by Karen Fenech
“Listen very carefully, Dr. Collins. To do otherwise will cost Agent Burke his life.”
The voice was garbled, spoken in a cold, crisp tone that raised the hair on the back of Eve’s neck.
“Who are you?” Eve’s grip on the phone tightened. “Is he all right?”
“I think you know I’m the one you’ve been wanting to meet.”
Sweat trickled between Eve’s shoulder blades.
“When I’ve finished speaking, you will leave the cabin and go into the woods. Once there, walk briskly. Keep walking. Do not stop. I will meet you. You are to do this as soon as I finish speaking. At this moment, one of my people has a rifle trained on Agent Burke’s head. If you disobey my order, he will be killed. If you try to contact him, if he reaches for his cell phone, his head will explode like a melon. Do you comprehend me?”
“Ye-s.” Eve’s teeth chattered as she responded. “You didn’t answer my question. Is Burke all right? How do I know you aren’t bluffing? That you even know where he is?”
“He’s at a warehouse at Ten Little Road.”
Eve’s insides seemed to quiver as her caller recited the address for Burke’s meeting with Matt Deligne.
“You have ten minutes, Dr. Collins. Keep me waiting and Burke will be killed.”
An instant later, Eve’s phone was silent.
Tears welled in Eve’s eyes. They were useless and she forced them back. She wanted to retrieve Burke’s spare gun from the armoire but the man who’d called her was no fool. She would not be able to keep a gun hidden from him. She would have to leave the weapon behind.
She left the cabin. She strode over the rocks and plant life that made up the forest floor. She had to make contact with her caller on time, show him that she’d followed his instructions and make sure that he didn’t harm Burke.
A bird swooped up from a branch. Eve gasped. Her heart was racing and it pounded harder. Her caller had been using a device that garbled his voice. No way for her to identify him. It didn’t matter now. She’d soon be face-to- face with him.
John. John. She picked up her pace. Fear that her caller would make good on his threat hastened her footsteps.
In her urgency, she didn’t see a rock that jutted up from the ground. Her foot caught and she fell forward, onto her hands and knees. She gasped as one palm scraped something that drew blood.
Without a glance at her injury, she pushed back the hair that had fallen across her face like a curtain. When she glanced up, it was into a familiar face.
“Mr. Lanski?”
Eve felt a surge of joy at seeing Lanski’s familiar face that for an instant she didn’t question his presence in the woods behind Burke’s cabin. Then she noticed the semi-automatic weapon he’d trained on her. She shook her head, not wanting to believe what she was seeing about the man standing in front of her.
Lanski laughed. “No doubt you’re confused. I’m quite the actor aren’t I?” He laughed again, clearly proud of himself.
“All along it’s been you?” Eve’s voice came out weak.
“Why do you say it like that?” Lanski’s mirth vanished, replaced by anger. “Don’t you think I’m capable of this? Of outsmarting the mighty Burke?”
Lanski’s sudden mood change sent another burst of fear through Eve.
“No one at the conference tampered with your insulin,” Lanski went on. “I made the switch the day before when Richard died, while Burke was occupied speaking with you. I was Richard’s accomplice. I contacted him about developing the formula. The plan was mine all along.” Lanski puffed out his chest with self-importance. “All was going well until Burke found out about the chemical weapon and that Richard wasn’t working alone. I covered my tracks. I don’t know how Burke found out Richard had an accomplice.” Lanski clenched his fists. “After that, I had to pretend to investigate. I had to protect myself and provide Burke with an accomplice. You were perfect for the role, Dr. Collins. Richard never named you. I set that up. Spoon fed it to Burke.” Lanski sneered. “Once the deal was made, I intended to dispose of Richard, and you. You and Richard were meant to be my scapegoats.”
“You killed Richard?”
“No.” Lanski’s mouth tightened. “It was heart failure, as I said. I wouldn’t have killed him then. I still had use for him. I needed him to deliver the formula and to attend the meeting with the buyer. To answer any questions about the formula. Chemistry isn’t my specialty.” Lanski flushed at the admission. “Richard’s death was inconvenient.”
“And left you without the formula,” Eve said.
“I set up the alternate meeting at the hotel and sent Burke the text message so I could search your cottage.” Lanski smirked. “I also wanted to mess with his head. Show him that he isn’t infallible. That he could be duped. And he fell for it, like a fish on the line. But the formula wasn’t there.” Lanski’s smile slipped. “Burke thought he was so clever. We’ll see if he still thinks so when this is day is done.”
Eve’s breathing quickened. “Is he all right?”
Lanski laughed. “All a bluff. I never had anyone ready to kill Burke. He’s alive. For now. I’d love to go on telling you what fools you and Burke have been, but the thing of it is, we need to leave here now. We have more to do.”
A cold sweat broke out on Eve’s skin. “So many people will die if that formula is used? How can you do this?”
