Iris Johansen - Silent Thunder

"You're closing the TNT bar?" Hannah asked.

"I'll sell it. I get offers all the time. You wouldn't believe how many uptight Wall Street moguls dream of retiring and running their own beachfront party bar."

"Why are you leaving?" Kirov asked.

"I need to get back under the radar. When you two run across one of my bombs and know right where to find me, that tells me something. I've been having a good time here, but it's only a matter of time before my luck will run out. I'm going to disappear into the sunset. Don't you think I-" Niler's cell phone suddenly blared Queen's "Another One Bites the Dust."

"You might want to try a new ringtone," Hannah suggested dryly.

"Shhh." Niler checked the laptop display screen. "I think this may be him. Are we ready?"

Hannah and Kirov adjusted their headphones and nodded.

Niler pushed the TALK button. "Speak to me."

"You're the one who insisted on this conversation," the caller said impatiently. "Perhaps you should speak to me ."

Russian accent, sharp, precise enunciation. Pavski. The knowledge that he was on the other end of the line made Hannah's chest tighten. She glanced at Kirov.

His grim expression confirmed it.

"I've had a few problems lately," Niler said. "A few seconds- and thirds-in-command have been placing orders without their bosses' okay, and I've had trouble collecting payments."

"How foolish," Pavski said. "It's not a good idea to anger some-one in your profession."

"I took care of the problem. Anyway, I recognize your voice. Your package will be ready this weekend."

"No, I want it tomorrow."

"Tomorrow?"

"Yes. I'm on my way there now. Same plan, same place, just a different day."

"But your devices aren't ready."

"Make them ready."

Niler was clearly flustered. "It's-It's not that simple. Your man said-"

"Forget what he said. You're talking to me now. That's what you wanted, isn't it? To hear it from me?"

"Yes, but I-"

"Is the deal on or off? Because if you can't deliver, I need to make other arrangements."

Niler paused. "I can deliver."

"Good."

"It might help if I knew what you're trying to protect."

Silence. "It's not like you to ask so many questions."

"Different objects have different properties," Niler said. "Some materials are better able to absorb shock waves than others. It would be helpful for me to know-"

"It's nonexplosive, nonflammable material. Do your best."

"I always do."

"Good. See you tomorrow."

Click .

Niler switched off the phone.

Hannah threw off her headphones. "Tomorrow?"

"I'm really not surprised," Kirov said. "Pavski likes to keep the people around him slightly off-balance. It's his way of assuring that he always has the upper hand."

"There's another explanation," Hannah said. "He's already found the stash, and he's in a hurry to get your sentry bombs in place to protect it."

"In any case, this moves things up a few days." Kirov turned to Niler. "Can you be ready?"

He shrugged. "Looks like I'll have to be, doesn't it?"

"Do you need anything from us?"

Niler smiled. "I saw the looks on both of your faces when his voice came through. When you finally lay eyes on him, all I'll need is a chance to get the hell out of your way."

Blood.

Gray sweater.

Conner!

Hannah sat up straight in bed, sweating, panting.

Dear God.

Just a nightmare. No, more than that. It had been a reliving of that night in every detail.

Pain .

She got out of bed and went into the bathroom and drank a glass of water.

Conner.

Why was the shock and pain hitting her like this tonight? She'd managed to keep it at bay after the first few nights.

Because tomorrow she might be facing his murderer.

And she might be killing a man.

Don't think about it. What had to be done would be done.

But she couldn't go back to bed yet and risk another nightmare.

She pulled on her jeans and a shirt and headed for the door. She'd walk on the beach and try to exhaust herself enough to sleep without dreams.

The moon was bright and the surf was gentle.

Conner had never liked a quiet surf. He'd always been excited by crashing waves.

Walk fast.

Try not to think.

"Hannah."

Kirov. She stopped and turned to watch him coming toward her. "I don't want company, Kirov."

He studied her expression. "I can see that. You're getting it anyway."

She turned and walked away. "How did you get here?"

"I was coming back to my room, and I saw you leave."

"It's the middle of the night. What were you doing?"

"Maybe I was taking a midnight stroll too." He paused. "Nerves?"

She nodded jerkily. "I'll be okay."

"I know you will." He walked beside her in silence for a few moments. "You can change your mind."

"I'm not changing my mind." She walked faster. "I had a dream about Conner tonight. It was just like that night and he was-There's no way I could back out."

"I guess not. Just thought I'd offer."

She glanced at him. "Do you have nightmares, Kirov? I'd think you would."

"Because of the men I've killed?" He shook his head. "Only about the Pavski killed. I used to dream every night about my crewmen dying on the sub, wondering where I was, and reaching their hands out to me and begging me to die with them."

She shuddered. "Horrible."

"It was probably born of guilt. A captain is responsible for his crew and his ship. He should be with them to the end."

"You couldn't be there."

"My mind knows that. My emotions aren't at all reasonable. I've been trained to duty since childhood." He stopped. "Could we sit down? I'm tired of running a marathon. Tomorrow may be a taxing day."

"I told you not to come-" She shrugged and sat down on the sand. She linked her arms around her knees and stared out at the surf. "Do you think he'll come?"

He dropped down beside her. "Pavski? I don't know. There's a fair chance. It's worth a shot."

"What if he doesn't?"

"Maybe try to snag the man who delivers the cash. We'll play it by ear."

"Just like that? I don't believe this is something I want to be extemporaneous about."

"Then walk away."

"Stop saying that." Her hands clenched into fists. "If he doesn't come to us, we have to go after the cradle. That will draw him to us."

"No doubt. It's his beacon in the night."

"Then let's light it and lead him to hell. Tell me what I have to know to find it."

"If I knew that, I'd have found it already."

"You were interested in that mythology book."

"Because it wasn't mine. That means it could be Heiser's. Anything to do with Heiser is crucial."

"You said that the only clue could be the conversation between Heiser and his father."

"And that the area Heiser mentioned visiting with his father as a child was searched by everyone. Pavski, included."

"What about you?"

He nodded. "Me, too. Nothing."

"Maybe you missed something in the conversation with his father."

He shook his head. "I have the transcript if you'd like to read it."

"What about Heiser's father? Surely you talked to him?"

"No, I was on the run. It was nine months before I could get to Moscow to see him. By that time he was dead."

"How?"

He shrugged. "Pavski or the GRU. He was shot in a train station near his town. He was probably trying to run away. The poor bastard was no match for them. He was a professor of literature, for God's sake. But evidently he was killed before he was forced to tell what he knew, or Pavski would have the cradle."

Another death to be laid at the door of the cradle, she thought bitterly. "What about the contents of that package that Petrenko gave Pavski?"