Текст книги "26 - Storm Cycle "

Автор книги: Iris Johansen

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Текущая страница: 16 (всего у книги 20 страниц)

SIXTEEN

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS

"Should we meet for dinner after we get settled?" Tavak punched the button at the elevator of the Millennium Hotel. "Providing we can hook up with Demanski. He disappeared right after we checked in."

"He knows the owner. He wanted to touch base," Allie said.

"Of course he did. Who doesn't he know?" He looked at Rachel. "Dinner?"

"I don't see why not."

"I do," Allie said. "We'll meet you for drinks later, Tavak. I want to have dinner alone with my sister. Things have been topsy-turvy, and I want to make sure we're on the same page." She glanced at Rachel. "If that's all right?"

Rachel felt warmth surge though her. "More than all right."

Tavak smiled. "Heaven forbid I interfere with a family get-together. I'll call you later."

Thirty minutes later Allie was knocking on Rachel's door.

"Gorgeous hotel," she said as she came into the suite. "Demanski chose well." She went to the phone. "I'll call room service. What would you like?"

"You choose. I don't care." She went to the window. "This is a good idea. I've been feeling as if we've been running at full speed."

Allie chuckled. "Because we have. Jet speed. Why don't you sit down and put your feet up?" She picked up the receiver. "I'll order something high protein and lots of coffee."

Rachel watched lazily as Allie placed the order. Allie was bright, alert, and seemed to be thriving. Lord, it was good to see her so well.

"You look very mellow. What are you thinking?" Allie asked as she hung up the phone.

Rachel grinned. "That you seem in better shape than I do. I'm not used to being coddled like this."

"And you'll bounce back any minute now and try to run things." Allie plopped down beside her on the couch. "But you've been very good about restraining yourself." She added quietly, "I know it's been difficult for you."

Rachel nodded. "Because I love you."

"And you have the instincts of a healer. Demanski has been telling me a little of the details concerning our Peseshet. You're a lot alike."

Rachel shook her head. "Tavak said something like that once. But you're both wrong."

"Are we? You're both geniuses at building and fixing things."

"Computers and the human body aren't the same."

"But Peseshet was ahead of her time. I've been wondering if she lived today if she might not have had a Jonesy of her own."

Rachel laughed. "Then she would probably be in competition, and neither one of us would like that."

Allie was silent, thinking about it. "I don't believe it would be like that. I think she would consider you her sister."

"Like Natifah?"

"No, Natifah was really a disciple. Peseshet would realize you were her equal."

"But I already have a sister." Rachel reached over and took Allie's hand. "You're all I need."

"Am I?" Allie laced her fingers through Rachel's as she leaned back on the couch. "What about Tavak?" Her grip tightened as she felt Rachel stiffen. "Don't get on guard. I wasn't sure that Tavak was going to be good for you. I was feeling very protective."

"So he told me."

"But then I realized I was behaving exactly the way you did with me. Not many men turn you on, but I've watched you with him. You have a yen for Tavak. You should reach out for the experience."

"Whether he's bad for me or not?"

"I don't think he is." Allie smiled. "But if he proves to be a problem for you, then I'll go after him. After you've had your fun."

Rachel gazed at her in surprise and started to laugh. "I never realized how ruthless you could be."

"Only for you," Allie said. "You're my sister, and I've got to step up to the plate since you don't have a Peseshet here to protect you."

"Thank you." She squeezed Allie's hand. "But I don't need either you or Peseshet to protect me from Tavak. We're not heading down that road."

"The hell you're not. I'm not blind. I can see the sparks fly."

Lord, had she been that obvious? Rachel wondered.

"It's not surprising," Allie said. "He's Indiana Jones with a brain that's almost as powerful as Jonesy's. I can see how you'd be drawn to him. You want this particular brass ring? I'll do everything I can to help you get it." She held up her hand up as Rachel started to protest. "Okay, I just wanted you to know that I'm here for you." She met Rachel's eyes and smiled luminously. "Always."

