“That’s not easy when you’re ten feet tall,” Catherine said dryly.
“Not quite ten feet,” Kelsov said. “And I usually manage to be fairly inconspicuous if the need arises. Give me one of the photos of the grave site.”
Catherine dug in her backpack and handed him a photo. “You think he’ll recognize the area?”
“I have no idea. But he knows the marsh better than anyone else I know. We have a chance. Wait here.” He disappeared into the trees.
Eve got out of the car and stood looking down at the village. “There’s not much activity. It looks almost deserted.”
“Deserted by the young,” Catherine said. “That’s a problem with these small towns and villages in Russia. The young people don’t want to live here in the country. As soon as they’re old enough, they take off for the city. You can’t blame them. Would you want to live in that village?”
Eve thought about it. “It’s depressing. But with a little effort, you could change things. Most places are what you make of them.”
“And Eve lives in her own world anyway.” Joe got out of the car and came to stand beside her. “She’d take what she needed and be content.”
Catherine glanced at him. “What about you?”
“I’m more restless. Contentment is boring.”
Eve smiled. “He’d be whipping the entire village into shape. Forming co-ops and establishing a police force.”
“Maybe,” Joe said. “It’s likely. If it was worth my while.” He looked at Catherine. “I believe you’d do the same thing. You’re restless, too.”
“I could settle,” Catherine said. “After I find Luke. But not here. In the U.S. And I’m going to build strong walls around him to keep him safe.”
“And he’ll run away like those kids who deserted this village.”
“He won’t want to run away,” Catherine said. “I’ll make him happy.”
“That would be my first instinct, too,” Eve said. “But you’re going to have to be careful. You don’t know what he’s gone through…or what he’s become.”
Or if he’ll be alive to surround with all that love and protection.
In this somber place, it was difficult to take an optimistic viewpoint of Luke’s situation.
Catherine must have felt that same overwhelming sense of depression for she abruptly turned away. “Let’s get back in the car. There’s no sense standing here staring at that stupid village. There’s no telling how long it will be until Kelsov gets through with questioning Bravski.”
Chapter
11
Kelsov didn’t return for another three hours, when darkness was beginning to fall.
“It’s about time,” Catherine said. “Did you find him?”
“Do I detect a hint of nerves?” Kelsov asked as he got into the car. “That’s not like you. You’re always so cool.”
“Cut the sarcasm,” Catherine said. “Did you find Bravski? Was he still there?”
“Yes, I found him. No, he wasn’t quite there. Not all there. He’s taken to the bottle. He was always fond of his vodka, but it’s become a passion.”
“He couldn’t tell you anything?” Joe asked.
“I didn’t say that. It just took me a little longer to get him sober and coherent. And willing to talk.”
“But you did it?” Eve asked,
“Yes, Bravski was more than willing after I began to talk about Rakovac. Even through an alcoholic haze, he still hates his guts. And thanks to the vodka, I could be certain that he was telling the truth. It’s difficult for a drunk to be too deceptive.”
“The grave,” Catherine prompted.
“He said he didn’t know anything about it.”
“Shit.”
He held up his hand. “Wait. He did recognize the tree formation. He said he’d seen that intertwined birch and pine about six miles into the marsh.”
“Good,” Eve said. “Let’s go.”
“Wait.” Joe’s gaze was narrowed on Kelsov. “This is a very small village, and everyone must know everything that’s going on. Even the town drunk. I can’t believe that someone didn’t know that Rakovac was in the area the night that photo was taken.”
“I didn’t say that,” Kelsov said. “Everyone knew that he’d come back. They just preferred to turn a blind eye. It was safer. They’d had experience with Rakovac and didn’t want to have anything to do with him.” He grimaced. “After he betrayed me to Moscow, he did a little more work for the government. He came back here and executed a number of revolutionaries who were hiding out here in the marshes and surrounding villages. He hunted them down and killed anyone who sheltered them.”
“Then I can’t see why they wouldn’t want to take him down,” Catherine said.
“Fear. Rakovac is good at spreading fear. I understand he set examples to discourage anyone from coming after him. You should know how clever he is at manipulating the emotions.”
“Yes, I know how clever he can be,” Catherine said. “Okay, they knew that Rakovac was here. Is he still here?”
Kelsov shook his head. “Bravski doesn’t think so. But he left at least two men in the marsh. Maybe more.”
“To see if the trap is sprung,” Eve murmured.
“That’s reasonable,” Kelsov said. “Which means that they have to be taken out before we can dig up that skeleton.” He glanced at Joe. “Care to go hunting?”
Joe’s brows rose. “You trust me?”
“I don’t have to trust you. You don’t have to trust me. We just have to trust that we can both get the job done. If you could take me down, I can trust you to do the same with Rakovac’s men.” He met Joe’s eyes. “Do you think I can do the job? I was damn clumsy when you jumped me. I’m not usually that inefficient.”
Joe studied him, silent. “I think you could be fairly lethal if your ego doesn’t get in the way.”
“It never gets in the way where Rakovac is concerned.”
