Night and Day (40 page)

“She
will
see it,” Jock said. “I'd make sure of that myself, but Quinn's right. As I said, he'll be here in about twenty minutes and—”

“Jock, just let him see that disc,” Cara said. “Stop all this talk. You can't make him afraid. Can't you see that threats aren't going to do any good with him?”

“Very wise,” Kaskov said. “I'm more and more impressed. I can see how much I missed if it's true that Natalie was suppressing all that fire.”

“It's all true. Everything I've told you is true.”

He gazed at her for a long moment. “Then perhaps I'd better look at this disc and judge for myself.” He sat down at the bar and punched the
PLAY
button.

Eve studied Kaskov's face as he watched and listened to Natalie during that last phone conversation. She had almost forgotten how ugly and incriminating those words had been. Yet she could see no change in his expression as he heard both the insulting arrogance and the revelations that Natalie was spitting out. Hard. She had never met a harder man. It was clear that Natalie had manipulated the death of his son, but he wasn't showing pain or anger. Did it matter to him? Would it be enough to save Michael?

Finally, he turned off the machine and sat there staring at the blank screen. “Interesting.”

“It's the truth,” Eve said. “No forgery.”

“No, I'd know the difference.” He was silent again. “It seems I'm faced with a decision I never thought I'd have to make.” He closed the lid of the computer. “But that's been my life since I was a boy. I should be accustomed to it by now, but it seems that I haven't reached that point yet. Not with Natalie.”

Cara was suddenly standing before him again. “Forget about Natalie,” she said fiercely. “Now that you know what she is, you'll be able to control her as you do everyone else. But you have to stop her from trying to hurt Eve. If you have that antidote, you have to give it to her right now. Tonight.”

“Do I?” He tilted his head. “Tell me why?”

“I don't know why you'd do it. Sometimes I think I know you. Sometimes I don't. But I know that Eve has to live. Her child has to live. And you can make it happen. So do it.”

His lips twisted. “Are you giving me orders? I thought I'd made it clear that I'm always the one in control. I'd hardly accept orders from a child.”

“Cara,” Eve said. “Let it go. I told you that whatever happened, you weren't responsible. We'll find another—”

“Give her the antidote,” Cara said. “You're angry at Natalie? Punish her by making her lose what she wants this time.”

“Excellent thought. But what about what I want? You were an asset I didn't want to do without. I looked forward to those evenings when you played for me.”

“Back off, Kaskov,” Jock said. “The conversation is over.”

“Is it?” His gaze was fastened on Cara's face. “I'm not a generous man, but I do keep to my bargains. Perhaps we could come to an agreement.”

“Give Eve the antidote,” Cara repeated. “You
have
to do it. She has to live. Her son has to live.”

He was silent again, staring speculatively at her. Then he shrugged. “Perhaps this isn't the time for negotiations. I have too many other things on my agenda at present.” He glanced at Eve. “This appears to be your lucky day. My granddaughter is determined, and I find myself reluctant to disappoint her. Very strange.” He turned away from the bar and looked at Jock. “The antidote is in the safe at the library of my estate. Suppose you and I go and retrieve it, then I'll drop you off at the airport to meet with the rest of your party.”

“Don't do it, Jock,” Eve said. “You'd be walking into a trap. Directly into the lion's mouth.”

Jock was studying Kaskov's face. “I think I can find a way around it. I know that estate.”

“Jock has to live, too,” Cara said quickly to Kaskov. “Nothing can happen to him.”

“You're very demanding,” Kaskov said. “I'll have to work on that. But I'm willing to be accommodating and oblige this time.” He looked at Jock. “Do I still have a chauffeur and guard at my car?”

“No guard. He's in the alley. The chauffeur is unconscious and in the trunk. You'll have to drive. He'll stay there until I pick up the antidote.”

“I'm glad you didn't dispose of Nikolai. He's been with me a long time. That would have upset me.”

“I wouldn't have given a damn, but Cara said something that made me reconsider.”

“You're as exceptional as I heard you were.” Kaskov smiled faintly. “You wouldn't care to work for me? I admire efficiency.”

“No, I would not.”

