It was over thirty minutes before he left the rail and strode across the deck to her.
“Okay, it’s a go,” he said curtly. “There’s a chance you’ll bite it, but you’re safer with Kelby and me in the plan. And we need that distraction. I’ll take the heat.”
Relief surged through her. “Where do you want me to throw the explosive?”
“The engine room or the galley. Either would have enough compressed gas to fuel an explosion.”
“And how am I supposed to carry this explosive?”
“The sole of your right deck shoe. There will be a switch to arm and you’ll have fifteen seconds to toss it. So you’d better be damn ready. We’ve just got to pray he doesn’t search you that thoroughly.”
“I think I know how to prevent that.” She smiled without mirth. “I have a distraction of my own in mind.” She kicked off her deck shoes. “Get to work, Nicholas.” She turned to leave. “I’m going to go to my cabin and make a few preparations.”
“And it might be a good idea to say your prayers. Your chances of getting out of this alive are maybe fifty-fifty.”
His voice was cool and without expression, and she glanced back at him. “You’re clearly upset about that.”
“Oh, I’ll be upset if he kills you. So upset I’ll have to justify letting you go after him by killing him myself. But since I’ve made a decision, I won’t let emotion interfere. We’ve just got to get the job done and try to stay alive.” He picked up the white deck shoes. “I’ll get these ready for you. Nice thick soles. That’s a lucky break.” He headed toward his cabin. “We’ll need all the luck we can get.”
She felt sick.
Don’t look in the mirror. Don’t think about it. Just go up on the deck to Nicholas.
He was standing by the rail next to the tender. “I polished up your deck shoes. No one would ever know— My God.” His eyes widened. “What the hell are you dressed up for? Halloween?”
She touched the white organdy empire-waist dress with a shaking hand. “No, but there’s an element of horror in it. It’s a present from Archer. I described it in one of my tapes, and he had it made up exactly. A child’s dress in an adult size. You’ll tie my hands and pin that note we wrote to the bodice of this disgusting abomination and send me to Archer with Kelby’s compliments.” She swallowed. “He knows what putting on this dress would do to me. He won’t think I can do it. So he’ll deduce that it was Kelby.”
“Jesus.”
“One, it will add to the veracity of handing me over. Two, seeing me in it will definitely distract Archer. He’ll be triumphant. He’ll be excited. He likes little girls.” She drew a deep breath and slipped on the white deck shoes he’d handed her. “Now, let’s get out of here. I want this dress off as quickly as possible.”
“We can’t get any closer without them seeing us,” Nicholas said as he cut the motor. He sat and gazed at Archer’s ship gleaming in the darkness. “Last chance. Are you sure you want to do this?”
“I’m sure.” She held out her wrists. “Tie me. Tight. But make sure I can see my watch.”
He took the rope he’d brought and bound her wrists. “This is ugly, Melis.”
“He’s ugly.” Dear God, she was scared as she gazed at the ship. The organdy dress, her bound hands, the feeling of helplessness. She could almost hear the pounding of the drums of Kafas. She wanted to scream—or whimper.
But she wasn’t helpless. She was doing this of her own free will. So get it started. “One more thing, Nicholas. Knock me out.”
“What?”
“Hit me. Make sure I have a bruise, but I’d appreciate it if you wouldn’t break my jaw. I want Archer to feel I’m totally helpless when he looks at me through those binoculars.”
“I don’t like to—”
“I don’t care what you like. You know you should do it. Hit me, dammit.”
“Then don’t look at me.”
“Some shaman.” She shifted her gaze back to the ship.
“Shamans were magicians, not warriors. Though they did officiate at the burnings at the stake. That’s what I feel like I’m doing at—”
Pain exploded in her jaw as he unleashed a right hook.
Nicholas gazed down at Melis crumpled in the seat. She looked like a little girl taking a nap in that dress.
And he felt like a son of a bitch. He was tempted to just turn the boat around and go back to the Trina.
