Chapter 19

CHAPTER 19

Death.

Screams.

Gurgling blood.

Kira's audio connection had been restored in time for her to hear the horrible end that the sea snake had visited on Taylor's henchman Donovan. But where was Taylor himself? And where was Harlan? She couldn't catch a glimpse of either one. As long as Taylor was alive and had weapons, he'd be a danger to Harlan. She had to locate him…

Then she caught sight of Taylor heading through the orange coral at top speed. Was he trying to chase down Harlan? She couldn't take a chance. She turned her sled around and headed toward Taylor.

She heard Harlan's voice again. "Kira, where are you? Are you okay? I've lost contact with you."

Kira adjusted her microphone. "Harlan, I'm heading through the coral after Taylor."

"No!" Harlan said. "Keep away from him. I sent one of the sleds after him, but I think he's probably reached the surface by now. I'll go after him myself."

"The hell you will," Kira said. "Don't you think you've done enough? Taylor has his own weapons and he might be expecting you. Your little gift of that remote sled was very welcome, thank you. But I'm not going to let you do this on your own. We'll do it together. I'm heading for the surface. I'll see you in a few minutes. Stop cursing and be there to watch my back." She hung up and adjusted the sled for surface travel.

"You don't have to be so cautious," Harlan said as Kira climbed over her sled and boarded his motorized launch. "Taylor is nowhere to be found. I thought at first he might have headed for the yacht I leased to try to set a trap for us. But I left Belson on board and he said that wasn't the case. He did, however, spot a Jet Skier making his way toward the east. He could have taken shelter in those huge boulders along the shore until he could arrange for pickup by one of his men." He paused. "Or he could have moved to what he thought were greener pastures."

Her gaze lifted to the massive cliff of the east ridge. She shivered. "Knowing Taylor, he's going to want to cut his losses any way he can. He'll go to Hathor Island. You should call Kalim and tell him what happened here. Warn him to be on the alert."

"I'll do that." He pulled her into his arms. "But not just yet," he said hoarsely. "I thought I'd lost you too many times during these last days. I want to hold you for a little while. Just hold you… Okay?"

She slid her arms around him and buried her face in his chest. "Why wouldn't it be okay? If I remember correctly, that's what I said to you the night this nightmare started." She suddenly stiffened. "Before I remembered that Fiona might be a target." She lifted her head and looked up at him. "And she might still be a target. She's at Hathor Island, isn't she? The nightmare isn't over."

"Don't start worrying yet. She might be fine."

"Might?" She turned to look at him. "And where is Mack? Is he still okay?" Her gaze flew to the yacht. "Is that where he is? Tell me he's safe."

"I sent him to be with Fiona. It appeared an ideal way to keep both of them safe. Do you agree?"

She drew a deep, relieved breath. "I think I do. I'm just used to taking care of all those kinds of details myself."

"If you let me, I'll be happy to take some of those responsibilities off your hands. I understand it's called sharing."

"I believe I've heard of the concept. I was glad to get a demonstration. But I'm still worried about Fiona. I don't like that word ‘might.'"

But Harlan was already releasing her and turning toward the launch's throttle. "She's under Kalim's personal care. We both trust him."

"But we both know what a wild card Fiona can be," Kira reminded him. "Make sure that Kalim knows what he might have to contend with if Taylor raises his ugly head anywhere near her."

"I'm already doing it." Harlan was punching the phone number as he spoke, and he turned up the volume when Kalim answered. "Harlan here, Kalim. I just wanted to tell you that Kira is safe and free and I'll be bringing her to your island as soon as possible."

"God be praised," Kalim said. "Fiona will be very happy. I'll call her right away."

"Call her?" Harlan repeated. "Isn't she with you?"

"Not at the moment. But she's quite safe and very busy. She's in the hills training Sinbad. It's not as if Mack isn't always with her. Tell Kira she was right about Fiona. She's doing an amazing job with Sinbad. I believe there's not a doubt about her being a horse whisperer."

"Of course I wasn't wrong," Kira said as she came on the line. "But bring her down from those hills and keep her close until we can reach the island. Do you hear me, Kalim? We're not sure that she's entirely safe there."

