It was the solution Venable had been considering, but it might be too dangerous. “And what if everything is in place and goes forward even after we kill him? We don’t know how far along he’s come with Ali Dabala. No, we have to know names, dates, cities.”
“I’ve tried, Venable.”
Venable knew Bradley had tried, and he was a good man. He had used every resource available and had gathered an amazing amount of information.
But not enough.
Venable felt a tightness in his chest as he gazed at the map. So many colorful tacks. It looked like a cell-phone commercial. Yellow tacks for possibles. Red tacks for probables. So many cities. So many people…
Damn Rakovac.
“What next?” Bradley asked.
“What do you think? Go back and get the information.”
Bradley hesitated. “The last timeline we have is between four and seven days. There may not be enough time.”
“Then stop wasting it.”
Bradley shrugged and strode out of Venable’s office.
Venable’s gaze returned to the map.
Four to seven days.
And the chances were that Bradley wasn’t going to be able to find out anything more than he had already.
Dammit, he had to know.
Stop hesitating. Do what had to be done. He couldn’t afford to be soft. He had to balance the good of the majority against the good of a few. He had lived all his adult life making decisions like this one. This would only be one more.
He reached for his phone and dialed a number. Voice mail. “Dufour, call me back. I need to speak to you. Pronto.”
Chapter
9
Navrodas, Russia
The airport where they landed was located in a deserted area, with only three hangars and a runway that was bumpy and full of potholes.
Eve felt as if her teeth were being jarred out of their sockets by the time the jet came to rest at the end of the runway. “Not exactly a smooth landing.”
“Beggars can’t be choosers,” Catherine said. “It’s within sixty miles of Moscow. The mafia built it over two decades ago, but they moved up in the world and abandoned it. It’s been deserted for at least seven years.”
“Totally deserted?” Joe asked. “Rakovac is still heavily involved with the mafia. It’s not watched?”
Catherine shook her head. “It’s safe, or Kelsov wouldn’t have brought us here. Believe me, he’s trying to stay off Rakovac’s hit list until he’s in a position to take him down.” She glanced at Eve’s computer. “No word from your institute?”
“Not yet.”
“Backlogged?”
“Always. But I put an urgent on the request. They know I don’t push unless there’s reason.” She was unfastening her seat belt. “And I’ve done a few favors for them.”
“More than a few,” Joe said dryly as he stood up. “Now tell me about this Kelsov. How much can we trust him?”
“All the way if it concerns taking Rakovac down,” Catherine said. “On every other front, he’s a wild card. He’s very smart, violent, and, on occasion, reckless. In most cases he sticks to his word, but I’ve known him to change horses in midstream.” She shrugged. “He’s a survivor. A survivor has to make certain adjustments.”
“But she likes him.” Dorsey Hodges had come out of the cockpit. “Enough to risk my neck whenever she decides she has to make a foray here to find her Luke.” He smiled at Catherine. “I, on the other hand, find him a little too barbaric for my taste. By the way, I don’t see a sign of him.”
“He was fighting and killing for the Georgian Republic in their fight with Ossetians and Russia when he was twelve. He was doing hard labor in Siberia by the time he was seventeen. I’d say that would foster barbaric tendencies.” Catherine was looking out the window. “And here he comes.”
“You’d think he’d be here waiting,” Dorsey said. He opened the door and pressed the button to lower the stairs. “But then we don’t think alike.”
“No.” Catherine had started down the stairs. “But there’s no rule that says you have to. As long as the job gets done.” She was waving at Kelsov. “You’ve upset Dorsey,” she called. “He thinks that you should have been here to whisk us safely away when the wheels touched down.”
“I was almost on time.” Alex Kelsov stepped out of the dark gray Mercedes. “I had a poker game last night, and I didn’t want to walk away a complete winner. It’s always better to lose a little to keep the tempers from flaring.” A brilliant white smile lit his tan face. “It takes time to lose convincingly.”
