MACDUFF’S RUN
The blood gushed onto Franco’s wrists as his knife sliced across the guard’s throat. More a sentry than a guard, Franco thought, as he wiped his hands on the man’s shirt. He’d had a soldier mentality and endurance, too. He hadn’t told Franco what he’d wanted to know until he’d cut off both his thumbs.
He pulled the guard’s body into the bushes and carefully hid it. Then he started across the courtyard to the small side door facing the ocean. MacDuff’s castle towered over the surf, and Franco had verified there were sentries on that side, too. But he could avoid them if he moved fast enough. And then all he had to do was get inside and find the target.
It was about time. It had taken too long, and Salazar was growing more impatient. None of MacDuff’s people would talk, and it wasn’t until he’d concentrated on the local village pub that he had hit pay dirt.
He’d spent a few hours schmoozing the employees, telling them he was a tourist who had been told about this castle and had come to see for himself. It had not been easy, but he’d finally found a young waitress who had told him enough to get him started.
It was true that MacDuff was not at the castle at present.
But his assistant, Rob MacTavish, was there and was an old and trusted employee.
He had known that he would have to make do with MacTavish. He only hoped he was as trusted by MacDuff as he’d been told. No problem getting to him. Franco had studied the positions of the sentries on that first day and could use one of them to get him to MacTavish.
It had all gone smoothly. Now Franco had the security alarm code from the sentry to get him into the castle.
And he knew where to find MacTavish.
Ten minutes later, he was moving quietly through the halls toward the study. Someday he’d have a place like this, he thought as he looked up at the high-arched ceilings. Only his castle would be new and lush, and there would a pool where all the women would be—
He reached the study, and paused outside the oak door. It was so thick and well made he couldn’t see any light around the edges. But he could hear the sound of music. MacTavish evidently liked Madonna.
He braced himself. Move fast. Be prepared for anything.
Take him down.
He exploded through the door. He was across the room in seconds.
MacTavish jumped to his feet, his blue eyes wide and alarmed behind wire-rimmed spectacles. “What are you—” He whirled and was reaching into a top drawer in the desk.
Franco’s machete sliced into his hand as he reached for the gun.
MacTavish screamed.
It was done. He had him.
Franco was behind him, freeing the knife from his hand and pressing it to MacTavish’s stomach. “Don’t move. Do exactly what I say.” He pushed him back into the chair. “We’re going to talk. I’m going to ask you questions, and you’re going to answer.”
“Who are you?”
He stuck the knife into his shoulder.
MacTavish screamed again.
“You aren’t listening,” Franco told him. “You don’t ask the questions, old man. I ask the questions.” He turned the knife in the wound. “Does that hurt?” MacTavish was groaning, biting his lip in agony. Franco felt the familiar surge of power and pleasure. “We’ve just started. Now let’s have a talk about MacDuff and Jane MacGuire.”
* * *
“I know where Jane MaGuire is,” Franco said triumphantly when Salazar answered the phone five hours later. “I wasn’t able to talk to MacDuff. He wasn’t at the castle. But he had an assistant, Rob MacTavish, who had everything at his fingertips.”
“And what is that?” Salazar put his phone on speaker, so that Natalie could hear. He pulled the rental car over to the curb. “What’s everything, Franco?”
“MacGuire is with MacDuff and some friend, a Jock Gavin.”
“What about Eve Duncan?”
“MacTavish didn’t know anything about Duncan. I don’t think MacDuff told him about her.”
“Then he didn’t have everything at his fingertips, did he?” Salazar asked sarcastically.
“He had enough. MacDuff has been planning a hunt for some kind of treasure for the last few weeks. Jane MacGuire was scheduled to go along. MacTavish ordered all the equipment for him and made arrangements with his property caretakers at all his properties.”
“You’re sure MacGuire didn’t cancel at the last minute?”
“No, MacTavish e-mailed MacDuff some notes and photos that Jane MacGuire wanted to see just last night.”
“What notes?”
“Something about a lake on the property where they’re searching.” He paused. “MacTavish said that he didn’t think anyone would cancel out on a chance of getting a share of that treasure MacDuff was hunting. MacDuff has been gathering information and making plans for years, and he told MacTavish when he asked for the information that he thought he was very close, that this time he was going to find it.”
“Eve Duncan,” Salazar said impatiently, to bring him back to the subject at hand.
“I know. I’m sure she’s with Jane MacGuire,” he said hurriedly. “But you should listen to me. MacTavish thinks MacDuff is close to finding that treasure. It could be worth millions, maybe billions.”
“Billions?” Salazar repeated. “Treasure hunt? It sounds like some kid’s game.”
