Night and Day (37 page)

“Is this bit with Cara an example?”

“Perhaps. If I'd had something to lose, I might have done the conventional thing instead of following my instincts.”

“You have incredibly bad instincts.”

“No, they're excellent, they're just not like anyone else's.”

“That's what Cara said about you.”

He chuckled. “I told you that she was intelligent. How can I regret going along with a girl who has judgment like that?”

“Why don't you ask Jock that question when he meets our plane and finds Cara on board?”

“Jock,” Caleb murmured. “I admit I had a few apprehensions about his attitude regarding the wisdom of my decision. But that may be interesting, too.”

KASKOV ESTATE

MOSCOW

“They're here.” Ivan turned away from the phone to Natalie. “I just received a report from Kaskov's man at Skovski Airport. Duncan disobeyed you and brought Quinn…” He smiled. “But she also brought your daughter. Kaskov will be pleased.”

“I'm not certain we should tell him Cara's here yet. It might be better to wait until we see how things go…”

Ivan shook his head. “I know what you're planning, and I went along with you before when Kaskov wasn't in the city. But now he's back on home turf, and it's too dangerous. He was actively involved in getting her back this time. He doesn't like to lose.”

She smiled sweetly. “Neither do I.”

“Give the kid to him for a little while. I'll take her out for you later. Maybe an accident…”

“And in the meantime, I'd have to worry if she's telling him things that would cause him to doubt me.”

“I won't risk having Kaskov doubt
me
,” he said flatly. “I've been there when he's decided that one of his men had broken his damn rules. It's not pretty. We're going to wait until it's safe for me.”

She was tempted to argue, but they were too close to getting the treasure. Agree now and take care of Cara herself.

Along with Ivan Sabak. He was proving entirely too troublesome. It was frustrating that she couldn't control him with sex, and he wouldn't take orders.

“Whatever you say. I wouldn't want to cause you problems.” She moved toward the door. “Now I have to go and make sure that my father is still planning to go to that violin concert at the Novako Opera House tonight. I don't want questions about where I'm going when I head for the apartment we rented.”

“When are you calling Duncan?”

“I might not call her until the last hour or so before she comes to meet us.” She smiled at him over her shoulder. “Now that we know that she's here and ready to give me what I want, it won't hurt her to wait a little longer.” Her voice became laced with pure malice. “Do you realize that the entire purpose of that capsule I had inserted in her was meant to bring excruciating tension and fear? Nasim Feroz said he'd seen soldiers weep and beg for mercy. Oh, I do hope that Eve Duncan is prepared to do that.”

SKOVSKI AIRPORT

Jock was standing, waiting, near the hangar where Caleb had parked the jet.

Cara tensed as she saw him from the window of the terminal building, where she was standing after she'd gotten off the plane with Eve. Fair hair shimmering in the cold sunlight, his features just as wonderfully perfect as always. But now they looked as if they were carved out of ice. “He's angry.”

“What did you expect?” Eve asked. “Do you want me to run interference?”

“No.” She jumped to her feet and headed for the door. “I did it. I'll face it.”

That was easy to say, but her heart was beating hard as she walked toward Jock. He didn't move. He just waited until she was standing before him.

She braced herself. “I had to do it, Jock.”

“Obviously.”

She moistened her lips. “Caleb understood that it had to be me. Kaskov likes me. Or the idea of me … or something. That means he might listen to me. Caleb could see that could be valuable.”

“I may kill him.”

She shook her head. “It was all me, Jock. You wouldn't take me, and I had to come here.” She took a step closer. “But I don't want to fight you anymore. I have to go to see Kaskov.”

“The hell you do.”

“I believe I can make him listen. He's used to having his own way. Eve will have trouble if I don't sort of pave the way.”

“And what are you going to say that will pave the way with a criminal whose kill record is probably even higher than mine?”

She flinched. “I don't know. I'm hoping it will come to me,” she said simply. “Because I have to do this. I can't let you stop me. No matter what you do, I'll find a way to get to him. It will just mean I'll have to run away from you and do it alone. I don't want to be alone, Jock.” She swallowed to ease the tightness of her throat. “You promised me I wouldn't have to be alone any longer.”

