Vendetta

by Iris Johansen

  “One battle at a time.”

  And doing battle beside Cameron was always challenging and exciting.

  “Not as good as sex,” he said softly, “but close.”

  “Cameron.”

  “I’m innocent.” He chuckled. “Well, not true. But in this case, I didn’t break my word. I just know you, Catherine.”

  Yes, he did. And she knew him, and she could hardly wait to feel the vitality that was always there when she interacted with him. To hell with it. Trust Brandon to take care of the supertanker as he’d said he would. Go for the threat that was within her reach. “We don’t know when Fasrain will go to that dock. He might already be there. He might have planned to go early and find a place to go underground to hide.”

  “Then we’d better start right away. I’ll come down and meet you in the lobby.”

  “You’re staying at this hotel?”

  “I wanted to look into a few things concerning your team, so I checked in after I left you at the hospital.”

  “What things?”

  “I just wondered why you were the only one who was given an assignment that could get you blown up.”

  “Because I asked for it.”

  “That was my first and most likely answer. I was merely verifying. Now let me get off the phone. I have to call Oakland and make certain the man I have guarding Fasrain’s motel realizes how displeased I’ll be if he slips away since he’s been elevated to fanatic status. Manuel’s a new recruit. See you in ten minutes.”

  She experienced a tingle of excitement as she pressed the disconnect. She felt suddenly alive and ready to cope with anything. But then she always felt like that when she was with Cameron. It was one of the most dangerous things about him that he could spark her mind and spirit as well as her body. But in this case she didn’t have to worry about anything personal. It was all going to be about Lawrence Fasrain and that detonator he no doubt had in his pocket.

  Ten minutes later, she got off the elevator and saw Cameron waiting in the lobby. He was smiling as he came toward her and took her arm and guided her toward the front entrance. “Right on time. This should put us in Oakland within fifteen minutes.”

  “Really? In San Francisco? We’re not driving?”

  “No, I called a friend, and he’s put his helicopter at our disposal. It’s waiting on the rooftop of his building about a block and a half from here.” He had his hand beneath her elbow and was propelling her down the street. “I thought it would be quicker. Bridge traffic is always rough.”

  “So you picked up your phone and made a call. Fifteen minutes? As I recall, the last time we were here in San Francisco, it was a little harder for you to manipulate and control the surroundings.”

  “But that was several months ago,” he said quietly. “I’ve had time to dig in and initiate adjustments and contacts. I’ve made enormous strides here. San Francisco is liberal, freethinking, intelligent, ready to reach out and accept ideas that might seem radical to some.” He smiled. “In short, my kind of town. San Francisco likes me, Catherine.”

  And she was wondering what other strides Cameron had made in other cities of the world during that time. She had heard nothing of his shadow movements, but that was because silence had power, and so did Cameron.

  “Stop worrying.” He wasn’t looking at her. “I’m trying to be as honest as I can with you. We don’t agree on philosophy, but I’ve never harmed you or yours. And in your heart you can’t object to freedom of choice. That’s all I offer.”

  She made a rude sound. “It’s not free if you dangle all kinds of alluring promises and prizes that dazzle people.”

  He laughed. “But I don’t cheat. The prize is always there. If someone comes when I call, it’s because I show the beckoning potential.”

  Why had she been lured into this argument again? It was that glimpse of power that he seldom let her see. “It doesn’t matter,” she said impatiently. “I should be glad that your billionaire friend is willing to lend you his helicopter when you snap your fingers. It may keep him from losing his fancy skyscraper if we can stop Fasrain.” She made a face at him. “Not that I’d get any credit. It’s all about you.” She repeated his words mockingly, “San Francisco likes you.”

  “I’d give you credit. I’d give you anything you want.” He opened the glass door of a gray-granite skyscraper. “Because San Francisco might like me.” He punched the button for the elevator to the roof. “But I like everything about you, Catherine…”

  * * *

  The Sea Gull Motel was a gray-clapboard, one-story building located a block off the Oakland waterfront. In the center of the U-shaped building was a small swimming pool with a blue plastic inner tube floating on the surface.

