Iris Johansen - Dark Summer

"Why?" Walt said. "Marrok causes the ruckus, I just come in and pull him out." He grinned at Marrok. "Just like I did in the jungles in Colombia when he was in the SEALs. He owes me big-time."

"You were in the ser vice together?"

Walt nodded. "That's where we met. Little did I know it was going to lead to me wiping his nose for all these years."

"Walt."

Walt chuckled. "Do you hear that tone, Devon? That's his big chief shut-up-or-I'm-going-to-scalp-you voice."

"That's remarkably po liti cally incorrect," Marrok said dryly. "And I was never anything as grand as a chief. The closest I ever got was being an apprentice to the shaman in the tribe. I didn't even do that well. I conducted most of my holy rites in the nearest bar." He shrugged. "What the hell. I was only a kid, and I could see that all the government officials at the reservation thought we were all stupid pieces of crap. Why not get drunk and for a moment feel like a man who could be respected?"

She couldn't imagine Marrok as that wild, reckless boy. He was so totally in control and contained now.

He glanced at her and smiled faintly. "You don't see it? It took a long time to move away from that wild kid. I made a lot of mistakes. I still make them. I spiral out of control every now and then. I just don't use liquor as a crutch."

"Violence instead of booze?"

His smile faded. "Violence, despair, regret. Do you ever lose control, Devon?"

"I'm a vet. I can't afford to lose control. I could cause hurt."

His gaze was suddenly narrowed on her face. "You were married."

"Yes." There was no doubt she had lost control with Les to her eternal regret. "I was seventeen, and I thought sex was love. He didn't make the same mistake. He knew exactly what he was after." Good God, what were they talking about? The intimate confidence had just tumbled out, prompted by Marrok's words. She tried to shift the subject away from herself. "But control is usually-"

"You don't sound too warm toward Enright," Marrok interrupted. "I thought you were reconciling."

She stared at him, shocked. "What? Where the hell did you get that idea?"

"The same place the rest of America got it. Enright told CNN that you'd settled your differences and were going to go away together once he rescued you from the bad guys." He tilted his head. "No?"

"No," she said flatly.

"I'm very relieved," Marrok said. "Since I'm the 'bad' guy in the equation. I wouldn't want to interfere with true love. Now why would he make a statement like that?"

She had an idea, and it was making her uneasy. "How should I know?" She tried to veer away from the subject. "Are you married?"

"No, I skipped that." He shrugged. "But I've done most things at least once."

That didn't surprise her. There was a world of experience mirrored in the lines of his face. What experiences, she wondered suddenly? There was a sensual curve to the setting of his lips, and his eyes were hard, glittering, and knowing…

Walt chuckled. "Yep, until you got bored. Though how you could get bored with that madam at that house in Bangkok, I can't fathom. You said you'd learned all she could teach you, but if it was me, I'd have stayed around and practiced."

"Walt, you have an extremely big mouth."

"And a memory to match." His eyes were twinkling as he lifted off. "That's probably why you keep me around. You're so closed up that you need someone who knows where you came from. Otherwise, you might forget."

"No, I wouldn't." Marrok looked out the window at the ground dropping away. "You've got my number. Everyone needs a friend to share experiences. Otherwise, you get hollow inside. I know about hollow."

"I know you do," Walt said. "And when I'm not around, you always have Ned."

Marrok nodded. "Who doesn't talk when he should be concentrating on flying."

Walt laughed. "I don't think Ned can fly a plane yet. Though it wouldn't surprise me. He's getting smarter and smarter." He reached back and patted Ned's head. "How about it, buddy, want a lesson?"

Ned lifted his head and gave a ruff.

"Don't promise what you can't deliver," Marrok said. "Ned will hold it against you."

The chemistry between the two men was interesting to watch, Devon thought. Walt Franks must have been at least twenty years older than Marrok, but his demeanor and personality seemed much younger. It was clear they were friends of long standing, and Franks was definitely not intimidated by Marrok.

"Have you figured us out yet?" Marrok was gazing at her again.

"I'm not wasting my time." She scratched the Lab behind his ear. "Ned is the only one who's worth the effort."

"Ouch." Walt made a face. "That stung. But I suppose I can't blame you since kidnapping was involved."

"How generous." She turned to Marrok. "How are we going to do this? The police will have a guard at the crime scene? Right?" She suppressed a shudder at the term. The place where she had spent so many satisfying hours had changed, became a place of tragedy and horror.

"Probably. And as I said Danner may have his man there on the watch, too."

"How do we do it?" she repeated.

"We reconnoiter. I take out the police guard and we go in and get what we want." He held up his hand to stop the protest he knew was coming. "No, I promise I won't kill him."

"And Danner's man?"

"We hope he comes in after us and not wait for us outside. Privacy is always good." He looked her directly in the eye. "And I make no promises about his disposition, Devon. If you want to keep your hands clean, then don't come with me. Stay in the car with Walt and Ned."

Marrok might be wrong. Danner's man might not even be waiting for them. And, if he was, would she care if the murderers of Hugh and Terry were killed? The fierce surge of rage at the thought shocked her but brought an answer in itself. "I told you, I'm going with you."

A TALL, HEAVYSET MAN IN Apolice uniform was standing in front of the door of the clinic.

Walt cruised by and parked down the street in the parking lot of a con ve nience store across from the shopping center. "Over to you, Marrok," he said as he started to get out of the car. He whistled for the Lab. "Come on, Ned. Let's stretch our legs."

"No, what are you thinking?" Marrok said. "Stay in the car. If any of Danner's men are here I don't want them to see Ned. And I want you at the parking area behind the clinic in fifteen minutes."

"Right." Walt hesitated. "I could take out the policeman for you. No trouble."

"Just take care of my dog." Marrok took Devon's elbow. "Come on. Let's do it." He spoke rapidly, concisely, as he propelled her across the street to the shopping center and down the side of the hill. "Move fast toward the back entrance while the cop is still out front. He'll probably be doing regular rounds soon. You go inside the clinic." He reached in his pocket and pulled out a small flashlight. "Take this. Don't turn on the lights, but don't use the flashlight until you need it. I'll make enough noise to bring the cop around back once we're ready for him. I get rid of him and join you inside." They had reached the back of the building, and he lowered his voice. "Find that computer as quick as you can. I hope to hell they didn't take it."

"The door is padlocked," she whispered. "How can we-"

"Quiet." He bent over the lock. A moment later he released the padlock and opened the door. "Go!"

She slipped inside and closed the door.

A second later she heard the sound of the lid of the garbage can by the back door being hurled against the side of the building.

Make enough noise to bring the police officer, he had said. That certainly was enough noise. He'd promised not to kill him. Could she trust him? She was tempted to open the door and look out.

No, it was too late. She had to trust his word. Find the computer and get out of here.