“Too bad.” He headed for the door. “Deadly, and you don't look bad in a tuxedo. You'd fit my lifestyle admirably. Perhaps you'll change your mind.” He looked over his shoulder at Cara. “Stop worrying. I believe we both understand each other, don't we? You wanted your Eve and the child to live. It's going to happen. I just have to handle the details.” He nodded at Eve. “But I want you out of Moscow within the next four hours. I have things to do, and you'll get in my way. And I'm not going to go to the trouble of giving you a chance to live, then have you blow it by not acting quickly enough. Cara might be upset.”

“I'm touched by your concern,” she said dryly. “I assure you that if you give me that antidote, I'll make good use of it.” She paused. “I suppose I should say thank you. But it doesn't seem appropriate, does it? You did this for some purpose of your own.”

“Quite true,” Kaskov said. “I'll see you at the airport.” He stopped once again, and said to Cara, “By the way, I'm not sorry to have this concert interrupted even by such traumatic events. That violinist wasn't really worth my time. You're much better, Cara.” He strode out of the box with Jock beside him.

Eve felt dizzy with relief. Was it over? Had they won? Kaskov was an enigma, and there was no way she could read him. “Jock…”

“I think he'll be okay.” Cara was staring at the door. “If Kaskov really has the antidote, and Jock doesn't have to—” She swallowed. “I don't know. I'm just guessing. But I'm guessing that Kaskov is going to give you the antidote.”

“And he wants us out of Moscow.” Eve was reaching for her phone. “We'll definitely give him what he wants. Come on. We'll go down to the front entrance to meet Joe and Caleb. I'll call Joe and see how close he is…”

 

CHAPTER

17

SKOVSKI AIRPORT

“It's been over two hours.” Cara drew her velvet wrap around her to block out the cold as she moved closer to Eve by the hangar. The wind was sharp, but that wasn't why she was chilled.

Jock.

The lion's mouth.

Why had she thought that she knew Kaskov well enough to be able to know what he would do, what she could make him do?

Because that's why she'd been sent to help Eve and Michael, she thought desperately.

This had to be the reason.

I did what you wanted, Jenny. But you have to help bring Jock back safely. Let Kaskov have kept his word and given Jock the antidote. Let everything go right. I know what's coming. I'll do the rest. Just let Jock come back safe.

Eve's hand touched her arm. “Get on the plane, Cara. There's no use standing out here in the cold.”

“He should be here.”

“If he doesn't come soon, I'll go after him,” Joe said grimly. “And that antidote.”

“It's not been that long,” Eve said. “We're just—”

Headlights pierced the darkness.

A sleek black limousine was coming toward them.

Cara took an eager step toward the approaching car. “Jock.”

Eve grabbed her arm. “Wait, we
hope
it's Jock.”

The limousine came to a stop a few yards away, and Kaskov got out of the driver's seat. “Hello, Eve. Are you a little nervous perhaps?”

“Of course. I—” She stopped as she saw Jock getting out of the passenger seat. “Jock, did everything go—”

“I have the antidote,” Jock said as he handed her a small black cylinder. “Kaskov was very cooperative.”

“But he still made me drive to make sure that he could keep his eye on me,” Kaskov said with a smile. “I would have done the same thing.” He turned to Joe. “You're Quinn? You'd better have a very good doctor to administer that antidote. Feroz was too afraid of me not to give me what I asked for, but he didn't expect me to use it. I would trust Feroz to make a poison, but he could have been careless with the antidote.”

“Eve has an entire hospital of good doctors,” Joe said. “Nothing is going to go wrong if you've given me the right thing. If you haven't, I'll come back for you.”

“Oh, I've done what I promised.” He looked at Cara, who had drawn closer to Jock. “You were concerned about him? I'm learning more about you all the time. You seem to have an entire circle you care about.”

Jock went still. “Get on the plane, Cara.”

She shook her head, and said to Kaskov, “He's my friend. All of these people are my friends. I do care about them. We're like a family.” She paused. “We take care of each other.”

“A family…” He stared at her for a moment. “I understand about families, but I suppose sometimes family members aren't so loyal … or loving.” He turned away. “I'll be in touch soon, Cara.”

