And Then You Die (16 page)

“She's all right?” he asked Kaldak.

“I'm fine,” Bess called from across the room. “Does everybody in the world think I'm going to fall apart because of this?”

“Well, Ramsey's hoping,” Yael answered. “I got the impression he wouldn't mind losing Peterson if it would push you into his camp.”

“That can't be true,” she said, repulsed. “What kind of man is he? Is that the type the CIA produces?”

“Don't blame the organization for Ramsey,” Kaldak said. “He's an ambitious man with his back against the wall. A strike by Esteban could ruin his political ambitions.”

“And forget the people who could die.” Bess stood up and moved toward the bedroom. If she was going to do battle with Ramsey, she didn't want the disadvantage of a bathrobe and mussed hair. “I'm going to shower and get dressed. Call me when Ramsey gets here.”

It was only a little before six, she realized as she walked into the bathroom. It seemed impossible that merely an hour and a half earlier she had been lying in bed with Kaldak. Yet the evidence of intimacy was still there: the rumpled covers, the impression of their heads on the pillows.

Not only sex, but intimacy, she thought as she stepped into the shower. The fact was shocking. What would have happened if she hadn't been so abruptly jarred out of that crazy euphoria? It was probably for the best. He had proved to be a great lover, but she was too vulnerable just then. She couldn't handle a relationship with a man as complicated and tormented as Kaldak.

Not when she was tormented by the same demons.

“Ms. Grady.”

Jesus, Ramsey was knocking on her bathroom door.

“I'm sorry. But I'm limited for time and I need to talk to you.”

She turned off the shower. “I'll be out in a minute. I hope you won't mind if I dry off first.”

“I know it's an inconvenience.” A pause. “I'll wait in the living room.”

She was surprised he hadn't invaded the bathroom and jerked her out of the shower. The more she came in contact with Ramsey, the more he annoyed her.

She ran a hand through her damp hair as she strode into the living room a few minutes later.

“Sorry,” Kaldak said. “Short of breaking his neck, I couldn't keep him from trying to hurry you.”

Breaking his neck wouldn't have been such a bad idea. “Did you give him the new sample?”

Kaldak nodded. “But he's not satisfied with the milk, he wants the cow.”

“What a way with words,” Yael murmured. “You don't resemble a cow in the slightest, Bess. Well, maybe your name. Wasn't there a commercial with Bessie the cow or some such––”

“You must see by now that you can't go on like this,” Ramsey cut in. “It's not safe for you and it's not safe for the public either. Not to mention my own men. Peterson had a family. Do you want to be the one to tell them that––”

“Stop right there,” Kaldak said.

“It's okay. No, I don't want to tell them,” Bess said unevenly. “I feel terrible about him. But it doesn't change the fact that my staying here is still the best way to get to Esteban. Unless you can show me that you have a better way, I'm staying.”

Ramsey whirled on Kaldak. “For God's sake, tell her to get out of here. You must have some influence with her.”

Kaldak shook his head.

“Damn you.” Ramsey's voice was shaking with anger. “It's your fault, Kaldak. Do you think I don't know you're just using her so you can get Esteban? You don't give a shit that I'm going to be crucified. I won't let you do it. No way.”

He stormed out, slamming the door behind him.

“I think he's a little upset.” Yael shook his head reprovingly. “Really, Kaldak, setting up a poor, defenseless woman like Bess. It's deplorable.”

“I'm surprised he thinks I could manipulate you,” Kaldak told Bess. “We've all been dancing on your strings.”

“I can see why he does.” She glanced at the bedroom. Ramsey might be a selfish bastard, but he wasn't stupid. He had been in her bedroom and had seen that the bed had obviously been occupied by two people. He clearly thought Kaldak was using a sexual relationship to influence her. “But he's mistaken.”

“Yes, he is.” Kaldak's gaze was on her face. “Completely.”

