No Easy Target

  “I was young and desperate. I’d handle it differently now.”

  “Would you? But Nicos is extremely hard to handle unless you’re an expert.”

  “Like you?”

  He shrugged. “I’ve had a good deal of practice.”

  Ten minutes.

  “That’s very clear,” she said quietly. “Why do you think I’m here?”

  “You still haven’t told me why you’re here. What can you offer me that would make me bother trying to interfere with Nicos when he’s in a mood?”

  “The same thing that Nicos finds valuable in me. The dogs. I’m able to control the minds of those substance-containment dogs at the airports. I can influence them or merely confuse them. Either way, it works. I can make the shipments a hundred percent safer. I’m certain that you’ve found that out since I’ve been gone. Even Nicos realizes that I was worth keeping.”

  “I don’t argue that you have value. But that again is a value that belongs to Nicos. He wants you on your knees, and eventually you’ll be there.”

  Three more minutes.

  “If he doesn’t kill me first.” She added quickly, “Which could be very bad for you, Salva. We both know that someday you’re going to take over Nicos’s syndicate. I believe that’s going to happen sooner than I thought.” She paused. “You have the hunger. I can almost smell it.”

  He threw back his head and laughed. “Are you trying to convince me that voodoo bullshit you hand out to Nicos is sending out vibes? Anyone can see that I’m more intelligent and far better able to run this business than Nicos. Of course it will all belong to me.”

  “Then you need to keep me alive so that I can perform the same service for you as I do for him.” She met his eyes. “And, since you are more intelligent, I’m sure that you’ll treat me with the respect and cooperation you’d show to any important asset.”

  “Oh, you think so?” He got up from his desk and came around to stand before her. “You believe you understand me, Margaret? You don’t have any idea who I am. Respect and cooperation? If you have enough power, you don’t have to give either of those to anyone around you. I’ve watched Nicos all these years and it’s the only thing we agree about.”

  He was too close to her. And his eyes were narrowed on her face. Was he becoming suspicious?

  She wanted to jump to her feet and run out of the office.

  One more minute.

  Stay one more minute.

  “You’re saying that I can’t count on you to help me?”

  “I didn’t say that. If my plans fall into place before Nicos becomes difficult for you, you might have a place with me.” He reached out and touched her throat. “But don’t expect more of me than you would of Nicos. Less. He calls me his pimp because I know the type of girl that appeals to him and I never disappoint. He likes the weak and the breakable. Like that little girl he has at his house now. Like Rosa.” His hand moved down to the hollow of her throat. “He doesn’t know how much more exciting it is to mold the strong into whatever you wish her to be. One of the reasons I kept away from you three years ago was that I knew I’d be tempted. Nicos almost broke you that night. If I’d been doing it, there would not have been an almost.” His thumb moved into the hollow. “You’re pulse is leaping. Are you afraid of me, Margaret?”

  “No. Yes. Why shouldn’t I be?” She brushed his hands away and got to her feet. “This wasn’t the result I wanted or expected.” She backed away from him. She had her fifteen minutes. Get out of here. Run back to the guesthouse. “You’re just another Nicos for me to fight.” She had reached the door. “But I could be much more if you’d change your mind. Let me know.…”

  She slammed the door behind her and ran toward the guesthouse. The next moment, she was inside and running across the black-and-white tiles toward her bedroom. So much more evil had been in this room that night than she had imagined. Salva had not only been a bystander; he had wanted to take over and participate.

  With her as the key victim, not Rosa.

  She closed the bedroom door and went into the bathroom and splashed water on her face and throat. In that moment when he’d touched her, she had felt as weak and dominated as he’d wanted her to feel.

  But I wasn’t dominated, she told herself. She’d gotten what she needed from Salva. She wasn’t weak, and she certainly was not breakable.

  Unlike Rosa.

  It could have been that comparison that had frightened her so much when he’d touched her. Rosa had been breakable and they’d broken her. Margaret hadn’t been able to help her.