  “Room 15,” Cameron said as he helped Catherine out of the rental car. “Manuel says that it’s the door with the DO NOT DISTURB sign, so the maids won’t bother him. Fasrain checked in late last night.”

  “And he’s still there?”

  “His van’s in the parking lot. Manuel has been staking out his room since we located him at 1:40 A.M.” He glanced at a huge, dark-skinned man hurrying toward him. “Hello, Manuel, no problems?”

  “No, sir. I did everything you told me,” he said eagerly. “You didn’t have to come. I could have brought him to you.”

  “I’m sure you could,” Cameron said quietly. “But it wasn’t necessary. I can handle it myself.”

  “I know you can. I didn’t mean that you weren’t able to do it. It’s just that I didn’t want you to have to bother. That’s my job.”

  “And I’m sure you did it well, Manuel.” Catherine stepped in to save time and effort. She had seen this attitude before in the people surrounding Cameron. She joked about his being treated like a crown prince, but every now and then she ran across a hero worship like Manuel’s, and it was no longer humorous. It got in the way. Cameron was the Guardian, and his word was law in their eyes. “I’m Catherine, and I’m very glad to meet you. But we’re in a hurry and, as the Guardian said, he wants to handle it himself.” She gestured to the door. “He brought me to help him. Is that the correct door?”

  Manuel nodded doubtfully and looked at Cameron. “Sir?”

  “She’s very capable,” he said solemnly. “Wonder Woman has nothing on her.”

  “If you say so. May I take care of the lock for you?”

  “I’ll do it,” Catherine said as she moved toward the door. “Anything to serve the Guardian.”

  Cameron made a clucking sound. “Sarcasm? You’ll upset Manuel.”

  “Off with my head.” She was silently picking the lock. It took only two minutes. She carefully tested the door. She tensed. “I don’t believe the chain is on,” she whispered. “He may not be inside.”

  Manuel was frantically shaking his head. “The van … I watched the door. He has to be here.”

  Cameron went very still. “I tend to agree with both of you,” Cameron murmured. “We’ll just have to see. Move!”

  He didn’t wait for her to move. He pushed her aside, and his foot crashed against the door. The next instant he was inside, dodging to the left with his gun drawn.

  “Dammit.” Catherine dove forward into the room and rolled to the side. “Cameron this was my—”

  “Stay down,” Cameron said. “Manuel’s right. He’s still in here. I have to make sure that he—” He flicked the light on. “And he is.”

  Blood.

  Catherine froze. She was staring at a man dressed in a striped robe kneeling on a prayer rug. Or he had been kneeling; he was now crumpled to one side.

  And there was a large, bloody hole in the back of his head

  Catherine got slowly to her knees, struggling with shock. “Dead? Are we sure it’s Fasrain?”

  “Not yet. Check ID, Manuel.”

  Manuel was searching frantically through the suitcase on the bed. “I didn’t fail you, sir. I swear no one got past me. Believe me, I wouldn’t be that careless.”

  “I know you would
n’t,” Cameron said soothingly. “Fasrain was probably killed before you showed up here. It’s not your fault. You checked to make certain he was registered. It’s natural you assumed that he was still here when you saw his van in the parking lot. Just get me the ID.”

  “Here it is.” Manuel handed him a brown leather wallet. “No one came here, sir. I never took my eyes off the door.”

  “Well, someone obviously came even if it wasn’t on your watch.” He flipped open the wallet. “Michael Talcek. With full union credentials.” He knelt beside the body and checked the face of the corpse against the photo on the ID. Then compared it to the photo he had of Fasrain. “Unless there are two Talceks, this is his buddy, Lawrence Fasrain.” He examined the wound. “He was at his prayers, and he trusted whoever was in the room with him. This shot was fired at close range.” He stood up and turned to Catherine. “It looks as if we’re not going to have to worry about Lawrence Fasrain any longer.”