“I think this is the time I offer to furnish breakfast.” Yael rose to his feet. “And since I can't cook, I'll go down to the Café Du Monde and get a bag of beignets to go.” He checked his watch. “I walk very slowly, but I should be back in an hour or so.”

“You don't have to leave,” Bess said.

But he was already gone.

“Last night wasn't about trying to use you, Bess,” Kaldak said quietly.

“Don't be stupid.” She walked over to the window. “I know that.”

“Then why aren't you looking at me?”

“I feel . . . awkward. I don't have one-night stands.”

“For God's sake, this isn't a one-night stand.”

She said haltingly, “It can't be anything else. It's crazy to think the two of us could have any kind of sane relationship.”

There was a silence behind her. “Oh, then you've chalked me up as another one of your mistakes? Like that philandering husband?”

Had she hurt him? Oh, God, she didn't want to hurt him.

“I wouldn't be a mistake for you, Bess. We'd be good together.”

She shook her head.

“Look at me, dammit.”

“It's not your fault. I was lonely and I needed––”

“
This
is the mistake.”

“Don't make this difficult for me, Kaldak,” she said shakily.

A silence.

“We'll go to bed again, you know,” he said. “We're living too close and now we know how good it is. You don't have to worry about me jumping you, but I won't try to stop it when it happens.” She heard him move away. “I'm going to take a shower. I still smell of you, and it's driving me crazy.”

The tension didn't leave her even after he'd disappeared. His last words had brought the night tumbling back to her. Close it out. She had done the right thing. She couldn't afford to have her focus blurred. She couldn't think about Kaldak.

She had to remember Emily.

“Are you sure he's competent?” Habin's voice was edged. “I still think one of my own men would have been better. Their loyalty can't be bought.”

Esteban's hand tightened on the receiver. That loyalty was just the quality Esteban wanted to avoid. The reason he'd wasted so much time on finding Jeffers was that he'd known he couldn't control any of Habin's men. Bribery and threats worked beautifully on everyone but a fanatic. “Jeffers is quite brilliant and your men are too valuable to waste on his task. You're wanted by the authorities here in the U.S. and you need them for protection. I hope you've found a safe location?”

“A farm outside Kansas City. And you should worry about yourself. You move from motel to motel with no guards to watch your back.”

“I'm accustomed to taking care of myself. I prefer not to risk betrayal. That's always a possibility.”

“And the woman. If my men had gone after her, she would not still be alive.”

Esteban's smile faded. “Kaldak knew all your men. And they knew him. It would have presented problems.” Kaldak would have gathered them up and squeezed everything they knew from them. De Salmo had not proved effective, but at least he had not been caught. “And you'll be glad to know I've arranged to personally supervise the matter myself.”

“I can't move yet. I need three more days.”

“You'll get them.” He hung up the phone.

Three days.

Esteban could feel the tightness in his shoulders and shrugged to loosen them. He mustn't let the pressure get to him. He had planned too long for the moment at hand. Nothing must go wrong. He could not permit anything to stop him now.

The woman was just another barrier to overcome.

And if you couldn't attack a barrier from the front, you just went around and attacked from the rear.

Three days . . .

Fifteen

D
AY
O
NE
Atlanta
6:O5
A.M.

“I suppose you won't be going to Alison's bat mitzvah tonight.” Marta Katz made a face. “You just don't want to dress up in a suit and tie.”

“Yeah, I arranged for Kaldak to drop this mess in my lap so I could get out of going to a party.” Ed gulped down the last of his orange juice.

“Just because you don't like my sister is no reason to slight her daughter.”

“I'll give Alison a terrific present.”

“But you don't like my sister, do you?”

Ed was too tired to deny it. “Leslie's a snob. She thinks you married beneath you. Which means she's also stupid.”

“Maybe. At times like this I tend to doubt it. You haven't been home for three days.”

He leered at her. “But I was home last night.”

“For four hours, and only because it was my fertile time.”

He stood up and gave her a kiss on the nose. “I think we hit the jackpot. Did I perform like a prize stud or what? Nine months from now we'll be changing diapers.”

