The Search

“Okay, but it’s a long flight and you’re going to hurt like hell.”

  “I’m hurting like hell now, but Rudzak had to have seen her and Monty. If he’s alive, then he may try to take her out first. She’s an easier target and it’s pretty clear he doesn’t want me dead before he can make me suffer.”

  “Are you going to tell her that?”

  “Not if I can help it. It may get in the way and she’s pissed enough at me. I just have to be wherever she is to keep Rudzak in check.”

  “You’re not exactly in prime condition to keep anyone in check. You could get protection for her. You don’t have to do it yourself.”

  “I made her a promise.” He smiled crookedly. “And, hell, I probably owe her for more than Bassett now.”

  “You mean for picking you up and throwing you into the helicopter? It’s possible. Seconds were counting at that point.” Galen grinned. “And it was an interesting role reversal. Do you suppose she has Amazon blood?”

  “All I know is that I could have done without that particular guilt trip.” He closed his eyes. “Get me in that plane and go back and check on Rudzak. I have to know.”

  Logan’s eyes were closed, but Sarah knew he wasn’t asleep. His mouth was compressed and deep lines were engraved on either side of his lips.

  She sat down on the bed beside him. “Take this.”

  Logan’s eyes opened and looked at the glass in her hand. “What is it?”

  “Tylenol.” She popped two tablets on his tongue. “You’re not allergic to that too, are you?”

  He shook his head as he swallowed the water. “Thanks.”

  “Tough luck about the morphine allergy. The Tylenol may help a little. I gave some to Monty too.”

  “Then I know it’s a surefire remedy. You might take chances with my health but never with Monty’s. How is he?”

  “Better than you.”

  “That must give you some satisfaction. After all, I was responsible for his being hurt.”

  “It doesn’t give me any satisfaction. I hate violence. I never wanted you to be shot.” She glanced away from him. “And you told Galen to save Monty before you. Not many men would have done that for a dog.”

  “Don’t give me too much credit. I’m not the selfless type. I wanted to tell Galen to get me the hell on that helicopter.”

  “But you didn’t.” She was still not looking at him. “And I’ve always found it’s what you do and not what you think that’s the bottom line. Fear’s always there.”

  “Is it?”

  “If you’re not stupid.” She rose to her feet. “I have to get back to Monty. You’re probably in too much pain to sleep, but you can try.”

  “I’m expecting a call from Galen. If I do fall asleep, will you see that I wake up to take it?”

  “It’s that important? You need to sleep.”

  “Will you wake me?”

  She lifted her shoulders. “Sure. Why not? You’re the one who’s going to suffer for it.”

  “How’s Bassett doing?”

  “Okay. He’s covered with mosquito bites and he’s got a bad case of nerves. He wants to call his wife.”

  Logan shook his head. “Not now. Tell him not to worry. She wasn’t told he was missing.”

  “But why can’t he call her?”

  “It could cause problems. He may not be able to go home yet.”

  “Isn’t that his choice? He’s had a rough time.” She rubbed her temple. “We’ve all had a rough time. I’d spit in your eye if you tried to keep me from going back to the ranch.”

  “Would you?”

  “You bet your life. Why shouldn’t he go home?”

  He didn’t answer.

  She said slowly, “You’re worried about Rudzak?”

  “He could still be alive, and he thought Bassett was valuable enough to take as a hostage before. I may have to find a secure place for him for a while.”

  “What if he won’t go? His nerves are already shot, and it would be like being put in another prison.”

  “Maybe it won’t be necessary. I hope not.”

  “It should be Bassett’s choice. Not yours.”

  “It became my choice when Rudzak destroyed that research facility. Everything Rudzak does is aimed directly at me. I’m the only one who can deflect him.”

  “You talk as if it’s some kind of contest.”

  “It’s no contest. It’s a war and Rudzak’s as tenacious as a bulldog.”

  “Don’t malign any dog by comparing him to that murderer. He tried to kill Monty.”

  He smiled. “I wonder what it would take to make you care as much for a human being as you do that dog.”

