Fatal Tide - Iris Johansen [94]
“I'll take the tender out and stand watch. You get some sleep and relieve me at dawn.”
“Right.”
Melis waited until Nicholas had gone belowdeck before she turned to Kelby. “Rocket launchers? It sounds like we're going to war.”
“Just getting prepared for all eventualities,” Kelby said. “I don't want to use that kind of firepower if I don't have to. Very messy.”
“And they'll fire back. Nicholas is right, it's more dangerous.”
“Maybe I'll decide Nicholas is wrong about attaching the explosives to the hull. We'll see.”
“He said you could board it if you had a distraction.”
Kelby's lips tightened. “No, Melis, you're out of it.”
“The hell I am.”
“Listen to me. I understood what you were going through. So I let you talk me into setting Archer up and you nearly got killed. I never want to go through that again.” His voice was hard. “You can argue until you're blue in the face. No way.”
He turned and strode away from her.
He meant it. There was no doubt about his determination to keep her out of any action against Archer.
And there was no doubt that she couldn't permit him to do it.
Melis watched Kelby's tender disappear beyond the horizon before she went to hunt Nicholas.
He was just hanging up the phone. “Looks like the launcher is a go. But we can't get it before—”
“I need your help,” Melis said.
Nicholas gazed at her warily. “I don't think I'm going to like this.”
“Neither of you wants to use that launcher. You and Kelby need a distraction. I can give you one. Only Kelby won't have it.”
“Why do you think I will?”
“Because it's logical and there's no time to find another one. I don't want any rockets lobbed onto the Trina. Kelby loves this ship.”
“I'm not fond of the idea myself.” Then he shook his head. “It's too risky. Archer hates your guts.”
“He won't hurt me right away.”
“You don't know that.”
“I know him. I can see into every dirty cranny of his mind. I'm no martyr. I can do this, Nicholas. I just need a little help to divert Archer's attention at the critical moment. What kind of distraction did you have in mind?”
“An explosion to draw the guards away from the rail.”
“You can get me a grenade?”
He nodded. “I have something much more sophisticated. Small and easily hidden.”
“Then just tell me where and when you want the explosion.”
He hesitated. “Kelby will kill me.”
“You're going to do it?”
“What would you do if I turned you down?”
“Find another way to do it without you or that explosive.”
“I think you would.” He was silent a moment more. “Let me think about it.” He turned and walked away from her.
“There's not much time,” she called after him.
He glanced over his shoulder, and his expression surprised her with its hardness. “Don't push me, Melis. I'm not playing the clown right now. You can't coerce me into doing anything I don't want to do. If I go along with you, it will be because I think it's the smartest thing to do for all of us. It won't be because you're in a fever to get to Archer. I wouldn't do that to Jed. And I damn well wouldn't do it to myself.”
She stared after him in surprise and uneasiness as he crossed the deck and gazed out at the sea. She had seen only a few glimpses of this darker, more dangerous Nicholas that he hid so well behind that light facade. She wanted to go after him and try to convince him, but she knew it would be useless. His expression had been remote and totally intimidating. She would have to wait until he came to her.
She sat down in a deck chair, her gaze on Nicholas's ugly/arresting profile. Shaman. The title he used as a joke didn't seem to be so funny right now. He was exuding a quiet force and power that made her wonder if she knew him at all. The man who had painted the eyes on the dodo bird was not this man.
It was over thirty minutes before he left the rail and strode across the deck to her.
“Okay, it's a go,” he said curtly. “There's a chance you'll bite it, but you're safer with Kelby and me in the plan. And we need that distraction. I'll take the heat.”
Relief surged through her. “Where do you want me to throw the explosive?