Your Next Breath

  “It was too complex for me, not for Hu Chang. I was only able to contribute the research about Maggi and Eva Peron’s gravesite. You couldn’t resist calling the project after her?”

  “I’d heard about her all my life. My kinsman, Pedro Ara, was famous for his work on her. The entire world was in awe of his embalming technique after the two million people who passed by her casket in Buenos Aires saw how alive and beautiful she still appeared. Even after over twenty years of constant moving and poor treatment of her body, Domingo Tellechea, who was chosen by Juan Peron to prepare her for public display again, was amazed at how wonderfully Ara’s initial embalming had held up. But Tellechea suffered the same persecution as our family after he repaired the damage. Yet Ara was still an inspiration to everyone in the family. Me, too. I worked hard from the time I was a boy. I wanted to be better, smarter than he was.”

  “And you were.”

  “Yes.” His voice was bitter. “And you see where it got me. I should have left it alone. Not taken that extra step. They would never have heard of me.”

  “I know Delores and Santos came to see you in Argentina. They’d heard about your work?”

  “I’d thought I’d kept it secret, but they knew. They visited me in my uncle’s lab in the hills. They told me that I was the man they’d been looking for and started asking me questions. No, she asked me questions. Santos sat back and smiled and acted as if he’d bought her a present by bringing her to me.”

  “She was the one who was the most interested?”

  “She acted … hungry. Beautiful, so beautiful, but she was excited and flushed and was drinking in everything I said. I admit I was flattered, but then I became uneasy. She made me tell her everything, then she turned to Santos, and said, ‘He’s the one. Get him for me.’”

  “Threats or money?”

  “Principally money. He offered me more money than I could make in twenty years. But the threat was there, too. He was going to give his Delores what she wanted no matter what it took.”

  “And exactly what did she want?”

  “Forever.”

  “Eternal life? She couldn’t have expected that.”

  “Why not?” he said scornfully. “She thought everything belonged to her, that she could reach out and take. Being frozen would only have been a stopgap. If they were eventually able to heal and bring her back to life, then she’d go for the next step, then the next. She was fascinated by Eva Peron. Every child in South America had heard tales about Eva. Eva is a folk heroine even after all these decades. Delores had read every biography, even devoured that Madonna movie they made about her life. She told me she could have handled Eva’s career with Juan Peron better than Eva had done, but she admired her boldness. Eva’s power over everyone around her was what led Delores to study her complete life … and death. She even tried to visit Eva’s final resting place in Buenos Aires but couldn’t get permission. Eva lies five meters underground in a crypt built like a nuclear bunker. The government wanted to be sure that no one would ever disturb her remains again. But that didn’t stop Delores. It only led her to Pedro Ara, then to every distant branch of his family, and, eventually, to me.” His voice was bitter. “I was to be her Dr. Frankenstein, but I mustn’t make her look like the monster she was. She had to remain beautiful.”

  “Why was she so obsessed with it? She was still in the prime of life and supposedly in good health. She couldn’t have known that I’d kill her a short time later.”

  “I asked her the same question. She said only fools didn’t prepare for the worst-case scenarios and she wouldn’t be defeated if a ten-ton truck happened to careen around the corner and hit her. She laughed and reached over and touched Santos’s hand and said that whatever preparations she made for herself must also be done for him. They had to go on together.”

  Catherine felt a chill. Delores meant they had to go on together forever. What evil would they be able to spawn if their time was extended indefinitely? “How kind of her to include him.” She moistened her lips. “So you took the deal.”

  “I took it. She was young. I thought she’d live for years and years. By that time, anything could happen that might change my obligation to him. He was a criminal. So was Delores. They might both end up dead or in prison.”

  “And then you’d be rich and free. What did you have to do for his money?”

  “I gave them several vials of serum to be injected within four hours of death. I sold them the prototype of the cryogenic container that I’d built in my lab and instructions what to do with it.”

  “But that wasn’t all.”

  “No, they made me promise to do the final preparations and come immediately when needed.”

  “And Dorgal called you when Delores was killed, and you kept your word.”

  “Of course I did. There wasn’t anything else I could do. Santos would have ordered me butchered.”

  “No doubt about it.” She paused. “But where did you go? Where was that container?”

  “Not in her final resting place, if that’s what you’re hoping. I told you the truth, I don’t know where Santos set up his new compound. I did the work in a climate-controlled warehouse outside Bogota. It took me three days, but I did a job that would have made Ara green with envy. I did everything right. In the end, she was as beautiful as a goddess and has every chance to wake when the time is right for her. I was as proud as if I’d resurrected Mother Teresa. It was only later when I started to question myself and my work that I realized what I’d really done.” He added hoarsely, “I’d become the Frankenstein Delores had wanted me to be.”

  She could hear the horror and agony in his voice. “And that’s why you wanted to opt out.”

  “I had to opt out. Dorgal wanted me to stay with her, make sure that nothing would go wrong, spend my life attending that Plexiglas coffin. I took off and ran back to my home in Guatemala City.”

  “But Santos sent one of his contract killers after you.”