He couldn’t do it. He was committed, and in these kinds of situations it was often suicide to pay attention to second thoughts. Besides, Melis had gone too far to be cheated. He patted her cheek. “Good luck.” He pressed the timer to set the clock on the rescue flare for three minutes, threw his waterproofed bundle into the water, and then followed it. He moved through the water with long, strong strokes. It would take him at least twenty minutes to swim to the island where Kelby was watching the ship. He wouldn’t get a warm welcome. By that time Melis should have been brought onto Archer’s ship and Kelby would probably know it.
A shrill whistling shrieked behind him.
He looked back over his shoulder to see the rescue flare explode in the dark sky.
“What the hell is it?” Archer ran out onto the deck, his gaze on the rocket. “Destrex, turn on the searchlights.” He took the binoculars from the first mate. At first he’d thought they were under attack, but Kelby wouldn’t have called attention to himself in this blatant fashion. And the possibility of a true rescue situation was minimal.
His gaze raked the waters in the area of the rocket. Nothing. “Where are those lights, dammit?”
The lights speared out over the water. A motorboat. Engine turned off, rocking on the waves.
“It’s too far to blow it out of the water,” Destrex said. “Besides, I think it’s empty.”
Archer focused on the boat.
A glimmer of white . . . He adjusted the focus again.
A little girl with golden hair, her delicate wrists bound with rope.
Melis!
“Yes.”
Excitement was tearing through him. Kelby had caved. Nothing could be clearer. He had her.
He turned to Destrex. “Go get her. Check the tender to make sure there aren’t any booby traps, but bring her to me.”
He watched Destrex and the two men lower the boat and glide out over the water. And then focused his binoculars on Melis again. She was obviously unconscious. Had she been drugged? She would have had to be restrained in some way to be forced into that dress. It would have stirred too many nightmare memories of Kafas.
But Kelby’s forcing her to wear it was the clearest indication that he was giving in on all fronts. He was not only surrendering Melis, he was gift-wrapping her in the packaging Archer had chosen. There was definitely nothing even the slightest bit sentimental about his feelings for her.
Destrex had reached the tender and was checking it out. Then he lifted Melis to one of the men in the boat. They were speeding back.
His heart was beating painfully hard as he watched the boat coming toward him. He wasn’t sure if it was hate, lust, or anticipation that was causing the blood to surge wildly through his veins. It didn’t matter.
She was coming.
Kelby’s grip tightened on the binoculars until the veins stood out on his hands as he saw Melis being lifted onto the ship. She had been limp while in the boat, but now she was stirring.
And by the time she reached the deck she was able to stand.
But only for a moment. Archer’s hand lashed out viciously and knocked her to the deck.
“Jed.” It was Nicholas behind him.
He didn’t lower the binoculars. “Not now, you bastard.” One of the men pulled Melis to her feet and was pushing her toward the stairs leading down to the cabins. She disappeared from view.
Kelby whirled on Nicholas. He could barely speak for the fury that was flaming through him. “You son of a bitch. What the hell are you doing?”
“What Melis wanted. It was her plan
from the get-go. You wouldn’t let her help, so she went for it.”
“With your help, damn you.”
“She would have found a way to go alone. You made a mistake, Jed. There’s no way of keeping her out of it.”
“You didn’t give me a chance.”
“No, because I’d feel the same way in her shoes. She has to do this. She has a big payback coming. She was cheated at Cadora. Besides, we needed that distraction.”
The memory of Melis knocked to the deck came back to Kelby. “He’s got her.”
“Then let’s go get her before he does her much damage. I brought your wet suit and the equipment,” Nicholas said. “Melis is going to set off the explosive at one forty-five. That gives us a little over an hour to swim out there and get in position. When she blows, everyone should rush toward the galley area. That’s our opportunity to board. After that, it’s up to us. I told Melis to hide after she tosses the explosive and keep hidden.”
