“Colorado? You’ve been following us sinceColorado?”
“That is right. That is exactly right. I followedyou, and you led me straight to little Kelila.”
Little Kelila sounded like she was getting ready togive birth any second.
“Show some ID,” Will said.
“I don’t care if you’re licensed by the BetterBusiness Bureau,” Taylor cut in. “You’re going to be under arrestyourself in a minute for interfering in a federal —”
“No. I do not think so,” Nemov interrupted. “I havebeen watching you two hombres. I have been wondering why there areno cops around. No FBI. No one but you two. You know what I think?I think this is a black op.”
For the life of him, Will couldn’t think of ananswer. For once, even Taylor seemed to choose discretion overvalor.
Nemov laughed. “I am right! I knew it. When Iwatched you scale the perimeter wall of the Ramirez property, Iknew. Very smooth, that was. Textbook.”
“You’re Russian mob,” Taylor guessed.
“No. Certainly not. What interest would thebratva have in this little girl? I have told you who andwhat I am. Here. I have identification.” After a moment, ID wasproffered, a wallet being shown to first Taylor, then flashed inWill’s direction.
Not that Will could make a damn thing out at thisdistance, and not that it mattered anyway. ID or not, this guy wasflirting with charges for everything from interfering with lawenforcement officers to kidnapping. “If you’re legitimate, what thehell do you think you’re doing?”
Taylor said slowly, “He’s after the RFJ.”
The Rewards for Justice Program. That’s what Taylormeant. Nemov was after the five million dollar reward the Bureau ofDiplomatic Security offered to those with information leading tothe arrest or conviction of anyone who planned, committed, orattempted terrorist acts against US persons or property.
One problem with that plan: the RFJ program wasdesigned to prevent international attacks. Not domestic.
Maybe not the best time to bring that up.
“That’s only for international terrorist acts, dumbshit,” Taylor said.
“But Kelila is married to a Russian national,” Nemovsaid, unperturbed. “Her strike against the DSS was masterminded bynone other than Mikhail Bashnakov.”
“That’s not true!” Hedwig said shrilly. “That’sinsane. None of it is true.”
Will turned on her. “You’re not married toBashnakov?”
“Yes. All right, that part is correct, but —”
“That’s something you left off the CV.” He hadn’tthought that drug lords bothered with polite conventions likemarriage.
“No way are you collecting that reward,” Taylorsaid. “She’s already in federal custody.”
“She was. Now she’s in my custody. Get over here,milaya moyna. I won’t ask so nicely again.”
If only the bastard would look away from Taylor longenough for Taylor to make a move for cover. But Nemov was tooexperienced.
“Don’t let him…take me,” Hedwig panted, clinging tothe front bumper like an old-fashioned suffragette.
“He’s not taking you anywhere,” Taylor said.
He had to speak up to be heard over the rain nowrattling loudly off the surface of the car and pouring to theground. At this rate, they were going to be mired in mud.
“Let me explain your options,” Nemov said. “Orrather my options. Option one. I give up and go home. That is notgoing to happen. Option two —”
“My partner blows your head off while we’re standinghere shooting the breeze.”
That was Will’s order to shoot. That was Taylortelling him as clearly as he could to take the shot. AndWill could do it. He had about as clear a shot as he was going toget, and he was an excellent marksman. But there was still thechance that Nemov’s dying reflex would be to blow Taylor’s headoff.
Nemov laughed. “I think your partner is not soreckless as you, little man. He knows it will be very hard toexplain away two bodies — especially if one of them is yours. Ithink he will wait to hear option three.”
Will said, “Which is?”
Taylor was apparently still trying to absorb “littleman.”
“I take the girl and deliver her safely to LosAngeles, and we all forget about this unpleasantness. No good cancome to any of us if word of tonight’s showdown gets out.True?”
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Taylor said. “Youthink we’re going to hand her over and let you walk away?”
“Yes. Why not?”
“No. Way.”
But Will was already convinced. They had to end thisstandoff. Get themselves into strategic position. Let Nemov takeHedwig. Worst-case scenario, they’d have the cops pick them both upat Sierra Blanca. But better yet, they’d overtake them on the wayto the airport, retrieve Hedwig, and continue on to LA. If it wastrue that he and Taylor couldn’t afford to let anyone know aboutthis evening’s activities, it was equally true Nemov couldn’t.
“Deal,” Will said.
Hedwig cried out. Taylor looked his way indisbelief.
Nemov laughed. “What did I tell you? Your partner isa practical man.”
“Brandt —”
“He’s got a fucking gun to your head, MacAllister.Now is not the time.”
Nemov said, “Throw your weapon away, AgentBrent.”
Will tossed his weapon to the sand.
Nemov made a sound of disgust. “Now kick it awaywhere you cannot grab it quickly.”
Will kicked his piece farther away.
“Now clasp your hands behind your head and stand upslowly.”
“You can’t let him just take me!” Hedwig cried asWill complied.
Will spared her a look. He’d lost whatever sympathyhe had for her — pretty much nil — at the news that she’d beenmarried to the Technician, but she was his prisoner and he had asworn duty to protect her. He reassured himself he was onlytemporarily relinquishing custody, but he didn’t like what he wasdoing. He was furious at being placed in the position of having tochoose between her and his partner, but there was no question inhis mind whose life was more important.
“Just calm down and do what he says. You’ll befine.”
“I won’t be fine. He’s been sent to killme.”
“If that was the case, I’d have shot this agent whenhe opened the trunk,” Nemov pointed out. “Then I’d have shot AgentBrent, and then I’d have shot you.”
Was that option four? Judging by the way he trottedout the scenario, Nemov had clearly been considering wholesaleslaughter as a possible game plan.
Of course, if Nemov believed Will and Taylor wouldbe willing to sacrifice one terrorist skank to preserve theircareers, he might plan on
