The Bullet

by Iris Johansen

  He smiled. “If we can’t, then we’ll go somewhere else.”

  “Oh, I think you’ll be able to arrange something.” She leaned back in the seat. “You can send that waitress who wanted to jump you to pick up a bottle at the local liquor store.”

  “No, that would be illegal. Besides, then I’ll be obligated to return favor for favor.” His eyes were twinkling. “Is that okay?”

  “No, but I’d handle it.” She loved to study his face when it held that hint of mischief. So different from the Jock who was all driving intensity. But then she loved all the complicated facets that made Jock who he was. Yet she was glad that he was deliberately giving her what she wanted from him when she was soaring high. She said lightly, “Watch me. Today I can handle anything, Jock Gavin.”

  * * *

  “Go to bed.” Jock set her violin case inside her door and handed the key back to her. “I believe you’re a little giddy.”

  “By giddy, you mean drunk?” She shook her head. “On two glasses of wine? It just made me feel … sort of floating.”

  “You were floating already.” He turned on the light switch and checked out the room. “And giddy was the right word. Not drunk, but a bit tipsy? The combination might have been a little overwhelming. You told me you aren’t used to drinking.”

  “But it was a celebration, and it was a good wine, wasn’t it? I told you that waitress would make certain you had whatever you wanted. She was pitifully obvious tonight.” She smiled mischievously. “That’s why I had to drown my sorrows. I had to find a way to cope.”

  “Brat.”

  She threw back her head and laughed. “There’s no way of pleasing you.” She suddenly threw herself into his arms and hugged him. “And I’m so willing to try. Stop stiffening. I’m not going to spoil my day by risking another rejection. I’ve just wanted to be close to you all evening. It would have made a perfect day.” She gave him another hug, then backed away from him. “But it was almost perfect, wasn’t it? I can’t expect to have everything. It was a good evening for you, too. I could tell.”

  “It was a fantastic evening,” he said softly. “Thank you for letting me share it with you. It was a pleasure just watching you … glow.” He took a step closer and took her back in his arms. “And if you feel like playing again, go ahead and do it. I’ll handle any and all repercussions. Just send them to me.”

  His arms felt so good, strong, gentle. She closed her eyes, drinking it in. “We might both get kicked out.”

  “Then I’ll take you back to the river. There will be moonlight. You’ll have whatever you need.” He pressed her closer for an instant, gave her a quick kiss, and pushed her away from him. “Anything you need. But you might try to sleep a little before you explore that option. I’ll still be available if you pound on my door at the crack of dawn again.”

  “That’s comforting to know.” She smiled as she watched him walk toward the door. “But you’re always comforting, and controlled, and supply every need. I’d think you’d get bored by the role.”

  “Bored?” He looked over his shoulder, and for a second, she saw those silver eyes flicker. “This time you’ve got the wrong word. Good night, Cara. Lock the door behind me.”

  She stood there after the door closed. There had been something in those last words that had been … different. But she was always searching for promising or different when it came to Jock’s attitude toward her. But she didn’t want to analyze his every word tonight. It had been too good a day, and she wanted only to remember it and forget anything that wasn’t positive and hopeful.

  She crossed the room and locked the door. She glanced at the violin case on the floor beside it. Tempting. But she was tired, and crack of dawn had sounded good to her. She would shower and get to bed and think of Jock’s face as he had looked while they had been talking at the restaurant. No, while she had been talking, she ruefully corrected herself. She had been chattering and excited, and he had sat there watching and smiling and giving her all his attention. Which had made a great day even more wonderful for her. Selfish. She’d have to make it up to him, but right now, she only wanted to remember that he had taken the trouble and that it also had meant something special to him. That was more than enough for one day.

  She grabbed her robe and headed for the shower.

  Two hours later, she was lying in bed and staring into the darkness. She’d thought she’d be so exhausted that she would have no trouble going to sleep but that hadn’t been the case. Maybe it was merely that she was still wired and excited from the day, but she was wide awake.