Rachel's throat was so tight she couldn't speak for a moment. "Me too," she said unevenly. "Always."

* * *

Rachel watched Tavak stride through the open-air bar on the rooftop of the Millennium Hotel and make his way toward the table where she, Allie, and Demanski were sitting near the railing.

I can see the sparks fly.

She wished she could get Allie's words out of her mind. It had been difficult before to ignore the disturbance she always felt when she was with Tavak. Now it was almost impossible. She was suddenly acutely aware of everything about him. The lithe way he moved, the eyes that glittered with vitality, the expressions that were always full of intelligence and humor. Little things that shouldn't have had this physical effect on her. Good God, she could feel the pulse pound in her wrists and the heat rising—she tore her gaze away from him and encountered Allie's amused stare.

As he reached them, Tavak glanced over the railing. "That's a spectacular view of Grant Park."

"Yes," Allie murmured. "I was wondering if they had carousels in Grant Park."

"I have no idea," Tavak said. "Why?"

"No reason. Just a thought."

Thank heavens, even though Allie was definitely in teasing mode, at least she hadn't seen fit to mention that damn brass ring, Rachel thought.

Tavak's gaze was narrowed on Allie, then shifted to Rachel. Rachel could almost see that formidable mind going into high gear.

But he evidently decided not to pursue it. "Nice hotel," Tavak said to Demanski. "I'm surprised it's not one of yours."

"Not for lack of trying," Demanski said. "I know the owner, and he's very attached to this place. Your rooms should be spacious and comfortable, and I have a two-thousand-square-foot suite just one floor down. I figure we can base our operation there."

"Are you trying to impress us?" Allie asked. "That stateroom on the plane wasn't enough?"

"Not at all," Demanski said. "I wouldn't be such a fool. Particularly not you, Allie. You don't impress easily."

Rachel laughed. "You've got that right."

"I just talked to Ben," Tavak said. "He says Dr. Collier in Cambridge has some kind of consulting project that has suddenly come up."

"Any more details?" Rachel asked.

"Apparently, Collier wasn't very forthcoming about the nature of the project. But Whatever it is, he'll be busy with it tomorrow night."

"Then maybe we should be there," Demanski said.

Tavak shook his head. "Nuri said they have a good handle on things. They won't make a move until they know for sure the mastaba wall is there. As for this special project, it could be nothing more than Collier appraising a few items for an auction house. Ben will keep us posted."

Demanski frowned as he gestured at a nearby table, where there was a pile of newspapers with news of the St. Petersburg bridge assault. "You were right, Tavak. The story is in newspapers all over the world. And, dammit, they're trying to tar and feather me with a blasted scandal."

Allie smiled. "Another irate husband?"

Demanski gave her a look. "No, it appears that the Hermitage's director approved of my traveling art exhibit without the proper clearances. So the Russian government is holding the rest of the pieces pending an official inquiry."

"That's too bad," Rachel said. "I guess you might have to bribe some more people." She turned to Tavak. "Do we know where our fascinating college professor is right now?"

Tavak reached for his phone and checked the screen for the pulsing yellow dots that showed the location of the GPS tracking devices he had planted.

"He's at school," Tavak said. "Wiley is teaching an evening class tonight. He should be there until at least nine or so."

"Dammit, I don't like all this waiting around," Demanski said.

"It's part of the game," Tavak added, "since you let Dawson heist our artifact."

"Touche," Allie murmured.

"Rub it in," Demanski said sourly.

"You deserve it." Allie said. "You're spoiled. You need to learn to be patient."

Demanski grimaced. "I've never been good at that."

"Neither have I, Demanski," Allie said quietly. "But sometimes we have no choice."

The frown left Demanski's face as he gazed at her. "I could use a teacher."

Allie shook her head. "I'm not applying for the job. It's too long-term. You're on your own."