  But she could help Sean Patrick.

  She took the phone recorder out of her pocket. It was still running. If she turned it off, it would automatically transmit to Lassiter.

  Not yet.

  She had to make sure that she’d gotten what she needed from Salva.

  Otherwise, she’d have to go through the same nightmare process with Nicos tomorrow. She reversed the recorder while she tried to remember the exact names of the three computer experts that Lassiter had given her. George Bildwan, Carl Montgomery, Simon Zwecker.

  Okay, scroll through Salva’s call history and see if any of those names were listed. Or any other name with any notations concerning computers after them.

  She started to scroll, not too fast, in case she might miss something. She was already ten minutes into Salva’s list and there were no names she recognized.

  So many names … Some were just initials. When you dealt with drug dealers, sometimes you didn’t want them accidentally identified. She hoped to heaven that computer guru wasn’t listed under only initials. All of this might be for nothing if—

  Simon Zwecker!

  That had been one of the names Lassiter had mentioned.

  And Salva had called him two months ago.

  Don’t get too excited. He might not be the only expert Salva had hired. Keep going through the history and see if any of the other names pop up.

  But her hands were trembling as she carefully went through the rest of the history. None of the other names on Lassiter’s list appeared anywhere in the history. But Simon Zwecker’s name appeared several times over the previous months. And the communication between them had evidently started over two years ago. During that initial period, there was a spurt of daily calls that indicated intense activity.

  So it had to be Simon Zwecker.

  And Lassiter had to know it was him right now. Would he be able to trace him from this phone interchange? He’d had no problem when he’d tapped her phone. He’d been clever enough to create this small jewel of a device. So trust him. She’d done her part.

  Now let him do his.

  She pressed the turn-off button that would transmit the recording to Lassiter’s phone.

  Santo Domingo

  11:50 P.M.

  Lassiter heard the soft ping of his text alert as he was striding with Mandell toward his Gulfstream on the tarmac.

  Cambry?

  He’d phoned him in the car and he’d said he’d check with the office in Silicon Valley and get back to him. But that had been only minutes before and he had—

  Not Cambry.

  No ID.

  Just the designation of the device the message was transmitting from.

  LX-40.

  “Holy shit.” He stopped on the tarmac and stared down at the text. “My God. Margaret.”

  Mandell was gazing at him, puzzled. “What is it?”

  “I don’t know.” He moved quickly to the plane and ran up the steps. “You get the plane in the air. I need to go through this list and see if she managed to get us what we need.” He headed for the cockpit. “Though it would be a miracle if she was able to pull it off this soon.”

  “It would be a miracle,” Mandell said drily. “You just dropped off that LX-40 late this afternoon. You weren’t even expecting her to pick it up until tomorrow.”

  “Margaret thrives on doing the unexpected,” Lassiter said. “And if she actually had that LX-40 in her hands, t
hen she’d do anything in her power to get us what we need. She’s nothing if not determined.” He dropped down in the copilot’s seat and began to scroll through the list. “This is Salva’s call history. She told me once that he’d be the one to set up Nicos’s computer system.…”

  “And she thought Salva would be easier?” Mandell asked as he did the preflight check.

  “That wouldn’t have anything to do with it. She knew he wouldn’t be easy. He’s smarter than Nicos. She just knew he’d be the most likely one to tap.”

  “Well then, you’d better see if she was right.” Mandell was taxiing down the runway after he got the okay from the tower. “I thought your taking that Olympic-distance swim to leave that recorder for Margaret Douglas was a bit extreme, certainly a long shot. But she may be proving me wrong. If we manage to get her away from Nicos, I’ll be interested in meeting her.”

  “When, not if,” Lassiter said sharply. “We pick her up in Montego Bay in two days.”

  “We may be in the middle of a Colombian jungle in two days, going after Patrick, if we can follow up on her information.” He glanced at Lassiter as he took off. “You always told me that was first priority.”

