What Doesn't Kill You

by Iris Johansen

  “At last you seem to have hired someone who can get things done,” Nardik said. “When will he be here with the boy?”

  “He can’t risk trying to get him out of Louisville tonight. He said the place was crawling with CIA, and Sam O’Neill has made sure he has contacts all over the city. He’ll try to drive the kid to Nashville and fly out of there.”

  “Try? That sounds a little weak, Fowler. Rather like Jack Tan.”

  “It won’t be like that. It’s just that it has to be a private plane, and arrangements are more difficult to—”

  “I know all that.” And he was too pleased to give Fowler more of a hard time. Everything was going right for a change. He had that bitch’s kid. The boy was the key to getting everything he wanted. He wouldn’t have to compromise.

  He could have it all.

  “Tell Townberg that I want him here at least by tomorrow. And not to drug the kid. I may want him to be able to be coherent if I decide to have him talk to his loving mother.”

  “It would be better if I could have him here right away,” Fowler said. “Then he’d have something to tell his mother.”

  “I agree. But we’re running out of time, Fowler.”

  Close. It was going to be very close.

  Tomorrow night was July 3.

  But it was going to be okay.

  He was going to have it all.

  July 2

  Sugarland, Texas

  PAT GOWER MET GALLO AND CATHERINE at the private airport near Sugarland and drove them to Andrews’s ranch west of the city. They arrived at dusk, but the large two-story ranch house was blazing with lights, and electricians, gardeners, and laborers were swarming all over the grounds, setting up lights and tables and chairs. The huge covered stage that had been set up some distance from the house was receiving particular attention with at least four electricians and two sound techs bustling about the area.

  “It looks like they’re staging a rock concert,” Gallo said dryly. “It’s a madhouse. If it’s this bad tonight, I wonder what it will be like tomorrow night before the big show.”

  “I hope it will be calm and organized,” Pat said. “That’s the purpose of the madhouse tonight.” She smiled. “And it’s funny you mentioned a rock concert.” She pointed to the foothills to the north. “We’re opening the property tomorrow morning, and allowing William’s supporters to come and bring their families to the debate. They’ll bring blankets and their own suppers and be able to see the debate on giant TV screens we’re mounting on the stage. I’m estimating a crowd as big as Woodstock.”

  Gallo gave a low whistle. “An event.”

  Pat nodded. “I want the history books to tell about the night of July 3 and how it put William Andrews over the top.”

  “History books. No one could say you have low expectations,” Catherine said.

  “No, I expect the world for William, and I’m going to get it.” She added, “We’ll probably not be ready until just before the actual barbecue begins tomorrow. I wanted this barbecue and debate to remind people of what it used to be like decades ago when an election could be Stars and Stripes and pure Americana. It’s got to be just right.” Determinedly, she added, “And I’ll see that it is.”

  “You’re already halfway there,” Gallo said as he got out of the car. “I think I’ll drift around and talk to people and see if I can get a feeling for what everyone is doing and their general schedule. Catherine?”

  She thought about it. “Maybe later. I want to call Sam and check on Luke.”

  Gallo turned away. “Then I’ll come and give you a report when I’m finished.”

  “Fine.” She turned to Pat. “Will you show me where I’m to sleep?”

  “Sure.” Over her shoulder, she said to Gallo, “There’s only one guest room available in the big house. You’ll have to sleep down in the bunkhouse. Tell Charlie I sent you.”

  But Gallo was already striding away, his gaze fixed on the stage where the debate was to take place.

  “It’s a nice place.” Catherine turned to Pat as they climbed the stairs to the second floor. “I wasn’t expecting it to be so homey. After all, Andrews is a billionaire. No grandeur here.”

  “It’s his family’s home,” Pat said. “They were ranchers for generations until they found oil on the property. I think William would still like to be a rancher. He likes the simple life.”

  “What about his wife? Did she like the same things?”

  “I don’t know. Deborah died before I came to work for William. I imagine that she did. I know he loved her and that when she died, he had to search desperately to fill the place she’d occupied in his life.”

  “So he chose the entire country to do that?” She added carefully, “Most widowers would have just looked for another wife.”

