Forever Man (37 page)

He paused. “And mine.”

It was a bitter victory, one that left the taste of ashes in his mouth. He had been outmaneuvered, had acted as an assassin on
her
behalf. In the end, all she’d lost was her acolyte.

He had lost so much more.

His eyes strayed to the map of France. Maybe there
was
a way to end this on a positive note. He knew Divisional HQ would love to have the information on that map.

And then there was the communication equipment. A false order sent out to the Germans that the Allies were also attacking from the other end of the city, and the Axis forces would be split. The 761
st
would stand a chance.

Bart turned to the body of his friend. He wanted to say goodbye to Al Richmond, but the words escaped him. So he bowed his head, said a quick prayer—and noticed something lying under the altar.

Reaching down, he grabbed it.

It was Dexter Grant’s kit bag.

Bartholomew Owens slung it over his shoulder, and set about changing the tide of a war.

Roughly thirty minutes into the woods, Webber called for a brief rest.

Evening was gathering. In the growing twilight the forest began to lose its definition. The towering pines marshaling in the distance became indistinct, their trunks dissolving into a dark, impenetrable wall surrounding them. Ordinary scrub bushes turned ugly and misshapen and threatening. There was no wind racing through the branches above them, no sounds of animals roaming the woods under the safety of the encroaching night. It was as if the forest had ceased to exist beyond what they could see.

Jack shifted Kevin in his arms. Despite the chase and the trek through the woods, his son had fallen fast asleep. “What do we do about Denny?”

“You heard the gunshots,” Webber replied. “Idiot probably got himself killed. I just hope he took out the other guy first.”

“So it’s you, me, and Kevin.”

“Isn’t that the way it should be?”

Jack nodded. “Who is this person we’re meeting? The one you were talking to on the phone?”

Webber grinned. “You’ll find out soon enough.”

“Still keeping secrets?”

“Everybody’s got ‘em,” Webber said. “Now, you ready to press on?”

Jack nodded. “I feel like I could keep going all night.”

Webber gave him a knowing look. “Not bad for an out-of-shape banker, huh?”

“What can I say? I feel great. Better than I’ve felt in my life.”

“What about that cold you had?”

“Gone,” Jack said. “Like it was never there. Why?”

“You’re on your way to a better life, Jack,” Webber said, clapping a hand on his back. “Let’s head out. We still have a long walk ahead of us.” Then he began trudging through the snow.

Jack’s mouth twisted into an irritated frown as he fell in behind Webber.

As they plunged deeper into the forest, the trees grew taller, their boughs broader, and the choking groundcover grew scarcer. Travel became easier, and they were able to put some precious distance between them and anyone who might be following.

By the time Jack stumbled into the small clearing, he was drenched in sweat.

It was almost fully dark. A bright wedge of moon barely crested the treetops, bathing the glade in a thin, sterile light. Jack could make out a steeply rising hill at the other end, the front concealed by shadows. He couldn’t see any footsteps on the snow-covered ground.

“Good,” Webber said. “Doesn’t look like anyone’s found this place. Come on, Jack.”

They were halfway across the clearing when Webber stopped and turned to him. “See that wide crack in the hill? It goes back about ten feet into a small cave. I have some lanterns stored in there. You and Kevin go on. I’m going to stay out here and see if I can’t keep anyone from following us.”

Jack eyed the opening. “Is it safe in there? I don’t want Kevin getting hurt.”

“You may not like the view,” Webber said, “but there’s nothing in there that can hurt you.”

“Where’s your friend?”

Webber’s eyes lost their focus. Then, abruptly, his focus returned and he glared at Kevin.

“I don’t think…I can’t—” Webber made helpless, agitated gestures with his hands. “Oh, just get in the damn cave,” he finished, shoving Jack in the direction of the opening. “Shout if there’s a problem.”

Jack stumbled forward a few steps, then spun around, ready to confront Webber. But Kevin stirred and pulled the jacket more snugly around his small body. Swallowing his anger, Jack decided it was best to get his son out of the cold night air. He turned and started for the cave.

