Retribution

by Ruth Ryan Langan

  “I think I understand.” She petted the cat and called softly, “Come here, Picasso.”

  Obediently, the dog walked over to rest his head on her lap.

  She scratched behind his ears. “I think you two are feeling left out because of all the time I’ve been spending with Adam. Is that it? Are you jealous?”

  Picasso licked her hand, then restlessly hurried back to the window. Refusing to settle down, Toulouse followed.

  Sidney shrugged. “It could be that I’m all wrong about this. Maybe you’re not jealous at all. Maybe you’re just eager for Adam to return.” She gave a little sigh as she made her way to the kitchen and put the kettle on for tea. “If that’s the case, I understand completely. I miss him, too. The minute he’s gone, I find myself missing him. Not very wise, I know. He’s made it perfectly clear that he has no intention of staying in Devil’s Cove. I’m trying to prepare myself for what it will feel like when he leaves, but it’s impossible. I can’t even imagine such a thing.”

  Picasso gave a low growl, deep in his throat. Hearing it, Sidney walked up beside him to peer through the window at the gathering darkness. “What do you see? Is that pesky old squirrel back again? I’ll bet you’re itching to get out so you can chase him home.” She started toward the door. “Come on. I think you both need some fresh air. You’ve been cooped up so long you’re stir-crazy.”

  Before she could turn the lock Picasso raced to the door and began barking. Startled, Sidney stepped back.

  Her eyes narrowed as she studied the dog’s unusually aggressive behavior. “It isn’t a squirrel, is it?” She dropped to her knees to silence him. “There’s someone out there, isn’t there, boy?”

  The dog whimpered, and she sought to comfort him as she strained to hear anything out of the ordinary. With brittle leaves being stirred by a wild wind, it was impossible to hear anything.

  Sidney’s heart was pounding so hard she wondered that it didn’t burst clear through her chest. How could she hope to hear anything over that frantic drumbeat at her temples?

  Fear gripped her by the throat, making it impossible to swall

  What if the assassin had somehow followed Adam here and was out there right now?

  But why? If he’d watched Adam leave, wouldn’t he have made a move to stop him, or at least follow him? There would be no reason for a hired gunman to lurk outside her cabin.

  Picasso suddenly raced from the room and began another series of frantic barking in her bedroom.

  Sidney was halfway there when she heard the sound of breaking glass. The dog lunged, emitting a feral snarl. This was something Sidney had never heard before. A man’s curses filled the air a moment before the sharp crack of gunfire sounded. After a single yelp of pain, there was only an eerie silence.

  Sidney’s poor heart nearly stopped. Though she was desperate to know what had happened to her dog, she knew without a doubt that she had to run for her life.

  With terror clogging her throat and tears stinging her eyes, she tore open the cabin door and raced headlong into the darkness.

  “Thanks, Chief Thompson.” While he spoke into his cell phone, Adam maneuvered the Jeep along the darkened trail. “If you’ll contact the Feds, I’ll get this print to you as soon as I get Sidney. I’m on my way to pick her up now.”

  He disconnected and tucked the phone into his breast pocket. Snowflakes speared against the windshield. The night air had grown bitter, and Adam cranked up the heater, grateful for its warmth.

  He should have insisted that Sidney stay with him at the lighthouse, but the truth was, he’d feared for her safety there. Even though authorities were watching the place around the clock, this was a hired assassin they were after. A professional killer. A man like that would have no problem slipping past whatever safety measures had been put into place.

  Sidney was better off here, safely tucked away in her woods. It gave him a measure of comfort to think about her snug and safe in her cabin, happily feeding her pets and awaiting his return.

  The bitter air had Sidney’s teeth chattering as she raced headlong through the woods. The bare branches of trees snagged her hair as she ran. Without a parka, her thin sweater offered no protection from the cold. Her first thought had been to run toward the lighthouse. But she’d heard the snap of branches behind her, and knew that the man who’d broken into her cabin and fired that gunshot was close behind. The last thing she wanted to do was lead a hired gunman directly to Adam. Instead, she veered off, heading toward the shoreline where she had so often worked. It was a trail she was familiar with. She only hoped the man who was trailing her wasn’t familiar with it, as well.

