Текст книги "Live to See Tomorrow "

Автор книги: Iris Johansen

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Текущая страница: 19 (всего у книги 22 страниц)

But for these few hours with Luke, she had been so happy that all the tension and worry seemed worth it. It had brought them together and even cast a glow on the future.

So maybe it had been worthwhile coming to Celia’s house. But now she had to concentrate on getting out of this house and doing what she had come to this city to do. It would be—

Her cell phone rang, and she glanced at the ID. Venable. She punched the access. “No, I haven’t dropped Erin Sullivan, and I’m not going to do it. Have you changed your mind?”

“No, I’m right, and you’re wrong,” he said. “I called to tell you that your private access information has been breached. It was done by someone who was good and had contacts in the Agency.”

“Kadmus?”

“Possibly. Whoever it was wanted your telephone number very badly.”

“Evidently, I may be about to be contacted,” Catherine said. “I’m flattered. I’ve been pretty much ignored since I snatched Erin. I must have made more of an impression on the bastard than I thought.”

“Enough to be targeted. Be careful, Catherine.”

“My phone is blocked. He can’t track me unless I actually pick up. That means I won’t be able to pick up while I’m in this house with the others.” She was thinking quickly, sorting out options. “But he wants contact. I need to give him what he wants. Can you put a tracking device on my phone for the next twenty-four hours so that I can grab his signal?”

“I’ve already done it.”

“Thanks, Venable.” She hung up.

What did Kadmus want from her beside the obvious? Revenge? Information? She was clearly going to find out.

And what then?

Go after Kadmus herself? Or stick with Cameron’s plan for tomorrow night? Tomorrow night might be too late. She had an idea that Kadmus was impatient and hungry. Impatient men were prone to mistakes. Cameron has set up his scenario and just assumed she would go along with it. Maybe she would. But she would have to think about it and maybe do a little reconnoitering of her own.

Her phone rang. Private number.

Is that you, Kadmus? Probably. But you can’t have me. Not yet.

He was as impatient as she’d thought. But if he’d called once, he’d call again.

Soon.

And she’d be ready for him.

CHINATOWN

CLEMENT STREET

WEDNESDAY

9:35 P.M.

Call me, Kadmus.

She gazed at her reflection in a shop window that sold Chinese toys. Pretty, genteel toys. Nothing Luke would appreciate. She didn’t look very genteel herself. She had aimed at appearing to be a casual tourist. She wore a loose white blouse, had bound her hair up beneath a colorful scarf, and was wearing large tortoiseshell glasses.

Call me, Kadmus.

She’d been moving around Chinatown for the last hour, waiting for a call that had not come. Though she had stayed principally in the alleyways and away from anywhere that she might be recognized. It was irritating that Kadmus had not seen fit to call when she was perfectly placed now.

Four blocks from the fireworks factory.

A good sixteen blocks from Celia’s house.

If Kadmus tapped her phone, he would definitely trace her to this area, and it would be a smooth way to make a connection to the factory if they decided to use Cameron’s plan. It might be assumed she’d come from the factory safe house.

And the distance to Celia’s house should be safe for everyone there.

Just call and get this over with, Kadmus.

Five minutes later, the phone rang.

Private number.

Be cool. No eagerness.

She let it ring three times before she picked up. “Is that you, Kadmus? I hear you’ve been exceptionally inquisitive. I’m flattered you think that I’m worth all the money you must have spent.”

“I’m only going to talk for a few minutes,” Kadmus said. “I know you probably have a trace, bitch.”

“And you don’t? Talk, Kadmus.”

“I want Cameron. You’re going to give him to me.”

“He’s not mine to give. Find him yourself.”

“You were with him when you took that scumbag, Jack Sen, from the hospital. What did Cameron promise you to help him? Money? Treasure? Death to your enemies? He’s very good at promises. But don’t bank on his keeping them. I’ve already killed one man he promised to take under his wing.”

“Did you torture him as you did Erin?”