He stared at her for a long moment. “That was below the belt, Cara.”

But the ice was breaking, she realized with relief. “Yeah, I know. But it's the truth, and ever since you said it, you've been trying to push me away. Being with someone doesn't mean only in the good times.” She looked pleadingly up at him. “You keep telling me that this stuff is what you do. Well, do it, and find a way for me to help Eve. I'll do anything you say. But I have to go with Eve to see Kaskov.”

He was gazing down at her. Then he reached down and gently touched her hair. “Shit.”

Relief soared through her. “You'll do it.”

He nodded. “But I may still kill Caleb.”

She hugged him, then stepped back with a luminous smile. “I won't be any trouble. You'll see, Jock.”

“Just like you weren't any trouble on that plateau when the helicopter landed.” But he was smiling. “And Eve won't be any more pleased than I am about this. You'd better have Caleb convince her to his way of thinking.”

“I'm so glad you're not angry any longer. When I saw you standing there, I was so scared.”

“I was more terrified than angry. You'll have to learn to tell the difference.” His lips twisted. “Or maybe not. I'll need every weapon in my arsenal with you.” He turned to Eve as she came out of the terminal. “It appears we have a problem. I may have to make a few adjustments to what I was planning.”

“Cara is entirely too happy.” Eve was frowning. “I don't like that. You're not planning on giving in to her on this?”

“She offered me an ultimatum. I've gotten to know her well enough to realize that she doesn't bluff. So I'll just have to work around it and keep her safe. She's promised to do everything I tell her to do.” He paused. “As long as she goes with you to see Kaskov.”

“No.”

“Yes. I'll set it up.” He was watching Joe and Caleb coming out of the terminal. “And now we'd all better get to the hotel room I rented and go over the plans for tonight. The scheduling may be very tight.” He moved forward. “But first I believe I'll have a word or two with Caleb…”

 

CHAPTER

16

BAROZ HOTEL

5:45 P.M.

 

In spite of Cara's protests Eve deposited her in a hotel room next door to the one where Jock had arranged for their meeting. “You got your way with Jock, but I'm not going to let you be present for the rest of the planning,” she said grimly. “You're out of this except for talking to Kaskov.”

“But, Eve, what difference—” Cara broke off and nodded her head. “Okay, whatever you say.” She opened the door and went into the hotel room. “I did promise Jock.”

“Congratulations, you won that battle,” Jock said as he unlocked the room next door. “She's twelve. She shouldn't be hearing all this.”

“Nasim Feroz,” Joe said as soon as the door of the room shut behind them. “You know the address, Jock? You said you'd have it for me.”

“I have it.” Jock took a small notebook from his jacket pocket. “And I had Palik scout the area. It's a brick house with a wrought-iron fence in the Arbat section of the city. Feroz has a fellow countryman Hassan Mehnar acting as his bodyguard. We're not sure if he's protecting Feroz from us or from Natalie and Kaskov. Palik said that there are two of Kaskov's men on guard there, too.”

“So Kaskov is fully involved in this?” Eve asked.

“At least to the extent of providing Natalie with the Iranian doctor who could give her that damn capsule. And I'd bet that those two guards are insurance that Feroz gave Natalie the right poison and antidote for Kaskov's money.” His lips twisted. “But you told me yourself that Natalie is trying to keep him in the dark about Cira's gold. She still thinks she can have it all her own way.”

“MI-6 told Joe that those Iranian agents often had more than one antidote in their possession,” Eve said. “At times, they sold the extra ones to the highest bidder.”

Jock nodded. “It's possible.” He turned to Joe. “But it's not a sure thing. That's why we have to explore the other two options. Kaskov or Natalie. We try to convince Kaskov that we can offer him whatever he wants for the antidote. If that doesn't work, we follow through with getting Natalie to give it to us. Though God knows I hope we don't get down to having to trust Natalie to do anything but betray us.”