Lord, he’s big, Eve thought. Kelsov must have been at least six-five with broad shoulders, brawny arms and thighs, and tight waist and butt. Dressed in a white crew-neck cable sweater and dark jeans, he looked vaguely nautical. He was probably in his late twenties but he appeared younger. His hair was dark chestnut and worn a little long. His dark eyes were set deep in his craggy face, and his big white teeth and wide lips added boldness to his features. Not that he needed any additional boldness, Eve thought. Everything about his expression and body language spoke, no, shouted, of confidence and vitality.
“I imagine it takes longer to win convincingly,” Catherine said dryly. “Did you cheat, Kelsov?”
“Not this time. It wasn’t that kind of game.” He strode forward, picked her up, and gave her an enormous hug. “It’s good to see you, Catherine. I’ve missed you. Life is always more interesting when you come to visit me.”
“Put me down, Kelsov,” Catherine said. “You only do this to put me at a disadvantage.”
“Nonsense.” He swung her around, then set her on her feet. “I do it because you’re a beautiful woman, and it gives me the opportunity to touch you.”
“And?”
He grinned. “And it’s not often I can feel superior around you. A man must do whatever he can to keep his ego intact.” He looked beyond her to Dorsey Hodges. “Are you slipping? That landing wasn’t all that smooth.”
Dorsey said between set teeth, “If you’d arrange to bring us into a decent airport, I might be able to—”
“He’s right, Kelsov.” Catherine stepped into the conversation. “Stop baiting him.” She turned to Eve and Joe. “Joe Quinn, Eve Duncan. I told you about them. This is Alex Kelsov.”
“Delighted. I was a little uneasy until I did a little checking, but I think I can tolerate you.” Kelsov gave them another brilliant smile as he inclined his head. “If you don’t get in my way.”
“I’m not sure that we can tolerate you,” Joe said. “But there are always solutions if we can’t.”
“Oh, yes,” Dorsey said, half-beneath his breath.
Kelsov’s smile didn’t waver, but his expression became thoughtful. “That is true. There are always solutions.” He turned back to Catherine. “Do I take you to my farmhouse or do we have a destination?”
“The farmhouse. We should have word soon.”
“Is this farmhouse safe?” Joe asked.
“Of course,” Kelsov said. “I don’t make mistakes like that. I know Rakovac has his people crawling from beneath every rock.”
Catherine turned to Dorsey. “Stay nearby. I’ll let you know when I need you.”
“Anytime.” He turned toward the plane. “Good luck, Catherine.”
“She has me,” Kelsov said as he strolled toward the car. “Luck isn’t necessary.”
“It’s not that kind of game?” Catherine asked. “I think that I’ll take any kind of luck I can get.” She waved at Dorsey as he climbed the steps. “Thank you, Dorsey.”
He shook his head. “After what you did for me, I’m still way behind.” He smiled and disappeared into the plane.
Catherine turned toward Eve. “Kelsov isn’t usually this abrasive. He and Dorsey rub each other the wrong way.”
And Eve had an idea that conflict swirled around Catherine. And, why not? She was an extraordinary woman who was also stunningly attractive. Even with no encouragement from her, it would
be natural for them to gravitate toward her. Even Joe had noticed how beautiful Catherine was.
Lucy Liu combined with Angelina Jolie.
“I can see how they’d be a little antagonistic. They seem to be direct opposites.”
“You’re right. Dorsey is smooth and civilized. Kelsov is rough-diamond flamboyant.” Catherine shrugged. “But they work well together when they have to. That’s all that’s important.”
“Come. Don’t dawdle,” Kelsov called to them from the driver’s seat. “I’ve called ahead to Natalie, and dinner will be waiting for us. Catherine, sit up here with me and tell me how we’re going to cut Rakovac’s throat.”
“I told you on the phone, Luke comes first.” She got into the passenger seat. “One move from you that puts Luke in danger, and I’ll cut your throat.”
“My gentle dove.” Kelsov threw back his head and laughed. “How I’ve missed you.”
“Interesting,” Joe said in a low voice as he opened the door to the backseat for Eve. “Rather like Kate and Petruchio in Taming of the Shrew.”
