The Search

  “Sarah.”

  She turned to see Galen standing in the doorway. “Why did you come ba—” She stiffened. “What’s wrong?”

  “A package for you.” He crossed the room and handed her a neatly wrapped box. “It just came. Special delivery.”

  All packages coming into the facility were X-rayed. “What is it?”

  He shrugged. “I couldn’t tell. Something weird. But it’s not an explosive.”

  She slowly took off the wrap and opened the lid. The object inside was old, very old, the ivory yellowed by time, but the gold-sheeted mirror still shone. She felt her stomach clench. “Chen Li.”

  Galen stiffened. “I was afraid of that. Don’t read the note. Maybe we’d better save it for Logan.”

  “It’s addressed to me.” She unfolded the paper.

  Sarah,

  As I told Logan, the last gift wasn’t for you. This one is far more fitting. Notice the asp? You can share it with Logan.

  Martin Rudzak

  16

  8:20 P.M.

  Just one more charge to go.

  Duggan carefully set the plastic explosive high in a cleft in the column so it wouldn’t be visible.

  Now get down.

  Get out.

  And watch the damn place blow.

  10:05 P.M.

  “Just what am I sharing with you?” Sarah asked as she and Galen watched Logan read the note. All the blinds were drawn in the first-floor conference room, and Monty lay a few feet from Sarah. “Is the mirror Chen Li’s?”

  “Probably. But I’ve never seen it. The nurses told me Rudzak was carrying a box when he went into Chen Li’s hospital room the night he killed her.”

  “And what does it mean?”

  “If it’s the last thing he gave her, it means he’s growing impatient. He wants to put an end to this.” His hand tightened on the mirror. “Thank God. So do I.”

  So did Sarah, but the idea also terrified her. “Then is Dodsworth—”

  Logan’s phone rang. He listened to the caller for a moment. “Right. I understand.” He hung up and turned to Galen. “Rudzak’s going to move. Clear the building. How many people are working tonight?”

  “Twelve.”

  “Get them out of here. Then tell your guys to do a tour and get out too.”

  “I’m on my way.” Galen headed out of the room at a run.

  “Shall I call the bomb squad and ATF?” Sarah asked.

  “Galen will do it.” He touched her cheek. “It’s okay, Sarah. The building will be cleared before anything happens. We have a little time.”

  “How do you know? Is that what Rudzak told you on the phone? Then you can expect the liar to blow it in the next few minutes.”

  “Rudzak’s been planning this a long time. There’s no one more methodical. He’s taking it step by step. Trust me. No one’s going to get hurt.”

  “How can I trust you, when you never tell me anything? Why didn’t you tell me about Rudzak saying that comb wasn’t for me?”

  “Why worry you? I was worried enough for both of us.”

  “Are there other things you haven’t told me?”

  He didn’t answer.

  “Ever since I met you, I’ve been fighting your secrets. You didn’t tell me about Kai Chi either.”

  “Don’t do this to me now, Sarah.”

  “Why not? It’s important. You always have to be the big, strong hero. Well, I’m tired of it. What about sharing? And treating me as a partner? I’m not fragile like Chen Li. You don’t have to take care of—”

  “Be quiet.” He gripped her shoulders and shook her. “Don’t throw Chen Li in my face.”

  “I don’t have to. Dear God, Rudzak is making sure that neither one of us forgets her.”

  “Listen to me.” He stared directly into her eyes. “I’m no longer the person who married Chen Li, but I’m grateful for what she gave me.”

  “I know you are. You and she were—”

  “Dammit, shut up. You don’t know anything. I love you. I want to spend my life with you. I’ve never felt like this about anyone else, and I’m not going to let anything happen to you.” He kissed her hard. “And I’m going to take care of you whether you like it or not. You go out when the security team does.”

  She watched dazedly as he walked away from her. “The hell I will,” she called after him. “Rudzak wants me here. He may not come if I leave.”

  He walked out the door without looking back.

