No Easy Target
“And there’s a good chance he also took Margaret,” Lassiter said grimly. “The only question is what he intends to do with her.” He added, “And what he intends to do, period. Brukman knows it would be a risk letting Nicos know that he helped to free Patrick.” He paused. “Unless he thinks he has an ace in the hole. He might try to bargain Margaret for amnesty from Nicos’s hit men. He must have figured out that she’s a prime target.”
“I’ll get together a search team and go after him.” Mandell added, “I’ll get her back, Lassiter.”
“Easy to say. Brukman knows this rain forest like the back of his hand. If he had even a couple hours head start, he could lose himself and Margaret with no trouble. And he was a mercenary for seven years before he was chosen by Nicos to head the torture squad at the detention camp. He knows all about manacles, and that was probably how he was able to get out of those handcuffs. You’ll have to be careful that he doesn’t pick you off with that rifle he stole from Dietrich.”
“That won’t happen,” Mandell said. “God, I’m sorry, Lassiter. I’ll find her. I won’t let Brukman try to use her.”
“You should never have lost her,” he said harshly. “I told you that she was first priority. And as for Brukman using her, that could be the best scenario. Brukman hates my guts. He might decide to try his skills on Margaret to punish me for ruining his gig with Nicos.”
“Shit.”
“I’m on my way back now. Keep in touch with me. But before you leave the monastery, have Cambry move Patrick and the doctor to that cave I told you about. I don’t want to take any chances on Brukman getting in touch with Nicos or the detention camp and stirring up all hell. And see if Cambry can persuade Father Dominic and the monks to scatter into the forest or those nearby villages.” He hung up.
Lassiter was white-hot angry, and Mandell couldn’t blame him. Dietrich had been a good man and he had trusted him. But in the end, the responsibility had been Mandell’s. He should have known that Brukman was more savvy and skilled than Dietrich and made certain this couldn’t happen. He had blown it, and a good man had died and Margaret Douglas could die, too, if he didn’t make it right.
He looked down at Dietrich and reached out and closed those eyes that were staring up at him. How many times had he done this before over the years?
Too many.
Good-bye, buddy.
I promise I’ll send him to hell for you.
* * *
“Bad news?” Carlos Estefan’s gaze was fixed on Lassiter’s tense face as he ended the call. “Yes, I can see that it is.”
Lassiter nodded jerkily. “Not good.” Massive understatement. He was trying to keep the fear under control and his mind working. “And for you, it may mean that you’ll have to break camp tonight and get on the move. There’s a good chance that Nicos will be heading here very soon. Lars Brukman, the man I told you about, escaped. That means the entire scenario has changed, and not for the better.” He met Carlos’s eyes. “But the one thing that hasn’t changed is that your brother needs you. Will you still go with me?”
Carlos nodded slowly. “I was never afraid of the battle. We’re used to that. I was afraid of betrayal, that you might turn my people over to the government forces. You’ve convinced me that isn’t going to happen. If there’s a chance of getting my brother out of that camp, then we’ll do it.” He smiled faintly. “And if we can kill a few of the soldiers of the government that paid Nicos to keep him there and kill his wife, María, that will be a joy beyond imagining.” He turned and strode back toward the campfire. “Tell me how to do it and it will be done. We’ll be on our way within an hour. I assume you’re leaving now?”
“I’m on my way.” He was already moving toward the trail that had led him here. “Thank you, Carlos. I’ll contact you when I see what the situation is.”
“That Brukman,” Carlos called after him. “He’s a key person? He can hurt you?”
Patrick at risk again.
Cambry and Mandell’s entire team threatened.
And Margaret.
He could see her before him, her eyes glittering with humor and defiance and that infinite caring that was such a part of her. He could feel the pain twist inside of him at the thought of her. If she were here, she’d try to stop the pain. It was what she did, what she was.
She was not here. She was somewhere out there in that rain forest alone with Brukman. And he had seen what agony Brukman was capable of inflicting. Who was going to stop her pain?
