Sprat squatted in the driving rain outside the mansion?s big French doors. He cupped his hand over his wristwatch, pressed the button to light up the display. Mavis had said she would cut the electricity and the alarm simultaneously. Thunder cracked so loud it made him flinch.
He checked his watch again.
Soon.
* * *
Nikki didn?t know if she could talk this situation away, but she had to try. She wouldn?t feel guilty for one second about shooting the old man. The problem was she was afraid he might shoot back. There could be no clearer sign that her career as a killer was over. You couldn?t be afraid in this business. Too much concern for saving your own skin made you hesitate, and hesitation was an invitation for death. So fear wasn?t an option, but when she looked down the gigantic dark barrel of the old man?s twelve-gauge, Nikki felt afraid.
?Listen,? Nikki said. ?I?ll let you live if you??
?You?ll
?Will you let me finish a sentence?? Nikki snapped. ?I?m trying to get us both off the hook.?
?Fine. Talk.?
?Tell the man with the voice it?s over. You can walk away if you deliver that message. I?m not working for him anymore. If he sends anyone else, I?ll kill them, and then I?ll come after him.? It was a good, tough speech even if it was mostly hot air.
The old man only blinked, and said, ?I have no idea what you?re talking about.?
Of course. The old man was probably a subcontractor, didn?t even know who had hired him. He probably worked for somebody local, who in turn worked for the Voice. ?Tell whoever sent you. The message will get through.?
?Nobody sent me.?
Nikki digested that, didn?t know what to do with it. ?Then who the hell are you, and what are you doing here??
The old man hesitated, seemed to consider. ?I?m Mike Foley. Andrew Foley is my nephew.?
What? Who the hell was Andrew Foley? The name did strike her as vaguely familiar, but?
Impossible. That?s all she could think. Andrew Foley was the final target, the one she was hoping Middle Sister would kill for her, so Nikki wouldn?t have to put herself in harm?s way. And this guy was?his uncle? How did he? where did he?? Nikki?s world had turned upside down.
She realized her mouth was hanging open. She closed it.
?That?s over,? Nikki said. ?Nobody?s after your nephew anymore.?
?I?m just supposed to believe you??
?How about we both lower our weapons,? Nikki said, ?and I?ll tell you a little story.?
* * *
Sprat checked his watch. Two minutes. He stood, readied himself to go in through the French doors. He thought about climbing up to one of the second-floor windows, but even with his skills, he didn?t want to risk slipping in the rain.
As the seconds ticked away, Sprat suddenly felt nervous. He didn?t know what was on the other side of the French doors. It was a big house. The chances the woman would be standing right there ready for him were remote. And Ortega had said the woman could be dangerous. He didn?t like thinking Mavis would find her first and get into some kind of trouble and Jack wouldn?t be there to help.
The thought of Mavis not being there anymore struck him in the gut. He loved her so damn much. If something happened to her