  “I’d already gathered my belongings and taken off for the hills by the time he got there. So he sent me a warning instead. He killed my brother and said it would only be the first death if I didn’t come back when I was needed.”

  “In case there was a problem with the cryogenic unit.”

  “Yes.”

  “And you don’t know where Delores’s body was taken?”

  “The last time I saw her was that warehouse in Bogotá.” He paused. “I assume she’s with Santos. He was very protective.”

  “Then help me to find him. He’ll never stop searching for you, Montez. You know how this has to end. Help me to end it for all of us.”

  “If you hadn’t killed Delores, it might have worked out without my having to be involved with them again.”

  “That’s not fair and you know it. You made the deal. You took the risk.”

  Silence. “I know where the blame lies. I should never have interfered with decisions that belong only to God. I tried to do penance working with Father Gabriel tending the sick in San Esposito.”

  “And it only resulted in more deaths. It wasn’t enough. You know what you have to do. Cut off the head of the snake so that it can’t strike at your loved ones, my loved ones.”

  “You’re still trying to trap him,” he said slowly. “What if something goes wrong?”

  “Something has already gone terribly wrong. We’ll put it right.”

  Silence.

  “Look, I have people protecting your family,” she said urgently. “You’re the only one at risk, and I know that’s no small concern. But you’ll be doing what you should have done in the beginning. Fighting Santos instead of enabling him.”

  Another silence. “I’m not sure you’re right. I’ll pray about it and get back to you.”

  It was less than she hoped. She tried to contain her disappointment and impatience. “How soon?”

  “I’ll pray,” he repeated. “And I’ll look for a sign.”

  Positive. Think positive. “I know it’s
the right thing to do. I’ll be waiting for your call.” She paused. “But Santos isn’t waiting, let’s stop him before he makes another move.”

  “I have to think.”

  She kept her tone level. “Hurry, Montez. There may have been too much thinking and not enough action. Don’t look too long for that sign.”

  “I have to be sure.” He hung up.

  “From what I heard it appears that Montez wasn’t cooperating,” Cameron said from the doorway behind her. “He’s looking for signs?”

  “Don’t you know?” She pressed the disconnect. “I would have thought you’d have been tempted to do a little mental eavesdropping.”

  “I gave you my word.” He smiled. “Besides, it wasn’t important enough. I knew you’d tell me.”

  “Yes, he’s looking for signs and praying.” She frowned. “But I think I almost had him. Evidently not. It’s still a waiting game. So you can go back to trying to lure Luke into your camp.”

  “No, I can’t. He dismissed me. He’s busy doing some kind of research for Kelly.” He came into the library. “So you’re stuck with me, and we both need entertaining. Shall I lock the door?”

  As they had locked the door of the summerhouse months ago, when they had first come together.

  Damn him. She tried to take a deep breath. Her chest felt tight and her nipples hard and sensitive.

  “I’ve been very good,” he coaxed. “All duty and nose to the grindstone. So have you. Don’t we deserve a reward?”

  “No, that’s not what this is about.”

  “Yes, it is. It’s all how you look at it. It’s about saving lives. But every second of life should be lived to the hilt.” He was only inches away from her. She could feel his warmth, smell the spicy-man scent of him. “I’m all into hilt. Remember?”

  The muscles of her stomach clenched. She could almost feel him inside her. “You know I do.” She kept her voice steady. “But I won’t have sex with you, Cameron. Not here, not now.”

  “Pity.” He leaned forward, and his tongue slowly outlined her lower lip. She could feel the blood tingle beneath the sudden plumpness the sensation brought. “I thought that might be your reaction with your son in the house. But I wanted you enough to take the chance.” His hand moved lightly over her breast, then paused to rub, squeeze. Why couldn’t she step away from him? She was leaning forward, wanting to tear off her clothes, to frantically seek more. “We both know it’s going to happen. Now or later. But if you change your mind about now…”

  Step back.

  She couldn’t let him touch her any more, or she wouldn’t be able to stop it from happening.

  Hard, so hard.

  She whirled away from him and headed for the door. Get away from him. Get away from the way she was melting as he touched her. “I won’t change my mind.” She didn’t look back at him. “I’m going upstairs to work with Luke and Kelly. Then I’ll call Eve and see how Jane is recovering from the operation. I’ll give Montez a little more time to call me, then I’m going back and track him down to see him. As I said, I think I almost had him. He only needs a little more push.”

  “So do you,” he said softly. “But I can wait until we’re on the plane going down to give Montez that extra little shove.”

  The intimacy of that picture of the two of them on that long flight caused heat to escalate. “Bastard.”

  “Impatient bastard,” he corrected. “Life is too short. We can’t afford to do anything but live for the moment. Now go do all those worthy, reasonable things that you’ve planned.”

  “I shall.” She headed quickly for the stairs. She wasn’t running, she told herself. The hell she wasn’t. Cameron was the only man who made her unsure of her own ability to resist temptation.

  She had almost let him lock that door.

  Don’t think of that long plane ride down to Guatemala.

  This wasn’t about living for the moment.

  It was about making sure that no one ended up dead.

