What Doesn't Kill You

by Iris Johansen

  “Like me, trying to take a shooter out. Get moving, Hu Chang.”

  “I am moving.” Hu Chang was gliding silently toward the boulder. “I will be done before you.”

  He might be right, Gallo thought as he faded toward the stand of trees. It was going to be hard as hell to move through those branches without sound. He had done similar actions on intelligence operations before, but this wasn’t the same.

  One sound that alerted that shooter in the trees could be deadly for Catherine.

  Catherine made all the difference.

  * * *

  “IT’S POSITIVE.” NARDIK WAS SMILING as he corked the vial. “No trickery, Catherine. I’m amazed. You must really love that boy.”

  “You gave me no choice. Now call Townberg and tell him that he’s to come here and leave Luke and Sam alone.”

  “I’ll call Townberg.” He turned to Fowler and handed him the vial. “You have the other dose. Be sure to use both of them. Get on your way. Be careful.”

  Fowler nodded and shoved the vial in his pocket. “I’ll do a good job. You’ll be happy.” He glanced at Catherine. “Do you want me to tie her up and put her in your car before I go?”

  Nardik smiled. “That would be kind. Be sure to keep your gun handy. I wouldn’t want you stung by the little scorpion.”

  Catherine tensed. It was beginning. They were going to go on the move.

  Where are Gallo and Hu Chang? Don’t think of them. Assume that you’re alone and act accordingly.

  Delay a minute or so more while I decide my next move. “You were supposed to call Townberg.”

  “I will call him,” Nardik said. “After Fowler has you tied, I’ll phone him and tell him to kill the little bastard. Did you really think that was Townberg I called before? But I’ll call now, and I’ll let you listen to your Luke scream.” His gaze was searching her expression for any hint of pain. “You always knew that was a possibility, didn’t you? You always thought I’d hurt you any way I could. You were just desperate enough to go for it.”

  “You have what you want, let him go.” She watched Fowler coming toward her. He had his gun out as Nardik had suggested, but his expression was smugly confident. He was relying on the gun and her helplessness before it. That was a mistake.

  Use Fowler.

  “We made a deal.” She was looking at Nardik pleadingly as Fowler got closer to her. “You can’t kill him.”

  “Watch me.” He chuckled. “No, listen to him.”

  Fowler was almost close enough.

  “Don’t do this. I’ll do—” She stabbed her knee up into Fowler’s crotch as the edge of her hand came down on the wrist of his gun hand. His gun went flying as he doubled over in pain.

  She could hear Nardik cursing as she dragged Fowler to the side of the van and opened the door.

  It was just in time. A ping of bullets rattled the metal of the makeshift shield formed by the van door.

  Fowler was struggling, reaching for her throat.

  Get rid of him.

  The ball of her hand drove upward under his nose, breaking it and shoving splinters into his brain. He went limp.

  Dead.

  More bullets shelling the van. But they all seemed to be coming from one direction. Nardik. He was shouting names, calling for help.

  Had Gallo taken out the other men Nardik had planted?

  Then move on Nardik. She had no gun, and Nardik was smarter than Fowler. But she might have another weapon. She reached in Fowler’s pocket and drew out the vial of Pondera. Then she crouched and ran around the van to the other side. Nardik was still firing at the open passenger door.

  She could see him crouched beside the front bumper of the car. He was cursing, his face flushed with rage as he fired.

  Move fast. Hard. While he was focused on the open van door.

  She uncorked the vial, gathered her muscles and sprang forward in a crouch.

  But he must have seen her from the corner of his eye because he swung his gun toward her as she tackled him. He was too close to aim the weapon, but he hit her in the temple with it.

  Pain.

  Darkness.

  He hit her again.

  Fight the dizziness. Keep conscious.

  “Whore. Bitch.” He was lifting the gun again, this time aiming at her. “Go to hell.”

  She lunged forward and brought him down.

  He was screaming, cursing.

  His mouth …

  Open it wider.

  She jerked down his bottom lip and jammed the vial in his mouth. She saw the Pondera pouring out on his tongue as he gasped and choked to expel the vial.