“
I'll
be changing diapers. You'll probably still be at the center playing with your nasty little bugs.” She watched him grab his briefcase and head for the door. “Just look at you. Why couldn't you have left that work for the little time you came home?”

“Sorry. I wanted to check some results in the car back to the office.”

“Just drop in for an hour at the bat mitzvah?”

“I can't, babe. I'm too close.”

“What about Donovan? Can't he carry on without you?”

“Maybe. But speed's important right now. You know I wouldn't miss Alison's party if I could help it.”

She nodded resignedly and followed him. “Okay, I'll make your excuses.” She grabbed him as he started out the door. “Come back here.” She cradled his face in her hands. “Definitely a stud.” She kissed him. “Now, don't work so damn hard. I don't want you having a stroke before the kid gets here.”

“No chance. We're almost there.” He hugged her and then started down the porch steps. “Hell, maybe I'll even get to the bat mitzvah.”

“Fat chance.” She frowned as she saw the gray Ford parked at the curb. “I was going to take those policemen some coffee. I forgot.”

“We can stop at McDonald's on the way. Paul likes their french fries.”

“Paul does the driving, right?”

“Jim does the driving. Paul is his partner.”

“Why the policemen, Ed? Why aren't you driving yourself? Is it Ebola or something?”

He shook his head. “I told you, I'm a very important man. The president, the mayor, and I all need police escorts.” He winked at her. “When this is all over, we'll have to be sure and tell your sister.”

She smiled. “Leslie's okay. She just doesn't understand.”

“Go on inside. It's chilly out here.”

“My robe's warm. The air feels good.”

Ed could feel her gaze on him as he walked toward the car. He shouldn't have told her he might make the bat mitzvah, but he'd felt guilty. Marta put up with a hell of a lot. Maybe next month he'd take her away for a vacation. With any luck, the antidote would be ready in less than a week. The last test had proved very promising. Promising, hell, it had sent him over the moon with excitement. It wasn't often that a scientist got a chance to stop a disease in its tracks.

“Hi, guys.” He hopped into the backseat of the car and slammed the door. “We'll have to stop at McDonald's. I forgot to bring you coffee. Marta was––”

No response. Jim and Paul were both looking straight ahead. A thin line of blood welled slowly from the back of Paul's collar.

“Christ.”

Ed reached for the door handle.

He never heard Marta's scream.

“You're sure?”

Bess froze in her chair. She had never seen such a look of pain on Kaldak's face.

“Yeah, I'll go. You're right. It's my job.” He hung up the phone.

“Ramsey?”

He nodded. “I've got to go to Atlanta.”

“Why?”

“Ed Katz is dead.”

“What?” she whispered.

“His car blew up. He and two officers were killed in the blast.” His fist crashed down on the arm of the chair. “Son of a
bitch
.”

“He was your friend.”

“We went to college together. I went to his wedding. Oh, yes, some friend I am,” he said bitterly. “I bulldozed him into taking on the project. I didn't think he'd be a target. Not if Ramsey arranged security for him.”

“De Salmo?”

“I don't know. He likes a knife, but he's used explosives before. It might be De Salmo or one of Habin's people.”

“How does this affect the research?”

“It's got to set it back. It was a team project, but Ed was team leader.” He stood up and strode toward the door. “So Esteban's got a delay. The bastard couldn't get you, so he went after Ed.”

She flinched. “I wish there was something I could do. I'm sorry, Kaldak.”

“That you're still alive? Don't worry, I'm sure Esteban has plans to change that. Well, he's not going to get you. I'll be back tonight. I have to check out the situation with the research and see Ed's wife. Ramsey's called Yael and he'll be over in five minutes. I'll wait for him downstairs, but I won't leave until he gets here.”

“You can go. It's only a few minutes.”

“It took less than a minute for them to incinerate Ed.” He looked over his shoulder. “If you want to help me, you'll stay inside the apartment today.”