“That won't matter,” Joe said coldly. “She'll give it to us, or she won't live through the night. She may not anyway.” He bent down and was scrawling Feroz's address down. “But first things first. If we get the antidote from Feroz, we can forget about Natalie and Kaskov and get the hell out of Moscow and rush Eve back into that Glasgow hospital.” His lips tightened. “We don't have much time.”

Jock nodded. “I know. It's going to be close even if—”

“Forget about Natalie.” Caleb suddenly straightened from where he'd been leaning against the wall. “You just said she was the last resort. But you'll have to hit Kaskov and Feroz at approximately the same time if you don't want either faction to be on the phone yelling for help from the other.”

“No,” Joe said instantly. “I need to be with Eve when she goes to Kaskov.”

“No, you don't,” Eve said. She had known how difficult this was going to be for Joe and had hoped to avoid it. “You have to do what you were planning and let us do what we have to do.”

“I won't let you go alone.”

“Jock isn't exactly a nonentity.” She met his eyes. “And we've got to cover all the bases if we're going to protect Michael. Cara's managed to talk me into risking her neck, and I'll be damned if I'll hesitate about risking my own. You don't think about me right now, Joe. You think about Michael.”

“I can't let—” He drew a deep breath and whirled on Jock. “Where are you taking her to meet with Kaskov? His estate? That's too far away from town. It will take me too long to get there after I finish with Feroz.”

“No. Not his estate,” Jock said. “Kaskov's going to go to a violin concert at the Novako Opera House this evening. That's probably why Natalie set up your meeting for tonight. She wanted to pick a night when she knew he'd be busy and not get in her way.” He smiled. “I have a few more details to arrange, but Kaskov may get more than his price of admission tonight at the opera house.”

“He'll have bodyguards.”

“Yes, but not as many as he'd have at the estate. Leave it to me. I'll take care of them, Quinn.” He glanced at Caleb. “But Caleb's right, we should coordinate our efforts. I'll call you when we reach the opera house. You'll be glad to know that it's no more than thirty minutes from Feroz's house. Do you need Palik to arrange for extra firepower for you, Quinn?”

“I don't believe that will be necessary,” Caleb answered for Joe. “Strangers so often get in the way of the fun. I think I'll tag along and lend a hand. Between the two of us, I think we can handle it.”

“Why are you being so accommodating?” Joe asked dryly.

“It's just a balancing act. I gave you Cara, whom you didn't want. Now I'm giving you my inimitable services, which will make up for anything I've done to put me in your bad books.” He smiled at Eve. “And Eve will like the idea of your not being alone to face those guards surrounding Feroz. Isn't that right?”

She couldn't deny it. Caleb was a force to be reckoned with, and she wanted Joe to have every advantage. “I'm still angry with you, Caleb.”

“But you'll get over it.” He turned back to Joe. “And you know how persuasive I can be when I want something. It may save us a good deal of time.” He added softly, “And the more time we save, the sooner you can get to that opera house.”

“You don't have to push it. I'd take the help of Satan himself if it got me to Eve sooner tonight.” He turned to Jock. “What time?”

“The concert starts at eight. Nine should give me enough time to set up Kaskov. If you can get rid of Feroz's guards, so that I have time to work and not have anyone calling Kaskov to set off an alarm.”

“Nine it is. Come on, Caleb. Let's go and see about reconnoitering that area around Feroz's house.” Joe turned back to Eve. He kissed her long and hard. “I hate this,” he said hoarsely. “And if Jock doesn't take care of you, I'll—”

“Hush.” Her fingers covered his lips. “We'll take care of each other. And we'll all take care of Michael.” She kissed him again. “Stay safe, Joe.”

He nodded jerkily and turned away. “I'll see you later. I'll be there as quick as I can.”

The door closed behind him and Caleb.

Eve drew a shaky breath and, with an effort, tore her gaze away from that door. Don't think of what Joe and Caleb might be facing. Just think about what she and Cara had to face in just a few hours.

“Cara.” She turned back to Jock. “I'm so scared for her. Isn't there any way we can keep her out of it?”