"So I take it the news isn't all good," Kalim said grimly. "Taylor?"

"Who else? The devil himself," Harlan said. "I eliminated the men he brought to the cave and prevented him from grabbing any treasure, but he appears to have wriggled out of the trap I set for him." Harlan paused. "He could be heading in your direction. Make sure all your border guards are on the alert."

"They will be," Kalim said. "And I'll call Fiona and tell her to bring Sinbad back to the stable so she can see you're alive and well, Kira. That should bring her running. She was very concerned about you when I talked to her earlier today. She was still determined to continue Sinbad's training, but she wanted to find a way to help you at the same time."

"That sounds like her," Kira said. "Always trying to control the situation."

"Which seems to be a very familiar trait," Harlan murmured.

"Hush," Kira told him. "Kalim, call us back after you've talked to her, will you? I'm going to go to Harlan's yacht to change into dry clothes, and then we'll be on our way to your island. Keep everyone safe."

"That goes without saying," Kalim said. "And may I mention that Harlan did extraordinarily well getting you away from that fiend from hell? I might have to compliment myself for allowing him to do it instead of going after you myself. I may even have to reward him in some manner. I'll have to think about it."

"Arrogance, thy name is Kalim," Harlan said dryly. "Naturally, it was all your doing."

"Well, it is my island," Kalim said. "And didn't I allow Kira to use the treasure to lure Taylor into the trap?"

"I don't remember you being consulted," Harlan said.

"Because you realized my consent was implied where Kira was concerned. I understood that." He paused. "However, I didn't find your handling of the encounter to be unacceptable. We'll discuss all this later. I need to call Fiona now and get her out of those woods and down here to the castle. Goodbye, Harlan. I'll see you shortly." Kalim hung up.

Harlan cursed softly. "Every time I think I might be able to actually like that bastard, he pulls the rug out from under me."

"Well, he did say that you weren't totally unacceptable." She was grinning. "And I think that you were absolutely splendid." Her smile faded. "But right now all I care about is getting to your yacht so that I can change and go check on Fiona."

He lifted a gym bag. "I have some clothes for you here. It'll be faster if we just take this launch over. I admit I'm a bit uneasy myself…"

"They're both safe, Kalim?" Fiona felt a swift rush of pure relief as her hand tightened on the phone. "That's wonderful. You're sure Harlan said he was able to get Kira away from that monster? It's almost too good to be true."

"I wouldn't steer you wrong, Fiona," Kalim said. "I spoke to Kira myself. I told her about your work with Sinbad, and she was very happy about it. But she was almost as worried about you as you were about her. She wants you to get out of those hills and come back to the stables at the castle. She said she'd meet you there."

"Why is she worried?" Fiona asked, puzzled. "Kira knows I wouldn't have any trouble with Sinbad." Then she stiffened. "But you haven't told me everything, have you? What did you leave out?" She inhaled sharply as it came to her. "Taylor!"

"I'm certain that Harlan must be very disappointed, but he didn't manage to kill that bastard down in the caves today." Kalim paused. "He also said there's a chance that Taylor might be heading in this direction."

"Probably more than a chance," Fiona said dully. "He'll be bitter and ugly and full of rage. I can remember his face when he had me prisoner on his cruiser, filled with hatred and wanting revenge so bad he could taste it. I threw a cup at him after he told me how he'd killed my father. Did you know he did that, Kalim?"

"I heard the story," Kalim said. "But don't be afraid. We'll all try to protect you. I'm going to take several guards to come meet you and escort you down here to the stables."

"‘Several guards'…" she repeated. "Here we go again. It seems as if I've been surrounded by guards all my life. Just to keep me safe from Taylor." Her lips twisted. "And this time he's going to get a real treat. He might even get another chance to take down Kira and Harlan. Because I'm the bait that can bring them running to the rescue." She found her hands clenching on Sinbad's reins. "And you're the master of this entire island, Kalim. How many of your villagers would suffer if anything happened to you?"

"No one is irreplaceable, Fiona."

"You come fairly close to that for those villagers. For instance, what would Aban do?"

He didn't answer for a moment. "Survive. I don't like the sound of this, Fiona. What are you trying to say?"