"And I'm on my own," Rachel said as she stood up. She didn't have the patience to watch Demanski and Allie play off each other. She was restless, and she needed to get away from here. Away from Tavak. "I'm going to bed. Good night."

"I'll walk you to the elevator." Tavak rose to his feet. "I might as well have an early night, too."

She didn't want him to go with her. She knew damn well he was sensing her disturbance. "You never have early nights," Rachel said. "You don't give in to sleep any more than you give in to anything else. I've watched you."

"I'm flattered," Tavak murmured as he took her elbow and headed for the bank of elevators. "But it's always the exception that proves the rule."

His touch on her elbow was light, but heat was spreading through her arm and down to the sensitive flesh of her wrist. She pulled her arm away, then wished she hadn't as his gaze went to her face.

"I believe in exceptions, don't you?" he asked softly. "I think you might be ready to make one tonight."

She didn't answer.

"Shall I define exception?" Tavak asked. "Pleasure, pure and simple. No ties. No responsibility. No demands for commitment or a repeat performance."

Pleasure, pure and simple. And intense, Rachel thought. Sex with Tavak would be beyond the scope in intensity. The mere thought of his touching her was causing her body to ready.

"I'm not into ships that pass in the night."

"Maybe not in the usual run of things, but I don't think you'd accept anything else with me." His thumb pressed the elevator button. "And I'll take anything you'll give me."

He stood near, without touching her, but she could still feel the heat of his body. It seemed to surround her, encompass her. She couldn't breathe. "It would get in the way."

"No, it wouldn't. Not of Peseshet's cure. I wouldn't let it." He said. "Afterward, I don't make any promises."

"That doesn't sound like an exception."

He turned to look at her. "I'm doing the best I can. I want you, and that's messing up my thinking. Do you want to know how much I want you?"

"No." The heavy ornate door opened and she got in the elevator. "Good night, Tavak."

"You want to know. Give me the chance, and I'll show you."

She punched the button, and the door began to close.

She could see him standing there, hands clenched, his face slightly flushed and totally sensual.

I want you to have the brass ring.

She wanted it, too. She couldn't remember ever wanting anything as much.

What the hell. Why not take it?

She quickly pressed the button, and the door slid open again.

"Show me, Tavak." She tried to steady her voice. "And I'll show you."

"Deal." He was in the elevator in a heartbeat and pressing the button for her floor. "But not now. Don't even touch me, or we'll never get out of this elevator with our clothes on."

She reached out and touched his arm. "I've never done it in an elevator."

He shuddered. "I wouldn't object to being a first, but you might regret it later. I can't afford the chance." The elevator doors opened, and he took her arm and pushed her out into the hall and down the corridor. "Give me your key. Quick. Very, very quick."

* * *

"Would you really have done it in the elevator?"

Rachel cuddled closer to him in bed. She was still trying to catch her breath. "You'll never know. You never gave me the chance."

"We could do a replay."

She shook her head. "It wouldn't be the same. You have to seize the moment. Like Allie does."

"I like Allie, but I really don't want you thinking about her right now."

"Why not? She'd approve." She rubbed her cheek catlike against his shoulder. "Brass rings. No, more like skyrockets, Tavak."

"What are you talking about?"

"Sex and Pleasure and seizing the moment."

He was silent a moment. "I had no idea you'd be this… joyous."

"I may not always hear the music, but I've no trouble with the dance."

"No, you don't. Thank God." He kissed her lingeringly. "And thank you."

"Thank you," Rachel said. "The Pleasure was definitely mutual." Mutual and heady and completely mind-blowing. "But I find I have a slight argument with your definition of exceptional."

He stiffened. "What? No ties. No commitment. I'm not going to push you, Rachel. That's what you want, right?"

She didn't know what she wanted at the moment. Yes, she did. She wanted to stay in bed for a month and do nothing but screw Tavak. But that wasn't what she should do. Distance herself until she could think clearly. Accept this night for what it was and let it go.

Why did that thought bring such a pang?

