Deadlock

by Iris Johansen

  "We can find his murderer."

  "That's why I'm pushing Pauley to work at top speed. We'll get there."

  "Yes." She paused. "I should never have brought you into this. It's been a domino effect. If I'd died in that hut with Joel, none of you would have been on Staunton's list."

  "Shut up," he said roughly, his arms tightening around her. "That's crazy talk."

  "Yes, it is. It just tumbled out. I've never had a death wish, and I'd never give Staunton that satisfaction. But I should have found my own way out of that camp. And I should find a way now to-" His lips on hers stopped the words.

  "Be quiet," he said fiercely as he lifted his head. "You're not going to do anything. You're out of it. I'll figure a way to get Staunton. I won't have you-" He broke off, holding her close. "Not you. Noth¬ing is going to happen to you, Emily."

  "You're hurting me."

  His grasp loosened. "That's the last thing I want, dammit. I just want you to be safe."

  Garrett's not ever going to back off from protecting you now, Irana had said. I believe he tried, but it's not going to happen.

  And Irana was right. He'd put his life on the line and try to keep her from being at risk.

  And he could be killed doing it. Killed and tortured as Joel had been those two weeks.

  Panic soared through her. No, she wouldn't allow it.

  "You're too quiet. I don't like that." He pushed her away again. "What are you thinking?"

  How had it happened? Sex she could accept. But this wasn't mind¬less pleasure; it was deeper and completely terrifying in its intensity. What was she thinking? I'm thinking that it would kill me if Staunton hurt you. I'm thinking that somehow I have to keep that from happen¬ing.

  "Nothing." She buried her head in his chest. "I guess I was more shaken than I thought. Forget it."

  He didn't move. "I won't forget it. I never forget anything about you.

  Distract him. Blur the edginess. Mask the desperation. "Then I'd better make sure the memories are pleasant," she said as she moved over him. "Let's see how unforgettable I can be tonight."

  HE WAS ASLEEP.

  Emily nestled her head into the hollow of Garrett's shoulder, feeling the steady rise and fall of his chest. She wanted to lie here and feel, not think. Tonight their emotions had contained an element as desperate and explosive as the physical togetherness. She might have distracted Garrett by sex, but nothing had been blurred for either one of them.

  Which meant that he would be on guard to make sure that there had been no lingering substance in the words she'd spoken before they had come together.

  It would be three days until Bishop Dimitri's body was found and the police came after her and Irana.

  Less than that now. It was almost morning. Two days. She had to move fast.

  But how was she to know the right direction?

  The same direction that Garrett was following. The phone calls. That was the only lead they had, and it could work if Pauley came through.

  Or maybe even if he didn't.

  Pauley…

  IRANA WAS HAVING BREAKFAST in Emily's room when there was a knock on the door. "It's Dardon, Emily," he called. "You have a visitor. Peter Joslyn."

  Emily instinctively stiffened.

  Irana shook her head as she saw Emily's reaction. "You're the one who said we should work with him, Emily."

  "I know." She got up, crossed the room, and opened the door. "Why come to see me, Joslyn?"

  "You're the one to whom I owe the most penance," Joslyn said qui¬etly. "May I come in?"

  She shrugged. "If you like." She stepped aside. "But it's Irana who Staunton almost shot. I'd say you owe quite a bit to her."

  "Is it okay?" Dardon asked Emily. "I didn't want to bother Gar¬rett. He's been with Pauley since dawn, and he's very edgy."

  Garrett hadn't been edgy toward Emily when he'd left early this morning, but he'd been quiet. Very quiet. "It's okay, Dardon."

  "Good." He turned away. "Call me if you need me."

  Joslyn entered the room, and Emily closed the door. "Yes, I do owe Dr. Povak a great debt," he said as he crossed the room to stand before Irana. "But when the sin is as deep as mine, one doesn't know where to start. I hope you'll let me try to make amends even if you can't forgive me."

  Irana studied him, then slowly nodded. "Staunton didn't hurt me, and I believe your friend's death hurt you very much. I'm sorry for your pain. Did you get your wife and children away safely?"

