CHAPTER 15 #2
Lopez ran out the gate and stood looking after it. “Son of a bitch.”
“Forget him. Call 911.”
“Is she going to be okay?” Bassett was standing over Margaret, still clutching his wrist. “This shouldn’t have happened. I thought we were safe here. Is she going to live?”
“She’s going to be fine.” Oh, God, she couldn’t stop the blood. “Don’t you dare fall asleep, Margaret. Stay with us.”
Eve walked to the back porch and stood beside Jane in the doorway.
“I called Logan but couldn’t get an answer.
I left a message on his voice mail. You’ve caused him a world of trouble.
I was able to get hold of Joe. He’s hopping the next plane.
He says he’s going to scalp you. I told him I’d tie you to the stake for him. ”
“She’s beautiful, isn’t she?” Jane’s gaze was fastened on the wolf. “But you’re right, she’s crabby. It’s a good thing I’m here to take care of her.”
“You?”
“Joe didn’t like you being here with the wolf. I could tell. So I came to take care of her.”
“And me?”
Jane’s gaze shifted to Eve. “Sure. This is something I can do. I’m not Bonnie. I’ll never be Bonnie to you. I don’t think I’d want to be her. I talked to your mother about her, and Bonnie was so nice, I don’t even know if I’d have liked her.”
“You’d have liked her.”
“Maybe. But I know I like you.” She looked back at the wolf. “Maybe I even . . . love you.”
“That’s nice. I know I love you.”
Jane nodded. “I went up on the hill and visited Bonnie’s grave after you left yesterday afternoon.”
Eve went still. “Why did you do that?”
“I don’t know. I just did. And I decided it doesn’t matter that you still love her. I’m not nice like she was, but I can do things for you that she couldn’t. She wouldn’t have been able to take care of you like I can. I’m smart and I know the same things that you do. That’s got to mean something.”
“It means a great deal.”
“So you’re lucky to have me.”
“Oh, yes.”
Jane gave her a disparaging glance. “You’re not going to cry?”
Eve shook her head. “I wouldn’t think of it.” She cleared her throat. “When you’re only being sensible.”
“Good. Crying would be silly.” Jane walked toward the wolf. “Now show me what to do to take care of Maggie.”
Sarah tensed as Logan walked into the hospital waiting room. “Is she going to live?”
“I don’t know. They were able to get the bullet out, but she’s in critical condition. It’ll be touch and go for a while.” He sat down and buried his face in his hands. “I just don’t know.”
She was silent a moment. “She’s been with you a long time.”
“Almost fifteen years.” He raised his head to reveal a haggard face. “We’ve worked together for so long, she’s like family. But I didn’t think Rudzak— I thought she’d be safe.”
“She was behind electric fences with security guards.”
“It shouldn’t have happened. I should have been more careful. I should have stopped her and Bassett from taking those walks.”
“It was safe as long as they stayed away from the gates. That’s the only place where there’s a clear view to get a shot. You couldn’t know that the shooter would target Booker first to draw us to the gates.”
“That doesn’t mean I’m not responsible. I should have—”
“Shut up, Logan.” She took his hand and held it between hers. “You did the best you could. You’re not a fortune-teller and you’re sure not God. So stop blaming yourself.”
He smiled with an effort. “Thanks for the sweet words.”
“You want sweet?” She blinked the tears back. “Sorry. I can only be myself. If I could take this away from you, I would. At least Booker and Bassett are going to be okay. The doctor said Booker is being taken off the serious list, and Bassett’s only got a nasty wound in the hand.”
“He’s pretty shaken up. He wants to finish the research at Dodsworth.”
“He knows Dodsworth may not be safe either.”
“He’d rather take his chances there. I tend to agree. Dodsworth is safer.” He stood up. “I need to move. Do you want some coffee from the machine?”
She shook her head.
“I’m having Lopez pack your bag. Galen’s going to pick you and Bassett up and take you to Dodsworth.”
“Me?”
“I have to stay here, and I want you where Galen can protect you. He has to be at Dodsworth.”
“Did it occur to you that I might want to stay with you?” she asked unevenly.
“It occurred to me. In spite of your lack of tender feelings for me.” He gently touched her cheek. “But if you want to help me, you’ll go to Dodsworth. I don’t need to worry about you too.”
“I don’t want to—”
“What about all those people at Dodsworth? Have you forgotten you may have to blow the whistle on me?”
“I haven’t forgotten.”
“Then go and make sure Galen is doing his job. I’ll be there as soon as Margaret takes a turn for the better.”
