Vendetta

by Iris Johansen

  “I could see that coming.” He stood up. “It’s not the time for me to deal with it right now. I’m getting you off this island while it’s still overrun with military and CIA. Once it settles down, Claire and her cohorts will be asking questions and proposing solutions that I might not be pleased with.” He pulled her to her feet and frowned when she flinched. “What hurts?”

  “My shoulder. Just a bad bruise. I was still able to work with it.”

  “Good for you,” he said dryly. “We’ll still stop at the hospital tent and have it wrapped before we get on the helicopter.”

  “Helicopter? What about the speedboat we rented?”

  “All boats in the marina are being searched by the Coast Guard. It will be quicker to take Catherine up on her offer to fly us back to the mainland. Nate and Monty will bring the boat back. She told me to have you on the beach by the hospital tents in two hours. She had to make her report to Claire and Homeland about the rescue operation.” He looked at his watch. “You have forty-five minutes since it took me longer than I thought to find you.”

  “That will be long enough.” She frowned as she glanced at the wicked scratch on his forearm. “I’ll have to treat that first. We don’t want it infected.”

  “No, we don’t. Huber would get entirely too much pleasure out of it.” He looked straight ahead as he drew her from beneath the pier. “We’ll both get through this with a minimum of wounds to carry forward. Count on it, Rachel.”

  * * *

  Catherine ran out of the darkness toward the helicopter just seconds before it was due to take off. “Sorry. They wouldn’t stop asking questions.” She jumped on board and signaled the pilot to take off before she settled beside Rachel in the rear seat. “And I wasn’t about to tell them I was whisking you off the island, Rachel.” She nodded at Brandon, who was occupying the copilot’s seat and talking to the pilot. “Brandon was so determined to get you away from here that I didn’t want to risk his getting thrown in the brig. The island is under military jurisdiction until further notice.”

  “It doesn’t surprise me,” Rachel said. “They haven’t found any hint of anyone belonging to Red Star on the island?”

  Catherine shook her head. “But Huber has all kinds of technical capabilities. It wouldn’t be difficult for him to have a minisub waiting off the island for a quick exit.” She added soberly, “It amazed me when Brandon told me about the photo. If it was Huber, it had to be a direct taunt aimed only at you. But I doubt if he was actually here since it wasn’t necessary for the blast. The charges that toppled those three hotels on the cliff were planted in the foundation of the buildings on a timer. Probably at least a week ago. It had all kinds of safety and firewall features and would have been almost impossible for a bomb squad to detect.”

  “Then he could have had someone else here ready to plant that photo.”

  “Or had it planted weeks ago as part of his master plan.” Catherine shook her head. “I don’t know, we’ll figure it out.” She leaned her head wearily against the backrest. “My brain doesn’t seem to be too sharp at the moment.”

  For the first time, Rachel noticed the circles beneath Catherine’s eyes and the tension in her every muscle. Catherine always generated so much crackling energy and sleek power that Rachel often took it for granted. Yet Catherine had been out on the slope most of the day with the rescue teams, and she must be totally exhausted, both physically and emotionally. And then she’d had to confront Claire and Homeland to give her report. “You’re doing fine,” she said quietly. “You always do fine.” She smiled faintly. “And you saw to it that I pulled myself together so that I did fine, too.” She leaned back and squeezed Catherine’s hand, which was lying on the armrest. “And we’ll both be better once we get a little rest.” She had a sudden thought. “Did you call Hu Chang? He must have seen the news stories.”

  She nodded. “I called him when I left the slope. He wasn’t pleased. I told him that neither were we.” She shrugged. “I can’t blame him. I promised I’d take care of you. But I didn’t have time to discuss it. He may call you.”