“Oh, yes, Carlos,” he said hoarsely. “He can hurt me.”
* * *
“You’ve been very good,” Brukman told Margaret mockingly. “Four hours of travel and you managed to stay on your feet. You deserve a reward. Sit down. Suppose I take that gag off you? There’s no one to hear you scream out here in this wilderness but the parrots and the jaguars.” He untied the makeshift gag. “But you can see how I thought it necessary to be careful when I knew I had to get you across that courtyard and into the forest.”
Margaret drew a deep breath as the confining cloth was jerked off her mouth. “You could have taken it off me sooner. You let me go hours with that thing in my mouth.”
“I thought you should be aware that I’m the disciplinarian and you’re the student. I control your breath and the movements of your body and anything else that I choose. I learned that philosophy from Nicos. But I think you’re beginning to understand.”
“I understand that you have to be an inhuman monster to do the things you did to Patrick.” She tested the leather belt binding her wrists in back of her as she spoke. “Did you enjoy it?”
“Not particularly. It’s just a skill I do very well. Of course, I do get a certain satisfaction when a technique works particularly well on a subject. But Nicos is the one who actually enjoys seeing and hearing the details. We’ve had some long conversations about my work at the detention camp. He’s even asked my opinion on the possibility of sending me other people who have annoyed him.” He leaned back against the tree. “He was particularly interested in what I could come up with to make the torture of John Lassiter new and different. He was entertained by the mental suffering he was undergoing, but he knew that Lassiter would have to take his turn at the camp.” He reached forward and touched her cheek. “And you, Margaret. I’ve heard about you for a long time. Every time a deal went wrong in the past year or so, Nicos seemed to blame it on you. Some raving about voodoo and punishment and dogs. He was torn between getting you back or sending you to me to punish. He was very excited when I described what we did to María Estefan. I believe he was thinking about you.…”
“I’m sure he was. But he’s basically a mercenary and he thinks that I’m more profitable alive than dead.”
“Either way, you have value for him.” He smiled. “And that may have value for me. That’s why I took you with me when I escaped. I was tempted to grab Patrick, but he would probably have died before I’d gone even a mile or two. No, there you were, presumably young and strong and the shining evidence of Lassiter’s triumph over Nicos. You’d do quite well.”
“Do quite well for what?”
“A negotiation tool.” He took a swallow of water. “Lassiter must have told you that Nicos is not a forgiving man. Perhaps you’ve discovered it for yourself?”
“He’s insane. And you’re catering to a madman.”
“But Nicos realizes how valuable I’ve been to him in the past years. I supply a special need. All I have to do is give him a reason to let him continue indulging that need.” He tilted his head, appraising her. “You’re a pretty woman. Not as pretty as María Estefan, but you have a certain … I don’t know … something. Would you like me to tell you what she looked like when we finished with her?”
“No.”
“Squeamish?”
“You’d enjoy telling me too much. I’m sure you’re willing to demonstrate instead.”
“Yes, Lassiter must care something for you if he went to all that trouble of taking y
ou from Nicos. It will be a pleasure … if Nicos permits. I have to bow down to the son of a bitch if I’m to survive.” He finished his water and tossed the bottle aside. “And now it’s time I got down to business.” He took out his phone. “The first nails in Lassiter’s coffin.”
“You’re calling Nicos.”
“No, I’m calling Salva. Salva originally hired me, and if anyone has influence with Nicos, it’s him. He knows how to push his buttons. I’ll let him pave the way. Then I’ll talk to Nicos.” He was dialing as he spoke. “I’m certain he’ll want to speak to you to verify that I have you. If you could shed a few tears, I’m sure he’d like it enormously.”
“Screw you.”