“I’d lay odds there’s no taming going on.” Eve got into the car and pulled her computer out of her case. “I’ve got to check my e-mail. The institute should have answered me by now.”
“Institute?” Kelsov asked as he started the car. “From what I read about you, I thought you worked alone. Brilliant forensic sculptor closeted away doing her magic.”
“It’s not magic.”
“Sometimes it is,” Catherine said quietly. “Skill can do magic. So can dedication.”
“Then you should have enough magic to be able to hurl lightning bolts, Catherine,” Kelsov said. “I’ve never known anyone with more dedication.”
“I have.” Catherine glanced over her shoulder and met Eve’s gaze. “Perhaps not more, but just as much.” Her gaze shifted to Kelsov. “And what about you, Kelsov? I wouldn’t be able to use you if you weren’t obsessed with Rakovac. I can’t see you risking your neck just to help me find Luke.”
“I might.” He smiled. “Though that wasn’t my attitude in the beginning. All I could think about was pure revenge. You were a stranger, and we used each other. But I’ve grown to know you, Catherine. These days, it’s difficult for me to separate my obsession from yours.”
“I imagine that if you had an opportunity to put Rakovac down, it would all become very clear to you,” she said dryly. “Don’t try to tell me anything else.”
He stared at her for a moment before he said, “I might, if I thought I could make you believe me.” Then he chuckled. “But that won’t happen, so I’ll hold my peace.”
“‘Peace’?” she repeated. “You and that word are strangers to each other. How is Natalie?”
“She’s well. As well as she can be. She’ll be much better once I kill Rakovac.” He changed the subject. “You said you had Rakovac’s surveillance file. Is there anything in it that will help us?”
“Not so far as I can tell. I still haven’t finished.”
“Who is Natalie?” Joe asked.
“Natalie Ladvar,” Catherine said. “Another one of Rakovac’s victims. We found her two years ago in a town near what was his headquarters at that time. Sixteen years old and the daughter of one of Rakovac’s men. Rakovac thought she’d amuse him for a few months, so he raped her and set her up as his mistress. She decided she didn’t appreciate the honor and took off. He was insulted and found her and brought her back.” Her lips tightened. “He kept her prisoner for six months, and she can’t even talk about the torture he put her through. When he decided he was finished with her and let her go, she was almost a zombie. We found her in the brothel where he’d sold her. I thought she might be able to tell me something about Luke, so Kelsov went in and got her.”
“And?”
Catherine shook her head. “I told you, she was a zombie. She couldn’t even talk.” She made a face. “But we couldn’t just let her go back there. So Kelsov took her home with him.”
“At Catherine’s orders,” Kelsov said.
“You didn’t argue,” Catherine said. “So shut up. If I hadn’t told you to do it, you would have done it anyway. And you never tried to get rid of her.”
“She doesn’t talk much, and she cooks pretty good.”
“After you worked with her for a year.”
“Which just demonstrates how much I hate to cook.”
“That must be it.” She glanced back at Eve. “Anything from the institute?”
Eve shook her head. “Not yet. I’ll e-mail them again.”
“Wait until we reach the farmhouse,” Kelsov said. “The reception is better.” He turned a curve in the road and nodded. “It’s just ahead.”
The house he’d indicated was a small stone building that was set far back from the road. An equally small barn was situated to the rear of the house. A brown-haired woman opened the door as they drove up the driveway. She was small, thin, dressed in brown pants and a loose white shirt, her hair pulled back in a loose ponytail. If this was Natalie, she appeared far older than her eighteen years. Eve had expected her to be the zombie Catherine had called her, but she only appeared to be pale and withdrawn. Her enormous brown eyes weren’t terrified, only uncertain.
“You lied,” Catherine murmured. “She is better.”
“I worked with her. I couldn’t leave her like that. Rakovac would love it if he’d totally destroyed her. I wasn’t having it.”
“And that’s the only reason you helped her? I don’t think so.”
“Don’t make the mistake of thinking I’m getting soft,” he said quietly. “I’m a selfish bastard intent on getting exactly what I want. I’m just no monster. In comparison, I look pretty good to her.”