"That's what I want. But you put in a clause that I don't find acceptable." She moved over him. "No demands for a repeat performance? No way, Tavak. We have all night… "

HOUSTON, TEXAS

2:30 A.M.

Wayne Norton stared at the buzzing, tweeting disposable phone, thinking that it had the most ridiculous ring tone he had ever heard. He had paid cash for it at the 7-Eleven, so there would be no way calls could be traced back to him.

He couldn't be too careful.

He picked up the call. "Are you in a secured location?"

"I'm not an amateur, Norton," Paul Simmons said sarcastically. "I've worked for the agency longer than you have. Believe me, I know how to keep my tracks covered."

No, he wouldn't have called Simmons if he wasn't as sharp as he was malleable. "Just checking." He paused. "I need an answer."

"I'm thinking about it."

He'd like to tell Simmons to take a hike. But he needed the bastard. "Stop thinking and commit, dammit."

He hesitated. "You're asking a lot. This could blow up in our faces."

"I'm not denying that. No risk, no reward. But that's why I want you. You're the best. And if I'm going to pull this off, I need the best." Simmons had an ego as big as the Grand Canyon. It was the best way to manipulate him.

Simmons finally spoke. "If this goes south, you'd better not hang me out to dry."

"I gave you my guarantee. Are you in?"

Simmons didn't answer for another moment. "I'm in."

* * *

Tavak was gone when Rachel woke the next morning.

Disappointment. Loneliness.

Get a grip. He was only keeping to the letter of his promise.

It was to be an exception, no commitment. No ties that would interfere.

Then why did she feel that the bonds were there? All the stronger and more enduring for the denial of their existence. Ignore it. Tavak had given her an extraordinary night that was off the charts on the sensuality scale. But he had also thrown in freedom, and that was a priceless gift.

Accept it. Don't ask for anything more.

She threw back the covers, got out of bed, and headed for the bathroom. The night was over, fading into the past. Shower and start the new day.

Forget about anything but that blasted mastaba wall.

* * *

"Wiley's on the move!" Tavak strode into Demanski's suite four hours later. Rachel, Allie, and Demanski were already gathered in the large living room.

Allie pointed to the wall. "We know. We're watching it on TV."

Tavak turned to see a wall-mounted plasma television connected to Demanski's laptop. A Chicago street map was displayed on the screen with a pulsing yellow dot indicating Professor Wiley's position.

Demanski picked up his phone and jacket. "I've already called down. They're bringing the Escalade up to the main entrance. I figure we can set up somewhere on campus and keep an eye on him there. He only has one class today, right?"

Tavak nodded. "A morning lecture class, then he has office hours until one. After that, it's anybody's guess."

Demanski turned to Rachel and Allie. "If you two would like to stay here, we can call you once he begins to move again."

Rachel clucked her tongue. "Oh, I see. The boys will take care of the cloak-and-dagger stuff, and the girls will eat breakfast on the terrace, hang out at the spa."

"Have a facial, then a massage," Allie added. "And then, if we're not too exhausted, maybe some shopping."

"Forget I suggested it," Demanski said.

"I'm already trying to forget it," Allie said. "Because I'd hate to have to—"

"Wait a minute." Tavak suddenly moved closer to the television screen. "Are you seeing this?"

"What?" Rachel said.

"Wiley." Tavak studied the screen for a moment longer. "He just turned onto I-90 heading east."

Rachel nodded. "He's heading away from the college."

"And away from the city," Tavak added. "Now where are you going, Professor?"

Demanski was already heading for the door. "Let's move!"

Two minutes later they were buckling up in the rented Escalade and seven minutes after that they were on the Chicago Skyway heading out of town. "How close are we to Wiley?" Rachel asked.

Tavak checked his GPS. "Probably another seven or eight miles. Keep an eye out for that gold Toyota."

Ten minutes later, Demanski suddenly pointed ahead. "That's Wiley's car, isn't it?"

