The Bullet

by Iris Johansen

  “Might?” Amazingly, she found herself faintly smiling. “Jock didn’t like that word.”

  “I remember. Perhaps I’ll work on making it a little more positive.” He shrugged. “Or perhaps not. I’ll have to decide if you’re worth it.”

  “You’ve already made that decision, or you wouldn’t be planning on going to all this trouble,” she said quietly.

  “No, I’ve decided that Svardak’s death is worth it. Your life is another matter. Perhaps I’m only interested in how you’ll perform in this particular arena.”

  It was always performance with Kaskov where she was concerned. She was suddenly impatient. Her nerves were raw and on edge, and she wanted this over. “Whatever.” She got to her feet. “May we go now? I want to spend some time working with those ropes that you said I’d be able to wriggle out of so easily. You’re not the only one who doesn’t want to be surprised. And I can’t guarantee I won’t disappoint you. You’re right, I’m a complete novice. I’m afraid that I’ll do the wrong thing and get someone hurt.”

  He was silent. “Yes, you are afraid.” He was studying her expression. “Very well, we can leave. Keeping busy will be better for you.” He got to his feet and headed for the helicopter. “But for your information, I don’t expect to be at all disappointed in you, Cara. Are you not my granddaughter?”

  LAKE KEDROW

  Lord, the water was cold. With every step Eve was taking, the icy water washed against her lower body and waist, taking her breath.

  Ignore it.

  She was almost at the cove she’d chosen as the safest and closest place to hide the canoe. It had taken her longer than she had thought it would because she’d realized she couldn’t use either the motor or oars because of the noise factor. She had to guide the canoe slowly along the bank, making it glide soundlessly, and the only way she could control that movement was to be in the water with it.

  Eve tightened her hold on the rope she was using to guide the canoe along the bank of the lake.

  Only seven or eight yards more to the cove …

  Six.

  Four.

  Two.

  Done!

  Then she was boosting herself onto the bank. She sat there a moment trying to catch her breath and stop the shivering. The wind had risen in the last hour, and her lower body felt like an ice cube whenever it touched her. But that wasn’t the only thing that was chilling her as she gazed at the ranger station. It looked so far away through the trees. It had been the very closest she could get without running the danger of being spotted. How long would it take them to get Joe, who might have to be almost entirely supported, through those woods?

  She couldn’t stay here and waste time worrying about it. She was already running late. Secure the canoe firmly, then go meet Jock.

  She got to her feet and started to pull the canoe closer to the bank so that she could tie it to that pine tree a few yards from the bank. The rope was cutting into her hands as she fought with the sharp wind.

  “I’ll do it. Let me help, Mom.”

  She stiffened in horror. It couldn’t be.

  She looked down the bank.

  Oh, my God. Michael was running toward her.

  Here?

  Then he was next to her, his hands on the rope with her own, pulling the canoe, helping her secure it to the tree.

  “Is that okay? That’s the knot Dad taught me.” Michael was frowning worriedly. “You’re all wet. You shouldn’t be wet. You could get sick again.”

  That remark was so typical, it proved this wasn’t a nightmare. He was really here. “It’s not okay. Nothing is okay. You shouldn’t be here. I left you miles away, where you’d be safe. How could you do this?” She ran her shaking hand through her hair. “And keep your voice down. They’ll hear you.”

  He shook his head. “I don’t think so.” But his voice was lower. “Mr. Cheknof checked and said that there weren’t any guards along this strip of the bank. He knows about things like that.”

  “Cheknof.” This was still worse. She had thought perhaps Michael had gotten away from Cheknof and found a way to get to her. “Cheknof is here with you? Did something happen? Was there some reason why you had to leave Hunter—”

  Michael was shaking his head. “Nothing bad happened. I just knew that I needed to help you, and Mr. Cheknof was the only one who could bring me. But it took a little while to persuade him, so I was only able to get here just now.” He frowned. “But you’re wet, and I should have—”

  “Michael, be quiet.” She drew a deep breath, trying to pull herself together and confront this new disaster. “I have to get you out of here. Cheknof is with you? Where is he?”