  “We pick her up,” Lassiter repeated as he continued to scroll through the history. “I’ll work it out.”

  I don’t know when I’ll get away if you can’t do it at Montego Bay.

  And he would have to do it. Because if they found a way to grab Patrick, then Nicos would be looking for reasons why it had happened. Leaks, bribery, or anything different that would have signaled a change or weakening in his security.

  And Margaret would be the one different element.

  “Well, we won’t discuss priorities until we’re sure that your Margaret’s given us a name that will take us to Patrick,” Mandell said. “I saw a few of those photos Nicos sent you and I don’t think the decision will be—”

  “We’re sure,” Lassiter said, interrupting him. He looked up from the text. “We have a name. Simon Zwecker. The last address we had for him was in Trinidad. Cambry’s checking on any updates, but we’re not waiting. Now let’s go get him.”

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  Vadaz Island

  2:40 A.M.

  Blood!

  Black-and-white tiles!

  Margaret jerked upright in bed, panting, her face wet with perspiration.

  Rosa.

  No, it was only a nightmare. It would have been really bizarre if she hadn’t had a dream about that night, after everything that had happened today.

  And the fact that she was back in this house, where the nightmare had started.

  She looked at the arched door across the room. Beyond that door was that gleaming tile floor that had haunted her for years. The memory that had been a constant torment and that had sent her running and hiding like a child afraid of the dark.

  It was dark now in this bedroom. It would be darker in that room where Rosa had died, because evil still lived there. Margaret didn’t want to think of that room. She wanted to lie back and cover her head and pray for sleep.

  Like the young girl she’d been three years ago. But she wasn’t that girl any longer. She’d come here to stop Nicos and Salva from ever being able to send her on the run again. She had to keep them from performing those atrocities they’d done to Patrick and Rosa on anyone else.

  Yet she wanted only to go and hide again.

  I’ve given you what you needed, Lassiter. I don’t know if I can help you anymore. Dear Lord, I’m afraid.

  Black-and-white tiles.

  They were waiting for her.

  And if she didn’t go to them, she might be afraid for the rest of her life.

  And Nicos and Salva would win.

  She tossed the bedcovers aside and swung her legs to the floor.

  Take it slow.

  There was nothing in that room beyond the door but memories.

  And it was time that she faced those memories so that she could be strong, not weak.

  She moved toward the door.

  Just as she’d done that night three years ago.

  She’d heard Rosa and Nicos come in from the courtyard and Rosa was crying.

  That wasn’t strange. Rosa was always afraid those days and tears came easily to her.

  But Nicos didn’t usually bring her back to the guesthouse to “school” her, as he called it. He made her stay at his mansion across the courtyard except when it amused him to shock Margaret by showing her the terrible things he was doing to Rosa. She’d only been able to count on him letting her see Rosa when he brought Margaret back from picking up one of the airport shipments. A “gift,” he called it.

  But he hadn’t let her see Rosa that day when they’d returned from picking up the shipment at Santo Domingo. He’d sent Margaret back to the guesthouse and gone with Salva to his office. He’d been so angry.…

  And Margaret had been sick with dread when she’d heard him bring Rosa to the guesthouse. She’d been shaking as she opened the door and seen Nicos standing in the center of the room.

  Rosa was kneeling at his feet. Her blouse was torn off her shoulders and there were whip marks on her back. Her lower lip was swollen where Nicos had struck her.

  “Just in time.” Nicos looked across the room at Margaret. “I wanted to make sure you saw what you did to your little friend. Sit down there against the wall. I haven’t finished with her yet.”

  “I didn’t do anything to her. I did everything you wanted me to do. Now don’t hurt her.” She took a step into the room. “Or, if you’re angry with me, whip me instead.”

  “Sit down.” His eyes were glittering in his flushed face. “That dog almost tipped his handler off. You didn’t get to him in time.”

