Shattered Mirror (Eve Duncan #23)(106)

She stiffened. Oh, God, make it so. Whatever miracle you have to perform. Keep him safe.

“Enough,” Norwalk said. “Into the boat.”

“Do whatever you have to do, Michael,” she whispered. “No one must hurt you. Your mama wouldn’t like it.” She kissed his cheek. No good-byes. “See you later.” She turned and got into the boat. She glanced at Norwalk as he jumped in and started the motor. “You don’t look pleased. Wasn’t my response satisfying enough for you?”

“Not entirely. But you’ll make it up later when it comes home to you how many deaths are going to be triggered by you when you do your Viking bit.” He was guiding the boat carefully through the shallow waters of the bayou. “Including that kid back there. I can hardly wait to stroll back from bidding you farewell to see that big alligator finish him off.”

She looked back over her shoulder. Michael was standing on the dock, his legs parted, looking after her. An eager smile lit his face. Then he turned and gazed into the thick, impenetrable darkness of the cypress trees of the swamp across the bayou.

Oh, God, protect him, she prayed.

Let it be true.

*

“You can change your mind,” Kaskov said as he glanced at Darcy standing beside him at the wheel of the speedboat. “If you’re seen, you probably won’t survive.”

“And you sound so concerned,” Darcy said as she gazed out at the darkness of the water whipping in front of the powerful white boat. “I’m surprised you’re trying to talk me out of it. I’m your ace in the hole, Kaskov. What would you do without me?”

“I usually manage. But I’m also surprised that I’m offering you a choice at the eleventh hour.” He looked at her. “You’d better live up to all that PR you gave me. It’s got to be done right or not at all.”

“I always live up to my PR,” she said. “And I won’t be cheated, Kaskov. I can do this. I will do this.” She tensed as she saw the lights of a small boat appear from the jutting edge of darkness of the swamp ahead. “Is it showtime?”

“We shall see.” He cut the engine. “Let’s have Norwalk tell us. I imagine he’ll give us a proper greeting.” He looked at Nikolai coming up behind in another speedboat, with two men on board. “Be ready,” he called.

Nikolai raised his hand and cut his engine.

“Is she there?” Darcy asked, her eyes straining on the boat. “It wasn’t a lie? It’s Cara?”

“It’s Cara.” He handed her the infrared binoculars he’d used. “Much worse for wear. But she must not have your talent and access to makeup.”

Darcy quickly focused the binoculars on Cara. “That wasn’t funny,” she said. “That bastard.”

“Just your usual, garden-variety sociopath. But I admit I’m having problems with what he did to her. I’m getting quite anxious for the action to begin.” His phone rang. He murmured, “And that must be the bell to signal the start.”

*

“Welcome, Kaskov,” Norwalk said. “Do you know that until this moment, I wasn’t positive you’d actually accept my invitation? You must actually care something for Cara. That will make the prospect to come much more entertaining.”

He was practically salivating, Cara thought bitterly. All the malice and ugliness had come to the forefront in these final moments. He believed only triumph was ahead. She could only pray that he was wrong.

“I have a certain sense of family,” Kaskov said. “And as you said, it was a move that was politically correct. I believe it’s your move. What’s next?”

“I told you, it’s very simple.” He jumped back on the shore. “In a few minutes, I’m going to start the motor on this boat and send Cara toward you. If you wish to help her, you can try to retrieve her. In which case, I will press the button, and she will blow you away. Or when you think she’s getting close enough to be a threat, you can fire off that heavy artillery I’m sure you’re carrying at her boat and save yourself. That’s probably what you’ll decide to do. But it will mean that you’ll kill Cara yourself. Which will be very satisfying for me.”

“I’m sure it will. But not totally satisfying. How do you dispose of me then?”

“Did I forget to mention I have pretty heavy artillery myself?” He gestured to a white tube on the ground at his feet. “A small surface missile by some standards, but heat-activated, and big enough. The moment you start to run, I blow you and your men in that other boat out of the water. Are you getting nervous, Kaskov?”

“Terrified,” he said dryly. “Is that what you want me to say?”

“That’s what I want you to feel. And you will. Is Eve Duncan there?”

“Right beside me. I couldn’t keep her from coming. You said that you’d let her be with her son. She still thinks she can save him.”

Cara went rigid. “Eve?”

Mama is here. Michael had said.

But not if Eve was on that ship. Michael was wrong. And there was no way Eve would be able to save him.

“I want to see her face,” Norwalk said. “Turn on the boat lights. And I want to talk to her.”

The speedboat lit up, and Cara could see Eve standing there, red-brown hair windblown, every muscle appearing tense, strained. She took the phone from Kaskov. “Where is my son?”