Lanski seized her arm. “Money. A whole lot of money. I promised this formula to people I work for. They’re not the type to accept a shrug and an apology if I don’t deliver. I’ll be strung up by me - shall we say - intimate parts - if I don’t give them what they’re paying for. I don’t plan on allowing that to happen. Come on.”
“You won’t get away with this.”
“Oh, but I will. I already have. I’ve been monitoring your phone calls. Another mistake the great Burke made. I overheard him tell you that Agent Deligne is the one you’ve been chasing.” Lanski raised his head, basking in the bright sunlight. “By the time Burke learns of his mistake, it will be too late. All evidence points to you and Patterson. With Patterson now unable to refute his claim and exonerate you, you will take the wrap. You’re guilty in the eyes of my superiors and my orders are to bring you in.” He bared his teeth in a parody of a smile. “Too bad we won’t be doing that. But, if it matters to you, you will be seeing Burke one more time when he brings me the formula. For the last time.”
Again, fear for Burke asserted itself and Eve shivered. “Burke will have back up. He won’t meet with you alone.”
“He cannot involve the Agency. His superiors would never allow him to use the formula as a bargaining tool. He’s been in the Intelligence game long enough to know that. Oh, no, he’s on his own if he wants to save your life. And he knows what kind of adversary I am, so he won’t doubt when I say I will kill you if he doesn’t deliver. That’s exactly what he will do, Dr. Collins. He will deliver the formula to me.” Lanski’s gaze narrowed. His features pulled taut in anger. He seized her by one shoulder and gave her a shake that knocked her teeth together. “He’ll do exactly that.” His voice dripped venom. “Exactly what I tell him to do. He will betray his agency and his country and hand the formula to me. And then he’ll die because of it.”
Chapter Fourteen
Eve was gone.
Burke looked about him, moving his head from side to side like a wild man. Had she been taken? That was the only explanation that made sense and Burke’s mouth went dry at the prospect of her being in the hands of the man who wanted her dead.
Lanski.
How could he have misjudged his second in command? Trusted him. Burke was trained to spot a traitor. He knew the signs. He’d missed them and now his lapse could cost Eve her life. His mouth went dry at that thought and left him as weak as a newborn colt.
Burke’s cell phone rang. Caller ID read Eve. His heart thumped. But of course it wasn’t Eve calling but Lanski.
“Hello, Burke.”
“I want to speak with E
ve.”
“I’m sure you do. But you’re no longer calling the shots. From now on, you’ll do as I tell you. Whatever I tell you.”
“Okay.” Lanski was riding high on his power. Burke played to his second in command, deliberately making his tone desperate, defeated. “You’re in charge.”
“You’d do well not to forget if you want to keep Eve alive.”
Sweat broke out on Burke’s forehead.
“Let me talk with her. Please.”
Lanski laughed. “Oh, I like it when you beg. Ask me again, just like that and I may grant your request.”
“Please,” Burke repeated.
Lanski laughed loud. An instant later, Eve was on the line.
“Burke - don’t do--” Eve cried out.
“Eve!”
“She’s still breathing. For the moment. You shouldn’t have tried to undermine me, Dr. Collins. I’m going to have to teach you not to do that again.”
Burke’s blood chilled. He needed to change tactics, return Lanski’s focus to him and away from Eve. “Lanski. Still the coward. Still hiding. Come out and face me. If you have the guts . . . ”
“Oh, I’ll face you! Very soon. Make no mistake about that! You have something I want
and I intend to get it.”
“The formula.”
“Bingo. You’ll get the lady doc back alive when I get the formula.”
“How do I know you won’t kill her as soon as we end this call?”
“You don’t. But you’ll take that chance. If you don’t, I’ll kill her for sure.”
Burke knew Lanski had him. He tried to calm his racing heart. “Where and when?”
“The warehouse where you met Deligne suits me.”
“If Eve isn’t at the trade or isn’t in good health, I will destroy the formula before your eyes. Your associates won’t take kindly to that. Hear me, Lanski. If you hurt her, I will leave you to your associates and let them mete out their justice on you. Be clear on that.”
“You’re in no position to issue threats, Burke.”
But Burke heard a tremor in Lanski’s voice and knew he’d struck a nerve.
“Two hours,” Lanski said.
Burke’s hand trembled as he closed his phone. If he played this wrong, Eve would die. He shut his eyes tight, battling back fear that threatened to cripple him.
One hour later, he was outside the cabin, getting ready to leave for the meet with Lanski when a boat came into view. As it neared, Burke made out a logo for a marina across the lake that rented boats and, he saw Eve, her beautiful hair blowing in the breeze.
She was alive and standing on her own two feet beside Lanski. Whatever he’d done with her, he hadn’t hurt her badly enough that she couldn’t stand. Burke released a deep breath of relief and wiped the sweat that had been trickling down his neck since Lanski’s phone call.
