Part 16 (1/2)

”Yes,” Andie said, and took her son's hand.

Jeff hurried down the long bridge. The hairs on the back of his neck p.r.i.c.kled. He didn't like being that exposed, but there wasn't another way to the boat without swimming.

When he was close to the craft, he paused and whistled twice. There wasn't any response. He whistled again, low and clear.

Silence.

He swore under his breath. Not now, not when he was so d.a.m.n close to getting her off the island. He ran the last ten feet and boarded the vessel. It rocked slightly under his feet. The light didn't reach here; everything was in shadow.

”Daniel,” he called and took a step forward. ”Where-”

His toe hit something soft. He bent over and touched a man's arm. Squatting down, he turned on his powerful, thin flashlight. Daniel's open eyes stared up lifelessly. His throat had been cut. The job was professional. No one on the island would dare kill someone without Kray's permission.

Jeff stayed crouched down, trying to figure out if they would jump him here or wait until he left the boat. He drew in a deep breath and smelled it. Gasoline. The boat's engine was diesel.

From under the deck came a faint scratching sound, like a sparking device. He sprang to his feet and jumped out of the boat. He started up the dock. He could see Andie and Bobby standing where he'd left them.

”Get out of here,” he screamed. ”Go! Now!”

She started to move away.

”Run!” he called. If she left now she might have a chance. She might- The explosion was louder than he'd expected. The sound convulsed around him. It shook the dock beneath his feet and buffeted his body. The wooden support beams buckled. The bridge cracked. He was caught in the second blast and thrown high into the air. The world spun into blackness. He knew he was going to die and Andie would be left alone. His last conscious thought was one of bitter regret.

Chapter 10.

The blackness was complete. Some still-functioning part of his brain acknowledged that. Then he landed and instantly began to sink. The sensation of regaining consciousness combined with the terrifying reality of salt.w.a.ter filling his lungs.

Jeff fought against the instinct to panic. He opened his eyes but it was dark. He had no idea where he was or what had happened. His chest tightened. He had to breathe, cough, choke anything. The band of pressure increased. Instead, he relaxed, allowing his body to float. He hung suspended in the salty depths. Every cell of his being screamed for air, for life. Training battled instinct. He knew this time, under these conditions, instinct would kill him.

Slowly, so slowly he almost didn't notice, he began to move. His body floated up, through the darkness, toward the surface and life-giving air. When he had broken free of the water, he gasped in a breath, then choked on the salt.w.a.ter he'd swallowed. He treaded water while he cleared his lungs and tried to figure out where he was and what had just happened.

His arms and legs felt bruised. His head was light, his memory fuzzy. But even if he couldn't remember, something inside drove him on. Even as he was still catching his breath, he began to move toward the sh.o.r.e. In the faint lights up ahead, he could see the foamy surf slapping against the sand. His shoulders ached as he moved his arms. What the h.e.l.l had happened?

To his left the end of the dock burned. A piece of wood floated by. Jeff grabbed it. He looked around. There were more pieces. A boat maybe? An explosion?

Then the memories returned. Andie was she safe? Daniel was dead. Kray knew about Jeff hiring the boat. Did he know his old enemy was helping his ex-wife escape?

Ignoring the throbbing pain in his body, he continued for sh.o.r.e. Dear G.o.d, just let her have followed his instructions. If she had, she would be long gone by now. It would take her a while to find her way back to the house, but when she made it she would be safe for several more days. By then, he could get back to her and- His foot touched the sandy bottom. He gathered his fading strength and staggered onto the sh.o.r.e. His legs were shaking. The concussion from the explosion had hit him like a brick wall. He wanted to lie down and rest but there was no time. He had to be sure Andie and Bobby had gotten away. He had to know they were safe.

But despite his good intentions, his knees buckled and he went down. He crawled out of the surf, cursing Kray and his efficiency, the bad luck or bad timing that had brought him to this. Jeff's arms shook from the effort,then he groaned once and collapsed.

He wasn't sure how long he was out. One minute he surrendered to the darkness, the next, something hard was poking his side.