“If she’s still alive.”
“She’s smart, Jed. She’s not going to do anything dumb.”
Kelby knew that, but it didn’t stop the fear that was eating at him. He had to stop it or he wouldn’t be able to function. “Okay, where’s the explosive?”
“Her right deck shoe.” Nicholas smiled. “I put one of my favorite stilettos and a skeleton key in her left.”
“Easy to get at?”
“All she has to do is rip down the back tab and strip off the sole. She can do it with one hand.”
“Both hands are tied. Your idea?”
“I told you, it was all Melis. If he doesn’t untie her, she can use the stiletto. It will be awkward but doable.”
“If she has the chance.”
“Yeah. If she has the chance.”
“You could have stopped her.”
“I chose not to try.” He looked him in the eye. “Blame me all you please. It’s not going to change a damn thing. It’s done.”
He was right. It was done. And there was no way Kelby could turn back the clock.
Nicholas’s face softened as he saw the despair in Kelby’s expression. “I’m sorry it has to be this way. I don’t feel good about this either, Jed. I’m worried as hell.”
“Worried? You don’t have a clue.” He turned away. “Let’s get going. Where’s my wet suit?”
Golden fretwork panels hung on the cabin walls.
Velvet coverlet on the bed.
Melis leaned back against the wall, sick, after the crew member pushed her into Archer’s cabin. It was her nightmare come to life. There were even Moroccan lanterns sitting on the floor beside the bed.
Did she hear drums? No, that was her imagination. She closed her eyes to shut out the sight. But it didn’t shut out the memories.
Then use all her will and shut them out herself. This response was what Archer wanted from her. Don’t let him get anything he wanted.
What time was it? She forced herself to open her eyes and look at the gold-framed clock on the wall. Fifty minutes to go. Fifty minutes to stay in this hellhole of a room. If she stood very still and stared only at the ceiling she could stand it.
The door opened and Archer stood there, smiling at her. “You look like a cringing mouse. Where’s your dignity, Melis?”
She straightened with an effort. “You went to a lot of trouble. When did you do all this?”
“As soon as I arrived here from Miami. There was no doubt in my mind that you’d be in this cabin eventually. It was only a question of when. I took a good deal of pleasure out of choosing and matching. I’d listen to the tapes and then send for the merchandise. It kept me from being bored.” He shook his head. “I only wish I’d seen your face when you first caught sight of it. I was a little angry or I wouldn’t have forgotten I intended to do that.” He moved to stand before her and touched the bruise on her chin. “Kelby wasn’t as soft about you as you thought, was he?”
“He’s a bastard.” She stared him in the eye. “Like you.”
“Sticks and stones.” One finger stroked the pink satin ribbon in her hair. “But you mustn’t blame him. You told me yourself that he was nuts about that ship.”
“I didn’t think he’d sell me down the river for it.”
“Haven’t you learned that whores are dispensable? There’s always another one. But you’re rather special. I feel a certain bond with you.” He took a step back. “And you look so pretty. Turn around for me.”
“Go to hell.”
He slapped her. “Don’t you remember? Disobedience was always punished.” He tilted his head. “But they also used drugs on you, didn’t they? I don’t want you all bruised to begin with. Maybe I’ll go that route.”
“No!” She wouldn’t be able to function if she was drugged. Forty-five minutes.
She turned around in a circle.
“Again. Slower.”
She bit her lower lip and then obeyed.
“Good little girl.” He was looking down at her deck shoes. “But where are the shiny patent-leather shoes I sent you?”
She kept her expression from showing the panic she felt. “They had to hold me down to get me in this dress. After I kicked him in the nuts, Kelby decided not to try the shoes.”
He chuckled. “He obviously doesn’t know how to handle naughty little girls. It takes experience.” His smile faded. “But he didn’t send the chest with you.”
“He doesn’t have it. Do you think I’d share that with him? It’s mine.”
