The Perfect Witness

by Iris Johansen

  Praland’s eyes were bulging from their sockets as he fought for air. “No!”

  “Yes.” Mandak’s hands twisted, and Praland’s neck broke.

  Mandak sat back on his heels and drew a deep breath. “Burn in hell, you bastard.” The next moment, he was getting off Praland’s limp body and turning to Allie. “Come on, we’ve got to get to Sean and get that ledger out of the palace. All hell’s breaking loose out there, and I promised Renata it would be safe.”

  She was already on her feet, her gaze on his shoulder, which had taken Praland’s bullet. “You’re bleeding. We should stop and—”

  “Later.” He moved toward the door. “I promise I won’t bleed to death. I wouldn’t give Praland the satisfaction.”

  “Camano? He wasn’t out there to meet me.”

  “I’ll have Renata’s people pick him up. He won’t survive the day.”

  As Allie started to follow him, she glanced at her mother. “He might not have survived it anyway.”

  “You’re leaving me here, Teresa?” Gina asked incredulously. “I’m hurt. You did this to me. Can’t you see I’m bleeding?”

  “I can see it,” Allie said. “But no one survives better than you do, Mother. I’m not going to worry about you.” She asked mockingly, “Why don’t you call Camano and tell him to come and take care of you?”

  “I may do that,” she said defiantly. “You’re right, I always survive. I don’t need any of you.”

  Allie nodded. “But we all have to learn to survive you. Good-bye, Mother.”

  She hurried to catch up with Mandak.

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  GINA COULDN’T BELIEVE IT. How could they do this to her? Her hand was throbbing with pain, and she was bleeding. She would need a doctor, then a plastic surgeon to take away the ugliness. But first she would need help from someone. She glanced at Praland. All his fault. He should have been able to kill Mandak, and this would never have happened to her.

  Camano.

  He was her only salvation now. She would have to use him until she found someone more powerful to meet her needs. She reached in her pocket, drew out her cell, and dialed Camano. He answered immediately. “What the hell’s happening? It looks like a small war is going on in that garden.”

  “It’s terrible. You have to help me. Are you in our suite?”

  “Yes, I just woke up. I’m groggy as hell. Where are you?”

  “The Tiger Room. Praland’s dead. I’m hurt. Come and help me, then we’ll get out of here.”

  “Right.” He hung up.

  It would be all right. She had handled it.

  Camano opened the door of the Tiger Room only a few minutes later. He glanced at Praland. “Who did it?”

  “Mandak.” She held out her hand. “And Teresa did this to me. The bitch. I’m bleeding. Bandage it.”

  “I don’t have time.” He walked over to the cage and looked down at the tiger. “I was afraid he was dead. But I see he’s stirring. He’s opening those big yellow eyes…”

  “You don’t have time?” She stared at him in outrage. “What do you mean? I’m hurt. Take care of me.”

  He went over to the terrace door, opened it, shot the outside bolt, and closed it again. “I took care of you for a number of years, Gina. I might have continued since you’re so entertaining.” He went toward the hall door. “Then you got greedy and decided that you didn’t need me any longer. But you couldn’t risk making me angry.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small black bottle with a gold lid. “I’m not a fool, Gina. I know about drugs. I’ve been having strong aftereffects from the coke. Grogginess after waking, dizziness, increased heartbeat. Today, I decided to go hunting for answers.” He held up the bottle. “I found it in your cosmetic bag. I tasted it. Very carefully. It was bitter, and if I sent it to a lab, I’d bet it would come back with a skull and crossbones on it.”

  “You’re wrong. You’re just guessing.” She moistened her lips. “I’ll prove it to you. Just get me out of here, and we’ll talk, and I’ll show you—”

  He was shaking his head. “You’ll show me nothing. That’s over, Gina.” He slipped the black bottle back in his pocket. “But I’ll have the lab check this when I get back to the States. However, it may be too late for you.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “You’ve always been proud of being a survivor. Let’s see how really good you are.” He looked at her hand. “Blood can be so appetizing.” His gaze went to the tiger in the cage. “The cage door is broken. It would take only a swipe of his paw, and it would fly open. The tiger is going to wake up any minute.”