The entrance was an uneven break in the surface of the hill, more like a gaping wound than a natural occurrence, as if something big had torn a hole into the ground. Maybe a huge tree had toppled; the weight of the trunk would have ripped the large knot of roots out of the ground, along with an unbelievable amount of earth. Decades of weather could have washed away the dirt and rotted the tree down to dust, leaving behind nothing but the cave.

Jack shrugged. Whatever its origin, it offered shelter from the elements. Pulling Kevin tighter against his chest, he bent slightly and side-stepped his way into the opening.

Darkness engulfed them as they disappeared into the cave.

*   *   *

Nighttime had settled in. The sky above them was a deep black span dusted with stars. The moon, only three days past full, provided enough light to penetrate the darkness of the northern Michigan trees, limning them in a ghostly glow. As they followed Webber’s trail, Izzy noticed that the forest was quiet—the only sounds she heard were their own crisp footfalls in the snow.

Bart Owens had taken the lead, as he’d evidently had some experience with tracking in his long past. Both Maglites were on, their bright beams cutting through the night, allowing them to see the trail.

Owens raised his hand and Izzy stopped. Katie and Gene, who had been following behind her, also halted. The old man stood still, his head cocked, as if he were listening for something. He remained that way for several seconds. Then he turned to regard her and the others.

“This is too easy,” he said. “Darryl didn’t even try to hide his tracks.”

Izzy ran her light over the footprints. “Maybe he was hoping the snow would do the job for him.”

“Possibly,” Owens said. “But that leaves too much to chance.”

“What choice did he have?” said Gene. “Unless he can fly, tracks were inevitable.”

“I know. But my concern is that he didn’t even try. Like he wasn’t concerned with being followed.”

“Speaking of pursuit” Izzy said with a glance behind her. “We need to push on. No telling when de la Rosa will start chasing us.” She turned back to Owens. “So if he’s not worried about being followed, either he plans to be away from this area quickly, or he has a way to stop anyone who might get past Denny.”

“Or both,” added Katie quietly.

Owens nodded. “Or both.”

Izzy thought about that for a moment. “We don’t have a choice either. We need to find Webber and hope we can handle whatever he throws at us. Since the path is obvious, I’ll take the lead.” She looked to Owens. “Stay near Katie and keep her safe.”

“What’s your plan for when we catch up with him?” asked Gene.

“My first priority is Kevin,” Izzy said. “After that, I’d like to take Webber and Jack alive—one of them knows where Natalie is. But if it does come down to us or them, we take them out.”

“Take them out with what?” Gene said. He held out his hand, one finger pointed forward, his thumb aimed at the stars. “My finger’s out of bullets.”

“Very funny,” said Izzy. “There should only be the two of them. Webber’s the dangerous one. Jack’s just an asshole with delusions of grandeur. I don’t think he even knows how to fire a gun. Owens and I will handle the situation.” She looked at Gene. “Remember, you’re a civilian. You shouldn’t even be here. But after what you’ve both been through”—her eyes darted over to Katie—“I feel we need to finish this together. Don’t make it harder for me by asking for a gun. That would make you dangerous
and
a target. You’ve already been shot once.” Then she smiled and nodded to Owens. “Who do you think you are? Him?”

“Fine,” said Gene. “Maybe I’ll give them my best Chicago glare. It’s been known to frighten very old ladies and make small dogs wet themselves.” Then he screwed his face into a knot and brought up his hands to claw at the air.

Izzy stifled a laugh. “Okay, we need to get moving.” She looked at Owens. “Is there anything else we need to know?”

“Just one thing,” he said. “Don’t believe everything you see. Darryl is a magician of sorts. He can create…let’s call them hallucinations. They look very realistic and very frightening. I don’t know if he’ll try it, though. It would leave him physically weakened.”

Gene lowered his hands, his expression having lost all its humor. “Well, that was certainly a mood-killer. I bet you’re a riot at parties, too.”

“Gene, please,” said Izzy. To Owens, she asked, “Is there anything we can do about it?”

Owens shook his head. “I don’t think so, but it won’t work on me. So if I see any of you freeze up, I’ll try to break his concentration.”

“This is too bizarre for words,” said Izzy. “If there’s nothing else?”

“I think we’ve got it covered,” said Owens.

