And Then You Die

by Iris Johansen

  “Sorry. I guess I'm used to running things.”

  “You don't have to tell me that either.” In the last eight hours he had demonstrated that characteristic time and time again. The decisions had all been his, and he had made them easily and surely, pushing and prodding her every step of the way.

  “You're cross with me.” His brows lifted. “I'm surprised you didn't let me know earlier.”

  “I don't like being left out of decisions.” She finished diapering Josie and held her hand out for the canteen. “But this is your area of expertise. It was clear you knew what you were doing. I would have been stupid to argue with you.”

  Kaldak's gaze focused on Josie. “She's a very good baby.”

  “Yes, she is,” Bess said, softening. She fed Josie a little more water and wiped her forehead and neck and then did the same for herself. Though the poor kid was hot and sweaty, and a heat rash was starting on her neck, she had let out only a few whimpers during the journey. Josie was a true miracle.

  She tenderly brushed the baby's dark wispy hair away from her face. Josie smiled up at her and Bess couldn't resist giving her a quick hug. “Do you have children?”

  He shook his head. “Do you?”

  “No, but I've always been crazy about kids.” She smiled. “Emily has a daughter, Julie, and she's a charmer. When she was Josie's age, she was cute as a button. Red hair and a yell that nearly brought the house down. Not placid like Josie.”

  “Josie has a pretty good pair of lungs herself.”

  “But she uses them to make her needs known. Julie usually just wanted to make a statement. I remember once we took her to the lake and she saw––” Good God, she must be tired. What was she rambling about? And to Kaldak, of all people. “I'm sorry, you can't be interested in this.”

  “I'm interested.” He stood up. “Are you rested enough to go on?”

  “What would you do if I said I wasn't?”

  “Tell you we have to keep pushing anyway.”

  “I thought as much,” she said dryly as she put Josie into the sling. “I'm ready.” Her gaze went to the hills behind them. “Do you suppose they're close?”

  “Closer than I'd like. I caught sight of them two hours after we started.”

  “Why didn't you tell me?” she asked, startled.

  “Why worry you? It was still dark and they were having trouble tracking. I did some weaving and lost them again.” He frowned. “But I didn't expect them to start before dawn. Esteban is driving them hard.” He started down the trail. “He wants you.”

  Her lips tightened grimly. “Well, he won't get me. How much longer do we have to go?”

  “Another few hours before we're clear to radio for the helicopter. After that, maybe two hours to the rendezvous point.”

  Relief rushed through her. Not much longer. “Thank God.”

  “Oh, yes, and me, of course.”

  Good heavens, Kaldak was actually smiling at her.

  She smiled back. “Of course.”

  Esteban looked down at the tracks. “Two of them?”

  Perez nodded. “Joaquin says a man is with her. A large man. He must have joined her last night. It was only a single set of tracks before.” He looked back over his shoulder. “Benito is motioning to me. Do I have your permission to––”

  “Go.”

  She had help. The Grady bitch had help.

  Kaldak? He was a big man.

  Yes, probably Kaldak; he had already demonstrated his skill in making his way through these hills. Now he was with the woman and if he was CIA, he might be able to pull in more help.

  If Esteban didn't reach them before they got out of the hills.

  Perez was back. “We've intercepted a radio signal.”

  “Where?” Esteban asked.

  “Southwest. Six miles.”

  They had cleared the hills and were radioing for assistance. Probably a helicopter.

  Goddammit.

  “Get them.”

  Bess staggered and then caught herself before she could fall.

  “All right?” Kaldak asked, not looking back.

  No, it wasn't all right. Kaldak had increased the pace in the last hour and she was bone weary, hot, and had a stitch in her side. “Can we go just a little slower?”

  “No.”

  “Why not? We're close, aren't we?”

  “Close isn't home.”

  “Josie needs changing.”

  “She'll have to wait. Hurry.”

