Part 40 (1/2)

She took a breath. ”Ian Kanan.”

Ahead in the distance, from the night, a man appeared. He gradually separated from the heavy darkness of the live oaks and walked toward her. She held still, fighting to see beyond the lights.

From the Tahoe, Calder said, ”Is it him? Ian?”

”What does he look like?” Vance said.

The man emerged from the shadows and walked toward her. His pace was measured. He spread his arms at his sides, showing he wasn't carrying a weapon. He grew clearer. He walked with the self-possession of a big cat.

It was Gabe.

Her heart ramped up. What was he doing? Where were the cops?

Oh, s.h.i.+t. There were no cops.

Gabe walked to the edge of the headlights, thirty yards from her, and stopped. Her teeth were chattering. She felt a swell of fear for him. She bit down to keep from breaking into tears.

It was Sophie's dad, coming unarmed to rescue her. If she hadn't loved him before, in that moment she did.

”It's time. Let's do it,” he said.

Jo heard a window going down in the Tahoe. Calder hissed at her. ”Ask him where Ian is.”

”Where's Ian?' Jo said.

”He'll exchange the stuff when he sees Seth and Misty,” Gabe said.

His eyes shone in the headlights. He held her gaze. He had to have a plan. Had to be trying to tell her something.

”Seth and Misty aren't here,” Jo said.

”Tell him why,” Calder said.

”Riva Calder's in the Tahoe. She wants to see Kanan, and the sample of Slick, before she brings his family to an exchange.”

”If Ian doesn't show himself and prove he has the stuff, the deal is off,” Calder said.

”Did you hear that?” Jo said.

”I heard.” Gabe s.h.i.+elded his eyes from the headlights and called out to the people in the Tahoe. ”Let's swap. Me for Dr. Beckett. I'll take you to Kanan.”

”What the h.e.l.l is this?” Calder said.

Vance shouted, ”He's lying.”

”Let Jo go,” Gabe said. ”Take me instead.”

In the distance, floating like a treble note on the air, Jo heard sirens. Vance shouted, ”Hear that?”

Murdock said, ”It's a trap.”

Gabe didn't move. ”This is your last chance. If you drive off now, you'll never get what you're after. Let Jo go and I'll take you to Kanan.”

Vance shouted, ”He's a liar. Let's go.”

The sirens grew louder. Jo held on to Gabe's s.h.i.+ning gaze. Vance yelled, ”Come on,” and hit the high beams.

Behind Gabe, she saw a man walking out of the trees. He moved like a gunslinger, swift and sure. The headlights caught the gun barrel that glinted in his hand. The headlights caught his eyes. They shone like blue ice.

* 33 *

Ian Kanan advanced toward Gabe from behind, raising the gun in his hand. And the night turned to havoc.

Jo threw her hands out. ”No. Gabe, look out.”

Gabe spun. Kanan shouted, ”Where are they?”

Through the trees, past the bottom of the Oval on Palm Drive, the flas.h.i.+ng lights of a police car spun toward them. Vance jammed the Tahoe into drive.

”The cops,” he yelled. ”The cops-”

Kanan swung the barrel of the gun toward Jo.

From the dark by the Tahoe, a man said, ”Boss, no.”

The siren and flas.h.i.+ng lights swelled. Calder began shouting. Vance let loose with a stream of incomprehensible drivel, spun the wheel, and jammed his foot on the pedal.

”f.u.c.k, no,” Jo said.

She leaped out of the headlights, grabbed the rope around her waist, and threw herself toward the Tahoe. Vance swerved right and bounced onto the curb. Calder shouted at him to stop. He braked, looked toward the cops and back at the man with the gun charging at him through the high beams. And at the dark eyes of the man with dreadlocks who appeared from nowhere outside the driver's window. He jammed the pedal down again.

And ran into a mailbox.

”Drive, no-stop, Christ, what are you doing?” Calder yelled.

The back pa.s.senger door was still open, swinging like a fan. Vance put the Tahoe in reverse. He spun the wheels backing up, and the door flew wide.

Jo held on to the rope. She had to get loose or get back in the vehicle.

Gabe came running. In his right hand he held a huge, sharp Buck knife. He launched himself at Jo, left hand out to grab the rope.

Vance put the Tahoe in drive. Calder yelled, ”What the h.e.l.l are you doing? That's Ian!”

Gabe grabbed the rope and swung the knife at it. The vehicle bounced off the curb and accelerated, yanking the rope from Gabe's hand before he could cut it. Jo grabbed the swinging door and held on to it, running alongside the Tahoe. Gabe ran behind her. The Tahoe accelerated. It swerved to the opposite side of the road and sideswiped a parked car.