  “I’ll be ready for him. If we managed to get through San Kabara Island, we can survive Hu Chang.” She thought about it. Then she settled back and closed her eyes. “Or maybe not…”

  * * *

  Huber was eagerly looking at his tape of the CNN footage when Kraus called him. “It was magnificent!” He added immediately, “But all I could see were the aerial shots. I wanted close-ups. Why couldn’t you get me close-ups?”

  “Because Homeland and the CIA are afraid of us,” Kraus said. “You wanted that cliff to fall into the sea, and I took care of it. But they weren’t going to let news crews run around the island after it happened. You’ll have to be happy with the aerial shots until they permit anyone but military on the grounds.”

  “They’re afraid of me?” Huber’s voice was excited. “More than usual, right? I knew they would be.”

  “Much more than usual,” Kraus said. “There’s talk that they think this was the main event that we were planning. It was that good.” He paused. “So should we skip that one? You’d only lose a little prestige if we did.”

  “Don’t be a fool,” Huber said. “You’ve told me everything was going well with Fasrain. Why would I give it up?”

  “No reason.” He paused. “Except that I received a report today that Venable’s daughter was on San Kabara Island today. She somehow found out that something was going on and caused the CIA to come in early. Unfortunate, the event might have gone even better if that hadn’t happened.”

  “That bitch!” Huber was cursing low and vehemently. “How? It shouldn’t have happened. She was supposed to get the photo later.”

  “I’m exploring how she could have known. Perhaps her father knew more than we thought. I just wanted to tell you that she might be a problem if we go forward.”

  “She won’t be a problem. Because you’re going to keep her from being a problem. I told you what she said to me when I called her. I won’t stand for that, Kraus. You said that you had a plan to get your hands on her. Was that the truth?”

  “I always tell you the truth.”

  “Then make that your main priority. I want Rachel Venable, Kraus.”

  “Then, of course, you’ll get her at once. I didn’t realize you were in such a hurry. There seemed to be so many more important things on the agenda.”

  “Get her!”

  Kraus smiled as Huber hung up. Then he started to dial again. It was all going well, and soon it would be going even better after he made this call. He should have made this decision a long time ago. Red Star needed a strong man, and no one was stronger than him now that Conrad was gone.

  Now it was only a matter of positioning Rachel Venable.

  And he knew just how he could do it.

  4:40 A.M.

  BEACH HAVEN

  It was Hu Chang.

  No sound.

  No movement.

  But even before opening her eyes, Rachel knew he was there in the darkness waiting for her to wake as he had so many times before in Sazkar Prison. “What are you doing here?” She saw that he was only a shadowy figure sitting in a chair a few yards from her bed. “You shouldn’t have come, Hu Chang. It was bad there, but I was able to handle it.”

  “Of course you were. Are you not my student? I would have cast you out years ago if I hadn’t realized that you were worthy of my attention. And the fact that you were restless and crying out in your sleep was entirely natural under the circumstances. I forgive you that small weakness.” He leaned forward and turned on the bedside lamp. “But I do not forgive you for being so inhospitable when I decided to pay you a visit. Courtesy is always important. Did I not risk facing Brandon to make him let me come in here to wait until you woke?”

  “I don’t regard that as a major challenge. And you must have decided to pay me a visit right after you talked to Catherine at the slope if you managed to get here this soon,” she said dryly. But her g
aze was focused eagerly on his face. Always the same. Serene. Wise. Knowing secrets. Creating secrets. Sharing secrets. Hu Chang. How she had missed him. “And four in the morning isn’t exactly the proper time to come visiting.”

  He smiled. “There is no proper time between good friends. You know that, Rachel.”

  “Yes, I do.” She sat up in bed. “But how can I be the best I can be if you come rushing to hold my hand when you think I won’t meet the test?”

  “Am I holding your hand?”

  “Figuratively.”

  “I would never make that mistake. But you did meet the test, as I knew you would. I’m here because I wished to indulge myself when I know I should have more discipline. Occasionally, I do allow myself to fall from grace in that fashion.”