  “He’s coming.” Michael nodded down the bank. “I could feel you up ahead and started running. Please don’t yell at him. He only wants to help now, and like I said, he knows things. Some of it is bad, but it won’t matter if he can help Dad.”

  “Jock and I are going to help your dad. All I need Cheknof to do is get you out of here.”

  He shook his head gravely. “I won’t go this time. You need me.” He reached out and touched her wrist. “I know you’re afraid something will happen to me and that’s why you wouldn’t listen to me before.” His gaze shifted to the distant ranger station. “You’re going to have to get Dad out of there. But he’s sicker now, and he’s not going to understand or be able to help you. But if I get close to him, I can still reach to him and explain. I can make him wake up and stay awake until you have him safe. You know that would be a help.”

  “It doesn’t matter. We’ll do it without you. Do you think I’d let you go with us?”

  “No, but what if I stay back here at the canoe and wait for you? I don’t really have to actually be there. I could do what I did before.” He smiled. “Besides, I’m not big enough or strong enough to help you get him this far, am I? You need someone like Jock.” His gaze went to Cheknof, who was stalking down the bank with a scowl on his face. “Or Mr. Cheknof … Remember not to yell at him.”

  She started toward Cheknof. “No promises.”

  Cheknof slowed down warily as she approached. “I told the kid that you’d be angry. But I did take care of him. It’s just … difficult.”

  “Tell that to Kaskov,” she said grimly. “Never mind my being angry. I can’t believe you’d disobey his orders. Do you have a death wish?”

  He shook his head. “He won’t be angry when I explain this is the best way to protect you and the child.”

  Her eyes widened in shock. “He won’t?”

  “Why would he? If I take out Svardak and keep him from hurting his granddaughter, I’ll be a hero. Nothing else will matter to him.”

  He appeared absolutely convinced, Eve realized incredulously. A complete reversal of his cautious attitude before she had left him with Michael earlier that evening. “I wouldn’t count on that.”

  He made an impatient gesture. “You don’t understand. I had to think about it for a while myself before I realized the best way to handle everything to please Kaskov. But now I’ve got it right.” He glanced at Michael and changed the subject. “And you shouldn’t have run away from me. You promised you wouldn’t do that.”

  “I forgot,” Michael said solemnly. “It won’t happen again, Mr. Cheknof. If you need to do something important for Mr. Kaskov, I’ll stay here where I’m safe. That way you won’t get in trouble.”

  Eve’s mouth was open as she watched the interplay between them. Michael was being completely respectful but he was playing faultlessly to Cheknof’s new attitude toward Kaskov. What was going on here?

  It took me a little while to persuade him so I was only able to get here just now.

  Persuade. Just what had Michael done to “persuade” Cheknof to do what he wanted him to do?

  The answer was literally mind-blowing. She had an idea, but she was having problems accepting it. She didn’t want to acknowledge even to herself how Michael had probably managed to shift Cheknof’s thinking to suit himself so that
he could get to his father.

  “I’m sure it’s comforting to you that my son is so concerned about keeping you out of trouble, Cheknof.” She turned to Michael, and said grimly, “However, you’re definitely in trouble in all kinds of ways, young man.”

  “No!” Cheknof’s expression was suddenly menacing as his gaze swung back to Eve. “He’s helping me. And you’re getting in the way.”

  “No, she’s not,” Michael said quickly. “She’s fine, and Mr. Kaskov likes her. She’s just a little confused.”

  “That’s certainly true,” Eve said dryly.

