No Easy Target

  “I’m sending you back to Cancún under guard and letting you live … for now.” He got to his feet and moved toward the door. “I don’t know for how long. It depends on how many details you can give me about that camp and Lars Brukman. Where do you meet when you contact Brukman?”

  “We either text or phone most of the time. When one of us wants to meet in person, I go down to Colombia. When Brukman’s not at the camp, he stays at a hotel on the coast at Puerto Ponce. It’s about sixty miles from the camp. We usually met at the bar off the lobby.”

  “Then call him and tell him that you need to see him this evening. Tell him that you think you’ve negotiated a deal that will make you both rich. Set it up for eight tonight.”

  He frowned. “Why can’t we make that the truth? Couldn’t we discuss an arrangement that would—”

  Lassiter was across the room in seconds and knocked Zwecker crashing off his chair onto the floor. His voice was fierce as he glared down at him. “Listen, I’m within a heartbeat of breaking your neck. Eighteen months that you knew this was going on and what they were doing with those prisoners. Make the damn call.”

  “I’ll take care of it,” Mandell said quietly. “You’re a bit upset. He’s got to be alive to make the call.”

  Mandell was right. Lassiter was on the edge of violence and he had to control it. Zwecker and his cohort Brukman were as filthy as Nicos, and the knowledge of the torture and deaths they’d so casually accepted and the lives they’d played with during these months had made him go ballistic. Margaret was risking her life while those scum were calculating how to sell those people in Nicos’s death camp for the most money. He nodded jerkily. “And I’ll call Cambry and tell him to get the rest of the team down there to Puerto Ponce by tonight.” He turned and strode from the room and out onto the veranda.

  He stood looking out at the sea for a moment before he made the call to Cambry. Things were beginning to flow together and he should be happier. But it had gone on too long and his nerves were raw. There was still too much to do in too short a time. He had to be at that airport in Montego Bay by tomorrow evening or Margaret might be killed. He had to pull Patrick out of that camp before he went to Montego Bay or the first thing Nicos would do after Margaret escaped would be to order Patrick killed.

  “So what’s wrong, kid?” Lassiter had a sudden memory of Patrick, his eyes twinkling, sitting in that hotel room in Atlantic City all those years ago. “Too much for you? Hell, you’re only seventeen and you can do all kinds of hocus pocus to dazzle my buddies at the CIA and con the entire world. But you can’t straighten up and find a way to get through a few years in the army?” He added teasingly, “Need a little help? Maybe we can work it out together.”

  “I don’t need help from anyone.”

  “No, you don’t. All you’ve got to do is start thinking and get your priorities in order. So go ahead and do it.”

  And Lassiter had done it. All through those years he and Patrick had been together and moved from stage to stage in their friendship, they’d never found a mountain they couldn’t climb.

  But now he had to climb this one alone.

  Okay, then start thinking and planning and get your priorities in order. Then find a way to do it all.

  Move!

  Vadaz Island

  “Good morning, Margaret,” Nicos said. “As I recall, you never used to sleep this late. I’m glad you’re feeling so at home.”

  Margaret’s eyes flew open and she saw Nicos standing above her bed, looking down at her. She jerked upright in bed, her heart pounding.

  “Or is it that you had a bad night? I see you have circles beneath those pretty blue eyes. Memories? Did you hear Rosa calling to you from that room next door?”

  “You know I did. It’s what you wanted, isn’t it? What are you doing here?”

  “I felt the need to see you helpless.” He smiled. “When you’re awake, you’re always very strong. Because of the power inside you. Just like my mother. I have to catch you unaware to feel my control over you.” He reached out and touched her shoulder. “Do you know how much I wanted to make you the whore I made Rosa? It would have been the supreme pleasure.”

  She jerked away from him. “But you decided against it. What’s a whore compared to the money I can bring to you? You were always too smart.”

  “But Salva says that’s all bullshit, that it shouldn’t make a difference. That none of that voodoo shit means anything. That my mother was just a whore and not a voodoo priestess.”

