“No,” Brukman said, as if he’d read his thoughts. “I’m not going to help you to—”
“I’m not asking.” His gaze went beyond Brukman to the guard, Jorge, returning with a portable stretcher under his arm. There was a small, stocky man with tousled black hair beside him. “Stockton?”
Brukman nodded as he turned and spoke to the man. “Stockton, Jorge told you what Nicos did? Look, I want you to witness I turned him over to Lassiter alive. Just in case this bastard Lassiter lets him die and complains to Nicos later. Okay?”
Stockton shrugged. “You got me out of bed for that?” He scowled. “Okay, he’s alive. I’ll be glad to get rid of him. He’s caused us twice as much trouble as any other prisoner. Nicos just wouldn’t leave him alone.”
Brukman nodded. “Not that he won’t concentrate on someone else soon. I’m surprised he agreed to let Patrick go.”
That last sentence was far too provocative, Lassiter thought. The last thing he wanted was for Stockton to start thinking and analyzing. “You wouldn’t if I told you the amount of the ransom Nicos demanded.” He turned to Jorge, took the stretcher from him, and laid it on the ground. “I’ll lift him on the stretcher myself. You help me carry him to the van.”
Jorge nodded.
Lassiter carefully gathered Patrick in his arms and transferred him from the ground to the canvas of the stretcher.
So light, practically weightless in his arms. Patrick was over six feet and yet he was almost a skeleton. Lassiter could feel his throat tighten as he straightened Patrick on the stretcher. “You go ahead and open the back of the van, Brukman.”
“Always willing to be helpful,” Brukman murmured as he moved toward the gate. “I know you want to keep both your friend and us in full view until you have him safe. But you should trust us, Lassiter. We’ve done everything Nicos asked us to do.” He opened the gate and then slid open the rear door of the van. “There we are. Now I’ll just stand here until you get Patrick situated,” he said, then repeated as his gaze went to the trees, “in full view.”
“Yes, that’s exactly what I want. I don’t want any double crosses from Nicos at the last minute.” Lassiter and Jorge placed the stretcher in the van and slid the door shut. “Now we can get out of here.”
“Does that mean I can go back to bed?” Stockton asked sardonically. “Not that I needed to get up anyway. Total waste of my time.” He glanced at Brukman. “When will you come back to camp? Do you have to go with him?”
“Only as far as the airport to see that Lassiter gets Patrick on the plane and out of here. But then I’m going to go back to the hotel and get a good night’s sleep.” He grimaced. “Providing I don’t get another call from Nicos to disturb it. I’ll be back here at the camp day after tomorrow. If there are any problems, give me a call.” He got into the passenger seat of the van. “But don’t expect me back unless it’s important. I’m getting sick of the stench of this place.”
“Tell me about it. I don’t get to run away to a fancy hotel a couple times a week like you do.” He turned and walked back toward the bunkhouse. “I think maybe we may have to negotiate that when you get back.…”
Lassiter watched him for only an instant. “Very good, Brukman,” he murmured as he jumped into the driver’s seat and started the van. “Smooth. Now no one will expect you for two days and you’ll be able to be out of Colombia and on your way before Nicos suspects you’re gone.” He turned on his headlights as he rounded the curve in the road. “I wasn’t entirely sure if you’d actually go through with it.”
“Why not? You made it plain that I’d be dead meat if I didn’t.” His lips twisted. “I wanted you dead, but I wanted to live more. And I told Stockton the truth: I’m tired of the stench and living like a prisoner myself. Maybe I’ll lose myself and find another Nicos somewhere who will appreciate a man of my talents.”
“I’m sure you will. Though it might be difficult to find another man like Nicos unless I decide to send you to hell.”
Brukman stiffened and then relaxed. “You made a deal. I think you’ll keep to it. I wouldn’t, but you’re … different.”
“You mean stupid?”
“Maybe. I don’t know. I think you’re looking forward to going after me and hunting me down.”
“Am I?”