  “I’m not certain if that’s bad or good.” She looked away from the body. “What about the explosives? Are they still here in the room? Detonators?”

  “Manuel will check.” He turned and gestured to the door. “I know you’d like to tear this room apart on your own, but it’s better done by experts.”

  “And Manuel is an expert?”

  “At many things.” He smiled at Manuel. “That’s why he has my trust. Nothing will get past him. You’ll call me later and report?”

  Manuel nodded, his face flushing. “Thank you for your forgiveness. I promise I won’t make another mistake.”

  “I know you won’t. But do it quickly please. Catherine will wish to turn the crime scene over to her people.” He gave Catherine a gentle push out the door. “We wouldn’t want to keep her waiting.”

  “Heaven forbid,” Catherine murmured as she walked toward their rental car in the parking lot. “As if he’d care as long as he was able to please you. One of your more enthusiastic followers, Cameron. You were very patient with him.”

  He shrugged. “He’s a good man … just young. He’ll be better the next time.”

  “And be even more devoted because you were understanding.” Her heart was pounding, and she glanced back at the motel. Manuel had shut the door, but there were still signs of Cameron’s break-in on the splintered wood. She suddenly remembered something he’d said before he’d broken into the room. “You said that you thought Manuel and I were both right about Fasrain being the room. But I thought he might be gone and Manuel was sure he was still there.” Her gaze flew to his face. “You knew he was in the room but he was dead, didn’t you?”

  “Now how could I know that?”

  “I have no idea. I don’t know what you can do or can’t do. I just know you have more psychic abilities than anyone I’ve ever met. Certainly more than I’m comfortable with. I don’t believe you want anyone to know.”

  His brows rose. “If it would make you uncomfortable, why would you want to know?” His gaze searched her face. “But you do.” He shrugged. “I wasn’t sure … sometimes I get a sense. Enough?”

  “Enough.” She looked away from him. “Someone will notice that door fairly soon. I should call Claire and get a cleanup crew out here right away. The Company won’t want media attention until we know with what we have to contend.”

  “After Manuel gets through. The CIA sometimes tends to blur the truth if it suits them.” He opened the car door for her. “Not you, of course, I’m sure your sterling character is an inspiration to everyone around you.”

  “Sarcasm? I don’t give a damn about inspiring anyone. I just do my job with as much honesty as I’m able. That’s all I can do.”

  “I wasn’t being sarcastic,” he said quietly. “I know you very well, Catherine.” He started the car. “I believe it’s sad that a unique person like yourself doesn’t inspire as you should. That’s why you should come to me.”

  “Don’t.” She held out her hand and was glad to see it wasn’t shaking. “No recruitment effort, please. All I want you to tell me is if you arranged for Fasrain to be killed.”

  “I did not. I offered, you refused. That was the end of it. I set about doing you a service.” He glanced at her. “Though I regret I didn’t find him in time. You hoped to get information?”

  “I don’t know what I hoped. But information might have helped.” She stared out the window. “I’m betting that Huber and Kraus decided that Fasrain was unstable after they heard about his blowing up that apartment building. Which one do you think paid him a visit?”

  He shrugged. “Kraus. Though it’s only a guess. The reports I’ve had today say that Huber saves himself for more spectacular acts of terrorism.”

  “Like Rachel,” she said grimly. “I’m certain he has something special in mind for her.”

  “Then send her to me. I’ll protect her.” He held up his hand as she opened her lips. “And I’m not recruiting. I just don’t want you to be unhappy. No strings. You can have her back later.”

  “How generous.” She shook her head. “But no thank you, you’re entirely too dangerous. Not many people decide to come back after they’ve accepted your protection.”

  “There are reasons,” he said. “But I’ll do what I can without full involvement. It’s just more difficult for me to—”

  His phone rang and he glanced at the ID. “Manuel.”

  He answered and listened. Then he said, “No, that was the only important item. Just finish and report later.” He pressed the disconnect. “Manuel found the explosives. Several canisters with C4 and two suicide vests. Hidden, but easy enough to find. Anyone searching might assume that there was a falling-out among the terrorists and the other conspirator panicked and fled. Particularly since they left the explosives.”