  Think about Jock.

  Think about the music.

  Though neither was soothing to her right now. They were exciting and challenging and completely—

  Her phone was ringing.

  She went still. Jock?

  She reached for the phone on her nightstand.

  No ID.

  She pressed the access. “Hello.”

  “You still have your same phone number,” Svardak said mockingly. “I thought you’d be afraid to keep the number since you’d realize I probably knew it.”

  She inhaled sharply. She felt as if she’d been kicked in the stomach. She was suddenly ice cold. Somehow she felt as if he knew it, that he could actually feel her shock and terror. Hide it. “Why should I be afraid of you, Svardak? You’re no one to fear. The last time I saw you, I left you bleeding on the cabin floor.”

  Silence. “So you did. I haven’t forgotten one second of it.” His voice was suddenly ugly. “And every now and then I get a twinge in that damn wound that reminds me, you bitch.”

  “I was hoping you wouldn’t feel anything by now. I thought you might have bled to death. Evidently, I didn’t do a very good job. I’ll do better the next time. I won’t have to rely on a makeshift dagger. Who patched you up, Svardak? Any chance of blood poisoning?”

  “No chance at all. That fool who stitched me was a bungler, but I’m pumped full of antibiotics. And I’ll be able to function well enough to do what I have to do. I’ll take care of arranging an expert job later…” He paused, then added maliciously, “After I finish with Joe Quinn. I’m planning on taking a long time with him.”

  She felt the panic ice through her. “Wishful thinking. Joe made a fool of you. He and Kaskov made a shambles of your damn canyon. I’m safe, and so is Joe. You don’t have a chance of doing anything to him.”

  “I have every chance. I’m sure he’s hot on my trail as we speak. I’m just waiting for him to get close enough. He’s practically in my hands right now.”

  “Liar. You’re not stupid enough to stay around here when Kaskov and Joe are on the hunt for you.”

  Silence. “Here. You said here. Are you so eager to see me dead that you stayed close enough to see it happen? I’ll have to check that out. Very foolish, Cara. I might even decide to bypass Quinn and go straight for you again.”

  “Neither is a safe bet for you. But by all means try.”

  “I’ll think about it. But I really have my heart on using Quinn as a path to you. I could tell how much that would hurt you. At one point, you were ready to plead for him.” He paused. “That’s when I decided that I had to think of something really special and painful for him. Would you like to hear a few of the things that I plan on doing to him?”

  “Not particularly. I’m not interested in fantasies.”

  “No, it’s because you know it will hurt you. Such a tender heart. I might even tell you a few other things I did to Marian. Perhaps they wouldn’t be extreme enough, but they would hurt you. Though I prefer to go the route of the tortures of the inquisition. I studied those in depth while I was preparing for Kaskov. They’ll do just as well for Quinn.”

  “I might as well hang up now, Svardak. This conversation is going nowhere.”

  “That’s not true. I’m getting a great deal from it. I can tell how frightened you are.”

  “I’m not frightened. What you did to me is over. You can’t hurt me or any of the pe
ople I care about.”

  “Yes, I can. I’ve already started. I’m reaching out to all of them. Quinn, first. Then Kaskov, after that, I’ll go down the list.” He paused. “But I’ve been told I might have to expand my list. Abrams said there was someone else at the canyon. Who is Gavin, Cara?”

  Her heart lurched. She felt sick. She had known that there might be a possibility that he’d learn about Jock, but she’d hoped desperately that he wouldn’t.

  “You’re not answering. Did I miss someone?” he asked softly. “Let me guess. Was it the same man you spent the night fucking while you kept me waiting at the hotel? I was very angry with you for doing that, remember?”

  “Because you’re crazy. I was supposed to rush back to my suite, so I wouldn’t keep you waiting to kidnap me?”

  “Who is he, Cara?”

  She tried to make her tone without expression. “How should I know? Perhaps one of Kaskov’s men.”