“Yes.” He was suddenly glaring at him. “And I don’t like all the money you cheated me out of. I was looking forward to getting that ransom. I might decide to get back on a plane and go after you someday and not wait for you to come after me.”
“By all means. That would save me both time and money,” Lassiter said. “Bring it on, Brukman. I didn’t have enough back in that rain forest.”
Brukman met his eyes and then glanced away. “I might just do—”
The van screeched to a stop.
The headlights had picked up Mandell, who was standing in the middle of the road ahead of them.
Mandell ran down the road and climbed into the rear of the van. “Slick.” He threw his gun case on the floor beside him. “But disappointing. I didn’t get any action.” He frowned as he looked down at Patrick. “He doesn’t look good. How is he doing?”
“Exactly the way he looks,” Lassiter said grimly. “I was hoping to get him to Bogotá, but I can’t risk transporting him more than a few more miles in this condition. He’d never make it on that hellhole of a road to the helicopter pad. It’s too far and too rough. He could die before he got there.”
“Shit.”
“We have to get him a doctor right away and somewhere safe to heal. He’s burning up with fever.” He glanced at Brukman. “By the way, Brukman thought your presence in those trees might just be a huge con, Mandell.”
“And he still didn’t give me a chance to take my shot?” Mandell shook his head. “My unlucky day.”
“Where are the other men?” Lassiter asked.
“I told them to scatter and wait for orders when you pulled out with Patrick.” He was still looking down at Patrick. “There’s that old monastery that was on Zwecker’s map. San Gabriel’s. It’s about thirty miles from here. It looked like it was off the beaten trail and might be safe for a little while. We could see what kind of help we could get for Patrick there. He’d at least have a bed where we could start him on some antibiotics.”
Lassiter nodded. “We’ll do it. And get on the phone right now and get him the best medical team you can bring down here from Bogotá. Send the helicopter back there to pick them up. I want them here in hours, not days.” He glanced back at Patrick and felt his stomach clench. He looked as if he was barely breathing. “And that might still be too long.”
“He’s tough. Give him a chance and he’ll make it.” Mandell glanced at Brukman. “What do you want me to do with him?”
Lassiter shook his head. “Not anything satisfying. We’ll have to take him with us to the monastery. We have to monitor any calls between him and Nicos. I don’t believe he’s fool enough to initiate a call to him after he was involved in Patrick’s escape, but I can’t take the chance.”
Mandell shrugged as he looked at Patrick. “I’ve always liked Patrick. Perhaps Brukman will try to get away from us. I’ll be prepared.”
“No,” Brukman said. “Don’t get your hopes up. That won’t happen. Not this time.”
“Maybe you’ll change your mind.” Mandell leaned back against the front seat. “When I was scoping out the detention camp, I saw a few prisoners who looked almost in as bad shape as Patrick, Lassiter. Brukman’s work, too?”
“Probably. I’m sure he didn’t reserve his expertise for Patrick.”
“Then if he doesn’t change his mind, maybe you should.”
“Drop it. We have other things to worry about right now.” He glanced at Brukman. “However, you should know, Brukman, that if Patrick dies, all deals are null and void.” He said to Mandell, “Get on that phone. We’ve got to get that doctor down here quick.”
“Right away.” He started dialing. “Anything else?”
/>
“Yes, you know there’s still Margaret’s situation. But I’ll make any adjustments necessary.”
But he remembered he’d gotten a call while he was in the detention camp and it hadn’t been from Mandell. He took out his own phone and looked at the call history.
He stiffened.
Margaret.
Twice.
From Montego Bay.
It was the middle of the night. She wasn’t supposed to be there until later today.
But everything else was moving at warp speed. It shouldn’t have surprised him that Margaret, who had thrown Patrick’s rescue into high gear, would now find her situation escalating, too.
But he couldn’t call her until he got Patrick settled and safe. He could only hope that she’d be all right until he was able to get in touch with her.
Brukman’s malicious gaze was on his face. “Trouble? What a pity.”
