No One to Trust - Iris Johansen [70]
“I’m going to get you for this.” Judd scowled at him through his protective visor. “I look like someone from outer space.”
“Someone had to be the bomb tech.”
“And you nominated me.” He threw his gun case in the truck. “Hell, I don’t think I can even climb into this truck. You called in a bomb threat?”
“It was the only thing I could think of to make sure that the police cleared everyone from this area. It wasn’t easy. I had to construct an entire scenario that would convince them to send a disposal unit. I thought the truck would protect Luis and Dominic.” Galen helped him into the back of the truck. “You can get rid of the suit as soon as we get out of town.”
“I hope so. It’s hot as hell.”
“Was there another gunman?”
“Yes, the window on the sixth floor. I took care of it.” He paused. “Is Dominic dead?”
“Yes, he’s dead.” Galen slammed the truck door.
Galen parked the truck beside the hangar and stared blindly at the helicopter.
Move, damn you. Tell her. Get it over with.
He heard the truck door open behind him and Judd get out. A moment later Judd was standing beside the driver’s window. “You stay here. I’ll send her to you.” He turned and sprinted toward the helicopter.
Yes, separate her from Barry. If he hadn’t been so bummed, he would have thought of the boy himself.
Elena was coming toward him. She was walking slowly, warily, as if afraid of stepping on a land mine. She knew something was wrong. But, Jesus, she didn’t know how wrong.
She stopped and looked at him. Maybe she did know. He had to say the words anyway.
He reached over and opened the truck door for her. “Get in. You won’t want Barry to see you.”
She couldn’t cry. She mustn’t cry. If she did, she might never stop.
“Both of them?” Elena asked dully. “Luis and Dominic …”
“It all went bad.”
“Why?”
“There was a second shooter.”
“But you expected there might be. I should have been there. You shouldn’t have let Dominic go. I would have been more cautious. I might have been able to turn it around.”
“Okay, you’re right. I made a mistake.”
“For God’s sake, stop being so noble.” Judd was again standing outside the window. “I’m glad I decided to come back. Tell her the truth.”
“The truth?” Elena repeated.
“Chavez threw in a monkey wrench neither you nor Dominic expected. He gave Luis a gun and evidently ordered him to take you out. He killed Dominic instead.”
“Luis …” Horror on top of horror. “Luis couldn’t have done it.”
“I was watching the entire time,” Judd said. “He did it.”
“And then the shooter took out Luis?” Her lips twisted with pain. “I suppose Chavez wasn’t pleased at the substitution.”
“Blast you, she didn’t have to know,” Galen told Judd.
“No, but I always opt for clarity. It’s better that she realize it wasn’t something you could have anticipated. Oh, and I’ve told Barry that Dominic had to stay over on business.” Judd turned and walked back toward the helicopter.
“What happened to the shooter?”
“Judd took care of him. He thought there might be someone in that room.” Galen glanced away from her. “I don’t want to rush you, but we should get out of here. We weren’t followed, but we need to get as far away as we can.”
“Yes, of course.” She had to get out of the truck and go back to the helicopter. She mustn’t think of Dominic or Luis. She must do what was necessary and grieve later. She could do this. She had been a soldier. She had lost other people in the past.
But not Dominic, her best friend, her teacher …
The pain was too intense. She had to move now or collapse. She opened the door and jumped out of the truck. “Let’s go.”
13
It was dark when they arrived back at the cottage.
“I’ll take the kid and put him to bed.” Judd picked up Barry and took him into the cottage.
That was kind of him, Elena thought wearily. He had kept Barry occupied and oblivious to anyone but himself during the trip back from Orlando. What a strange man. Strange and violent and yet somewhere in him there must be a soft streak. “I’m glad he kept Barry busy. I didn’t know how I would cope, what to say to him.”
“Don