Chapter
18
“Up,” Catherine said curtly to Luke when they reached the fire escape. “The third-floor window is open. Hurry.”
Luke was already climbing, not looking back as he moved swiftly up to the third floor.
Catherine gave a glance at Cameron, who was several yards behind them. She couldn’t tell if he was really watching their backs or if that wound had weakened him. She couldn’t worry about it now. She was right behind Luke and reached him just after he’d ducked through the window.
“I was beginning to worry, Catherine.” Hu Chang stepped out of the shadows as she jumped to the floor. “You didn’t mention that you’d planned any extracurricular activities before I left with Erin.” He glanced at Luke. “But plans have a habit of changing when Luke appears on the scene. How did that occur?”
“He eavesdropped on our conversation when we were discussing the factory this afternoon,” she said curtly.
“Yes, I’ve spoken to him about that grievous character flaw before,” Hu Chang said. “I was hoping that our discussion had solved the problem.”
“You shouldn’t have tried to keep me from going with Catherine,” Luke said fiercely. “I’d do it again.”
“No, you won’t. But that’s not important now,” Catherine said. “Is Erin safe?”
“Yes, I slipped her out of the building to the restaurant Cameron had set up to take her in. She’s safe.”
“Good, then you can take Luke out the same route.”
Luke adamantly shook his head. “No, Catherine.”
“Don’t argue. There’s no time to—”
The sound of splintering glass from the first floor.
“It appears time has run out,” Hu Chang said quietly.
Her cell phone rang. It had to be Kadmus. She punched the access.
“I’ve found you, Ling,” Kadmus said. “Did you hear that glass breaking? My men are pouring into the building. I’ve told them to search every nook and cranny until they find you and Erin. Then we’ll have a discussion about what I’m going to do to your son if you don’t give me Cameron.”
Kadmus obviously didn’t know yet that his man was dead and he had no chance to get his hands on Luke. No chance? Luke was right here in front of her, and Kadmus was breaking down the doors.
She had to play him, keep him thinking that was true, lead him into the trap. “You’ll lose men if you have them come after me. I won’t go down easily. I won’t let you take Erin.” She paused. “But I can’t let you hurt my boy. Perhaps we can come to an agreement.”
“Agreement?”
“I won’t give you Erin Sullivan, but if you promise that my Luke won’t be hurt and will be returned to me, I might be able to tell you where you can find Cameron.” She could hear shouts and loud footsteps coming from the second floor, and she said quickly, “But you have to call off your men and come to talk to me yourself.”
“I don’t have to do anything that I don’t want to do.”
“The hell you don’t. I’m very good at what I do, Kadmus. I’ll not only kill off enough of your men to discourage them, but there’s even a chance I’ll be able to get out of here. At the least, I’ll cause enough of an uproar to have the police crashing in here to see what’s happening. Make a deal, Kadmus.”
Silence. “I’ll talk to you. Where are you?”
“Third floor.”
“Brasden and I will be on our way up in a few minutes.” He added mockingly, “You remember Brasden, don’t you, Ling? He has very vivid memories of you. He can hardly wait to see you again.” He hung up.
She whirled on Luke and Hu Chang. “Get Luke into that storage closet across the far wall. Right now.”
Luke was frowning. “Catherine, I don’t—”
She turned on him, and said fiercely, “Luke, don’t argue with me. I’ve been trying to do what you want, be what you want. I’ve been almost afraid to do anything for fear of losing you. Well, that’s over. You say I don’t know you. Maybe that works both ways. But it’s time you got to know me and what I do. In situations like this, I’m the one who runs things. Now do what I tell you.”
Luke stared at her, then turned on his heel. “Come on, Hu Chang.” He said over his shoulder, “But if I see you having trouble, I’m not going to stay there, Catherine.”
She could hear the elevator begin to move. “Go!” She glanced at the window. Cameron should have been here by now, but who knew what Cameron would be doing at any given time? She would have to run her own show.
The elevator stopped just before it reached the third floor. “I have an AK-47,” Kadmus called. “Throw down your weapons on the floor, or I’ll blow you to hell, Ling.”
“No way. I’d be helpless.”
“Put them down.”
There wasn’t much she could do with her .38 against an AK-47 anyway. She would still have the knife in the holster on her calf. “You win.” She put her gun on the floor. “My gun is on the floor in front of me.”