  What would she do when she came to the water’s edge? She had no plan. The water was too cold for a body to survive for more than a few minutes. She thought about the rotted old boat hidden under the cover of vines and shrubbery that she’d often used as a background in her paintings. Perhaps, with any luck, she could shove it into the water and make her escape. Of course, there was a good chance that it was no longer seaworthy, and would sink as soon as it left shore. She refused to dwell on that thought as she continued running, even though her lungs were burning from the effor

  She never saw the log that tripped her. One moment she was racing toward the black water up ahead, where she could see a ribbon of moonlight trailing across the waves. The next she was tumbling through space, sprawling facedown in a cushion of wet leaves and pine needles. Dazed, disoriented, she struggled to her feet, only to feel strong fingers tangle in her hair. Her head was tugged backward with such force, she fell. Before she could regain her footing, a rough hand closed around her upper arms, dragging her to her feet. She kicked out and heard a grunt of pain. Turning, she managed to twist free. Before she had taken two steps she felt something heavy slam against her temple. With stars flashing before her eyes, she crumpled to the ground.

  As Adam’s Jeep approached the cabin he began to relax. Just seeing the warm glow of lights through the windows had him unclenching his jaw, though he knew he wouldn’t be able to relax completely until the man in the photo had been identified and captured.

  He was still a few yards from the cabin when he caught sight of the door standing open, light spilling into the darkness.

  He swore viciously as he slammed out of the Jeep and raced inside, shouting Sidney’s name.

  He was greeted by the shrill whistling of a kettle. He was across the room in quick strides. As he lifted the kettle, he realized the water had almost all boiled away.

  With the kettle silenced, he became aware of a piteous meowing. Following the sound he walked to the bedroom and peered cautiously inside.

  What he saw had his heart sinking. Toulouse was hovering over the still, bloody form of Picasso. The cat was licking the dog’s head, as though attempting to rouse him. Wind blowing through the shattered window sent the curtains billowing inward.

  Adam was sprinting toward the front door, reaching for the cell phone in his pocket, when Sidney stepped through the doorway.

  “Sid…” Adam’s voice trailed off, his elation short-lived.

  A man was standing directly behind her, one arm wrapped around her throat, the other holding a gun to her temple.

  “Well, well, Mr. Morgan.” The voice was deep, and heavily accented. “Just the fish I was hoping to catch. You’ll drop that phone, if you want this pretty little lure to live.”

  Adam hesitated for only a moment before letting his phone fall to the floor.

  He saw the blood on the side of Sidney’s face and the fear and pain in her eyes, and felt his own heart contract with fury. Danger and all its attendant fear had become a way of life for him. But a woman like Sidney had lived a lifetime sheltered from such horrors. He had been the one to bring them into her home, and into her life.

  Fear mingled with fury. He would have given anything in the world to spare her this. And now, he would do everything in his power to at least spare her life.

  “Let her go. She has nothing to do wit
h this.”

  “She has everything to do with it. Once I realized that she meant something to you, I knew I’d found the key to getting what I want.” avoided looking at Sidney, instead staring directly into the man’s eyes. “What if I were to tell you she means nothing whatever to me?”

  The stranger threw back his head and gave a chilling laugh. “You think on your feet. I’d have expected nothing less from a fool who would rush into a blazing inferno just to snap a few photographs.” His smile faded. “But I know you’re lying. When I saw her photographs in your darkroom, I knew the two of you were lovers.” He moved the barrel of his handgun across her cheek like a caress. “Only a lover would see through his camera what you saw through yours.”

  Sidney couldn’t hide the shudders that rippled through her at the touch of his gun on her flesh. “What is it he wants, Adam?”

