Iris Johansen - Pandora's Daughter

"Maybe we can find her, Renata."

"Maybe. If she's still alive." Renata's eyes were glittering with moisture. "But first we have to find Molino." She sat upright and wiped her cheeks with the back of her hand. "Sorry. I'm okay now."

"For heaven's sake. There's nothing wrong with-" She wasn't reaching her. Renata's moment of softness was over and she was pushing her away.

Why accept it? She felt closer to Renata now than ever before. Renata would just have to learn to deal with affection.

Megan deliberately reached out and took her hand. "I think you're nuts to put yourself through this, but I admire and respect you for it." She got to her feet. "If I can help, let me know. What do you do next?"

"I drive around and see where it leads me." Renata smiled unsteadily. "I'll try hard to find Molino for you before tonight, Megan."

"I know you will. But if you don't, stay away from the graveyard. Do you hear?"

Renata didn't answer.

"I mean it. I don't know what to expect, but I don't want Molino to make any phone calls that will hurt Phillip."

"I'll think about it. It wouldn't do any good to try to make a connection with Molino there anyway. It won't be the place he has your Phillip. And it would be broken when he put enough distance between us. What's the plan?"

"Harley is going to scout around the cemetery and make sure Molino doesn't have backup there. Grady will stay in the trees with a rifle trained on Molino."

Renata thought about it. "I suppose that's as safe as Grady can make it for you."

"Then promise me you'll stay away from the cemetery."

"If I can locate Molino before that it will be a moot issue."

"Promise."

She frowned.

"Promise."

"Hell, no." She turned on her heel and walked back toward her car.

10:45 P.M.

"HARLEY SAYS THE IMMEDIATE area's clear," Grady said. "There are four of Molino's men in the forest across the way. I didn't expect him to take a chance and come alone." He gestured to the south. "I'll be in that patch of trees with a rifle trained on Molino. Harley will circle and keep an eye out to make sure Molino's men don't start moving toward you. Understand?" She nodded her gaze on the top of the hill. "I understand." The Redwing cemetery had been in existence since the start of the Civil War and it showed its age. Rotting wooden crosses and stone markers with the inscriptions eroded by time, overgrown patches of grass sprouted between the graves.

"Don't get too close to him. I might need a clear shot."

"You can't shoot him. He has Phillip and Renata still hasn't been able to find where Molino's keeping him."

He put the scope on his rifle. "If I have to make a choice, it won't be Phillip," he said grimly.

"Molino doesn't want to kill me. Not yet."

Harley appeared out of the brush. "Molino's here. He and Sienna are starting up the north slope of the hill."

She stiffened. "Then I'd better join him, hadn't I? We wouldn't want him to become impatient."

She heard Grady's low curse behind her as she moved up the path. He was feeling helpless and out of control and he hated to be put in that position, she knew. Well, he would have to deal with it. She was feeling pretty helpless herself at the moment.

The moon was full and shining brightly as she caught sight of Molino and Sienna standing on the crest of the hill. Her pace hesitated for an instant as a thrill of fear went through her. Don't tense. They might be monsters but monsters could be destroyed.

Molino was smiling at her. "Ah, Sienna, here she is. I told you that she'd be scampering to save that human refuse, Phillip. Her mother was just the same. Like mother, like daughter."

Sienna shrugged. "And neither of them is very smart. You're wasting your time. You have her now, kill her."

"What do you say about that, Megan?" Molino asked. "I keep telling Sienna that you're a worthy opponent, but he won't believe me. He thinks that I should concentrate on business."

"If you can call that filth you do business," Megan said as she came level with them. "Tell me how I can get Phillip back."

"Presently."

"Is he still alive?"

"Yes, but I can't dial him and have him talk to you." He chuckled. "His communication skills aren't exactly top notch at present. I understand Gardner was excited about him squeezing his hand, but we haven't bothered to explore that route." He tilted his head. "I'm more interested in having you squeeze Sienna's hand."

"What?" Sienna jerked his head around to stare at Molino. "What the shit are you up to?"

"Why, Sienna, there's nothing to worry about. You've always doubted that my Steven was victimized by that whore who bred this viper. I could see how contemptuous you were of me and my crazy ideas. If you're right, then you can prove it now. Let her take your hand."

"I don't want to touch him," Megan said. "He's as dirty as you are."

"But you were boasting how you were going to turn me into a vegetable. Such an ugly threat. Were you bluffing?"

"I don't want to touch him," she repeated.

"But I insist. That's why we're here. I had to know what I had to face with you, what I have to face with all those freaks listed in the Ledger. You boasted that you could find me, but that didn't happen. You bragged that you had powers like your mother, but there's no proof of that either." He smiled. "Show me proof, Megan."

"I don't have to show you anything."

"You do unless you want me to make a call and tell my men to disconnect the feeding tube from Phillip Blair."

She shrugged. "All right, I'll admit it. I'm no Pandora. I just wanted to make you angry."

"Show me," he repeated softly.

"Screw you," Sienna said. "I'm not going to put up with this bullshit."

"Scared?" Molino asked. "Why? As you said, it's only bullshit. My Steven went insane for no reason at all."

"Don't be an ass," Sienna said. "It's just that I'm not willing to play your game."

"And you're scared of the pretty lady. My, my."

"Oh, for God's sake." Sienna took one stride forward to stand before Megan. He thrust out his hand. "Get it over with."

She didn't move.

"Take his hand," Molino said. He took out his phone. "I'll give you thirty seconds before I make the call."

She glared at him. "Why don't you let me take your hand, Molino?"

"Because Sienna deserves whatever happens to him for doubting me. And I've always liked the idea of those Egyptian poison tasters. There's something regal about it. Fifteen seconds."

She reached out and took Sienna's hand. It was big, warm, and soft and all she could think about was how he had tortured Edmund Gillem with those hands.

"Press it," Molino said. "Hard."

Her hand tightened. She was hating this.

"Harder," Molino said.

She tightened her grip again.

"Crap," Sienna said. "This is taking too long." His hand crushed bruisingly around Megan's.

Pain. Anger. Hatred.

Then Sienna released her and stepped back. "Satisfied?" He asked Molino curtly. "I almost broke her hand. Do you want me to do it again?"

Relief soared through Megan with dizzying force. Nothing had happened. She hadn't realized until this moment how afraid she'd been.

"No." Molino was studying Megan's expression. "I believe I'm disappointed. I admit I hoped to get a little of my own back by having you teach Sienna a lesson. It might not be as entertaining to kill you as I'd hoped. You're obviously not going to be the challenge I thought."

"I told you I wasn't a Pandora."

"But you're Pandora's daughter and that will have to be enough for me." He turned away. "Come along, Sienna. Let's go back to the house and pay a visit to Blair."

Megan tensed. "What are you going to do to him?"

"Make sure he's still alive in that cellar." He paused. "Then tomorrow night I'm going to cut off his feeding tube."