Dark summer, p.14
Dark Summer, page 14
“Twenty-six and going strong. There’s no telling how long Ned could live. There have been no signs of disease in any of the dogs over the years. They show a distinct increase in intelligence and understanding.” He added, “And they appear to radiate … an aura… something … that transmits that same health and vitality they possess to those around them.”
“How?”
He shook his head. “I don’t know. I’ve been studying the dogs since I rescued them from Danner and I can’t come up with an explanation yet. I’ve had blood tests and biopsies done, but they appear normal except for extreme good health. I’ve been thinking that maybe the panacea might have affected the gland centers. When you put a flea medicine on an animal, it radiates and repels. It could be that the oil glands are radiating whatever Paco gave them.”
“But you can’t tell.”
“No.” His lips thinned, and his dark eyes were suddenly glittering in his taut face. “And I have no intention of chopping those dogs up and putting them under microscopes to try to find out.”
She shuddered. “That’s what Danner wants to do?”
“Of course. Kill them, autopsy them, and find a way to reproduce the shi’i’go.” He looked straight ahead. “And he wouldn’t be alone. They’d be standing in line to get their hands on Ned and the others. All those billions beckoning on the horizon. Even the animal-rights idealists would probably sanction killing them on the grounds that the scientists might discover some wonderful way to benefit humankind. After all, they’re only dogs.” He said fiercely, “But they’re my dogs, and nothing is going to happen to them. Even if I hadn’t promised Paco I’d protect them, I couldn’t let them die. I’ll keep trying to find what’s going on with them. I’ll give the world what they want or need from those dogs, but no one else is going to touch them.”
“Wait a minute.” She was trying to put all the pieces together. “If the microchip decoding isn’t the formula for this shi’i’go, what is it?”
“The location of all four dogs. For safety’s sake, I had to separate them and give them individual guardians. It cut down the danger of having Danner get complete control of the panacea even if he found one dog. I made sure no one knew all the locations but me. I wanted to keep the information always with me, not hidden away where I couldn’t control it.”
No, Marrok would always have to be the one in control, she thought. The dominant forcefulness he was exuding in this moment was almost tangible. “What if something happened to you?”
“If I was killed, I had to make sure there was a way for the person I chose to manage the care of the dogs to find them. Ned is very strong, always with me, so that I can watch over him, and, if a bullet didn’t get him, he’d survive. He was the logical dog to carry the microchip.”
“But if Danner didn’t know about this microchip, why did he take my computer?”
“That’s what I’ve been asking myself. Perhaps he didn’t know; maybe they took the computer just on the chance of finding out more about you and what you knew. But I don’t like the odds of that. And how did that shooter on Santa Marina know I was there?” He added softly, “You can bet I intend to find out.”
Soft-voiced but everything else about him was hard and sleek and lethal. She recalled that moment in the first-aid tent when she’d realized that safety was out of the question where Marrok was concerned.
“The person you chose to oversee the care for the dogs would know about the microchip. It would be logical to start there. Who is it?”
“Bridget.”
That didn’t surprise her. “And?”
“I trust her.” He waved a hand as she opened her lips. “As much as I trust anyone. I don’t have blind faith in anyone these days. Even Bridget doesn’t know the locations of all the dogs. I go so far and no farther. But Bridget could have betrayed me a hundred times in the last three years, and it didn’t happen.”
“I’m not sure I could trust her. She’s a little too violent for my taste.”
He shrugged. “But then so am I.”
She had a sudden memory of something Marrok had told her. “You said once that Danner dealt in promises.”
“If he had control of the shi’i’go, do you think he wouldn’t sell it to the highest bidder? Health and longevity are commodities that are more valuable than nuclear bombs. Every person, every leader, is vulnerable to the ravages of ill health and death. Whether a dictator lives or dies affects events all over the world. Shi’i’go would be insurance and the ultimate source of power. Danner could at last be God. He was already negotiating under the table with leaders all over the world even before he killed Paco.” He added harshly, “But he didn’t get a chance to reap any benefits. I took the dogs away from him the night Paco died.”
“He already had them?”
He nodded. “I scouted around and found out he was shipping them to one of his experimental labs in the desert to be killed and autopsied.” His teeth bared in a tiger’s smile. “They never got there. I shot out the tires on the truck and released the dogs. Then I blew up the truck and went after Danner’s lab. It was my bad luck that he wasn’t there.”
He’d blown up the truck and a laboratory and killed how many men that night? She could see in his expression the ferocity he had felt that night of Paco’s death. “And you took the dogs under your wing.” The phrase was ludicrous when applied to Marrok. It would be like being tucked under the wing of an ea gle with all its power and cruelty. “How many years ago was that?”
“Four.” He was waving at Walt, who had just set down and was starting to taxi toward them. “Well, did I give you enough to think about?”
She nodded. “But some of it is pretty indigestible.”
“Then let it settle. You wanted it all laid out for you, and I did that. I can’t make you believe it.” He walked toward the plane. “That’s up to you.”
