Killer Dreams (21 page)

There was so much pain and bitterness in those words that they hurt her to hear them. “You make me sound as if I were a psycho. Stop beating yourself up and talk to me.”

He was silent a moment and then the faintest smile touched his lips. “You may feel like beating me up yourself.”

“I won’t know until you stop mumbling and come out with it.”

“Okay.” His voice was brusque. “The bottom line is that we need you on the island. MacDuff and I can handle the destruction of the treatment plant, but we need information as to where the disks on REM-4 are kept. It’s not going to do any good to get rid of those vats of REM-4 if Sanborne has the means to make more.”

“I’ve always known that.” She tried to smile. “You want me to be another Nate Kelly.”

“Kelly can’t do this. Neither can I.”

“You want me to pretend to join Sanborne? He won’t believe me. I’ve turned him down too many times. And even if he lets me go to the island, he won’t trust me.”

“He doesn’t trust anyone. But under certain conditions he’d allow you a greater amount of freedom.”

“What conditions?”

“If he thought he had power over you.” He was silent a moment. “If he thought he could kill your son, if you didn’t do what he wanted.”

Her eyes widened in horror. “You want me to let him take Michael?”

“God, no,” he said harshly. “I may be a son of a bitch but I wouldn’t—I said if he
thought
he could kill Michael.”

“And why would he think that?”

“Because I’ve worked out a way to make him believe it.”

“How?”

“I’ll go into the details later. What’s important to you is that I’d make sure that Michael is safe. You have my word on it.”

She felt sick and scared. “You’ve said that before.”

“He’s still alive, Sophie.”

“I know. Tell me those details.”

“I tell Jock to set a trap for Franks and his men. Jock captures Franks and then we make Sanborne think that Franks has Michael.”

“It sounds very…simple. It’s not simple.”

“No, but we can do it.”

Try to think clearly. Clearly? Her mind was a jumble of possibilities and none of them very optimistic. She gazed out into the darkness. “This could help end it, couldn’t it? It could be over at last. It’s the quickest way to get to them. It gives us our best shot.”

“Yes,” he said hoarsely. “The quickest and the best.”

“And you can make it work, Royd?”

“I’ll make it work.”

She was silent again. “Then let’s do it.”

He started to curse.

Her gaze shifted to his face. “Isn’t that what you wanted?”

“No.” He pulled back out into the road. “I wanted you to tell me to go to hell. I wanted you to accuse me of trying to get you killed and tell me not to mention it again.”

She was taken aback at the torment in his expression. “And let you off the hook? This is your idea. You can’t have it all ways, Royd.”

“I’m not shifting the responsibility. I knew exactly what I was doing. And I’m not off the hook. But it feels more like a crucifix.” He stomped on the accelerator and reached for his phone. “I have to call Jock back.”

What the hell?

Sanborne frowned as he tore open the Priority Mail envelope with Sol Devlin’s name in the return-address box.

Sir,

You must realize by now how well I performed the task you set me. I’ve enclosed the San Torrano documents I retrieved from Gorshank’s house that I knew would be important to you.

I’m sure you want me to get on with ridding you of Royd now. He’s a danger to you and you have to be protected. I’ll report as soon as the situation is resolved.

Devlin

Sanborne muttered a curse as he dropped the letter on the desk. It was just like Devlin to not phone him but go straight on the hunt so that he could not immediately object. It was yet another sign of a deplorable lack of true obedience. What if Sanborne had decided not to kill Royd? What if he’d wanted to send Devlin as backup for Franks in Atlanta? Franks had been staking out the lake cottage since yesterday evening, waiting for the opportunity to strike.

No, Devlin was too unstable to work with anyone. It was just as well he was busy tracking down Royd. It would be to his advantage to take out Sophie Dunston’s protector.

But that didn’t keep Sanborne from being annoyed with Devlin’s independence. He’d have a stern word with him when he came running to him for praise after he’d accomplished his mission.

Barbados

“Is it done?” Sophie asked. “Is Michael safe?”

“Not quite,” Royd said. “But soon. Everything is going well, Sophie. Sanborne left his office this morning for points unknown.”

“I don’t care about Sanborne right now. I want this done and Michael safe.”