“If I had the time, I could make you weep like a baby, but it’s not worth it. All that can come later.” He spoke into the phone. “Salva, this is Brukman. I have to talk to Nicos and I know he’ll be more receptive if I go through you. I’m going to need you to intercede and keep him from putting a contract out on me. I think you know if you help me, I’ll pay you back in any way you choose. Talk to him and then ask him to call me back with orders. Here’s what’s been happening.…”
* * *
Margaret felt the tension grip her as the minutes passed after Brukman had ended his call to Salva. If Nicos didn’t call him back, Brukman might just cut his losses along with her throat and take off across the rain forest to the nearest airport, where he could go on the run.
“Nervous?” Brukman asked. “Don’t be. If you could have heard Nicos talk about you, it would reassure you. He’ll probably want you dead later, but you’re a lure and temptation right now. And I’ll do such a good job on you that he’ll be very happy and will tend to forgive me all my so-called transgressions against him.”
“You’re trying to talk yourself into believing that.” Her gaze was narrowed on his face. “You’re frightened, Brukman. I can feel it.”
“Can you? Maybe some of that voodoo nonsense Nicos told me about in the dead of night? I’ll get through this and be fine. I just have to have a little wiggle room. You, on the other hand, won’t be able to survive—”
His phone rang.
He laughed and put it on speaker. “Are you ready, Margaret? It’s the master of your fate.”
“No one is master of my fate but me. I’ve noticed it’s you who are ready to kneel down and kiss Nicos’s feet.”
His smile faded. “We’ll see about that.” He accessed the call. “Nicos, I told Salva that the only thing I could do was make the best of a bad situation. I know you’re probably angry, but consider that I do have Margaret Douglas. She’s right here and I know how—”
“Stop sputtering and let me talk,” Nicos said coldly. “Salva is telling me that you may still prove useful to me, but you’ll have to prove it. I’m remembering how you lied to me and let Lassiter have everything his own way.”
“Everything isn’t his own way. I was telling the truth about Patrick being near death. It’s Patrick who’s trapping Lassiter down here and it’s you who caused that to happen. You gave me the orders and I carried them out. Now we just have to spring the trap.” Brukman paused. “But we have to hurry, because when Patrick is able to be moved, they’ll be out of here.” He went on quickly, “Or they would have been if I hadn’t taken Margaret Douglas. He went to a lot of trouble to take her away from you. It’s possible he cares about her. He might even be fucking her. You could use her to negotiate.” He added quickly, “Only a suggestion, sir. Remember those nights when we used to talk about her? I’d be happy to go in that direction. Whatever you decide is fine with me. I took her as a gift to you, an apology. A gesture of good faith to let you know that I’m worth keeping on your payroll.”
“And alive?” Nicos added drily. “She’s a very persuasive gift, if you’re not lying. I want to speak to her. Are you there, Margaret?”
“I’m here. Are you really going to let this weasel back into the fold? He’s lied to you before.”
“But he’s not lying now. I recognize that sweet, barbed voice of yours. And I believe I might enjoy Brukman’s presence for the foreseeable future. He has such talent, and he’s going to be very busy once Salva and I get down there. I’ll see you soon, Margaret.”
“You see? I didn’t lie to you,” Brukman said. “She’ll be down here waiting for you. How do you want to handle it?”
“Salva said you’re out in the rain forest. You’re right: She’ll be waiting for me, but I want her in the proper place. Take her to the detention camp.”
Margaret felt a chill go through her. That place of death and torture that had been a nightmare of despair for Patrick.
“You’re not talking, Margaret,” Nicos said mockingly. “Evidently, you were sympathetic about Patrick’s time there. Don’t you want to taste it for yourself?”
“You’ll do what you want. But it wouldn’t be smart to surrender what I can give you in pure economic terms just to experience a little sick excitement.”
“It wouldn’t be little,” he said softly. “Not at all. And I’m beginning to think it will be worth it to show Lassiter that he can’t have it his way.” He raised his voice. “Brukman, our information is that Lassiter’s security team has ten or twelve men at any given time and that they’re all top-notch. Are they all down there?”
“I can’t give you exact numbers, but that sounds right. And they’re not all top-notch, at least not better than I am. I took one out to escape.”
