turned Cara loose on the hill at the north tip of the lake, and he’s staging some kind of macabre hunt. Eve and Gallo are on their way.”
“And so are we.” Joe stopped and gazed at the hill looming over the lake. “Black and Cara are approaching the hill from the east. Follow them on that route, and we risk an ambush. We need to climb the hill from the west slope and try to surprise Black.”
“But we can’t circle the lake and get on the other side of the hill. It would take too much time.”
“No, we can’t do that.” He gave her his gun and ammunition, but kept his knife. “We split up.”
“What?”
He moved down the bank and took off his boots and shirt. “I swim across the lake and go up the hill from the west side. You follow Black along the east route. One of us should be able to pick him off.”
“Okay, but I’m calling Eve and telling her I’m on my way to join them. I can help them zero in on Black if I can pick up that tower signal.” She hesitated. “The lake’s pretty wide. I couldn’t swim that distance. Can you make it?”
“Come on. I was a SEAL. I live on a lake.” He jumped into the lake and gasped. Cold. He started stroking. “Hell yes, I can do it. Get moving, Catherine.”
When he glanced over his shoulder, she had disappeared.
Good. No arguments. Just Catherine acting with her usual logic and efficiency. One of them had to stop Black and get the job done.
He swam harder, faster, fighting the cold. Block it out.
He had to get to the other side.
CARA WAS ALMOST TO THE TOP of the hill, Black noticed.
She was out in the open, and the moonlight shone on her like a pale spotlight.
Black could see her scrambling desperately, slipping on the rocks, falling, picking herself up, and running again. The child had more stamina than he had thought she possessed. Perhaps it was only fear that had seemed to paralyze her and made her appear less than she was.
And if Black could see her so well, then she would be clearly visible to Gallo and Eve Duncan if they were anywhere near.
“Perfect bait,” he murmured. “You’re doing well, Cara. That desperation is enough to wrench the heart. How could they resist?” He moved farther behind the huge boulders. His rifle was loaded and ready. Again, not his preference. He carried other weapons, a pistol, two knives. But a rifle would be safer with Gallo.
Was he still wary of Gallo?
Nonsense. It was just smarter to handle the kill this way. He would take his time and use one of the knives on little Cara later. It would be enough.
That idea would horrify Eve Duncan, he thought with amusement. Come save her, Eve, as you failed to save your own child. Come on, Gallo. Watch the little one struggle and fight for life.
His finger poised over the trigger as he watched the path.
But hurry, I’m getting impatient.
“OH, GOD, I SEE HER,” EVE said in agony. Poor child. Desperation and panic were in the little girl’s every movement. “But where’s Black? He has to be here.”
“Somewhere close.” Gallo’s gaze was raking the terrain. “And waiting for us. Don’t move. We have cover on the path at this point, but we’ll be wide open if we go another thirty yards.”
“Dammit, where’s Catherine? She said that she could tell us where-”
“Don’t curse the bearer of the Celltec.” Catherine had suddenly appeared out of the shrubbery to the left of the path. She was dressed in black pants and shirt and looked lean and graceful and totally competent. She caught sight of Cara and inhaled sharply. “Bait. He’s staking her out.”
“That’s obvious.” Gallo glanced at her, then looked back at the top of the hill. “You’re Catherine Ling. I’ve heard a good deal about you. Eve thinks you can work minor miracles. I suggest you start.”
“You don’t have the right to tell me what to do,” Catherine said coldly. “It’s because of you that Eve is in this mess, and that kid up there is on the verge of getting killed.”
“Catherine,” Eve said. “Can you locate Black?”
“Yes. I should be in tower range, and I’ll bet he’s close enough.” Catherine pulled out the Celltec. “Come on,” she murmured. “Find the bastard…” She pressed the button.
The beeper went off immediately, then the small screen lit up with coordinates and squared an area. “Jackpot,” Catherine whispered. “The boulders. He’s behind the boulders.”
Eve’s gaze flew to the four huge boulders blocking the path. Steep incline on one side falling to the lake, open terrain on the other, where Cara was climbing. “There’s no way to get to him!”
“There’s a way,” Catherine said slowly. “Just not for us. We have to hang tight.”
“What the hell are you talking about?” Gallo said roughly. “You stay here, and I’ll go off the path in the shrubs until I run out of cover, then take off after the kid. You give me protective fire until I can grab her and get her behind that stand of trees.”
“Too risky,” Catherine said. “Hang tight. We’ll have a chance if-”
“Gallo!” It was Black shouting. “I’m tired of waiting for you. I know you’re out there. Perhaps you need a little encouragement.”
A bullet caused the rocks to splinter two feet from where Cara was climbing.
She looked back with panic and frantically tried to climb faster.
“The next bullet will hit her heel. It will probably take her foot off. Do you want to see that, Eve?”
“No,” Eve shouted. “Don’t shoot her, Black.” She turned to Gallo. “You go after her the way you said. I’ll go up the path and try to distract him.”
“Come on,” Black called. “And bring Gallo with you. I was disappointed that I was going to have to use a rifle. This will be much better.”
“I’ll go slow,” Eve said. “I’ll talk to him on the way. Get to her, John.”
Catherine was cursing. “Dammit, stall. Don’t do this.”
“No choice,” Eve said. “He meant what he said. I’m not going to let him blow off body parts while we watch. Go, John. Once she’s safe, we can go after Black.”
“Son of a bitch. You’re right, no damn choice.” John ducked into the shrubbery and was gone.
“Eve, listen to me. I know you’re frantic about the kid, but there’s another chance to-” She shook her head. “But I don’t know if it will be in time.”
“If you get a shot, take it, Catherine.” Eve started down the path. She shouted. “Hold your fire, I’m coming, Black. Gallo doesn’t think Cara is important enough, but I do. Maybe after you have me, you’ll be able to persuade him.”
“Oh, yes, I can be very persuasive with your kind of collateral.”
“Keep on talking to him, Eve,” Catherine said curtly. “Stall. Joe should be here anytime.”
“Joe.” Eve stopped on the path as shock seared through her. “What are you talking about, Catherine? Joe?”
EVE DUNCAN HAD STOPPED IN the middle of the path and was looking back over her shoulder, Black saw, annoyed. What was happening? Was Gallo trying to talk her out of coming?
“I mean it, Gallo,” he shouted. “Don’t play with me. Maybe I should blow off your lady’s foot instead of the kid’s. I’m aiming right now.”
