Iris Johansen - Dark Summer

"Kingston, the man who shot Ned. I knew if he was dead, it would buy me a little time." He slanted her a glance, and said deliberately, "But I would have killed him anyway. He tried to kill my dog, and he would have kept coming after us. I couldn't let him do that."

The answer was raw and honest and brutal. He was not trying to sugarcoat any of his actions. It was bizarre to listen to him talk about killing as if it was an ordinary occurrence, she thought. It was just another example of how her life had changed, twisted down this dark path. He dealt out death as casually as those murderers who had killed Hugh and Terry. "And your only regret is that killing him delayed you?"

"Yes." He met her eyes. "And kept me from being in the right place at the right time. Sometimes that can change everything."

"That night on the mountain on Santa Marina you were in the wrong place for me."

"Possibly. Probably. I can't do anything about that now. That's past history."

"Not for me."

"Sorry, I'm not known for my sensitivity. I've said all I can. Done all I can. Now we have to just go on." He took out his phone and dialed. "Walt, we're going back to Denver. We left something behind. Arrange it." He listened impatiently, "No, I can't send someone else. Dammit, this is my responsibility. I'm the one who sent Ned back with her." He hung up and dialed again. "Bridget, Ned's chip's been decoded. I know. I know. Danner may not have it and, if he does, it will take him time to do a translation. But we can't count on either one. Go to Carmel. Danner will probably hit there first." He hung up. " Shit ."

She was still in shock from the violence her words had unleashed in him. "Why are you this upset? Tell me what's happening."

"The sky is falling, that's what's happening. If you wanted to get back at me for using you, you couldn't have picked a better way. You lost two people you cared about? I'll be lucky if I don't lose a dozen."

And there could be no doubt of his desperation and agony at the thought of that possible loss. "No matter how bitter I am, I'd never want to cause anyone hurt because of something I'd done. You're going back to the clinic?"

He nodded. "I have to get that-"

"It's really that important to you?"

"It couldn't be more important."

"And it will mean more deaths if Danner gets that decoding?"

"If I can't find a way to prevent them."

She walked in silence for a moment. "I'm going with you."

"No."

"I'll do what I please," she said fiercely. "I don't care about your chip. Except that I don't want those killers to get anything they want. And I don't want anyone else to die."

He was silent a moment. "It's not your fault. I was angry."

"And desperate."

"Yes, it's been a long time since I've been this desperate."

"You kept talking about the domino effect before. Well, something I did evidently caused the dominos to start falling again. I'm not going to look back and find out that I caused anyone to die or be hurt."

"You can't help."

"It's my clinic. I can locate the equipment fast."

"You can tell me where it is."

"I know every inch of that place. I could find that computer blindfolded with my hands tied behind my back." She shook her head. "And I don't trust you. You're too damn violent. There's bound to be police guarding the crime scene. I haven't had great experiences with my ex-husband's pals on the force but I don't want you hurting a cop just doing his job to get that computer. I'm going to be there to make sure you don't."

"I won't kill the damn police-"

"I'm going," she said fiercely. "I won't be moved from pillar to post wherever you choose to put me. This is my life."

He didn't speak for a moment. "You'd be safer here at the ranch. There's a good chance Danner may have left men stationed at both your farm and office. He covers all his bases."

"Then you'll have to make sure I survive. Providing everything you've told me isn't crap."

"It's not crap," Marrok said.

"That's for me to find out. I do know that your damn research isn't worth a human life. Prove it to me. Tell me what's on that chip."

He shook his head. "Same answer. Is it worth a life? It depends on who you ask. But I didn't start this. I didn't take the first life."

"But you're willing to take the last."

"No question." They had come to the steps of the front porch. "Change your mind. I worked hard to keep you alive. I don't want to risk you again."

"I'm the only one who decides what risk I'm going to take." She turned to face him. "Now there's only one thing I want to know. Were you telling me the truth when you said that Danner would have killed Nick and Janet if you hadn't gotten them away?"

He nodded. "After questioning them first. You'd be his first choice, but what he really wants is information, and he doesn't care where or how he gets it."

"And he'll try to get at them again?"

"Yes."

She stared at him in helpless frustration. Should she believe him? He was the stranger who had totally disrupted her life. It wasn't safe to accept everything he said.

Yet there had been no doubt about how angry and desperate he was about the decoding. It was dangerous to ignore what he told her until she could get proof one way or another. She had to know more, and she couldn't do that by sitting here. "I'm going with you."

He shrugged. "Suit yourself. I warned you. Just stay out of my way." He started up the steps. "We'll go to the local airport and meet Walt Franks. We'll take the helicopter to San Francisco, then rent a private jet to Denver. Pack some of the clothes Bridget bought for you. Enough for a couple days."

"We're going to be gone that long?"

"Probably not. But I believe in preparing for any emergency. Things don't always work out the way we want them to."

"I believe you mentioned that. You didn't kill a man in time to save my friends." She passed him as they entered the house. "Who's going to take care of Ned?"

"He goes with us. You'd better take Gracie back to Nick."

"You always take Ned with you?"

"When I can. When it's good for him." He reached down and stroked Ned's head. "Usually it's safer. I don't trust him with everyone. Walt and Bridget." He looked up. "And you."

"Considering the consequences, I wish you'd not included me on the short list."

"You'd rather I'd left him to be found by Danner's man?"

No, she couldn't stand the thought of a helpless animal being slaughtered. It hurt her to even imagine it. "I'd rather you told me, warned me, and let me decide."

"There wasn't time. And I'm not used to letting anyone else decide anything about Ned." He headed for the library. "Get moving. Ten minutes."

"WALT FRANKS, DEVON BRADY,"Marrok introduced them briefly as he opened the door of the helicopter for Devon. "Are we ready to get under way, Walt?"

The pilot nodded. "I told you I'd be ready. I've already arranged for the rental of the private jet for us to change to in San Francisco." He smiled at Devon. "It's good to see you with your eyes open."

"You brought me here?" Her brows rose. "That makes you an accomplice, you know."

"I've been an accomplice to worse things than keeping a nice lady like you alive." He started the engines. "Buckle up. We're on our way."

Walt Franks wasn't what she expected. He was a man in his fifties or early sixties, with grizzled gray-black hair and squinty hazel eyes. His drawl sounded Southwestern, maybe Texan.

"You're not going to give Walt a guilt trip," Marrok said. "He told me a long time ago when he came to work for me that he was leaving both responsibility and guilt on my shoulders."

"No one can do that. Everyone has to shoulder their own share."