  “Unswerving loyalty, courage, humor, companionship, intelligence, and the willingness to give his life for me.”

  He gave a low whistle. “You’re tough.”

  “You asked me. Total commitment is almost impossible between individuals. That’s why I like dogs more than I do most people. It’s a hell of a lot safer.”

  “You’ve found that?”

  “Haven’t you?” She felt his gaze on her back as she walked away from him. He was wounded and in pain, and yet he was still trying to pull Bassett’s strings. What a surprise. He’d probably have to be in his coffin before he’d give up control.

  Maybe she wasn’t being fair. He was trying to help Bassett.

  Well, she was too tired to be fair, she thought as she sat down beside Monty. Her emotions were in shreds and she was so tired, she was almost numb. She wanted only to go home and rest.

  She glanced at Bassett, who was curled up asleep in the chair across the aisle. He deserved to go back to his wife and kid. He should never have gotten caught up in any project with a man as dangerous as Logan. What was she thinking? But she had not really thought of Logan as dangerous until the past few days. On the surface he was a powerful and eminently respectable businessman. Bassett had probably thought himself lucky to hitch his wagon to a star of Logan’s magnitude. Well, not Sarah. She had done her job and was through with Logan.

  Monty made a sound deep in his throat and she quickly bent to stroke his side. “I know it hurts. It will be over soon. We’re going home.”

  “I think it’s a displaced clavicle,” Duggan said. “It must hurt like hell. You’d better not walk any farther.”

  “Don’t be an idiot. I have to keep going. Give me a minute and I’ll be able to go on.” Rudzak leaned back against the tree, closed his eyes, and let the waves of pain wash over him. He had learned in prison that it was better to accept pain than to fight it. Another lesson he owed to Logan. “Did you radio Mendez and ask him to send another helicopter?”

  “Yes, he said that he’d have it waiting for us at the cliffs.”

  The cliffs. Five miles away. It might as well be fifty in the shape he was in. Dammit, why did the helicopter have to crash? All his plans blown in a moment. “You told him I was hurt?”

  Duggan avoided his glance. “He said this wasn’t company business and that he wouldn’t chance involving his men in a confrontation with Galen. He’ll be glad to help you if you reach an area that’s relatively safe.”

  He should have known. Company business was the only passion in Mendez’s life, and as long as Rudzak kept the profits coming in, the drug baron would continue to pour unlimited funds into his bank account. If Rudzak did anything that harmed business, he’d be cut loose quicker than the blink of an eye. Mendez needn’t worry. Rudzak would do nothing to damage their relationship. Money was God in this world, and he needed money to unleash a lightning bolt at Logan.

  “I could call him back,” Duggan said. “Maybe he didn’t realize—”

  “He realized exactly what he was doing.” Which meant he had to get to those cliffs before Galen and his team returned. “Help me up.”

  Agony shot through his upper body as Duggan got him to his feet. It would be all right, he told himself. Accept the pain. Make it work for you. Turn it into hate.

  He knew all about hate. Fifteen yea
rs . . .

  “Do you want to lean on me?” Duggan asked.

  “No.” He staggered down the trail. Keep going. Ignore the pain. Think about Logan. Plan the next move. “As soon as we get to Bogotá I want you to arrange transport to the U.S.”

  “We have to get you to a doctor before—”

  “That won’t take long. If it’s a displaced clavicle, it can be put back. I want to be en route by tomorrow. I don’t want Logan to feel safe.”

  “And we’re going to Silicon Valley?”

  Duggan was zeroing in on his principal interest. No harm; it would keep him focused. But there were so many more facets to revenge than he was capable of seeing. “Yes, but first I have to check and see if—” He stopped to get his breath as another wave of pain shot through him. Fight it. Clear your mind. “I saw a woman and a dog. . . . She helped Logan get to the helicopter. Find out who she is.”

  “As soon as I can.”

  “Right away. I know Logan. He can be very soft when he’s grateful to someone. I’ve exploited that weakness myself.” The pain was getting hard to suppress. But he mustn’t be discouraged just because one thing had gone wrong.