  She started for the hall door. “I’m getting out of here.”

  “No.” He held up the key. “That wouldn’t be a test at all. The terrace door is locked. I’m going to lock this one as I leave. We’ll see how well you survive, Gina.”

  “No!” The hall door was closing, and she heard the sound of the key turning in the lock. “Camano, come back here!”

  She heard him laughing as he walked down the hall.

  She started to jerk at the doorknob. He couldn’t do this to her. When she got out of here, she’d kill him. He was a complete—

  She froze as she heard a sound behind her.

  Soft, but heavy.

  Like a tiger getting to his feet.

  Silence.

  Then she heard him batting at the broken door.

  She screamed.

  * * *

  “HE’LL BE ALL RIGHT, ALLIE,” Sean said as he sat back from putting the temporary bandage on Mandak’s shoulder. “As good as you can be with a bullet in your shoulder.” His brows rose. “Very clumsy of you, Mandak. My respect is crumbling into the dust.”

  “That had better be a decent bandage. I told Allie I wouldn’t bleed to death.” His gaze went to the walls of the palace a good distance away from the jungle to which they’d run several minutes ago. “I think that the fighting’s dying down. We should be hearing from Renata soon. I texted her with our location a few minutes ago.”

  “When you should have been still, so that he could get that bandage right,” Allie said. She looked down at the ledger on the ground beside him. The ledger’s brown leather was simple and unembossed, it appeared old but still smooth and rich from the careful handling of centuries of Devanezes. “It’s the first time I’ve seen it. It doesn’t look as if it has the power to cause all this trouble and disaster.”

  “Praland caused the disaster.” Mandak’s hand gently touched the book. “The ledger has saved thousands of Devanez families and individuals through the centuries. It will save more in the future. It just has to be—”

  “You have it?” Renata was hurrying toward them through the jungle. Her eyes fell on the ledger, and she broke into a run. “Thank God.” She snatched up the journal. “The children’s names and locations?”

  “They’re in there,” Mandak said. “Sean glanced through the last pages when he was waiting for us down in that dungeon. He said Praland was very precise.”

  “Bastard.” Renata was looking for herself, rapidly turning the pages. “I’ll send out people right away to retrieve them before they can be moved.” Her gaze shifted to Mandak’s shoulder. “You said everything was okay in your text. You don’t look okay. What have you done to yourself?”

  “A bullet,” Sean said. “Praland. I’ve just been telling Mandak how clumsy he was.”

  “He needs to get that bullet out,” Allie said curtly. “So take your ledger and get him out of here, Renata.”

  Renata’s brows lifted. “Orders? I’m not accustomed to taking orders, Allie.”

  “Bullshit. Do you expect me to kowtow to you because you snap your fingers, and all your people jump? You know I’m right. You’d have said the same thing the minute you got here if you hadn’t been dazzled by that damn book.”

  “True.” She chuckled. “Maybe I’m getting a little arrogant. It goes with the territory.” She turned to Mandak. “Can you walk? My helicopter is in the
clearing. I’ll take you to Megan’s clinic for treatment.”

  “He can walk.” Sean was already helping Mandak to his feet. “We wouldn’t want to pamper him. He’s prone to arrogance, too.”

  “I’ve noticed.” Renata started through the brush toward the clearing. “It’s a wonder we get along so well.” Then her hand lovingly caressed the journal. “Or maybe not. You give great and wonderful gifts, Mandak. Thank you. You know how much this means to me.”

  “I know.”

  “Stop talking.” Allie was suddenly beside Mandak, putting his good arm around her shoulders. “Get him to the helicopter. Lean on me, Mandak.”

  He smiled. “Delighted. I don’t mind being pampered. I deserve it. We all deserve it. It was one hell of a—” He stopped, his head lifting. “Smoke?” His gaze went back to the palace. “Renata?”

