  "I can't believe you talked me into letting you come here. You should still be in the hospital."

  "I'm fine," Dawna answered Tay.

  "Wounds heal slower at high altitudes."

  "I know. I'll catch up with the healing after this is over."

  Tay sighed. She was right. The investigation wasn't over, yet. "Dawna. When it is over, we're talking. Big time talking. Hours of it, if that's what it takes."

  He couldn't believe he'd just said that. Peering out across the dusty courtyard of the convent just outside of Cardon Plata, he shook his head.

  Dawna turned to him. "What's wrong?"

  "Look, I know this isn't the right time to say this, but...what we start
ed back there in my hotel room? Not the argument, the, um, other thing. Well, I was satisfying an urge I'd had for three years. But I had to stop. It didn't feel right to just..."

  She listened to him and he could have sworn he saw a hint of amusement at his stumbling words. He hated this. He was never tongue-tied. Never.

  "...you know, make love to you. Will you marry me?"

  A soft sound diverted her attention. Her head snapped the other way. "What's that noise?"

  Tay grabbed his binoculars. Where they were hidden, in a small alcove leading to the outdoor baño, they had a full view of the courtyard and the sweep of downward land that led to Cardon Plata.

  A small car was approaching. It still had several more minutes to reach them, so Tay lowered the binos.

  "Who is it?" Dawna asked, taking the binos to scan the road.

  "Lucy."

  Dawna looked grim when she handed him back the binoculars. Tay understood. Her face showed the steely concentration he knew she possessed, but her eyes reflected a mix of relief and disappointment.

  Tay signaled to Andy Bonner, who'd flown in with a small contingent of RCMP officers. Dawna had been dead set against it, and so had the ambassador, but with Dennis Legace's influence, they would remain observers and nothing more.

  Andy nodded and signaled back that they were ready. Listening equipment strapped to Dawna would record whatever was said.

  Tay caught movement in one of the upper room windows. All the nuns had been moved out for the day, thanks to the priest they'd met in the church in Cardon Plata. The man wanted Lucy punished for killing Cabanelos.

  And to answer a few important questions. Like, Tay thought, who was Cabanelos' wife? Though Tay had a pretty good idea who she was, he wanted the truth from Lucy.

  The ambassador peered out of the window, briefly. Regardless of the security risk, Ambassador Legace had insisted he come here.

  Tay shook his head. "It's a wonder the embassy here has survived as long as it has, with a stubborn ambassador and an even more stubborn security officer, who I might add, still hasn't decided to accept my proposal. Who won't even acknowledge that I've told her I love her."

  Dawna looked away and swallowed. He knew this wasn't the time to discuss their problems, but the very fact that she hadn't said a thing about the proposal, ate at him. He threw a sharp glance up at the window. Andy stared back down at him. Everyone in the upper room had heard Tay's proposal, but frankly, he didn't care.

  In the distance, around the corner of the dun colored convent, a car pulled to a stop. Through his ear piece, the Mountie hidden out front informed them that the driver was alone.

  Just as they suspected, with Joseph Martin behind bars in Cochabamba after being caught trying to leave the city, Lucy was now forced to work alone.

  Tay checked the courtyard again. The cats still lounged in front of them. One more had joined the orange tabby on the wall to bask in the sunshine, while a black and white female sat calmly nearby. Dawna had opened four cans of tuna to attract them all, and now the fish was gone, the cats had decided to groom and doze. They were used to Dawna's scent because of her visits to Lucy's apartment, and were too full to bother with Tay.

  Dawna grabbed his arm. For a hopeful flash, he thought she might be answering his private prayer. He wanted her. He wanted to marry her because he loved her. But she'd said nothing.

  He saw her point across the courtyard.

  Lucy appeared.

  Almost stealthily, she crept into view, carrying a small plastic bag.

  "Here, kitties. Here, kitties. Mommy's here."

  Her soft crooning reached them. Tay glanced once more up to Andy, who gave him a nod. Everything was working perfectly.

  "There you all are. Have you missed your mommy?" She walked over to the dozing cats, one of whom responded immediately to Lucy's soft pat. It arched its back, begging to be scratched as it rubbed its face over Lucy's hand.

  "I wouldn't forget about you. Did you like coming back here to your old home? Are the sisters giving you enough to eat, babies? I brought your favorite treats for being so good."

  Tay looked at Dawna. She'd correctly guessed that Lucy would return here. The cats weren't at her apartment when Tay and Marconi had searched it. Lucy had already returned them to the convent where the ambassador had found them. She wouldn't turn them back out onto the streets to die.

  Dawna nodded to Tay and rose.

  He held his breath. One of the Mounties was stationed right above them with a rifle and scope. Another Mountie had been relieved of duty. He'd retched from the altitude, a common symptom of the early stages of altitude sickness. A local policia from Oruro, along with a medic, were giving him oxygen.

  No one had wanted Dawna approaching Lucy, as she was still sick. But at least Dawna was wearing a vest.