“That’s what I told MacTavish. He said that they’re searching for a chest full of ancient coins brought over from Herculaneum.” He paused. “One of them was said to be one of the pieces of silver Judas was paid to betray Christ. It was supposed to have been found by some professor a couple years ago, but the Vatican refused to accept it as authentic. That means it could still be part of the treasure. That could be very big money.”
“Maybe,” Salazar said. “But we can’t deal with that right now. We’re going after Eve Duncan and the kid.”
“Don’t be impatient,” Natalie suddenly spoke up. “Franco is right, we shouldn’t discount the possibility of raking in that kind of money. You did very well, Franco.”
Silence. “A woman?” Franco said warily. “You have a woman there? Even if she’s your wife, you shouldn’t involve her in—”
“I’m not his wife,” Natalie said softly. “I’m Natalie Castino. Do you know who I am?”
An instant of shocked silence. “Yes. I’ve never met you, but I’ve seen you.”
“I want you to know that I appreciate your hard work. I look forward to meeting you. I think with a little thought and planning, we might be able to snatch that chest of coins right from under MacDuff’s nose.”
“It will get in the way,” Salazar said flatly.
“Not if we work it right.” She smiled at him. “You have power and a good deal of money in all your Grand Cayman accounts. But Franco and I have to think of the future, don’t we, Franco?”
“It’s … a lot of money.”
“Of course, it is. And we should take a little time to see if MacDuff is as close as MacTavish said. You made sure that he wouldn’t have lied to you?”
“He didn’t lie.”
She chuckled. “And you have a reputation for making it impossible for anyone to do that. Even my husband was impressed when he heard about you.”
“Was he?”
“Absolutely. Now where is this hunt going on?”
“Gaelkar. It’s in the Highlands.”
“And that must be where we can find Duncan and Cara. Suppose you set out right away, and we’ll meet together and talk.”
“Salazar?” Franco asked.
“Come ahead,” he said shortly. “I’ll talk to you on the road.” He hung up and glared at Natalie. “What the hell are you doing?”
“Exploring possibilities. There’s a possibility that I won’t be able to use you or my husband to give me what I need. You both have your own agendas. It would be very convenient to have a fortune of my own.”
“A share of a fortune,” he corrected sourly.
“It appears as if there might be plenty to share.” She took out her computer and opened it. “You go ahead and GPS this Gaelkar. I’ll see if I can Google any information about MacDuff and this chest of coins …
* * *
“Something’s wrong, Jane,” Eve murmured as she watched MacDuff stride toward them down the bank. His expression was more grim than she’d ever seen it. “And I don’t think it has anything to do with that damn mist.”
“Come to my tent,” MacDuff said curtly as he stopped before them. “Both of you. Right now.”
“Can you wait until we clean the mud off our shoes and wash our hands?” Eve asked. “We ran into a spot of—”
“No, right now.” He turned on his heel. “I don’t give a damn about that shit.” The next instant, Eve and Jane were watching him stride down the bank. “I don’t think you’re going to give a damn either, Eve.”
Eve felt a surge of fear and automatically looked toward Cara. As usual, she was with Jock and appeared perfectly okay. Whatever had happened hadn’t touched her yet. “I don’t like this.”
She quickly followed Jane around the bank toward the tent area.
Not Cara.
Joe?
Possible. Danger was always possible where Joe was concerned.
Stop worrying. She’d know in a few minutes.
But, dear God, MacDuff had looked grim.
MacDuff still looked grim as they entered his tent. He had poured a shot of whiskey and was lifting the glass to his lips. He glanced at them. “Sorry to be rude. Would you like a drink? I felt the need of one.”
“Why?” Jane asked as she came toward the desk. “What’s happened, MacDuff?”
“I’m drinking to an old friend.” He lifted his glass in a half toast. “Who was recently butchered by an acquaintance of yours, Eve.”
Eve felt a ripple of shock. “What?”
“Rob MacTavish, my assistant.” He took a drink of whiskey. “MacTavish has been with me for years and my father before me. He was a good man. He was planning on retiring soon. He was training his grandson to take over for him.”
“What happened, MacDuff?” Jane repeated quietly.
“I received a call from Sean Donlachen, head of security at MacDuff’s Run. He was abjectly apologetic.” He took another drink. “Because he’d failed in his duty to me. Last night, the courtyard sentry was taken, tortured, and killed. But not before he’d given the alarm code to get into the castle. Early this morning, they found both the sentry and MacTavish. It appeared that MacTavish had received even harsher treatment than the sentry.” His lips were tight. “Because he was a tough, loyal old man, and it must have taken a long time to break him.”
“I’m so sorry, MacDuff,” Jane said. “It was MacTavish you asked to send me those notes and sketches. Did that have anything to do with it?”