“Yes, the fool killed himself rather than betray Cameron.” He paused. “I should have gone another route and tortured his children. But I learn from my mistakes.”

She tensed. “What are you saying?”

“You have a son, and you have him with you. You apparently can’t bear to be parted from him. Give me Cameron or I’ll not only kill your boy, I’ll cut him into pieces … very slowly.”

She drew a deep breath, trying to suppress the anger … and fear. “You bastard. Luke has nothing to do with this.”

“I really don’t care,” Kadmus said. “I’ll take him, or Erin Sullivan, or your friend, Hu Chang. Anyone who stands in my way. You stand in my way, Ling.”

“You can’t touch him. You have no idea where he is now.”

“I’ll find out. I have photos of all of you. I have men searching the city. I’ll find your Luke, then you’ll come begging to trade Cameron. But it might be too late. If I find Cameron first, I won’t have a use for the boy. He’ll be in my way, and I’ll kill him.” He added persuasively, “What do you care about Cameron? Let me have him and keep your son. I’m hanging up now. I’ll call you tomorrow evening. By that time, I should have my sights on you. It might be your last chance to deal.” He hung up.

Move!

Three minutes would have been enough for him to get a fix on her location. There would be someone here within a few minutes or less.

She accessed the tracking device as she started trotting down the street, then ducked into the alley. It gave her a general location somewhere near the park but had not had time to pinpoint the exact location, dammit. She hadn’t really expected to get lucky. She ducked into an alley and ran toward the brightly lit street at the other end. Stay away from Celia’s and keep running until Kadmus’s men gave up the search.

Run.

Don’t get near Luke until it was safe.

Oh, God, when would it be safe for him?

That bastard, Kadmus. He had meant it when he’d said he’d chop him into pieces. Look what he’d done to Erin.

Watch.

Run.

She darted in and out of alleys and streets for the next ten minutes.

She finally stopped and drew a deep breath. She’d not seen any signs of pursuit, but that didn’t mean that she was free to go back to the house. Give it another ten minutes.

“Or fifteen.”

She whirled to see Cameron walking down the alley toward her.

She could only see him dimly, but his grim expression was not to be mistaken. She braced herself. “Ten should be enough. I haven’t seen any signs of Kadmus’s men.” She moistened her lips. “And I do have on a disguise.”

“Not much of one.” He stopped before her. “That scarf only makes you look more exotic.”

“I considered wearing a wig, but I decided the scarf looked more casual. I think it works.” Why was she standing here talking to him about wigs? she thought impatiently. “Why are you here?”

“Because you’re here,” he said roughly. “And because you didn’t see fit to tell me that you were playing Kadmus alone.”

“It was a recent development. I thought it had potential.” She paused. “I don’t have to ask how you knew about it.”

“It was too dangerous trusting you to be cool and reasonable after last night. I had to know what you were thinking.” He added, “And what you were doing.”

“And you found out. I’m sure you eavesdropped on my conversation with that bastard.” Her lips twisted. “Am I a threat to you, Cameron? Kadmus wants to use me as one, and he’s determined to find my Achilles’ heel. What do you generally do to threats?”

“That wouldn’t apply. It’s not the same.”

“You’d destroy them.”

“It’s not the same,” he repeated.

“No? Then what should I do if Kadmus does get his hands on Luke and wants me to hand you over to him?”

“Do as he said—betray me and save your son.”

“No!” Her eyes widened in stunned horror. She had not expected that answer. “That’s not acceptable either. You’re the Guardian and supposed to be able to solve all this kind of ugliness. What good are you?”

“Good enough to take on Kadmus. So betray me and let me do it. But that won’t happen. I promised you that I’d take care of your son.”

“Kadmus said that your promises aren’t worth a damn.”

“He lied.”

“I know,” she whispered. “I think I know, Cameron.”

“He shook you. He made you afraid,” Cameron said harshly. “I could feel him doing it. I wanted to kill him.”

