Echoes at Dawn (KGI #5)(82)

She smiled. “Oh, I think they’re probably closer than you think. Shall I find out for you?”

Rio, I need you. I’ve been buying time, but I don’t have it to spare. If his daughter dies before you get here, he’ll be out of control. He’ll kill me. He’ll kill you. The one thing keeping him in check right now is his utter terror that his daughter will die. If that happens, nothing will matter to him any longer.

We’re on our way, Grace. You did good, baby. You scare the shit out of me, but you did good. You’re so damn fierce. You even have me convinced you’ll take his daughter down with you if it comes to that.

We got a lead even before you told me who he was. We’re in the air now. Tell him we’ll land on the mainland and then take a chopper to the island. The others will boat in, but he doesn’t need to know that. Three hours, Grace. Buy us three more hours and we’ll be there.

She looked back up at Farnsworth. “Three hours. Rio and his team will land a helicopter here. Until he arrives, I won’t do a thing.”

Farnsworth closed his eyes. “Will you…Will you at least go see her? Will you stay with her? I need her to have a reason to hold on. A reason to hope. I’ll give the order for my men to stand down. Your Rio and his team will have clearance to land and will be escorted to you the moment they arrive.”

“And after?” she asked softly.

“You can leave the same way they came. You have my word.”

She reached into his mind but only found sincerity. No hint of deception. He was too focused on having his daughter well and healthy. He’d gladly let her go if it meant having Elizabeth be a normal little girl again.

“Then take me to her,” Grace said quietly.

Hancock automatically took Grace’s arm and she tried to yank it away, but he held firm.

She glared pointedly at Farnsworth. “Does he have to come?”

“You have your conditions. I have mine. He’s there to make sure you uphold your end of the deal.”

“He doesn’t have to touch me in order to do that,” she snapped.

Farnsworth gestured for Hancock to let her go. Hancock’s gaze was cool and unreadable. Like his mind. He had admirable control over his thoughts. Every time Grace tried to get a read on him again, she saw blankness. Like he was so focused and disciplined that he could shut out everything but what was his primary goal. She’d thought it before and she hadn’t seen anything to the contrary—he was more machine than man and it creeped her the hell out.

She thought she saw annoyance in his gaze, and irritation, as if he loathed taking orders from Farnsworth. But his thoughts didn’t reflect his expression whatsoever.

He let go of her arm but not fast enough for her liking. She ached to put her knee right in his balls and see if the bastard was more machine than man then.

Farnsworth walked ahead of Grace, leaving her sandwiched between him and Hancock. They mounted a winding staircase and then traveled to the end of the hallway once on the second floor.

When Farnsworth o Farnswopened the door, she could see the immediate fear that leapt into his eyes. His entire body went tense, as if he was afraid to hear the worst.

From the bedside of the little girl Grace still couldn’t see, a man looked up, a stethoscope in his ears. On the other side was what appeared to be a nurse or at least someone who sat with the girl.

“Get out,” Farnsworth said in a low voice that carried for its sheer determination.

“But she needs care,” the doctor protested as he took down the stethoscope and let it hang from his neck. “She shouldn’t be left alone right now.”

“Get. Out.” Farnsworth enunciated each word, so much menace in them that the doctor paled and backed away from the bed. “There is a helicopter waiting to take you back to the mainland. You’re dismissed.” He motioned for the woman. “You too.”

They hurriedly left the room, the doctor muttering about the “poor girl” as he passed Grace.

Farnsworth immediately went to Elizabeth’s bedside and knelt beside it. He cupped his hand over her forehead and gently stroked away her hair.

“Elizabeth, sweetheart, I have someone I’d like you to meet. She’s here to help you.”

Curious, Grace moved in closer until finally she could see the tiny, fragile girl lying on the bed. She looked as delicate as a porcelain doll. She looked nothing like her father. While he was all dark and sinister—he had that smarmy used car salesman look—Elizabeth was blond and pale.

Elizabeth struggled to open her eyes and then she dimly focused on her father. “Daddy,” she whispered.

“I’m here, baby,” Farnsworth said in a choked voice.

“You always say that. That someone will help me. But they never do.”

“This time is different. She’s special. Her name is Grace. She’s promised to help you.”

Elizabeth pursed her lips as if she was giving the matter serious consideration. “Grace. I like that name. Maybe God sent her. Everyone needs grace.”

Grace’s heart clutched. It went against everything she was and who she was to have threatened this child as coldly as she’d done, but she’d known that it was the only way she’d save herself. Even now, she steeled her features, trying to be as impassive as she could because she didn’t want Farnsworth to know she’d already lost her heart to this beautiful, brave little girl.