Countdown - Iris Johansen [71]
“My God, a patriot.”
“I’m not ashamed of it. Mock all you please.”
“I’m not mocking. I’m envious.” He turned away. “Go on. Get on that helicopter before I start remembering that video of Eduardo Donato. I’ll take care of Mario.”
A few minutes later Trevor watched the helicopter take off and circle east over the sea. His hands clenched into fists. Dammit, he wanted to call the pilot, Cookson, and tell him to bring her back. Instead, he called Brenner. “She’s on her way. Cookson just took off. I want her back here in twenty-four hours. If anything happens to her, I’ll have your ass.”
“You can try.” Brenner paused. “I’ll keep her safe, Trevor.”
“If she lets you. She’s full of piss and vinegar and the star-spangled banner.”
“What a combination,” Brenner said. “It may prove an interesting twenty-four hours.” He hung up.
Interesting? Trevor watched the helicopter as it flew toward the horizon. That wasn’t the word he would have used. It was going to be one hell of a—
“She’s gone?”
Trevor turned to see Mario standing behind him, his gaze on the helicopter. He nodded curtly. “She’ll be back as soon as she does the sketch.”
“I wanted to go with her.”
“So did I. She wasn’t having it.”
Mario smiled slightly. “She’s a very strong woman.” His smile disappeared. “Have they found my father yet?”
“No.”
He shuddered. “I hate the idea of his body being tossed aside with no respect by that—” He drew a deep breath. “Have you shown the police the video?”
“No, but I’m sending it to the authorities right away.” He looked the boy in the eye. “If you still don’t trust me, I’ll let you talk to them if you like.”
Mario shook his head. “I don’t have to talk to them.” He added awkwardly, “I’m sorry that— I shouldn’t have believed that swine when he wrote that you—No, I didn’t believe him. Not really. I just couldn’t accept that I—”
“Forget it. It’s understandable.”
“I can’t forget it. I blinded myself to the truth because it wasn’t what I wished it to be. I closed myself up in my cocoon just as I’ve always done.” His lips tightened. “I can’t do that any longer.”
Trevor’s gaze narrowed on Mario’s face. “Is this leading somewhere?”
“Yes. Jane wouldn’t let me go with her because she knew she’d be safer with Brenner.” He frowned. “I’m not equipped for life outside my ivory tower. That has to change. I won’t be a helpless pawn with my head in the sand.”
“You’re not a pawn.”
“Grozak thinks I am. He killed my father to make me do what he wanted. He’ll kill Jane if he can, won’t he?”
“He’d rather take her alive. But, hell yes, he won’t hesitate to kill her if it suits him.”
“You see, I have to ask these questions that I should have asked when I first came here. I didn’t want to know anything that might make me feel uncomfortable and keep me from my work.” He shook his head. “What a fool I was. . . .”
“You didn’t need to know. It was your job to translate those scrolls. It was my job to protect you.”
“And now I have another job. I didn’t protect my father, but I can avenge him.”
“No, we’ll handle it.”
He smiled sadly. “Because you believe I’m not man enough to do it myself. I will show you. I may seem useless, but I’m not afraid.”
“You should be, dammit.” Trevor frowned. “If you want to get revenge, get that scroll translated.”
“I will. That goes without saying. But how fast I do it depends on you.”
“Do I smell a touch of blackmail?”
“Only a bargain. There are things I must learn.”
“Such as?”
“I know nothing about weapons. I’m sure you could teach me.”
“Mario—”
“Guns. That shouldn’t take too long.”
Trevor studied him. Jane was right. Mario was changing, maturing, hardening by the minute. “You’re serious about this.”
“And I should know some self-defense.”
“I don’t have time to conduct a course in—” He stopped as he