  “But they aren’t William,” Pat said. “He’s one of a kind.”

  “And that’s all right with you?”

  Pat turned to face her. “Stop pussyfooting around,” she said bluntly. “I’m pretty transparent. You know how I feel about William. But I can’t see that it’s any of your business.”

  “It wouldn’t be, except that you’re close to Andrews. Ordinarily, that would mean that you wish him well. But if you’re frustrated and bitter, that could be a reason for you to look the other way when Nardik tries to take him out. It may come down to split-second timing and pure instinct. I have to know how you’re going to react. Positive or negative.”

  “How am I going to react?” Pat said baldly, “I’d die for him. Is that a positive enough response, Catherine?”

  She meant it. The answer was full of both pain and truth. Catherine nodded. “That’s all I needed to know. I’m sorry I invaded your privacy.”

  “That’s okay. Anything that keeps William safe is worth a little baring of the soul.” Pat’s lips twisted. “I didn’t want to love him, you know. I wanted to have a marriage like my mom and dad’s. Solid, full of humor, love, kids, and all the ordinary things that make life worth living. Then I went to a town-hall meeting with a girl from my office, and I saw William Andrews. For a while I thought that I just loved his ideas and what he was trying to do for the country. I quit my job and went to work for him. It’s not often a woman finds a cause that’s worth fighting for and a man who reminds her of one of the patriots who started this country. I met him and I heard ‘America the Beautiful’ playing. The idea dazzled me.” She paused. “And it didn’t take long until William began to dazzle me, too.” She opened the door and gestured for Catherine to enter. “But I don’t fool myself that it’s mutual. William cares about me, but I don’t dazzle him and never will. But life’s like that sometimes. You take what you can get. And what I get is pretty damn special.” She glanced around the bedroom. “Everything seems to be in order. We keep this room for last-minute guests, but Carmela and the other help are so busy with all the people streaming in here for this debate that I was afraid that it would be in shambles. I should have known better. Carmela would never let anything happen that would make William unhappy.”

  “She’s dazzled, too?”

  “Sure, in her way. Carmela Diaz has been housekeeper here since before William was born, two of her kids run the ranch, and another one is in charge of the publicity for the campaign. She practically raised William after he lost his parents when he was in college.” She turned away. “If you need anything, call me. But don’t bother me unless it’s important. I have a lot to do. The barbecue starts at seven tomorrow night, and William will be here by six. There will be good food, bands playing, and flag-waving and I’ll be in the middle of it. The debate is at ten.”

  “And I’ll be in the middle of that,” Catherine said. “I don’t want Andrews to eat or drink anything that you don’t see prepared from start to finish.”

  “You think it will be in the food?”

  “I don’t know if it can be eaten or injected or inhaled. Dammit, I don’t know enough about it.” Her lips tightened. “And Hu Chang’s not here to tell me
. So we’ll just have to protect Andrews against everything we conceive as a threat. And hope Hu Chang shows up soon to help us.”

  “Providing he sees a way to save his drug and William,” Pat said harshly. “I’ve no faith in your friend Hu Chang. As far as I’m concerned, he’s a prime candidate for my baseball bat.”

  “I can see how you’d feel like that. You have a right to be angry.”

  “You bet I do.” Pat turned and strode away from her down the hall.

  Catherine entered the bedroom and closed the door. She couldn’t blame Pat for her anger with Hu Chang. In her eyes, he was as much a threat to Andrews as Nardik. Catherine had been as persuasive as she could when explaining his position, but who could really explain Hu Chang?

  And where the hell are you, Hu Chang?

  Okay, forget him. Wondering and worrying about him would do no good now. She had to concentrate on what she had to do. She had gotten the reassurance she needed from Pat Gower. She had been almost certain the woman would be a valuable asset, but almost wasn’t good enough in a job like this. She’d had to be absolutely positive that she could count on her.

  Now she could go down and check out the surroundings as Gallo was doing.

  After she talked to Sam.