  I’m coming, Logan. Do you feel my hate? You will soon. It will burn you and everyone around you to cinders.

  “He’s alive,” Galen said over the phone. “We found the helicopter, but he’d managed to land it. No sign of him or any of his men.”

  Logan cursed. “Keep looking.”

  “I am, but it’s my bet he’s safe in drug heaven somewhere in the hills.”

  “Not for long. He’ll be on the move as soon as he can.”

  “But we may have a break for a little while. What’s the plan?”

  “I’m working on it. But right now we have to wait for him to make a move. Have Margaret contact the FBI and ATF and tell them we’ve had an anonymous threat and to give my plants and research facilities additional protection.”

  “Including Dodsworth?”

  Logan didn’t answer for a moment. “No, not Dodsworth. She’s not to tell them about Dodsworth. I’ve already tripled the security there. Dodsworth will be safe.”

  “Don’t sell Rudzak short.”

  “You don’t have to tell me that.”

  “Easy.”

  “I don’t feel easy.” Dammit, Logan had hoped that Rudzak had been taken out. “Try to find him. If you can’t locate him, find someone who can point the way. We need to know what he’s up to.” He had to think through the pain throbbing through him. “Oh, and tell Margaret to make the pilot head for Phoenix and have a surgeon ready in my house there to take out this damn bullet.”

  “Phoenix?”

  “The house has security. I’ll double it and set up quarters for Bassett there.”

  “What about Sarah Patrick?”

  “My chances of getting her to stay at the house are slim to none. Arrange surveillance and protection for her cabin, but make sure she’s not aware of it.”

  “Done. And what about you? You’re the one Rudzak wants to slaughter and hang out to dry.”

  “I’m safe for now.”

  “Oh, yeah? You have a bullet in your leg to prove how safe you are.”

  “I think Rudzak would have been very upset if that bullet had killed me. He wants to torture me first. He told me so.”

  “Just hope he doesn’t change his mind.” Galen hung up.

  Rudzak wouldn’t change his mind, Logan thought wearily. He had planned his revenge too long.

  “Monty wanted to come.” Sarah was standing beside him with Monty in her arms and carefully placed the dog on the floor beside Logan’s couch. “He’s got that sore shoulder, and I couldn’t stop him from trying to crawl over to you. He knows you’re hurt and he wants to comfort you. Now that you’ve gotten your call, will you go to sleep? I don’t want Monty disturbed any more than he is right now.”

  “I’ll go to sleep.” He reached down and stroked the retriever’s head. “I wouldn’t want Monty disturbed.”

  She took the phone from him and put it on the end table. “What about Rudzak?”

  “Alive.”

  “And what are you going to do about it?”

  “Wait. Watch. Try to find him.” He paused. “But Bassett will have to go to the secured house in Phoenix for his own protection.”

  “Why there?”

  “Why not? It’s a pleasant enough place. You stayed there yourself for a while with Eve. I don’t suppose you’d want to live there until Monty has recovered?”

  “No way. I want to go home.”

  That’s what he’d been afraid of. “Do you mind if we go to the house first before I have you taken home? I need to get this bullet out.”

  “The house instead of a hospital?”

  “Hospitals ask questions.”

  “Doctors are bound by law to report gunshot wounds.”

  “But they can often be persuaded to delay or forget the report.”

  “Money?”

  “Or influence. Or even a charitable donation. Doctors see so much suffering, sometimes they weigh legalities against a contribution that can help heal thousands.”

  “And risk their license.”

  “It’s their choice, Sarah.” He closed his eyes. “Now go away and let me and Monty sleep. I’m tired of defending myself.”

  “In a minute.” He heard the sound of pouring water and opened his eyes to see Sarah setting down the carafe. She handed him two more Tylenol. “You can take these now. I don’t want you restless and disturbing—”

  “Monty,” he finished for her. He swallowed the pills and closed his eyes again. “I’ll try not to thrash around and bother your dog.”

