Fatal Attractions

by Jeanne Foguth

  Stone shook his head and clipped the hook securely in an eyelet.

  “One way or another, it has to be Dolly,” Link said. “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing.”

  “When you saw her and had to have her, I warned you that she was totally incapable of returning the love you wanted to lavish on her. It’s finally sunk in, hasn’t it?”

  Stone thrust the fishing rod into Link’s hand. “Link, you fish. I’m going for a walk.” He pivoted and marched upstream.

  “A couple weeks ago, your mom told me she’d seen Marishka,” Link called after him. Stone squared his shoulders against the onslaught of emotion her memory always brought. “She’s remarried and is expecting.”

  Memory of the way Marishka had lied to his family and friends came back cold as the arctic day. Stone turned and glared at Link. “Good for her, now catch something for dinner.”

  Link fingered the pole. “Is that what’s eating at you? Marishka, not Dolly?”

  “No. But I pity any kid she has.”

  “Until this minute, I never believed the rumors.”

  “What rumors?”

  “That she wanted children and you didn’t.”

  “Bull. I wanted them. All she wanted was US citizenship. When she got that, she moved out.” Period, end of his stupidity.

  Link scratched his neck. “Then why was she moaning and groaning about losing you and her future during the divorce?”

  “Theatrics.”

  “Marishka was emotional. Is that Dolly’s attraction?”

  Stone thrust his hands into the back pockets of his jeans. “I don’t know. You seem to be the shrink of the day, why don’t you tell me?”

  ~0~

  Tempest threw her arms wide as if she wanted to encompass the barren tundra. “You gotta love a place with no trees to hide behind.” Ariel glanced up from her sketchbook. “For the first time since Ireland, we don’t have to keep looking over our shoulders or wondering how close he is to finding us.”

  Ariel replaced the cover on her charcoal pencil. “So you feel safe here?”

  “Look around.” Tempest pirouetted in a circle. “You can see someone coming for miles and miles and miles. This isn’t like being in a city, where someone can spy on you from all sorts of spots or sneak up on you at any corner.” Tempest lowered her arms and hugged herself. “Besides, even if someone did come here, Uncle Link would protect us.”

  “You really like him, don’t you?”

  “Oh, yes.” Tempest rubbed her upper arms in an oddly sensual manner; reminiscent of the way Stone’s hands had felt on her neck. “I think he might be the one.”

  “The one what?”

  Tempest gave her an exasperated look. “The one and only love of my life, of course.”

  Ariel nearly laughed at the absurd thought. “He’s old.”

  “Not much older than you.”

  Was Tempest looking for a father figure or what? And what about Link, who seemed only too happy for her sister’s company? What was he looking for? Why did Tempest view Link as a boyfriend? Could he be a pedophile? An icy chill whispered across Ariel’s skin.

  “I like Uncle Stone, too,” Tempest said. “But he isn’t fun like Uncle Link. I think something is bothering him.” Her brow furrowed. “Sometimes the way he looks reminds me of you.”

  “You’ve got to be kidding.”

  She shook her head so hard, her two of her stiff spikes flapped. “He’s so serious and responsible and all that stuff that makes you boring.” Her sister thought she was dull? She’d given up her education, her career and her future, to keep them together. To keep them alive. And Tempest thought she was boring? “Uncle Stone never plays, and he always works.” She wrinkled her nose in a cute way that normally would have made Ariel forget she’d just been called boring. “He’s sorta like you’ve been since – uh, never mind.”

  “Since London.” Tempest nodded. Five years, one month, two weeks and four days ago, they’d started running for their lives. Ariel sighed as she acknowledged the truth: she’d become someone she never wanted to be. “Things have been too tense for too long. I wish I could tell you we could stay here forever, and with time, we’d feel like we had real lives, but I can’t.”

  “I know.” Tempest sniffed. “Unless he dies, we’ll be on the run forever.”

  “Maybe this is-“

  “Don’t. Every time you start hoping that our new identities will be the one, he finds us and we’re on the run again. I mean, I know that even if Link is the right guy for me, it’ll never work out because we already saw Father and he’s checking out that tail number.” Ariel shook her head in denial. Tempest gestured toward the plane. “Don’t be stupid. Of course he is, so we’re only safe out here in the middle of nowhere. Once we take off, it’s only a matter of time.”