“Everything else is fine,” Lassiter said. He hoped it wasn’t a lie. “Keep quiet, Brukman. You’re walking on very thin ice.”
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
San Gabriel’s Monastery was a weathered cream-stucco building with many arches, a gray tiled roof, and a large courtyard with a simple fountain.
When Lassiter drove into the courtyard thirty minutes later, the huge oak doors opened and a huge man in a gray robe stood looking warily at them. He was carrying a lantern and his expression was not welcoming. “I am Father Dominic. We have nothing of value here but the word of God.”
“We’re not here to rob you.” Lassiter jumped out of the van. “I know that showing up here in the middle of the night is suspect. But we need your help. I’ll reimburse you. My friend is very ill. If you have a bed and shelter, that’s all we’ll need. I’ve already arranged for a doctor.” He slid open the door of the van. “See for yourself, Father.”
Father Dominic came forward and gazed in at Patrick. He quickly crossed himself. “He’s from the devil’s camp. How did you get him free?”
“You knew about the camp?”
“There are stories about it in the villages.” He shook his head. “He’s dying. You’re too late.”
“He won’t die,” Lassiter said. “Not if you help us.”
Mandell was suddenly beside him. “Patrick may not have much time for either arguments or persuasion. Do you need me, Lassiter?”
Lassiter could sense both his tension and his readiness. “Easy, Mandell,” he said quietly.
Father Dominic’s gaze went from Mandell’s face to the rifle in his hands. “You’re a violent man. Do you threaten us?”
“I don’t want to do it. But we need help for our friend,” Mandell said. “We hope you will give it.”
“And if not, you will take it.” He turned to Lassiter. “But you don’t need this violent one this time. We will help you try to save this poor soul.” He motioned and two monks hurried forward from the shadows beside the door. “Perhaps God will be merciful.” He glanced at Mandell. “To your friend and to you, my son.”
He turned and disappeared back through the arched doorway of the monastery.
Montego Bay
5:05 A.M.
Her phone was vibrating.
Margaret could feel the movement through her pillowcase, which she’d slid the phone into last night after she’d failed to make contact with Lassiter.
She grabbed at the phone. “Lassiter?”
“What are you doing in Montego Bay?”
“Nicos. He decided I needed time to bond more with the dogs, so he brought me in early. He’s worried about this shipment.” She glanced at the clock. Five in the morning. Not much chance of the guard in the hall hearing her, but she wouldn’t take the chance. “Wait a minute. I’m going into the bathroom and turning on the shower. It won’t seem that unusual at this hour and it will drown the sound of voices.” She ran into the bath and turned on the shower. Then she sat down on the commode. “Anyway, you told me to call you as soon as I got into Montego. I’m here. I couldn’t reach you last night. You got Salva’s call directory?”
“More than that.” He paused. “I’ve got Patrick, Margaret.”
She closed her eyes as relief streamed through her. “Oh, thank God.” She couldn’t believe it. “When?”
“Last night. About the time you called me.”
“How is he?”
“Not good. High fever, shock, broken bones, God knows what kind of infections. I could see he was fading fast. I had to bring him to a monastery in the middle of this damn rain forest just to keep him alive. The abbot, Father Dominic, took him in and tried to do as much as he could for him. We’ve just managed to fly Dr. Armando here from Bogotá and he’s working on him now. I wanted to get Patrick the hell out of here, but the doctor doesn’t want him moved again.”
“But he’s going to live?”
“Not sure. He has a fair chance. If he doesn’t take a turn for the worse.”
“But will Nicos be able to find him there?”
“Not if we can get Patrick out of here fairly soon. Nicos hasn’t found out yet that he’s gone from the detention camp.”
“Why not? How could—”
“Margaret, listen. I’ll answer all your questions, but not now. There’s no time. There are too many things I have to know about you. Tell me about Nicos’s setup at customs at Montego Airport. It will take me about four hours to get from Bogotá to Montego Bay, and I have to know what to expect when I get there.”