“Better than good.” Catherine got out of the car and moved toward the girl. “Hello, Natalie. Do you remember me? I’m Catherine Ling.”
Natalie nodded. “I remember. You were with Kelsov when he took me from that place.” She tried to smile. “Though Kelsov says I shouldn’t remember anything about that time if I can help it.”
“You should pay no attention to him,” she said. “Don’t dwell on it, but it will always be with you. You can’t ignore it, or it will sneak up on you when you least expect it.” She studied her. “You’re looking well.”
Natalie nodded. “I looked in the mirror one day last week, and I could almost see…I looked alive.”
“You are alive,” Kelsov said roughly as he got out of the car. “Stop talking foolishness. Would I have wasted all my time on you if you weren’t alive and worthwhile?”
“No.” Natalie smiled faintly. “And because your time is so important, I must be very worthy.” She started to turn away. “Dinner is ready. I made stew that—”
“Wait.” Catherine gestured to Eve and Joe, who had just joined her. “Joe Quinn, Eve Duncan. This is Natalie Ladvar. They’re trying to help me, Natalie.”
Natalie inclined her head. “I’m very happy to meet you. I hope you can help Catherine. I couldn’t do it. She wanted me to tell her about—but I couldn’t—I might have known something, but by the time she came to that…place, it was gone.”
“We’ll help her,” Eve said gently. “Everything is all right, Natalie.” She stepped forward. “And it will be better when I try that stew. I’m very hungry.”
Natalie smiled. “Then please come in. Kelsov doesn’t bring company very often. This stew is what you might call a test case.”
“Your test case was a complete success,” Joe said as he lifted his napkin to his lips. “You’re quite a cook.”
“My mother taught me before she left us.” A shadow crossed her face. “But I forgot how to do it. I forgot a lot of things.”
“It’s coming back to you,” Kelsov said. “And if it doesn’t, sometimes new is better.”
“He always says that,” Natalie said as she rose to her feet. “Go into the living room while I stack the dishes. I’ll bring coffee.”
“I’ll help,” Catherine said.
&nb
sp; Natalie shook her head. “It’s my job. I have to pay for my keep some way.” She started to stack the bowls. “Kelsov says it’s important for me.”
“And she believes me. She doesn’t realize it’s because I’ve always wanted a slave,” Kelsov said, straight-faced.
“Yes, I believe you.” She didn’t look at him as she turned toward the huge country sink. “I’ll always believe you.”
Kelsov rose to his feet. “You see what I’m up against? I’m such a good liar, and it’s all wasted.” He turned and led them from the small kitchen to the adjoining living room. “How can I fight her?”
“You can’t,” Eve said as she dropped down on the faded easy chair by the fire. “Why would you want to? She’s very fragile.”
“If I treat her too gently, she’ll never come into her full strength,” Kelsov said. “That bastard took her when she was only a kid, and what he did stunted her. It wasn’t only the mental and physical torture. He made her feel so helpless, she withdrew into herself.” He sat down and stretched his long legs out before him. “So I pull her out of the shell. Sometimes it hurts her, but that’s too bad. It’s got to be done even if she hates me.”
“I don’t think that’s going to happen.” Eve had watched the strange interaction between the two of them at dinner. Close. So close. Natalie had been very quiet, but Eve was sure she had not missed a word or gesture that had issued from Kelsov. Kelsov had spoken very seldom to Natalie, and he had clearly been trying to avoid showing any concern, but his attitude had been watchful, protective. “Would she be better off in a rehabilitation center?”
“Yes. God knows, she shouldn’t be around me. I probably remind her of Rakovac and all the men who abused her. I drink too much on occasion, I don’t bring women home, but she knows I have them.” He grimaced. “And Catherine will tell you that I’m not a gentle man.”
But he was gentle with Natalie. “Then why not get her to go where she wouldn’t be exposed to you?”
“I tried that a month after she came to me. A nice little rest home in the Alps.” He shook his head. “She tried to commit suicide the night I left her. I won’t do that again.”