“And now that you’ve completed your bonding, let’s go find that grave,” Catherine said impatiently. “I have to know.”
“I’m surprised you’re not wanting to go hunting with us,” Kelsov said.
“I could probably do it better,” Catherine said. “But I have to make sure that Eve is safe and gets to that skeleton. That’s all that’s important.”
“You’re damn right that’s important,” Joe said grimly. “You’d better guard her as if she were your precious Luke.”
“Joe, this is my choice,” Eve said quietly. “No one is responsible for my safety but me.”
“Wrong.” Joe’s gaze never left Catherine’s. “I’m not reasonable about this. Keep her safe, or I’ll come after you.”
“I understand.”
She did understand, Eve thought. Staring at the two of them she could see that there was an understanding between them that was forged not by years, but by spirit. She hadn’t realized until that moment how similar they were. The same recklessness, protectiveness, toughness, perhaps even the same philosophy. It came as a slight shock.
Then Catherine turned to her and smiled. “It’s okay, we’re not going to be at each other’s throats. You don’t have to worry.” She turned to Kelsov. “How do we get to this area?”
“Bravski drew me a map.” He pointed to a crooked symbol. “That’s the pine. We can drive through the marsh until we’re about two miles away. Then we’ll go on foot the rest of the way.” He started the car. “But you’ll give Quinn and me an hour head start. We’ll call you if there’s any mound that might be a grave near it and if it’s safe to go after the skeleton.”
Safe?
Eve was sure there wasn’t going to be anything safe about this night.
Jorge Chavez International Airport
Lima, Peru
“You’re late.” Juan Martinez scowled as Gonzalez came up to the gate. “It’s almost time to board the flight. They sent me to take over for you. I’m missing my lunch break.”
“I’m sorry,” Gonzalez said
as he went behind the desk. “I was sick.”
“You still look sick.” Martinez’s gaze raked Gonzalez’s face. “You’re pale. Go home. I can handle this.”
Gonzalez shook his head. “I’m better now. Go on and have your lunch. What’s the count?”
“Two hundred thirty-five.”
Gonzalez closed his eyes. “So many?”
“Are you sure you’re all right?”
His eyes flicked open. “I’m fine.” It was a lie. He’d never be fine again. “Go on.”
Martinez hesitated and turned to go. “Call me if you need me.”
“Thank you.” He began to call the flight.
First class first.
He’d be in seat 3C.
What did death look like?
He began to take the boarding passes.
Seat 3C was third in line. Camarez was on the boarding pass.
Dark hair, swarthy skin, dressed in a gray suit. He smiled pleasantly at Gonzalez. “It’s always a pleasure to fly your airline. Everyone is so cooperative.”
Excellent Spanish, not a hint of nerves. Was he on drugs?
“My case,” Camarez said. “I believe security sent it up here?”
Gonzalez stared at him. He could say no. Dear God, he wanted to say no.
He reached beneath the desk and pulled out the black briefcase and handed it to Camarez.
“Thank you.” Then the man was gone, hurrying down the jetway to the plane.
No!
Don’t run after him.
He couldn’t stop him. He had to finish boarding the flight and walk out of the airport.
Martinez would tell everyone that he was ill. No one would be suspicious.
Just finish boarding the flight and walk away.
Don’t look at the passengers getting on the flight. I don’t want to remember the faces.
I’ve made my choice.
God had not saved them all. He would have to do it himself.
I just must not look at their faces.
Joe jumped out of the car and into the knee-deep mud at the side of the road. “Let’s go, Kelsov. I’ll take the guard on the road, then move into the trees. You move east deeper into the marsh.”
Kelsov was already slogging through the mud and disappeared into the trees.
Joe glanced at Eve. “Stay in the car. Don’t get impatient. I’ll let you know when it’s safe to go.”
“We’ll stay unless you’re too long,” Eve said.
Catherine nodded. “And then we come looking.”
Joe shrugged. He hadn’t expected anything else. “I’ll let you know,” he repeated, and moved away from the road into the thicket.
Stay close to the road but out of sight.
Bravski had said he’d seen one of Rakovac’s men on the road several yards north of the twisted pine. That didn’t mean he’d not change his sentry position, but it was reasonable to put a man on the road in case of an approach by auto.
Move silently.
It was easy enough to move through the heavy water and mud with no noise. The problem was usually to not disturb the birds and other animals. That was why he had to creep through the marsh; slowness was of the essence. But he knew how to negotiate swamps. He had done it so many times before. It was bringing back memories of those missions in North Korea when he was a SEAL.
Good. He needed that mind-set.
That was no problem. He was already feeling the surge of adrenaline and the revving of the fierce hunting instinct that was purely primitive. He had loved his stint in the SEALs. He had left the service when he realized he loved it too much. He knew that hunting instinct had to be channeled, or he’d become a savage.
As he was at this moment.
He felt his blood pounding through his veins and his brain open and hyperalert as he searched for the prey.
And there he was.
A tall, burly man carrying an automatic rifle as he stood on the road. He looked bored.
He wouldn’t be bored for long.
Joe moved several yards past the sentry before he started to edge closer to the road.