Eve was wearing a trench coat. Overly large. A man’s coat. As Lanski docked the boat, Burke could see that Eve stood flush against her captor. He felt a rush of fear that shook him, thinking maybe her standing upright beside Lanski was nothing more than a pose - maybe she needed Lanski to prop her up and couldn’t stand unaided. As those thoughts raced through his mind, overpowering all other thoughts and emotions, Lanski stepped out of the boat onto the dock. Eve remained standing, though as Burke could now see, she was slightly bent over at the waist, as if unable to stand erect.
“Eve!”
Her gaze met his through the windshield. She didn’t respond.
“Where is the formula, Burke?”
“Eve!” Burke called out.
“I asked you a question,” Lanski said.
Burke focused on Lanski. “So you did.” He turned to Eve again. “Eve, are you all right?”
“John.”
Her voice quavered.
“Why aren’t you standing upright?”
Lanski said, “She won’t be standing at all if you don’t--”
Burke turned his head slowly and gave Lanski the full force of his gaze. In a lethal whisper he said, “And you won’t be getting what you came here for if you’ve hurt her.”
Lanski’s mouth pinched now. An angry flush stained his cheeks red.
“She can’t stand because I have tied her to the steering wheel. The rope is too short for her to stand fully. She is unhurt, though.”
“I’ll hear it from her,” Burke said. “Eve.”
She nodded.
Reluctantly, he took his gaze from her and returned his attention to Lanski. “So you decided to change the meeting place.”
Lanski nodded.
“You played it down to the wire. Another minute or two and you would have arrived here after I’d already left.”
“Not down to the wire, I timed it perfectly.” Lanski sneered. “Just as this transaction is going to go perfectly. I’ve been patient, allowing you to satisfy yourself as to Dr. Collins’s condition. She’s unharmed as you can see. Oh, you’re probably thinking that since she’s okay, you can come up with a way to have both her and the formula. You underestimated me, again, Burke. She’s fine at the moment. But that could change in an instant.” Lanski reached out and snagged the coat from Eve’s shoulders.
Burke’s breath held. Strapped to her waist was a bomb.
Lanski laughed. “That’s right. You aren’t mistaken. That is a bomb on Dr. Collins.” He held up his hand, displaying a detonator. “Boom!”
Eve cried out and Lanski laughed again.
“Oops,” Lanski said. “Wouldn’t want to set off the bomb by mistake.”
Burke’s fist clenched. He longed to grab Lanski by the throat even as his own throat constricted.
“It’s rigged on a three minute timer, Burke. Surely, you can deactivate a bomb in three minutes.” Lanski snapped his fingers. “Oh, that’s right you can’t.” Lanski smirked. “I’m the bomb expert.”
“Here’s the formula.” Burke removed Richard Patterson’s pages from his shirt pocket and held them aloft. “Now, give me the detonator.”
Lanski tapped his index finger to his lips and scrunched up his face as if considering Burke’s words. Then, he yelled, “Buzz! No! I won’t be doing that just yet.”
Lanski was beaming, clearly enjoying his power.
“Oh. Oh. My hand is starting to sweat, Burke. If you want to get that bomb deactivated before my finger slips to the switch, move this transfer along.”
“Set the detonator on the ground now and step back from it and we’ll make the trade.”
“To think, after working together for three years, you don’t trust me.” Lanski grinned and shook his head.
“Put the detonator down, Lanski, or the deal is off.”
Lanski took his gun out from beneath his jacket. “Or, I could just kill her now.” Lanski pivoted on his heel and turned to Eve. He aimed the barrel of his gun at her forehead. I’m a crack shot, as you know. If you’d like a demonstration, I can send the first bullet through her ear lobe. Would you like to choose which lobe?”
Burke’s heart pounded. A silence ensued as both men locked stares.
Finally, Lanski said, “I thought not. Now, you will do as I say: Bring me the formula.” Lanski’s eyes went cold. His voice lowered, became menacing. “I warn you, Burke, make a move against me and I’ll blow her into the next life.”
Burke forced himself not to look at Eve, to keep his attention on Lanski as he closed the distance between them. Lanski would not let them leave there alive. Lanski needed them dead to prevent them from blowing the whistle on him. He would not give up the detonator once he had the formula.
Three feet from the other man, Burke held out the formula. As Lanski reached out to snatch the papers from Burke’s loose grasp, Burke clamped his hand around the hand that held both the gun and the detonator.
Burke raised Lanski’s arm skyward as both men grappled for possession of the weapon.
“I’ll kill you, Burke!” Spittle sprayed from Lanski’s mouth. “I’ll kill you!”
&nb
sp; Slowly, Lanski worked the gun back down. Grunting and groaning, he aimed it at Burke’s head. Eve screamed.
As Lanski was about to press the trigger, Burke exerted more pressure, his hand shaking with the effort as he turned the gun away from himself and to Lanski. It was pressed to Lanski’s shoulder when it went off.
Lanski fell in a heap to the ground. Blood oozed from the wound. He was down, but conscious. The detonator was still clutched in his fist. Burke lunged for it. Lanski flicked the switch.