“No,” Eve said unsteadily. She couldn’t stop shivering. “I don’t believe that what happened had anything to do with Cira’s treasure. It sounds too much like what happened to those pilots in Atlanta. They were tracking you down to find Jane, Cara, and me, MacDuff. Isn’t that what you’re figuring?”
“That’s what I’m thinking,” MacDuff said. “I’m betting it was that Franco Quinn told me about. And they found a nice old man who knew where I was.” He tossed back his whiskey. “And butchered him.”
“Do you want Cara and me to leave?” Eve asked. “If we go, even if Salazar and Franco came, they might leave you alone if they see that we aren’t here.”
“You may have to leave. Since they know where you are, I won’t risk you and the child. But not right away. I have to find a place for you that I consider safe.” His lips twisted. “And by that time, they could be right on top of us.” He turned back to Jane. “But they’ll be coming from the north, over the hills to the lake. It would be the safest route for them. They wouldn’t realize what they’d run into if they try to go through that mist.” He paused. “I don’t want anyone to go near that mist at the north end until I tell you it’s safe.”
“And when will that be?” Jane asked. “Because I don’t think you’re including yourself in that order, are you?”
“It occurred to me that it might be more efficient to get rid of the threat after I’m sure that Eve and Cara are safe.” He poured himself another drink. “Picking Franco and Salazar off in that mist would be so much cleaner than having to keep those bastards from hunting Eve and Cara down. I’m sure MacTavish would approve.”
“They might not even to try to go through that mist,” Eve said. “They might just go over the hills and hit us from the northwest.”
“Maybe. But then they might decide that they should explore other lucrative goals while they’re at it.” His lips twisted. “And I won’t let Cira’s gold be taken by those sons of bitches who killed MacTavish.”
“Is that a possibility?” Eve asked.
“The office was ransacked, and the file with the photos was taken. MacTavish must have told Franco everything concerning the hunt as well as where we are. Hell, he probably told him anything and everything to stop the pain. I even told MacTavish during that last call that I thought I was coming very close to finding Cira’s gold. Yes, I’d say that it’s a possibility Salazar might have an interest.” He added through set teeth, “I almost hope they do. I’d like to repay a little in kind.”
“I can see how you would,” Eve said. “And I regret what happened to your friend MacTavish, but you can settle scores after I get Cara safe. Right now, I don’t care about Cira’s gold or preserving your estates or the fact that you want revenge.” She turned to leave. “Now I’m going to call Joe and tell him that Salazar probably knows where we are and is moving fast.” She looked over her shoulder. “And if you can find a safe house for Cara, do it. Or I’ll do it myself.”
She walked out of the tent.
She stood there for a moment, struggling against the anger and panic coursing through her. Two more deaths as Salazar and Franco moved nearer. Two strangers whom she had never seen had died for her and Cara. How many more would there be before this was over?
Get a grip. She drew a deep breath and straightened her shoulders. Cara. She had to find Cara. She headed back toward the bank.
She saw Cara immediately. She was still with Jock, and he was smiling down at her. Was it Eve’s imagination, or was the closeness growing, the bonding between them becoming more firm? A bonding that would probably be broken when she snatched Cara away from Jock, and they went on the run. She felt a pang as she thought how many friendships had been lost when Cara had been forced to run in her short life.
It couldn’t be helped. Her pace quickened as she hurried toward Cara. Get Cara to her tent, prepare her for what was to come.
Then make the call to Joe.
* * *
“Go ahead. I’ll be there in a few minutes, Eve,” Cara said, trying to smile. She had to be very calm, she told herself. She must not let Eve know how upset she was. She could tell that Eve was already upset herself, and she mustn’t make it harder for her. “It won’t take me long to get ready. Go call Joe.”
“Cara…” She gazed at her, then at Jock. Then she nodded. “Don’t be too long. MacDuff is going to be working on finding a safe place to take us. I don’t know how much time we’re going to have.” She turned and headed back toward the tent area.
Cara’s hands knotted into fists as she watched Eve leave. “She wants to give me a chance to say good-bye to you. Isn’t that nice of her? Eve’s always thinking about other people. Did I tell you that she saved my life once? She didn’t even know—”
“Shut up,” Jock said roughly. He was suddenly beside her, turning her to face him. “Stop pretending. I know what this is doing to you. How many times has it happened before? That’s what Eve is thinking, too. It’s hurting her to make you go on the run again.” He took her shoulders in his hands and looked down into her eyes. “It’s hurting me. So don’t pretend. It makes me feel lonely.”
“Does it? Why?”
“Because I like the way you play the violin.” He smiled. “Because I like the way you smile at me. Because I’ve never had a sister, and you make me think it might be kind of nice to have one. Do I have to have any other reason?”
“No.” She cleared her throat. “You … make me feel as if I’m not alone either. I don’t want to leave you.”
