Iris Johansen - Dark Summer

"My God."

Bridget was silent a moment. "So you can see why I have no trouble believing in healing powers or the dogs of summer. I want to believe in them. It's the other side of the coin. It's not death, it's life. That's why I came to Marrok when he asked me. I can do something. I'm not helpless."

Devon felt a surge of pity mixed with horror. It was no wonder Bridget was sometimes difficult and always complicated. Devon couldn't imagine what she would have been like if she'd been forced to bear that burden. "And you're wonderful with animals. That must be some solace to you." She shook her head. "Sorry. That sounds very Pollyanna."

"Yes, it does." Bridget's gaze shifted back to her, and she smiled faintly. "But you're right. That's yet another side to the coin." She started the car. "I'll take you to the local airport and call Walt."

"Are you going with me?"

"No, Marrok won't want to see me. It's going to take a while for him to forgive me. I'll have to work at Danner from another angle."

"What angle?"

"Enright is dead, and Danner doesn't have a partner now that I got rid of Lincoln. What a pity. Danner's all alone. Maybe I should apply for the job."

"Good God, if you slip up, he'll kill you."

She shrugged. "I used you as bait. Maybe it's time I stepped up to the plate. You should be glad that I'm risking my neck instead of yours."

"You're darned right I'm glad. Maybe I wouldn't have objected to being used as bait if I'd been consulted."

Bridget lips twisted. "Don't say that. I'm not above letting you volunteer if it suits my con ve nience."

"You don't 'let' me do anything. As you said, my choice."

"I'm sure you'll tell that to Marrok."

"Oh, yes." Devon was beginning to look forward to that confrontation with Marrok. "I have quite a few things I intend to tell Marrok."

BRIDGET STOOD WATCHING AS WALTlifted off and turned east. It was almost sundown and would be fully dark by the time Devon reached Paco's canyon. She turned away and strode toward Lincoln's car. She couldn't stand here and think about Devon or Marrok. She had to get a plan together to pull Danner into the trap Marrok was setting.

Her cell phone rang as she got into the car. Jordan. Lord, she didn't want to talk to him now. She would be tempted to lean and, if she did, he'd want to know details so that he could step in. But she couldn't ignore Jordan. One way or another he would get through to her.

"Everything is coming to a head. I killed Lincoln," she said when she picked up the phone. "I'm working on a way to go after Danner."

"That sounds tentative," Jordan said dryly. "I don't like tentative, Bridget."

"Too bad. I'm not Superwoman."

"Almost." His tone had a hint of amusement. "I'd never have sent you there if I hadn't made sure I'd made you into something very special."

"You sound like Dr. Frankenstein. You taught me, you didn't make me into anything."

"I stand corrected. Can you blame me for wanting to take some credit for you? It's not often that someone as interesting as you comes along." He paused. "And I'm detecting a note of edginess. Did killing Lincoln disturb you?"

"No. Well, maybe a little. I don't like killing. Even bastards like him." He was getting too probing. She had to get away. "I don't have time to talk. Why did you call me?"

"Something disturbed you. It jolted me out of a sound sleep. If it wasn't Lincoln, it was something else."

She should have known Jordan would feel a desperate sense of foreboding. He always knew what was going on with her.

"Tell me what's wrong," he said quietly.

There was no use trying to stall him.

"I don't know if I can keep Devon alive," she whispered. "I saw it happen, Jordan. I saw her shot. I saw her die. I don't know if I can stop it."

"If you can't, you can't. As you said, you're not a superwoman."

"I can't go on like this. I have to find a way to turn it around. If I see it, I've got to find a way to stop it."

"To stop it, you'd have to change the circumstances. Let's look at what you saw. Where did it take place?"

"Paco's canyon. And I've already tried to get her not to go there. She wouldn't listen."

"Then find another piece of the puzzle. One small change that might alter everything. Was anyone with her?"

She thought about it. "No one was standing beside her. If there was anyone else there, I didn't see them."

"Did she have a weapon?"

"No."

"Then change those circumstances."

"And how the hell am I to do that? I've gone through this before. I change one thing, and something happens to change it back."

"Then do you believe it's fate, and you have no say in it?"

"If it were fate, then there would be no reason for me to see it happening. This may be a screwed-up universe, but there has to be some kind of reason and balance. If I could stop it just once ."

Jordan was silent. "You're sounding desperate, Bridget. Do you need me to come?"

She had let him see the tension, dammit. "No, I can handle it. You're busy setting up the island."

"I can leave it. I can leave everything. You're the only one that's important to me."

"Liar." She had to get off the phone. "I'll call you if I change my mind."

He was silent again. "I'll let you slide away from me now. Not for long, Bridget."

"Good-bye, Jordan." She hung up the phone and drew a deep, shaky breath. Talking to Jordan always sparked a mixture of emotions. He was brilliant and had the experience to cut through all the chaff and shine a light on the darkest corners of her mind. But that ability also made her feel infinitely vulnerable.

Change the circumstances. One little change could alter everything.

She'd think about it. But right now she had to set about getting Danner to Paco's canyon.

THE LIGHTS OF THE HELICOPTERspeared down through the darkness to reveal Marrok, waiting on the plateau below.

Devon tried to smother the instinctive response that had nothing to do with anger. Dammit, she'd only had to see him to have her body tingle, ready. And not only her body…

He was striding toward the copter, jerking open the door. He stood there, looking at her. "I'd offer to help you out, but I don't know if you'd take my hand."

"I don't need help." She got out of the helicopter by herself. "Where's Ned?"

"I left him with the other dogs at a camp in the canyon. I want him to become accustomed to staying there while he's here. He's content with them, and they have guards to protect them."

"From Danner. Bridget says that's why you're here."

His lips tightened. "I'd rather not talk about Bridget."

"You're angry with her. She said you would be."

"Damn straight, she betrayed me. She betrayed you."

"No more than you did. She lied. You lied. She made a prisoner of me. That's what you were planning. Tucking me away somewhere out of your way. At least she released me and sent me on my way." She glanced at Walt. "I wasn't at all sure that Walt didn't have orders this time to take over the job you set Bridget to do."

"Not me," Walt said. "That would be too tough. Marrok can do his own dirty work from now on." He got out of the helicopter. "I'm going to go find Sid Cadow and see if I can drum up a game of poker. Call me if you need me."

Devon started walking toward the canyon. "It sounds as if you've brought everyone from the ranch."

He fell into step with her. "Almost everyone. This canyon is like a labyrinth. There are nooks, ledges, and hiding places all over it. I put the dogs and their guardians in the safest one."

"And I suppose the other nooks and crannies are good for ambushes?"

"Yes."

"How do you intend to get Danner here?"

"I was going to have Walt pick up Nick Gilroy at Sarah's and bring him here. There's no question he'd be followed." He shrugged. "But Nick showed up at the ranch earlier today. He wasn't going to be left out of the action. I had him brought here."