  Allie’s gaze followed his, and her eyes widened in surprise.

  Fire. Flames were leaping toward the sky. In a few more minutes, the entire palace would be engulfed.

  “I told them to torch it,” Renata said grimly. “The entire place stinks of corruption and killings and torture. I don’t want a stone left standing to remind anyone that Praland was ever here.”

  “Prisoners?”

  “Praland’s men were all running for their lives when I left the palace. We’ll hunt them down and dispose of them if they survived. I don’t want anyone taking over like Praland did when his partner Molino was killed. It stops here.”

  If they survived.

  Allie had told Gina that she had to survive on her own before she had left her.

  Was she one of the people fleeing through these jungles? If she was caught, would she manage to manipulate her way to some sort of safety?

  “Allie?” Mandak said.

  Her gaze shifted to his face. She knew what he was wondering. Renata’s words had sparked a response in her that was the pure instinct to reach out to Gina. And Mandak knew Allie so well, her past, her present, every emotion that had guided her through those years. The chains that had held her to Gina.

  She slowly shook her head. “She’s on her own, Mandak.” She tightened her arm around his waist and looked straight ahead. “Let’s get you to that helicopter.”

  * * *

  “THE OPERATION WENT WELL, no complications. But Mandak will have to stay overnight for observation,” Megan said as she came back to her office, where Allie was waiting. “He’s in Room 8.”

  Relief surged through her. “May I go back to see him?”

  “I’m surprised you ask.” Megan smiled. “You were issuing orders all over the place when you brought him to me.”

  “Renata complained about that, too.”

  “Renata would. I understand that it’s part of your basic nature. I would have quashed it if it had gotten in my way. Besides, I was feeling very warm and benevolent toward you at the time. Renata told me that you’d helped to get the ledger.” She went across the room to gaze at the child’s photo on the bulletin board. “We’ve got them, Elizabeth,” she said softly. “They’ll all be safe. Rest in peace.”

  Allie felt her eyes sting. “Yes, rest in peace.” She swallowed hard. “So what’s next for you, Megan?”

  “I’m not sure. Like everyone else in the family, I’ve been geared to fight Praland and do damage control. It seems strange not to have to worry about that any longer. I guess I’ll stay here at the clinic for a while until I’m sure it’s in good hands. After that, I have some research to do about my particular talent that I had to put on hold.” Her brilliant smile suddenly lit her face. “And I’m going to grab my husband, check into a hotel in the south of France, and make love to him for a month, maybe longer.”

  “That sounds like a great topping for a plan.”

  “The best part of it.” She shrugged. “All the rest is duty and discovering ways to make life make sense. But Grady is my life.” She checked her watch. “And I have a date to call him in ten minutes.” She made a face. “God, it will be good not to have this long-distance marriage.”

  “Mandak,” Allie reminded her. “You didn’t answer me. May I go back to see him?”

  “Sure. But he may still be a little woozy from the anesthesia.” She grinned. “Or maybe it will make him mellow. Wouldn’t that be different?”

  “Yes, it would.” Allie headed for the door. “And unprecedented.”

  Two minutes later, she was carefully opening the door to Mandak’s room. There was only a dim light illuminating the darkness, but she could see that Mandak had his eyes open, and they instantly focused on her.

  “Get me out of here,” he said impatiently.

  Definitely not woozy. Certainly not mellow.

  “Can’t do it.” She sat down in the chair next to his bed. “She said one night’s observation.”

  “I’m fine, dammit.”

  “Talk to Megan. But she’s on the phone with her husband right now and won’t be very cooperative if you interrupt her.”

  He scowled. “I’ll wait.”

  She smiled. “I’m sure she’ll appreciate that.” He was entirely sharp, entirely Mandak. Lord, she was glad. “Do you really feel fine? Pain? Do you need medication? Anything?”

  He was silent. “I need to look at you. I need you to hold my hand. There are several other needs on my list, but I don’t think you’d meet them right now.”

  She reached over and took his hand. “I need this, too.” She felt an instant sense of rightness, bonding. “But you should probably not talk, or Megan will kick me out.”

