Chasing the Night - Iris Johansen [106]
“Where are you taking me?”
“Why, to see Luke Ling. Isn’t that what this charade is all about?”
“It’s no charade.”
“It seems that to me, but then I’m standing on the outside.”
“Shall I tie her up?” Natalie asked.
“What a helpful daughter you are. I wish you’d have been a little more helpful when you were with Rakovac. Yes, by all means. I have a man waiting in the car, but I don’t want problems.” He tossed her a rawhide cord and waited while she tied Eve’s hands in front of her. He turned to Kelly. “And her, too.”
“She has nothing to do with this,” Eve said quickly. “Rakovac wouldn’t want you to take her.”
“She figured out that Luke is with Czadas,” Natalie said.
Eve wanted to strangle her.
Russo nodded. “And she’s a witness.”
Kelly rose to her feet. “I want to go with you, Eve. If I stayed with that viper, I’d chop her head off.”
“Then we’ll oblige you.” Russo stepped aside after Natalie finished tying Kelly’s wrists. “Go straight to the car and get in the backseat. Try to run, and I’ll shoot the girl first, then you, Duncan.”
“I’m not running.” It would do no good, and she wasn’t about to risk getting Kelly killed. Besides, Russo was right. All of their efforts had been bent on finding Luke. Now they were being taken to the boy. It would be better to wait to attempt any escape until they were with him. “How far away is this place?”
“About four hours.” He opened the rear door and gestured for them to get inside.
He hadn’t lied, Eve realized. The man who waited inside the car appeared rough and lethal.
“What’s going to happen to me?” Natalie asked from the doorstep. “I did everything Rakovac said.”
“This time.”
“He promised me Kelsov would be coming back to me.”
“He will be.” Russo got into the driver’s seat. “I’ve arranged an escort to take both of you out of the country. We can’t have you left behind to be questioned. You’d break too easily. Now see if you can be quiet until he gets here.”
She was still standing in the doorway as they drove down the road.
“She didn’t even question you,” Eve said incredulously. “You might have ways to keep her quiet, but what about Kelsov? There’s no way that he won’t keep after Rakovac.”
“Oh, there is a way.” He lifted his hand to wave at Natalie. “And I told you that my daughter isn’t the sharpest tool in the shed. Now, be quiet. I want a peaceful trip to Savrin House.”
Eve shivered as he turned on the player and a classical CD blared. She had thought that all she had heard about Rakovac was evil, but Russo might be his equal. Was it Rakovac’s influence, or did they feed on each other?
“Eve.” Kelly leaned closer to Eve, and said in an undertone, “We’ll be okay, right?”
Was she offering comfort or asking for it? With Kelly it was difficult to know.
Eve’s nodded. “We’ll be okay.”
Chapter
16
“Got it.” Helder’s voice was less than enthusiastic as Joe picked up the phone. “It’s a house located in the small town of Navaltov outside Moscow.”
“It took you long enough. Fifteen minutes. You were bragging that it would take you less than thirty seconds.”
“I wanted to be absolutely accurate. After all, it’s a matter of national security.”
And he had been dragging his feet to get a little of his own back, Joe thought.
“What’s the address?
“Twenty-five Zarnok.”
“Who is in the house now?”
“You didn’t ask me to get that information.”
“I didn’t have to ask you. It’s routine with you. You probably know how many lights are lit and how many times a toilet has been flushed in the last two hours.”
“Twice,” Helder said. “But at different parts of the house.”
“How many people?”
“One. Female. Lower floor. Possibly domestic. Two males exited the house ten minutes ago and departed