Royd’s phone rang. “MacDuff.” He answered the phone. “Good.” He hung up and stood up. “It’s a go. Let’s get moving.”

San Torrano

“I have the boy,” Franks said when Sanborne picked up the receiver.

“What do you want me to do with him?”

“Was he hurt?”

“Bruises.”

“Good. Where are you?”

“Still at the lake cottage.” He paused. “I had to kill the woman and her father and two other men who were with them. Is that all right?”

“If it was necessary. How safe are you at that cottage?”

“It’s isolated. I can see anyone approaching from the road.”

“Then stay there for a while. If the situation changes, let me know.”

“How do I treat the boy?”

“No more bruises. I want you to make a DVD and I don’t want the boy to be in too bad shape.” He hung up the phone and went to stand at the end of the pier to gaze out at the
Constanza
anchored offshore. Everything was going splendidly. For a few days he’d been a little worried, but he should have known that Franks would persevere. After he got through with this business tonight he’d get great pleasure out of calling Sophie Dunston.

He waved at Captain Sonanz on the bridge. “Welcome to San Torrano,” he shouted. “I hope you had a pleasant journey. If you’ll start to unload, you can have it done by nightfall and we’ll have dinner and drinks.” He smiled. “Give your men shore leave and bring your officers with you.”

Barbados

Sophie was on the launch Kelly had leased when the call came from Sanborne.

“You’ve survived much longer than I thought you could,” Sanborne said. “How lucky that you joined forces with Royd. I’m sure he’s been a great help to you.” He paused. “But it’s time you parted ways. You’ll be much safer away from Royd now. Devlin is after him and he doesn’t recognize the concept of innocent bystanders.”

“Go to hell.”

“Don’t be disrespectful. It’s not a fitting way for an employee to treat her boss.”

“You’re having a case of déjà vu.”

“No, I thought it time I gathered you back in the fold. I’ve been a little impatient of your arrogance. I was kind enough to offer you a wonderful opportunity and you threw it back in my face. Now you have to be punished.”

“What are you talking about, Sanborne?”

“Your son. I believe Michael is his name.”

Her hand tightened on the phone. “I won’t listen to threats. My son is safe.”

“Your son is only as safe as I want him to be. Get on a plane and come to Caracas. I’ll meet you there.”

“I’m not going anywhere near you.”

“I’ll give you one day. I’m pressed for time. I’m sending a DVD to your name at a post-office box in Caracas. Don’t be upset by the bruises on the poor boy.” He hung up.

“He wants me to go to Caracas.” She turned to Royd. “He says he’s going to send me a DVD of Michael. He said that I mustn’t be upset at the bruises.” She shivered. “Bastard.”

“But you are upset. Why? You know it’s not true.”

“He was so smug.” She moistened her lips. “So certain. I almost believed him.” She stood up and walked toward the rail. “It’s starting, Royd.”

“Yes.” He moved forward to stand beside her. “You can back out.”

“No, I can’t.” She gazed out at the sea. “Tell me about San Torrano. What did Kelly find out about it?”

“It’s a tiny island off the coast of Venezuela. It used to be a possession of Venezuela, but it’s now listed as privately owned by a Canadian corporation. You can bet if we sifted through the paperwork we’d find Sanborne as the bottom line. The population is less than five thousand, mostly of Indian descent, principal occupation fishing. The children rarely make it through more than a few years of elementary school before starting to work.”

“The water-treatment plant?”

“It’s sixty years old and was built by the Venezuelan government when there was a cholera epidemic. It almost wiped out the whole population. The treatment plant serves the entire island and the natives are very cautious about drinking any water other than what comes out of their taps.”

“So if they drop REM-4 into that water they instantly have five thousand test subjects. Men, women, children…” She shook her head. “Charming.”

“It won’t happen.”

“God, I hope not. Where is this treatment plant?”

“According to Gorshank’s diagram and notes it’s about two miles from the west coast of the island. I can scuba to the coast and get to the plant to set the explosives. But we have to make sure that all the vats are in the plant and destroyed.” He paused. “You’ll have to be the one to find that out for us. Along with finding out the location of the REM-4 disks. The moment you do, I’ll come in and get you out of there.”

“And if we destroy the plant, we risk exposing those people to cholera again.”