  “Tell your lover what she wants to know.” He looked over at Adam. “I think you’ve guessed by now.”

  “That’s right. I have.” Adam knew he needed to keep this man talking as long as possible, until he could figure out how to save Sidney. His own life no longer mattered to him, as long as he could save her. He knew he would never again know happiness if anything happened to the woman he loved.

  The woman he loved.

  She could die here today without ever knowing how he truly felt about her, because he’d selfishly kept his feelings to himself, thinking to guard his heart.

  “I’m sorry for bringing this trouble to your doorstep, Sidney. I had no right. But I swear to you I didn’t even know about it. I’d lost all memory of what I’d done at the moment of the explosion.”

  “Adam, don’t…”

  He lifted a hand. “I just need you to know that whatever happens here, I love you.”

  Sidney felt tears spring to her eyes. Not just because of his declaration of love, but because of the finality of it. He knew, as she did, that they had little chance of making it away from this madman alive.

  “I love you, too, Adam.”

  “How touching.” The stranger tightened his grasp on her throat, drawing back his arm and cutting off her breath. “Tell me about the thing I’m searching for.”

  Adam kept his tone conversational, as though speaking to Sidney alone. “It was something the police chief said when he was talking about taking rolls of photos that triggered a memory.” He remained where he was, gauging the distance between himself and Sidney. Between himself and the man who would stop at nothing to have what he wanted, even if it meant killing them both. “There was something I’d spotted through the smoke and flames while snapping photos of the car bombing. But in the confusion that followed, after I’d been so badly wounded that I was in and out of consciousness for days, I’d forgotten all about it. Until now.”

  “So, you do know.” The man’s voice was a low growl of anger.

  Adam nodded. “I do now. When I developed the film, I saw a face staring directly at me through the screen of fire and debris. The FBI will be able to enhance the film enough to identify you to the whole world.”

  “You will give me the prts and the negatives now.” For emphasis, the man pressed the pistol to Sidney’s temple and curled his finger around the trigger.

  “It’s out in my Jeep.”

  The man huffed out a breath. “And you think me so stupid that I would allow you to go out there, giving you a chance to run for help.”

  Adam shrugged. “You can’t blame a guy for trying.”

  The man fisted a hand in Sidney’s hair, pulling her head back sharply until she gave a hiss of pain. “Your pretty little lover here will fetch the pictures.” He pressed his face close to her ear. “And if you should entertain the idea of running, it will cost this fool his life.”

  Adam forced his tone to remain unemotional. “I’m a dead man anyway.”

  “Indeed you are. But if you offer no resistance, I may let the woman live to accompany me, at least until I’m safely out of town. Then…” He gave a negligent shrug of his shoulders. “Perhaps, if she pleases me, I’ll take her along.” His tone sharpened. “Tell her where to find the photos.”

  “They’re in a manila folder, in my duffel bag. Sidney, remember what I said. I’m a dead man anyway. But you…”

  Before he could say more the gunman calmly took aim and fired. The force of the bullet, fired at such close range, pierced Adam’s shoulder and drove him back against the wall, spattering it with his blood. He slid helplessly to the floor and lay in an ever-widening pool of his own blood.

  Sidney let out a series of piercing screams as she broke free of the man’s arms and hurled herself across the room, taking Adam into her arms and rocking him. “Oh, Adam,” she crooned. “Oh, my poor darling…”

  The gunman caught her by the hair and yanked her to her feet. “I did that so that you’d know I mean business.” His voice was a sinister hiss. “Bring me the photos. And if you decide to try any heroics, your lover will die. Not quickly, I guarantee you. But slowly and painfully. Do you understand?”

  She saw Adam give a quick shake of his head, and she looked away. She knew what he was trying to tell her. He wanted her to run. She knew, just as strongly, that it was something she couldn’t possibly do. Though her heart was thundering so painfully it felt as though it would burst clear through her chest, she knew without a doubt that she would never run to safety while the man who owned her heart was left to face this monster alone.