  “But you’ll need time to talk to Jock, then tell us how we can help.” He stared directly into her eyes. “Because we do have to help, Mom. Mr. Cheknof and I both really want to do it.” He was suddenly smiling coaxingly. “I know you’re probably in a hurry. Suppose we go back to the canoe and wait for you? That’s a safe place, or you wouldn’t have taken the canoe there.” He turned and headed for the pines. “Come on,” he said to Cheknof. “You can check out the canoe while we’re waiting for them to come back…”

  Eve stared dazedly after Michael and Cheknof, who looked like a giant wrestler lumbering beside him. She wanted to run after Michael and swoop him up and hide him away somewhere until this was all over. Get a grip. Where could she hide him that he wouldn’t be in danger? He had made it clear that he wouldn’t leave until his father did. In the short term, there was clearly no question that Michael would be as safe as he wanted to be until she could get back to him after her meeting with Jock. Cheknof had even been ready to attack her when he’d thought she was threatening him. It was only Michael’s intervention that had saved her.

  Which was as bizarre as the rest of what had happened since Michael had run down that bank toward her.

  Accept it. He was here and determined to stay. And she doubted if she had time to change the course that Michael had put in motion if they were to save Joe.

  She just hoped to God she could think of some way to keep them all safe. Don’t try to do it alone. Talk to Jock about these new problems that had emerged from the shadows. Tell him she hadn’t been able to get the canoe as close as she’d wanted. Tell him about Michael and Cheknof.

  She suddenly stiffened as she glanced back at Michael and Cheknof.

  Cheknof …

  CHAPTER

  17

  “Good God,” Jock said. “We don’t need another complication, Eve.”

  “Don’t tell me something I already know,” Eve said curtly. “But it appears that Michael thinks that we do, so we have to deal with it. He’s here, and somehow he’s convinced Cheknof he’ll be Kaskov’s superhero if he helps us keep Svardak from killing Cara and Joe.” She saw the skeptical look on his face and held up her hand. “I know. I felt the same way. But I think it might be true. As I listened to Cheknof, he sounded genuine enough. What if he is? You know we need all the help we can get. And Michael says Cheknof knows things. I assume he means that he’s an expert at the violence and mayhem Kaskov appreciates so much.”

  “Aye. Kaskov always hires the best.” His eyes were suddenly narrowed. “What do you want me to say? All right, if we were able to use Cheknof, it might be just what I need to solve a major problem.” His lips tightened. “God knows, I’ve been looking for something, anything, that could work.”

  “You mean for you to get to Cara in time.” Eve added quietly, “And to keep you from making a choice. Do you think I didn’t realize that might be an option?” She moistened her lips. “I told you that even the closest place where I could secure that canoe would still take at least four minutes to get there from the ranger station. And then you’d have to race back to get Cara. It would be a miracle if you made it in time to help her. That was why I was thinking long and hard about Cheknof on the way here to meet you. Michael mentioned something about how he wasn’t big and strong enough to help with his dad. That it would take someone like Jock.” She paused. “Or Cheknof. If Cheknof can help me get Joe through the woods and down to that canoe, it would free you to go after Cara.”

  “Yes, it would.” Jock didn’t look at her. “But it would be a risk for you. Cheknof is definitely an unknown quantity.”

  “Everything is a risk for us right now.”

  “You can’t trust him.”

  “For some reason, Michael trusts him. I don’t believe it was accidental that he mentioned you and Cheknof in the same breath.” She said unevenly, “Look, I know you’re trying to be fair and giving me all the sensible reasons to discard a possibility that’s nowhere near as strong as we’d like. But I can see it’s tearing you apart. Do you think this is easy for me? I’m scared Michael might be wrong, that the superhero might turn back into a cowardly lion. But this way we have a chance that Cara and Joe can both live. Joe wouldn’t thank me if I didn’t take that chance.” She checked her watch. “Two hours to go, Jock. Stop arguing with me and tell me how we’re going to do this. I have to get back to Michael and Cheknof.”