BRIDGET CALLED MARROK TEN minutes after they took off. “Addie seems fine. I’ve set up an observation point outside the walls, and I’ve been watching her. She’s playing with the other dogs and having a good old time. Actually, she’s adjusted very well. I didn’t think it was a good idea bringing her here, but I was wrong.”
“You, wrong? Good God, an admission of that magnitude stuns the imagination.”
“Shut up, Marrok. You know I like the idea of hired and assigned guardians for all the dogs. This was an experiment that could have gone wrong.”
“I didn’t have any doubts. Addie is safer behind those walls than she would be anywhere else. And she does have a guardian.”
“Who you can’t order around like you do the rest of us. That could be a problem.”
“I haven’t noticed you jumping when I crack the whip.” He paused. “You said Addie seems okay. No sign of Danner?”
“I’ve scoured every inch of this place and the surrounding area, and it’s clean.”
“And?”
“Okay, I haven’t sensed anything either. But you know it doesn’t happen all the time. It didn’t with Fraser. Not in time.”
“Bridget …”
“I know. I know.” She changed the subject. “So what am I supposed to expect? Did you manage to do damage control, or does Danner have the decode?”
“He has it.”
“Damn.”
“And it’s only a matter of time until he gets a translation. I made sure that it was complicated enough so that he’d have to do it piece by piece. But Addie’s location came first, and he won’t wait until he gets the rest of the translation. Things are going to go to hell fast. Even Lincoln is on his way to the ranch.”
“Lincoln? That’s not good.”
“I’ll handle it. Get back to me if there’s a problem.” He hung up and turned to Walt. “No Danner yet. We may get lucky.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small notebook and handed it to him. “Information I got from Sherwood. It’s not much. Get to work and see what you can come up with.” He glanced at Devon. “Bridget is with Addie. She thinks that everything is okay for now.”
Devon tried to remember the description of the dogs Marrok had given her. “Addie is the golden retriever.”
“Yes.” He added curtly, “As soon as I can arrange it, I’ll try to get you and your people away from us and out on your own.”
She stared at him in bewilderment. “I thought you were set on keeping us with you at the ranch.”
“That was before I found out Danner had the computer, and the decoding will most certainly happen. We can’t stay snug and safe waiting to get our chance at Danner any longer. I’ll have to shift the dogs right away. We’ll be on the move as soon as we hear he’s started out. The ranch won’t be safe. Nowhere will be safe once we come out in the open. I won’t be able to protect you.”
She looked away from him. “I’ve never asked you to protect me. I’ve just wanted you to leave me alone to live my life.”
“And what about your friend, Gilroy, and Janet McDonald?”
“We’re not helpless. As long as we know there’s a threat, we can all take care of ourselves.”
No, she wasn’t helpless, he thought. She was tough and smart and able to handle most emergencies. She had seen death and horror on a dozen disaster sites. But she had never had to deal with a man like Danner. She had never had death come close enough to touch her as it was now. He had seen the shock she had felt in the clinic at just the sight of that macabre outline on the floor.
And, dammit, he didn’t want to have to send her away. Why else had he told her about the shi’i’go when he’d known he might have to let her go? He wanted to have a reason to keep her close, to draw her nearer, to be the one to keep her safe. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d felt this protective about anyone.
But he had felt protective of Paco. Not that it had done the old man any good, he thought bitterly. Marrok had never shown him how much he cared, and he’d gone away and let that bastard kill him. The only thing left was to revenge his death and keep his promise. It should be all that was important to him. Nothing had changed. Nothing was different. This feeling he was experiencing for Devon Brady would fade.
He glanced away from her. “I’m sure that you’re entirely capable of running your own life. I’ll get out of it as soon as I can find a way.”
DAMMIT, WHAT WAS LINCOLN thinking, Bridget thought as she hung up the phone. He shouldn’t be here. He’d promised to stay in London unless either Marrok or she sent up an SOS.
Why was she even wondering? She knew what he was thinking. Lincoln was smart and savvy and he wanted to be the one to call the shots. That couldn’t be allowed. Marrok would have to handle him.
But, dammit, if Lincoln dug in his heels, the situation was so delicate that he might shatter it by his interference. She’d better handle it herself.
She quickly dialed her cell.
Lincoln picked up on the third ring. “Ah, Bridget. How good it is to hear from you. And it will be better still to see you. Are you at the ranch?”
“No.” She added curtly, “And you shouldn’t be going there either. Go back to jolly old En gland and stay there until you’re invited.”
“How rude. Actually, Marrok did tell me to stand by. I decided to regard that as an invitation.”
“Stand by meant just that. You send a crew in to take care of cleanup if we need it. You find ways to keep the media away from us. You prepare a place for the dogs if we need to send them out of the country.”
“Which I’ve always insisted should be done sooner rather than later. I could do my job much more efficiently on my home turf.”
“And have the opportunity and power to take over the project. I couldn’t trust you that far, Lincoln.”
“You couldn’t? What about Marrok?”
“I meant we couldn’t trust you.”
“Did you, indeed? I wonder. Perhaps I should discuss your role in this with Marrok. There are things he should know about you. I’ve been doing some investigating of your very interesting past lately.”
