“I think it does matter.” She was frowning. “I’m not sure why. I’m very persuasive, but I don’t think that would sway you.”
“It might.” He smiled faintly. “Or it might be that you’re wrong about how reasonable I am. Perhaps I have a deep passion for revenge and feel a certain kinship for you. Or it could be that I understand the value of family and that it has to be protected at all costs. But that would reveal a weakness of which Nikolai would disapprove.” His lips twisted. “So we’ll have to discard that possibility. Suppose we leave it to the fact that I am as ruthless as Norwalk, and it amuses me to see you risk that very beautiful neck.”
“Okay.” She drew a deep breath. “Then let’s get to it. If you’re going to take me along, then you must be planning on substituting me for Eve. Right?”
“It occurred to me when Eve decided that she wasn’t going to accompany me.”
“Me, too,” she said. “And I knew it would be the first thing you’d consider since I tried to convince you that you should use me as bait for Cara.” She made a face. “But that wonderful black wig won’t work now. I’m sure that Nikolai will be able to get me a red-brown one that will do the job. He appears to be able to pull anything out of his hat. Eve is a little taller, but I’ll wear dark clothes, and that always increases the look of height.” She turned toward the stairs. “But the makeup will be more difficult. I’m too damn good-looking. It will be hard to get rid of that impression and just be very interesting and attractive.”
“I’m afraid you don’t have time for plastic surgery.”
“Tell Nikolai to get a wig that will hang straight and shadow my cheekbones. I’ll manage the rest.” She was taking the steps two at a time. “I have almost four hours…”
BLACK POOL SWAMP
“Cara, I think someone—” Michael whispered as he rolled closer to her. “Someone’s … near…”
“Shh.” She drew him into her arms. “Try to sleep, Michael. We don’t want Norwalk to come back in here.” All that poison and ugliness he’d spat at her earlier had upset Michael, and it had taken her almost thirty minutes to quiet him. “I won’t let anyone hurt you.”
“No. That’s not it.” His voice was a breath close to her ear. “Not hurt … Good…”
“What?”
“Someone’s close … Help. I thought maybe … earlier. But now very close…”
She went still. Eve had been sure that Michael had reached out to her the night of Gwinnet Square, and Cara had told her that she would believe anything that Eve wanted her to believe. But now she was faced with believing Michael himself. “It could be a dream, Michael.”
“No, don’t be scared.” He cuddled nearer. “Close, Cara. He’s so close…”
“He?” She paused. “Who?”
He shook his head. “I don’t know. But I thought I’d tell you so that you wouldn’t be afraid.”
She was trying not to begin to hope, but it was all they had right now. And wasn’t it reasonable that someone would come after them and not stop until they found them? “Sometimes you can talk to your mama. Maybe it’s her?”
“No, not yet.” He reached out and touched her cheek. “But she loves you and me, she’ll want to be—”
“On your feet, Cara.” Norwalk was standing in the doorway. “I want to show you off to the subjects of your kingdom. They’ve been waiting for you for a long time.”
Michael stiffened, and his arms tightened around her.
She had to get away from here quickly, or he might try to protect her. She gave him a quick kiss on his temple. “I’ll be right back,” she whispered as she pushed him aside and got to her knees. “It’s okay, remember?”
He shook his head. “Not safe. Just close…”
“Get out here!” Norwalk was cursing as he strode across and jerked her to her feet. “You’ve already caused me too much trouble today.” He pushed her out into the darkness only lit by the light affixed to the cypress tree rooted in the waters off the island. “Everything was supposed to go smoothly, then Brazoff screwed up.” He was shoving her down to where the stagnant water was lapping against the bank. “Nothing goes right with you. Sean died, and now this Brazoff—”
“I can hardly be blamed that the man you hired to kidnap me almost killed me,” she said dryly. “That’s unreasonable even for a maniac like you, Norwalk.”
“Very brave when the boy isn’t around,” he said between set teeth. “You’re very careful around him I notice.”
“Because I don’t want him frightened. I’m not brave. I just know that nothing I can say or do will change what you intend to do to me.” She turned to look at him. “Why did you bring me out here, Norwalk?”
“I told you, I wanted to show you what’s in store.”
“I think that you’ve already made that clear.” She looked down at the vest around her body. “What did you say? I’m just a toy that can be broken whenever you press that button? You’ve blown your punch line. I don’t believe you can think up any threats that would scare me more than that.”
“You underestimate me. Let me try.” He pointed to the island several hundred yards away. “You see those red eyes glowing in the dark? Alligators. They’re restless tonight. They’ve already had a very satisfying breakfast, but they’re always looking for fresh meat.”
Don’t let him see the fear. He would enjoy it too much. “You can’t have it both ways, Norwalk. Are you going to throw me to the alligators or blow me up?”
His hand tightened on the remote control. “Arrogant bitch. You’re just like that weird kid. But when it comes down to that last minute, you’ll both know that I was the one who made it happen.”
“That ‘weird kid’ has more strength and courage than you’ll ever have. And I think you must know it, or he wouldn’t disturb you so much.” She met his eyes. “And I’m not trying to be arrogant. I told you that I’m not brave, and I’m just trying to get through this.”
“So young and talented,” he said mockingly. “So much to live for. I hear everyone thought you were going to be famous. Too bad all that music is going to go to waste when you end up in more pieces than Sean.”
“You’ll be disappointed there,” she said quietly. “You might be able to destroy me, but not the music. Just because I’m not here to play it doesn’t mean that there’s not going to be someone else out there who will be able to hear what I heard and let it flow out of them. I don’t believe the music ever goes away.”
“And what if I break these fingers?” He reached out and grabbed her hand. “I can take it away from you in one second.”
She tried to stifle the panic. “And what good would that do? It just proves that you can’t make up your mind. You said you were going to blow me up anyway.” Distract him. “Or have you decided on the alligators?”
He threw her hand down. The next instant his fist lashed out and struck her jaw. “Do you think I’d let you spoil my plans?” He was breathing hard, his eyes wild as he watched her drop to the ground. “I was just playing with you. No, you’re still going to face your fate in the true Viking tradition. The alligators aren’t for you, they’re for the boy. I’ve been saving him for them.”
She shook her head to clear it. The bitter taste of blood was on her tongue from her split lip. “When I saw that you hadn’t given him one of these vests, I didn’t think that you meant him to join me.” She raised herself on one elbow. “And he told me that you kept talking about the alligators. He’s not afraid, Norwalk.”
“But you’re afraid for him. That will be enough for right now,” he said. “The fear’s coming to all of you.” He jerked her to her feet. “And Sean and I are the ones who are bringing it. Now go back and cuddle that little viper for the next few hours. It might be the last opportunity you’re going to have. And it will make it harder for him when I tear you two apart. He’ll feel so alone. Like I feel without Sean.”
Next few hours.
The words echoed in her mind as he roughly pushed her back up the incline. Not much time left. How to get Michael free before that time ran out?