  “Maybe,” Catherine said. “Leaving the explosives might indicate a failed mission. But it’s too … pat.”

  He was frowning thoughtfully. “Yet it’s unlikely that Red Star would be able to find a substitute for Fasrain at this late date. When they decided it was too risky to go forward with him, they’d either have to cancel or go in another direction.”

  “But an oil spill of that magnitude would be exactly what Huber would have in mind for changing the coastline.” Catherine was thinking, mentally trying out different scenarios. “It would piss him off royally to have to cancel. He wouldn’t do it. He’d look for another way to make it happen. Yet now he no longer has a man on that dock to set off the explosion as the Katrina Notalo sails into the harbor. So what’s the alternative?” She was working her way to an answer, “It’s to have another method of setting it off. With Fasrain dead, everyone is going to assume that the principal threat is over. Oh, they’ll be careful about examining all ID, and naturally the docks will all be thoroughly searched, but the DEFCON alertness will go down, and so will expectation.”

  He was smiling. “And what are you expecting, Catherine?”

  Her eyes flew to his face. His expression was intent, yet alive with humor and curiosity. “You know very well. It just amuses you to watch me figure it out for myself.”

  “It’s a wonderful process. You never cease to amaze and intrigue me. Tell me.”

  “Kraus could have arranged for a backup plan,” she said bluntly. “There could also be explosives on the ship that can be set off when the Katrina Notalo gets anywhere close to shore. I’m guessing there’s a possibility our heroic Captain Van Deek wasn’t going to be a victim; he might be a coconspirator.”

  “Interesting. But I doubt if Van Deek would be willing to sacrifice his life as Fasrain was going to do. He might require additional incentive.”

  “Or a foolproof way of getting off that tanker before it exploded. I don’t know how it would work. I was thinking that it might even be one of his crew, but Van Deek is too sharp, and he’s supposed to be close to his crew. Wouldn’t it be dangerous for Huber or Kraus to hire someone to try to fool him?” She shook her head. “No, having it be Van Deek makes more sense to me. Though it would be difficu
lt to convince anyone that he’s involved. A pristine record as a captain, and he even got a medal for heroism.” Her lips twisted. “Homeland would accept Van Deek as a victim, never as a perpetrator. They’d want proof.”

  “And your Claire Warren?”

  “I’ll make the attempt. She might be willing to act if she thinks it’s to her advantage.” She shook her head. “But if she doesn’t, then I’ve got to find some other way. I can’t let it happen.” She looked out at the blue waters of the bay. So beautiful and clean, with the sun glittering on it. “Huber can’t win this time. I’ve seen what an oil spill can do to the environment. It makes me sick to think of all the sludge and death that could be caused by that one explosion.”

  “Then we’ll have to see that explosion doesn’t take place,” Cameron said quietly. “It’s pure wanton destruction. I’ve been trained to accept it, but I dislike the idea intensely.” He added thoughtfully, “But first I’ll verify that Van Deek might be as crooked as you think he is. Then we’ll take a look at how to bring him down.”

  She shook her head. “It’s not your fight, Cameron.” She paused. “You’re always very careful not to attract the attention of the CIA or any other group that might become curious about who you are and what you do. This could arouse just that kind of attention.”

  “My dear Catherine, are you actually trying to protect me?” His eyes were twinkling. “It’s almost worthwhile going after Huber to watch you do that. It shows me that you’re coming very close to believing that I’m on the right side after all.”

  “Bullshit.”

  He chuckled. “Well, maybe not very close. So I’ll accept that it might not be philosophy but something infinitely more personal. You’re worried that I’ll be thrown into some black hole for interrogation. Then you’d have to break me out, and that would cause you a great deal of trouble.”

  “What makes you think I wouldn’t leave you to rot?”

  “Catherine.”

  “Okay, but I wouldn’t need to break you out. Your men would be causing a minor revolution if they thought they were going to lose you.”