Fatal Tide - Iris Johansen [81]
“And you want to do it yourself.”
“He's a murderer.” She paused. “And he's more than that. He's Irmak and all the dirty, twisted men who came to Kafas and raped and hurt me. I never got a chance to punish any of them, but I can punish Archer. I need to punish him, Kelby.”
He didn't speak for a moment, but the silence vibrated with emotion. “I can see that.” He turned away. “And God help me, I'm going to let you do it.”
Nicholas was lounging on the bed when Kelby came into his cabin. “He called?”
Kelby nodded.
“Archer's ship?”
“No, Cadora,” he said curtly. “I couldn't talk her out of it. Ten tomorrow night. She's the bait. We're the trap. If she lets us spring it.”
“You're mad as hell.”
“No, I'm scared as hell.”
“We could go after the ship tonight and erase the problem. While you were swimming in Marinth, I took the tender to Lazarote and made a few vital purchases. I can have a couple bombs made up in no time.”
“No, she needs to be part of it. I'm not going to cheat her.”
“So why are you here talking to me? I doubt if it's to vent.”
“To get your ass off that bed. We're going to Cadora tonight.”
Melis watched the tender roar away to the north and then turn east.
Kelby was going to Cadora.
The chest.
It was her first thought. She had given him both the directions and location. There was nothing to prevent him from taking the chest. Not even conscience. She had told him she'd give it to him after Archer was disposed of.
But they weren't rid of Archer. And if Archer found that the chest was missing, he wouldn't be distracted, he'd be furious and strike like the cobra he was.
And God help me, I'm going to let you do it. Kelby's words had been too passionate and intense to have masked cool calculation.
He wouldn't take the chest. He was probably going to reconnoiter and hide the gun. But no matter why he was going to Cadora, it wasn't to steal the tablets. She had come too close to him not to know when he was speaking the truth.
She went rigid. Jesus, she had come close. Friend, companion, workmate, lover. In the past weeks he had become all of those things to her. She felt a rush of panic. How had it happened? And how would she survive after she left him?
Emptiness. Loneliness.
She knew how to handle both of them. She'd be fine. She'd been a loner all her life.
But she didn't want to be a loner now. She'd found something different, better.
So what should she do? Cling like one of the women Kelby had grown to hate? She'd promised him she'd never be like them.
And she wouldn't. She'd go when she had to go. She wouldn't be pitiful or helpless. She wanted him, but she didn't need him. She had a life to lead and it would be a good life.
But, dear God, she wished she hadn't been stupid enough to open her mind and body and learn what she would miss.
Wishes didn't do anyone any good. Try to forget.
Remember Archer. Remember tomorrow.
There was no one on the dock.
Melis hadn't really expected him to be there.
But he was there in the darkness, watching her. Even if he hadn't told her, she would have known it.
She jumped out of the tender and tied it before moving up the pier toward the dock. The dock was lined with warehouses and there were only two streetlights on the two-block stretch, but there was a full moon, thank heaven. She could hear sounds of traffic, but it was far away.
Come on, Archer. Here I am. Poor pitiful me. Come and scoop me up.
She stopped at the end of the pier. Look crushed. Look beaten. Look nervous.
She shifted from side to side. Her gaze darted frantically down the street and then to the warehouses.
“Hello, Melis. How wonderful to see you again.”
Her gaze flew to the door of the second warehouse on her right.
Archer.
He smiled gently as he came toward her. Cox. Small. Thinning hair combed back from his high forehead. She had only caught a glimpse in the car in Las Palmas, but there was no mistaking him. She moistened her lips. “I'm here.”
“And so frightened. You mustn't be frightened of me. We've grown so close. Like slave and master. Isn't that right?”
“Whatever