  She was trained. He knew this, had admired her abilities, but still, the overwhelming urge to shove her down and out of sight burst within him.

  Dawna stepped up onto the hard packed dirt of the courtyard, avoiding the spiky grass that grew in clumps at this altitude. She stood still, barely breathing. Lucy was rummaging through the small plastic bag she'd brought with her, still talking softly to her cats. A quiet breeze drifted into the courtyard and rustled the dry leaves of the single, stunted eucalyptus that grew behind the half wall in front of Lucy.

  She was only about fifteen feet away, and appeared so small and unassuming.

  Looks could be so deceiving.

  One of the cats snapped its head over, its ears perked as it caught Dawna's scent.

  Lucy glanced up and froze.

  "Hello, Lucy."

  Surprisingly, the older woman sagged. "Dawna! How did you know I was here?"

  "Your cats weren't in your apartment. Ambassador Legace had taken them from this convent to give to you. I knew you wouldn't abandon them. I figured you'd return them here."

  "Of course I wouldn't leave them, though it was a bit nerve-wracking to drive up here to deliver them."

  "You did it the other night, didn't you? When people were searching Cochabamba for you, you were up here."

  "Yes." Lucy peered up at her. "I didn't forget about you, either. I'm glad you're all right."

  "No thanks to you."

  Lucy looked earnest as she shook her head. "I told you it wasn't personal." She coughed, thanks to the altitude.

  "I know."

  "I had to do it."

  "You had to assault Tay and frame me for it? Why did you try to kill me?"

  Her hand still in the plastic bag, Lucy shook her head. "I wasn't trying to kill you. I only wanted it to look like you were responsible for the bombing. You and Tay were too close to the truth, especially after what Ambassador Legace said."

  "What did he say?" Dawna took another casual step forward. Her shoulder still ached, but she couldn't worry about it. Not now.

  "He told me you two had been asking about Chayo. He was afraid for my privacy."

  "What does the ambassador know about him?" Dawna knew the answer to that question. But she had to hear it from Lucy. And not just for the body mike she wore.

  "He knows everything. But still he was willing to give me a second chance. You can understand that, can't you?"

  Dawna nodded. "He gave you another chance after you were released from the mental hospital, didn't he?"

  "Of course he did. After I'd spent four long years in that institute, he was still willing to hire me. Everyone advised against it, but he wanted me to have that second chance."

  "You ruined your second chance, Lucy."

  "I did not! I've had twelve, long years to think about this and four of them in a nice, quiet institute, where they even offer extra education. I learned Spanish because I knew I'd need it."

  Lucy threw off the plastic bag she carried, revealing Tay's Glock. By now, Dawna was not more than four feet from her. She thought of the Mountie above her on the roof, and she thought of Lucy. The plastic bag plopped to the ground between them, spilling out c
at treats.

  Poor, psychotic Lucy. She shouldn't have to die while Chayo was still at large.

  One of the cats leapt down from the short wall, distracting Lucy for a moment. Dawna lunged for her, throwing up her arms in a sweeping motion to knock the gun from her hand.

  Both of them slammed into the dirt. Dawna heard Lucy's breath leave her lungs in a single, hard woof.

  The gun skittered over the dust. All of the cats scattered. Straddled on top of the squirming Lucy, Dawna slapped the woman's hands over her head. "Stop it, Lucy, it's over."

  In a single motion -- a painful motion considering her shoulder -- Dawna flipped Lucy and dragged her hands down to the small of her back.

  Multiple sets of footsteps pounded toward her. As several officers secured Lucy, Tay reached Dawna, yanking her up.

  "What do you think you're doing, Rambo? She could have killed you. I thought you were properly trained, woman!"

  "I am," she panted from the exertion. "I saw an opportunity and took it. Andy's man would have taken her down, but she doesn't need to die."

  "Why not?" Lucy screamed up at them. "What do I have to live for, anyway?" Her face twisted in fury. "I lost everything! My husband, my son, my sanity. I had nothing after Chayo killed my Joseph. Nothing!" She struggled, but the police held her fast. "I didn't even have the comfort of knowing that Chayo was in prison. He didn't just kill Joseph, he killed my whole family!"

  She drew in a deep breath. "I wasn't even allowed to contact my son. They took him away. Out of the country, just like Chayo." She was sobbing openly. "They stole him and changed his name. All I had left in me was revenge." She stilled and stared up past Dawna.

  Turning, Dawna saw the ambassador striding toward them, his escoltas hurrying to keep up. She groaned and muttered to Tay as she tossed out her hand in the older man's direction, "See what I have to protect? And HQ doesn't think I can do it well enough? They should try protecting him."

  Tay nodded.

  "Ambassador," Lucy cried out, between the two of them. "Dennis! You know what I've been through." Her voice turned pleading. "Chayo ruined my life, my family! And where is he, now? No one can find him. Justice will never be served. Never!" The last word broke with a heavy sob.