Borrowed Identity (26 page)

She softly closed the door.

It was over. She had lost Michael, and it was her own damn fault. Blinking back the tears, she remembered Wade. She needed to call him, warn him.

“Kell?”

She jumped and spun around to find Wade standing in the library doorway. He looked more frightened than she felt.

“Wade, what are you doing here?”

A stranger with a dark complexion and horribly cold eyes emerged from behind Wade. He held the biggest gun she’d seen in her life, and it was pointed straight at her. Instinc
tively she knew who the man was without him introducing himself.

Zu Landis had returned to finish the job.

“Michael is gone,” she declared. “You can’t hurt him. He’ll be with his friends, his fellow agents, before you can do anything to stop him.”

“Wrong,” Landis said with a heavy accent she couldn’t label. “I have taken care of Taggert. I removed the gasoline from his vehicle. He will return to us shortly.” The man smiled. “And then you will all die.”

Chapter Fifteen

Kelly stared at the barrel of the gun in disbelief. Any second a bullet would emerge from the chamber, and she would be dead. She marveled at the truth about death. Your life really did pass before your eyes, and her life was sadly lacking. Michael was right. While hiding from the evil in the world, she had hidden from the good things as well.

Her one true regret was letting Michael go without telling him she loved him.

“He’s a bad man, Kell.”

“I know, Wade. It’s okay. You did the right thing. I wouldn’t want you to get hurt because of me.”

“How touching,” Landis said with a sneer.

“He tricked me,” Wade whined. “He said he wanted to help you. He was at my house. He wouldn’t let me tell you. He said you’d die if I told anyone.”

“It’s all right, Wade. I understand.”

“I’m sorry,” Wade cried. “I was bad. I lied. Friends don’t do that.”

“Sometimes they do,” she admitted, to herself as well as to him. She could see Michael’s side for the first time. “Sometimes friends have to lie or keep secrets in order to protect you. I understand that now.”

Wade shook his head repeatedly.

“Get over there,” Landis ordered as he shoved Wade
forward. “Stand by the girl. Either of you does anything dumb and you both die.”

Kelly slid a comforting arm around Wade, her mind whirling. She had to think of a way out for all of them before Michael returned to the house. If need be, she would give her life to save his. But she hoped it wouldn’t come to that.

Landis was an assassin. He was here to do a job, nothing personal. The man worshipped money. If she offered him enough, perhaps he would go.

“Do you like diamonds, Mr. Landis?”

His dark eyes snapped to attention. “Pardon me?”

“Diamonds? I know where you can get your hands on ten million dollars worth of diamonds, and no one is looking for them. They were stolen in my grandfather’s day. They’ve been forgotten, turned into legend. If you were to take them and leave the country, no one would be the wiser.”

“I was paid to do a job. I was hired by a rival government to kill certain CIA operatives. I haven’t finished it.”

“You killed Jimmy. Didn’t you?”

“Yes. Although at the time I was under the impression he was Michael Taggert.”

“You did your job. It’s not your fault the government faction who hired you didn’t do their homework. They should have known Michael had a twin. They should have warned you. You could leave here ten million dollars richer, and there would be no risk involved.”

“Keep talking.”

“Taggert isn’t a stupid man. He’s trained by a top government agency. He could kill you.”

“Not likely,” Landis said.

“But it’s possible. Why take the chance? Grab the diamonds and go.”

“What about my reputation? I didn’t assassinate my target.”

“You did what you were paid to do. Killing two men wasn’t part of the deal. You would be killing Michael for free. Do you do charity work, Mr. Landis?”

“No.” His eyes hardened. “I do not.” He lowered the gun a fraction and stepped closer. “Where are these diamonds?”

Should she tell him? Kelly didn’t trust the man. He might kill them faster if he knew there were diamonds at Wade’s house. She wouldn’t give him the actual jewels. She would lie, throw him off track long enough for her and Wade to escape.

“They’re in the study.”

“If this is true,” Landis said, “and you have diamonds, then why does the dummy look so baffled? Didn’t you tell him?”

“No.”

“Why not?” Landis glanced from one to the other. “Ah. I see. You were afraid the dummy could not keep a secret. You are a greedy bitch, aren’t you?”