  He nodded. "I sent them back to London with an army of guards around them." He paused. "I had to tell them why. They wanted me to come with them. I told them I had reparations to make and that our lives might have to change."

  "Really? In what way?" Emily asked coolly.

  "I decided that unless we can get Staunton, I'll confess to Dim¬itri's killing."

  "What?" Irana said. "As far as reparations go, that's a little extreme."

  "I won't have either of you suffer for it," Joslyn said. "That's what I came to tell you."

  "That's very generous, but let's hope it won't be necessary," Irana said. "We have two days to find a solution."

  "It's not generous," Joslyn said. "I've always tried to do my duty to God and my family. I failed both in this. I have to do what Dimitri said we should do. I have to make peace." He turned to Emily and said, "You understand. You don't want to let me off easily. I don't want that either."

  There was no doubting his sincerity, Emily thought. But sincere or not, he was right. There was no way she would say that he should get off easily. "I've no wish for you to be executed for the bishop's mur¬der. I want Staunton to pay. Yes, you deserve to be punished. But I won't give up Staunton just to see you hurting. You want to help, then let me use the hell out of you."

  He nodded. "That goes without saying. Whatever I can do. Babin handled all the dealings with Staunton, so I can't help you locate him." His lips tightened. "I can't tell you how I wish I hadn't trusted Babin. He worked for me since the early days, when I first came to Russia, and never gave me any reason to doubt him. I'd promised Dimitri, and I just wanted the hammer found." He added bitterly, "But I admit to blinding myself until Staunton called me a few days ago. He told me everything that had happened and left me in no doubt that I was to blame for all of it. He said he expected me to continue to fund his search for the hammer."

  "And what did you say?"

  "I told him to go to hell."

  "A little late."

  He nodded. "And it probably sparked everything that's been hap¬pening since that night. But if we're all targets, perhaps you could stake me out, then-"

  "Don't tempt me," Emily said. "But I don't think Staunton would consider you a big enough drawing card. You're not high enough on his list."

  "Who is?" Joslyn asked.

  She didn't answer. "But you may be able to help in some other way."

  "Just let me know. It seems I'm staying here at the hotel. On this floor, actually. Garrett's orders."

  She nodded. "Garrett likes to keep us all close. He wants to pro¬tect the whole world."

  A shadow crossed over Joslyn's face. "Dimitri was like that. It was one of the things I respected most in him." He turned and moved to¬ward the door. "Let me know. I won't refuse you, no matter what it is."

  "You didn't answer him," Irana said when the door had closed be¬hind him. "But I could do it for you. You're at the top of Staunton's list."

  Emily nodded. "But there's a problem. He wants to take his time with me, and that puts me last in order."

  "I don't see that as a problem." She stiffened. "Unless we're talk¬ing about drawing Staunton to you. What are you planning, Emily?"

  "I don't have a plan."

  "Are you telling me the truth?"

  "Yes." She looked Irana squarely in the eye. It was the truth. She had nothing as well-defined as a plan. There was only a kernel of an idea that could become one. "I have no plan. Do you think I don't know that Garrett would never let me do anything like that?"


  "I know that you're a determined woman when your mind is made up." Irana said. "Trust me, Emily. I know you think that Gar¬rett and I were a little arbitrary when we teamed up to do what we thought best for you. You're right. But our intentions were good, and if you decide to make a move, don't close me out."

  And let Irana put her life on the line again for her? She would never forget that moment in the garden when she had been sure Irana was going to die. "I don't have a plan," she repeated. She poured her¬self a cup of coffee. "We have to wait for Pauley to come up with something. Then I'm sure Garrett will pull one together. I hope it's soon. I'm getting restless, aren't you?"

  Irana nodded, her gaze still fixed on Emily's face. "It's pretty obvious.

  "I've always been clear as glass to you," Emily said with affection. "And I've never minded because I knew that whatever you saw, you'd never condemn. That's pretty wonderful, Irana."

  "The glass is a little cloudy right now," Irana said. "I think that I'll stick around and see if it clears up. If you don't mind?"

  "Don't be silly. You're always good company, Irana."