  The last word was so fraught with tension, her stride automatically accelerated. She glanced back over her shoulder. “What's wrong? Are they close?”

  “They've always been close and they're bound to have picked up the signal.”

  Josie whimpered.

  Poor baby. “How far do we have to go?”

  “Another hour. And Esteban probably is no more than twenty minutes behind us.”

  “What if the helicopter isn't there?”

  Kaldak didn't answer.

  He didn't have to answer.

  In the valley below, the army-green helicopter shimmered in the twilight. It looked beautiful.

  Bess's pace hastened in response to the hope leaping through her. “It's there. We're going––”

  A bullet whistled past her ear.

  “Shit.” Kaldak grabbed her arm and pulled her down. She stumbled on a tuft of grass, caught her balance.

  A second shot. Kicking up dirt ahead of her.

  She glanced over her shoulder.

  Soldiers. Streaming over the hill.

  The helicopter door was open.

  Another shot.

  She jerked as pain streaked along her side.

  They reached the helicopter. Kaldak tossed her onto the floor and followed her.

  “Up, Cass,” he shouted.

  The door was still open as the helicopter rose jerkily.

  One of the soldiers leaped upward and caught hold. Kaldak ground his heel on the man's hand and he fell back to the ground.

  Bullets sprayed the helicopter.

  What if they hit the fuel tank?

  Clear. They were high above the ground. Surely out of range.

  She looked at Kaldak. He nodded and she went limp with relief.

  “You're bleeding.” He was looking at her shirt. “You were hit?”

  “My side. It's all right. Just a graze I think. I'll tend to–– Oh, my God.”

  Josie was too still.

  Bess frantically shrugged off the sling. The blanket was stained with blood.

  Josie.

  “Son of a bitch. Son of a bitch. Son of a bitch.” Tears were running down her cheeks. “They shot her. They shot Josie.” The bullet that had grazed her side must have gone through the baby. “Goddamn baby killers.”

  “Is she dead?”

  “I'm trying to find out.” Hip wound. Blood. Too much blood. “She's alive. Barely.”

  “Can we save her?”

  “I don't know. I know first aid, but I'm not a doctor. Maybe. If I can stop the bleeding.” She was working quickly. “You get her to a hospital.”

  “I can't risk you. We can't land until––”

  “Don't tell me that. I don't care where you take us.” She shot him a fierce glance. “You get me to a medical facility where I can get help for her.”

  Kaldak nodded. “I'll find a place.” He headed for the cockpit.

  “Son of a bitch.” She couldn't stop crying. She had sworn never to open herself to this kind of agony again. Yet here it was, deeper than ever before. “Hold on, Josie,” she whispered. “We've gone through too much together. Don't leave me now, baby.”

  “We're going to set down.” Kaldak was back. “How is she?”

  “Unconscious. I've managed to stop the bleeding. Unless there's internal bleeding. Where are we?”

  “Gulf of Mexico. I've located an aircraft carrier, the USS Montana. They'll have a doctor and full medical care. We should be down in ten minutes.” He headed back to the cockpit. “One way
or the other.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Aircraft carriers don't like uninvited guests. They're proving a little difficult and threatening to shoot us down.” He glanced back over his shoulder. “Don't worry, I'll take care of it.”

  She cuddled Josie closer. She couldn't worry about anything but the baby. Let Kaldak take care of everything else.

  Esteban's fists clenched as he watched the lights of the helicopter fade in the distance.

  She was gone. She had escaped him.

  No.

  He drew a deep, ragged breath.

  Kaldak had taken her away. He was probably already thinking that she was out of Esteban's reach.

  He was wrong. There was always a way to bring down any prey. He would find her.

  “Tell the radioman to get up here, Perez.”

  The woman had to die. And no one was ever out of reach.

  Bess leaned her head on her hands. She felt utterly helpless.

  “The baby?”

  She looked up to see Kaldak standing beside her by Josie's bed.

