Cain merely tilted his head, as though listening to distant music.
Baron lifted the tails of his jacket and shirt, showing a large dressing bandaged to his right side. ‘I took a bullet for Hendrickson. Alive or dead, I think he owes me. I think you do also, Captain.’
‘I owe you?’
‘Yes. Your allegiance. I have taken charge of our boss’s interests, one of which is the smuggling operation you are involved in.’
Cain listened to the exchange as though unconcerned. He’d changed his mind: Baron was an asshole. But there was still something about him that Cain could work with.
Baron’s watery gaze shifted from Grodek to Cain. ‘We all owe each other our allegiance. It’s the only way we can finish what was started.’
Cain sheathed his knife. ‘Then we’d best get on with it. Grodek, take me to the comms room. It’s time I contacted the man protecting John Telfer.’
Grodek shook his head. ‘No, Cain. I am finished with this. My deal was with Kurt Hendrickson, not either of you. There’s no way I’ll be paid for my trouble, so I’ll have to recoup my losses another way. The woman,’ he gesticulated along the corridor, ‘she belongs to me now. If I cannot get a good price for her, I’ll give her to Brady as compensation for his hand.’
‘Your fat friend would enjoy that,’ Cain said. ‘But I’m afraid it’s not going to happen.’
‘Don’t forget who is in charge here,’ Grodek snapped as he lifted the gun. ‘I say what happens on my ship.’
‘I can see that might be a problem,’ Cain said.
‘No problem for me. I will have my crew remove you. Do you think yourself strong enough to swim all the way to port?’
‘How far from port are we?’
‘A couple miles,’ Baron offered.
‘Then no,’ Cain said. ‘But it’s far enough out to offload some unnecessary cargo.’
Grodek sneered. ‘You mean the woman? I told you I have new plans for her.’
‘No, not Jennifer,’ Cain said. ‘I meant you.’
He struck lightning fast, his Bowie knife whipping up and under the Russian’s chin before the man could think about aiming his gun. The tip of the knife sank through flesh without a whisper, but the hilt jamming against his jaw produced a thud that echoed the length of the corridor. Cain held the ship’s captain on the end of his blade until all life had fled. It took only seconds, then he allowed the blade to dip and the man to slide off.
Baron took a half-step backwards, his fingers edging towards a gun on his belt. The driver swore gutturally, but his hands stayed in plain sight. Cain brought up his other hand, showed the Tanto. A simple lunge would put it through Baron’s chest. Baron lifted his hands and showed whose side he was on with a less than puissant smile. ‘I meant what I said about working together.’
‘Looks like a mutiny is in order, eh, gentlemen?’ Cain said. ‘Some of the crew might not be pleased about their sudden change of captain. Shall we go together and show them how to walk the plank?’
Baron touched his injured side. ‘I owe Joe Hunter for this, and I guess if I’m ever going to get revenge, it will mean sticking with you.’
The driver was one of Hendrickson’s men, not Grodek’s. Still, witnessing the Russian’s death had thrown him into flux over where his loyalties lay. He was sinking fast. ‘Can you cook?’ Cain asked.
The driver blinked his incredulity. Then, realising he’d just been offered a lifeline, he nodded.
‘Good.’ Cain bent and wiped his Bowie clean on Captain Grodek’s trousers. ‘You can feed the woman. I don’t think that fat-assed Brady will be coming back.’
Chapter 36
‘I thought I was doing this on my own.’
I was wrong about that, and I was wrong about why Walter had rung me.
Cain hadn’t yet been in touch to organise an exchange of hostages. Walter had summoned me to his cabin because he wanted to set the terms of another deal, this one with me. I wasn’t entirely happy about it, but neither could I see how I could refuse him.
We were in the room where Bryce Lang died, and it was a less than subtle manipulation I could have done without. However, Walter was in charge and there was nothing I could do about it except walk out and force the others to follow. It still felt like an abattoir in there, despite having been thoroughly cleaned, disinfected and the stained upholstery shrouded in plastic sheets. But I stayed. At least Imogen had been spared the reek of chemicals that failed to mask the undercurrent of slaughter. She’d been whisked away to a safe location, carrying with her a promise that I’d join her as soon as I was finished. It had struck me when Brigham and another younger agent had been her chaperones this time, that there was more to Hartlaub staying behind than met the eye.
‘It’s still a deniable operation, but Hartlaub is going to accompany you. We feel there should be certain controls in place.’ Walter was sitting in a shrouded plastic chair but I couldn’t bring myself to join him; I just stood at the centre of the room with my hands jammed in my pockets. The plastic crinkled as he lifted a hand. ‘Hartlaub is going to accompany you. It’s the only way we could see to stop all the shit from falling on your shoulders. If Hartlaub is along for the ride, and you’re just a civilian who helps him in pursuit of his duty, then where’s the blame going to finally stop?’
‘That’s about the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard,’ I said.
‘On the surface it sounds pretty lame, I’ll give you that, but buried in a classified report, it’ll suffice to keep your goddamn ass out of prison. Why are you being so ungrateful?’
‘I’m not ungrateful, Walter. I’m trying to figure out your real motive. The last time I was sent after Cain, the bastard’s life was saved. Is Hartlaub coming along to make sure he’s saved this time too?’
Walter stood up surprisingly fast for a man of his bulk, and the plastic was sucked up by the vacuum. It settled slowly as Walter took three solid steps towards me. ‘What are you saying, Hunter? That I’d protect Cain over you?’
I just met his purpling face with a cool expression, and that incited him all the more.
‘Son of a bitch! Did you see what that murderous piece of shit did here? He dismembered my oldest friend, took parts of his skeleton as trophies. Jesus fucking Christ! Do you think I want to see that bastard sent back to prison? I’d love to come along and watch you tear his fucking heart out! I’d tear it out myself if I was able!’ His language, not to mention the force with which it was delivered, surprised me. It took him off-guard too. Walter staggered and by the way he grasped at his chest I feared that his rage had brought on a heart attack. I reached out to steady him, but he threw my hands aside. He stood, gulping air, trying to calm himself. ‘You have a job to do, Hunter. But you’re there to save Jennifer first and kill Cain second. No… don’t deny it. That’s your priority, and I can understand that. I’m sending Hartlaub to make sure that Cain does not survive this time.’
Hartlaub and I shared a glance. I looked back at my old mentor and found him digging in his shirt pocket. He plucked out a cigar, and without preamble jammed it between his teeth. He’d said what he was going to say on the subject, and I’d have to like it or lump it. I was still going after Cain, and if that meant that Hartlaub accompanied me then so be it. I lifted my hands to signify surrender.
Walter was right. My priority was to get Jennifer away from Cain and if Cain escaped while I was otherwise engaged then that’s the way it would be. I’d prefer to kill the son of a bitch myself, but if Hartlaub got to him first then I could live with that. My only regret was that I’d sent Harvey away. I’d rather it was him or Rink accompanying me. Still, I recalled when I first met Hartlaub and had judged him as a warrior to be admired. Maybe things wouldn’t be so bad with him watching my back.
I offered him my hand. ‘Nothing personal, mate.’
He unfolded his arms, stuck out his hand and we shook. ‘I know.’
‘Thanks for saving Imogen, as well. I owe you one.’
Hartlaub shrugged. ‘I was just the driver. Brigham did all the wet work.’
Walter had transferred the cigar to his fingers. ‘Are you two all made up now, because we’ve more important things to be getting on with?’
