“Margaret. You don’t know her. But she knows you.” His hand tightened on Patrick’s. “I’ll tell you about her later. I have to go now. I’ll expect a dynamite report on you from Cambry when I call to check.”
“Pressure. Pressure.” Cambry was walking with Juno toward the bed. “Hi, Patrick. You’re looking lousy. I hear I’m supposed to work miracles while Lassiter is gone. You’d better cooperate.” In spite of the flip words, the tone was gentle. “And it wouldn’t hurt if you’d put a word in with all these monks and the doctor about Juno. I had to fight to get them to let her in. I guess they’ve never heard how hospitals permit dogs to help heal patients. I bet she’s cleaner and more germ-free than I am.” He made a face. “I guess I shouldn’t admit that.” He dropped down in the chair next to Patrick’s bed. “Get out of here, Lassiter. Juno and I have everything well in hand.”
“Yes, get … out, Lassiter. Tired … of … you.” Patrick’s eyes were closing again. “In … the way. I’ll be—” He broke off as he looked down at his hand on the bed.
Juno had placed her chin on Patrick’s hand and was staring at him with those huge dark eyes as if she was trying to tell him something.
“Hey … What … do you want?” Patrick asked.
“Juno,” Cambry called softly.
Juno didn’t move. She just stayed there, touching Patrick, looking at him.
Then Patrick put his hand on Juno’s head. The retriever stayed still, accepting, her eyes still on Patrick’s face. The next moment, Patrick was asleep.
And Juno dropped down to lie beside the bed.
“I wonder how often Juno did that while she was visiting her Celia in the hospital,” Cambry said softly. “I believe we’re okay here, Lassiter.”
“I do, too.” He headed for the door. “And now I have to make sure we’re going to be okay in Montego. I’ll call you once we’re headed back.”
7:30 P.M.
Montego Bay Airport Jamaica
Jamaica
“The flight’s on time,” Nicos said as Margaret got out of the car at customs. “But it will take another twenty minutes or so for Raoul to get off the plane and the baggage to be sent down here to customs. You go inside and look eager and excited at your daddy’s arrival.” He added, “I’ve already sent Ricardo inside to keep you company. He’s always delighted to keep his eye on you.”
“Which is going to make it hard for me to appear eager about anything,” she said. “I’ll see you when it’s over.” She slammed the car door and stepped around José, Nicos’s guard, who was standing beside the driver’s seat. Then she was hurrying toward the glass doors that led to customs.
Ricardo chuckled as he opened the door for her and then moved to one side to let her enter. Then he leaned back against the wall, watching her.
She walked several yards away from him toward the barrier and tried to ignore him.
It was busy.
It was noisy.
But no sign of Lassiter.
Crowds of men and women gathered in front of the long tables where security was examining the luggage.
And the black Lab and the German shepherd were being led by their handlers up and down the hall as the passengers got in the lines in front of the custom tables.
She focused on them. Are you ready for me?
Pedro was immediately tense. Don’t like it. Not used to this.
Taro was scornful. It’s right. She told you. Is that the man beside you? Is he the one who will want to hurt you?
Just the way she’d thought they’d each react. Yes. But Pedro can do his duty with the man checking in at the customs table if he’s more comfortable. I just need lots of noise and disruption.”
Pedro was relieved. What I’m supposed to do.
Except more. No politeness. I’ll tell you when.
And it was going to be soon. She could see Raoul coming into the hall carrying his Vuitton black leather case. He appeared totally at ease as he came toward the custom’s table and stopped under the green line for frequent travelers.
But where was Lassiter?
Ramirez and his son were slowly taking the dogs down the line, giving them a chance to sniff at the bags.
Pedro was on edge. Which?
The next man in line. Black leather case.
Pedro went stiff. Yes, I smell it. Have to tell—”
Not yet. Let me—
“Now!” Lassiter was suddenly before her in front of the barricade. Navy pants, navy airline bomber jacket, skin tinted dark tan. He was lifting her over the barricade. “Quick, Margaret!”
She sent out the message.
Do it! Move!
Pedro howled and jumped on the black leather Vuitton suitcase. Then he set up a piercing barrage of barking that echoed through the hall.
Ricardo stared, stunned for an instant, at Margaret and Lassiter.
Then his hand went to the holster under his jacket as he started toward her.
But Taro had pulled away from his handler and was across the hall and leaping over the barrier. He hit Ricardo at full speed and force and knocked him to the ground. His teeth buried savagely in the hand holding the gun.
A horrified Ramirez was right behind the dog, trying to pull him off.
“Come on.” Lassiter had his hand on Margaret’s elbow and he was pulling her toward the door to the side of the custom tables.
The entire room was in chaos as security officers tried to calm the passengers, while the dogs’ howling and attacks made that virtually impossible.
Then they were out of the room and heading for the door leading to the runways.
Margaret stopped at the door. “Just a minute.”
“We don’t have a minute. We’ve got to be on that plane and out of here before Nicos realizes what’s happened inside.”
“I have to call off those dogs. I won’t have them getting shot.”
“Then do it. But keep running.”
Off. Stop. Did your duty. Fine work.
Then she was running at full speed across the tarmac toward the Gulfstream parked in the private-and-commercial area.
The steps were down and the plane was ready for takeoff.
Margaret ran up the steps, with Lassiter immediately behind her. The steps were lifting even as Lassiter headed for the cockpit. “Sit down and buckle up. We’re out of here.”
“The dogs. I have to be sure—”
“I still have a man on the ground here. I needed a report on what Nicos was doing after we left. I’ll make sure no one hurts them. I’ll come back with you when we’re in the air and safely out of Jamaican airspace.” He disappeared into the cockpit.
Margaret collapsed on the cordovan leather seat next to the window.
Was it over?
Not yet.
They were taxiing down the runway, but she wouldn’t feel safe until they were actually in the air.
Perhaps not then.
After the tension she had been under since the moment that she’d walked down that pier to Nicos’s yacht, it seemed impossible that she had escaped him yet again. He had been her nemesis for so long that it was a miracle that in these few short minutes Lassiter had managed to snatch her away.