Izzy tightened her grip on the Maglite.

“Okay, let’s go.”

They had followed Webber and Jack’s trail for about two hundred feet when Owens shouted, “Get down!”

Izzy spun around. In the Maglite’s beam, she glimpsed Owens toss Katie to one side and drop to the ground. Gene backed away from the old man, tripped, and fell hard. Above his prone body, a shape burst from the darkness, charging the spot where Katie had been. Owens shifted and drove his right fist up hard and fast.

A piercing howl—the creature, the one that had attacked them earlier! How had it gotten so close without her hearing it?

“No one move,” Izzy called out as she scrambled to find the creature, the barrel of her gun following the Maglite’s narrow beam as it searched the darkness.

Owens also searched for the thing, his flashlight slicing through the night.

“Where is it?” she yelled. “I can’t—”

She heard movement behind her. Twisting, she brought her gun up and fired. The creature cried out in pain. In the muzzle’s flash, she glimpsed its broad head just before it slammed into her shoulder, sending her flying backward into the snow. She managed to hold onto the gun, but her flashlight went spinning into the night and landed in a snowdrift, its light smothered as completely as if someone had blown out a candle.

Owens was at her side in an instant, his flashlight trained on the creature.

Izzy fired again, hitting it near the top of its right rear flank. The creature crumpled to the ground. Struggled to its feet. Lurched after Katie.

Izzy tried to rise but cried out when pain tore through her ankle.

“Damn it,” she swore. “I can’t—hurry, go! Don’t let it get her.”

Owens didn’t pause to answer. He bolted after Katie, his legs pumping as he dodged trees with agility that belied his age. Izzy heard him calling after Katie, telling her to keep moving.  

Soon he disappeared behind a copse of trees, and his flashlight winked out of sight.

*   *   *

Katie bolted through the woods, her heart hammering against her chest wall.

The creature was behind her. She could hear its heavy footfalls, the shattering branches as it broke through small trees, the thud of its body slamming into larger ones. It was closing in; she could almost feel its hot breath on her neck. But she couldn’t run any faster. The trees were too close. They leapt at her from the darkness.

More distant still, she could hear Mr. Owens calling to her. He wanted to save her, but he sounded too far away. He would never make it in time.

She was going to die.

A large tree materialized before her, blocking her way. She barely avoided a collision, cut right, hoping a change in direction might create more distance between her and the creature.

No, she thought angrily. She wasn’t going to die out here in the woods. She wasn’t going to give up. Allow herself be killed. She wasn’t like her father.

She dodged right again, leapt over a fallen pine. Now she was heading back the way she’d come. Toward Mr. Owens. She heard him calling to her.

“Here!” she shouted. “I’m right here!”

Another tree punched up from the darkness. She dodged left, but a thick, low-hanging branch clipped the side of her head. Platinum streaks of pain flashed behind her eyes, and she fell to the ground.

Through the black night, the creature charged relentlessly toward her. She flipped onto her back and began scrambling backward.

“No,” she cried. “Oh God, no.”

The creature was almost upon her now. She could make out its shape rushing at her, blotting out what little of the forest she could see. Its snarls scraped at her nerves.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered, though she wasn’t sure who she was apologizing to. Maybe it was to her parents for failing to be better than them; or maybe to herself, for simply failing.

She heard footsteps behind her. A bright light flashed into the creature’s eyes. It howled in pain and vanished, escaping into the relative safety of the darkness.

Bart Owens stepped between her and the monster. He searched for the creature with his Maglite.

“I don’t see it,” he said.

“We should be able to hear it,” Katie said. “It made enough noise chasing me.”

Bart held a hand out to help her up. “Come on, let’s get back to Izzy and Gene. Maybe it went back for them.”

Grateful to be alive, she reached for his hand.

Something exploded from the darkness and slammed into Mr. Owens. The flashlight flew from his hand, hurtling through the air to smash against a tree. The glass shattered, the bulb broke.

They were plunged back into darkness.

In the faint glow of the moon, Katie saw two indistinct shapes flailing about on a carpet of snow. Then she heard the odd howl of the creature as it struggled with Mr. Owens.