  “Where are you—” She ran after him, Monty at her heels, but Logan had vanished around the corner.

  She had no intention of leaving, but there was no time for arguing. There were people to get out of the building.

  “Come on, Monty. Let’s get everyone out of here.” Monty followed her as she walked quickly to the lab on the ground floor where Kevin Janus was working.

  Her uneasiness was growing. The whole situation was like a puzzle with key pieces missing. It shouldn’t be happening like this. It didn’t smell right.

  You sound like Monty on a search.

  You should follow your instincts.

  She had no choice. There was no time to do anything but rely on instinct.

  Okay, put your uneasiness on the back burner. But try to find the cone, try to find the source.

  Before it is too late.

  10:35 P.M.

  The building was emptying. The parking lot was almost deserted.

  “You shouldn’t have sent them the warning,” Duggan told Rudzak as they sat in the car watching. “They’re scattering like scared mice.”

  “And you prefer the mice caught in the trap.” Rudzak lowered the binoculars. “I’m willing to let a few unimportant people scamper away. The mice that count are still inside, Duggan. Where did you set the charge?”

  “Where you told me. In the basement lab. The drainage tunnel was right where the blueprint said it would be. I was in and out in fifteen minutes. But you should have had me put the charge on a timer. That would be a lot safer.”

  “I don’t want it to be safe. I want to be there, looking at his face when I tell him what’s coming.” He smiled. “You can understand that. You get a thrill from pressing the trigger yourself.”

  “Not while I’m sitting on top of a pile of explosives.”

  “But you said I’d have no trouble getting out the drainage tunnel. In and out in fifteen minutes?”

  Duggan nodded.

  “And you have the switch in the trunk? Get it for me, will you, Duggan?”

  “Sure.” He got out of the car, and when he returned, he handed the switch over. “It’s real sweet. And I made sure it wasn’t hair trigger. I didn’t want you blowing yourself up by accident.”

  “Thank you for your concern, Duggan.” He leisurely got out of the driver’s seat. “But I really don’t want you to have to worry about me anymore.”

  Rudzak shot him in the head.

  11:10 P.M.

  Darkness.

  Logan stopped in the doorway, tensing. He knew what was ahead in that darkness. When his eyes became accustomed to the blackness, he’d be able to see Rudzak. He could almost feel the waves of hate bombarding him from the depths of that room.

  But the verbal threat didn’t come from the darkness. It came from behind him.

  “Go on.” The barrel of a pistol was suddenly pressed against his spine. “Move, Logan.”

  11:45 P.M.

  Four labs cleared. Three to go.

  Sarah and Monty hurried down the hall.

  Galen’s men had already cleared the seven scientists out of the second-floor lab by the time she and Monty got there. Next stop—Hilda Rucker and Tom Bassett on the third floor.

  She ran into Hilda Rucker on the stairs. The gray-haired woman was carrying a boxful of files. “I know. They told me to get out and I will be in two minutes.”

  “You stopped to grab those files?”

  “Do you think I want my work blown to smithereens?”

  Logan was right. Thes
e people were as committed to the project as he was. “Where’s Bassett?”

  “Right behind me. He came back to the lab just after Galen’s men left and I told him about the evacuation. He was dumping computer disks into his briefcase when I left.”

  “And probably throwing files into boxes like you did. I’d better get him out of there right now.” She continued up the stairs.

  She’d get Bassett out and then—

  Get Bassett out.

  Protect Bassett.

  She stopped short.

  Sweet Jesus.

  Her phone rang as she started up again.

  “Get out of there, Sarah,” Galen said as soon as she picked up.

  “Damn you, Galen. You and Logan both knew, didn’t you?”

  Silence and then, “Get out of there, Sarah.”

  “Go to hell.” She hung up and took the rest of the stairs two at a time with Monty at her heels.

  Protect Bassett.

  Keep Bassett safe.

  “Bassett!”

