“No, you don’t. All you’ve got to do is start thinking and get your priorities in order. So go ahead and do it.”
And Lassiter had done it. All through those years he and Patrick had been together and moved from stage to stage in their friendship, they’d never found a mountain they couldn’t climb.
But now he had to climb this one alone.
Okay, then start thinking and planning and get your priorities in order. Then find a way to do it all.
Move!
Vadaz Island
“Good morning, Margaret,” Nicos said. “As I recall, you never used to sleep this late. I’m glad you’re feeling so at home.”
Margaret’s eyes flew open and she saw Nicos standing above her bed, looking down at her. She jerked upright in bed, her heart pounding.
“Or is it that you had a bad night? I see you have circles beneath those pretty blue eyes. Memories? Did you hear Rosa calling to you from that room next door?”
“You know I did. It’s what you wanted, isn’t it? What are you doing here?”
“I felt the need to see you helpless.” He smiled. “When you’re awake, you’re always very strong. Because of the power inside you. Just like my mother. I have to catch you unaware to feel my control over you.” He reached out and touched her shoulder. “Do you know how much I wanted to make you the whore I made Rosa? It would have been the supreme pleasure.”
She jerked away from him. “But you decided against it. What’s a whore compared to the money I can bring to you? You were always too smart.”
“But Salva says that’s all bullshit, that it shouldn’t make a difference. That none of that voodoo shit means anything. That my mother was just a whore and not a voodoo priestess.”
“And what do you think?”
“He didn’t see what I saw at those voodoo meetings. He didn’t feel the power sing through him. Yes, my mother was a whore, but she also had the power. Not enough. My father eventually broke free of her and killed her. I watched him do it. She begged me to stop him.”
“But you didn’t do it.”
He shrugged. “I was through with her. And she didn’t have the power. What a waste. I thought it might be that she’d had so many men in her body that it had drained her of the only thing that should have been important in her life.”
“And you decided that you wouldn’t take a chance on having that happen to my power,” she said bitterly. “It’s just as well. I don’t know what would happen if you used me as you did Rosa. She became … nothing. Not the same person.”
“I don’t know, either. But Salva is beginning to sway me to his way of thinking. I believe he might want to participate. I just thought that I should let you know what you might anticipate in the future.” He met her eyes. “Maybe the not-too-distant future. I’ve begun to have fantasies about you kneeling on those black-and-white tiles.”
“You’re not that self-destructive.” She kept her voice steady with an effort. “And you have plenty of women you use for that kind of ugly fantasy.”
He laughed. “Very true. We’ll see how long I can make do with substitutes.” He turned and headed for the door. “By the way, I thought I’d tell you that we’ll be leaving for Montego Bay late this afternoon.”
She stiffened. “Why? The airport delivery isn’t until tomorrow evening.”
“The last time, you’ll recall, you had a small problem with the dogs.” He looked over his shoulder with a malicious smile. “Which brought all kinds of problems down on you and poor Rosa. I decided I’d let you have a bit more time for those dogs to become more accustomed to you.”
She frowned. “You want me to go visit Montego customs today?”
“No, I’ve found out the handler’s home address. We’ll pay a visit this evening and give you your chance to become best friends.”
“You’ve never done that before.” Her gaze was searching his face. “You’re worried about this shipment. It’s important to you. What is it?”
“That’s none of your concern. Or maybe it is. It might be important that you realize that I’ll be very upset if this delivery doesn’t go smoothly. The shipment is a very powerful and sophisticated bomb that was built in Mexico City and that I’m going to fly down to Caracas. There’s a terrorist group there that’s having a bit of trouble at the U.S. embassy.” He stopped at the door. “So it will go smoothly, or I’ll let Salva convince me that you’re worth only one thing to me. Do you understand?”
Death. Destruction. Rape. Not empty threats, and now she knew why Nicos had come to her this morning. “I’ve always understood you, Nicos.”
“But it’s never bad to be very clear.” The door closed behind him.
She sat there trying to recover from that barrage of poison Nicos had thrown at her. So clever. He had used Rosa and that night and mixed it with a not-so-subtle threat to Margaret. He had attacked her at her most vulnerable to make her feel weak.
And for a little while, it had worked. But now the strength and determination of last night were flooding back to her.
It’s not going to happen, Rosa. We won’t let it go on.
She threw the covers aside and headed for the bathroom. She glanced at the mirror and saw the circles Nicos had spoken about. Yes, she’d had a bad night. It had been filled with memories and sorrow and regret. But it had also been a night to build strength.
Screw you, Nicos.
She headed for the shower. It might be a good thing they were leaving a day early for Montego. Lassiter had asked her to phone him when she arrived there, and she might be able to give him advance details on how many men Nicos was going to deploy at the airport. The more time to prepare, the better.
While she was still here, she’d take another swim and see if there had been anything else placed on that rock. She doubted that there would be anything, but she wouldn’t take a chance. She’d already slit the pocket of her khaki jacket and slid both the phone and a makeshift dagger into the lining. They were her only weapons, but she’d try to make the most of them.
Perhaps not the only weapons.
What about the dogs?
Nicos was giving her extra time with them because he wanted her to bond with the dogs to keep that damn bomb safe.
Oh, yes, she’d definitely have to think about a unique way to bond with them.…
CHAPTER TWELVE
Hotel Reyes
Puerto Ponce, Columbia
7:45 P.M.
Lars Brukman.
Lassiter recognized the man who had come into the bar from the photo Zwecker had brought up on the computer. Same close crew cut, same broken nose and craggy features. He was frowning as he gazed around the bar looking for Zwecker.
Time to move.
Lassiter put his drink down and stepped away from the bar. “Brukman.”
Brukman froze. “Lassiter?” He was immediately wary. “Where’s Zwecker? You weren’t supposed to be here.”