  His eyes widened in terror. “No!”

  Too late. The vial was empty, and he was trying desperately to spit out glass and liquid.

  She was so dizzy, she was seeing him only through a blur. She couldn’t hold on much longer.

  “Die, damn you,” she whispered. “Just die.”

  “He’ll kill the kid—anyway.” His eyes were burning with malice even as he struggled for breath. “Townberg knew the boy was to die no matter … what happened. I beat you.”

  “You’re dead, and he’s going to live. He was always going to live,” she said unsteadily. “You’re a fool. You’ve been had, Nardik.”

  His eyes widened in panic and horror. “No. It’s not true. I won’t—” A shudder convulsed his body, and he arched upward as his heart failed. His expression of horror froze on his face.

  Dead.

  Lucifer was dead, she thought hazily. Go back to your demons and brimstone.

  “Catherine.” Gallo was standing in front of her, his expression twisted, his voice harsh. “For God’s sake, look at you. What the hell did he do to you? Why couldn’t you wait to jump him? I would have been with you if you’d given me a minute.”

  “Alone. Never sure if I’m … not alone. Stop yelling … my head hurts.” She tried to get up and would have fallen if Gallo hadn’t caught her. “Andrews is safe. It was Fowler who was going to— Andrews is safe.”

  “Shut up.” He picked her up and was carrying her toward the van. “I don’t give a damn about Andrews.”

  She saw Hu Chang coming toward them. “Fowler has the other dose. Take it from—”

  “Hush, I will attend to everything,” Hu Chang said. “You were most clumsy and let Nardik hurt you. As punishment, you must be still until we make sure that you’ve not broken that stubborn head.”

  “Fine. I’m not…” The darkness again. “And I wasn’t … clumsy.” Push the dizziness away. Fireworks in the darkness … but this time she didn’t know if the explosions were in the sky or in her head. Keep your eyes open. Hold on.

  But she didn’t have to hold on any longer, she realized. Gallo was here. Hu Chang was here.

  She could let go …

  * * *

  THE SCENT OF SPICE AND LEMON …

  Gallo.

  Her eyes flew open to see him standing in a pool of brilliant morning sunlight, looking out the window across the room.

  What room? Where was she?

  Antiseptic green walls, crisp white linens on a narrow bed …

  “This is a damn hospital. What am I doing here?”

  He turned with a smile. “Healing, evidently. You’ve been in and out for the last two days. You got one helluva hit on the head, and the doctors have been keeping an eye on you.”

  “Two days?”

  “Concussion is nothing to fool around with.” His lips tightened. “Though you deserve it. Hu Chang and I took out Nardik’s men and were coming in to help you. I told you not to try to do everything yourself. Why didn’t you listen?”

  “It was moving fast. I had to move fast, too.” She touched her temple, then flinched. “I guess I didn’t move fast enough.”

  “Oh, I don’t know. You held on and managed to take Nardik down when you were barely able to function.” He added, “Pat Gower has been trying to get in to see you. That mountain of flowers over there are from her and Andrews.”<
br />
  “How did the debate go?”

  “A smash. They’ll be quoting Andrews for generations. One for the history books.”

  “That’s what Pat wanted. I’m glad…” She was getting drowsy again, and she shook her head to clear it. “Go get someone to check me out of here.”

  “No way. They said they may let you out of here tomorrow.”

  “I have to get back to Luke.”

  “I’ll call him. He’s in the waiting room.”

  She frowned. “What? You shouldn’t be letting him hang around a hospital.”

  “Don’t blame me. Hu Chang spent the night in that chair over there, and Luke decided that he should be here, too.” He paused. “I stepped aside as soon as I knew you weren’t in danger. I wasn’t family.” He came over to the bed and stared down at her. “Though I wanted like hell to stick around. I’m getting very tired of stepping aside.” He bent down and gave her a quick, hard kiss. “Don’t try to get out of that bed until tomorrow. It would just scare the kid if you weren’t up to par. Everyone knows you’re Wonder Woman. You don’t have to prove it.” He headed for the door. “I’ll send Luke in.”