“Shh. We can get around that.”
She shook her head. “You might need me. I think sometimes you have … pain. I should be here.”
“I’ll be fine.”
He was smiling and so radiant that she wanted to reach up and touch his face. She repeated, “You might need me.”
He was silent, gazing down at her. “I think I might always need you. But that doesn’t mean we have to be together. Friends stay friends even when they’re far apart.”
She shook her head. “But then I won’t know when you need me.” But maybe he was trying to say that she was clinging too tight. “You’re right.” She tried to back away from him. “That’s the way you’re friends with Jane. It’s just not my way. I’ll work on being more like Jane.” She moistened her lips. “I’d better go. Eve told me not to—”
“Hush,” he said. “Jane is fine. Jane is great. But you don’t have to be anyone but yourself. That’s quite enough. Too much sometimes.”
“Too much?”
“I’m not going to go into that,” he said. “And do you really think that I’d let you get away from me? That’s not going to happen.”
“We’re friends?” she whispered. “Really friends?”
“It couldn’t be any more real,” he said gravely. “And I’m not ever going to let you walk away unless that’s what you want to do. I’ll be closer to you than your Elena, closer than Eve. But you have a long way to go, and we can’t be together all the time. I’ll have to make do without you.”
“You’re not … joking?”
“Heaven forbid. Now, run along to Eve. I have to go see MacDuff. I knew MacTavish, too, and MacDuff may need someone to talk to about his old friend.”
She nodded. “I tried to talk to Eve about Elena, but sometimes the words didn’t come.”
“And MacDuff may not say anything. In that case, we’ll only have a drink. But he’ll know I’m there, and that can be important, too.” He yanked his thumb toward the tents. “Go. Let me see you safe in your tent before I leave.”
“It’s only a little way, Jock.” She smiled at him as she turned to leave. “I couldn’t be safer. I’m not worried.”
“Neither am I. Not as long as I’m watching over you. You don’t ever have to worry about anything happening to you while I’m keeping an eye on you.” He smiled back at her. “You’ll never have to look over your shoulder again. No one will ever hurt you. I’ll always be there for you.”
He was smiling, but Cara could sense that he could not have been more serious. “I don’t want anyone to have to take care of me. Elena, Eve, Joe, Jane. Now you and MacDuff. Elena always told me I had to take care of myself, and she was right. It’s my turn to take care of people now.”
“We’ll discuss it later.” He nodded at the tents. “Go see what Joe’s decided for you and Eve. Move.”
Cara stood there, staring at him.
He frowned. “What’s wrong?”
“I just wanted to look at you for a minute. Things … happen. I tried to remember what Elena looked like that last morning, and I couldn’t do it.”
“Cara.” A mixture of expressions chased across his face. “Oh, shit. What can I say to that?” He leaned closer and cupped her face in his hands. “Hey, it’s going to be fine. I promise nothing is going to happen to me or Eve or Jane or … should I go down the list?”
“You promise?”
He nodded. “You know it.” He brushed his lips across the bridge of her nose. “Now will you go?”
“Sure.” She smiled. “Of course, I will.” She turned and flew across the bank toward the tents. She had spoken without thinking. The words had tumbled out. She knew that there was no way that he could guarantee that he or anyone in this camp would live even another day. Her sister, Jenny, had died. Elena had died. Both of them had been young and with their entire lives before them. Death came, but life should be held close to fight him off.
Maybe by making Jock give her that promise, he would think, remember, when death came too near him.
* * *
“Get out of there, Eve,” Joe said harshly. “Now!”
“We’re packing up. MacDuff is only waiting until he locates a safe house he’ll be satisfied with.”
“I’ll call Burbank and see if he can find one. He’s with Scotland Yard and should know the area. It’s probably better if you go back to the city anyway. You can get lost there.”
“I could get lost here. You haven’t seen those mists.”
“Stay out of those mists. I told you I—”
“It was just a comment. I’ll go where MacDuff tells me to go. Wherever I can keep Cara safe. I just wanted to call and tell you what had happened.”
“I’ll call MacDuff myself. And I’ll get back to you as soon as I talk to Burbank.”
“And then what?” she asked. “This is the explosion you thought would come. It’s not all about me. What’s your next move, Joe?”
“I think you know. I’ve made some advance plans. I have to get off this phone and get to work. I’ll see you soon.” He hung up.
She did know, Eve thought, as she hung up. Joe was in battle mode, and he’d be totally ruthless in execution. He had to extricate himself both from Salazar’s tail and Toller’s before he’d come to her, but he’d said soon, and he meant it.
Don’t think of the danger and difficulties that he’d face. Just believe in him.
And concentrate on doing her part to keep Cara safe.