  “I don’t think so. I can tell he means something to you. Never mind. I’ll find out. Perhaps a lover would be even better than Quinn for my purpose.” His voice turned low, silky, and vicious. “No, I won’t cheat myself. I’ll have it all. And you’ll see me butcher everyone who’s ever been close to you.”

  “You’ll have nothing.” Her voice was shaking. “I won’t let you hurt anyone. You’re just a hideous, senseless man on the run. We’ll catch you, then you’ll never be able to—”

  “Ask Kaskov if he was able to catch me all these years,” he interrupted. “And I’ve already stopped running, and I’m the one who is going to spring the trap. I’ll call you again when I have Quinn ready to talk to you. Did I tell you how angry this damn wound is making me? I think I need to start Quinn off with a broken bottle shoved into his belly. And be sure to look up those other clever tortures I mentioned. I’ll use every one before I’m done.” His voice was soft and venomous. “Look around every corner, try to protect and keep them all safe. It won’t do you any good. Someday, I’ll be there.”

  He cut the connection.

  She lay there, frozen, trembling. God, she was grateful he had seen fit to hang up. She had been losing control from the moment he had mentioned Jock. The other poisons he had been spewing had been expected, but Jock had been a shock.

  She was still in shock. Still caught up in the horror that she’d believed she’d escaped that night in the canyon. Only hours before, she’d been so happy, so sure that life was not the nightmare that Svardak had shown her, that even out of the darkest evil some ray of goodness could be found.

  But he was alive and as full of hate and bitterness as ever. More than bitterness, she thought with panic. He would never stop hunting, never stop seeking revenge. And soon he would know everything there was to know about Jock, too. And there had been no goodness or hope in any of the words with which he’d battered her tonight.

  Ugliness. Total ugliness.

  And she couldn’t stop shivering.

  Look around any corner. Someday, I’ll be there.

  No!

  Someday, I’ll be there.

  She tossed her covers aside and staggered to the bathroom. She splashed water in her face and drank a glass of water.

  It was a mistake. She threw it up a moment later, along with her dinner. Her knees gave way, and she sank to the tile floor. This was all wrong. She was being weak and letting the monster terrorize her. Why was she permitting it to happen now, when she’d been strong before?

  Because today had been so intensely wonderful it had brought home once again how much she had to lose.

  Someday, I’ll be there.

  And what would she do if he was? Crawl into a bathroom and huddle on the cold tiles until he went away? Let him ruin her life as he had tried to do at that cabin? She couldn’t do that because now the stakes were so much greater.

  Stop shaking, dammit. It was just another battle she had to win. Take deep breaths, and try to think of a way to do it.

  Someday, I’ll be there.

  12:38 A.M.

  No more hesitation, Cara thought as she stared at the clock on the nightstand. She shouldn’t have had to lie here in bed, tense and on edge as she’d done for the last few hours. The decision had been made, and now she only had to execute it.

  Only?

  Just do it. She sat up in bed and swung her legs to the floor. She slipped on her terry robe over her nightshirt, and she was dialing Jock as she crossed the room to the door.

  “Cara?” he answered immediately. “Okay?”

  “No.” She opened her door. “But we have to make it okay. I’m leaving my room now, and I’ll be at your door in just a moment. A welcome would be appreciated. I thought I’d give you warning. I didn’t want to have to pound on it as I did before.” She cut the connection.

  She left her room, locked the door, and by that time Jock had thrown open the door of his room and was standing in the doorway. The light from the lamp behind him silhouetted his body, which appeared to be naked except for a towel draped about his hips. “What’s wrong?” He asked warily, “Are you ill? Too much wine?”

  “Not now.” She shook her head. “I was sick earlier, but that wasn’t the wine either.” She went past him into his room. “You sleep naked. I didn’t know that. But then you wouldn’t let me know something that intimate. You’d consider it encouraging me.” She dropped down in the chair beside his bed. “Too bad. You’re as fantastic-looking as I always knew you’d be. I feel a little cheated.”