“Good.” The freight elevator started to move again, and Kadmus and Brasden came in view. The darkness was suddenly pierced by the brilliant LED lantern Kadmus was holding in one hand. True to his word, his other arm cradled an AK-47.
Brasden was carrying a Smith & Wesson automatic, and he smiled maliciously as his gaze zeroed in on Catherine. “I’ve been waiting for this, Ling.”
Kadmus lifted the lantern so that’s its beam would light every corner of the darkness. “Where’s Sullivan?”
“I wouldn’t risk her life. When you called me tonight, I got her out of here.” She stepped forward. “She’s suffered enough, you bastard. It’s not her fault my son is on your kill list.”
“He might not have to die,” Brasden said. “Kadmus is a reasonable man, and I might be able to persuade him to let the boy live. Providing you give us Cameron.”
“Us?” She turned to Kadmus. “I thought Brasden was only a glorified errand boy in that ragtag army of yours. Do I have to deal with him, too?”
“Yes,” Brasden said before Kadmus could answer. “Kadmus and I have come to terms regarding the future of our relationship. Tell us about Cameron.”
Catherine ignored him, still staring at Kadmus. “Is that true?”
“Brasden has been very helpful in tracking you down.”
That was no real confirmation, and she could sense antagonism. She might be able to work with it. “I won’t be telling you anything about Cameron until you prove that it’s worth my while. I don’t even know that you’ve managed to get your hands on Luke. He can be very clever.”
“He’s just a kid,” Brasden said. “Our man Ellis is smart and experienced. Your Luke won’t have a chance.”
“Won’t?” she repeated. “That means you don’t have him yet. You lied, Kadmus.”
“I exaggerated, and you fell for it. Women are always vulnerable where their emotions are concerned.” He smiled triumphantly. “But I have you now. So it doesn’t matter. Ellis will bring the boy here and—”
Brasden’s cell phone rang, and he picked up. “Brasden.” He listened and muttered a curse. “Find him.”
Kadmus stiffened. “Brasden, that didn’t sound good. You told me—”
“Ellis is dead,” Brasden said curtly. “About two blocks from here. Throat cut. No sign of the boy.”
“What? You told me that Ellis was so good. He couldn’t deal with an eleven-year-old kid?”
“It’s not my fault. Ellis was good.”
“It seems you have nothing to offer me, Kadmus,” Catherine said. “I suppose I should thank Brasden for being an incompetent bumbler.”
“I can offer you your life.” Kadmus’s hand tightened on the AK-47. “And it’s damn funny that Ellis was killed only two blocks from here. It wouldn’t have taken you long to run out of here to rescue the boy.”
“You’re reaching. I wouldn’t have had the time.”
“But you tell me you’re so good.” He gave Brasden a cold glance. “And you succeeded in making a fool of Brasden at Daksha. You might have managed to pluck your son away from Ellis. But where would you have found to stash the little bastard?” He raised the lantern high again and slowly let the beam play around the walls. “I wonder…”
She felt a jolt of panic. Any minute he might decide to go and investigate those storage cabinets. She couldn’t wait any longer. “It’s stupid to think that I’d be able to—”
She kicked the lantern out of his hand, and it crashed to the floor. The glass smashed, but the bulb remained lit as it rolled toward the elevator.
Catherine dove behind the stacked boxes as Brasden let loose with a spray of bullets from his automatic.
“Be careful, you fool,” Kadmus yelled. “Do you want to set those fireworks off and have us all go up in flames?”
It was what Catherine had hoped he’d think. She’d made preparations earlier in the evening and ensured that these wooden boxes were filled with relatively harmless fireworks. But if Kadmus let go with that AK-47, it would shred those boxes and anyone sheltering behind them in seconds.
“She’s not armed, Brasden,” Kadmus said. “Go after her, dammit.”
Catherine slid her knife out of her leg holster.
Then she reached for one of the cherry bombs from the pile she’d earlier readied and started lighting them.
“Come on, bitch.” Brasden was moving toward her. “Kadmus may want you alive, but I don’t give a damn about his screwy ideas about Shambhala. You’re a dead woman if you give me any trouble.”
She waited.
Just a little closer …
First, distract him.
She raised up and started tossing the cherry bombs.
Blam! Blam!
Two exploded in front of Brasden.