“However, we have to assume they’re very good, and Mandell is supposed to be extraordinary. But we have twenty-two guards at the detention camp and we can call on more help from our military friends who have been paid so well to protect us.” Nicos’s voice became suddenly harsh. “How Lassiter was able to walk into that camp and take Patrick is beyond my comprehension. You were totally to blame. If you’re going to make amends, you’d better show me you’re not the fool you appear to be. First, call Stockton at the camp and have him raid that monastery and get Patrick back. And I want Lassiter, Brukman. I don’t care how many men Stockton loses; I want Lassiter.”
“He wasn’t at the monastery when I left. He drove off yesterday afternoon in one of the monastery’s old trucks.”
Nicos muttered a curse. “Where did he go?”
“I don’t know. It’s not as if anyone would answer my questions. Everything I learned was from watching and listening. He might be back by now. Or chasing after me, if he’s found out I took the woman.” He looked at Margaret. “I could ask her a few questions. It would be my pleasure.”
“No, I’ve been looking forward to being the one to teach Margaret everything she needs to know. You’d take the edge off. As long as I have her, Lassiter will come to me. Just get her to the camp and wait for further orders.” He hung up.
Brukman smiled as he got to his feet. “It seems that Nicos doesn’t wish to share. But he’ll change his mind once he gets involved in the process. He knows I’m an expert.”
“And he also thinks you’re a fool.” She was relieved that Brukman had no knowledge of Lassiter’s mission when he’d left the monastery. She had no idea if it had been successful, but it was a dim light at the end of a dark tunnel. “Do you actually think you’re going to buy your way back into his good graces?”
“I have a good chance, if I work it right. And I’ll work it right.” He pulled her to her feet. “Now I’ll call Stockton and give him Nicos’s orders. And then we’ll go visit my home away from home. I didn’t find it pleasant, and I’m afraid you’ll find it even less so.”
* * *
Smoke.
Lassiter was fifty miles from the monastery when he saw the gray plumes of smoke rising in the distance. Dawn was breaking and he could make out the heavy gray mist that was hanging over the trees and shrubs of the rain forest.
Shit.
He braked and reached for his phone. It rang before he could punch in the number.
Mandell.
“What the hell is happening?” Lassiter asked. “
I see smoke up ahead.”
“How about worst-case scenario?” Mandell said grimly. “I’m still on the trail, tracking Brukman and Margaret, but I see the smoke, too. And fifteen minutes ago I got a call from the two men I have staking out the detention camp. The gates opened and a truckload of men poured out of the camp and headed in the direction of the monastery. I’ve been on the phone ever since, giving orders for evacuation. I don’t know how many they were able to get out yet. They didn’t have much time.”
“Patrick?”
“Cambry took care of getting him and the doctor away when you told me to do it hours ago. He’s safe.”
“Thank God.”
“And we tried to persuade the monks to go then, too. Some of them took off, but there were several still there when I left to go after Margaret. I only hope they were able to get out before Brukman’s men from the detention camp got there.” He paused. “I told my men at the monastery to get them out and then take off themselves. I took half my guys with me and it would have been a suicide mission to try to fight against those odds.”
“You were right.” Lassiter’s gaze went back to the smoke, which seemed to be thickening with every minute that passed. “They have to be burning the monastery.”
“That’s my take on it, though I haven’t been able to reach any of my men yet.” He paused. “But right before I got word about the trucks leaving the detention camp, we ran across Brukman’s and Margaret’s tracks. Brukman had stopped trying to hide them; he was only interested in moving fast.”
At least he knew Margaret was still alive. “What direction?”
“He was doubling back south. I think he’s taking her to the detention camp. I’ve got only the two men on watch there, Lassiter. Once he gets close to the camp, he’ll call and get an armed escort to take her in through those gates. We can’t stop them.”
“I know.” And once Margaret was behind those walls, she would be totally at Brukman’s disposal. He felt the muscles of his stomach twist at the thought. Visions of the photos he’d been sent of Patrick’s torture over these last months were flooding back to him.