Rachel could see little more than a speck of gold in the distance.

Tavak eased off the accelerator. "Yes."

She turned toward him. "Why are you slowing down?"

"We're in farmland now. It's practically deserted out here. We can't let him know he's being followed."

Allie leaned forward. "You have a file on him, Tavak. Does he have family out this way? A girlfriend? A lake house or something?"

"Not according to any information I have on him."

Demanski checked the map screen on his phone again. "Tavak, we need to talk about what's going to happen if he leads us to the pot of gold."

"What's there to talk about? If we see the mastaba wall, we figure out a way to take it back."

"I already have a way."

Tavak's gaze narrowed on his face. "I can hardly wait to hear what it is."

"I set up a private security force on standby back in Chicago."

"You what?"

"One phone call, and they're on the road. They'll secure the location until the police can get here."

"We'll see."

"We' ll see? Dammit, Dawson took that mastaba wall away from me. I want to take it back. Do you have any better plan?"

"It depends on where we end up."

"Tavak, there's no way we could pull off a military operation like that one on the bridge in St. Petersburg. We don't have any razzle-dazzle weaponry, and in case you haven't noticed, none of us is exactly Green Beret material. We need help."

"We'll see."

"Will you stop saying that?"

"Okay. I'm just telling you that this game doesn't always go to the one who plans every move. Try going into a third-world military base with no weapons and making off with an eighty-million-dollar fighter jet without getting captured or shot out of the sky. It helps to go in with an idea how you're going to pull it off, but mostly it's about instinct and thinking on your feet."

Demanski threw up his hands. "I wouldn't need to sneak into that base because I'd hire qualified people to take care of it."

"People like me. So relax."

"You're making that very difficult."

Tavak sped up to keep Wiley's car in view. "I'm not going to do anything stupid. I just want to see where Wiley is going and reconnoiter the area to see the possibilities. I'm leery of involving the police until we get some quality time alone with that wall. The Russian government has made it clear that you're no longer the official custodian of anything you were given from their museum. Once the police are involved, we may not be able to get near it."

"He's right," Rachel said. "We don't know how much time we're going to need."

Demanski looked at her in surprise. "You, too?"

"I'm just saying we should keep an open mind. And I agree we have to know what Wiley is up to." She shrugged. "Anyway, this could all be moot if Professor Wiley is just skipping work to spend the day at his favorite fishing hole."

Demanski nodded. "Okay, we'll play it your way for a while, Tavak."

But they'd only driven another few minutes when Demanski began to curse.

"What is it?" Allie asked.

"I've lost his signal."

"The GPS tracker transmits through the cell phone towers," Tavak said. "The coverage may have just dropped out."

"Do you still see him?" Rachel asked.

"Possibly." Tavak grimaced. "Look."

Up ahead, a beige-and-cream Gulfstream jet lifted into view and soared into the sky.

"I don't believe it," Rachel said.

"You'd better start." Tavak pointed to a road sign that read MCCOY AIRFIELD I MI. "It's a private airport. Wiley may have had a plane waiting for him."

"Shit!" Demanski cursed. "Shit shit shit!"

"That would explain why his signal dropped out of range," Tavak said. "It's a damn bad break."

"A bad break?" Demanski said. "That's all you have to say?"

Tavak nodded. "Yes. If he's on that plane, it's a bump in the road, nothing more."

"Will the tracking signal start up again once he lands?" Rachel said.

"It should, but I'd rather not count on that. I'll talk to the people at the airstrip. The pilot of that jet would have filed an itinerary, but that's no guarantee of where the plane is really heading. Still, it's a good place to start." He glanced at Rachel. "Let me go in alone."

She shook her head.

"There's no reason for any of you to tag along. I'm not used to having to work by committee."

She shook her head again. "Together."

Tavak muttered a curse as he pulled off at the tiny airstrip, which was no more than a single runway, an open hangar, and a small tower. There were no planes in the hangar; only an eighteen-wheel tractor-trailer stood inside.