  “Why were you sick?” His eyes were narrowed on her face. “And what the hell is wrong with you now? You were fine when I left you. Right now, you’re barely holding it together.”

  “I’m doing considerably more than holding it together. Don’t sell me short. I’m just having trouble bracing myself for more difficulty from you after what I’ve already gone through.”

  “And what have you already gone through?” he said through his teeth. “Talk to me.”

  “Svardak.”

  He stiffened. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “His wound was bothering him.” Her lips twisted. “He wanted to share it with me. Along with a few other thoughts and comments. He was so glad I hadn’t changed my cell number.”

  “Son of a bitch.” Jock was swearing softly, vehemently. He was across the room, dropping to his knees beside her. “When?”

  “A few hours ago.”

  “Why didn’t you call me then?”

  “I wasn’t in terrific shape for a while. He caught me off guard, and you might say I was in shock.” She tried to smile. “Hence the sickness that had nothing to do with the wine.”

  His hands grasped her shoulders. “What did he say to you?”

  “Mostly what you’d expect. But as I said, he caught me off guard and I didn’t expect anything. Every word he said was like a fresh cut. Later, I had to think and sort things out to make sure he hadn’t told me something that might be important.” She reached up and rubbed her temple. “It was ugly, and it took me longer than I thought to get past it. But I knew that there might be something I could use. I should have recorded the call, but I didn’t think of it. Silly. You would have thought about it. I should have—”

  “Stop rambling.” He shook her gently. “You shouldn’t have done anything but survive the bastard. No one could expect anything else of you.”

  “Of course they could. And I remembered most of it after I had time to pull myself together. One of the things was that he said that he was almost ready to gather in Joe. He was boasting, but it could be the truth.”

  “Or a blatant lie. I’ll try to contact Joe and make sure he’s still okay.”

  “I already called him, but I couldn’t get through. These damn mountains…”

  “I’ll try him again. What else?”

  “I believe Svardak is still in the mountains and won’t leave the area until he gets what he wants. He’s already made contact with Lacher and Abrams, so they must have definitely been on their way to him when they killed th
at farmer. That might help us zero in on his location.” She paused. “But I made a slip, and he knows that I may still be in the area.”

  “Then we get you out of here,” he said grimly.

  “Why? One intimidating phone call doesn’t alter anything. He’s fixated on Joe right now.” She moistened her lips. “But that may change. One of those men told him you were on the mountain, and he asked me questions about you. He thinks that you might be my lover.” She smiled crookedly. “I’d shout that from the housetops if it were true. But he’s the one person I’d never want to know it. He’s totally unpredictable. He’s already trying to decide if killing you or Joe might hurt me more.”

  “Neither of those options are going to happen,” he said impatiently. “What else?”

  She tried to think. “Wherever he is, he didn’t get conventional medical care to patch up his wound. He said he couldn’t trust the bungler who tried to sew him up. He’s on heavy antibiotics, but he said he’s waiting to have his wound stitched until after he takes care of his list. That means we can’t trace him through an urgent-care or local hospital.”

  “But who tried to sew up that wound and patch him up?” he murmured. “We might have to explore that question. No name?”

  “Svardak isn’t stupid. Insane, yes, but not stupid. I was upset and probably revealed a hell of a lot more than he did.” She wearily shook her head. “But that’s all I can put together from what he said tonight. The rest was just … poison. He only wanted to hurt me.”

  “And he did it,” he said hoarsely.

  “Of course he did.” She gave a half shrug. “I was happy. I was … floating. He couldn’t know, but he chose the perfect time. That’s why it took me so long to get over it and decide what to do.”

  “It shouldn’t have taken you long at all. I told you what you had to do.”

  “I realize what you want me to do,” she said wearily. “That was a given. Go home, be safe, let you protect and build a wall around me that would leave you outside. But I knew it was never going to happen. So I had to think of a way to make certain that you admitted it to yourself.”