  The minute the door shut, she started to sit up.

  She made it, but there was definitely weakness.

  And drowsiness. Had they given her something?

  “Hi, Catherine.” Luke was standing in the doorway. “You look pale. Are you sure you should be sitting up?”

  “I’m fine. I just got a bop on the head.” She smiled. “And we got the bad guy. Come over here and let me look at you.”

  “Why?” He came over to the bed. “Nothing’s wrong with me.” He smiled back at her. “I didn’t get a bop on the head.”

  “I just want to look at you.” She stared at him for a long moment. “Everything okay? I told them they shouldn’t have let you stay here. Hospitals can be depressing.”

  “Yeah, particularly when you’re here.” He was silent a moment. “You should have let me go with you, Catherine.”

  She shook her head.

  “I was … worried. I don’t like to feel like that. I could have done something.”

  “Everything is fine now. Has Sam been with you?”

  He nodded. “And Hu Chang. He’s outside. He said to tell you to rest and he’d see you later.” He stood looking at her, a mixture of emotions flitting across his face. “I have to go now. He said you have to rest.”

  “I’m fine. I was thinking about getting up and checking out of this place.”

  He shook his head. “You have to rest.” He slowly reached out and touched her hand, then jerked it away as if she had burned him. “You get well,” he said fiercely.

  Before she could answer, he had left the room.

  She stared after him, then slowly settled back down in bed. She didn’t understand what had happened in those moments, but she was filled with bewilderment … and hope.

  But she couldn’t process it all right now. She would lie here and rest as they were all nagging her to do. Tomorrow would do as well …

  * * *

  THE NEXT MORNING, HER PHONE RANG immediately after she had been served breakfast and was arguing with the nurse to bring her clothes.

  Venable.

  “Venable, I can’t talk now. I have to get out of this place. This nurse won’t bring me my clothes.”

  “They’ll let you go. I’ve talked to your doctor, and he gave you an all clear.” He paused. “I told him you’d have another long rest after you leave there.”

  “What are you talking about? I’m perfectly normal. I’m not about to rest.”

  “You’ll rest. It’s a very long flight to Hong Kong.”

  She stiffened. “What are you talking about? I’m going home. I’m not going to Hong Kong.”

  “It’s your choice, but I believe you’ll change your mind. Luke is in Hong Kong, Catherine.”

  Shock. She couldn’t speak for an instant. “Explain, dammit.”

  “He and Hu Chang flew out shortly after he spoke to you yesterday.” He paused. “I arranged for a military flight to ferry the three of us to Hong Kong.”

  “You arranged. How could you arrange to take my son out of the country without my consent?” Her voice was trembling with rage. “How would you dare, Venable?”

  “Hu Chang was insistent. He wanted the boy to go with him.” He added simply, “And he offered me a deal. He wouldn’t give me the formula, but he promised he would never sell it to an enemy of the U.S. I did what I had to do. The boy is fine, Catherine. He wanted to go.”

  And that hurt even more than any other words he’d said to her.

  “I may kill you, Venable.”

  “Then you’ll have to come to Hong Kong to do it. I’m still here. We’re staying at the Golden Palace. Let me know your flight, and I’ll meet you at the airport.” He hung up.

  Her hand was shaking as she hung up the cell.

  Pain and bewilderment and terrible loss.

  And loneliness. Dear God, the loneliness.

  What the hell was Hu Chang up to?

  He was luring Luke away from her, showing him worlds of adventure and mystery that Luke would find as fascinating as he did Hu Chang. But she also knew that Hu Chang traveled dark as well as bright paths, and Luke had already been forced to negotiate tragic paths in his young life.

  In my heart of hearts, I feel as if he could be my son.

  No way. He’s mine. You can’t have him, Hu Chang.

  She glared at the nurse as she jumped out of bed. “You go get my clothes, and if they’re not here in two minutes, I’ll walk out of here naked.”

  EPILOGUE

  Hong Kong

  Golden Palace

  LUKE WAS WAITING FOR CATHERINE when Venable drew the speedboat up to the dock. He was wearing jeans, and a loose white shirt that was stained with dirt. His face had a smear of dirt on his cheek as well, but he was smiling.