  “I’ve never seen you in the least undisciplined.” She made a face. “And this is indulgence? Why?”

  “Because Catherine, who appears to be wiser than I in this matter, convinced me that I should not be here with you at this time. That you need the opportunity to search your entire heart and mind regarding Venable with no interference from me during this period of mourning.”

  She shook her head. “I can’t believe she’d say that to you.”

  “Why not? Catherine is very clever, and she was right to question me. She knows your history, and she knows me. There is a possibility I might have cheated you of years with Venable if I hadn’t made myself available to you.”

  “No, you didn’t. Any conflict was between my father and me. You were only being kind and generous.”

  “And a trifle selfish? I can’t deny I enjoyed our years together. I instinctively reach out when I run across someone who reminds me of myself and the struggles I encountered during my very challenging earlier days. And when Catherine said that I should let you work this out for yourself, it struck a true note.” He grimaced. “But only after she promised to take care of you in my place. I should have known that would mean standing beside you through the fray and not keeping you out of danger. San Kabara did not please me.”

  “So she told me.” She looked him in the eye. “But standing beside me is what I needed from her. It was terrible there, Hu Chang. She was wonderful. She’s been wonderful ever since I’ve known her. You’re responsible for that in many ways. Just as you’re responsible for making me a stronger person. So don’t tell me about selfishness. That’s bullshit.”

  He chuckled. “I only threw that in to arouse your protectiveness and instant rejection. We all realize that I’m very nearly perfect.”

  “Except for an occasional self-indulgence? Would you care to elaborate how this qualifies?”

  “You’ve become so strong over the years.” He tilted his head, and his smile ebbed away. “Disasters, disease, and pain, and overcoming so much. Sometimes I can help, sometimes I can’t. When one cares about someone, to be needed is a special gift. When Catherine told me about San Kabara, I thought that it might be the time you’d choose to indulge me with that gift.”

  “I’m handling it, Hu Chang. As you said, it’s not my first disaster.”

  “Every disaster is the first if you care enough about it.” He leaned forward, his dark, glowing eyes intent on her face. “And this one is different because it’s connected to you and Venable. Huber wished you to feel that when he left that photo. You probably feel that you should have been able to do more. We both know you could not, but the feeling remains. So you will let every emotion, every sorrow, stay within and fester. That’s why you toss and turn and cannot sleep. You know the solution. We’ve worked through it before at Sazkar.” He said softly, “Talk to me. Indulge me and let me know I’m needed. Start at the beginning when you got off the speedboat. I want to know every single moment. Every sadness, every death, every triumph, every joy. Let me share this with you. Give it all to me so that you won’t be alone with it. Then I’ll be able to leave you and stay in the background unless I decide you need me again. When you wake, I won’t even be here. That seems to be both intelligent and fair, doesn’t it?”

  “Hu Chang.”

  He reached over and turned off the light, and there was only darkness. “Let me share it,” he repeated gently. “It’s your gift to me.”

  She could feel her eyes stinging with tears. “Some gift. You’re completely crazy, Hu Chang. And don’t you dare leave before I wake up.”

  “We’ll see. Because Catherine is also right, I’m stealing this time from Venable. It’s part of your period of release and adjustment. But I don’t believe he would mind it tonight, do you?”

  “No, he was always grateful to you. Almost as grateful as I was.” She swallowed. “That’s not true. No one could be more grateful. You don’t have to do this. I’ll be fine.”

  “Yes, fine and free and ready to live again. Are you trying to cheat me of my gift?”

  “No way,” she said unsteadily. “Just trying to give you an out.”

  “I don’t want an out. Talk to me. Start when you got off the speedboat at the marina at San Kabara.”

  She was silent. No matter what she said, he would stay until he had his way. He would sit there in the darkness until he had his “gift,” which would perform its usual miracle of healing as it had all those years ago.