“What the—”
The next one hit him in the chest and exploded, burning him.
He screamed.
Now he was off guard. She scrambled to her knees and threw the knife.
It sank deep into his chest.
He tottered and dropped to his knees. He was moaning as he tried to lift his gun.
He didn’t get the chance.
His body was suddenly riddled with bullets, tearing him to pieces.
“Fool.” Kadmus stood over his body with his AK-47. “He couldn’t even perform a simple kill.” He kicked Brasden’s body. “But I didn’t want you to kill him. I’ve been reserving that pleasure for myself.” He stared into the darkness. “You’ve used your knife and those pitiful fireworks. I doubt if you have anything more lethal. I won’t be as easy to put down as Brasden.” He started forward. “I won’t kill you. I’ll just wound you. Then I can take my time and—”
The skylight above them exploded and shattered in thousands of shards of glittering glass.
Someone had jumped, hurled himself through the glass.
Cameron!
He rolled in a ball toward Kadmus, then grabbed him around the knees and brought him down. But Kadmus’s AK-47 was swinging viciously at Cameron’s head as he hit the floor. Cameron ducked and straddled him.
Catherine was on her feet and diving for the gun she’d been forced to drop on the floor.
Dammit, but she couldn’t use it without running the risk of hitting Cameron. Kadmus was fighting viciously, and he still hadn’t released that AK-47.
“Get away from him, Cameron,” she called desperately. “Let me take my shot.”
Kadmus stiffened and went still for an instant. “Cameron?” He stared up into Cameron’s face. “I’ve got you?” His voice was hoarse with excitement. “I was wondering if you’d come to try to help Ling.” His fist slammed into Cameron’s stomach with brutal force. “I’ve got to be careful not to damage you too much. I need you.”
“Too bad,” Cameron said. “I don’t need you. Yes, I did come for Catherine, but you’re my primary target.”
“My hand’s wet.” Kadmus looked down at his fist. “You’re bleeding.” He smiled fiercely. “That’s good. It means you’re weak. I’ll take you, then I’ll get Ling with the AK-47.”
“Not that weak.” Cameron lifted his hand and backhanded him. “You like weak, don’t you? I remember how much you enjoyed using those ropes to play with Erin. Do you know how often I was tempted to come and use them on you?”
“But you didn’t.” His hands gripped Cameron’s neck. “Because you knew that I was too strong for you. You knew that I was destined for Shambhala. I was meant to be there, and you were keeping me from it. No more, Cameron.”
“No more,” Cameron whispered as he struggled to break Kadmus’s grip. “You do have a destiny, and I won’t keep you from it any longer.” He broke Kadmus’s hold, and his hands grasped Kadmus’s neck. Cameron stared him in the eye. “Not Shambhala, never Shambhala.” His hands tightened, cutting off air. “Hell, Kadmus.” He twisted sharply. “That’s your destiny.”
Kadmus’s neck snapped and broke.
Dead, Catherine realized, as Kadmus’s body went limp. Relief surged through her as she moved toward Cameron. He was getting off Kadmus’s body as she reached him. She said, “He said you were bleeding. You told me that you were okay.”
“That was before I jumped through that skylight,” Cameron said dryly. “Actions like that tend to aggravate a wound.”
“Let me see it.”
“Later.” He grabbed Kadmus’s legs and started to pull him toward the freight elevator. “But you can help me get Kadmus and Brasden on that elevator. I don’t want to bleed any more than necessary.”
She was dragging Kadmus’s upper body. “Why do you want them on the elevator?”
“We’re going to send them both down to the second floor to rendezvous with those ten or fifteen men Kadmus told to wait for word to attack. It should cause a satisfactory amount of confusion and give us a chance to get away from the factory before they recover.” He opened the elevator gate, and they pushed Kadmus inside. “Now for Brasden.” He smiled at Catherine. “I was impressed. I was watching from the skylight, getting ready to jump. You handled him very well.” His brows rose. “But cherry bombs, Catherine?”
She shrugged. “You use what you have on hand.” She strode back toward Brasden’s body. “And I wasn’t expecting help from above.”
“You didn’t need it,” Hu Chang said as he came out of the darkness. “I thought I might have to intercede, but I’m glad I didn’t have to do it. I was quite busy trying to keep young Luke from breaking out of that storage closet. He didn’t have the same faith in you that I do.”