She nodded. “Whatever you say.”

“Yeah, sure. Whatever I say.” The door closed behind him.

She had met Ed Katz only once, but she had a vivid memory of looking back at him as he stood in the rain in the parking lot. He had been frightened, but that hadn't stopped him.

And now he was dead. Esteban had killed him as he had killed Emily and all those other––

A knock on the door.

“Just a minute.” She got up and moved across the room. She paused with her hand on the lock. “Yael?”

“Ramsey.”

Great. He always seemed to be hovering over her like a vulture when something bad happened. She opened the door. “Where's Yael?”

He smiled. “He'll be here shortly. I intercepted him and asked him to wait downstairs while we had a talk.”

“I don't want to talk. We've said everything there is to say.”

He came into the apartment and closed the door. “Katz's death is the final straw. We can't delay much longer. You have to trust me to take care of you.”

“I don't have to do any such thing. I don't trust you. I trust myself.”

“And Kaldak.”

She gazed directly into his eyes. “And Kaldak.”

“You feel safe with him?”

“Will you leave, Mr. Ramsey?”

“You shouldn't feel safe. He's a dangerous man. He's using you. He's using all of us. He's used Ed Katz, and you know how that turned out.”

“I didn't hear you object to Kaldak using Ed Katz.”

“But Kaldak is a driven man. Sometimes I think he's unbalanced.”

“We're a good match. I'm driven too.”

“Then let me help you. You don't need Kaldak. Believe me, you don't want Kaldak.” He smiled persuasively as he stepped closer. “Just be patient and hear me out.”

“I nagged him,” Marta whispered. “I wanted him to go to a bat mitzvah. I knew how tired he was, and I still nagged him.”

Kaldak's hand closed on hers.

“I thought it was important.” Tears were running down her face. “I thought a damn bat mitzvah was important.”

“It was important,” Kaldak said.

“I should have–– Oh, shit.” She buried her face in his chest. “Why didn't I keep my mouth shut?”

Christ, this was killing him. “You had sixteen good years. Ed loved you. He didn't care about––”

“I wanted a kid. That's why he came home last night. It was my fertile period. He should have stayed at the center. He would have been safe.” She raised her head. “It's crazy. None of it makes sense. He was a scientist. No one blows up scientists. That happens to politicians or evangelists or Mafia bosses. Not to men like Ed.”

“Has someone called your family?”

“I told my sister not to come. She and Ed didn't get along.”

“Someone else?”

“My mother's flying in from Rhode Island.” She pushed him away and sat up straight. “I'm sorry, I'm embarrassing you. You don't know what to do. Hell, I don't know what to do either.”

“You're not embarrassing me.”

“Sure I am. You never did know how to handle––” She hesitated. “It was what he was working on, wasn't it? It was the stuff you gave him to do.”

“Yes.”

“And it killed him.”

“Yes.”

“He was your friend,” she whispered. “Why?”

“It was important.”

“Important enough for him to die?”

Her every word was like a whiplash. “I thought he'd be safe, Marta.”

“He wasn't safe.” She was rocking back and forth. “He wasn't safe. It was a mistake. You made a mistake.”

“I know,” he said hoarsely. “I know I did.”

“And I did too. I made a terrible mistake.”

“You didn't make a mistake. He wouldn't have thought you were nagging him about that bat mitzvah.”

“No, not about that. The baby. Oh, God, what if I have a baby?” Her eyes were swimming with tears as she whispered, “I couldn't stand it. It would kill me. I couldn't stand to have a baby without Ed here.”

“What about the project?” Ramsey demanded when Kaldak answered his phone on the way to the Atlanta airport.

“The team is in shock, but everyone's scrambling to regroup. Donovan will take over, but some of the papers were destroyed in the blast.”

“How long are they set back?”

“I don't know. But Donovan's a good man and he seems confident.”

He wished he could say something more positive. This was Ramsey's cue to push for moving Bess, and he braced himself for the battle.