Slowly.
He took his knife from his holster.
No sound.
Closer.
He had to be almost on top of him before he came out of the water. There was no way to disguise that sound.
Position.
The sentry was oblivious, staring into the marsh.
Joe tensed, gathering his muscles for the spring.
Be swift. Be catlike. Then the knife before the man knew the threat.
Now!
He leaped out of the marsh.
The guard cursed and tried to swing the rifle around.
Too late.
Joe’s knife entered his heart.
He fell to the road.
Get rid of the body in case one of the other guards in the thicket saw him lying on the road.
If they hadn’t already.
Joe pulled the dead man to the edge of the road and pushed him into the marsh. Then he jumped in after him.
One gone.
Go after the other two.
He could feel his heart beating hard as he moved through the mud. He felt complete, invincible. No one could stop him.
“Quinn.”
He whirled, knife ready.
“Easy,” Kelsov whispered. He warily backed away. “I’m on your side. Particularly after watching you take down that guy on the road.”
“Have you located anyone else?”
“One man right after I entered the thicket. He was in a tree. Didn’t want to get his feet wet. I made a few noises, and he reluctantly decided he had to come down and investigate.”
“Dead?”
He nodded. “But there’s supposed to be one more.”
“Then let’s stop talking,” Joe said impatiently. His gaze was raking the trees around them. The hunt hadn’t ended. There was still prey to be had.
Kelsov’s eyes were narrowed on his face. “You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?”
Joe didn’t answer. He was moving deeper into the marsh. “If you’re coming with me, shut up. I’m not going to get killed because you’re running your mouth.”
“Oh, I’m coming along.” Kelsov waded after him. “I wouldn’t miss it. You put on quite a show.”
“Where are they?”
Eve’s gaze searched the darkness. She could hear the sounds of insects, birds, and night creatures. She was accustomed to those sounds at the lake cottage, but swamps were always different. The sounds were heavier, more exotic, alien. Joe and Kelsov had vanished into that alien growth more than forty-five minutes ago. “I expected to hear something.”
“If you had, then they might really be in trouble,” Catherine said. “Silence is good. Kelsov knows what he’s doing. I’ve been with him in situations like this. And I don’t have to have been with Joe to know that it would be hard to put him down.”
Again, that sense of bonding, Eve thought. But she was in no mood to accept it as comfort. No one knew Joe’s skills better than she did, and she was still scared. “I don’t like—”
Her phone vibrated.
“Get moving,” Joe said. “Three down. There’s a mound by the pine tree. Kelsov is bringing the car closer. One of the men we took down had recently made a call, and I don’t know how much time we have. I’ll meet you at the grave.” He hung up.
“Come on, Catherine.” Eve was already moving through the marsh as she hung up. She adjusted the straps of her backpack. “Quick.”
“I’m coming.” Catherine was running after her. “Your backpack is bigger than mine. Do you need any help? What’s in it?”
“Just that small shovel Kelsov gave all of us.”
“Then why is it—”
“I had to bring something else.” Catherine wasn’t going to give up. Eve added, “My tools and forensic case.”
Catherine was silent a moment. “Of course, you might need them. I guess I didn’t want to think about th
em. Not connected with Luke. It seemed…cold.”
And Eve hadn’t wanted to bring it up either. Scalpels and forensic cases to deal with the dead were necessary but chilling to anyone who didn’t work with them every day as Eve did. “Truth is often cold. But it has to be faced.”
Four minutes later, they’d reached the twisted tree.
And that mound of dirt heaped before it.
Catherine stopped, took a deep breath, then strode toward it. “You keep watch. I’m stronger. I’ll do the digging.”
“Hell, no.” Eve ran after her. “Joe said we had to move fast. I’ll help.”
“Rakovac didn’t even try to disguise that mound of dirt,” Catherine said as she took the shovel from her backpack. “Why should he? He wanted us to find it.” She started to dig. “It shouldn’t take long. The earth is soft, damp…”
Eve remembered how soft and damp that earth had appeared in the photo. How hard and brittle the child’s bones had looked in contrast.
Blank it out. She would be seeing those bones soon enough. She dug into the earth. “Be careful.”
“Give me that.” Joe was beside her taking the shovel. “Catherine and I can do this. Your job begins when we reach the skeleton.”
Joe was being protective as usual, but it made Eve feel helpless as she watched them work together. They were both so strong and quick and decisive. Even though they were digging cautiously, every motion had purpose and meaning.
She needed to be part of that purpose. She took a step closer to take back the—
“I think I’ve reached something,” Catherine said. “The bastard must have tossed just enough dirt to cover him.” She was slowly moving the earth now. “Be careful, Joe.”
“I’m not going to damage him,” Joe said gently. “But we have to move fast, Catherine.”
“I’ll help.” Eve was kneeling beside the grave and shifting the wet earth away from the bones with her bare hands.
Damn Rakovac.
Poor child.
Lost child.
Let this child not be Luke.
“We can’t reach Calbre,” Russo said as he came into Rakovac’s office. “Ten minutes ago he tried to phone in but was cut off.”