“I have faith in her,” Luke said as he came to stand beside Hu Chang. He added simply, “I was just scared.”
“So was I,” Cameron said. “But can we stop talking and get Brasden’s body on that elevator? We need to get out of here.”
“I’ll help,” Luke said quickly.
Catherine opened her mouth to protest but then closed it. It might not be what she wanted for Luke, but this was minor compared to the violence to which he could have been subjected tonight. “Hurry.”
Hu Chang smiled. “Very wise.” He helped Luke drag Brasden’s body toward the elevator and glanced at Cameron. “I heard that you were bleeding. I’ll take a look at it once we’re out of here.”
Cameron shook his head. “I don’t wish to insult you, but I have to deal with physicians the committee authorizes.” He smiled. “Unless I’m bleeding to death. Which I am not.” He slammed the gate of the freight elevator shut and pressed the button. He whirled and headed for the window exit. “I’ll go first and clear the way. I saw some activity down there when I was on the roof.” He had reached the window and swung his legs over the sill. “Hurry. Don’t waste any time.”
Catherine pushed Luke ahead of her and watched him climb to the window.
“After you, Catherine.” Hu Chang bowed.
An uproar from the second floor. Shouts.
Nagle had opened the elevator door.
She was at the window and looked back to make sure Hu Chang was behind her.
“Catherine.” Luke was looking down at the alley below him. “Cameron.”
“What’s wrong with Camer—”
Nothing was wrong with Cameron, she saw. He had evidently been confronted by three of Kadmus’s men in the alley and he was fighting them off with the speed and skill of a Jackie Chan. She had never seen anyone with that degree of lethal karate technique. He had the three men down in less than a minute.
“Neat,” Luke murmured.
“Keep going,” she said.
“I hear the elevator,” Hu Chang said from behind her. “Evidently, the lack of leadership didn’t confuse them enough to stop them.”
“They’re drones,” Cameron said as he reached up to give a hand to help Luke to the ground. “Nagle had orders, and he’ll try to obey them. He doesn’t know who will take over for Kadmus but he’ll want them to use him and his team.” He added grimly, “But his men won’t have the brainpower to make good decisions, and we’ve thrown them into a turmoil. That’s why I wanted to be out of that building. Blake’s men were breaking into the first floor and I called and told them to get out, too.” They were all on the ground now. “Let’s get away from it.” He started down the alley at a dead run. Hu Chang, Luke, and Catherine followed.
Shouts. Curses.
Catherine looked back over her shoulder. She could see shadowy figures at the third-floor window. Someone was trying to climb out on the fire escape.
Shots.
A bullet struck the brick wall next to her.
More shots.
“Run,” Cameron said tensely.
Those shots …
Didn’t they realize the danger of those shots? Just one random shot could ignite those fireworks.
Another shot.
The factory blew!
Not all at once, a series of explosions as it moved from box to box on the third floor.
Then, as it reached the main fireworks supply, the explosion shook the ground.
Luke was knocked to his knees by the blast.
She pulled him to his feet and kept on running.
Explosion after explosion.
Then just the crackling suction of flames.
She stopped and looked back.
The factory was totally engulfed in fire. From the street shops to the third floor, the entire structure looked like a garden house in hell.
She was only vaguely aware that Hu Chang and Luke were standing beside her, staring at the inferno. “No one could survive that fire…” She looked at Cameron. “You told me that it wouldn’t be like that horrible fireworks blast in Vietnam.”
“And it isn’t,” Cameron said. “I had the majority of the gunpowder and chemical papers moved out of the building. And I placed the other explosives in such a way that it caused them to principally implode. It won’t hurt anyone outside the factory. The only deaths will be Kadmus’s men who caused the blast.” He smiled crookedly. “And the fire is so intense that even the firemen won’t try to enter the building to save them.”
She was staring at him. “But you knew they’d react like that. Nagle’s drones you called them. You wanted it to happen.”
He shrugged. “I’m the Guardian. If Nagle’s men hadn’t died, they’d have been in my way again next year or the year after. It was the efficient way to handle it.”
She shivered at the sheer, cool calculation that had brought Cameron exactly what he needed to happen. Yes, those men in that building had been murderers and a threat to them, but they really hadn’t had a chance against him. “You’re very formidable, Cameron.”
