Part 20 (1/2)

Jeff filled him in on the kidnapping and what had happened to the charter boat he'd arranged.

”So Kray's men have reported back to him by now,”Cort said.

”Probably. I need you to come and get her and her son. I figure we've got forty-eight hours until Kray finds the house.”

”I'll have to go through official channels.”

”I want that. Andie is going to need the government's help to get out of here. I want you to bring the boat and personally escort her to the States.”

”What about you?You coming out with us?”

”No. I've got business to finish.”

”If you do this, you can kiss your career goodbye.”

”There's not a day that goes by that I don't relive that explosion. I can't let it go forever,Cort . As long as he's alive, he's won. I know the risks I'm taking. I think they're worth it.”

”You're wrong,”Cort said. ”Come out with us, buddy. Just get on the boat with the woman and the kid. No one has to be the wiser. You could-”

”No. I have to see it through. Will you be here?”

”You know what you're asking?”

Jeff knew. He was risking his career, his life, everything he'd ever worked for and believed in. He was also involvingCort . ”I know. I'm sorry. I don't have another way of getting her off the island.”

Cortwas silent for a long time. ”I owe you, boss. I'll charter something out of theGrand CaymanIslandsand be there in thirty-six hours.”

They agreed on a time and meeting place, then picked a radio frequency.

”I'll see you then,” Jeff said. He heard the click asCort hung up the phone; then he replaced the receiver and closed the box.

Only then did he look at Andie standing in the doorway. He knew she'd been there for most of his phone conversation. He could have turned around and acknowledged her, but figured she might as well know what was going on.

”As simple as that?” she asked. ”You pick up your secret spy phone and make arrangements? No one cares what you're going to do?”

”They care.”

”But they won't stop you.”

”I didn't call the agency, I called a friend.”

She stared at him as if she'd never seen him before. ”So you're going through with this.”

”Yes.”

The late-afternoon sun filtered through the palm fronds, shading Andie from the heat. She lay stretched out on the chaise lounge. Sungla.s.ses s.h.i.+elded her eyes. Her arms and legs were dry, but her bathing suit was still damp from her recent swim in the pool. She'd hoped the physical activity and warm temperature would lull her to sleep. But she'd been in the chair for almost forty minutes and she didn't feel the least bit like resting.

She opened her eyes and stared at Jeff and Bobby playing Frisbee on the beach. Jeff wore baggy swimming trunks and an open s.h.i.+rt. His muscled body moved easily and he bent low to pick up the brightly colored yellow disc and throw it back. Bobby raced forward and caught it. He kicked up sand as he spun and threw the Frisbee.

Andie watched her son. He'd tanned. Zinc oxide protected his nose, while a baseball cap shaded his eyes. His trunks hugged his skinny hips. Sometime in the last year or so he'd changed from a plump toddler into a st.u.r.dy little boy. He looked more like a miniature person now than a large baby. He moved gracefully and with purpose. He was active, growing, doing,changing right before her eyes.

The sound of his laughter carried to her and she smiled in return. He was having a good time with Jeff. At least he didn't understand the danger they were in. The explosion had frightened him, but he'd only heard the noise. She'd picked him up when Jeff had screamed at them to run so her son's face had been buried in her arms. He didn't know about the s.h.i.+p's captain dying, nor about the men who had been after Jeff. He was now curious but not afraid and she wanted to keep it that way.

She wished she didn't know the truth. It didn't make sense. As she watched Jeff play with her son, she tried to imagine him as a killer. She didn't want it to be true, and yet she remembered the rifle she'd seen him with when they'd first come to the house. She recalled the stark expression in his eyes when he talked about his wife and son. Kray killed them, now he would kill Kray. A life for a life.

She'd been so sure Jeff was the opposite of Kray. He worked for the government, she'd a.s.sumed. He was on St. Lucas to take her husband in, to see justice done. Her feelings had awakened, her heart had risked caring because this time, surely this time, she'd chosen wisely.

A shriek of laughter broke through her musings. She saw Bobby racing after the Frisbee. It had gone over his head and landed near the surf. Her son grabbed it and threw it back, as hard as he could. Jeff had to jump to catch it. His powerful legs thrust him high in the air. His s.h.i.+rt flapped open, revealing his chest. Her breathing increased. He reached up one hand and snagged the toy. Bobby crowed with delight. Jeff threw it back to him, this time aiming for the boy and making sure the Frisbee was level with the child.

He was patient with her son. He laughed and smiled. He was a good dad. He hugged easily and told stories about a magical bird named Echo. And he wanted to murder Bobby's father. She didn't dispute that Kray needed to die. But for Jeff to do it that way-She shook her head. It wasn't right. For any of them.

Bobby came running toward her. ”I want a drink.”

She pointed to the house. ”There are small bottles of water on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator. Go ahead and take one.”

”Okay.” He tossed her a grin before running off. When he reached the porch, he turned toward the beach. ”I'll be right back, Jeff.”

”I'll be waiting.”

The screen door slammed shut.

Andie glanced at Jeff. He was standing in the surf, staring out to sea. The waves surged around his ankles before retreating,then raced forward again. She wondered if he would speak to her. He didn't. He just stood there, looking out at who knows what.

Was he ashamed? Did he think she was still angry? Or was there nothing left to say? They'd each chosen sides and picked a position. What point of compromise could there be?

For a brief moment in time she'd thought he was the one. That she could safely care about him. He knew her worst and still seemed to like her. Yet she now knew that was a lie. He'd used her in his bed,then abandoned her. She should hate him. She should do a lot of things. Instead, she stood up and walked over to him.

The sun was hot against her body as she moved next to him. The salt.w.a.ter felt more like a tepid bath. When he glanced at her she wished she'd thought to pull on her T-s.h.i.+rt. Then she reminded herself it didn't really matter. He'd seen all of her already.

”What will happen to you when you get back home?” she asked.

”Don't you mean 'if' I get home? Kray's men will be gunning for me on the island. It's unlikely I'll get away.”

”I figured you had some sort of plan to escape them.”

He didn't respond.

She stared at him. ”You don't have a plan?”

”There didn't seem to be much point. I don't know when or where I'll get my chance with Kray. Thinking about escaping only makes it more complicated.”

He expected to die. She didn't know why she hadn't figured that out before. He was going to sacrifice himself. Maybe that was how he justified the killing. It wasn't just one life he would be taking, it was two.

”You don't expect to make it back,” she said slowly.

Jeff ignored her. ”If Kray's men don't get me, the local police probably will. Then Kray's men will find me in jail and take their justice. But if I do make it back to the States, I don't think I'll be getting a promotion anytime soon.” He folded his arms over his chest. ”It won't come to that. Kray has the money to employ the best people. They won't let me get away.”