“Do you want the jewels or not?”

“If you have diamonds, I want them, of course.” Landis raised his gun, aiming it at her heart. “Lead me to this study.”

Kelly led the way, with Wade directly behind her and Landis following closely, his gun ready to fire. Kelly wanted to tell Wade the truth. She was sure the killer’s words had cut her friend to the quick, but she couldn’t say anything. Landis would overhear. She prayed Wade would be able to understand.

They entered the study as a group, but Kelly pulled Wade to the side. They stood in front of the bookcase where the secret door was located.

“The diamonds are behind a book.” Kelly pointed to the
bookcase on the opposite wall. “One of those encyclopedias on the third shelf.”

“Do you think I am an idiot?” Landis’s face turned a bright red. “You want me to fish for jewels that are not there so you and the freak can make a run for it. I was not born yesterday, as you Americans are fond of saying.”

“It isn’t a trick,” Kelly insisted. “The diamonds are there. Wade and I will stand right here. You can lock the door if you want. You have a gun. Surely you aren’t afraid of us.”

“Afraid? Zu Landis afraid?” His voice rose in anger. “I am not afraid of anyone. Fine, I will lock the door. If either of you moves, I will kill you both. There is nowhere you can hide from me.”

Landis locked the door before examining the bookshelf closely. He pulled out one large book after another and dropped them to the floor below with no regard for their brittle pages or leather covers.

Kelly gestured for Wade to lift her.

Frowning in confusion, he obeyed. His huge hands circled her waist and he lifted her high into the air. She pulled the metal spring, opening the secret door. The two of them entered the dark passageway without a light. Kelly prayed she could remember her way to the master bedroom. It had the only other secret door that wasn’t barricaded, as far as she knew.

“Hey!” Landis’s furious scream followed them into the darkness. “What is this? A trick? You cannot run from me. I will find you.”

Kelly had to practically drag Wade behind her; he was too frightened to move. If it wasn’t for her frantic hands tugging at him she was sure he would return to Landis with an apology on his lips.

Somewhere along the line, Kelly made a wrong turn. She didn’t find the ladder leading to the second floor. Instead
she found a ladder going down. Wade used the ladder first. Kelly followed him, holding tight to the rungs. They both made it safely to an underground tunnel. Kelly was stunned, amazed the place existed.

At the end of the tunnel they found another secret door. She wouldn’t have seen it except for a crack of light along one edge.

“Help me, Wade! We have to find a way to open this.”

In desperation they felt along the splintered wood for a way out. They bumped into each other a few times. Kelly was about to give up hope and pull Wade in another direction when he yelped. “I hurt my hand. I’m bleeding!”

“I’m sorry, Wade, but we can’t worry about that right now. We need to get out of here. He could be right behind us.”

“Stand back,” Wade said.

Kelly took a step backward, feeling the seconds of her life tick away. Landis would figure out where they were eventually. They had to get out.

Wade took three steps away from the door. Then he raced forward, throwing his weight against the wood. It splintered, flying open. They were free.

Kelly moved through the doorway and found herself in the garage. So this was how Margo or Elvin had managed to vanish after entering the decrepit building. She turned to Wade, giving him a quick hug.

“Wade, you need to go find help. Head for home. Call the police or go to a neighbor’s house.” A dreadful thought occurred to her. “You do have your keys, don’t you?”

“Yes. I don’t lose things. I find them. I take care of my things like my mama always told me to.”

“I know you do. Hurry, okay?”

“Come with me.” Fear entered his voice. “I’m scared. That bad man might find me.”

“You’ll be okay, Wade.” She held his arms in a tight
grip, hoping some of her strength would flow into him. “The bad man won’t find you if you hurry. I need to hunt for Michael. His car must have run out of gas by now. He’ll be heading back to Moore House.”

“The bad man will shoot him.”

“Not if I can help it, Wade. Now go. Hurry, please.”

Wade nodded. He stuck his head out, looking both ways before he darted outside. Kelly watched with dread as he left. She was alone now, with only herself to depend on. She had to locate Michael before Landis stumbled upon him. Michael didn’t even know he was in danger.

