Shattered Mirror (Eve Duncan #23)(103)

“Very brave when the boy isn’t around,” he said between set teeth. “You’re very careful around him I notice.”

“Because I don’t want him frightened. I’m not brave. I just know that nothing I can say or do will change what you intend to do to me.” She turned to look at him. “Why did you bring me out here, Norwalk?”

“I told you, I wanted to show you what’s in store.”

“I think that you’ve already made that clear.” She looked down at the vest around her body. “What did you say? I’m just a toy that can be broken whenever you press that button? You’ve blown your punch line. I don’t believe you can think up any threats that would scare me more than that.”

“You underestimate me. Let me try.” He pointed to the island several hundred yards away. “You see those red eyes glowing in the dark? Alligators. They’re restless tonight. They’ve already had a very satisfying breakfast, but they’re always looking for fresh meat.”

Don’t let him see the fear. He would enjoy it too much. “You can’t have it both ways, Norwalk. Are you going to throw me to the alligators or blow me up?”

His hand tightened on the remote control. “Arrogant bitch. You’re just like that weird kid. But when it comes down to that last minute, you’ll both know that I was the one who made it happen.”

“That ‘weird kid’ has more strength and courage than you’ll ever have. And I think you must know it, or he wouldn’t disturb you so much.” She met his eyes. “And I’m not trying to be arrogant. I told you that I’m not brave, and I’m just trying to get through this.”

“So young and talented,” he said mockingly. “So much to live for. I hear everyone thought you were going to be famous. Too bad all that music is going to go to waste when you end up in more pieces than Sean.”

“You’ll be disappointed there,” she said quietly. “You might be able to destroy me, but not the music. Just because I’m not here to play it doesn’t mean that there’s not going to be someone else out there who will be able to hear what I heard and let it flow out of them. I don’t believe the music ever goes away.”

“And what if I break these fingers?” He reached out and grabbed her hand. “I can take it away from you in one second.”

She tried to stifle the panic. “And what good would that do? It just proves that you can’t make up your mind. You said you were going to blow me up anyway.” Distract him. “Or have you decided on the alligators?”

He threw her hand down. The next instant his fist lashed out and struck her jaw. “Do you think I’d let you spoil my plans?” He was breathing hard, his eyes wild as he watched her drop to the ground. “I was just playing with you. No, you’re still going to face your fate in the true Viking tradition. The alligators aren’t for you, they’re for the boy. I’ve been saving him for them.”

She shook her head to clear it. The bitter taste of blood was on her tongue from her split lip. “When I saw that you hadn’t given him one of these vests, I didn’t think that you meant him to join me.” She raised herself on one elbow. “And he told me that you kept talking about the alligators. He’s not afraid, Norwalk.”

“But you’re afraid for him. That will be enough for right now,” he said. “The fear’s coming to all of you.” He jerked her to her feet. “And Sean and I are the ones who are bringing it. Now go back and cuddle that little viper for the next few hours. It might be the last opportunity you’re going to have. And it will make it harder for him when I tear you two apart. He’ll feel so alone. Like I feel without Sean.”

Next few hours.

The words echoed in her mind as he roughly pushed her back up the incline. Not much time left. How to get Michael free before that time ran out?

But Michael had said that someone was close who could help.

Close enough, she thought desperately. And was it only hope and imagination ignited by the horror and stress Michael had been going through all this time?

She involuntarily cast a glimpse over her shoulder at the darkness of the surrounding swamp across the bayou.

He?

Jock? Kaskov? Joe?

She wished she could feel something, anything that Michael had felt. But she was only aware of that murky darkness and the silence broken only by the sound of the swamp creatures.

“Taking a last look at those alligators?” Norwalk asked mockingly. “They’re still there, waiting for the boy.” He pushed her inside the shack. “By all means, think about them.”

She couldn’t bear to think about them. Instead, she would think about Michael and all the joy he brought them. And she would try to think of a way that she could save him.

And wonder if that fragile hope that Michael had sensed was close enough to do them any good.

*

Control.

Jock’s hands dug into the stock of his Remington until they turned white.

Then he forced himself to slowly release his grip. No killing. Not now. No quick ending.

But he had hit her.

And Jock had seen the blood.

Breathe deep.

Forget how Cara had looked in that moment.

Embrace the ice as he always did.

Impossible. He was hot, he was burning. He had come back here by himself to scope out the shack where Cara and Michael had to be held because Joe wanted to be available to guide Eve to their location. He was already searching for a way to stop Norwalk’s attack on Kaskov. But Jock had brought the Remington because he’d thought he might even be able to stop Norwalk in his tracks with a single bullet.