Tavak pulled next to the tractor-trailer, stopped, and climbed out. There was no sound except for the wind blowing against the hangar's corrugated tin roof and walls.

"Where is everybody?" Rachel said.

Demanski pointed outside the hangar to four parked cars, one of which was the gold Camry they had been following. "Unless you think the drivers of all those cars are now in the air, there's someone still around."

Tavak stiffened, his head lifting. "It's too damn quiet." He whirled back toward the Escalade. "Everyone get back in the car."

"I'm afraid I can't allow you to do that, Tavak."

They spun around to see a lean, fiftyish man step out from behind the tractor-trailer. He was pointing an AK-47 at them. "Dawson said that you'd track Wiley down. You work quickly. We just managed to whisk him away in time."

"You were waiting for us. You knew we were tailing Wiley. Who are you?"

"Les Kilcher. We're not strangers." He smiled. "We ran into each other recently on Big Obukhovsky Bridge."

"You're the one who heisted my exhibit?" Demanski asked.

"I certainly did. I did a bang-up job. Literally. I'd do the same here, but I have my orders. Dawson wants to handle it himself." Kilcher spoke over his shoulder to one of the two men who had just come from behind the trailer. "Weitz, keep an eye on them while I dial Dawson. He said we had to exercise extreme care with Tavak."

"Yes, sir," Weitz said, raising his automatic weapon. "No problem."

"Dawson?" Kilcher spoke into the phone. "I have Tavak, Demanski, and the Kirby sisters. Yes, all secure." He put the phone on speaker. "He wants to have a few words with you before turning you over to me."

"Actually, I'm sorry not to be there." Dawson's voice came loud, clear, and full of malice from the phone. "But I'm on my way to meet Wiley and, in the end, money is always more important than revenge."

"This whole thing was just to draw us out?" Tavak asked.

"Not quite. I've just learned to make the most of my opportunities. Each time I've confronted you in the past, Tavak, I made the mistake of not giving you enough credit. You're quite a clever man, so I merely asked myself what I would do if I were in your position, watching that precious artifact airlifted out of your grasp."

"And?"

"I knew you were aware of the only two men I would be likely to consult in this matter. My first thought was to find someone else, but then I realized it was a great opportunity."

"Because you knew we would be watching Dr. Wiley," Rachel said.

"And Scott Collier in Cambridge, where I know your friends have already made contact." Dawson paused. "Poor Ben Leonard. Out of the kettle into the fire. He should really have learned his lesson in that tomb. He must be very loyal to you, Tavak. In another fifteen minutes I'll make a call and tell my men that he's to give you final proof of that loyalty."

Tavak tensed. "Why? You already have us. It's stupid to act without reason. It's the sign of an amateur."

"But I have the discretion to act however I please." He added maliciously, "Don't I? You guessed that I'd choose Dr. Wiley. His linguistic specialty tipped the scales for you, yes?"

Tavak didn't answer.

"I'll take that as an affirmative response. And you would be quite right. Dr. Wiley is on his way to the mastaba wall now, enjoying what I've been told is his first trip ever aboard a private jet."

"Then Dr. Collier in Cambridge has nothing to do with it. Whatever you have planned there, call it off. There's no reason for it."

"You keep harping on logic and reason. Yes, there's no reason for it. Like there was no reason for you to humiliate me in Bolivia?"

"You humiliated yourself the day you signed on to do the pharmaceutical companies' dirty work. And you've been humiliating yourself ever since." Tavak stopped and tried to control himself. "I'm the one you want, Dawson. Let them go. Take their phones, disable the car. By the time they could get help, you'd be long gone."

"And so would you, Tavak."

"Yes."

"That's all very noble, but you know there's no way I could do that. Three witnesses, and your blood on my hands?" He chuckled. "It would be ironic if you were the one to put me away for the rest of my life… by dying."

