Iris Johansen - Chasing the Night

“No, I’m not afraid.”

“I am. I’m afraid of dying.”

“Then you’d better hurry and get out of here.”

He slowly turned toward the chest. Then suddenly he whirled. He was across the room and turning over the chair. In a minute he had pried the leg off the chair and ran back across the room.

“Luke.”

“Shut up.” He was prying up the boards around the hole in the floor until there was a wide jagged opening. He threw the metal leg aside. “Go on. Hurry.”

Eve nodded. “Right.” A moment later, she was hanging by her hands, then dropping to the basement floor.

“Where is he?” Kelly whispered.

“Following. It seems Luke has the instincts of a gentleman. Odd, isn’t it?” Odd and encouraging. For a moment she had thought the boy would leave her to her own devices. Considering his background, she couldn’t have expected anything else.

Luke dropped down beside them. “Come on. The window.”

He was climbing on a box and gently prying the window open, then he was hoisting himself up and wriggling through the opening.

Eve followed Kelly as she went after the boy.

It was dark now, and Eve hadn’t been able to see what lay beyond the glass. Not that she would have been able to anyway. As she climbed through the window, she found the outside of the glass was smeared with mud so that no one could look into the basement.

Luke’s work?

Probably. She was finding the boy amazingly inventive and detail-oriented.

Like Catherine.

What was happening to Catherine now?

Pain!

“Wake up!”

Catherine’s head jerked sidewise as another slap rocked her.

“Come on. You pretend to be so strong. A little sedative shouldn’t have put you under for this long.”

Rakovac…

Another slap.

She opened her eyes. Rakovac’s face loomed above her. He was smiling.

Bastard.

“She’s appears to be a little fuzzy, Czadas.” Rakovac was talking to a man standing beside him. A big man, muscular, bearded…

She was lying on a couch in a spacious room with high ceilings. “Where am I?”

“Now that’s a trite question. Can’t you be original?” He slapped her again. “I’m becoming bored. It’s time to move things forward.” He gave a sly glance at Czadas. “Though the search wasn’t boring, was it, Czadas? I told you that she was a fine piece of flesh.”

“You were right,” Czadas grinned. “Thank you for sharing.”

Search?

She became suddenly aware that both her blouse and black slacks were unbuttoned, and her bra was lying on the floor beside the couch. Her gaze flew to Rakovac’s face.

“You might be a bit sore,” he said. “Our search was very thorough.” He smiled. “But with such a competent and lethal CIA agent, we had to make sure that you had no weapons to trouble us.”

She was already feeling sore, tender. Don’t feel dirty. Don’t think of their hands on her, in her. It would be a victory for them if she let it bother her. She was just glad she hadn’t been awake through it. Rakovac had made a mistake giving her too much of the sedative. He would have been much happier seeing how she hated going through that search.

“Besides your gun, we found this.” Rakovac picked up a dagger from the end table. “Pretty little toy. It was in a holster in your bra underneath your armpit. Were you going to sting me with it, Catherine?”

“I was considering it.”

He threw back his head and laughed. “Oh, I imagine you were.”

“Where am I?” she asked again.

“Savrin House,” Czadas said. “Isn’t it a fine place? Rakovac made a present of it for doing him a special favor. I thought it was a great bargain.” He chuckled. “Though that favor ended up lasting nine years. So who got the best of it?”

“You had no problem with taking care of the boy,” Rakovac said.

“Not in the beginning. He was very docile and eager to please. But then he changed. I haven’t had it entirely easy during these past years.” He paused. “You should keep that in mind. You owe me.”

“I paid you,” Rakovac said. “And you took care of those changes with a whip.”

“Only because that was your wish.” He looked at Catherine. “I would have been a wonderful father to the boy if Rakovac hadn’t urged me in another direction. I have a tender soul.”

“You…hurt him.”

“Of course he did,” Rakovac said. “And enjoyed every minute of it. I told you that Luke was not having an easy time of it.” He added softly, “And every time the whip fell, I showed him your photo and told him that all his pain came from you.”

“It did come from me. I should have found a way to kill you before you took him from me.”

“Oh, you must tell him that. It will be confirmation of all my teachings.” He smiled. “And when I kill him, I’ll tell him the same thing. Only I won’t have to show him a photo. I can have him look at the real thing as I pull the trigger.”

Panic was tearing at her. Don’t let him see it. She had to keep a clear head and work out a scenario that would save as many as possible. “Where are Kelly and Eve? Are they still alive?”

“Would I deprive myself of the pleasure of watching you as I rid myself of them? Mikhal, here, took them to the room where we keep the boy when I want him available to me. Well, it’s more of a cell, really.”

Catherine’s heart skipped a beat. “Available?”

“You think I might have sexually abused him? I considered it, but I would have had to force myself. I’ve no liking for little boys.” He smiled. “I prefer women like you, Catherine. Breaking a strong woman is utterly delicious.”

“Like you did Natalie Ladvar?”

“She wasn’t strong, just young and pretty. It was enough at the time.” He glanced at Czadas. “Wasn’t it, Mikhal?”

“She was more trouble than she was worth.” Czadas scowled. “Weak.”

“Then you wouldn’t be interested in Eve or Kelly,” Catherine said quickly. “Neither of them is-”

“You’re trying to protect them,” Rakovac interrupted. “It’s not necessary. I don’t have time for anyone but you, Catherine. Shall I tell you how it’s going to go? I’ll take you up to Luke’s cell and let you meet your son. Then I’ll have Czadas kill Eve Duncan and the girl.”

“No.”

“Yes, but I’ll save the boy for myself. I’ll kill Luke before your eyes. I’ll press the muzzle of the gun to his temple and blow his brains out.”

The muscles of her stomach clenched. “What can I do to change your mind?” she asked shakily. “Tell me. I’ll do anything.”

“Yes, you will. Anything and everything.” He reached out and cupped her breast in his palm. “I’ll take you on the floor where your son lies dead. I’ll use you like a whore in a house I know in Istanbul where they know the art of making a woman beg to be put out of her misery. I’ll show you pain as you’ve never known it.”

“Then do it. You’ll enjoy that, won’t you? Just don’t kill my son. Don’t kill Eve or Kelly.”

He frowned. “Are you still being the sacrificing mother? That’s not all I want from you. Think of yourself. I’m becoming annoyed.” His hand closed on her breast with bruising force. His eyes narrowed on her face, devouring every sign of pain. “Yes, that’s better.” He released her breast and jerked her to her feet. “Come along, it’s time we started. I have a plane to catch in a few hours. I want this to be a long and satisfying night.” He was dragging her toward the short flight of stairs. “Come and meet Luke.”

She braced herself. It was coming. Think. How to set it up? Lord, it was going to be difficult. The prospect had been bad enough when she had thought there would only be Luke to rescue. Now she had to consider Eve and Kelly.