“I know you will,” she said quietly.

Jock's hand was on her elbow and pushing her toward the plane. “What the hell was that about?” he muttered.

She was looking over her shoulder as Kaskov got in the driver's seat and started the car. “He gave Eve what she needed. Everything she and Michael needed. He could have made it difficult. He didn't do it.”

“You're not answering me.”

“He's not like us. Nothing is free in his world. Someone always has to pay. But this time it's not going to be Eve, and it's not going to be Michael.”

“And it's not going to be you,” Jock said harshly.

“Not now. I don't have to worry about it now. I can have time to make certain Eve is well.”

“It's not going to be you,” he repeated.

She smiled at him as she started up the steps behind Eve and Joe. The moonlight was shining on his fair hair and those wonderful features, and he was safe, and she would treasure every minute with him. “Maybe it won't be. Kaskov said he had a lot on his agenda. Why would he want a kid around to get in his way?” She went down the aisle. “Come on, Jock. Sit down and buckle up. We're going to take Eve back to that hospital in Glasgow, and she's going to come out of it as shining as Cira's gold.”

11:25 P.M.

Eve's phone rang as she watched Caleb go up the aisle toward the cockpit.

“Natalie.” She said to Joe as she glanced down at the ID. “She must be getting impatient. What a pity.”

“It's almost eleven thirty,” Joe said. “Another thirty minutes before we were supposed to walk into the trap.”

Eve's phone was still ringing.

“Are you going to answer it?” Joe asked.

She had been thinking about it. She would have loved to do a little taunting of her own now that they had the antidote. Natalie had caused them all so much suffering during these last weeks.

But Michael wasn't safe yet. It wasn't the time for spite or malice. It was time for hope and prayers until that capsule in her body was safely dissolved.

“No.” She turned off the ringer. “I want to concentrate on Michael's future, not revenge.” She leaned her head against his shoulder. “I'm going to try not to think of Natalie again. I believe Michael will help me out there. He's usually all for serenity and happiness. Though he did get pretty upset when he knew that she'd slipped me that capsule.”

“He wasn't the only one,” Joe said as he pulled out his phone. “I'm going to call the specialists and see if we can get that antidote in to be examined the minute we land.”

“Okay.” She leaned there against his shoulder, listening as he made the calls. She was full of hope, but there was still that element of sheer terror at the thought that something could still go wrong.

We're on our way, Michael. I don't know what those doctors are going to do to us, but Joe will make sure that we'll be safe.

There was a vibrating on the phone in her lap.

Natalie was calling again.

*   *   *

“She's not answering.” Natalie's voice was shaking with rage and incredulity. “That bitch, Duncan, is ignoring me. How does she think she can get away with that? She's going to die. I've beaten her. Anyone else would be desperate to get me to give her that antidote.” Her finger was stabbing the numbers on the phone again. “I'll make her beg. Do you hear me, Ivan? I'll make her
beg
to give me that treasure.”

“I hear you.” Ivan hung up his own phone. “But we may have to chase after her to get her to give you anything. I didn't like that she wasn't answering and just called Nasim Feroz. He's not answering his phone either. She may already have what she wants.”

She shook her head. “I told him I didn't want him to create an antidote.”

“And Feroz would do it anyway if he thought he could sell it to a higher bidder.” His phone rang again, and he picked up and listened. “Yes, I want you to head for the airport, you fool. You have to stop them.” He cursed and hung up the phone. “Feroz is dead. Duncan won't be coming to give us that gold.” He headed for the door. “But we might be able to stop them at the airport. Since they brought that gold to negotiate, then it may be on that plane going back to Scotland. Coming?”

“Of course, I'm coming. Do you think I'd trust you to share that gold with me if I let you go alone?” She was running down the steps of the flat after him. “We can still do this. I'll call Daddy from the car, and he'll phone one of his government people and stop them from taking off.” She was trying desperately to think of a reason to give her father. She might pull the Cara card … Oh, well, she'd find some reason and make him believe it. “Do you have any men close to the airport? Call them. Get Duncan off that plane.”