Countdown - Iris Johansen [135]
She looked over her shoulder at the place where Trevor had disappeared. . . .
Smoke was curling up to the sky.
The tall cedar trees were on fire.
“No,” she whispered in horror. “Trevor . . .”
The land mines.
Dead. He had to be dead. No one could live through that inferno.
But she couldn’t accept that and give up. He might have survived. There might be some way she could help him. She took a step back toward the woods. He could have been thrown by the blast and—
Pain.
Darkness.
Stone walls. Creamy beige, cracked, and appearing very, very ancient.
“You really shouldn’t have tried to run away. I was disappointed.”
Jane’s gaze swung to the man who’d spoken. Fiftyish, fine features, dark hair with white sideburns. And he’d spoken with an Irish accent, she realized suddenly. “Reilly?” she whispered.
He nodded. “And that’s the last time you’ll be allowed to address me with such disrespect. We’ll start with ‘sir’ and progress from there.”
She shook her head to clear it and then flinched as pain shot through her. “You . . . hit me.”
“No, Kim hit you. You’re lucky she didn’t have Norton shoot you. She doesn’t approve of my interest in your reprogramming and would be delighted to be rid of you.” He turned to a far corner. “Isn’t that right, Kim?”
“It’s an indulgence.”
Jane’s gaze flew to the small woman sitting in the chair by the window. It was the Eurasian woman who’d met her in the driveway. From this close she looked even more fine-boned and delicate and her voice was soft, gentle. “And she was too expensive. You may never see that gold and you sent two of our best-trained men to Grozak to pay for her.”
“I can afford to be self-indulgent.” There was an edge to Reilly’s voice. “And it’s my decision what I wish to pay. You might remember that, Kim. You’ve been getting entirely too arrogant of late. I tolerate it because you’re—”
“Trevor!” Jane sat upright as memory flooded back to her.
An explosion that shook the earth.
Trees burning.
Trevor. She had to get to Trevor.
Her feet swung to the ground and she struggled to get to her feet.
“No.” Reilly pushed her back down on the couch. “You probably have a concussion and I don’t want you damaged any more than you are.”
“Trevor. He’s hurt. I have to see if I can help him.”
“He’s dead. And if he’s not, he will be soon. It’s freezing cold out there. Hypothermia is dangerous to a healthy man; a wounded man has no chance at all.”
“Let me go and see for myself.”
He shook his head. “We have to leave here. After you appeared with Trevor, I sent my man Norton out to see where Mario Donato had gone. Lo and behold he found a body. Who killed him? Trevor?”
“No, I did.”
“Really? Interesting. I approve. It shows a quality that’s rare in a female. There was also another body. Your work too?”
She shook her head. “Wickman. Mario probably did it.”
“His neck was broken. I wouldn’t think Donato would be capable of killing like that. Now, my Jock was very accomplished in that type of murder. He came with you?”
“What did Donato say?”
“Nothing about Jock. Donato was trying very hard to cover all the bases. He knew I wouldn’t be pleased if I knew that he’d let Jock come this close and not handed him over to me.”
“I’m sure he would have betrayed anyone if he’d been able to do it.”
“I’m sure too. Is Jock out there now?”
She didn’t answer.
“I’ll take that as a yes. It casts a new light on the situation.”
She changed the subject. “Let me go and see if Trevor’s alive. He can’t hurt you if he’s wounded.”
“But he can’t help me either. Sorry, I can’t appease your curiosity now. It may be getting a little uncomfortable for me soon. Even though Trevor may be dead, Mario Donato told me when he called me that MacDuff may be heading in this direction.”
“And you’re afraid of MacDuff?”
“Don’t be absurd. Not afraid. Just cautious. Even though it’s not in his best interests, MacDuff might decide to call in the authorities if he thought Jock was in danger. He’s seems to be very protective of him.”
“Somebody has to be. You nearly destroyed his mind.”
“He did that