* * *
Joe’s first call after hanging up from Eve was to Burbank at Scotland Yard. “I’ve just had word that Salazar is on the move, Burbank. See if you can find out what’s happening?”
“I already know,” Burbank said. “I’ve just had an informant tell me. Six men from Maitland’s cartel in Liverpool, heading west on Salazar’s orders. And not the usual run-of-the mill hired killers. The word is that Salazar requested specialists.”
“What kind of specialists?”
“I don’t know yet. I’m still checking.”
Joe didn’t like it. “I need to know, Burbank.”
“I’ll let you know when I do. I’d give you a destination, but Salazar hasn’t told them anything but that he wanted them to rendezvous with him and Franco near Glasgow.”
“Keep me informed.” He paused. “I may send Eve and Cara to you if you can find a safe haven for them. Possible?”
“Possible. I’ll ask around.” He hung up.
Okay. Confirmation that Salazar was definitely heading toward the Highlands.
Now he had to get the hell out of here.
He made one more phone call.
Then he left the lake cottage and headed for the airport.
* * *
The airport was crowded, but Joe had only carry-on luggage, and he moved effortlessly through security. Then he took the train to the International concourse at Terminal E.
Lomoto, Salazar’s man, was at the front of the car.
The tail Toller had assigned him was standing holding on to the iron bar by the sliding doors.
There was a dark amusement at seeing both of them caught on this train with him. If anything would have amused him right now.
He saw the boarding sign above the check-in counter the minute he got off the escalator that led from the train.
Geneva, Switzerland, with continuing service to Rome, Italy.
He checked in at the gate and went over to the window to watch the scurry of activity around the jet on the tarmac below.
His phone rang. Toller.
“Hello, Toller. I’ve been expecting you.”
“What the hell are you doing, Quinn?”
“I thought I’d take a little trip to Switzerland. Does the agent you have following me ski? It would make it so much more pleasant for him.”
“What are you up to? You know that there will be an agent waiting when you get off the plane in Geneva.”
“And your agent here will make sure I board this plane. I don’t doubt that you’re handling my departure with efficiency. By the way, what’s his name?”
“Dixon.”
“Dixon looks to be a clean-cut young man. Maybe a little too much government-issue. Crew cut, nice suit and tie. Just what I’d expect of you. Much more presentable than that scumbag, Lomoto, who Salazar assigned to me. He’s wearing jeans and a red jacket, and I’ll bet he’s missing the gun he had to give up to get past security.”
“What’s happening, Quinn?”
“Probably what you thought would happen. But you’ll notice I’m obeying your instructions and not even trying to avoid surveillance. I would have even made an attempt to become more compatible with your agent, Dixon, but I didn’t want to make Salazar’s hit man jealous. Lomoto is looking a bit uptight at the moment. He’s obviously not sure whether to try to take me out here or wait for instructions from Salazar.”
“You could neutralize the threat by coming in and having a talk with me about Cara Castino.”
“Yes, I could do that.” He glanced at the boarding desk. “I believe they’re starting to call my flight. It was nice talking to you, Toller.” He hung up.
Time to rid himself of Lomoto.
He moved toward the restroom across the hall from the gates.
Lomoto followed only seconds later.
Good. The restroom was unoccupied except for someone in a stall at the far end.
Joe pressed back against the wall beside the entrance.
Waiting.
Not for long.
Joe saw a blur of jeans and red jacket.
He moved!
His arm encircled Lomoto’s neck, and he jerked him into the urinal area. His leg swept out and brought him falling to the floor.
One savage and effective blow to the carotid artery.
Lomoto grunted and collapsed.
Joe caught him and dragged him into the nearest stall. He dumped him on the toilet, locked the door, and listened. The toilet flushed from the stall occupied down the long row. The sound of running water. No sound of anyone else’s entering the restroom. Joe stepped on the toilet, and then pulled himself over the locked door and jumped to the floor. He had been lucky, any number of things could have gone wrong. But they hadn’t gone wrong, and he had rid himself of Lomoto. Now it was time to rid himself of Toller’s man. But this removal would be infinitely more difficult and complex. He straightened his clothes and left the restroom.
Just in time.
Toller’s agent had evidently decided not just to monitor but to investigate. He was walking toward the restroom.
Joe smiled and nodded. “Nice of you to be concerned about me. But I wouldn’t miss this flight.” Then he moved toward the boarding line.
Toller’s agent, Dixon, hesitated, then turned back to watch Joe give his boarding pass to the agent.
Joe hadn’t thought that he’d go into the restroom and investigate the sudden absence of Lomoto. Dixon didn’t give a damn what happened to Salazar’s man, he was only worried about keeping Joe in view.
Joe waved at him as he was given back his boarding pass and headed for the jetway door. Joe knew that he would probably stay there, watching, until the plane took off.