  “If he recognized us - and I don’t think he did, at least not for certain.” Tempest gave her a skeptical look. “If he’d been certain, do you think we’d have left Deadhorse alive?”

  A glimmer of hope shone in Tempest’s expression, as she shook her head, then she bit her upper lip and her eyes got huge as saucers. “Right now he could be setting traps for tomorrow. Oh, God, tomorrow! I hope it never comes.”

  Ariel hugged Tempest. “Shh. Enjoy today. Don’t worry about tomorrow.” She repeated the advice to herself, and hoped she could at least appear to be worry-free.

  Tempest trembled. “I can’t help it.” Her thin arms wrapped around Ariel’s waist in a vise-like grip. “Every time I think about seeing him, I get so scared I’m afraid I’ll pee.”

  “You did great.”

  “He has such a terrible temper.”

  “It’ll work out, somehow.” Ariel stared over Tempest’s shuddering shoulder.

  “He said he’d kill us and you know he will.”

  “Only if he finds us.” Ariel realized she was staring at the rifle Stone had forced her to accept. She licked her lips. “If he tries to kill us, I’ll stop him.” Somehow.

  Chapter 11

  The following day, as her seatbelt clicked into place, Tempest’s fears haunted Ariel’s thoughts. If Peter had recognized them, he might be waiting at the apartment and they really could be walking into a trap. By the time the plane had taken off and they began flying into the mountains, a chill seized her so hard that she shook.

  “I didn’t realize how badly flying terrified you,” Stone said, as he settled into the pilot seat. “I’ll try to keep it smooth.”

  She stared at her clenched hands, unable to speak.

  Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed that Tempest was squinting at the gray clouds above the Cessna, which were obviously pouring rain, and then she glanced at the dry windscreen. Frowning in confusion, she peered down at the rocky peaks of the Brooks Range. She tapped Link’s arm. “How come the rain isn’t hitting the plane?”

  “Virga.”

  “Viagra?” Ariel asked, startled.

  Laughing, Link twisted around in the co-pilot’s seat, until he faced her. “V-I-R-G-A,” he spelled, “Virga.” He focused on Tempest, then launched into a discourse on Alaskan climate and weather phenomena. Ariel’s cheeks flamed with heat. She glanced at Stone, grateful that he had to keep his attention on the plane and whatever else pilots needed to focus on. After that humiliating comment, she pressed her lips together and vowed to be quiet.

  Stone tapped a round gauge on the instrument panel, frowned, then tapped it again. Ariel held her breath, wondering what was wrong. He tapped it a third time. She peaked around him to see what the thing was for. She squinted at the innocent white numbers on the black face, which claimed they were ten-thousand-feet high. Ariel looked down at the ground and doubted it they were more than a mile high. A pit of dread opened in her stomach, as she wondered if Peter had sabotaged the plane and intended to kill them all.

  “Uncle Link? How come you keep saying how dry it is here? A lot of this,” she gestured to the ground below, “is boggy.”

  “Tundra i
s formed by old peat quagmires. That’s the black, mucky little mounds you see all over, and yeah, they’re usually in water, but that’s because about three feet below ground level, everything is always frozen, so what rain or runoff we do get just stagnates.”

  Tempest made a face. “They’re no fun to walk on. I tried hopping on the ones near home and landed in freezing water up to my armpits.”

  “I’ve heard of shocks like that killing people with bad hearts,” Stone said. “It’s best to stay out of the bogs.”

  “We can certainly see a lot of detail,” Ariel said. “How high are we?”

  “My best guess is about two-thousand-feet, but I can’t be sure.” He tapped the gage a forth time.

  “You mean the plane is broken?” Tempest asked, panic in her tone.

  “Just an old problem we thought we’d fixed,” Link assured her. “Don’t worry, an altimeter is only necessary when we’re flying blind.” He gestured ahead to the clear blue sky. “Trust me, today, we don’t need it.”

