Fatal Tide - Iris Johansen [84]
A bullet seared by her ear.
Another yard. She seemed to be moving in slow motion.
A tearing pain in her left side. The force of the bullet sent her staggering the last few steps to the pine trees.
Gun. She had to get the gun. She searched wildly in the brush beneath the tree.
Archer was spewing venom, shouting for his men.
A shadowy figure a few yards from her. Another guard?
Where was the gun? It was so dark here in the shadows she couldn't see anything.
Then she found it.
But the guard was down and Kelby was on top of him. Twisting his neck.
Archer. She had to get Archer.
She couldn't see him. But Pennig was there, coming toward her. His face contorted with rage.
She lifted the gun and pulled the trigger.
He staggered.
She shot him again.
He fell to the ground.
Kelby was kneeling beside her, taking the gun.
She shook her head. “Archer. We have to get Archer.”
“No, we have to stop this bleeding.” His hand was unfastening her shirt. “Dammit, I told you it was too risky.”
“Archer . . .”
“He bolted when none of his men came when he called. Nicholas may be able to catch him, but he had a head start. Nicholas was on this side of the glade with me.” His voice was hoarse as he formed a compress and pressed it above the wound. “We have to get you to a doctor. I told you that—”
“Stop . . .” Lord, she was dizzy. “Stop saying I told you so. It would have worked if the chest hadn't been . . . empty. It shouldn't have been empty.”
“This damn blood . . .” He was cursing beneath his breath. “Where the hell is Nicholas? I need him to hold this compress while I get you back to the car. Screw Archer. We can deal with . . .”
She heard nothing else.
Red plaid drapes.
It was the first thing she noticed when she opened her eyes. Red plaid drapes and a cozy leather armchair in the corner of the room.
“You're back with us?” A dark, fiftyish man in a cable-knit sweater smiled at her as he lifted her wrist and took her pulse. “I'm Dr. Gonzales. How do you feel?”
“A little woozy.”
“You received a wound through your left side. The bullet hit nothing vital, but you lost some blood.” He grimaced. “Not as much as your friend Mr. Kelby was afraid you'd lost. He was rudely intimidating. He came to my home shouting and threatening. I almost threw him out. We're not used to that on Cadora. This is a very peaceful island. That's why I settled here.”
“Where is he?”
“Outside. I told him that he could stay out in his car until you woke. He's a very disturbing man.”
“And this is a peaceful island,” she repeated his words. “I need to see him.”
“A few minutes won't hurt. I've given Kelby antibiotics for you, but if you see signs of infection, get right to a doctor.” He paused. “You know I'll have to report this bullet wound?”
“I don't care. Do what you have to do. What time is it?”
“A little after three in the morning.”
And she must have been shot sometime near midnight. “I was unconscious for three hours?”
“You were coming around, but I gave you a sedative when I cleaned and sewed up your side.”
Archer.
And three hours was a long time.
“I really need to see Kelby, Doctor.”
He shrugged. “If you insist. Though I really hate to give in to any of his demands. He should learn patience.” He moved toward the door. “Try not to let him upset you.”
She was already upset. She had killed a man tonight, she was completely bewildered about that empty chest, and she didn't know what had happened to Archer.
The chest. Try to figure out what had happened to those research papers.
But the question she asked Kelby when he came into the room was, “Archer?”
“I should have known that would be your first thought.” He shook his head. “He was already in the car and speeding off when Nicholas reached the road.”
“Then it was all for nothing.” She closed her eyes as disappointment washed over her. “I risked all of our lives and he's still alive.”
“Not for long,” Kelby said grimly. “We'll get our chance. He's not going to crawl in a hole. He's going to be mad as hell and want to get back at us.” He smiled faintly. “And it wasn't a complete