Iris Johansen - Deadlock

"My, my, you're right on time," Staunton said. "A little anxious, my Emily?"

"I'm not your Emily. Give the order to release Irana."

"Presently. I'm looking the terrain over to make sure that you haven't got any unwelcome visitors trailing behind you."

"You know better. I wouldn't take the chance."

"No, you're very concerned about your friend. That's your great¬est weakness, Emily. I'll always be able to come out on top because I don't have that weakness."

"I'm aware you don't give a damn about anyone. You've proved it time and time again. Let her go, Staunton."

"Get out of the car and come to me."

Don't get out of the car.

She looked at her watch-11:05. Keep talking. "I won't risk my¬self without being sure that it's worth it. Who is watching her? Borg?"

"No, Borg is busy attending to some other business for me in Paris. I had to call in a local. Fasrov is lethal, but not nearly as talented as Borg. I missed him this afternoon."

She stiffened. Block out the part that was causing panic to ice through her. "What kind of business?"

"Partly damage control. Partly long-term insurance." He was silent. "I do believe you've been a good girl. I don't see any signs of Garrett or his friends. Now get out of the car, put down the gun I'm sure you have, and walk toward the silo."

"I won't get out of the car."

"Then I'll call Fasrov and tell him to kill our Sister Irana. Then I'll shoot out your tires, and we'll go from there." She looked at her watch-11:12.

"I don't want to kill your friend," Staunton said. "It will be much more amusing if I can keep her alive… for a while." "Like Joel."

"Exactly like Joel Levy."

"I told you that I wouldn't let you-"

"Your choice. I kill her now, or you take the chance you can free her later."

It was eleven thirteen.

"I'm going to hang up and call Fasrov now," Staunton said. "Don't make the call. I'm getting out of the car." "Very good. I told you that softness would beat you every time." She got out of the car. "I'm putting down my gun." She set the Glock on the ground. "I'm going to walk toward you. Where are you?" "I'm on scaffolding inside the silo. I'll come down to meet you." Don't let him leave the silo. "No," she said quickly. "I'm on my way to you." "Now why do you want me to-"

"I'm hanging up the phone now." Emily clicked the button and moved slowly toward the silo.

Eleven fifteen, Garrett had said. Two rings, Garrett had said.

But it was only eleven fourteen, and she was already out in the open and struggling to keep Staunton in that damn silo. Where the hell are you, Garrett?

11:14 p.m. Sakvar Warehouse

ONLY ONE GUARD AND HE WERE standing in front of the load¬ing dock of the warehouse.

Garrett moved silently across the dock.

One yard. Two yards. Three. Now!

His arm went around the guard's neck from behind. He pulled back, twisted, and snapped it.

"Dardon." He moved toward the heavy freight door. "Bring the car around."

He ran down the hall. It was eleven-fifteen. His infrared detector had indicated one person at the far end of the warehouse. He was praying it was Irana. He was praying she was alive. He couldn't call Emily until he was sure.

The door was locked. Dammit, he should have gotten the key from the guard.

He aimed downward at the lock. "Irana, stand back."

No answer.

The lock exploded as he blasted it. He threw open the door. "Irana?"

EMILY'S PHONE IN HER POCKET rang. Once. Twice. Two rings. At last.

She heard Staunton's voice just inside the silo. "Just what are you-"

She pressed the remote control on the box Garrett had given her.

And Staunton was framed in the doorway as the silo blew.

Emily was running back to get the gun she'd laid on the ground, but the force of the blast threw her to the ground.

"Bitch," Staunton was cursing as he tried to pick himself up off the ground. "Whore."

A bullet whistled by Emily's ear as she crawled the final few feet to the Glock. She grabbed it and rolled behind the car. "But you like ex¬plosives, Staunton." She aimed carefully. "You blew up Irana's hospital. You blew up her plane. Garrett thought it only fitting that he come here and do some advance work so that he could return the favor."

"I'll kill her. I warned you, Emily." He was struggling to reach his phone. "You've signed her death-" He cried out as her bullet entered his shoulder.

Dammit, she had meant the bullet to hit his chest. If he hadn't moved for the phone, he would have been dead, and this would have been over. She took aim again.

But Staunton was up and running around the burning silo, blood pouring from the wound in his shoulder. An instant later she heard the sound of a car being started.

"No!"

She started to get to her knees as she saw Staunton's Volvo tearing out from behind the silo.

Was he coming toward her?

No, he'd passed her and was barreling down the road.

Shoot out his tires. She leveled the gun.

But he was zigzagging all over the tarmac.

And the next moment he was out of range.

Disappointment as sharp as it was deep tore through her. She'd failed. He was still alive. He'd been bleeding profusely, but if he stopped the flow, there was a good chance he'd live.

She could still see the taillights of Staunton's car.

It was all to do again, she realized in despair. Staunton was still out there. She would have to find him and kill him before he managed to hurt anyone else.

It wasn't over.

BITCH. BITCH. BITCH.

Staunton could feel the blood pouring down his arm as he stomped on the accelerator.

She had come close to killing him, he thought incredulously. She had tried to blow him up, then she had shot him. He might still die if he didn't get this damn blood stopped. He would have taken care of the bitch if he hadn't realized that he couldn't afford to take the chance of bleeding to death while he did it.

He would pull off the road, make a compress, and find a doctor somewhere in a nearby town to get out the bullet.

Then I'll be ready for you, Emily.

EMILY DIALED GARRETT AS she got back in the car. "Two rings. Tell me it wasn't a mistake. Irana is safe?" "Irana is safe."

Relief soared through her. "Thank God."

"How are you? Did you blow that son of a bitch to kingdom come?"

"No. It didn't go as you hoped it would. I blew the silo, but he wasn't inside. I only managed to wound him." "But you're okay?"

"Yes. He was bleeding badly and got away. I thought we had a chance to end it, Garrett. He was moving, and I only got his shoulder. Now we have to start over."

"No, we've made progress. We just have to keep going. I'm on my way back to the farm with Dardon and Irana. I'll meet you there." He hung up.

GARRETT HAD ALREADY ARRIVED at the farmhouse when Emily pulled into the yard.

She jumped out of the car and ran into the house.

"Irana!"

"She's here." Garrett turned away from the stove. "She's in the bathroom. She said to tell you that she'd be out in a few minutes." He poured coffee into a cup. "The bastard didn't feed her all day. I asked her if she wanted something to eat, but she said all she wanted was coffee."

"But she's not hurt?"

"She said she wasn't hurt."

"Is Dardon okay?"

"Yes. I sent Pauley to bed and Dardon out to do guard duty." Garrett wasn't looking at her. "What's wrong? You're sure Irana's not hurt?"

"That's what she said." He still didn't look away from the coffee. "But she was very quiet on the trip back here."

"Quiet?" Emily's stomach clenched, and her gaze flew to the bath¬room door. "What do you think that means?" Dear God, don't let anything be-

"You've scared her, Garrett." The door had opened, and Irana came out of the bathroom, drying her wet hair with a towel. "You shouldn't have done that." She threw her wet towel on the back of a chair. "She's had a bad enough time tonight from what you've told me."