  “Monty wouldn’t care. It’s his nature to want to comfort.” She tucked the blanket around him with a gentleness that belied the briskness of her tone. “But I care for him. Go to sleep.”

  He was already half asleep as he heard her move away from him. It wasn’t only Monty’s nature to want to comfort. In spite of Sarah’s resentment toward him, she found it impossible not to try to ease his pain and equally impossible to admit to that softness.

  A truly remarkable woman . . .

  “Bring him into the living room. It’s already set up as an operating room.” A plump, fortyish woman in a pin-striped suit was standing outside the house, waiting, when the ambulance doors opened and Logan was lifted to the ground. “How are you doing, John?”

  “Okay.”

  “You don’t look okay. You’re pale as a tombstone. This was incredibly stupid of you.” She walked beside his stretcher. “And you’ve caused me a great deal of trouble. Do you know how difficult it is to arrange this kind of thing with any kind of confidentiality?”

  “Sorry.” He looked back over his shoulder at Sarah. “This is my assistant, Margaret Wilson. Ask her for anything you need.”

  “I’ll be fine. Stop worrying about me.”

  To her surprise, he reached out his hand to her. She took a step closer to the stretcher and enfolded his hand in hers.

  His grasp tightened as he looked up at her. “Stay,” he whispered. “Stay, Sarah.”

  “I’m not going anywhere right away.”

  “I’ll take that as a promise.” He glanced at his assistant. “Take care of her, Margaret. She needs to—”

  “Shut up,” Margaret said. “I’ll take care of everything. You just let Dr. Dowden take care of this stupidity you’ve gotten yourself into before you lose that leg.”

  He released Sarah’s hand. “Yes, ma’am.”

  Margaret turned back to Sarah as Logan was whisked into the living room. “They’re going to operate at once. How bad is he?”

  “The bullet didn’t shatter the bone, but it tore through some muscle. Infection is always the problem. He’d be better off in a hospital.”

  Margaret shook her head. “He won’t do it. Where’s your dog? I heard he was shot too.”

  “Still in the ambulance. He’s okay. Just a little sore. He hasn’t wanted to leave Logan
since he was hurt, so we rode here with him. Bassett is being driven here by the pilot and the security guard you arranged to meet the plane.” She turned, lifted Monty out of the ambulance, and carried him into the house. “We’ll stay until the operation is over.”

  Margaret lifted her brows. “Because Monty’s worried?”

  “I’m not so hard that I can’t feel compassion for someone in pain. Even Logan.” She carried Monty through to the kitchen. “Will you get down a bowl? I need to give Monty water.”

  “Sit down. I’ll do it.” Margaret went to a cabinet, got a bowl, and filled it with water.

  Sarah took the bowl and pushed the water toward Monty. When he started to drink, she straightened and asked, “Is this Dowden a good doctor?”

  Margaret nodded. “You don’t know me or I’d be insulted that you’d think I’d put John in some quack’s hands.” She looked down at Monty. “How about him? Does he need a vet?”

  Sarah shook her head. “I’m used to taking care of him unless it’s something serious. He’s fine. He could walk, but that shoulder is sore. I want him to rest it. He’ll be back to normal in a day or so.”

  “So you’re lugging him around like a baby.” Margaret grinned. “A seventy-pound baby at that.”

  “No problem. I’m strong. In my job I have to be.”

  “I know. I did the research on you.” She sat down across from Sarah. “You have a perfect right to be pissed at me, but I’m still going to tell you that I admire what you and Monty have done.”

  “Why should I be angry with you? It’s Logan who pulls the strings.”

  “That’s very fair.” Margaret’s gaze searched her face. “But you’re not as angry with John as I thought you’d be. Why not?”

  Because he’d kept his word. Because though she disapproved of his methods, she couldn’t fault his motives. Because she’d grown to know him in that jungle, his strength and his determination, even a little of his past. It was difficult hating anyone but a total ass once you understood them.

  “It’s over.” She rose to her feet. “It’s a waste of energy being angry. Will you keep an eye on Monty? I want to be at the door to meet Bassett. This is pretty difficult for him. He thought he was going home.”