Margaret drew a deep breath. She knew he was right, but she was bewildered and scared. Okay, focus on what was important. Patrick was no longer in Nicos’s hands and might have a good chance of staying alive. And Lassiter was alive and well and could be coming to help her.
“Margaret.”
“Give me a minute. You just blew me away.” She swallowed. “Here’s the way it usually goes down at the airports. There are always a lot of people at customs. Nicos generally picks a time of day when both the security and airline personnel are very busy. I usually have to stand behind the barriers until the man who checks the luggage through picks it up and takes it to security to have it examined. Raoul Garon will be doing it this time. He’s in his forties, thinning dark hair, a little on the heavy side. He’ll be dressed in a dark suit and will appear to be an ordinary businessman. Nicos will have a guard standing with me beyond the barrier to keep an eye on me.” She took a breath. “But this time he’ll have two more men, one outside the door and one standing beside Nicos’s car at the curb. Nicos isn’t going to let this shipment get away from him even if he has to use force. It’s too important to him. There will be two dogs at security and I’ll be expected to divert them or just make them ignore that particular piece of luggage.”
“Nicos will be in the car? What about Salva?”
“Salva will wait at the hotel until the luggage is delivered to him and then arrange for immediate distribution. As I said, it’s an important shipment.”
“Then we can use that.” Lassiter paused. “If we stage it right. But I don’t like those extra guards. We may have to go another way.…”
“What other way?”
“Let me think about it. I believe I might have an idea. How much control do you have over those dogs?”
“Enough. More than I usually have. I made sure of that last night.” She was silent. “We don’t have to do this today, Lassiter. You have your hands full with Patrick. If I can get Nicos the shipment with no real problems, I might be all right.”
Silence. “‘Might’? That sounded very tentative. How much trouble are you having with him, Margaret?”
“He’s … becoming difficult. Salva is influencing him. But I’ll be able to handle him if I have to do it.”
He cursed low and vehemently. “You don’t have to do it. You’re out of there tonight.”
“Not if it means that you lose what you’ve gained. I can—”
“Be quiet, Margaret. I won’t lose Patrick and I won’t lose you. I wouldn’t have ‘gained’ anything if you hadn
’t gotten me that lead to Zwecker. When Nicos finds out that he’s lost Patrick, you don’t know what the hell he’ll do to you. There’s every chance he’ll suspect you were involved in getting Zwecker’s name for me. From the beginning, you warned me that you wouldn’t be able to be extricated safely if we didn’t do it in Montego. Well, we’re doing it. I’ll call you back in twenty minutes, once I get the details worked out.” He cut the connection.
He’s going to get a plan together in twenty minutes? she thought as she hung up. She had thrown several dangerous escalations in Nicos’s arrangements at him and Lassiter was already working to overcome them. The knowledge was giving her both a feeling of tentative confidence and the beginning of excitement. She sat there a moment and let the tension flow out of her.
They could do this. They’d just take one step at a time.
It wasn’t as if she hadn’t escaped from Nicos before. She could do it again. And the odds were on her side this time, because she had Lassiter.
Not really. No one would ever be able to say that Lassiter belonged to them. But for today, Lassiter would be the wind beneath her wings. She’d always loved that song because it was the essence of togetherness. She was finding that thought very comforting in these days when she felt so alone.
So take advantage of that twenty minutes Lassiter had given her to jump in the shower while she did some planning of her own.
San Gabriel’s Monastery
“How is he?” Lassiter turned and saw Cambry hurrying down the hall of the abbey toward him. “I got here as soon as I could. That road from the helicopter pad was as rough as a roller coaster. Is Patrick any better?”
“He’s stable right now. Dr. Armando said that’s as good as can be expected,” Lassiter said. “I’m glad you got here before I left. That’s going to be in about ten minutes. I was hoping to get out of here sooner, but I have to stop in the room where they’re holding Brukman and do some reinforcement before I leave. I was just going in to check on Patrick again.” He turned away. “You can come with me, if you like.”
Cambry nodded as he followed him through the arched doorway. “You’re heading for Montego Bay?”