  Nardik had been too quiet since the attack on the Golden Palace, and she was uneasy. She and Gallo had been moving fast, but she couldn’t expect that Nardik had been standing still. She knew Sam would have called her if there had been any trouble, but she would still feel better if—

  Her phone rang.

  Her heart jumped as she saw the ID.

  Sam. It was only coincidence that she had just been thinking about him. It didn’t mean anything. Nothing was wrong.

  She pressed the access. “Tell me everything is okay, Sam.”

  “I’m sorry. God, I’m sorry.”

  Stark fear. “Don’t tell me that. You tell me my Luke is safe, Sam. You tell me he’s alive and well.”

  “I can’t tell you that, Catherine. I don’t know whether he’s alive or not. But the chances are that he may be if Nardik wants that drug you told me about.”

  “Why don’t you know, Sam?”

  “He disappeared tonight. Kelly said he was looking up something in a book in the library, but when we called him for supper, he was gone.”

  “That doesn’t mean someone took him. How could anyone just walk in the house and take my Luke? You were there, Sam. And you had guards. You said you had guards. You said he was safe.”

  “I found Jordack, one of my guards, with his neck broken and dragged over behind the bushes. I still don’t know how anyone got in the house. I kept that front door locked day and night, and Luke disappeared in the space of a couple hours. I’ve got everyone searching the neighborhood and asking questions, but we’re not getting answers.”

  She closed her eyes. Oh God, it was happening again, she thought in panic. No, she couldn’t lose him again. “I should be there. I’d find him.”

  “Trust me. I’m doing everything I can.”

  “You let him be taken. I let him be taken. I swore I’d keep him safe, and I broke my word.”

  “Catherine, I was responsible. I’m the one to blame.”

  She couldn’t talk to him any longer. “You go try to find him, Sam. Call me as soon as you know something.”

  Silence. “I think you’ll know something before I do. Let me know as soon as you do. Please, Catherine. You know I care about Luke.”

  “I know.” She hung up and dropped down in the chair beside her. Hold on. Don’t get sick. Keep control.

  Luke.

  You’ll know something before I do.

  Of course she would hear. Nardik wouldn’t make her wait too long before he inserted the knife.

  Insert that knife in me, bastard. Don’t hurt my son.

  “Catherine?” The door was opening, and Gallo was frowning at her. “Okay? I knocked, but you didn’t— Shit.” He was across the room in a heartbeat and falling to his knees before her chair. “Not okay.” His hands tightly grasped her own. “What the hell is wrong? You’re shaking as if you have malaria.”

  She hadn’t realized that she was trembling. But she shouldn’t be surprised when her whole world was trembling. “Luke.” She managed to get the word out. “It’s Luke.”

  Gallo muttered a curse and pulled her into his arms. “How bad? Is he alive?”

  “Sam … thinks he is. A guard was killed. Luke disappeared. Sam and his security team haven’t been able to find him.” Her hands slid around Gallo’s shoulders, and she held on tightly. He was strong and warm, and she was neither right now. She had to take some of that strength until she could conquer the weakness. “It has to be Nardik.”

  “That’s our best guess. But that means we’ve got a hope of getting him back if we work it right.”

  “What do you mean?” she asked fiercely. “We will get him back. Nothing is going to happen to Luke.”

  “Shh.” He was rocking her gently. “Of course we will. We just have to see what Nardik has up his sleeve, then find a way to get Luke away from him. How long has he been gone?”

  “I don’t know. A few hours.”

  “If it’s Nardik, you should hear from him soon. Do you want me to talk to him?”

  “Are you crazy? This is my son,” she said jerkily. “I’m the one who is responsible for him.” She pushed away from Gallo and immediately regretted it. She was shaking worse than she had before, and she hated to reveal that weakness. Oh, what difference did it make? She had no pride where Luke was concerned. “I should have been there to keep him safe, Gallo. I was given a second chance when I got him back, and I blew it. But I won’t let him suffer again. I won’t let that happen. I’ll do anything to keep Nardik from—” She drew a deep breath and struggled for composure. “But I can’t let Nardik call all the shots, or I’ll never get Luke back. I have to bargain. I have to be cool. Nardik will take advantage of any softness.”