  ST. JOSEPH’S HOSPITAL

  ATLANTA, GEORGIA

  Caleb was in the room again, Jane realized drowsily. They had kept her heavily drugged since the operation, and she had been going in and out of consciousness. Sometimes, she’d been aware of Eve, sometimes Joe, but always Caleb in the background, somewhere in the room.

  But now he was once again in the chair beside her bed as he’d been so often before the operation.

  “Don’t play possum.”

  Her eyes opened. “I wasn’t … playing … anything. Still sleepy.”

  “I told them you wouldn’t need the drugs. They didn’t listen to me.”

  “How … terrible. That they’d pay attention to the doctor’s instructions instead … of yours.”

  Silence. “I believe you’re smiling at me. How unusual.”

  “It must be the drugs. Even you’re looking mellow to me.”

  “Mellow?” He tilted his head. “Then maybe I’d better take advantage of the moment while your defenses are down. Did Eve or Joe tell you that the operation was a success?”

  “Joe.”

  “Good.” He studied her face. “And you didn’t fight its being a success. That helped to make it work. I was a little worried Basle might have an uphill psychological battle in spite of everything I did to give those arteries a chance to heal.”

  “No, I told you that … I knew I wasn’t being … fair. Trevor knew, too. He turned his … back. I’ll do what you all want me to do.”

  “That will do until we can bring you back all the way. I made the operating staff promise not to reveal your condition to anyone else. As far as anyone knows, your status is still critical.”

  “To keep someone from trying again? It … won’t work.”

  He shrugged. “I don’t think so either, but I had to try. It will make Eve feel better.” He leaned forward. “You know that I’ll protect you?”

  She could feel the dark intensity, the flames that surrounded him. But at this moment, they didn’t disturb her. “Yes, I’m … not worried about that.”

  “You’re not worried about much of anything,” he said dryly. “I think now is the time I should probe a little, don’t you?”

  “Not honorable.”

  “And since when did you think I was honorable?”

  “Never, but I think you have a … code. I just can’t read it.”

  He chuckled. “Neither can I.” He tilted his head. “And why do you think I’m so determined to protect you?”

  “Sex,” she said emphatically.

  “Oh, I’m afraid of having my toy taken away?” He nodded. “Yes, sex has a good deal to do with it. Of course, you’d recognize that aspect. Anything else?”

  She shook her head. “Can’t read your code.”

  “But you could always read Trevor.” His smile faded. “And when you couldn’t, you knew what there was for you. You’ll never know that with me because it just keeps building and changing.”

  “Don’t want to talk about Trevor. Makes me … sad.”

  “Fine. So let’s go back to what’s important while you’re still mellow enough to listen and comprehend. I’ll be with you constantly until you’re out of here. I’m expecting problems, and I’ll not allow my work to be wasted. Whenever I tell you to do something, it will have nothing to do with what I eventually want from you. It will only be to keep you alive. Understand?”

  “Yes.”

  “Believe me?”

  “I think I do.”

  “And you’ll do what I say?”

  She was silent.

  “Jane.”

  “Until I get out of this hospital.”

  He smiled faintly. “I couldn’t ask any more. I’d be afraid you had brain damage if you hadn’t qualified that.” He got to his feet. “I’d like to stay for a while, but I don’t want to push my luck. You understand, and you won’t fight me. I feel lucky to be given those concessions. I’ll go get Eve and Joe and let you relax for a while. But I’ll always be close.”

/>   “I know.” She stared at him. Darkness and fire and a fascinating sensuality. Strange that she felt no tension or threat at this moment. “I’m perfectly relaxed.”

  “The drugs. It probably won’t last that long.”

  “Maybe not.” What would it feel like to be comfortable and at ease with him all the time? She would probably never know. Even now, she was experiencing a faraway, tiny ripple of uneasiness. “Too bad.”

  He looked back over his shoulder. “Is it? We’ll have to see as time goes on…”

  RAIN FOREST

  GUATEMALA

  Smoke!

  Montez woke from an uneasy sleep with the acrid sting in his nostrils. The cave was dark, but he could see a veil of smoke hanging on the air.

  He jerked upright. Had the cave he’d found been discovered? Were they burning him out? He reached for his knapsack and crawled forward toward the cave opening. He stopped warily, his gaze searching the darkness of the forest.

  Smoke all around, but there was no fire licking toward his cave.

  And no one appeared to be in the trees near him.

  So where was the smoke coming from? All he needed was a forest fire trapping him in this cave.

  Find out.

  If the fire was no threat to him, stay here. If there was danger, go on the run again.

  Or go to the monastery if he judged that it was now safe from Dorgal.

  He was sure Dorgal had ordered it searched already, but Montez still had to let time pass before he made contact. He would never forgive himself if other innocents died because he was scurrying for shelter.

  No, not the monastery yet.

  This cave was shelter enough and threatened no one but himself.

  He moved cautiously out of that shelter and glided toward the trees.

  His lungs were burning. He started to cough.

  Ignore it.

  Where was the fire?

  To the west. He could hear a deep whoosh of crackling sound.

  Find out where it was and in what direction it was traveling.

  He covered his nose and mouth with his handkerchief and moved through the forest.

  The smoke was thicker now.

  The crackling louder.