  Forget pride. Forget independence. Accept the miracle on this day, where there had been so few miracles to embrace. She began to speak, “It was all crazy. I didn’t know what to expect, Hu Chang.” She could once more see it all before her. “People were streaming out of the hotels. Everything was starting to happen. I jumped off the boat and took off running down the beach…”

  * * *

  It was late afternoon when Rachel opened her eyes again. She could see the slanted rays of the sun coming in the French doors across the room and making patterns on the rug beside the easy chair.

  And Hu Chang was not sitting in the chair beside her.

  “Awake?” The French doors opened, and Brandon came into the room from the veranda. “Good. It’s almost five. Forgive the intrusion, but I was beginning to worry. You’ve been sleeping like the dead.”

  Like the dead of San Kabara? The comparison immediately occurred to her, and she tried to push it away. She knew from experience how dangerous it was to dwell on lives she had not been able to save.

  “Was I?” She sat up in bed and brushed her hair out of her eyes. “Where’s Hu Chang? I told him not to leave.” She flinched as she felt a twinge in her shoulder. “But he didn’t promise. You didn’t say anything to him, did you?”

  “I doubt if I would have been able to throw him out when he has you and Catherine defending him,” he said. “Not to mention a certain aura of power he exudes on his own. No, I gave him a cup of tea about one this afternoon, and he bid me good-bye with instructions to take care of you if you’ll permit it. He said to tell you that he’ll be in touch if the occasion demands. I was flattered he thought me good enough to be a stand-in. It was iffy, considering our last conversation.”

  “He’s an excellent judge of character. He wouldn’t let that influence him. I think he trusts you.” She added, “He said he persuaded you to let him come into my room to wait for me to wake.”

  “Persuaded? He came sweeping into the house and said that he would require the time to make certain that you slept well and deeply after your experience on the Island. I would please not interfere or cause his task to be more difficult. That’s persuasion?”

  She smiled. “Well, you didn’t try to stop him.”

  “I thought I might have both of you to fight. And I believe that he has a proven success ratio with you. Right?”

  “Oh, yes.” And last night had been no exception, she thought. She had regained balance and stability and the knowledge of her own character and worth. She just wished he was still here with her. “His success ratio is astonishing.”

  “You’re disappointed. I’m definitely detecting wistfulness.” His gaze was on her face. “Do you want me to go bring him back to you? I’d be willing to risk it. Aft
er seeing the way you looked when you crawled into bed last night and how different you look now, it would be worth it. Color in your cheeks, rested, even the mood appears mellow. Does he always have that effect on you?”

  “Yes.” She smiled. “But I wouldn’t let you risk antagonizing Hu Chang. You’d probably pay for it. Why are you really here? Did something happen?”

  “Not as far as I know. Catherine’s been calling me all afternoon because she didn’t want to bother you. She said you needed to sleep.” He smiled. “She might think you’re tough enough to cope with anything, but she’s still incredibly protective. She asked you to call her back when you woke. No hurry.”

  “No hurry,” Rachel repeated. “It seems as if everything has been urgent and high-speed for the last couple days. I don’t know if I’ll be able to handle a slower pace.”

  “I have faith in you.” He was heading for the bedroom door. “Take a shower, get dressed, and come to the kitchen for a sandwich and bowl of soup. After yesterday, you need to take a deep breath and try to relax.”

  Everything seemed smooth and quiet and blessedly calm. For some reason, it was making her uneasy. “You’re sure nothing is wrong with Catherine?”

  “Absolutely sure.” He smiled. “After what you went through yesterday, I know it seems strange that life could ever be even seminormal again. I always feel the same way after a rough patch. But we have to take what we can get and hold on to it as long as possible.”

  She couldn’t look away from him. His light eyes were glittering in that lean, taut face, and she was as aware of his strength and intensity as she had been when he’d come to her at the marina yesterday. He was so alive and vibrant and she suddenly wanted to reach out and touch him, to let that vibrance flow into her, renew her.