Dammit, he was in pain and she didn’t want to leave him. She wanted to hold him and get him through this horrible night as he had held her after Apache Lake.
“Rudzak is going to be at Dodsworth, Sarah. I couldn’t be more sure. And I don’t need you or want you here.” He left the room.
She caught up with him halfway down the corridor.
“Don’t you dare try that bull with me.” She spun him around, her arms around his waist, and she hugged him with fierce strength.
“I won’t let you. You do want me here. I know you care something about me and I could help you.
” Her arms fell away from him. “But I’m going to Dodsworth.
To make sure nothing happens to those people so you won’t end up feeling guilty for the rest of your miserable life.
” She stepped back. “I’m going to Bassett’s room. Tell Galen to pick me up there.”
The ivory mirror was in the shape of an ankh. An asp was intricately carved around the teakwood handle. It had been his last present to Chen Li.
It would be his last present to Logan.
“An ankh?” Chen Li held up the mirror. “It’s the symbol of immortality, isn’t it?”
“That’s why I brought it to you. To show you that you’ll live forever.”
She made a face. “I don’t feel immortal at the moment, Martin. Though I’m much better than I was last week. Maybe I am getting well after all.”
She wasn’t getting well. Sitting there in that chair by the window, she looked thin and weak and pale.
She would never be the same Chen Li again.
Death was stealing her from him just as Logan had stolen her.
And Logan would keep her his until the very end, giving her hope and yet telling Rudzak that she was not well enough to see him.
“Did you go to sleep early last night? Logan said I couldn’t come in. ”
She looked away. “I was a little tired.”
“The weariness will go away soon.” He stepped behind her and put his hands on her shoulders. “This mirror is very special. It belonged to a high priest. It will make you live forever.”
“Perhaps we should tell my doctors about it. They could use a little help.” She leaned forward and his hands fell away. She was trying to avoid his touch, he realized with incredulous fury. She was already lost to him.
But he could get her back. He could take her away from Logan.
“Let’s try it,” he said. “Look in the mirror.”
“I don’t like what I see in any mirror these days.”
“But you should. You’re beautiful.”
“Yes, sure. That’s what John says.”
He didn’t want to hear what Logan said. This moment was his alone.
“Because it’s true.” He bent over her and put his hands on her nape.
“You can see it in my eyes. Look in the mirror. If you won’t look at your reflection, look at mine and you’ll know that you’ll live forever and always be as beautiful as you are to me at this moment. Lift the mirror.”
She slowly lifted the mirror. “Why, Martin, what’s wrong? There are tears in—”
The mirror fell from her hand as he snapped her neck with one violent twist.
“Good-bye, Chen Li.” He tenderly kissed her cheek, then picked up the mirror. “Good-bye, my love.”
He tucked the tissue paper carefully around the mirror and placed it in the box. He slipped the note he’d written on top of the mirror and closed the lid.
He addressed the box to Sarah Patrick at Dodsworth.
Municipal Courthouse
Dodsworth, North Dakota
Had he heard something?
A door swinging shut?
Probably not. He’d been imagining sounds in this creaky old building all evening, Bill Ledwick thought. When you were as bored as he was, your imagination had a field day. He’d be glad to get back with the guys at the facility.
Better check the sound. Galen didn’t like anyone taking anything for granted.
He got up from his chair and moved down the long, dark corridor.
Silence except for the soft thud of his rubber soles on the marble floor.
He paused at the glass door of the record room. He stepped to one side and threw open the door. He waited a minute and then reached in and flipped on the light.
No one was in the room.
Of course not. Imagination.
Check. Just to make sure.
He moved to the file cabinet across the room and pulled open the drawer. He knew exactly where the file was kept. He’d checked it often enough.
He opened the file folder.
Shit!
“I heard from my man at the courthouse,” Galen said when he called Logan the next day. “The blueprints of the facility disappeared from the record department.”
Logan was silent a moment. “I thought that would happen. Rudzak’s not the type to rely on a truckload of dynamite parked near his target. No random hits for him. He wants to be sure of me.”
“Then he should have had his hired gun shoot you instead of Margaret.”
“That wouldn’t have satisfied him. It’s not a big enough statement. He wants to bury me at Dodsworth like I buried him in that prison. A final tribute to both him and Chen Li.”
“How is Margaret doing?”
“Not out of danger, but better. They’re going to let me see her in a few minutes. Her folks got in from San Francisco last night and they let her brothers visit her in intensive care.” He paused. “How’s Sarah?”