Shattered Mirror (Eve Duncan #23)(101)



“I’ve already answered you. I don’t lose, Eve. I won’t go there without having—”

Her phone rang. Jock.

She tensed as she quickly punched the access. “Yes or no?”

“Yes. Black Pool Swamp. I saw the camp, and it was very close to those sketches Joe showed me on the trip out here.”

“Michael and Cara?”

“No, I didn’t see them. They must have been in the shack. But I saw Norwalk and all four of his guards. Plus a corpse that was floating in the bayou about fifty yards from the island and furnishing lunch for a couple alligators. Norwalk has put up a metal-link fence to protect the bayou waters around his island from gators, so he must have tossed Brazoff to them. Norwalk would have been finished with him after he delivered Cara.”

“Good,” she said fiercely. “Let them all kill each other.”

“We can’t hope for that. But it will get done.” He paused. “There are a lot of explosives on that island, Eve. Some of it’s packed around the door of the shack. We’ll have to get around it before we can get to Cara and Michael. I’m on my way back to Joe to figure it out.”

The explosives Michael had mentioned. Of course, it was practically Norwalk’s trademark. But the thought of it that close to Michael and Cara terrified her. “Get back to me as soon as you can. Call Kaskov later, he may be thinking of doing something that could be a problem.”

“No, he won’t,” Jock said grimly. “No one gets in the way when we’re this close.” He hung up.

“So you were correct?” Kaskov said, as Eve turned to face him. “How very interesting … and helpful.”

“And it might eliminate Norwalk’s trying to find a way to kill Cara and you at the same time. That sounded like a losing proposition. You’re damn right it could be helpful. We might have a chance of going in and getting them off that island.”

“Or not.” He gazed at her quizzically. “You’re excited. I take it that you’re not going to accept Norwalk’s concession to accompany me to his deluxe ambush?”

“No, and neither should you. I’m going to leave for Black Pool Swamp right away to join Joe. If Norwalk’s not going to give you the directions to the swamp for another four hours, I’ll have time to get there before he suspects that we know where he is and heightens security. Will you arrange to get me a speedboat?”

“Of course. Whatever you like.”

Her eyes narrowed on his face. “But you have no intention of going with me?”

“I prefer to be the backup plan. I admit Norwalk’s proposition is intriguing me.” He lifted his hand. “But you needn’t set Jock on me. I will not endanger your son or Cara unless it becomes necessary.”

“You will not do it at all,” she said harshly.

“The backup crew sometimes has to make its own rules.” He took out his phone. “But if you all do a superb job, and I’m not needed, then the point is moot.” He dialed Nikolai. “You’d better get down to the dock. Nikolai will have that speedboat at your disposal within five or ten minutes, and it appears you’re on a four-hour time constraint.”

Eve gazed at him in frustration mixed with suspicion. But she would not stay here when she had a chance to go to her son. She had to be there if he needed her. She turned and walked quickly toward the French doors. “Don’t do it,” she said curtly. “Let us get Cara out. He’ll kill you.”

“I’m touched that you’d care.” He inclined his head. “I’m sure we’ll be in communication. Be safe, Eve.” He spoke into the phone. “Nikolai, you have a small job to do in the matter of obtaining a speedboat…”

*

Kaskov stood at the French doors and watched as Nikolai helped Eve into the speedboat. Nikolai stepped back and waited while Eve gunned the engine and tore down the bayou toward open water. Then he turned, lifted his hand to Kaskov, and started back toward the house.

“Am I allowed to come out now?” But Darcy had already come out of the office and was standing at the doorway of the parlor. “Has she left?”

“Yes. Off to the rescue.” He smiled mockingly. “And I’m certain that you would have erupted out of that office if you’d wanted to do so. I just gave you a place and the ability to observe and listen without having to interact. Isn’t that what you told me you wished?”

She shrugged. “It was what was best. It was better that I fade into the background where Eve would like to keep me. She’s having enough stress.” She met his eyes. “And don’t you make fun of her because she’s willing to do anything to save the people she loves. She’s one of the good guys.”

“You’re being impolite. I wonder why I put up with your lack of respect.”

“I don’t know why either. But I can’t let it matter to me. There’s no time to tiptoe around you.”

“Even though I’m not one of the good guys?”

“Compared to Norwalk, you’re not so bad.”

“Oh, you’re so wrong, Darcy.” He suddenly chuckled. “But I find being compared to Norwalk is not pleasing to me. It makes me want to destroy the object of that comparison.” His gaze narrowed on her face. “Was that your aim?”

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