  Ariel stared at the ground as if watching it would help Stone keep the plane airborne. Tempest and Link spoke in soft tones, which barely permeated the peripheral area of her awareness, while her mind grappled with the events of the weekend.

  When she and Tempest had first gone into hiding, they’d fled to her mother’s country, the United States, and stayed in urban areas. Years of worrying when she saw the same vehicle too often, and avoiding looking into stranger’s face for fear they were Peter’s lackeys had taken their toll on her nerves. The only thing worse was when Peter did find them, and they had to run, again. The past five years had been filled with close calls, changing their appearances and so many new names that some mornings, she couldn’t remember who she was.

  Fleeing to the wilds of Alaska was supposed to have broken the pattern and given them security.

  Instead, it had provided one of the closest face-to-face encounters she’d had with Peter since he’d sworn revenge.

  Stone chuckled at something Tempest said. Ariel’s heartbeat quickened. Why had fate stuck her next door to a man whose every word and move stirred her soul? Maybe if she’d met him at some other point in her life, they could have made a life together, but there was no chance of that, now.

  Fact: Stone had a woman and she was neither willing to break up a relationship nor become the other woman.

  Fact: Ariel had never wanted a relationship with a man, after seeing what Peter did to her mother.

  Fact: Alaska was not a sanctuary. And if the locals thought this chilly weather was nice, winter had to be horrible.

  Fact: She was tired of living on the edge and wanted permanence and security. So did Tempest.

  Fact: Now that she’d actually been to Fairbanks, she realized the city was a trap with few means of escape.

  Fact: If Peter had recognized them, today was probably her last day on earth.

  Assuming they survived reentering their apartment, today, they needed to begin choosing new identities, a new location and profiles. Perhaps, if they took their time, planning their next step, instead of run, in a panic, this time they’d really succeed in losing Peter. Forever.

  Hope bloomed within her at the thought.

  Another continent might do the trick. But that would create another set of problems. When Mozart had gone through customs and quarantine, Peter had easily followed them to North America.

  Fact: Transporting Mozart made them conspicuous. So, no matter how hard Tempest cried and how badly she felt, they needed to find him a new home. Ariel swallowed hard, but the lump in her throat didn’t budge. The thought of leaving Mozart behind felt devastating. Her father had given him to her for her birthday and he’s been her one true friend through all the years and fears.

  A sickening lurch brought her back to reality.

  “Sorry about that,” Stone said. “Geese were on the runway.”

  A moment later, the plane settled onto the runway with a thump. Dear Lord, they were already in Fairbanks and Peter might be waiting for them, a smug smile on his evil face! Please, God, help us survive and find a safe future.

  As the plane moved down the runway, each runway light took longer to pass. With every drop in speed, the place seemed smaller and more vulnerable, as did Ariel. She looked sideways at Tempest, whose profile centered in the small window. How easily a sniper could pick off her sister. Ariel Grasped Tempest’s arm, pulling her away from possible death.

  “What?” Tempest demanded.

  Ariel pulled her arm downward, until she was below the window. “Help me find my lip balm.” Ariel gestured under their seat. Soon, they both had their heads between their legs and were looking at dusty blue carpet.

  There was a firm thud, then the sound tires made on an asphalt highway, which signified that the Cessna had landed. Still, Ariel held Tempest down.

  “All I see is a Cheerio,” Tempest said.

  “Keep looking, it’s my favorite pina colada one.”

  Tempest sniffed her lips then sat up and gave her an accusatory look. But they were nearly inside a hangar and probably safe. Still, Ariel’s heart hammered against her ribs. Her nails dug into her palms, and the cabin walls seemed to inch inward. Her lungs burned for fresh air and the dark maw of the hanger looked like a gaping mouth waiting to consume them.

  She yanked on the seat belt release, but her fingers slipped off because the sheen of perspiration made it impossible to grip anything.

  Tempest grabbed her hands and whispered, “Ariel, what’s wrong with you?” Tempest squeezed her fingers, then said in a louder voice, “You know the rule: never take off your seat belt until we’re parked and the engine has stopped … or doesn’t that apply to little planes?”