“It’s what I was hired to be.” He met her gaze. “Don’t expect anything else of me.” He cast one more look at the burning factory and turned to Hu Chang. “Get them out of here. The place is going to be surrounded by fire trucks and police any minute. Take them back to Celia’s. I’ll call Blake and tell him that it’s safe to take Erin back there, too.” He glanced at Luke. “I have to leave for a little while to get this wound sewn up and bandaged. You take care of Catherine for me.”
“I won’t do it for you. I’ll do it for myself.” Luke paused. “And I’m sorry that you got shot because of me. I wouldn’t let it happen again.”
“Not if I had the schooling of you.”
“Which you won’t,” Catherine said as she started toward the street down the alley. She stopped and looked back at him. “You won’t let us help you?”
He smiled and shook his head. “Rules.”
“Heaven forbid that we interfere with your committee’s idiotic rules.”
“The rules are actually meant to protect me. No one is more vulnerable than when under the care of a doctor. I’ll let Hu Chang know where I am and what’s happening.” He moved quickly past them and turned left at the street. The next moment, he had disappeared around the corner.
Luke was gazing after him. “Should we have let him go? I’m kind of worried.”
“Feeling responsible?” Catherine asked. “Now you know how I feel about you. Responsibility does lead to interference. We may not like it, but it’s the human response to caring for someone.”
“You didn’t answer me,” Luke said. “I think you’re worried, too.”
She nodded jerkily. “But we can’t do anything to help Cameron against his will. He doesn’t belong to us. He doesn’t belong to anyone.” Except to that damned committee that appeared to be the center of his existence. She drew a deep breath. “As soon as Hu Chang finds out where he’s staying tomorrow, I’ll go check on him. Okay?”
Luke nodded soberly. “He could have died for me, couldn’t he, Catherine?”
“Yes.” If Cameron hadn’t interceded, she might not be talking to Luke right now. She was passionately grateful, but it was mixed with anger and frustration and even … fear.
He’s probably the most dangerous man either of us will ever meet, Hu Chang had said.
There were so many intricate facets to Cameron’s personality that left her dizzy and wanting to come closer. And then he’d suddenly reveal another, more lethal, side that put her on her guard and made her step back.
“Formidable,” she had called him.
Tonight he had shown that he was all of that and more.
* * *
Catherine was dressed and downstairs at ten the next morning.
She met Celia in the hall. She was carrying a Louis Vuitton suitcase and looked stunningly smart.
“Going somewhere?”
Celia nodded. “I have an engagement in Monaco. I would have canceled it if things had not worked out for you all last night.” She smiled brilliantly. “But now I won’t have to put him off, will I? That’s good, you’re all charming people, but I do like to be the center of attention.”
“And deservedly so.” She reached out to shake Celia’s hand. “Thank you for everything, Celia.”
“You’re being generous.” She made a face. “I didn’t mean to lose your son. Maybe it’s just as well I can’t have children.”
“No one could have stopped Luke if he was determined on leaving.”
“I like him. Send him to me when you need him schooled.”
“That’s what Cameron said,” Catherine said dryly. “I’m sure you didn’t mean the same thing but everyone seems to believe that I can’t teach Luke what he needs to know.”
Celia laughed. “Well, we all have our talents. Take advantage of us.” She opened the door. “And the offer still stands if you need a little schooling yourself.”
“Thanks, but no thanks. Good-bye, Celia. I hope you have a pleasant trip.”
“Always.” Celia waved as she went down the steps toward the waiting car service. “Most of the time we get what we’re looking for in this life. Me? I look for joy and a hell of a good time.”
Catherine was smiling as she turned away from the door. Celia had led a life that could have embittered and poisoned her. Instead, she had learned who she was and looked for that joy. Perhaps not one person in a million could have made that adjustment, but Catherine was glad that Celia had been able to do it.
Her smile faded. No, joy was difficult to pluck from ashes. It had been a restless night, and the memories of Kadmus, Brasden, and those other deaths had stayed with her.
But she had to remember that Erin was now safe and able to go back to her old life.
Cameron? She doubted if he’d ever be safe. But she hoped that wound he’d suffered for Luke was as minor as he’d told her. She needed to keep her promise to Luke and go and check that out for herself.
She moved toward the dining room to see if Hu Chang had heard from Cameron.