  He hesitated, then pulled out his small notebook. “I have a few things to do myself.” He pointed to the rough sketch of the station he’d drawn. “There are three perimeter guards in the woods near the lake. I’ll take them out as soon as the time is close enough so they won’t be missed. Here are the two guards out front. Which is still the only way to get Joe out. Abrams and Lacher are on their way to pick Cara up now with three other of Svardak’s finest. She said that she’d find a way to cause a distraction when the vehicle she was in left the main road and started toward the station.” He pointed toward the exit. “There are heavy woods and brush that lead down toward the lower lake. But we don’t know if she’ll be able to use it or if she’ll be able to do anything at all. If there’s no distraction, I’ll furnish one myself by shooting out the two front tires of the truck. That should bring the front guards and Svardak running toward it.” He tapped the diagram of the front porch. “But you’ll have to get Joe out of the station and in the woods in less than three minutes.”

  “Cara said that she could give us ten minutes.”

  “She may not have ten minutes,” he said curtly. ‘I’m going after her the minute I shoot out the tires.” He paused. “And you won’t have time either. I might need another distraction. I’ll probably have to blow up the station.”

  She inhaled sharply. “That would definitely be a distraction.”

  “And if Svardak managed to survive, he wouldn’t know if Joe was blown up with it.” He put the notebook back in his pocket. “But I wouldn’t worry, I’ll see that he’s doesn’t have a chance in hell of surviving.” He turned away. “I’ll call you to come to the station after I take out the guards in the woods.” He was striding back toward the station. “That will be your last warning.” His voice crackled with tension. “After that, be ready to move!”

  COPPER FLATS

  The blue lights of the helicopter speared down, lighting the stark, rocky landscape as the aircraft slowly descended.

  Cara unconsciously tensed as it touched down. She had thought she’d braced herself for this on the way from Ruell Falls, but she’d been wrong. Kaskov had bound her himself before they’d left the Falls, and she felt claustrophobic and panic-stricken lying here on the seat.

  “You still have time,” Kaskov said quietly. “Would you like to stay in the copter until I get the report that Abrams is almost here?”

  “No.” She took a long breath. “You should leave me and get out of here. Abrams will be wary about you anyway. He might do something rash if the opportunity presents itself.”

  “As you wish.” He pulled her to her feet and helped her to the door that Nikolai had just thrown open. “Then I’ll just see that you’re comfortable, as a good host should.” He jumped from the copter and swung her to the ground. She looked around at the rocky plateau and multitude of boulders cascading all over the otherwise barren the landscape.

  “It looks like a photo of a moonscape,” she said.

  “The moon is dead. There’s nothing dead ab
out this place.” He gestured to a large, smooth, flat rock. “Lie down, please, I have to tie your ankles as well. I wanted to give you as much freedom as possible until the last minute.” Then he was kneeling beside her and swiftly tying her ankles. “But we want to make certain that Abrams thinks that you’re so securely bound that there’s no reason for him to do anything else. I’ve always found that laziness always rules if you cater to it.”

  “And I now know the definition of hog-tied.” The claustrophobia was even greater now. “You’re sure that this will work?”

  “Don’t insult me.” He was taking rubber gloves and a bottle of liquid from Nikolai. He put on the gloves and began to rub a thick coat of the liquid on Cara’s hands and arms. “Don’t struggle with Abrams. And avoid having anyone touching you until the moment is right for you. This liquid is transparent, but the texture has to be a little thick. You don’t want anyone to ask any questions. You’ll spoil a perfectly good plan if you’re stupid.”

  “I won’t be stupid.” Her arms and palms felt tingling and hot. “And all I’ll have to do is touch the ropes and they’ll dissolve and fall off me? It seems very high-tech and Disney.”

  “If Disney had hired scientists from labs in North Korea,” Kaskov said dryly. “Disney wouldn’t have appreciated that the North Koreans developed it to be used in their prisons when they tortured prisoners. Yes, they will perform just as I told you they will. But you’ll have to be careful what you touch.”

  “You’ve already told me that.”

  “Well, I didn’t tell you quite everything.” He was stripping off his gloves. “You also wanted a weapon that would prove undetectable. I thought I’d give you two-in-one.”

  “What?”

  “When you remove the ropes, they won’t actually dissolve, the composition will just change so that the ropes will stretch and enable you to slip them off.”