Iris Johansen - Pandora's Daughter

She switched them on. "We're wasting time. I need to get back on the road." She had met him at a small airport where his helicopter had landed near Kingsport, Tennessee. It had not been out of her way, but that didn't stop her from feeling the panic rising. Every minute was worth its weight in gold right now. "Can't you do this yourself?"

"Since you described the bridge as being large I'm almost sure that it has to be across the Mississippi River." He'd drawn circles around two bridges on the river. "And both these bridges have hilly terrain on the Tennessee side. You said Molino's house was on a high cliff, right?"

She nodded.

"How far was the house from the river?"

"I don't know." She tried to think. "Fifteen. Twenty miles."

"Was Molino looking north or south at the bridge?"

She closed her eyes for an instant. "South."

"The bridges are about sixty miles apart. We can't make a mistake about the area. It could be a disaster for Megan. Take a look at the map. Does it trigger anything?"

She shook her head in exasperation. "For God's sake, I can't look at a map and expect it to tell me secrets like a Ouija board. It doesn't work that way."

"How was I to know? Megan explained all about your connection and tethers, but it's all Greek to me. You have to admit I'm being outstandingly tolerant and reasonable in trying to work with you on this. I trust my map more than I do your 'tether.'"

"Tolerant?" She repeated. "You're tolerating me?"

"No." He smiled. "But the thought made you angry enough to make you let go of that little dress you were clutching. I thought you needed a diversion."

"You don't know anything about what I need." But he had meant to be kind and maybe it was better if she concentrated on something else for these brief moments. She looked down at the map. "Both the bridges are located in the general area where I'm being led. But which one is the right one?"

"Since I'm not getting any mystical help from you I'll have to fly over both of the bridges and see what I can see." He started folding up his map. "So I'll let you get back on the road. I'll call you when I'm close to either of the bridges and describe the terrain to you. Or do you want to come in the helicopter with me?"

She shook her head. "Flying doesn't work as well for me with the tether as being on the ground."

"Suit yourself." He picked up the dress from the seat and held it for a moment before handing it to her. "You know, the thought of this makes me very, very angry." He closed the car door and strode back toward the helicopter.

10:50 A.M.

"ARE YOU READY?" MOLINO asked when Megan picked up the phone. "I know I am. I can't wait to meet with you."

"And you're bringing both Phillip and Davy?"

"I told you that I would."

"How are they? Did you hurt them?"

"You'll see for yourself." He added, "I know you're going to have Grady and his CIA friends hovering nearby and I'm laying out the ground rules for you. After the helicopter picks up and leaves with Phillip and the boy, you're to remain there in the field until my own helicopter picks you up. Don't be impatient; it will only be a few minutes. If there is any attempt to interfere with you coming with me, I'll give the order and your friend, Phillip and the child will be blown out of the sky by a ground-to-air missile. If anyone attempts pursuit after you board my helicopter, then they'll see you hurtling to the ground from several thousand feet. Since you haven't displayed any other of your mother's freakish talents, I doubt if you can fly."

"You didn't answer me. Did you hurt them?"

But he had already hung up.

11:35 A.M.

THE TETHER WAS GONE, Renata realized in a panic.

One minute it had been strong and tight and now she couldn't feel it at all.

Please, not now. She had thought she was so close.

Her hand was shaking as she dialed Harley in the helicopter. "It's gone. The tether's gone."

"Calm down," Harley said quietly. "I know that must mean a hell of a lot to you, but I can't grasp it."

"Dammit, I felt him. It was getting stronger and stronger and then I lost him. He was gone."

"Then let's think about it." He was silent a moment. "What time is it?" He answered himself. "It's quarter to twelve, Renata. He's supposed to meet Megan at noon. If he suddenly took off and headed south to Redwing, would you lose the tether?"

"Shit." She felt like a dunce. "Yes. I was zeroed in on him at that location. It would have been like having the rug pulled out from under me. Why didn't I think of that?"

"I've heard geniuses sometimes have trouble tying their tennis shoes."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Words of comfort?" He added, "See if you can get a handle on this tether and call me back. I'm over the first bridge now and I want to go lower." He hung up.

She closed her eyes her hand on the dress.

Where are you, bastard?

Nothing.

No, there was a faint pull, gossamer light to the east.

She waited a moment but the tether was getting weaker by the second.

She dialed Harley. "He's heading southeast."

"Redwing," Harley said. "He's gone to pick up Megan."

"How long do we have before he brings her back?"

"I'd say two hours maximum."

Two hours.

Another ripple of panic went through her. Dammit, what was wrong with her? She'd been trained to be cool and always keep her head.

The answer wasn't difficult to find. This meant too much. She could see why Mark had always cautioned her against becoming emotionally involved.

Well, it was too late now. She was involved.

"The tether's not going to do me any good from now on. I'll have to try to identify his place by your description. We'll have to find Molino's place right away, before he comes back. Grady will need an inside man there. Hell, Megan's going to need all the help she can get. Are you above the bridge?"

"A little to the east."

"What do you see? Any cliffs?"

"Not yet. I'll do another pass…"

LORD, SHE FELT ALONE, Megan thought as she shaded her eyes and lifted her gaze to the sky. The hay field was flat and barren and she could only hear the wind through the surrounding trees.

She wasn't really alone, she told herself. Grady was somewhere in those trees with a few of Venable's men, who had shown up a couple hours ago. That should have lessened the fear but it didn't. She hadn't realized until she'd gotten out of the car to wait for Molino how much a coward she could be.

It didn't matter what she was feeling as long as she didn't break and run. She'd be better once Phillip and Davy were safe and away. She just wanted it over and both of them on their way to Bellehaven where Jana and Scott would meet them.

Where was Molino? He'd mentioned a helicopter but there was-

A roar of a motor erupted from the trees bordering the road.

She tensed and turned to see an ambulance heading toward her, bumping over the ruts in the field.

The driver pulled up and jumped out of the cab. "Hi, little lady. I have a package for you." He was young, good-looking, dressed in sweatshirt and blue jeans. "Not that he's much of a prize since I clipped him. I'd think you'd have written him off." He ran around to the back and opened the doors. "With Molino's compliments." He wheeled out the stretcher. "And mine of course."

"You're Darnell," she said slowly. "You're the man who shot Phillip."

"I won't be Darnell for long. Molino's promised me a new identity and a job out of the country if I delivered this old guy to you. It's getting a bit hot for me here. Not that it's my fault." He adjusted the feeding tube and wheeled the stretcher over to her. "I did everything right."

"Killing. Crippling. Oh, yes, you do everything right. Where's Davy?"

"Oh, the kid?"