  The stranger gave her a rough shove into the darkness and took aim at her back. As she stumbled toward the Jeep she looked around wildly for something, anything that might be used against a man with a gun.

  She was rifling through Adam’s duffel bag when she had a sudden thought. At first she dismissed it as being too simple. But, she realized, desperate situations called for desperate measures, and this was all she had.

  As she started back to the cabin she clutched the manila folder tightly and prayed for the courage to see this through.

  She stepped through the doorway and caught sight of Adam’s face. She saw the look of absolute disbelief in his eyes, along with the despair.

  “Sidney.” She heard the note of betrayal in his voice.

  “I know what you wanted, Adam, but I couldn’t leave you.” She held out the manila folder.

  As the man reached for it, he caught sight of the camera she was cradling to her chest.

  He looked more annoyed than alarmed. “What are you…”

  She snapped a picture, causing a sudden, blinding flash.

  Using that moment of distraction Adam was on his feet and diving for the gunman, driving him back against the wall. As the two men wrestled for control of the gun it slipped from the stranger’s hand and slid across the floor.

  Before either man could reach it, Sidney was there, picking it up gingerly before backing away. Her hand was trembling so violently, she nearly dropped it.

  She watched in horror as the stranger’s fist slammed into Adam’s midsection, causing him to crumple in pain. As he fell to the floor the man was on him, pummeling him with his fists, driving his head against the wall again and again until Adam slumped backward, barely conscious.

  The stranger sprang up and turned to Sidney. “Give me the gun.”

  “Never.” The word was little more than a strangled whisper.

  Seeing the way she was trembling, the man gave a knowing smile. “Look at you. So brave. And all for the sake of your lover. All right then, go ahead and shoot me.”

  When she made no move, he took a step toward her. “In the right hands, a gun can be a powerful weapon. But in the hands of a frightened little coward like you, it’s nothing more than a toy.” He gave a laugh of triumph. “I think I’ll have to take your toy away from you now.”

  As he started toward her she began backing up like one in a trance, using her free hand to steady the trembling hand holding the gun.

  As she backed into her bedroom, the rush of frigid air was like a slap in the face. She blinked, and real
ized with cold finality that there was no place left to run.

  “Now we have the moment of truth,” the stranger taunted as he reached out a hand toward her. “I don’t believe you have the will to use that toy.”

  In that instant there was a low, feral snarl, as a blur of gray fur launched through the air, grabbing the man by the throat and taking him backward with the force of a missile.

  The stranger gave a cry of pain as he struggled to shove the dog aside. Hearing a yelp, the frightened cat went into action, hissing and spitting. With Picasso clinging tenaciously to the stranger’s throat, and Toulouse scratching at his eyes, Sidney began beating the man over the head with the pistol until he was forced to cover his head with his arms and curl into a ball to protect himself from his attackers.

  Through a haze of pain Adam struggled to stand. Forcing one foot in front of the other he crossed to Sidney’s side. Leaning weakly against the wall he held out his hand. “Give me the gun, Sidney.”

  Before she could do as he asked, Boyd Thompson, along with three armed men, burst cabin, guns drawn. When they saw the stranger on the floor, still fighting off the dog and cat, they stepped in and began to handcuff him.

  In the blink of an eye there was a flurry of activity as the men began flashing pictures, bagging bits of broken glass, talking animatedly into their phones.

  “Took you long enough.” Adam could feel a buzzing in his head and knew he wouldn’t be able to stand much longer.

  Boyd Thompson frowned. “We got here as fast as we could.”

  Sidney turned to Adam. “How did Boyd know to come here?”

  “I hit Redial before tossing aside my phone.”

  The police chief nodded. “I could hear everything. Just couldn’t do anything about it.” He took the gun from Sidney’s hand and could feel the way she was still vibrating with aftershocks. “You might want to sit down, Sidney, before your legs give out.”