Joe moved slowly down the curving jetway. He’d deliberately waited until almost everyone had boarded before he started. He’d counted on the fact that there would be a last-minute scramble, with the flight attendants scurrying around, finding places for carry-on luggage and serving drinks. It would be the best time to make his move.
“You cut it close,” Rick Stacy growled as Joe rounded the last turn in the jetway. Stacy’s face was almost as green as his baggage handler’s uniform, and he nervously moistened his lips. “We’ve got about five minutes before they shut the baggage doors.”
“Then let’s get moving.” Joe took the green airline jacket that Stacy handed him and put it on. “That should be enough time.” He pulled on the matching cap. “You set up the car for me?”
“Yes. Hertz.” Stacy opened the jetway door that led down to the tarmac and baggage compartment access. “Just get into the truck and keep low. I’ll have you back at the parking lot in ten minutes. When do I get the other half of my money?”
“When I’m sure that you didn’t double-cross me. Not that you would, Stacy. I can tell you’re a fine, upstanding man.” He moved quickly to the truck, opened the passenger door, and jumped in. He glanced up at the windows at the gate. He was on the other side of the plane, and even if Toller’s man was watching, he wouldn’t be able to see him. But his bet was that Dixon was still watching the boarding gate to make sure Joe didn’t come back.
He heard the cargo doors slam, then Stacy was in the truck beside him.
“Down!” Stacy muttered.
Joe slid down in the seat.
A few minutes later, the truck was cruising by the wire-enclosed airline lot that adjoined the regular passenger parking lot.
“Slow down,” Joe said. “I’ll jump out and hide behind those machines until you get back to baggage.”
“My money,” Stacy reminded him.
“I’ll wire it into your bank account once I’m sure of you. This is just the first step for all of us, Stacy.”
But a crucial first step, he thought. Once he got safely away from the Atlanta Airport, he’d drive to Birmingham and board a private jet to Edinburgh.
Seven hours at most and he’d be with Eve.
HILLS OF GAELKAR
“I want to talk to Eve Duncan, Salazar,” Natalie said. “What can it hurt? Just give me ten minutes. She has no way of knowing that I’m involved in the kidnapping. To her, I’d just be a grieving mother as I am to everyone else. I might be able to set a trap for her and Cara. Much better than trying to blunder in and take them.”
“Not everyone is fool enough to believe that you’re what you pretend to be, Natalie,” Salazar said.
“If they don’t, they feel so guilty at being heartless that the effect is the same.” She turned to Franco. “Don’t you think it’s a good idea?”
“Maybe,” he said cautiously. “I don’t know that she would—”
“Never mind.” She waved her hand dismissingly. “You’re so afraid of offending Salazar that you wouldn’t admit I’m right. I forgive you.” She stared down at the mist-shrouded lake hundreds of feet below them. “But then I believe we do need an example to show those people we’re sincere. Perhaps one of those guards we skirted around when we were climbing up this perfectly exhausting mountain?” She smiled at Franco. “Could you do that for me, Franco?”
“If you want me to.” He smiled. “An example … I think you’re right.”
“Franco,” Salazar said warningly.
“With your permission … sir.”
Franco was back in line, Salazar thought sourly, but he was clearly dazzled by Natalie and had been since the moment they had met. And Natalie wasn’t above using Franco if it suited her purpose. Hell, she wasn’t above using the devil himself. “An example might be beneficial. It might shake them up to realize how easily we can reach out and touch them. Go see what you can do.”
“Eve Duncan,” Natalie reminded Salazar softly. “Why not see what I can do, too?”
* * *
“Joe is on his way,” Eve said to MacDuff as she hung up the phone. “He just boarded a flight in Birmingham. He wants me out of here and in a safe house by the time he gets here.”
“And what do you want, Eve?”
“I want Cara safe.” She gazed out at the lake. It wasn’t only the lake that was misty today. The hills were draped, covered, in a suffocatingly heavy fog that was increasing every minute. “And, yes, I want to be safe, too. It’s important right now.” She looked back at him. “Have you found us a place?”
“Possibly. I’m exploring options. There’s a flat in the Old Town section of Edinburgh that should be safe.”
“Your men haven’t seen anything of Salazar yet?”
“I would have told you.” He added grimly, “Or you would have heard it. I guarantee that no one would get near you without our knowing it. Ned Colin is one of my best men, and I told him to call in at least eight or nine men to patrol those hills. There are four men just guarding the camp.” He turned away. “I’ve got one more place to check out near London. We should be able to get you on the road within a couple hours.” He frowned. “I hope. The weather forecast says this fog isn’t going to lift for hours. If it really socks in, it will be impossible to travel. I’ll try to get you moving right away.”