  He came out of the lab carrying his briefcase. “Sarah, I was just going to call you. I ran into Logan a few minutes ago and he wants you to come with me to—” He stopped as he saw her expression. “I see. It’s not going to be as easy as I thought, is it? You’re a very smart lady. I was afraid you might figure it out. Too bad you did.”

  “You’re the Judas, aren’t you? Rudzak had you planted from the beginning. He wanted us to rescue you. He wanted us to get you out of Santo Camaro so that he could use you to set up Dodsworth.” And set up Logan. Her heart stopped. “Where’s Logan? It was you who called him, wasn’t it?”

  He nodded. “I told him I’d received a threat from Rudzak and asked him to meet at the basement lab. Naturally, he came.” He smiled. “We all know how Rudzak’s targeted me in the past.” He took a gun out of his jacket pocket. “But Rudzak also wants you with Logan, so I’ll have to oblige.”

  “How much did he pay you?”

  “More than Castleton. Even though Castleton brought me on board. I deserved it. Rudzak suddenly got impatient so he gave me an excuse to leave Phoenix right away. The bastard didn’t tell me he was going to shoot me too.” He motioned with the gun. “We’d better get going. Rudzak doesn’t want to blow this building without you, but he may get edgy. I don’t want to be here if he does.”

  She didn’t move.

  “Should I shoot your dog first?”

  “No!” She started down the steps. “If I agree to go with you, is it all right if I send Monty to Galen?”

  “You’re afraid he’ll be blown up?”

  “There’s no reason for him to be hurt.” She stopped and turned to face him. “Let him go.”

  He shrugged. “It doesn’t matter. I don’t want to deal with him anyway. Send him away.”

  “Monty! Go to—” She launched herself up the stairs and dove low, grabbing Bassett’s gun hand. “Monty!”

  Monty buried his teeth in Bassett’s wrist as Sarah grabbed his bandaged hand and pushed the fingers back.

  He screamed in agony and dropped the gun. She scooped it up and hit him in the face with the butt. Blood spurted from his gashed lip. “Bastard.” She hit him again with the gun. “Son of a bitch.”

  He doubled over in pain.

  “Sarah!”

  She saw Galen running toward them. She told Monty, “Release.”

  Monty reluctantly let go of Bassett’s wrist.

  “Excuse me.” Galen stepped in front of her and gave Bassett a lethal chop on the carotid artery. “We don’t want him interfering. My, that felt good.” He looked down at Monty. “I never thought I’d see that ball of fluff on the attack.”

  “He doesn’t like guns pointed at me.”

  “Maybe I shouldn’t have worried so much when I ran into Hilda Rucker at the front door and she told me you were going to see Bassett. You and Monty seem to have everything under control.”

  “Nothing’s under control.” She started down the steps. “Logan’s in the basement lab. If you didn’t know already.”

  “I knew.”

  “And you and Logan knew all about Bassett.”

  “Not at first. We only suspected. But we confirmed when we found out that his calls to his wife were being forwarded to another number.”

  “That’s why no matter how tight the security, you knew Rudzak would strike here. He had someone on the inside feeding him information about security checks and opening all the doors.”

  “Yes, that’s what tipped you off, wasn’t it? I knew it bothered you.”

  “Then why the hell didn’t someone tell me?”

  “Sarah, you’re many things, but deceitful isn’t one of them. You’d never have been able to look Bassett in the face and pretend you didn’t know.”

  “So Logan is down there alone with Rudzak.”

  “You can’t go down there, Sarah. That’s what Rudzak wants.”

  “Watch me.”

  Galen’s hand closed on her shoulder. “I promised Logan that I’d get you out of here.”

  “Then you lied through your teeth, because I won’t—”

  Darkness.

  12:05 A. M.

  “You’re being very docile, Logan,” Rudzak said. “I wonder why.”

  “It could be the gun in your hand.”

  “Yes, that would have a dampening effect. Then there’s the fact that your feet and hands are tied up. And you’re lying on the floor like an animal ready for slaughter.”

  “Or it could be that this building is crawling with security men and one of them will come bursting in here any minute and butcher you.” Logan smiled. “I’m visualizing that possibility with great pleasure.”