He studied her. “No, I can see how you’d need a little insurance. And, after all, he has Marinth.”
“And that damn boat.”
“Such bitterness. We’ll discuss you giving me the chest later. Now, come over to the bed and lie down.”
She shook her head.
“Why, you’ve turned pale. It’s such a soft, lovely bed. And do you know what we’re going to do in it? We’re going to lie together and listen to the tapes. And I’m going to watch your face. I can’t tell you how much I missed that when I was phoning you. I wanted to see every expression.”
“I . . . can’t do it.”
“Don’t make me use the drugs. It might dull your emotions. Look at the bed.”
Red velvet, heaped with cushions.
“Now, go over and sit on it. We’ll go slowly. I like slow.”
But every moment would be a century. She moved across the room and sat down on the side of the bed.
“You hate the feel of that velvet against you, don’t you?”
“Yes.” Only two minutes had passed. “I can’t stand it.”
“You’ll be surprised what you can stand. We’ll explore that after the tapes.” He lay down and patted the bed. “Lie down by Daddy, sweetheart. Isn’t that what a lot of them said to you?”
She nodded jerkily. “I’ll . . . give you the papers if you’ll just let me out of here.”
“In time. Lie down, Melis.”
Two minutes more had passed. “Take the ropes off me.”
“But I rather like them. Say please.”
“Please.”
He took out his pocketknife and cut the ropes. “Lie down or I’ll tie you again.”
She slowly lay back on the pillows.
Oh, God, it was happening again.
She was going to scream.
No, she could control it. It wouldn’t happen. She just had to hold on.
Deal with it.
Was that Carolyn’s voice?
“Your expression is priceless,” Archer said hoarsely, his gaze fixed hungrily on her face. “I wish I had a camera handy. I’ll have to remember the next time.” He reached over and turned on the tape recorder on the nightstand. “But I’m too eager right now. I have to watch you. . . .”
Then she heard her own voice on the tape.
Chapter Eighteen
Five minutes to go.
“Two men on the bridge,” Nicholas murmured. “One will probably stay at the helm even if the other runs to the explosion. You or me?”
/> “You do it. I’m heading for the cabins.”
“I thought as much.”
Kelby’s eyes strained as he stared up at the deck. God, he wanted to move now.
Four minutes.
Melis sat bolt upright on the bed and covered her mouth. “Jesus, I’m going to throw up.”
“How annoying.” Archer sat up in bed. “When we were just getting to the good part.”
She bent over the bed, gagging.
“No, you don’t. Not on this bed. I have too many plans for it.” He jumped up and jerked her out of bed. “The bathroom, bitch.” He dragged her over to the adjoining bathroom. “Hurry up. And don’t get anything on that dress.”
He pushed her into the room and slammed the door.
Alone.
She had been afraid he’d come in with her. But most people didn’t like to see others throw up. That didn’t mean he wasn’t probably right outside the door.
She made gagging sounds as she reached down and stripped the tab on the back of her right shoe. She carefully removed the slender explosive device and set it on the top of the commode. Then she retrieved the stiletto from her left shoe.
“Are you through?” Archer said.
She gagged again. “I guess so.”
“Then wash your face and rinse out your mouth like a good girl. You’ve made me a little angry. I may have to spank you.”
She started the water running in the sink. She took a few deep breaths to steady herself. Her hand tightened on the hilt of the stiletto. She had to move. Don’t turn off the water. It would give her a few seconds of surprise when she went through the door.
“Melis.”
She threw open the door and leapt forward. She had a fleeting impression of the shock on Archer’s face as the stiletto entered his upper chest. He started to fall.
Was the wound enough?
No time to check. It was a minute past time. She ran out of the cabin. She’d noticed when they’d brought her down that the galley was right down the hall. She ran toward it.
No one was there.
She armed the explosive.
“What are you doing here?” A man carrying an assault rifle was coming down the stairs behind her.