  “Dr. Caudill did what he could,” she said wearily. “He thinks there's a severed vertebra but he's not a specialist.”

  “Do you want me to get one for you?”

  She smiled crookedly. “Are you going to kidnap a specialist and fly him to the aircraft carrier? Not a good idea. Captain Hodgell wasn't at all pleased to have us land here. You're right, we were lucky we weren't shot down on the approach.”

  “For all they knew, the helicopter could have been loaded with dynamite.” He shrugged. “It was the best I could do.”

  “It was a very good best. Thank you.”

  “You order. I obey.” He squatted down before her chair. “You didn't answer me. Do you want me to go for a specialist?”

  She shook her head. “That can wait. He wouldn't operate anyway until she's in better shape. She may not make it, Kaldak.”

  “When will you know?”

  “An hour, two. If she stabilizes . . .”

  He looked at the baby in the makeshift crib they'd fashioned out of the hospital bed. “Did she wake up?”

  “No.” She tried to steady her voice. “She may never wake up again.”

  “I've got a hunch she will. She came this far. She survived Tenajo. I don't think she's meant to die.”

  “And was she meant to be shot?” she asked fiercely. “She's a little baby. God shouldn't let things like this––”

  “Shh.” His hand closed over hers. “Don't blame God. Blame Esteban.”

  “I do blame Esteban. I want to burn him at the stake.”

  “Entirely understandable.” He released her hand, stood up, and headed for the door. “I'll be back in a minute. You need food, but I know I can't get you to eat. I'll bring coffee instead. It may be a long wait for us.”

  “You don't have to wait with me. There's nothing you can do.”

  He paused at the door. “I'm not doing it for you. I think Josie will know I'm here. I'll be right back.”

  It was four hours later that Josie's vital signs stabilized. An hour later she opened her eyes.

  “She's smiling,” Bess whispered in wonder.

  “I told you she wanted to live.” Kaldak gently touched the baby's cheek. “Some things are meant to be.”

  “I'm in no mood for philosophy. I still don't know if she's ever going to be able to take her first step.” But relief and joy were soaring within her. At least, the baby was going to live.

  “Dr. Caudill said the best man for spinal injuries is Dr. Harry Kenwood at Johns Hopkins,” Kaldak said. “I've arranged an air ambulance to take us there early tomorrow morning.”

  “You have?”

  “And now, I believe it's time for you to eat.” He wrinkled his nose. “And shower. Josie may have a relapse when she rouses enough to get a whiff of you.”

  “I'm surprised you bore with me all these hours,” she said tartly.

  “I considered it an exercise in discipline.” He turned away from her. “Go shower. I'll send in the nurse to watch Josie and get you some food and fresh clothes.”

  “Wait.”

  He looked back at her.

  “Emily.”

  He shook his head. “I contacted our people in Mexico City. No word. But, if she's on foot, it's possible she hasn't reached the coast yet.”

  “Then I have to go back for her.”

  “No.” The swift, harsh negative startled her. He hadn't used that tone with her since Tenajo.

  “I won't abandon her.”

  “No one's suggesting you abandon her.” He glanced at the baby. “Do you want to leave Josie before you know her condition?”

  Bess's gaze followed his to Josie. She was as torn as Kaldak had known she'd be. “You know I don't. But I have to go. You can take Josie to––”

  “You're handing her over to me? You scarcely let me touch her all the way here.”

  “I can't leave Emily there.”

  “For God's sake, Esteban will snatch you up as soon as you set foot back in Mexico.”

  “I'll go to the embassy and––”

  “No, we'll talk about it later. Let me think about it. I may have a solution.”

  She watched him walk away. If he had a solution for this, he'd rival Solomon, she thought wearily. Then again, he'd managed to get her out of Mexico and saved Josie by finding a medical facility. Maybe he could work this miracle too.

  Two hours later he knocked on the door of the tiny cabin she'd been allotted. “Come on. We're going to the radio room. I've arranged to radio someone.”