“So did I.” She smiled with an effort. “I hate being afraid. I can usually control it. But there’s no rhyme or reason about any threat to Luke. I react instinctively.” She straightened her shoulders. “And I can take care of my own son, Cameron. You go take care of yourself. I was hoping against hope that I might be able to zero in on Kadmus’s location, but that didn’t happen. Which means we’ll have to go along with the plan for tomorrow night.” She started to turn away. “Now I’ll go back to Celia’s. I found a roundabout way to get there when I was wandering around waiting for Kadmus’s call that should be safer.” She looked back at him. “I suppose you were tuned in to that, too?”

He didn’t answer.

She shrugged. “It doesn’t matter.”

“Everything matters.” His hand was on her wrist, whirling her to face him. He tore the scarf from her hair and the glasses from her face and tossed them on the ground. Then she was in his arms, pressed against his body, his hand cupping the back of her head against his chest. “When it’s between us.”

Her heart leaped, and she went still. No, don’t touch me. Don’t let it be like last night. She was feeling vulnerable enough right now.

“Shh.” He was rocking her, his face buried against her temple. “I only want to hold you, help you. Don’t fight me.”

She couldn’t fight him. He had never been like this with her. He was showing her the same exquisite tenderness she had seen him show Erin that night at the hot springs. It was like being stroked with velvet, and that tenderness was flowing into her and taking out all the pain.

“If you’d just accept me, I’d never let you be hurt again,” he said thickly.

Just one more minute, then she’d step away from him. “Oh, yes, that would be just fine,” she said unevenly. “No responsibility for what I do or the safety of my son. All I have to do is act like a robot and permit you to run my life.”

“It’s not like that.”

“I think it is. It’s like your damn committee, who are trying to bring peace as they perceive it to the world. They do it by stealing brains and talent and cocooning the chosen to wait for the rest of us to destroy ourselves.” She moved away from him. “Only I wouldn’t be chosen, Cameron. I’d rather be in the trenches trying to keep the bombs from falling and the madmen from inheriting the Earth.”

“So did I at one time.” He didn’t try to touch her again, but she felt as if she could still feel his hands on her, hear his heart beneath her ear. His eyes were glittering, and the tenderness was no longer there. Intensity. Passion. Lust. This was the Cameron of last night, and she could feel her body begin to respond in the same way. He said recklessly, “And screw the committee, I choose you. No one would question me.”

“I’m sure they wouldn’t. You seem to be all-powerful in their eyes.” She turned away and grabbed her scarf and glasses from the ground where he’d thrown them. “Well, I don’t choose you.”

He wasn’t following her as she’d thought he might. He stood watching her as she hurried away from him.

“You will, Catherine,” he called softly. “You will.”

CHAPTER

17

“No sign of her,” Brasden said when Kadmus came in from the balcony of his hotel room. He went over to the coffee table where a map of the city had been placed. “But with the phone trace, we’ve narrowed down these blocks in Chinatown.” He drew a wide circle. “So the chances are that Sullivan and Ling are still in a safe house somewhere in that area.”

“And Cameron may be with them,” Kadmus gazed down at the circle on the map. It looked like such a small area that he felt a sudden surge of savage pleasure.

I’m closing in on you, bitch. Just a few steps more, and I’ll have you.

“I’ve doubled the men we have patrolling Chinatown and made sure all of them have photos. They’ll call if they see them on the streets or get any reports about anyone of their description.”

“Good.” He smiled. “I’ll be happy if they can move the timeline forward. But I’ve got her. It should take only one more phone call to narrow her location down even more.”

“If she’ll take the call.”

“She’ll take it. She’s not as tough as you led me to believe. I could tell that I frightened her with talk of the boy. When she picks up the phone, we’ll start closing in. She’s so scared, she’ll keep the boy with her. Once we have him, she’ll cave.”

“You’re very sure.”

“Because I have a destiny, and I know that she’s not going to be able to stop me.” He could feel the power coursing through him. “None of you will be able to stop me.”