”You think he's dead?” a male voice asked.

Jeff came awake instantly. He didn't move.

”I saw him breathing. He's not dead.” The hard poke came again, this time bruising his ribs. ”Time to wake up.” There was the distinctive click of an automatic weapon's safety being released. ”Or not. It's up to you.”

Jeff rolled over and opened his eyes. Two men stared down at him. Their clothes and coloring indicated they were locals, the well-cared-for, expensive weapons told him they worked for Kray.

”Who is he?” the first man asked. He was short and young.

His companion reached in his baggy trouser pocket and pulled out a flashlight. He punched a b.u.t.ton. Jeff flinched against the intense beam.

”He looks familiar,” the second man said. The light danced over Jeff's face,then was shut off. ”What's your name?” he asked, punctuating the question with a jab from his automatic rifle.

”John Doe,” Jeffsaid, his voice scratchy from the salt.w.a.ter.

”We got us a smart one,” the second man said. ”He probably works for theUnited Statesgovernment.” He laughed. ”You wanted to go fis.h.i.+ngtonight, Monty, but this catch will be our best yet.” His grin broadened. Dark eyes stared down at Jeff. ”You're a fool, American. Why are you here? You want to capture Kray on his own island?”

”I was on vacation,” Jeff said. ”Working on my tan.”

”You've come a long way to see Kray, and now you'll get your wish.”

”I didn't come here to capture him,” he said in a spurt of temper.

”No? To kill him, then?” Now both men laughed. ”You and what army?” The man looked around. ”I don't see anyone else. Your men seemed to have abandoned you, American. And now you die.”

Jeff closed his eyes briefly. He sent up a quick prayer that Andie was gone. He knew they hadn't got a hold of her yet. From the sound of things, these two men were alone on the beach. That gave her a fighting chance. If only she had the good sense to take it.

”Get up,” Monty, the younger man, said.

Jeff raised himself to his knees. He thought about making a run for it. His body still ached, but his strength was returning. Not that he could outrun fire from an automatic weapon. As he rose to his feet, he strained to listen to the silence around them. Was she already gone? If she wasn't, the men with him would hear the Jeep start up. She'd had time right after the explosion. If she'd started running right away, she would have reached the Jeep while the boat was still in flames. No one would have seen her leave then. But if she'd waited- He shook his head. He didn't want to think about that.

Jeff stood between the two men. Monty was facing him. Now they would start, he told himself. He shut down his mind and his fears for Andie's safety. He thought of nothing. Slowly all feeling fled. He relaxed. He was ready.

Even so, the first blow to his kidneys caught him off guard. The older man hadn't hit him himself; instead, he'd used the b.u.t.t of the automatic. The unyielding surface slammed into his back, driving him to his knees. He exhaled sharply. Pain exploded at the point of impact, then radiated out in all directions.

The second blow almost dislocated his left shoulder. He braced himself with his right hand to keep from going down. He'd known he would pay a high price if he was caught. His only regret was that he hadn't had a second chance at Kray.

”How many men are with you?” the older man asked.

Jeff didn't answer.

”How many?”

The b.u.t.t of the rifle swung down and slammed into his ribs. All the air rushed out of his chest and he felt himself falling into the sand. If he'd had any breath left, he would have laughed. Even if he told them the truth, they wouldn't believe him. No wayone man would be crazy enough to go up against Kray alone. He could lie, but he wouldn't. Once he gave in to the pain, they would have won. It was better to disconnect. Eventually he would fall into unconsciousness. Eventually they would kill him. Then, as he'd promised five years ago, he would wait for Kray in h.e.l.l and have his revenge there.

”Can I hit him?” Monty asked.

”No, you'll kill him like you did the last one. We need him alive.” The older man stepped back. Jeff knew it was to give him a moment to regain his strength. It was more fun to bring a man to his knees than to keep hitting him while he was down. If they would let him rest there for about a week, he would be ready to take them both on.

”Stand up, American,” the young man ordered.