She ducked back inside the tunnel and raced down it. When the light from the opening faded into darkness, she felt her way along the wall. Splintered wood jabbed at her delicate fingertips.

In the distance she heard Landis growling like a wounded bear. As long as he kept making noise, she would be able to avoid him. Moore House was big enough for the two of them to run in circles and not bump into each other. She had to find Michael. If he hadn’t entered through the front door yet, he soon would.

Kelly found the ladder again. Hesitating long enough to catch her breath, she placed a foot on a knotted rung. Using her hands along with her feet, she quickly inched her way up the ladder to the second floor.

She found a door and pushed against it. It wouldn’t budge.

Of course it wouldn’t open. In her haste to escape she had forgotten about blocking the secret doors earlier. Now she was trapped. She had two choices. She could return to the study and hope Landis was searching for her somewhere else in the house. Or she could return to the garage.

Decision made, Kelly found the opening in the study without too much difficulty. The room was empty. She strained her ears and was rewarded with the frustrated grunts
of a man on the edge of losing his temper. Landis was nearby. She would have to be careful. If he caught her, Michael was as good as dead.

Kelly slipped from the study, walking in the opposite direction from the annoyed mumbling. She heard Landis curse as he knocked something over. It broke. Glass shattered.

Kelly hurried to the foyer. The front door lay just ahead, unobstructed. She ran across the marble floor, desperate to escape. Nothing could stop her now. She would race down the driveway to the place where Michael’s car had stalled. He had his gun. They would be safe if they were together.

I
NSTINCT TOLD
M
ICHAEL
something was wrong when the dial on his fuel gauge registered empty. He had filled the car not too long ago. It couldn’t possibly have run out of gas yet.

A boulder settled in his stomach as he gazed up at the dormer windows at the front of Moore House, watching him like black eyes void of emotion. Kelly was somewhere deep inside the bowels of the Victorian monster. He had to find her before something unthinkable happened to her.

Michael entered the foyer with his gun drawn. His feet tapped against the marble, echoing loudly.

Just then Kelly stepped in front of the library doors, and a huge smile lit her face. The relief that flooded through his tightly coiled muscles reflected in her eyes.

He held his arms wide.

She rushed toward him.

Arms snaked out of the library doors and caught her, wrapping around her waist like steel manacles. A dark shadow moved into the light, an evil demon taking shape before Michael’s startled eyes.
Landis!

A glint of silver appeared over her shoulder, catching Michael’s attention. The muzzle of a gun pressed into the soft flesh of her temple.

She gasped. Her startled eyes begged Michael not to do anything stupid.

“Let her go,” Michael demanded, lifting his gun. He aimed carefully, but he could barely see the top of Landis’s head. If he pulled the trigger, there was a distinct possibility he could hit Kelly. “She has nothing to do with this.”

“She’s in the way,” Landis said. “Like you. You were warned not to play games with me, but you didn’t listen. You thought you were going to set a trap for me, but the trap is for you.”

“You killed some important people, top agents with the CIA. Did you actually believe we wouldn’t come after you?”

“No matter. Once you were the hunter. Now you are the prey.”

Michael asked, “How long have you been here?”

“Here?” Landis raised his eyebrow as if he didn’t understand. “In town? In this house?” He laughed softly. “Actually, not long, but I was here before. I came here to do a job and someone got in the way. I thought I was shooting my target, fulfilling my contract. I was mistaken. Now I’m back.”

“You killed Jimmy.” Michael hissed between clenched teeth and aimed his weapon again. “That was a bad move on your part.”

“Yes, I killed him,” Landis admitted with pride. “He was living here under your name. I listened and I watched. He was the stupid one. He made the bad move, not me.”

“I’m only going to say this one more time. Face me like a man. Let Kelly go. Are you going to hide behind a woman’s skirt? Coward!”

Landis clicked his tongue. “Sticks and stones, as they say.” He lifted Kelly off her feet and moved sideways, carrying her with him. He circled around Michael. He was almost to the front door.

Michael moved, too, keeping his gun steady. He would probably get only one shot. He couldn’t risk hitting Kelly, but he couldn’t allow Landis to leave with her, either.