  “And what do you think?”

  “He didn’t see what I saw at those voodoo meetings. He didn’t feel the power sing through him. Yes, my mother was a whore, but she also had the power. Not enough. My father eventually broke free of her and killed her. I watched him do it. She begged me to stop him.”

  “But you didn’t do it.”

  He shrugged. “I was through with her. And she didn’t have the power. What a waste. I thought it might be that she’d had so many men in her body that it had drained her of the only thing that should have been important in her life.”

  “And you decided that you wouldn’t take a chance on having that happen to my power,” she said bitterly. “It’s just as well. I don’t know what would happen if you used me as you did Rosa. She became … nothing. Not the same person.”

  “I don’t know, either. But Salva is beginning to sway me to his way of thinking. I believe he might want to participate. I just thought that I should let you know what you might anticipate in the future.” He met her eyes. “Maybe the not-too-distant future. I’ve begun to have fantasies about you kneeling on those black-and-white tiles.”

  “You’re not that self-destructive.” She kept her voice steady with an effort. “And you have plenty of women you use for that kind of ugly fantasy.”

  He laughed. “Very true. We’ll see how long I can make do with substitutes.” He turned and headed for the door. “By the way, I thought I’d tell you that we’ll be leaving for Montego Bay late this afternoon.”

  She stiffened. “Why? The airport delivery isn’t until tomorrow evening.”

  “The last time, you’ll recall, you had a small problem with the dogs.” He looked over his shoulder with a malicious smile. “Which brought all kinds of problems down on you and poor Rosa. I decided I’d let you have a bit more time for those dogs to become more accustomed to you.”

  She frowned. “You want me to go visit Montego customs today?”

  “No, I’ve found out the handler’s home address. We’ll pay a visit this evening and give you your chance to become best friends.”

  “You’ve never done that before.” Her gaze was searching his face. “You’re worried about this shipment. It’s important to you. What is it?”

  “That’s none of your concern. Or maybe it is. It might be important that you realize that I’ll be very upset if this delivery doesn’t go smoothly. The shipment is a very powerful and sophisticated bomb that was built in Mexico City and that I’m going to fly down to Caracas. There’s a terrorist group there that’s having a bit of trouble at the U.S. embassy.” He stopped at the door. “So it will go smoothly, or I’ll let Salva convince me that you’re worth only one thing to me. Do you understand?”

  Death. Destruction. Rape. Not empty threats, and now she knew why Nicos had come to her this morning. “I’ve always understood you, Nicos.”

  “But it’s never bad to be very clear.” The door closed behind him.

  She sat there trying to recover from that barrage of poison Nicos had thrown at her. So clever. He had used Rosa and that night and mixed it with a not-so-subtle threat to Margaret. He had attacked her at her most vulnerable to make her feel weak.

  And for a little while, it had worked. But now the strength and determination of last night were flooding back to her.

  It’s not going to happen, Rosa. We won’t let it go on.

  She threw the covers aside and headed for the bathroom. She glanced at the mirror and saw the circles
Nicos had spoken about. Yes, she’d had a bad night. It had been filled with memories and sorrow and regret. But it had also been a night to build strength.

  Screw you, Nicos.

  She headed for the shower. It might be a good thing they were leaving a day early for Montego. Lassiter had asked her to phone him when she arrived there, and she might be able to give him advance details on how many men Nicos was going to deploy at the airport. The more time to prepare, the better.

  While she was still here, she’d take another swim and see if there had been anything else placed on that rock. She doubted that there would be anything, but she wouldn’t take a chance. She’d already slit the pocket of her khaki jacket and slid both the phone and a makeshift dagger into the lining. They were her only weapons, but she’d try to make the most of them.

  Perhaps not the only weapons.

  What about the dogs?

  Nicos was giving her extra time with them because he wanted her to bond with the dogs to keep that damn bomb safe.

  Oh, yes, she’d definitely have to think about a unique way to bond with them.…

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  Hotel Reyes

  Puerto Ponce, Columbia

  7:45 P.M.