“Unless you decide to betray me,” Brasden said. “But I’m sure you’re not thinking of that any longer.” He turned and moved toward the door. “We’re cooperating so nicely these days.”

Kadmus didn’t answer as the door closed behind him. Brasden was a dead man. He’d sealed his fate a long time ago and wasn’t worth thinking about.

He had told Brasden that he had a destiny, and that grand destiny was looming closer with every passing moment. He had never been more certain than after that call with Ling.

Ling was the path to Cameron.

And Cameron was the path to Kadmus’s destiny.

He pulled the lotus necklace that Brasden had tossed so contemptuously at him out of his pocket. He caressed the pendant with a gentle finger.

Destiny.

Shambhala.

THURSDAY

3:37 P.M.

“What’s happening, Catherine?” Erin was standing in the doorway of the library looking at Hu Chang and Catherine. “When do we leave? You’ve not said a word to me today.”

Catherine had been afraid of this confrontation.

“I was busy with Luke. I wanted—” She shook her head. Erin deserved the truth. “I was trying to think of a way to tell you that you’re out of it.”

“What?” She stared Catherine in the eye. “The hell I am. I’m in this up to my neck. Why does Cameron want me out?”

“He doesn’t, I do,” Catherine said. “Look, there’s no use your going to the fireworks factory tonight. I told you Kadmus seems to have changed focus. Leave it up to Cameron and me.”

“And my humble self,” Hu Chang said. “Whose help is magnificently useful and erases the need for anyone else.”

“No way,” Erin said flatly. “You’re not closing me out. If you leave me here, I’ll be knocking on the door of that damn Stars, Moon, and Heavenly—whatever. This is more my fight than anyone else’s.”

“You’re not needed,” Catherine said. “I don’t want you to go, Erin. And it may not be necessary now. I told you, Kadmus is narrowing his sights on me at the moment. I can be the bait.”

“I’m going. I’ll let you whisk me out of there as you planned because I don’t want you to risk yourself trying to protect me. But I will be part of this, Catherine.”

Catherine sighed. “You’re a very stubborn woman, Erin.”

“Yes.” Erin’s warm smile suddenly lit her face. “Hey, if Kadmus couldn’t break me, you don’t stand a chance. What time?”

“After dinner, as soon as we can slip away.” She paused. “Luke is not to know.”

“Trouble.”

“Dammit, he’s going to be safe here. Cameron promised me that the place would be surrounded by Blake’s guards and that he’d check on him frequently.” She didn’t like it, but she had no choice. Other than tying Luke up and stuffing him in a closet, Cameron’s solution was the only logical and safe one. “I’ll only be gone a few hours. I’m hoping Celia can distract him.”

“Distraction is certainly her area of expertise,” Hu Chang said. “But she’s limited in Luke’s case.”

“I didn’t need to hear that,” Catherine said. “Or maybe I did. I just hope she’ll rise to the occasion.” She got to her feet. “I can’t change your mind, Erin?”

She shook her head. “We’ve traveled this path together. I won’t leave you now.”

Catherine gazed at her with frustration, deep affection, and a trace of panic. They were so close to assuring Erin’s permanent safety, but tonight, anything could happen.

She smiled with an effort. “Just stay close as you did in that hot spring, and we’ll be okay.”

She nodded. “And I promise I won’t duck my head under the water.”

“See that you don’t.”

But what they might encounter tonight could be far deadlier than anything they’d yet faced together.

God, keep her safe. She’s gone through so much. Give her a break tonight.

7:40 P.M.

Celia gazed at Luke uncertainly. He’d been much too quiet for the past thirty minutes.

Luke turned away from the French doors to look at her.

“Where’s Catherine?” he asked uncertainly. “And Hu Chang? Something’s happening, isn’t it?”

“Something is always happening,” Celia said. “But nothing for you to worry about.”

“I saw men on the street at the front of the house and one near the corner. Who are they?”

“No one to concern you. Cameron has the house surrounded by several lethal-looking men who he assures me will take good care of all of us.”

