Chasing the Night - Iris Johansen [64]
“They were in a hurry. Venable said that he didn’t know how or in what direction you’d be traveling once you reached Moscow. He wanted to make sure that I’d be able to hook up with you. He said it would be safer for me.”
“How considerate,” Eve said dryly. “But he sent you anyway.”
“Desperate measures,” Kelly said. “And I told him I’d take the chance of missing you. He said that if I didn’t find you, he’d set me up somewhere else safe to work. I told him it wasn’t a deal unless I could be with you.”
“A deal?” Catherine said.
Kelly met her gaze. “He said you might think he was putting another roadblock in his way, but it isn’t true. He wants you to find Rakovac now, and he doesn’t care how you do it. He said the time was over for being diplomatic.”
“Interesting,” Kelsov said. “Does that mean he’s going to help us nail the bastard?”
“He would if he could.” She smiled tentatively. “That’s why he sent me. He said it was urgent. None of his agents have been able to find Rakovac, and he has to find him soon.”
“Urgent?” Catherine said. “How soon?”
“He’s not sure. A week or ten days. He doesn’t know how much time he has left. That’s why we have to get to Rakovac.”
“And why is he suddenly so urgent?” Joe asked.
She shrugged. “He wouldn’t tell me. He just said that you have to let him know when you find him.” She paused. “I have to let him know. He made me promise.”
“Part of your deal?” Catherine asked. “And what are the other details of this deal?”
“I’m to figure out where he’s hidden your son. If Luke is still alive, at some point Rakovac will be near him.” She moistened her lips. “But you mustn’t kill Rakovac. He should have either a journal or computer file in his possession. Perhaps both. Venable said he probably won’t have it on him. You may have to follow him back to his office or residence. But Venable has to have that file.”
“Why?”
“He wouldn’t tell me. But he said that Rakovac mustn’t die until we get the file.” She paused. “That you wouldn’t want him to die.”
“I can’t think of any circumstance where I wouldn’t want Rakovac to die…after I find Luke.”
“Venable said that you…” She trailed off. “I’ve given you his message. That’s all I can do. He’ll have to convince you to pay attention to it.” She took a sip of her coffee. “All I care about is that I’m here with you.”
“Why did he send her?” Kelsov asked. “I still don’t understand. Does she know something about Rakovac that we don’t?”
“No, she’s a whiz kid who sees patterns where no one else does. Sort of a juvenile Einstein,” Catherine said. “She thinks that she can find Luke…and Rakovac. Evidently, Venable believes that she can, too.”
Kelsov gave a low whistle. “Venable isn’t a gullible man. I’d listen to him. How is she supposed to do this?”
“A good question,” Joe said.
“The Rakovac surveillance file,” Kelly said. “The one you wouldn’t let me read, Catherine.”
“And now I’m supposed to turn it over to you?”
Kelly shook her head. “Venable sent me my own copy.”
Of course he would, Catherine thought in frustration. “And that’s going to send you down the right path?”
“Perhaps. Or maybe I can talk to people who know him and try to see which way he would go in certain circumstances.” She met Catherine’s gaze. “I’m not going to get in your way. I know that’s what you’re afraid of.”
“Dammit, yes, I’m afraid you’ll get in my way.” She knelt by Kelly’s chair and brushed the girl’s fair hair away from her face with rough tenderness. “And I’m more afraid you’ll get in Rakovac’s way. Let me call Venable and get him to pick you up and take you back to the U.S.”
“It’s too late. We made a deal.” Kelly smiled. “And he wouldn’t come and get me. He told me I was on my own. I think he considers me…expendable. Isn’t that the word?”
Catherine’s lips tightened grimly. “That’s the word.”
“He’s very worried about something Rakovac is going to do. I’m not very important in comparison.”
“Well, you’re important to me.” She gave Kelly