  Lars Brukman.

  Lassiter recognized the man who had come into the bar from the photo Zwecker had brought up on the computer. Same close crew cut, same broken nose and craggy features. He was frowning as he gazed around the bar looking for Zwecker.

  Time to move.

  Lassiter put his drink down and stepped away from the bar. “Brukman.”

  Brukman froze. “Lassiter?” He was immediately wary. “Where’s Zwecker? You weren’t supposed to be here.”

  “You recognized me?” He took another step closer. “Nicos, I suppose?”

  Brukman nodded. “He wanted to make sure that I knew who’d be coming after Sean Patrick.” He met his eyes. “Zwecker said that you’d be willing to deal with us for him. But you’re not supposed to be here. Zwecker and I have to talk money.”

  “Do you want to know what I offered Nicos?”

  “That could be a start,” he said cautiously. “Nicos mentioned the first negotiations, but I’m sure you went higher. But we’d have to have more so that we could lose ourselves from Nicos—”

  “But you might think the offer I’ll make you is so good that you’ll take it without question. Let’s have a drink and talk about it.”

  He hesitated. “After I call Zwecker and ask him why you’re here.”

  “Suit yourself. But what I saw in that last photo of Patrick made me think that you won’t have any merchandise I’ll be willing to offer for soon. I won’t pay for a dead man, Brukman.”

  “He still has time.” He grimaced. “But it’s a good thing you’ve come now. I told Nicos that he couldn’t take that kind of punishment, but he insisted.”

  “And you complied,” Lassiter said without expression. “But, of course, he pays the bills. I understand your position.”

  Brukman nodded. “But you’re smart to deal with us. Nicos isn’t ever going to let him go.”

  “I know that.” He took one more step. “So make your call to Zwecker so that we can start negotiations.”

  Brukman reached for his phone.

  And Lassiter clamped his palm down on Brukman’s hand and pressed the needle with the knockout tranquilizer hidden there into his wrist.

  “What…” Brukman reached for his gun. “You son of a bitch, what did—”

  His knees buckled and Lassiter caught him before he fell unconscious.

  “Drunk?” Mandell appeared immediately at Lassiter’s side. “Maybe we should take him out to the car so that he can get some air?”

  “Good idea.” None of the few customers in the bar appeared to be noticing what had occurred. The bartender had been liberally tipped to turn his back. “He never could hold his liquor.”

  Three minutes later, they’d deposited Brukman in the passenger seat of the van they’d rented.

  “Will you need me here any longer?” Mandell asked. “I’d really enjoy having a discussion with Brukman. Zwecker was much too easy.”

  Lassiter nodded. “I want you there when he wakes up, but follow in your own car. You’ll have to leave right away.” Lassiter started the van. “You’ll need to get out to that detention camp and position yourself. I’m estimating you’ll have about two hours before I bring Brukman to the party.”

  “That’s not long. His record was pretty impressive while he was a mercenary. He could hold out.”

  “If he does, I’ll hang him up on the branches of a tree and see how long he lasts. I’ll try to find the same type of tree he used on Patrick.”

  Mandell gave a low whistle. “That might do it.”

  Lassiter started to drive in the direction of the nearby rain forest. “That’s what I figured,” he said over his shoulder.

  * * *

  Brukman regained consciousness twenty minutes later. By that time, they’d traveled to the rim of the rain forest and Lassiter and Mandell had tied him securely to a palm tree.

  “You son of a bitch.” Brukman was struggling futilely to get out of the ropes. “I’m going to kill you. I’m going to chop you into pieces. You think that Patrick was hurting? You’ll scream until you—”

  “You’re being boring,” Lassiter said. “And you’re being stupid enough to remind me of all the things I have against you. It’s a big list, and I was only recently given a face to go along with it. But I’m beginning to put the two together. Did you know I was sent twenty-four photos of your work on Patrick over the last eighteen months?”

  “I don’t care.” His eyes were blazing in his white face. “If you want him back, you’ll have to deal with me. Money, Lassiter.”

