skill that was astonishing. It was only when the subject of Marrok came up that his emotions ruled him.
Danner was silent a moment. 'I always intended to take Marrok alive if possible. I gave orders to that effect. The old man swore Marrok knew nothing, but I could never be sure. It would have been much more efficient to verify one way or the other.'
And given Danner a chance at an elaborate and painful revenge on Marrok. Danner was a sadistic bastard, and his enjoyment of others' pain was always excused as necessary and right. 'I realize that,' Caswell said.
Danner made a decision. 'Tell Sherwood he has the option to kill everyone but Marrok. Leave it up to him. But I want Marrok alive.' He sadly shook his head. 'I would have preferred to make it easy on him. We shared so many good memories. Like a son…'
DEVON DARTED AFTER MARROK for the SUV.
Walt had the door open, and Marrok pushed her into the car then followed her. 'Get out of here.'
'Right.' The car lurched forward as Walt stomped on the accelerator. 'Did we get what we came for?'
'No.' Marrok was gazing at the rearview mirror. 'Hurry.'
'I'm going over the speed limit now.' He glanced at Devon. 'You're pale. Okay?'
No; she could still see that grotesque outline on the floor. She'd probably remember it for the rest of her life. And it had all been for nothing. They hadn't been able to get that damn computer. 'It wasn't pleasant.' She turned to Marrok. 'I didn't see the policeman. Where is he?'
'Tucked neatly out of sight around the side of the building.' His eyes never left the mirror. 'He'll be out for another fifteen minutes or so. I gave him a chop to the carotid artery. And, yes, I'm sure that he'll wake up. Not that I expect you to believe me.'
She did believe him. 'Will that give us enough time to get to the plane before he raises an alarm?'
'No, but that won't be a problem. He couldn't identify-We're being followed, Walt. Lose him.'
Devon's gaze flew to the rearview mirror. Two headlights were spearing the darkness. 'How can you tell? Are you-'
'I'm sure.'
'Then he won't be behind us long,' Walt said. 'Hold tight.'
The warning was not in vain. In spite of the seat belt, Devon was tossed back and forth like a rag doll as Walt turned corners, went the wrong way up one-way streets.
'He's good,' Walt murmured, glancing at the rearview mirror. 'Fear not, friends. I will persevere.'
'Wait.' Marrok's gaze was on the overpass ahead. 'Don't lose him. Lead him down the underpass to the access road.'
'Why?'
'I need him.' He unbuckled his seat belt. 'Slow down as you take the down ramp. Then speed up and get Devon out of here. You should have no trouble.'
'What about you?'
'I should have no trouble either.' His hand was on the handle. 'Swerve to the left so that it will close the door behind me.'
'You're actually going to jump?' Devon asked. 'Are you nuts?'
'Hopefully not. This shouldn't be too difficult.' He was tensing, his gaze judging the speed and incline. 'Like jumping off a log.'
She couldn't believe it. His expression was intent, but there was also an element of excitement. He was enjoying himself. 'Don't
He shook his head. 'I told you. I need him.' He shoved the door open. 'Now swerve!' He jumped, tumbling head over heels as he hit the ground.
The door was swinging shut as she saw Marrok roll behind the shrubs bordering the access road.
'Crazy,' she whispered. 'He probably broke some bones.'
'I doubt it.'
'What's he going to do?'
'Probably shoot out his tires.' Walt's foot pressed the accelerator, and the car speeded up. 'There's our tail entering the down ramp. The gray Volvo. Come on, Marrok…'
A shot. The gray Volvo suddenly swerved violently as the left-front tire blew. The driver was fighting the wheel, trying to keep on the ramp. Another shot. The back tire blew. He swerved again and ran up on the grass bordering the access road.
'Got him,' Walt said. 'Now we get out of here per instructions.'
'No, we should go back and pick Marrok up.'
'He doesn't want company.'
'Suppose there's more than one-'
'He'll take care of it,' Walt said quietly. 'He doesn't want us, Devon. He particularly doesn't want you and Ned there. Now I'm going to get back on the freeway, drive up to the next exit, get off, and wait for him to phone.'
'He's only one man. How can-' She stopped. Why was she protesting? It wasn't as if she wanted to be any more involved in this horror than she already was.
But murder had been done and was still too close to her. There was no doubt in her mind that the car that had followed them had been driven by someone who meant them harm. 'Why couldn't Marrok have just let you get away from him?'
'I have no idea.'
'Yes, you do.'
'He probably wanted information.' He drove into a ser vice station and parked on the side of the lot. 'I'll get us a cup of coffee. It may be a while. How do you take it?'
'Black.'
'Me, too. I can't see how anyone can ruin a good cup of coffee by putting junk in it.' He got out of the car. 'You keep her company, Ned.'
Ned stuck his head between the seats and laid it on her arm.
'Wait. Why should it take a while?'
'Sometimes information isn't that easy to pry out of the kind of hard-asses that Danner hires.' He strolled away into the ser vice station.
Torture?
She closed her eyes, feeling sick. Murder and torture and a nightmare of fear. Why had she insisted on coming tonight? For all she knew, Marrok was worse than the man who had been following them. Yes, she knew Danner was a monster. He had proved it by his actions. But she knew too little about Marrok. He had thrown her a few bits of information and she had let herself believe that he could be one of the good guys. What if there were no good guys in this equation? What did that make her?
'Here's your coffee.'
She opened her eyes and took the cup Walt handed her. 'Thank you.'
'You're welcome. You look like you could use it.' He got into the van. 'Don't worry about him. He usually comes out on top.'
'I'm not worried about him. I don't even know him. He's almost a stranger to me.' But she was worried, she realized with panic. What kind of macabre intimacy had grown between them? It was like the bond that she had read about that was forged between kidnappers and their hostages. No, it wasn't like that. She had felt that sense of intimacy the night he'd brought Ned to her. Suspicion and intimacy mixed and twisted until they became one entity.
'Drink your coffee,' Walt said gently. 'It's going to be okay. See, Ned's not worried.'
She took a sip of coffee. 'How can you tell?'
'He'd be howling and fighting to get out of the van.'
'He's done that before?'
'A couple times. And it turned out that Marrok was not in the best shape. Dogs have great instincts.'
'Yes.' He didn't have to tell her about instincts. Tess had almost been able to read her mind, and she had always known if Devon was ill or sad. She had once been caught in a mudslide, and Tess had found her against all odds. Tess had dragged her out of the muck, and they had lain together all night, sharing warmth until the rescue crew found them.