  “She’s busy talking to Grady.”

  “There’s a nurse down the hall.”

  He lifted her hand to his lips. “I’ll risk it.”

  “Why? Just rest, Mandak.”

  “If I doze off, I’m afraid you won’t be here when I wake up. I can’t let that happen. There are things to be settled, and I don’t want to have to run halfway across the world to find you.”

  “What things?”

  “You. Me. What else? That’s all that’s important.” His hand tightened on hers. “You’re thinking that it’s over, done. That all the years and the bonding will just fade away into the past. I’m not going to let that happen.”

  She went still. “Why not?”

  “Because I can’t give you up. It has to go on.” His voice was low, intense. “I … think I love you. I know you’re still wary of me in some ways. But you do feel something pretty close to the way I feel. All I’m asking is that you stay around, give it a chance to grow.”

  “And where would you be? You’re a Searcher, and that’s not going to change. Am I supposed to wait around and be at your beck and call?”

  “We can work it out. I’ll do—”

  “No, I’ve already worked it out,” she said firmly. “While I was sitting waiting for Megan to dig that bullet out of you. I have things to do with my life.”

  He was tense. “I’m not letting you go.”

  “Be quiet and listen. The first thing I have to do is go back home and contact Dantlow. I’m done with hiding. If Camano is out there, I’ll go after him. If not, I have a head full of hideous memories that belong to some of the biggest crime families in the U.S. Dantlow will get what he’s always wanted. I’ll testify before a grand jury.”

  “You’ll be a target. You’d have to go undercover again with Witness Protection.”

  She shook her head. “I’ll let Dantlow cover for me, but I have a different sort of witness protection in mind.”

  His eyes narrowed. “And that is?”

  “Renata. I’ll go to work for her and let her protect me.” She smiled. “She’d be far better than Dantlow. She knows all about secrets. After all, she’s the Keeper of the Ledger.”

  He gave a low whistle. “You might make it work.”

  “I will make it work. Because Renata has all kinds of truly exceptional agents at her disposal.” She paused. “And tops on her list is you, Mandak. You should be right at home managing my protection.” She tilted
her head. “If you choose to accept the assignment.”

  He tugged at her hand. “Come here.”

  She stood up and moved to sit on his bed. “Is that a yes?”

  “I need the words.”

  The bonding was there between them, strong and enduring as it would always be. Still, she would say the words. “We’re both afraid to commit. But I’ll be braver and take the plunge.” She looked directly into his eyes. “I don’t ‘think’ I love you. I do love you. But I don’t know all the facets or ins and outs of it. So I have to learn it.” She smiled. “Megan had a great idea. She’s going to take Grady to the south of France and make love to him for a solid month. I don’t care where we go, but I’d bet we’ll come out of that month knowing what we are together.”

  “No bet,” he said. “And I do love you, Allie Girard.”

  “See? It’s already starting.” She kicked off her shoes. “Now try to scoot over without hurting yourself. I’m going to lie down and hold you for a while.”

  He took her in his arms. “That nurse will be scandalized.”

  “She’ll get over it. I’m not going to have sex with you. I’m not an exhibitionist.”

  “What a disappointment.”

  “Or maybe I will.” She sighed. “No, that would be totally without conscience considering your delicate state.”

  “Delicate? Is a demonstration in order?”

  She cuddled closer to him. “The only demonstration I want is the one you’re doing now. I feel treasured and loved.”

  “And you are … forever.”

  Don’t cry. Accept the gift. Give it in return.

  Live every minute with joy and love, Natalie had said.

  Oh, I’m starting, Natalie. Can you tell?

  How am I doing?

  ALSO BY IRIS JOHANSEN

  Sight Unseen

  Live to See Tomorrow

  Silencing Eve

  Hunting Eve

  Taking Eve

  Sleep No More

  Close Your Eyes (with Roy Johansen)

  With Open Eyes (e-original short story, with Roy Johansen)

  What Doesn’t Kill You