Iris Johansen - Deadlock

"Is all this going somewhere?"

"Eventually. I liked it, but I'm not good at it." He made a rueful face. "Garrett said he didn't know how Staunton managed to bug that car, but I imagine he's making a good guess. It had to be me that screwed up. I don't even know how I did it. That's a real amateur."

"This isn't a sport, Pauley."

"It felt like one that night. It was like winning a marathon and go¬ing on a king-size drunk at the same time." He shook his head. "But I made a mistake, and I don't like to make mistakes. Particularly ones that put other people in danger. I'm a perfectionist."

"This is going somewhere."

"I have to correct my mistake and come out looking like a rock star." He smiled. "Garrett's not going to let me go onstage so the only way I can do it is to go hunting with you and Joslyn."

She frowned. "This isn't what I wanted from you."

"It's what you're getting. You get the information, and you get me with it." He chuckled. "Though I can see you don't want to endanger my valuable hide. I can understand your hesitation. It's like risking damage to a Rembrandt." "Not quite."

His smile faded. "I won't make another mistake, Emily. You don't have to worry about my being a hindrance."

"I'm not worrying about you making a mistake, dammit."

His smile returned with a radiance that lit his face with dazzling warmth. "Then I was right. You do like me."

Of course she liked him. He was part Peter Pan and part Pied Piper. Who could help it?

He got to his feet and one finger traced the two frown lines indent¬ing her forehead. "Stop frowning. This is the way it should be. We'll take care of each other. Okay?"

It wasn't okay, but it was the only way she was going to get his help. She sighed. "Okay."

He turned her around and pushed her toward the door. "Now out with you. I'm getting excited about finishing this so that we can hit the road."

She wasn't excited, she was distinctly on edge, she thought as she went down the hall. Now she had to worry about not only Staunton, but Irana and keeping Pauley from trying to push his limits so that he could reach his idiotic goal of perfection.

But at least it would be Pauley she was worrying about and not Garrett.

WHAT THE HELL HAD THAT BEEN about? Garrett wondered, as he left Joslyn's room. He had thought when Joslyn called him that he might be able to tell him something more about Staunton, but he had come up with zilch.

Joslyn had just repeated his apologies and asked him innumerable you during our weeks together. I studied every tone of your voice, every expression of your face."

"Because you wanted to know where that damn hammer was."

He was silent. "Yes, of course, that was it. It was necessary. But it became an intense kind of pleasure."

"You're sick."

"That's been brought to my attention. But those who accused me of crossing that line are fools, and I'm the one who will have the power to crush them all."

"You sound like Mikhail Zelov."

"He knew about power. Even blocked by historical events, he still managed to come out on top. Not an emperor, but a very rich man." He chuckled. "And I may be able to go even higher. There are places in this world where a man can become whatever he wants to be. A new face, a new identity, and a billion dollars. What could be sweeter?"

"But you don't have the hammer that has that final amulet. And we have both Nemid's amulet and the two that were in Babin's safe."

"Before I bargained with Nemid, I had that amulet photographed and had a complete 3-D facsimile made of it. Do you think I'd let it out of my hands if I wasn't sure I wasn't losing anything? I promised Babin I'd steal it back, but I wouldn't have had to do it. And I did the same with the other two amulets Babin was holding. He never knew that I was as familiar with the contents of his safe as he was. I knew everything he knew, had everything in my possession that he had. As for the hammer…" His voice lowered to softness. "Zelov swore that it had magic properties for him, that it would bring him good fortune. Well, I'm like Zelov. I think the hammer is only waiting for me to find it. It will come to me."

"And you want me to help."

"I wantjwz/."

"Then I'll come to you and let you try to get me." A trap.

"No, but I've realized that this can't go on. I can't stand looking over my shoulder any longer. You're like a nightmare, and I have to get rid of you. I'll choose an open place where you'll feel safe."

"No, I'll choose… If I decide that I'm going to let you lure me into your clutches. The idea is… interesting."

"I don't care where it is, but I want it to be in the country or the woods, a place for me to run, not be caught like a mouse in a trap. I want my chance at you."

"Now you're being demanding."

"You said that you wanted me to be last. Well, that's too bad. You can work on everyone else on your list later. I came first. You kept me in that hut and nearly drove me insane. Everything else came afterward. One way or the other, I'm coming after you tonight."

"Tonight? You are eager. I'll have to think about it." He was silent. "No Garrett?"

"No. Joslyn will be coming with me."

"Joslyn," he repeated. "Actually, he was next on my list. He came before you, Emily. You might say he led the way to you. I'd think that you'd feel a bit uncomfortable hobnobbing with him."

"On the contrary, I feel very comfortable under these circum¬stances. He's expendable."

"Expendable? What a delight you are. You're the most interesting combination of ruthlessness and softness on the face of the earth. You'd sacrifice poor Joslyn on Garrett's altar?"

She didn't deny it. "He offered. I don't think you'll be alone."

"Oh, no. I'll have Borg, who is much more talented than Joslyn at this kind of thing. I don't regard that bleeding heart Joslyn as a threat. No one else?"

She hesitated. If she wasn't honest with him, it might blow every¬thing. "Irana. Mark Pauley."

"Dear Sister Irana? I must have made a great impression on her to make her want more. Pauley… Oh, yes, I'm familiar with him. I in¬vestigated him after I found he was part of your little group. By all means, let's see if he's improved since he let me plant that bug on your car." His tone was amused. "You must have wanted to make me feel very safe. You've surrounded yourself with useless ineffectuals." "You won't find me ineffectual, Staunton."

"I hope not. I always knew you'd be a challenge if you were ever in a position to make your presence felt." "Then you agree?"

"Perhaps. I'll let you know tomorrow."

"It has to be tonight or not at all." She had to persuade him. "It's your best bet, dammit. You may consider Joslyn and Pauley ineffec¬tual, but you know that Garrett or Dardon will cause you big trouble. I can't hold Garrett off after tonight."

"And you don't want him involved." Staunton's tone was mali¬cious. "I knew that you'd react that way when I told you what I was planning on doing to him when I got my chance. It was bound to tor¬ture you and set you in a panic. I know you so well, Emily. Tell me, do you fuck him?"

"You don't know me at all. The only passion Garrett and I share is the desire to rid you from the face of the earth."

"I think there's more than that. I can't tell you how that will add to my pleasure."

"Wouldn't it be strange if I actually managed to take you down before you got the chance to hurt him? Think about it. I put a bullet in you at the silo, and you haven't managed to touch me since that hut in the mountains."

"I could have touched you." A hint of annoyance edged his voice. "It wasn't my choice.

"Then why are you hesitating now? I think you're lying."

He didn't speak for an instant, and Emily could almost sense his rage. "I didn't want to hurry. I wanted at least a week with you. But I can make a day seem like a week. Come and play, Emily."