  Irana gazed at her for a moment, then said flatly, "I was going to be patient and go along with you until you got around to confiding in me, but that isn't going to happen." She stood up and faced her. "And this is too important to worry about being diplomatic. You're scared about risking Garrett. I can understand that because you care about him. Maybe more than you even realize. You're scared about risking me. You think that you'll be responsible if Staunton hurts me. So that leaves you alone." She shook her head. "I won't let you be alone, Emily. I won't ar¬gue with you about keeping Garrett out of it, but I'm going with you. Staunton is an evil man; He hurt you, he hurt me, and he killed the bishop, Nemid, Kafir, your friend, Joel. I'm sure there were many oth¬ers. I can't let him kill anyone else. Now tell me what we're going to do to get Staunton."

  Emily stared at her in despair. She had tried to deceive Irana, but she would not lie. "You don't want to be involved in this, Irana. I've never meant to catch Staunton and put him in a jail somewhere. I wouldn't take the chance of his escaping or getting off on a technical¬ity. I'm going to kill him." She smiled crookedly. "Just as he's going to try to kill me if he gets the chance. He'd rather toy with me for a month or two, but he will kill me if he has no other option."

  "Yes, I know." Irana moistened her lips. "He described what he'd do to you in some detail while he was… hurting me. I think he thought it would add to the-" She stopped and drew a deep breath. "I don't know if I could kill Staunton. It would be against who and what I am. But I know that I can, in all good conscience, hunt him down and pro¬tect you or any other of his victims." She added, "So I repeat, how are we going to get Staunton?"

  Emily gazed at her in frustration. She was not going to dissuade her, and there was nothing she could do but accept her help and try to keep them both alive. "I have a chance if I can get him to meet me in the open somewhere. Fields, swamps, or woods with plenty of cover."

  "What good would that do?"

  "I'm very good in the woods. I used to go on photo expeditions with my father, and we'd spend weeks tracking and setting up for shots." Her lips tightened. "I'd stack my woods savvy against Staunton's any day. Plus, I'm an excellent shot, and my motivation alone should carry the day."

  "I can see that it would."

  "I'd take two weapons. I'll hide one weapon when I enter the for¬est in case I might be forced to give up the other." She looked at Irana. "After that, I'll play it by ear. One thing my father taught me was that you could never be sure which way the prey was going to jump."

  "Providing you can persuade Staunton to meet you where you want him to meet you."

  Emily nodded. "I have a chance. He's hungry. He's arrogant. He thinks of me as the prey. Those are all factors I can manipulate."

  "We can manipulate," Irana said. "And I take it that's not the only factor you're hoping to manipulate."

  She nodded. "I'll need a car, someone who knows the city, and someone to watch my back."

  "I'll watch your back." Irana tilted her head. "You're going to bring Joslyn into this, aren't you?"

  "He has his own car. He's lived in this city for years."

  "And you're not opposed to letting him run a little risk."

  "Not if it will help me keep Garrett out of it." She paused. "Do you have a problem with that?"

  She slowly shook her head. "Joslyn wants to help you. He needs to make amends, and driving a car shouldn't be too dangerous. I'll talk to him."

  "Be my guest. But having Joslyn cooperate won't mean a thing unless I find a way to contact Staunton." "Pauley?" Irana asked. The key to unlock all doors. "Pauley."

  PAULEY'S HAIR WAS RUMPLED, and his expression was abstracted as he opened his door. "Garrett's not here, Emily. I think he went to see Joslyn."

  "I know he did. Irana asked Joslyn to keep him with him for thirty minutes or so." She came into the room. "How is the work going?"

  "Good. It would be better without interruptions," he said point¬edly. "I could concentrate."

  "I'll just be a moment. How soon before you get Staunton's num¬ber?"

  "Five, six hours. But it's going to take me a hell of a lot longer to get that satellite fix."

  "When you get the number, don't tell Garrett. Give it to me."

  The abstraction in his expression became wariness. "Don't tell Garrett? Why not? He pays my salary."

  "I just want you to delay telling him for a few hours. You'll still be earning your money." She met his gaze. "And there's no reason for you to do as I ask. I'm not offering you anything. I'm just asking you to do me a favor. I promise it won't hurt Garrett, and it will mean a great deal to me."