  “He’s going to want Hu Chang.”

  “I can’t give him Hu Chang.” She pressed her fingers to her throbbing temple. “But I can give him someone to trade for Hu Chang.”

  He stiffened. “I don’t like the sound of that.”

  “Too bad. Nardik has a dossier on the relationship that Hu Chang and I have. It’s doubtful that he’d believe Hu Chang would sacrifice himself for me because Nardik would never sacrifice himself for anyone. He wouldn’t understand the concept. But if Nardik has me, then maybe he could be convinced that Hu Chang might be persuaded to give him the formula for Pondera. Or maybe just the information he needs for the assassination. He might take what he could get.” She nodded. “Yes, that would probably work.”

  “I imagine it would,” he said grimly. “And do you think that he’d let you live no matter what kind of bargain he made with Hu Chang?”

  “Of course not. But it would give me a chance to free Luke, and I can work out a way to save myself if I don’t have to worry about him.”

  “Not I. We. You keep leaving me out.”

  “Intentional.” She looked up to meet his gaze. “I’ll use you to help me free Luke, but after that you step back. You take care of my son and let me handle dealing with Nardik.”

  “Bullshit.”

  “I told you once that I wouldn’t drag you any deeper than I had to. Any debt you owe me is paid.”

  “That’s my decision. I took my job from Venable, not you. I don’t usually opt out in the middle of a mission.”

  She shook her head, but she didn’t argue. There was time for that later, and she was too upset now to think of anything but Luke.

  Call me, you bastard. Tell me he’s alive. Let me talk to him.

  “Just lean back and relax. I’ll see if there’s a coffeepot in this suite.” He rose to his feet. “You need something hot to drink. You’re ice-cold.”

  She felt cold, she realized, and dammit, she couldn’t stop that shaking. She had to get hold of herself. “Coffee would be good. I think I saw a co
ffeepot on the—”

  Her phone rang, and she jumped on it. “Hello.”

  “Have you heard from your Sam O’Neill yet?” The voice was deep and mocking. “It wouldn’t surprise me if he decided not to call since he failed you so miserably.”

  “Nardik?”

  Gallo stiffened, then leaned forward and pressed the speaker.

  “Yes. It’s wonderful talking to you at last. Your voice is as alluring as your appearance, Catherine. You have real star quality. I don’t believe I’ll ever forget you standing by that rail and lifting your glass to me.” His tone became edged. “No, I’m sure I won’t. Before that, my fantasies about you were purely sexual, but they changed and became very sadistic. But that can be just as exciting. I’ll show you when we’re together.”

  “My son.”

  “I thought that would occupy your thoughts. After trying all those years to rescue your son only to lose him again. What a pity. It must be a mother’s nightmare.”

  “Where is my son? Is he alive?”

  “I’m tempted to keep you in suspense, but that would be cruel. I never destroy a bargaining chip before it’s been used. That would be foolish. Though my friend, Ken Fowler, is eager to test the boy’s endurance. I told him that a child is really no challenge. They break so easily.”

  Not her Luke. Luke had endured those nightmare years of captivity and never broken. “Then don’t hurt him. That would be of no help to you. He’s no help to you, Nardik. Hu Chang scarcely knows my son. He wouldn’t care what happened to him.”

  “I’m inclined to agree with you. After all, Hu Chang is a very tough customer. How many deaths has he engineered in his lifetime, Catherine?”

  “I have no idea.”

  “But according to reports, he has a soft spot for you. Isn’t that peculiar?”

  “Most people find it rather strange. But it puts me in a position where I’m a much better bargaining chip than my son. Even you can see that.”

  “Yes, that’s true. Is Hu Chang with you now?”

  “No, you must have been told that. You have contacts in D.C., don’t you?”

  “Oh, yes, I have contacts everywhere. Including a few in that ranch from where you’re speaking right now. I was hoping that I’d have some news to greet you when you showed up for the Great Debate. It was very clever of you to figure out the connection to Andrews. Not that it will do you any good.” He paused. “I suppose Hu Chang checked on those medical records and found out that Andrews is a prime candidate for the drug?”