No battle. Ramsey changed the subject. “I just heard from my man who's tracking Morrisey. A week ago the Majestic Hotel in Cheyenne requested a guarantee on his credit card. We checked with the hotel and they still have a John Morrisey registered.”

Excitement flared through Kaldak.

“You could fly straight from Atlanta,” Ramsey continued. “I thought you'd want to go get him yourself.”

He did want to go. Hell, he was desperately eager to go. Morrisey might be the key to Esteban, and he was afraid that any one of Ramsey's men might let him slip through his fingers.

But that would mean Bess . . .

“I can't leave Bess right now. When I get to New Orleans, I'll ask Yael to go get Morrisey.”

There was a silence. “Well, if you change your mind, let me know.”

“I won't change my mind.” He hung up the phone. Ramsey's mildness had been unusual. Ordinarily, Kaldak could predict which way Ramsey was going to jump, but Ramsey surprised him this time.

He didn't like it.

6:15
P.M.

“You look like hell,” Yael said when Kaldak walked into the apartment. “Bad?”

“It couldn't have been much worse.”

“You know how sorry I am.”

Yeah, he knew. The whole world was sorry, but it didn't bring Ed back. Kaldak's gaze went to the bedroom. “Where's Bess? Is she in her room?”

Yael shook his head. “I wish she were. She's been in her darkroom since I got to the apartment.”

“Her darkroom? Has she been working?”

Yael shook his head. “I don't think so. Ramsey came to see her.”

Kaldak stiffened. “And he upset her?”

“Whatever he said must have been a knockout punch.”

I feel safe there.

He remembered what she had said about her darkroom. Whatever Ramsey had told her had sent her fleeing for safety.

He should have expected it. Ramsey had stepped in the minute he'd seen his opportunity. Everything else was toppling down around him. Why not this too?

“Should I leave?” Yael asked.

“No, stay.” He started down the hall. “I'll go see her.”

He stopped outside the darkroom. Do it. Face her. He braced himself and then knocked on the door. “May I come in, Bess? We have to talk.”

“You bet we do.” She threw open the door. Her eyes blazing, she drew back a hand and slapped him. “You son of a bitch.”

“Bess, I didn't mean––”

“The
hell
you didn't.” She slapped him again. “You son of a bitch.” Tears were suddenly running down her cheeks. “You did this. None of this should have happened. Emily shouldn't have died.” She hit him again. “Why couldn't you have just left us alone?”

“I'm sorry,” Kaldak said. “I never meant to hurt you. I thought it was safe.”

“You sent me to Tenajo. You let me take my sister. Do you know how guilty I've been feeling since she died? You did it all, you bastard.” She was sobbing so hard, she could barely get the words out. “Emily died. . . .”

“She wasn't supposed to go with you. You were on assignment. You were supposed to go alone.”

“And you arranged it. Ramsey said you pulled strings at the magazine and mapped out the assignment. You wanted me to go to Tenajo.”

A muscle jerked in his left cheek. “Yes.”

“Why?”

“Didn't Ramsey tell you?”

“All he could talk about was how you set me up and how I should trust only him.” She took a step closer and said between her teeth, “You tell me, Kaldak. You tell me why you wanted me dead.”

“I didn't want you dead. I knew there was a good chance you'd survive.”

“You couldn't know that I'd––” Her eyes widened. “You
did
know. My God, you knew about the immunity. But how could you?”

“Danzar.”

She stared at him, stunned.

“You got a very low dose of the mutated anthrax in Danzar. It was much weaker than the strain Esteban used in Tenajo.” He added grimly, “But it was strong enough to kill everyone in the village.”

“You're saying Danzar was another testing ground?”

“The first. It was a perfect scheme for Esteban. He supplied the anthrax to the guerrillas, and they sent it into the village in a food shipment.”

She shook her head. “No, it's not true. Everyone was butchered. I was there. I saw it.”

“It was part of the deal. The guerrillas went in later and made it look like a massacre.”