Extreme Danger (McClouds & Friends #5)(139)

Every last trace of sympathy he might have had for Diana Evans drained away. If she hadn’t been evil and cold enough to suit those murdering pricks, it sure as shit wasn’t from lack of trying.

For some reason, the fact that she’d tried made it worse. A psychopath couldn’t help what he was. But why would a person who actually possessed a functioning conscience deliberately try to deactivate it? It made him so angry, so bewildered. He blew out air, tried to breathe. For money? Meaningless stupid money? How could they value it so highly? He just didn’t get it. He never had.

But fortunately, puzzling that mystery out was not his job.

“Subject 100089, BD 121396. Well-developed, poorly nourished adolescent female…”

He snapped to attention, pulled off at the exit and pulled over to listen more closely.

“…pulse rate 79, blood pressure 70 over 120, temperature 97.9. What appeared to be a severe skin eruption on her neck now appears to be a port wine birthmark…”

He sucked in air, electrified. Sveti. Oh, God. Alive. Holy f*cking shit. Alive. As of forty-eight hours ago, she was alive.

And in the hands of organ pirates.

“…priority rush on these lab tests, as Subject 100089 is scheduled for harvest on Sunday the twenty-seventh…”

That was today. That was f*cking today.

His lungs were locked and his throat burned. Christ, he couldn’t stop breathing now. He might still have a chance to save her.

Sveti was speaking on the recorder. He recognized her soft voice, pleading for help from that worthless Evans bitch in the pidgen English that Nick had taught her. Being completely ignored.

She abandoned the English in favor of a babbling flood of high-pitched Ukrainian, but he couldn’t make out most of it because Evans was screaming. Damn it—shut up, you stupid cow, let me hear her—

The recording cut off abruptly. His body shook. He wiped his eyes and nose on his sleeve. No time for feelings. No time for tears.

He wished he could call the Cave for back-up, but he didn’t dare. He had no idea who in that crowd had sold Sergei out.

He put down the digital recorder, dragged out his phone and pulled up Tam’s number.

“Nikolai. I’m surprised to hear from you,” she cooed. “I heard the angel betrayed you. I thought you’d be licking your mortal wounds under a bush someplace. To think I got into it with one of Zhoglo’s lackeys, and at Sean’s wedding, too.”

“Shut up, Tam.” His voice cracked with emotion. “Remember Sergei’s daughter? The one you said was dead, or worse?”

“Yes. Calm down. You sound like you’re about to have a stroke.”

“She’s alive, Tam! As of two days ago, she was alive! But she’s on the slab. They’re going to break her down for parts. Today!”

“Break her down for parts? What the hell are you—”

“Organs!” he yelled. “They’re f*cking organ thieves!”

Tam was startled into total silence.

He waited, till he couldn’t stand it anymore. “So?” he prompted. “Will you help me? She’s alone in the dark. Gonna help me save her?”

Tam blew out a breath. “Oh, f*ck, yes.” Her voice was low and savage. “Where do you want me?”

“Stand ready. I’ll call Davy. I’ll call you back in a few, and we’ll come up with a plan.” He hit end and dialed Davy’s number.

Davy answered on the first ring.

“Got some bad news for you,” Nick said. “We lost Zhoglo.”

That threw him for a second. “Huh?”

“They shook us. They loaded some shit into a couple of SUVs, and the whole pack piled in and took off. Marcus followed them to a parking garage, but a car stalled out at the entrance. By the time he got inside, they’d switched vehicles and were out of there. Which means they made us, probably a while ago. So consider that when you calculate your—”

“Never mind that,” Nick cut in impatiently. “Fuck Zhoglo. Where’s Mathes?”

Davy hesitated for a second, nonplussed. “Uh…”

“Hey. Where the f*ck is Mathes’s icon?” he demanded. “And where the f*ck is Mathes?” Nick roared.

“All over the place,” Davy said. “Left his house at three, went to his office suite, then a stop at a private medical lab in Bellevue, and then he got on the highway and went to a place called Kimble—”

“Kimble?” Alarm jangled every nerve. “Fuck! That’s where they’ve got the kids! Why didn’t you tell me he was moving? How long has he been there?”

“About an hour and a half,” Davy said, his voice guarded. “What kids? You didn’t tell us to tell you whenever Mathes moved. Granted, you were pretty distracted the last time you were here—”

“Never mind that. That filthy shithead Mathes is killing kids and harvesting their organs. You guys want to help me stop him?”

There were about two seconds of shocked silence. “I’m with you,” Davy said. “I’ll tell the others.”

“Get all the firepower you can carry. Whatever you’ve got. Get on the road for Kimble. You got someone to spot us on the Specs monitor, in case the f*cker moves?”

“Raine can—”