  “And I’d pay it if I hadn’t seen those photos. There has to be accountability. Added to the fact that there’s every chance you’d take my money and not follow through.” He gestured to Mandell. “But I’m being rude. Permit me to introduce you to my friend Nick Mandell. Considering your mercenary background, you’ve probably heard of him. He’s possibly the best sniper in the world today. He’s something of a legend in those circles.”

  “Please. In any circle.” Mandell smiled. “How many times do I have to tell you I’m a man with no limits, Lassiter?”

  “I’ve heard of him,” Brukman said impatiently. “Do you think I’m going to be intimidated by some has-been shooter?”

  Mandell looked pained. “Now that hurt.” He glanced at Lassiter. “I either get out of here and go set up at the camp or I kill him now.”

  “Get going.”

  “Right.” Mandell glanced over his shoulder at Brukman as he headed for his car. “I’ll see you later.”

  Brukman glared at Lassiter. “What was that about?”

  “I just wanted you to know what you’re up against. I’m sure that Nicos gave you my credentials and those of everyone who works for me. He’d want you to be prepared.” He took a step closer. “So I’m going to tell you how it’s going to go down. You’re going to take me to that detention camp and tell your men that Nicos has made a deal to turn Patrick over to me. You’re going to be very plausible. Then your men are going to load Patrick into my van and we’re both going to leave quietly and without incident.”

  “You’re dreaming. You’re going to walk into my camp and then expect to get out alive? Didn’t Zwecker tell you that if something ever happened to me that my lieutenant, Herb Stockton, would take over? He’ll have questions. And even if you have a gun and I don’t, what’s going to stop me from—”

  “Shouting out and bringing down firepower on both me and Patrick?” He leaned forward and said coldly, “Because the moment I lift my hand, you’ll be a dead man. That’s the reason you met my friend Mandell, even though he was in something of a hurry after I gave you that knockout injection. He’s going to your camp to get ready for us. If there are any trees or rocks anywhere overlooking that camp, he’ll find just the right pla
ce. As I said, Mandell was the best sniper I’d ever seen when I was in the Special Forces. He’s a natural. And he’s been missing it. He’ll be able to take down you and at least two others before anyone realizes what’s happening.”

  “You’re bluffing.”

  “You could take that risk. But you should know there will also be five other of my men in the woods surrounding the camp. Not as uniquely talented as Mandell, but all equally qualified to blow you all to kingdom come. And yes, I know about Stockton. That’s why you’re going to have to be very plausible. It shouldn’t be too much of a problem. Zwecker said that you keep Stockton firmly under your thumb.”

  “You’re the one who’s at risk. How do you expect to get Patrick out of the area? There are checkpoints on every road leading from the camp to Bogotá. They wouldn’t ask questions; they’d just blow you away.”

  “All the roads leading north. Only one checkpoint on the one road leading south. And that’s where there’s a helicopter pad that Nicos uses when he comes down here to supervise your work personally. I imagine he’s been down here to see you while you’ve had Patrick here. He likes to observe. It’s really rough country and it’s unlikely that anyone would be coming by ground from that direction.” He paused. “And so Mandell ordered his men to take out that checkpoint. Mandell’s men are all excellent and it will be done quietly and efficiently. Ten minutes later, a helicopter will be arriving. The pilot will wait there until I show up with Patrick.” He smiled. “And then we’ll be off to the private airport outside Bogotá where I have my Gulfstream waiting.”

  “And you think it will work? Too many things could go wrong.” Brukman said through his teeth, “You’re crazy.”

  “Yeah, I’m certainly a little off balance. It’s been a long hunt and stress can do that to you. So don’t push it.”

  “Pay the money.”

  “Not one penny. But I’ll still deal with you. After we get Patrick safely out of that camp and I’m through with you, I’ll put you on a plane out of Bogotá to the destination of your choice. After that, you’re on your own. You’d better run hard and fast. Because we both know that Nicos will be after you the minute he finds out you helped me. And so will I.”