“Why should he do that? Where’s Catherine?” Luke repeated. “I haven’t seen her since dinner. And Hu Chang, he always—”

“You’ll have to ask Cameron. He said he’d come around and check on you later.” She smiled. “He’s gone to a lot of trouble. He evidently cares a great deal for you, Luke.”

“I like him, too.” He added, “Most of the time.”

“I feel the same way.” Celia laughed. “But you may have more reason. He’s turned your life upside down.”

“No, he hasn’t. I’m the one who decided to go after Catherine when she left Hong Kong.” His gaze went to the garden. “There are two men out there near the summerhouse. Are they more of the men Cameron assigned to us?”

“Yes. Stop worrying. Come into the kitchen with me, and I’ll make you a cup of jasmine tea.”

“I’m not worrying. I just have to know what’s happening.” He didn’t turn around. “Catherine’s gone to that fireworks factory she was talking about with Erin and Hu Chang, hasn’t she?”

She went still. “I don’t know about any fireworks factory. I don’t ask, and I prefer not to be involved.” She paused. “How did you happen to hear about it? I can’t see Catherine’s discussing it around you.”

“She didn’t. I heard them talking, but I didn’t hear it all. I didn’t know it was tonight. She should have told me.” His hand tightened on the French doorjamb. “She should have taken me. But I knew she wasn’t going to do it.”

“So you decided to do a little eavesdropping?” Celia asked shrewdly. “What did you hear, Luke?”

“Enough. She should have taken me. We should be together. I should be able to take care of her.”

“I’m not sure how mothers usually think, but I don’t believe that’s the way it goes, Luke.” She shrugged. “Anyway, it’s too late. You’ll have to make the best of staying with me until Cameron gives me a call. He made it very clear that all of these guards were here to keep you safe and sound.”

“And what about Catherine?”

“Cameron will make sure that nothing happens to her.”

“But that’s not his job, it’s mine,” he said fiercely. “Catherine belongs to me.”

“Discuss it with him.” Celia moved toward the kitchen. “I believe he may have a different view. Now I’ll go in the kitchen and start the water boiling. We’ll have tea, and I’ll try to keep you amused for the next few hours. I’m not good at chess, but I’m one great poker player.” She hesitated at the door. “She’ll be fine, Luke,” she said softly. “You’ll have lots of time to take care of your mother when you get a little older. I’ll call you when the tea is ready.”

What was she doing babysitting a boy like Luke? Celia thought with frustration as she moved toward the kitchen. She liked the kid, but she knew nothing about what made boys his age tick. He was older in some ways than the men who were her customers, and there were depths that she had not been able to reach. But she couldn’t treat him as she did—

Her phone rang. Cameron.

“I don’t like this, Cameron,” she said crossly. “You told me to keep him busy. You didn’t tell me that he has some kind of obsession about protecting his mother. How the hell am I supposed to soothe him and make everything alright?”

“Soothe him?” Cameron repeated. “Why?”

“He knows what’s happening, dammit. He eavesdropped and came up with answers that didn’t compute when he didn’t see Catherine after dinner. I don’t know if I can—”

“He knows about the fireworks factory?”

“He mentioned something about it.”

“Shit,” Cameron snapped. “Where is he now?”

“In the dining room. I just left him glaring at two of the guards in the garden that you sent over. I’m in the kitchen making jasmine tea and trying to lure him with a poker game.”

“You left him alone?”

“He’s in the next room.”

“Celia, go and find him,” he said slowly and precisely. “Now. Keep him with you until I get there. Don’t let him out of your sight.”

“I’m on my way.” She moved back down the hall. “But it’s not as if—”

The dining room was empty.

“He’s not here,” she said blankly. “I’ll go upstairs and see if he went to his room.”

Cameron muttered a curse. “Do that. And then go out and see if any of those guards saw him. I doubt if they did. Luke has had experience evading surveillance. He’s probably on his way here to the fireworks factory.”