  “I’d kill you first.” He smiled back. “But that’s not going to happen. I’ve planned this too well. We’ll just wait for your Sarah and then begin. I’m hoping the blast won’t kill you immediately, but it probably will. If the blast doesn’t kill you, then you’ll still be crushed. I had Duggan plant the explosives at the top of those columns. The girders holding up this section of the building will topple like dominos.”

  “Another tribute to Chen Li.”

  “The last one.”

  “No, you’ll be the last one. They’ll catch you and send you back to prison. You’ll die there.”

  Rudzak shook his head. “I’ll get away from here the same way I got in—through an old trapdoor leading to a drainage tunnel beneath the building. I have a plane waiting for me at a small airport outside town. I’ll be gone before anyone bothers to look for me. They’ll be too busy trying to dig your body out of the wreckage.”

  “Don’t count on it. Galen’s smart and he’s my friend.”

  “I was very tempted to include Galen in my plans, but it wasn’t practical. Perhaps I’ll have a chance at him later.” He checked his watch. “Bassett is being very slow.”

  “Maybe he’s tipped his hand. Sarah’s not stupid.”

  “No, but Bassett says she likes him, and it’s hard to suspect people you like.” He smiled again. “You liked Bassett too, didn’t you?”

  “Wouldn’t he have been here already if something hadn’t gone wrong? Galen was ordered to clear the building. That would include Bassett. If Bassett objected, it would have sent up a red flare. Galen’s not like Sarah, he suspects everyone.”

  Rudzak frowned. “You’re trying to make me uneasy. Are you willing to give up your final moments to save the woman?”

  Logan didn’t answer.

  “Maybe you are. You always were a fool.” His frown cleared. “I’ll wait a little longer. It may be worth it.”

  “Good.” Push him, make him uncertain, make him uneasy. And hope Galen managed to get Sarah out of the facility. “Every minute you spend here will make it easier for Galen to catch you.”

  Rudzak hesitated and then shook his head. “We’ll wait.”

  Five minutes.

  Ten minutes.

  Logan was staring at him. Where was his fear? Rudzak had wanted him afraid. Would
he be afraid at that final moment?

  And where was Bassett?

  “He’s not coming.” Logan was reading his expression. “But Galen will come. He should be wondering now where I am.”

  Rudzak made a decision. “I don’t need Sarah Patrick. I can always get her later.” He walked over to Logan. “And I will get her, Logan. Think about that when those columns come crashing down.” He opened his duffel bag. “I have a present for you. I was going to make the mirror my final gift, but I changed my mind. I decided that this should be the final resting place for all my other gifts to Chen Li.” He pulled out a large teakwood box. “So I put the other six treasures I gave her in this box and a little something else besides.” He opened the lid to reveal four sticks of dynamite beneath the artifacts.

  Logan stiffened. “I hate to pun, but isn’t that overkill?”

  A response at last. Logan was trying to hide it, but the shock was clear.

  “When I’m in the drainage tunnel, I’ll blow the charges Duggan set in here. But that’s a little unimaginative for me. So I want you to watch this fuse creep closer and closer.” He placed the box beside one of the columns nearest Logan and unwound the fuse as he made his way across the lab toward the door. He stopped there and leaned down to light the fuse. “It’s a slow burning fuse. You won’t know which one of the charges will take you out first, Duggan’s or mine. You have about three minutes. Lie there and count the seconds.” He took a last look at Logan. Logan’s expression was grim, but he still didn’t see fear, he realized in frustration. “Good-bye, Logan, you’re going to die.”

  “If I do, then Chen Li will welcome me. I did all I could to save her. She wouldn’t welcome you, Rudzak. You murdered her. She’d hate your guts.”

  “You lie. I saved her.” He slammed the door and ran down the steps. Moments later he was in the drainage pipe.

  Shit.

  Logan stared at the bright glow of the burning fuse.

  Think. Don’t panic.