  "I don't like it," Pauley's expression was skeptical as he gazed at Emily. "And Garrett isn't going to like it either."

  "I know," Emily said. "I can't worry about that. I won't let Garrett take any more chances for me. I have to do this myself."

  He was silent, studying her. "You're going to go after this Staunton. Garrett would strangle me if I did what you asked. You could get killed."

  "I won't get killed. I like life too much. I'll make sure this isn't a suicide mission." "You'd go alone?"

  "No, I'm taking Irana. She won't have it any other way. And Joslyn says he wants to make amends." She smiled crookedly. "I'm go¬ing to let him prove it. He's the one person that I won't mind risking."

  His brows rose. "You're more ruthless than I thought."

  "Where Joslyn is concerned. It will be safer if I have someone who knows the area. Will you help me?"

  He tilted his head. "Why do you think I would? As you said, you're not offering me anything."

  "I'm taking a chance that there's something that would tip the scales and make you give me what I want. You're an unusual man and wouldn't do it for the usual reasons. You're brilliant, and you can al¬ways get money." She grimaced. "Sex? Not a chance. You like to play at the game, but it's just a game. I saw you with that desk clerk down¬stairs. It's like the money; you don't have any problem getting it."

  "Were you considering it?" He smiled. "Don't give up on that. Maybe I'm just discriminating."

  "I did consider it. I'd do anything to keep Garrett safe. Sex? Gar¬rett's life? No contest." She met his gaze. "But that wouldn't tip the balance. You tell me what would."

  "I'm a loyal employee. I like Garrett."

  "Tell me."

  His eyes were suddenly twinkling. "You're a persistent woman. Get thee behind me, Satan."

  "There's only one Satan you have to worry about."

  "But Garrett won't let me worry about Staunton. He closes me up in this room and makes me delve into boring cyberspace."

  Her eyes narrowed on his face. Pauley's expression was now radiating an excitement and vibrancy that was mesmerizing. "I don't be¬lieve you find it boring."

  "Not generally. But I've been exposed to something more interest¬ing lately." He dropped down in a chair and spre
ad his legs casually out before him. His shirt was open at the throat, and he reminded Emily vaguely of one of those Regency rakes on the cover of a Pseudo-Georgette Heyer novel; lazy, elegant, slightly wicked. "You see, from the time I was a kid and everyone found out what a whizbang I was at all the mental hijinks I was herded in that direction. I guess I went along with it because I liked to be a star. I don't have the small¬est ego in the world."

  "Really? I didn't notice."

  "You noticed." He grinned. "But you also noticed what a kick I got when Garrett took me hunting. I'm addicted. I liked that rush I felt. It made me want more."

  "Is all this going somewhere?"

  "Eventually. I liked it, but I'm not good at it." He made a rueful face. "Garrett said he didn't know how Staunton managed to bug that car, but I imagine he's making a good guess. It had to be me that screwed up. I don't even know how I did it. That's a real amateur."

  "This isn't a sport, Pauley."

  "It felt like one that night. It was like winning a marathon and go¬ing on a king-size drunk at the same time." He shook his head. "But I made a mistake, and I don't like to make mistakes. Particularly ones that put other people in danger. I'm a perfectionist."

  "This is going somewhere."

  "I have to correct my mistake and come out looking like a rock star." He smiled. "Garrett's not going to let me go onstage so the only way I can do it is to go hunting with you and Joslyn."

  She frowned. "This isn't what I wanted from you."

  "It's what you're getting. You get the information, and you get me with it." He chuckled. "Though I can see you don't want to endanger my valuable hide. I can understand your hesitation. It's like risking damage to a Rembrandt." "Not quite."

  His smile faded. "I won't make another mistake, Emily. You don't have to worry about my being a hindrance."

  "I'm not worrying about you making a mistake, dammit."

  His smile returned with a radiance that lit his face with dazzling warmth. "Then I was right. You do like me."

  Of course she liked him. He was part Peter Pan and part Pied Piper. Who could help it?

  He got to his feet and one finger traced the two frown lines indent¬ing her forehead. "Stop frowning. This is the way it should be. We'll take care of each other. Okay?"