Iris Johansen - Chasing the Night

Czadas was following Rakovac and Catherine up the steps. It didn’t surprise her. From the short time since she’d regained consciousness, he had seemed a true soul mate to that bastard Rakovac. Okay, she had Czadas and Rakovac to take care of. But she hadn’t seen any sign of guards within the house. After she disposed of Rakovac, she’d have only Czadas to deal with until they got outside.

But how to get Luke to go with her? If he’d been taught to think of her as the devil, wouldn’t he panic? Worry about that later. One disaster at a time.

No, don’t think disaster. It had to go well. She had to save Luke.

Czadas had stepped in front of them and was unlocking the oak door. “Luke,” he called jovially as he stepped inside. “I’ve brought Rakovac. He wants to have a party. You remember Rakovac’s parties. First, he sent you visitors, and now he’s brought a special guest. You’ll recognize her at-” He stopped, stiffening, as his gaze raked the darkness. “Luke?” He reached out to the wall and turned on the light.

The room was empty!

“What the hell!” Rakovac pushed her through the doorway. “Where are they, Czadas? Is this some kind of trick? Are you holding me up for more money?”

“They were here,” Czadas said quickly. “Son of a bitch, I wouldn’t try to double-cross you, Rakovac.”

Rakovac’s face was flushed with anger. “Then where are-” His gaze went to the open trunk and the chair lying on the floor with one metal leg missing. “Is he hiding?” He strode over to the trunk. “Get that kid-” He stopped as he stared down into the chest. He started to swear. “You told me that the kid wasn’t trying to run away any longer. That you’d taught him a lesson.”

“I did.” Czadas was beside him, looking down into the gaping hole that pierced both the chest and the floor beneath it. “It will be all right, Rakovac. I promise.”

Catherine couldn’t believe it. Something had happened. Luke was free. They were all free. Thank you, God. Oh, thank you, God.

“Where does that hole lead?” Rakovac asked.

“Only the basement,” Czadas answered.

“And is there a window in the basement?”

“Yes.”

Rakovac spoke clearly, slowly, each word enunciated with precision. “Then don’t you think you’d better get down there and see if you can find out if they managed to get outside?”

“Right away.” Czadas had turned and was hurrying toward the door. “Even if they’re on the grounds, it won’t be a problem. I’ll have the guards scour the area and call in additional help from the village. We’ll find them.”

“Quickly.” Rakovac met Czadas’s eyes. “No excuses. I’ve planned this ending for years. I won’t have it ruined by your clumsiness.”

“Thirty minutes.” Czadas moistened his lips. “Forty minutes tops.” He hurried from the room.

“He’s a fool.” Rakovac whirled on Catherine. “But he knows better than to spoil this for me. He’ll have your son back in no time.”

“I hope you’re wrong.” How had it happened? Had Eve and Kelly helped her son to escape? It didn’t matter. Now wasn’t the time to analyze the miracle. Just accept it and try to build on it. “Maybe it was meant to be.”

“It was meant to be that I kill him and you, too, bitch,” Rakovac said. “And don’t hope. It won’t do you any good. Nothing is going to happen except exactly what I described to you. It’s just been postponed a short time.”

“If one thing is changed, maybe others will change, too,” Catherine said. “Chain reaction.”

“That sounds a little too optimistic.” He pulled out his gun and pointed it at her. “Don’t try anything, bitch.”

A bullet whistled by Eve’s ear as they reached the bank of the lake.

“Run!” Luke called back to her. “They must have found out that we’re gone.” He sprinted ahead of them.

Kelly was not far behind.

Eve cast a glance over her shoulder as she tore after them.

Men with flashlights, running.

Luke was looking at them, too. “The big man is Mikhal. He’s going to be-”

Another bullet.

Closer.

“Run!” Luke shouted. “Faster. What’s wrong with you?”

What was wrong? She wanted to shake him. “I’m not eleven years old. Go on. I’ll keep up.”

Luke muttered something and slowed. “There’s another guard up ahead. You go hide in the trees while I lead him away.”

“No, we stay together.” Eve quickened her pace. “Where is this boat?”

“A mile. Maybe a little more.”

And the men behind them were gaining.

Don’t panic.

Run…

“It’s Eve!” Joe jumped out of the car, his gaze on the three fleeing figures on the bank. He took off down the rocky embankment. Savrin House was towering on a hill in the distance, but he let Venable go after Rakovac. Joe didn’t know what circumstances had permitted Eve to escape, but he was going to take full advantage of them.

Three men in pursuit. One tall, heavyset man in the lead, two others following close behind.

He ran parallel to Eve and the others, keeping pace, waiting.

Gunshots. The large man was firing.

Take him out.

He fell to his knees and aimed carefully. A little bit in front of the man to take in consideration his impetus.

One…Two…

The big man stumbled, arched, then fell to the ground.

The two other men stopped, confused.

Take out the leader, and you often took out the team.

Just to be sure, he aimed again and took out the man closest to him. The other man stopped, then took a few steps back, turned, and started running back toward the house.

Joe jumped to his feet and started after Eve.

“Behind you!” A boy’s voice.

Joe whirled, lifted his weapon to fire at the other guard, who had come out of nowhere.

The guard was lifting his gun.

But he toppled forward as he was tackled from behind.

Joe was on the guard in an instant and broke his neck with one twist. He whirled on the man who had tackled the guard, ready for anything.

“No, Joe!” Eve was running toward him. “It’s Luke. Don’t hurt him.”

Not a man, a boy. But a boy with dark eyes blazing in his taut face, his body crouched and ready to spring.

Eve ran in front of the boy. “It’s okay, Luke. This is Joe Quinn. He’s here to help us.”

Luke didn’t move, his gaze fixed warily on Joe. “He did help. He shot Mikhal. Did you kill him?”

“I don’t know,” Joe said. “The big man?”

Luke didn’t answer. He was on his feet and running back toward the two fallen men.

“Mikhal Czadas,” Eve told Joe as she followed him.

Luke was standing over the body of Mikhal Czadas when Joe, Eve, and Kelly caught up with him.

Luke prodded Czadas with his foot, staring down at him. “He’s dead. He looks surprised.” His smile was savage. “I wish he’d seen it coming.”

The boy was fierce, Joe thought. Well, who could blame him? He had grown up in a den of voracious wolves. “We can’t have everything.” He turned to Eve. “Did you see Rakovac?”

She shook her head. “But Czadas told us earlier that he was supposed to be coming. He might be here.”

He waved at Venable, who had pulled the car alongside them on the road above. “Then by all means, let’s go see if he is.”

Catherine stared at Rakovac’s gun pointed at her heart. It was now or never. Czadas was chasing after Luke and wouldn’t be a problem. Luke, Eve, and Kelly were not on the scene to worry about. She had only to contend with Rakovac.

He was enough.

“I didn’t mean that I thought I had a chance to get out of this alive,” she said. “But what about my son and the others? I thought perhaps I could persuade you that they could live.” She stared at him, not hiding the fear that was always with her. Let him see her desperation. It could be a weapon to help her get close to him.