  Frowning, she fell into step with him. “Who?”

  “Yael Nablett. He's one of my contacts in Mexico City.”

  “CIA?”

  “No, Israeli intelligence. They sometimes work together with us on certain agendas.”

  “This agenda?”

  “Most particularly this agenda.” He glanced at her. “I can't let you go back, Bess. You'd make too many ripples.”

  “Good. What's wrong with telling the Mexican government they've been had?”

  “No one can know about Tenajo yet. It might trigger a nasty backlash from Esteban.”

  “Not if the police catch him first.”

  “Not likely. He has informants in every phase of government. Besides, he's not alone. We can't be sure they won't act as soon as Esteban is brought down.”

  “Who would act?”

  “Habin, a Palestinian terrorist, located in Libya. And chances are you'd never reach the police. You'll be on Esteban's contract list. There's a lot of slime who want to curry favor with the good colonel.”

  “All the more reason why I should get Emily out of there.”

  He looked away from her. “She may be able to get herself out. Did you ever think of that? If she's managed to get away from Esteban, she's done pretty well so far.”

  “She doesn't know about Esteban.”

  “Is she smart?”

  “Of course she's smart. Very smart. What does that have to do with anything?”

  “After Tenajo, do you think she'd trust anyone? You didn't. You woke up in that hospital bristling and ready to take on everyone in sight.”

  “She might go to the police and you said that was almost a death sentence.”

  “But first she has to get through the hills.”

  “Then I should go and help her. I've been through them. I know them now.”

  “But it would be a risk.”

  “I don't have any choice.”

  “Yes, you do.” He paused. “You could let Yael find her. I could have him do a discreet search and, when he finds her, smuggle her out of the country.”

  He had said when, not if, and the distinction gave her the first hope she'd had since Esteban had told her Emily was dead. “Could he do that? Could he find her?”

  “I'll radio him to start the search now. In a few days she could be across the border.”

  It seemed too good to be true, so it probably was. “
How do you know he'll find her?”

  “I don't, but if she's alive, we stand an eighty percent chance. I've seen Yael work. He can't find a needle in a haystack, but he comes close.”

  Eighty percent. She wanted it to be a hundred percent. “That's not good enough.”

  “That's seventy-five percent better than your chances alone.” He added bluntly, “Don't be stupid. If you go back, you'll get her killed. Yael will get her out.”

  She stared at him in helpless frustration. What he said made sense but she didn't want to believe it. She didn't want to be hundreds of miles away from Emily with her hands tied. “You could call this Yael and I could meet him, help him to––”

  Kaldak was shaking his head.

  “Why not?”

  “Because if you go back, I won't tell Yael to help you. You'll be on your own.” He paused. “And your sister will be dead.”

  She stared at him in disbelief. “You're bluffing.”

  He grimaced. “You're right. I couldn't let you go off alone. But I'm telling the truth about your sister's chances. The sooner I get Yael on it, the sooner you'll see your sister again. Think about it.”

  What he had suggested went against every instinct. Emily had always been there for her. She had to go to her.

  And if she did, she might cause her death.

  “I'll give him a few days,” she said finally. “If he hasn't located her by that time, I'm going down there myself.”

  “It may take longer than that . . . if she's alive.”

  “Stop saying that. She is alive. Emily is one of the strongest women I know. She's not dead, I tell you.”

  “Easy.”

  She drew a deep breath. “Call him right away.”

  A few minutes later he was sitting at the radio, putting on the headphones. After a short wait a deep voice with the faintest accent crackled over the line. “It's about time. I've been waiting for you to call, you ugly son of a bitch. Are you ready for a pickup?”

  She felt a little ripple of surprise. The cheerful voice was completely free of the fear she sensed in everyone else whom Kaldak encountered, and the words were certainly irreverent.

  “No, I radioed Cass,” Kaldak said. “We're on our way out now.”

  “How did Tenajo go?”

  “Not what we expected. Bad.”