“And if we don’t they’re going to drink REM-4 and we don’t know what effect that will have on them. It’s virtually untested. I’m sure Gorshank’s orders didn’t stress safety over effectiveness.”

“I’m sure of that too. Gorshank’s formula was very strong.” She frowned. “I don’t know. It’s a catch-22.”

“Which risk would you rather run?”

“Cholera.” The answer came instantly. “We don’t know what kind of mind damage REM-4 might cause in this form. But maybe I can find a way of destroying the vats without blowing the plant.”

“Don’t risk it. They’ll be watching you. As long as they think they have a hold on you, they’ll give you a certain amount of freedom. But if you arouse suspicion, they’ll put you down.”

Her lips tightened. “I have to see if there’s another way. Don’t worry, I won’t jeopardize you or anyone else.”

“That’s almost funny. You’re the one who’ll be walking the tightrope.”

“Then let me do it my way. And I’m not the one who’ll get killed if they catch you on the beach or during your trek those two miles to the plant. You’re much more vulnerable than I am.” She shrugged wearily. “It doesn’t matter. We’ll get it done. One way or the other. I just have to know that Michael is safe while we’re doing it.” Her gaze shifted to his face. “He is safe, right?”

He looked away from her. “I told you he was safe.”

“Then why can’t I talk to him?” She made an impatient gesture. “Yes, I know you told me that it wasn’t safe to use the phones because they might be traced, but just one call for only a moment?”

He shook his head. “Don’t blow it at this stage, Sophie.”

She was silent. “It’s hard for me, Royd.”

“Obviously.” He still wasn’t looking at her. “Don’t you trust me?”

“I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t trust you.”

“It’s a wonder. I told you once that I’d do anything to get Sanborne and Boch. I’ve risked you and the boy constantly since the day we met.”

“I have free will. I’m the one who set the risks.” She paused. “I do trust you. Just tell me one more time that Michael is safe.”

“Your son won’t be hurt.” He turned. “I’ve got to go to the bridge and tell Kelly to head for Caracas.”

She watched him walk away with a feeling of unease. Ever since they’d left the U.S. he’d been too quiet, almost curt. Perhaps it was to be expected under the circumstances. She was also tense and had to control the panic that lay in wait when she thought about what was ahead. But it wasn’t panic she sensed in Royd. Every now and then she caught him looking at her, watching her.

Destroying Boch and Sanborne meant everything to him. It was the obsession that drove him. Did he think she would back out?

She didn’t know. He was an enigma these days, and she didn’t have the energy or concentration to spend trying to decipher him. Now wasn’t the time to start analyzing his every mood and move. She had told him she trusted him. She did trust him. This nervousness she was feeling had nothing to do with Royd and everything to do with the confrontation looming in the next days.

She
had
to trust him.

Caracas

She took the portable DVD player out of the envelope and snapped the DVD into the slot.

“Mom?”

She heard Michael’s voice before the picture zoomed to his face.

Christ.

There was a bruise on his left cheek and his upper lip was cut and swollen. He looked terrified.

He tried to smile. “I’m okay, Mom. Don’t be scared. And don’t let them talk you into doing anything you don’t want to do.”

She could feel the tears sting her eyes.

“I’ve got to go.” Michael was looking at someone out of her vision. “He didn’t like what I said. But I meant it. Don’t let them—”

The video camera was turned off and the disk ended.

She leaned against the table as waves of panic washed over her. If Michael had been acting, he deserved an Academy Award. Those bruises…

Trust me, Royd had said.

Damn you, Royd.

Trust me.

Don’t fall apart now. He’d told her the DVD would look authentic. It had to pass inspection by Sanborne.

Bruises…

Her cell phone rang.

“You’ve had time to watch our little home movie,” Sanborne said. “How did you like it?”

“You son of a bitch.” She couldn’t keep her voice from shaking. “He’s just a little boy.”

“Obviously it didn’t please you. I thought the boy displayed amazing courage. You should be proud of him.”

“I am proud of him. I want you to let him go.”

“In good time. When the first test of REM-4 proves successful.”

“Now.”

“No demands. It upsets me.” He paused. “Every day that you refuse to help me is a day you’ll receive a video from your son. I’ll start off with bruises and then advance to body parts. Do you understand?”