  The urgency of Tempests tone and the panic in her expression got through. Ariel tried to smile. “I forgot where I was for a moment. Sorry.”

  Tempest gave her an odd look, then let go of her hands.

  Link glanced back at them, as he took off the headphones he’d used to speak with the tower. “Welcome back to Fairbanks.”

  The plane entered the dim hanger and a man dressed in dark coveralls materialized from the gloom. He raised his grease-stained hand and Ariel ducked.

  “How long has Drew been working on that Chieftain?” Stone said.

  “Why?” Link said, as the plane came to a halt.

  “I’d like someone to look at the altimeter before I need to go back to Valdez.” Link made a sound of agreement as the engine shutdown and he opened the door.

  Ariel realized they were talking about the man in the jumpsuit and told herself that meant he was safe. Except she still wasn’t positive Link and Stone were safe.

  Despite her fears, no assassins materialized as they were unloading their things, no sniper took a shot as Link drove them home, no one even peaked at them from around a corner. Now, all that she had to do was survive entering her front door and finding out if Peter was waiting for them inside. If they weren’t killed on the spot, she vowed to develop a new set of identities – ones that would keep them safe until they were one-hundred-and-three, assuming anyone really lived that long.

  As Link parked the truck, Stone muttered an angry curse then got out of the truck and let out a piercing whistle.

  Tempest’s eyes rounded. “Ariel would wash my mouth out with soap if I ever said that.”

  He looked at Ariel and gave her a lopsided smile. “Apologies.” He gestured toward his backyard. “The gate is open and the dogs are gone.”

  Peter would have slaughtered animals that made that much racket so he could sneak around. Or perhaps he’d kill them just because he liked killing. If he’d murdered Stone’s dogs so they couldn’t sound the alarm, it was her fault. Ariel swallowed the threatening bile. She placed her hand on Stone’s biceps. “I’m so sorry.” Tears distorted her vision. “I’ll help you look for them.”

  Stone gave her an odd look. “It’s nothing to cry about. And it’s hardly the first time.”

  Tempest bounced on the
balls of her feet as if looking for the dogs was an adventure. What would she do when – if – they found mangled carcasses? “Oh! Look!” Tempest pointed across the road.

  Two huskies were trotting toward them.

  Ariel’s skin tingled with hope.

  “Come here, you two,” Stone said, as he hunkered down. When the dogs stopped in front of him, he scratched their ears. “Where were you?” Both dogs gave him smug-looking doggy grins. Stone continued stroking them. “Not talking, huh? Okay, where are Agamemnon and Hercules?” The dogs only gave him more canine smiles and lolled their tongues as they panted.

  Stone sighed and stood up. “Okay, girls, back into the yard.” The chubbier dog started toward the gate, but the other looked undecided. “Go on, Athena, you don’t want to have your puppies away from home.” The chubby dog appeared to agree. “Go on Aphrodite, get in there.” The dog sat and looked up at him, her big blue eyes pleading. Stone stood and put his hands on his hips. “If I have to chase you, I’ll put you on a chain.” Reluctantly the second dog moved toward the gate. He shut it with a sharp click, then looked around the area.

  “Would it help if I walked down the street and looked for them?” Ariel asked.

  “Would you know them if you saw them?” Stone’s expression was skeptical.

  “I would if I read their tags.”

  He appeared to be stifling laughter. “You intend to read every collar of every husky you find?”

  “Can you think of a better way?”

  “Yeah, go home. Take a long hot bath and –“Stone shrugged. “I’ll look for them.”

  Anything was better than going into that townhouse and confronting Peter – assuming he was in there. Ariel hitched up her chin, then stalked up the street.

  Halfway down the block, she heard feet running behind her. Fighting the urge to run, Ariel glanced back. Tempest sprinted up to her, eyes aglow with happiness. In the distance, Stone was marching the opposite direction.

  “Uncle Stone laughed.”

  “Why?”

  Tempest snickered. “Uncle Link was afraid that some strange dog would bite you if you tried to read its collar.” Ariel rolled her eyes heavenward. “Don’t worry, I told them that only one dog had ever dared bite you.”