She was silent, considering the implications. “You’re bluffing. There’s nothing that you could find out about me that would be a weapon for you. And would Marrok believe you if you had? You’re the one who recommended me to Marrok three years ago. If you start coming up with anything that might be suspicious, the suspicion would fall on you, too.”
“How clever you are. But you’d be more clever if you’d come over to my side. Marrok is too volatile. He’s been a wild card all his life, and he could turn on all of us if the mood took him.”
“He won’t turn on me.”
“What touching faith.”
“You don’t know him. He’s changed.”
“I hope you’re not wrong … for your sake.” He paused. “But you’ll keep my offer in mind?”
She was silent a moment. “Yes.”
“Excellent. Then we’ll forget this conversation took place until you’re ready.”
“No, we won’t. You’ll play the game straight with Marrok, and you’ll walk the line while you’re here.”
“And if I don’t? Will you turn our savage, Marrok, loose on me?”
“No, I’ll handle you myself,” she said coldly. “And you don’t want that to happen, do you?”
“Bridget, I’m hardly intimidated by—”
“Do you, Lincoln?”
He chuckled. “It might be interesting to have you try. Are you as good as I hear?”
“Yes. And I’ve no tendency toward the volatility or wildness you’re attributing to Marrok. I’d just set my focus and keep on going until it’s over. I’d never stop, Lincoln.”
He was silent a moment. “I don’t really wish to offend a possible ally. Perhaps I can modify my plans.”
“Good choice.” She hung up. Lincoln had been more forthcoming than she had thought he’d be. She had known he’d approach her at some point, but she had thought that he’d play his cards close to his chest during this emergency.
Had he been bluffing about investigating her? Not to worry. She had buried all the threads that might cause her problems, but she didn’t want Lincoln trying to stir up trouble now. After three years of waiting, working, and watching, she was getting close to the goal. She didn’t need Lincoln stepping in and getting in her way. She’d better tip Jordan that there might be trouble ahead. She dialed London.
Jordan Radkin picked up on the second ring. “Trouble?”
“I’m not sure. Lincoln says he knows about my lurid past. Does he?”
“Probably not.” He chuckled. “I’m the only one who knows your terrible secrets, Bridget. Aren’t you lucky?”
She ignored the question. Jordan could be an ass when he chose. She could see him sitting there, his glacial gray eyes glittering with sly humor. “You’d better make sure. Things are moving fast here. I don’t want any interference.”
He was silent. “What’s happening?”
“I may know where all the dogs are by the end of the week. After that, I can start to move.”
“With caution.”
“As much as I can. Good-bye, Jordan.” She hung up.
Jordan hadn’t been absolutely sure about Lincoln’s threat, but he would become sure. No one was more keen or probing than Jordan when he was on the hunt. She could leave it in his hands.
She settled herself more comfortably in the grassy knoll above the mansion where Addie was being sheltered. The golden retriever was living the good life, and Marrok was right, the security around this estate was top notch. Not because of Addie but because of the people who lived on this strip of land overlooking the Pacific. There had been rumors that the estate might someday be known as the second White House. Bridget had been forced to avoid two security guards earlier in the day, and she would have to keep a sharp eye out.
She lifted her binoculars to her eyes and focused on Addie romping in the grounds below her. Lord, she was beautiful, all golden power and sleekness. Screw, Lincoln. If she had to deal with him, she’d do it. The complications were growing by the minute, but this was her job now.
The dogs of summer had to be kept alive.
A TALL, THIN MAN WAS STANDING on the front porch, watching as the helicopter descended in the paddock a few yards from the stable yard.
“There he is,” Walt murmured. “Trouble.”
“Only for the first ten minutes,” Marrok said grimly. “After that he’ll either be cooperative, or he’ll be gone.”
Devon stared curiously at the man who was now coming down the steps to meet them.
Chad Lincoln looked to be in his early forties, and his expertly barbered gray hair, silk shirt, and finely tailored trousers came as a surprise. He was smiling and waving, and Devon was having a problem connecting that friendly, urbane, elegant appearance with the man who had caused Marrok to react with such grimness.
“He’s British Intelligence?” she asked doubtfully. “He looks more like a dress designer.”
Walt chuckled. “May I tell him that?”
“No,” Marrok said. “Just keep out of it.” He opened the door of the helicopter. “And, Devon, Lincoln is definitely not a dress designer. When he was younger, he was with the Royal Marines and since he took a job with MI6, he’s proved himself to be exceptionally deadly in the field.” He helped her down. “Besides being a self-serving son of a bitch.”
“For allies, you’re obviously not on the same wavelength. And what does he think about you?”
“Probably the same.” He shook his head. “No, not the same. I respect him, and he regards me with contempt. He likes everything to be civilized, neat, and tidy, including his kills. He regards me as a mongrel half-breed and a savage. Since that’s exactly what I am, I can’t argue with him.”
“You can and should. We’re what we make of ourselves, not what we’re born,” Devon said.
“But, you see, it doesn’t matter to me if I’m savage and a mongrel,” Marrok said. “Maybe I even like the idea of having an excuse for not becoming civilized.”
Her eyes were narrowed on his face. “And you use it. I can see how eager you are. You’re anticipating this confrontation with Lincoln.”