“He said he had to protect Catherine. It was his job.” She paused. “And not yours, Cameron.”

“Just call back if you find him.” He hung up.

Running up the stairs, she hoped she would be able to call back with good news. She didn’t like the idea that she had failed to keep Luke safe. She’d be a lousy mother. There was supposed to be some kind of instinct that told you when a kid was wandering off.

But Luke was not the usual kid, and if he had left, it was deliberate.

Be in your bedroom, Luke. Don’t let me be responsible for losing you. Or worse. Cameron had been very curt. She didn’t even want to think about what else could happen to Luke.

FIREWORKS FACTORY

7:45 P.M.

“I’m going to go and check out a few things, Catherine,” Cameron said as he got off the third-floor freight elevator. “I won’t be long. And I’ll be monitoring you.”

“What? Now?” She stared at him in bewilderment. “Kadmus should be calling any minute. Where are you going?”

“Something has come up that I can’t put off.” He moved toward the window leading to the fire escape. “I have to see to it.”

“Orders from your damn committee?” she asked. “Did they find out that Kadmus is going down?”

“No.” He was swinging out onto the fire escape. “It’s nothing like that.” His face was without expression. “Look, I’ve put Blake’s men in the shops across the street, and they’ll come if they see anything suspicious. I should be back before Kadmus puts in an appearance.”

He was gone.

“Most unusual,” Hu Chang said from across the room where he was sitting with Erin. “But I’m sure that we can handle everything without Cameron if it comes down to it. After all, we are extraordinary people.”

“And Cameron is a secretive bastard who thinks no one is extraordinary but himself.” She drew a deep breath and moved toward the freight elevator. “I’m going to go check all the floors and make sure we’re locked up tight. I want to hear any entry.”

“Would you like me to go with you?” Erin asked.

She smiled. “No, you’re bait. Stay with Hu Chang. That’s all you should have to do tonight.”

“It doesn’t seem like much.” She looked around the dark warehouse. “I don’t like sitting here doing nothing.”

“Then Cameron should have taken you with him. Maybe he would have told you what the—” Catherine stopped. It wasn’t Erin’s fault her superhero was behaving as if he was the only one who was capable. She was just nervous and on edge and wanted this meeting with Kadmus over. She pressed the elevator button. “I’ll be right back.”

*   *   *

He had to move swiftly, Cameron thought.

Head toward Celia’s neighborhood.

Stay off the main streets. If Luke was heading toward the fireworks factory, he would not be doing it stupidly. The way he’d been brought up was close to the training of a guerrilla fighter according to what Cameron had learned about the boy. Luke would find out his destination, discover how to get there, then proceed in a way that would not endanger Catherine.

That meant alleys and side streets.

But Cameron had no time to go on the usual hunt. He had to get back to Catherine.

And he had to find Luke quickly.

He tried to reach out and locate him.

Nothing.

He had touched the boy’s mind once on that mountainside when he had first met him. Once was usually enough to locate him and go in again.

Usually. There was nothing usual about Catherine’s son. He had sensed signs in the boy that were definitely above and beyond the ordinary.

Concentrate …

There he was. He had him. Luke’s mind was not as clean and singing as Catherine’s, but he was better than nine-tenths of the people Cameron encountered, and he had the same crystal sharpness. And that sharpness was leveled at Catherine.

“She should have taken me with her.” Rage. Indignation. Fear. Not for himself but for Catherine. “I explained it to her. Why didn’t she listen?” Then the emphasis shifted. Find the fireworks factory. It should still be several blocks away. He had checked the address in Celia’s phone book before slipping out of the house.

Keep off the main streets. He didn’t see why anyone would be interested in him but he’d been taught by that bastard, Rakovac, to never take anything for granted.

And to never be sure that you weren’t someone’s next target.

Target.

He was feeling a tenseness between his shoulder blades.

He glanced over his shoulder.

A dark-haired man in a yellow Windbreaker jacket and scarlet baseball cap was a block behind him. He was moving fast and with purpose.

