Die Again (Rizzoli & Isles, #11)(53)

“Not anyone,” says Richard. “We were asleep. You were the one out here all night, keeping watch as you call it.”

“I left at first light to get firewood.” Johnny looks Richard up and down. “And how long have you been up and dressed?”

“You see what he’s doing, don’t you?” Richard turns to look at us. “Don’t forget who has control of the gun. Who’s been in charge here, while everything’s gone straight to hell.”

“Why my tent?” Elliot’s voice has gone shrill, infecting us all with his panic. “Why me?”

“The men,” says Vivian softly. “He’s taking out the men first. He killed Clarence. Then Isao. And now it’s Elliot …”

Richard takes a step toward Johnny and the rifle instantly snaps up, its barrel pointed straight at Richard’s chest. “Back away,” Johnny orders.

“So this is how it’s going to be,” says Richard. “He’ll shoot me first. Then he’ll kill Elliot. And what about the women, Johnny? You may have Millie on your side, but you can’t take the rest of us down. Not if we all fight back.”

“It’s you,” says Johnny. “You’re the one doing this.”

Richard takes another step toward him. “I’m the one who’ll stop you.”

“Richard,” I plead. “Don’t do this.”

“It’s time to choose sides, Millie.”

“There are no sides! We have to talk about this. We have to be rational.”

Richard takes another step toward Johnny. It’s a dare, a contest of nerves. The bush has stripped him of reason, and he’s acting on raw fury now, at Johnny his rival. At me, the traitor. Time slows down and I register every detail with painful clarity. The sweat on Johnny’s brow. The snap of the twig under Richard’s boot as he rocks forward. Johnny’s hand, his muscles twitching taut, preparing to fire.

And I see Keiko—small, frail Keiko—as she slips silently behind Johnny. I see her raise her arms. I see the rock slam into the back of Johnny’s head.

HE IS STILL ALIVE.

Minutes after the blow, his eyes flicker open. The rock sliced open his scalp, and he’s shed an alarming amount of blood, but the look he gives us is clear-eyed and fully aware.

“You’re making a mistake, all of you,” he says. “You have to listen to me.”

“No one’s listening to you,” says Richard. His shadow moves across Johnny, and he stands staring down at him. He’s the one with the rifle now, the one in control.

Groaning, Johnny tries to rise, but it’s a struggle for him just to sit up. “Without me, you’re not going to make it.”

Richard looks at the others, who stand in a circle around Johnny. “Shall we take a vote?”

Vivian shakes her head. “I don’t trust him.”

“Then what are we going to do with him?” says Elliot.

“Tie him up. That’s what.” Richard nods to the blondes. “Go find some rope.”

“No. No.” Johnny staggers to his feet. Even though he’s swaying, he’s still too intimidating for anyone to tackle. “Shoot me if you want, Richard. Right here, right now. But I won’t be tied up. I won’t be left helpless. Not out here.”

“Go on, tie him up!” Richard snaps at the blondes, but they stand frozen. “Elliot, you do it!”

“Just try it,” Johnny growls.

Elliot blanches and backs away.

Turning to Richard, Johnny says: “So you’ve got the gun now, hey? Proved you’re the alpha male. Was that the whole point of the game?”

“Game?” Elliot shakes his head. “No, we’re all just trying to stay the f*ck alive.”

“Then don’t trust him,” says Johnny.

Richard’s hands tighten on the rifle. Oh God, he’s going to fire it. He’s going to kill an unarmed man in cold blood. I lunge for the barrel to yank it downward.

Richard’s slap sends me sprawling. “You want to get us killed, Millie?” he screams. “Is that what you’re trying to do?”

I touch my throbbing cheek. Never before has he hit me; if this were anywhere else, I’d be on the phone to the police, but out here there’s no escape, no authority to call. When I look around at the others, I see no sympathy in their faces. The blondes, Keiko, Elliot—they all side with Richard.

“All right,” says Johnny. “You have the firepower, Richard. You can use it anytime. But if you’re going to shoot me, you’ll have to do it in the back.” He turns and starts to walk away.

“If you come back to camp, I’ll kill you!” yells Richard.

Johnny calls over his shoulder: “I’d rather take my chances in the bush.”

“We’ll keep watch! If we see you anywhere near us—”

“You won’t. I’d as soon trust the animals.” Johnny pauses, looks back at me. “Come with me, Millie. Please, come.”

I glance back and forth between Richard and Johnny, paralyzed by the choice.

“No, stay with us,” says Vivian. “There’ll be a plane looking for us any day.”

“By the time the plane comes back, you’ll be dead,” says Johnny. He holds his hand out to me. “I’ll take care of you, I swear it. I won’t let anything happen. I’m begging you to trust me, Millie.”