And she wasn’t helping anything by standing talking to him, Eve thought. She turned and strode back to her tent, where Cara was waiting.
“Joe’s on his way,” she told her. She glanced around the tent. “Everything seems to be packed up and ready. You’ve been very efficient.”
“There wasn’t much to pack. Not like when Elena and I had to move to a different city.” She went to stand by the door and looked out at the heavy fog. “It looks … strange, doesn’t it.”
“We’re just not used to the entire valley being foggy. Yes, it does look different.”
“Could I go outside for a little while? I won’t go far. I thought I’d go sit by the fire. I feel … closed in.”
“Sure. MacDuff says the camp is guarded. Want company?”
She shook her head. “I don’t think so.”
Because she was sad and maybe a little scared. Or maybe she wanted to go talk to Jock again. “I’ll call you when MacDuff says we have to leave.”
She watched Cara disappear into the fog. She wished MacDuff would make a decision so that they could get out of here. She was as on edge as Cara.
It would be better when Joe got here.
Everything would be better when Joe was here.
He had said six hours. It seemed a lifetime right—
Her cell phone rang.
No ID.
She hesitated. “Hello.”
“Eve Duncan?” A woman’s voice, rushed, broken. “Tell me they didn’t lie to me again. You’re the one who has my daughter?”
Eve stiffened. “This is Eve Duncan. Who are you?”
“Natalie Castino. You have my Cara?”
Shock jarred through Eve. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Just tell me that she’s safe. That those horrible men haven’t hurt her.” She was sobbing. “They told me that they killed my Jenny but that Cara is still alive. But that she won’t be for very long if I don’t do what they say. We’ve got to save her.”
“What men are you talking about?” Eve asked cautiously.
“The people who kidnapped her. I think they have something to do with the leader of one of the rival cartels who hate my husband. But how could they do it? How could they hurt a child?”
The words and tone couldn’t have sounded more genuine, Eve thought. If Joe hadn’t told her about Natalie’s meeting with Salazar, she might have even believed her. What was Natalie trying to do? Play it cautiously. “It’s not a question of how, they obviously did kill Jenny. And you obviously have been told that there’s a threat to Cara. Suppose you tell me what’s happening?”
Natalie drew a shaky breath. “A few days ago, I received a telephone call and was told that my daughter Jenny had been killed and that Cara would also die unless I place four million dollars in an account in the Grand Cayman. My husband thought it was a scam and refused to pay, but my father agreed to transmit the funds if I could get them to prove they had Cara, and she could be safely extracted.” Her voice broke. “He meant he thought they might kill her anyway. They sent me a school picture of her in some kind of choir robe … She looks like me. But she’s so big now … My little girl is so big. My father said that photo didn’t prove anything except that she’d still been alive sometime this year. He wanted a current photo and to set up a release.” She drew a deep breath. “And then they told me that they didn’t have her after all, that you’d stolen her away from them.”
“If that’s true, then you should have been relieved.”
“Except they said that they would hunt her down and kill her. They said you’d taken her to Scotland, and they told me to come here and find a way to get them the money. Only they’re angry now, and they want more. They said you’d found some kind of treasure or something, and they want that, too. Is that true?”
Eve was silent a moment. “It seems that they’re well informed. What would they do if you refuse?”
“They told me it would only be days, maybe hours, before they either took Cara back or shot her. Please don’t let them do that.” She said in a rush, “My father looked you up, and he doesn’t think you’re part of this. You’re some kind of sculptor or something, and you’d care if my daughter was hurt or killed. I hope he’s right.”
“Yes, I would care very much.”
“Then help me, help us,” she said. “I beg of you. You’ve been told my husband is a terrible man, and I suppose I have to say he can be terrible in many ways. I guess I’m a little bitter toward him because he doesn’t seem to love our daughter as much as I do. But Cara shouldn’t suffer because of his sins. I’ve already been forced to lose my Jenny.”
So plausible. She was striking all the right notes. “We’ve been able to keep Cara safe so far. What makes you think we can’t continue?”
“Because they hate my husband, and the only thing that would make them stop hunting for Cara is that money.”
“And as soon as they had it, they’d kill her anyway.”
“Do you think I’m not afraid of that? That’s why I’m calling you. I want you to make a deal with Salazar. Tell him that you’ll turn Cara over to my father if he gives him the money. Maybe give him that other treasure thing, too. My father will send a helicopter to pick her up with two of his most trusted men.”
“And you?”
“Of course. I can’t wait to see her. Did you know in a few days it will be her birthday?”
“No, I didn’t.”
“It’s been so many years since I’ve been able to think of that day without tears. Has she ever spoken about me?”
“She doesn’t remember much about you. All she remembers is her sister and her nurse, Elena.”
“I guess I can’t expect anything else. But I’m still bitter about the fact that Elena never brought her back to me.”