Luke didn’t like it. See if he had reason to worry. He cut down the next street and started trotting.

He took another glance behind him.

The man in the yellow jacket had just rounded the corner.

Luke could feel his heart jump.

Lose him. He couldn’t lead the man to Catherine.

He turned into an alley near an all-night movie theater and began to run.

Cameron kept in close contact though there was little to monitor. During these first frantic minutes, he wouldn’t be able to control Luke, and he had to wait until he could insert guidance without letting him know that it was being done. The kid was doing well. The last thing he wanted was for Luke to go into shock and throw him off with Kadmus’s man on his heels.

But the man was gaining, and he had to get Luke away from him.

Luke didn’t know the streets, alleys, and general terrain, but Cameron did. There should be another alley in the next block, and if Luke took it, he’d pass a six-foot cedar fence bordering the backyard of a butcher shop. Time to take control.

*   *   *

Luke’s breath was coming in harsh pants as he ran down the street. Why couldn’t he get away? He had no doubt that man in the yellow jacket was after him. And he had seen him talking into a cell phone. That meant he could expect one or more of the man’s scumbag buddies to be after him, too.

Maybe he should double back to that movie theater and slip inside and go out the back exit. No. Maybe not.

No, definitely not.

Where, then? Right or left at the next corner.

Right.

He turned right and quickened his pace. He saw a small alley in the middle of the block. He might have to take it.

Yellow jacket was gaining on him again.

Take the alley.

That seemed right, he could only rely on instinct.

He turned down the alley.

*   *   *

“Ellis says he just got a visual on Luke Ling,” Brasden said as he turned to Kadmus. “He said the kid was on Clement Street and heading east.”

“Is he sure it’s Ling’s kid?” Kadmus could feel his excitement rise. “Is he following him?”

“Yes. He said there was no missing the closeness to the photograph. He said to alert the rest of the team that the kid’s wearing a blue sweatshirt, jeans, and tennis shoes.” He grimaced. “But the boy saw him and took off. Ellis is right behind him.”

“He can’t lose him. I’ll castrate the bastard if he screws this up.” He pushed back his chair from the table in the bar where he’d been waiting for word. And what a good word it was, he thought with fierce pleasure. Everything was coming together. He was right on Ling’s heels, and with any luck, he’d be gathering in her brat to use to negotiate. What a fool she was to let him run around and right into Kadmus’s hands. But she wouldn’t have let him go far, so the circle must be narrowing even more.

He moved toward the door. “Let’s go, Brasden. We’ll head for the place where Ellis spotted the boy and I’ll make my call to Catherine Ling. We’ll be able to zero in on her when she picks up.” He chuckled. “And I may have ammunition by that time that will make her cave even before I get my hands on her.”

“She’ll know that we’ll be able to find her within five or ten minutes,” Brasden said. “She might not pick up.”

“But she will. She wants to take me down as much as I do her. It’s only a question of who will get there first. And if the boy’s not with her, she’ll be worried. That gives me an edge.” He glanced at Brasden. “I always have the edge. You knew that when you first came to work for me. You seem to have lost that realization somewhere along the way.”

“And you seem to have forgotten that you’re now in a vulnerable position with me.”

“Oh, I haven’t forgotten.” He smiled blandly. “I’ll have to attend to that problem right after I deal with Ling and her son.”

*   *   *

The alley was pitch-dark.

Luke’s heart was pounding, his lungs struggling for air as he ran. He could see the brightly lit cross street up ahead.

No yellow jacket yet.

He was passing a cedar fence.

Go over it.

He slowed, uncertain.

Better to go on to the street?

No, go over it, then double back to the street where he’d entered the alley. It might catch the hunter off guard and let him lose him.

He veered to the side and began to climb the cedar fence.

The soles of his tennis shoes dug into the wood as he shinnied over the fence and jumped to the ground on the other side.

He knelt there, listening.

Running footsteps, muttered curses.

Then the steps passed on down the alley.