  “He was difficult. But he didn’t give the signal that there were drugs in that suitcase. You were still able to pick it up.”

  “It was too close.” The whip came down on Rosa’s shoulders, cutting into the flesh.

  She screamed.

  “Shut up, bitch. You speak when I tell you to speak.” The whip came down again.

  “Stop it.” Margaret couldn’t stand it. She was across the room, tearing at the whip. “It won’t be close the next time. I’ll find a way to—”

  “You know you don’t stop me from doing whatever I want to her. She belongs to me.” His hand lashed out and knocked Margaret to the floor. “Just as you do. I told you that as long as you do what I wish, Rosa won’t be hurt too badly. But you’re becoming a little too defiant. I think you need a lesson.”

  “Don’t hurt her.” She lifted a shaking hand to brush back her hair as she sat up. “I’ll do what you want. Why don’t you just punish me? I’m used to it. Rosa wouldn’t ever do anything to make you angry.”

  “No, I wouldn’t.” Rosa was gazing pleadingly up at Nicos. “She’s right. I’ll do anything for you. Just tell me.”

  “But that doesn’t make your friend Margaret as obedient as I’d like. So it was fortunate I found the key to making her as humble as I do you.” His face was flushed with excitement as he looked down at Margaret. “But there comes a time when you have to give the final lesson. I didn’t like you tearing that whip away from me. You have to learn there are consequences.” He took out his phone and hit the number buttons. “Salva, come over to the guesthouse. It’s time I taught Margaret that the patience I’ve shown her has limits. I want you to be here to watch.” He hung up. “Now come here, Margaret. I want you to be close to your dear friend Rosa.”

  She didn’t move. “What are you going to do?”

  “Come closer. Don’t you want to give Rosa an affectionate embrace. You’re such good friends.”

  She slowly got up and crossed to where Rosa was kneeling on the floor. “What are you going to do?”

  “Hold her. Tell her how much you care about her. After all, she must know all you’ve gone through for her.”

  “She knows.” She knelt beside Rosa and pushed the hair away from her eyes. She said softly, “Hey, it?
??s going to be okay.” She hoped she was telling the truth, but she was terribly afraid. “He’s only angry with me. But nothing really bad happened. If I do what he says, it will be all right.” She stroked Rosa’s cheek. “Try not to be afraid.”

  “I can’t … help it.” The tears were running down her cheeks. “I’m … sorry, Margaret. How did this happen? I know it was all my fault. But it shouldn’t have happened. I never knew what—”

  “Shh, just don’t be scared. I’ll try to—”

  “Enough.” Nicos was pulling Margaret away. “That was very touching, but I really don’t want Rosa to be too comforted at the moment. And I certainly don’t want you lying to her. It’s not going to be all right. You had a job to do and you didn’t do it. You’ll learn I won’t tolerate that again.”

  “I did do my job. Some dogs react differently, just as people do. But the end result was the same. He appeared jumpy and restless, but he didn’t signal anything was actually wrong with the shipment.” She had to convince him. She had seen that expression on his face before, but never around Rosa. There was a wildness, a cruelty to the set of his mouth, an eagerness about his entire demeanor. He’d had that same look when he’d killed one of his men who he’d suspected betrayed him. “But I’ll work on it anyway. Perhaps if you let me go to the airport a day or two earlier, so that the dogs become accustomed to—”

  “And tip customs off that you may be casing the area?”

  “Maybe you could find a reason. Get me a temp job at one of the—”

  “Here I am.” Salva had opened the courtyard door. “I do hope you’re going to make this entertaining, Nicos. I have work to do.” He glanced at Rosa’s huddled figure kneeling on the floor as he came into the room. “This doesn’t look promising. I’ve seen it before.”

  “Did you hear that, Margaret?” Nicos asked. “Salva wishes entertainment. Shall we give it to him?” He drew out his 9mm Beretta. “I believe we have to give him something different tonight.”