“Bitter? She died saving Cara.”
“And I’m grateful, but she should have known I’d have found a way to protect all of them.” She paused. “But I have my chance now. I can save my Cara. If you’ll help me. Will you do that?”
What to answer? Eve’s mind was zooming, careening, as she tried to come up with the right thing to say. “I’m not certain if throwing my lot in with you is the right thing to do. One of the reasons that we took Cara away from the authorities in San Diego was that we didn’t want to put her in a situation where she’d be sent back to Mexico to face danger from all sides. I’m still not sure that wouldn’t happen. You say you love Cara, but you weren’t able to prevent her kidnapping. How can you assure me that it wouldn’t happen again?”
“Because my father would be involved. He loved his granddaughters. He wouldn’t let anything happen to Cara now that he knows there is a danger.”
Eve was silent. “Just what are you suggesting?”
“I contact Salazar and tell him that you’ve agreed to bring Cara to meet the helicopter my father will send with the ransom money. It will be your responsibility to get her to the helicopter safely, but once there, my father’s men will take over. He’ll whisk her away and you, too, if you wish. I understand that you’ve made yourself a target by interfering with Salazar.”
“You could say that,” she said dryly. “And we all fly away and live happily ever after?”
“Live is the key word,” Natalie said quietly. “I’ve learned to value those words in the past eight years. Will I permit you to interfere with my relationship with my daughter once she’s safe? I don’t promise you that. What mother would give up her child because an outsider thinks she knows better than she does how to raise her? You’ll have to do battle to get her back from me.”
“I don’t have to do battle, I still have Cara. The choice is mine.”
“But you won’t let her die, if you can help it. I can tell that you care about her … just as I do.” She rattled off a phone number. “You’ll make the right choice. Call me when you do.” She hung up.
Natalie Castino was a force to be reckoned with, Eve thought as she slowly hung up. She had gone through that conversation, pressing all the buttons, changing tone, altering character, as she went along.
If she was a killer, then she was an exceptionally clever one. If she was a grieving mother, fighting to keep her daughter alive, then she might have come up with a plan to do it. Yet Joe thought that she had helped Salazar to take the girls, and he was seldom wrong.
Still, they had no concrete proof of her involvement … except for the fact that Jenny had been buried in that white eyelet dress instead of her nightclothes. No sign that Natalie had been involved in MacTavish’s death. All those tears, the sobs, the agony, might be real, but in the end, Eve would have to make her own decision.
And that decision would not only concern Cara and her but everyone in this camp.
She got to her feet and left the tent and was immediately assaulted by waves of fog. She could dimly see Cara’s hazy figure sitting by the fire with Jock. What would she say if Eve told her that she’d just spoken to her mother?
She wasn’t ready to find out. She turned and headed for Jane’s tent.
* * *
“Did she believe you?” Salazar asked Natalie, as she hung up from talking to Eve Duncan. “I told you it was a waste of time. You should have stayed out of it.”
“It wasn’t a waste of time.” Natalie smiled. “I was plausible. I gave her something to think about. If you do your part and frighten her enough, she might run right toward me.”
“Toward us.”
“That’s what I meant, of course.”
“Of course. You mentioned that treasure MacDuff’s supposed to be hunting.”
“I just wanted to get a feel for her take on that chest. She didn’t laugh or ridicule the idea. MacTavish might have had it right.” She glanced at Franco. “You were very clever to dig that out of him.”
Franco nodded and smiled.
“A waste of time,” Salazar repeated.
“We’ll see. I certainly wouldn’t want to do that. I don’t want to spend any more time than necessary in these hills with those rather odorous men you’ve imported.” She glanced around the camp, then at the man tied and gagged across the fire from them. He was staring at her pleadingly. His face was bloody, and so was his throat. Franco had been playing with him after he’d captured him a few hours ago. She looked away from him and shrugged. “You gave me my chance. By all means, let me see what you can do, Salazar.” She got to her feet. “In the meantime, I’ll call my father and tell him how upset I am that I haven’t heard any more about ransom for my Cara.”
“You made two calls last night.”
“How suspicious you are. One to my father, one to my husband. My father to reinforce the myth, my husband to tell him how much I missed him and that I couldn’t wait to get home to him. One must always follow through with a lie and not let it just dangle in the wind.” She tilted her head. “But you knew that, didn’t you? You checked my phone after I went to sleep. One call to Moscow. One call to Mexico City. You just wanted to know why.” She added softly, “You don’t trust me, Salazar?”
“I’m not a fool. Our relationship is not based on trust.”
She threw back her head and laughed. “True.” She sauntered away from the fire. “It’s based on getting my sweet daughter back to me. And perhaps acquiring a few other gifts along the way.”