Iris Johansen - Dark Summer

© 2008

Santa Marina Island

1:30 A.M.

"YOU'RE NOT GOING TO FINDanyone, you crazy dog." Jude Marrok climbed over another pile of rubble, trying to keep up with the black Lab. "And I'm not going to keep on chasing after you. I'll give you fifteen more minutes. After that, I'm calling the helicopter."

Ned didn't even look back as he sniffed desperately at the remains of houses toppled by the earthquake. He was making soft, whimpering noises as he searched the ruins for life.

Marrok muttered a curse beneath his breath. Dammit, he should have taken the dog down to the main rescue area after they'd been dropped by the helicopter in the foothills. This side of the mountain had already been searched by the canine rescue teams.

When the volcano on this small Ca rib be an island had caused a 7.5 earthquake six days ago, it had devastated the two villages on both slopes of the mountain. The rescue teams had worked tirelessly on both villages, but after no one was found, they had abandoned this smaller village to concentrate on the one on the far side of the mountain. His dog, Ned, had refused to go to the other side of the mountain and insisted on going to the now-deserted village, and Marrok had gone along with him. Most of the time the Lab's instincts were pretty good, and it wasn't that unusual for him to find survivors after other rescue teams had abandoned hope. But they'd been searching for two hours, and Ned had not found any signs of life.

And the blasted dog wouldn't give up. The longer he searched, the more frantic he was becoming. He was whimpering now, and if he started barking, it could bring the soldiers who were guarding the ruins from vandals and looters. That couldn't happen. Jude hadn't had time to get papers when he decided to bring Ned to the disaster site. He'd put the usual Red Cross halter jacket on Ned, but the military would demand more proof.

Oh, what the hell. He'd worry about being thrown in the local hoosegow if it happened. After all, he'd brought Ned here to put a stop to the depression he'd noticed in him for the last few weeks, and he'd stay the course. The dog's depression used to be present only after he'd gone to a site and found nothing but the dead, but lately he always seemed to be waiting for any opportunity to make the attempt at rescue.

Ned had stopped at a heap of timber and turned his head to stare at him with pleading dark eyes.

"Okay, I'll take a look." He began to pull aside the debris. "But don't get your hopes up, buddy." He worked for fifteen minutes, and all the while Ned just sat gazing anxiously at him. "I told you. You know how many times it turns out that-" He stopped. "Shit."

Ned was whimpering, pressing close to his knees.

"Dead." The villager he'd uncovered was lying crumpled, his skull crushed. Poor bastard. "I told you. Now let's go to the other side of the mountain where we have a chance of finding-"

Ned lifted his head and howled.

"No." Marrok fell to his knees and put his arms around the Lab. "Shhh, I know it hurts. Me, too. But you have to be quiet, Ned. We're not supposed to be here." Ned was whimpering again, but at least he wasn't howling any longer. He buried his nose against Marrok's chest. "We'll keep looking. You'll find someone alive. I promise." He hoped he was telling the truth. It was breaking his heart to see Ned grieving. He stroked the dog's head. "Come on. We'll go and join the rescue teams on the other side of the mountain. You can show those other dogs how smart you are."

And Marrok would be walking a tightrope and have to lie himself blue in the face if he was challenged by anyone. Well, it wasn't as if that would be unfamiliar territory. He had become an expert at both over the years. Ned was worth any amount of trouble he had to face. He got to his feet. "Let's go," he said gently. "No reason for staying here. We can't help him." He put a marker on the spot for body retrieval. "It will be better if we-"

Ned was no longer beside him. He was running across the rubble, his lean midnight-black body taut with eagerness. He had caught another scent, Marrok realized, and he was following it with reckless speed. It seemed the dog wasn't ready to obey him, he thought ruefully. It wasn't surprising since their relationship was that of close friends rather than master and canine. They had long ago passed that point. "Okay, we'll go your way for a while." He took off after Ned. "But you'd better be right this time. I can't spend all night comforting you." But he knew he'd do precisely that. You didn't question when a friend was in need. He'd almost caught up with Ned, and the Lab was staring at him hopefully. "Let's make a deal." He started to bend to shift the debris. "If we don't find anyone this time, you give it up and do it my-"

A whistle of sound streaked by his cheek.

Ned cried out and fell to the ground, blood pouring from his side.

A bullet, dammit.

Marrok fell sideways, grabbed Ned's collar, and rolled with him behind the ruin of the house.

Another bullet splintered the timber next to Marrok as he pulled out his gun. It had come from the direction of the trees to the south of the site. Not the military. They would have questioned him before shooting at him. That Red Cross on Ned's halter would have required it. His gaze searched the trees as he moved to the side.

Another bullet.

One shooter and determined to make the kill.

Danner? Maybe. God, he'd hoped he'd sidetracked them in Morocco, but they must have uncovered his trail. The solution was the same as always. Kill the shooter. Disappear. It would take time for them to send someone else on his trail. But he couldn't leave Ned. The Lab was hurt and bleeding. He couldn't take time to go after the shooter. Not now. He had to stop Ned's bleeding and get him help.

He dodged two bullets while he dragged Ned farther behind the timbers. He sprayed a barrage of bullets at the trees before starting work to stop the bleeding. There wasn't much, thank God. Ned lay still, only whimpering occasionally. Marrok didn't think the wound was terminal, but he couldn't tell in the darkness. Anger exploded through him.

Come after me, you son of a bitch. Let me have my chance at you.

Shoot my dog? I'll tear your heart out.

But he could hear voices coming from the direction of the rescue site on the other side of the mountain. Someone had heard the shots, dammit. He wasn't going to get his opportunity to make the kill. The shooter wouldn't risk going after him and exposing himself to awkward questions. Danner didn't like questions.

He stroked Ned's head. "It's going to be okay. We'll get you fixed up. There's almost always a vet on these mercy missions." He glanced at the trees from where the bullet had come. It was only a postponement. The shooter wouldn't give up. He'd stick around and wait for another opportunity to take them out. Danner disliked failure almost as much as he did questions. "And then I promise I'll make sure that bastard never has another go at you."

SHIT.

Kingston lowered his Remington, slid down the trunk of the palm tree, and sprinted back into the woods. He'd go back and cover his tracks later. He wasn't worried about the locals hunting him down. Marrok was the threat. Kingston had read every word of the report Danner had given him on the man who called himself Jude Marrok, and some of it was very impressive.

His phone vibrated in his jacket pocket. He pulled it out and checked the ID. Danner.

Dammit, he was tempted to ignore it. He didn't want to have to give explanations right now. But he couldn't ignore a man who wielded as much power as Raymond Danner.