"Then what's with the monologue?" Tavak said. "Why not just shoot us?"

"My employer is rather squeamish. He's a fan of the convenient accident, but that's rather difficult to pull off with four victims. Particularly such well-known people as your friends. So were going to have to strive to give him what he wants. Goodbye, Tavak. I'm only sorry I couldn't see you buy it. Kilcher, go ahead with it." Dawson hung up.

Kilcher nodded to Weitz, who ran to the Escalade, climbed in, and started it up. He backed the vehicle up a steel loading ramp and into the bed of the tractor-trailer.

Kilcher gestured with his gun. "Take their weapons and phones, Hannigan."

The man, Hannigan, to whom Kilcher had spoken couldn't be over twenty but was wearing a holstered knife and also carrying an AK-47. Hannigan patted down each of the captives. He took phones from each, plus a knife and handgun from Tavak.

"Don't worry," Kilcher said. "You'll be re united with your items soon enough. Now into the trailer. All of you."

Tavak didn't move. "What's the plan, Kilcher?"

"It will be apparent soon enough," Kilcher said. "Climb in. Of course, if you don't follow Dawson's instructions, I'd be just as happy to shoot you. I'm a professional. I don't run risks when I can just move on to another job that doesn't have all those damn restrictions. Your choice."

What the hell could they do? Rachel thought. She glanced at Tavak, instinctively trying to tap into that confidence and ingenuity to which she had become accustomed.

She didn't like what she saw.

Tavak appeared resigned. Defeated.

"Tavak?"

He started toward the truck. He said curtly, "Just do what Kilcher says."

They walked up the loading ramp and stood in front of the Escalade. The last thing they saw as the trailer doors swung shut was Kilcher's unsmiling face.

Large chains rattled outside as the doors were secured.

Rachel glanced around. Light spilled from the ventilated sides of the trailer. "What is this?"

"It was made to transport cattle," Demanski said. "Which, at the moment, happens to be us."

The truck started up. It rolled out of the hangar and pulled onto the highway.

"You know Dawson," Rachel said to Tavak. "What is he doing with us?"

"No idea. All I know is that we couldn't do anything back there under Kilcher's guns. We need to find a way out of here right now. Before Dawson makes that call to Cambridge. Fifteen minutes. Shit." Tavak jumped on top of the Escalade and pounded his fists on the roof of the trailer. He glanced down to Demanski and pointed to the trailer's side vents. "Help me with this."

The two men slid their fingers through the vents and pulled, but the steel framework didn't budge.

"Dammit!" Demanski struck the trailer's side with the heel of his hand.

After a few minutes more of struggling with the vents, Tavak went still. "We're slowing down."

Everyone listened as the tractor-trailer downshifted. Gravel kicked from the tires.

Rachel peered through the thin vent slits. "We're off the highway. It's a gravel road. Whatever they're going to do, it's going to happen soon."

Tavak threw open the door of the driver's side door of the Escalade.

"Keys in the ignition?" Allie said.

"No." Tavak ran around to the rear door, opened it, and burrowed into the spare tire compartment. He came up with a tire iron. "I don't know what use this is going to be against those AK-47s." His gaze became suddenly speculative. "But maybe I can find a use for it in another way."

The truck stopped. Then they were almost thrown from their feet when it lurched into reverse.

"What's happening?" Tavak yelled at Rachel.

She peered through the vent and fear tightened her chest.

Water.

Water everywhere.

"It's a lake, a pond, or something." She whirled back toward Tavak. "They're going to drown us."

Tavak nodded. "They'll submerge the trailer, drown us like rats, pull us out, and set up their accident scene. They'll roll the SUV off a bridge or something."

"With us inside," Allie said. "And the autopsies will show that we drowned just like we would from that staged accident."

Demanski shook his head in disbelief. "Can that tractor really pull out a trailer full of water?"

"It's a beefy rig," Tavak said. "It's possible, especially if they pull it out slowly enough for the water to drain from these vents."