Chapter 118
K.J. could see his face. And he meant it.
She also saw Madison’s face in the night vision.
She didn’t think Newcomb had seen them at all, even though he knew they were there.
He had no way to know how many of them there were, either.
The infrared in her hands didn’t put out enough red light for the human eye to see. Acardi was partially blocking her now.
“I am moving closer,” she said as quietly as she could to Miguel. He nodded. She felt it more than saw it.
“Get behind.”
“His weapon is holstered. But she’s right on the edge. I can’t tell over what. For all we know it’s a thirty-foot drop behind her. Or more.” K.J. reported exactly what she saw.
“I see. Go.” Miguel paused for a moment. “Dom, you start talking. Make him think you are alone in here. We’re getting into position now.”
K.J. took that first step.
“Newcomb, we’re going to talk,” Acardi said. His voice didn’t waver. K.J. had to give it to him. She was ready to pee her pants down here, and she had a way to see where she was going. And what was happening. Acardi didn’t.
And Madison was the woman he loved.
“I can only imagine what you want,” Newcomb sounded almost cocky. Which…exactly the opposite of how he had always come across to her. Had he been that much of an actor for forty years?
“Dom?” Madison’s voice only shook a little. “I knew you w-would come for me.”
“Of course I came for you. I told you that I always would.” His broke, too. Right then. Telling them all how he really felt.
K.J.’s heart broke then. She heard the way he loved her. And she hurt for them both.
Ernie Newcomb didn’t have a right to get in the way of this. He just didn’t.
She took another step.
And almost went down. K.J. bit back a curse. There was a dark hole where she had just stepped. She had just gotten luckier than she ever had in her life before.
“What was that?” Newcomb asked.
K.J. froze.