  “Hi, Catherine.” He took her hand to help her from the boat. “Oops.” He made a face. “I’ve gotten you all dirty. I ran here from the garden, and I didn’t stop to wash.”

  “It doesn’t matter.” Her hand tightened on his. She didn’t want to let him go. She reluctantly released him. “What were you doing in the garden?”

  “Planting.” He took the tail of his shirt and was wiping the dirt off her hand. “There’s an entire army of gardeners replanting Chen Lu’s trees and flowers, and she said I could help. It’s kind of fun.”

  “Chen Lu is here?”

  He nodded. “She was here when we got here. She’s sitting on a bench in the garden ordering everyone around.” He glanced at Venable, who had not gotten out of the boat. “Hu Chang said that you didn’t have to stay unless you wanted to.”

  “I must thank him for permission,” Venable said ironically. “No, I don’t want to stay. Hu Chang very kindly put me first on the firing line. I’ve gone through enough of a dressing-down to last me for a while.” He glanced at Catherine. “I’m sorry I had to do it, Catherine. But it was imperative I deal with Hu Chang on the drug. It’s my job. And now it’s your job to try to get the formula from him if there’s any way possible.”

  He put the boat in gear and roared away from the dock.

  “I don’t think Hu Chang will give you the formula, Catherine.” Luke was gazing at Venable speeding across the water. “He won’t give it to anyone.”

  “I don’t care about the formula. I care about you.” She paused, trying to frame her words. “And I want to know why you went off with Hu Chang without telling me. Didn’t you know it would hurt me?”

  He nodded. “I thought maybe—but Hu Chang said that it would be all right. That it was better that we brought you here.” He added soberly, “I wasn’t sure, but Hu Chang is very smart about most things. He said that a little hurt now, and it would all come right later.”

  “Hu Chang doesn’t know everything.” Her lips tightened. “And he doesn’t think and feel like everyone either. He’s different, Luke. You should have co
me to me and told me.”

  He gazed thoughtfully at her. “Are you angry with me?”

  “I didn’t say—” She suddenly lost control. All the pain and worry and self-imposed restraint that had been tearing at her during the long journey exploded within her. “Hell, yes, I’m angry with you. Hu Chang and you just flew off to Hong Kong and left me to trail behind you. I felt like a piece of lost luggage or something. I didn’t deserve that, Luke. Not from either one of you.”

  His eyes widened. “You are angry. You’ve never talked to me like that before.”

  “Yes, I’m angry. I’m sorry if you don’t like it, but I— Why are you smiling? This isn’t funny.”

  “No.” Luke’s eyes were bright. “But it’s interesting. I’ve always wondered if you’d ever be angry with me. You always treated me as if I—” He stopped, searching for words. “As if I were sick or dying or something.”

  She stared at him, stunned. “I did not.”

  He frowned. “Yes, you did. Like I had a terrible disease, and you had to very careful, or I’d break apart.”

  “I did have to be careful, dammit. I was scared to death you’d hate me, that you’d run away from me. You’re a smart boy, Luke. You should have figured that out.” Her voice was unsteady. “But it doesn’t matter now. It happened, didn’t it? You did run away from me. You and Hu Chang hopped on a plane and left me in that hospital.” She drew a deep breath. “And I’m the one who feels like I’m breaking apart. But I can take it if I know you’re going to be happy. That’s all I ever wanted. I’m not sure Hu Chang will make you happy, but I can see how you’d want to stay with him. I did when I was just a little older than you. Sometimes, I still do.”

  He was still frowning. “I didn’t say I wanted to stay with Hu Chang.”

  “Then why the devil did you go with him?” she asked fiercely.

  “He said that there was a star he wanted to give you, and he had to give it to you here.”

  “Which makes no sense at all. Why didn’t you call him on it?”

  “Because I didn’t see how anyone could give someone else a star, and I wanted to see how he would do it.”

  Luke and his boundless curiosity. “But you thought he’d be able to do it.”

  He nodded slowly. “I thought it would be a kind of neat present if he could pull it off.”