"I believe I'm saying it exceptionally well. I'm telling you that I'm tired of being bait, Kalim. Because it ends up hurting people I care about. Kira, Harlan, you. Maybe even some of your villagers. It's not going to happen this time. If Taylor wants me, let him come and get me. I won't hide behind anyone else any longer." She added recklessly, "Who knows? Perhaps I'll even go looking for him."

"Don't be a fool," Kalim said roughly. "You're little more than a child. Stay right where you are. I'm coming to get you."

"You won't find me. I don't believe Taylor will, either. Sinbad seems to know this mountain and all its many passes and crevasses very well indeed. It's like a maze, and he's been showing me all his secret places. What a truly intelligent horse he is."

"I'm glad you appreciate him. Then you wouldn't want Taylor to get hold of him. Let me take both of you down to my stables where you can be protected."

She chuckled. "Oh, dear, I think I must have scared you, Kalim. I have no intention of really going hunting for Taylor. I realize I'll need training and equipment before I'm able to do that. Unfortunately, someone neglected to give me a weapon, and that makes everything more difficult. So unless something else occurs to me, I'll just keep Sinbad, Mack, and myself safe—but none of us will be bait for anyone like Taylor ever again. Though perhaps Taylor searching for me will allow one of your people to zero in on him and get rid of him forever. Tell Harlan and Kira to take care of themselves and let me know when there's no more Taylor to torment any of us."

"That's not going to be enough. They're going to want to phone you and talk to you themselves. Will you take their call?"

"I wouldn't be rude and ignore it. Harlan's taught me better manners than that. Even though they're probably going to just repeat what you're saying. But perhaps only one call. I'm afraid that Taylor might be able to trace me through them. He managed all kinds of electronic and phone tricks when he snatched me away from Golden Boy and I ended up on his cruiser."

"They deserve the chance to at least try to persuade you," he said impatiently. "In the meantime, I'll be combing this entire area looking for you… and Taylor."

"I realize that, Kalim. Thank you. I'm sorry to cause you this trouble. Keep safe yourself. You've been a good friend to me…"

She cut the connection.

Harlan was helping Kira off the launch to the landing when he got the call from Kalim. "Shit," he muttered as he glanced at Kira's face. "Can't you do something about it, Kalim? You know it's not safe." Then he evidently gave up the battle. "Okay, we're on our way. Keep trying to locate her." He hung up. "Kalim wasn't able to talk Fiona into returning to the stables. She said she had no intention of being bait to lure Taylor toward either one of us again and took off on Sinbad farther up the mountain. Kalim hasn't been able to find her yet. He's still looking."

"Damn." Kira's gaze flew to the top of the stark cragginess of the mountain ahead. "And we don't know how much time we have before Taylor can bring more of his men to that area. He only brought two of his thugs with him to the caves; he left a lot more to guard his property, and they're still waiting for his orders to come and load up any treasure he finds. I don't believe there's any doubt that Taylor will order an attack on Kalim's island now that he believes I've cheated him out of that treasure."

Harlan nodded. "Kalim's been warned, and I'll call Belson and tell him to order reinforcements from among our guards in Morocco to head up there. While I'm doing that, why don't you call Fiona and see if you can persuade her to back down." He grimaced. "Though he said she was very determined and would only take one call."

"How kind of her," Kira said. "I want to shake her. But I know how she feels. She's been a chess piece since she was seven years old, and she loves you and wants it to end. I want it to end for her." She was dialing as she spoke. "But I'll see if I can persuade her to be reasonable. Don't hold your breath."

"You forget how well I know her," Harlan said. "I just want to keep her alive and away from that bastard. She might listen to you. You have a certain influence. And you're the one who got her away from Taylor the last time."

"Not likely." Fiona answered the phone, and Kira spoke into the receiver. "I just told Harlan that you're unlikely to listen to me, Fiona. Even though we both know you should follow Kalim's orders. That's true, isn't it?"

"That's true, Kira," Fiona said quietly. "It's time for it to end. I was so worried about you. And I always worry about Harlan. Don't worry, I'll be careful. After all, I have Mack with me. And I couldn't be anything else since I have Sinbad to take care of, too."

"You realize we're on our way up there to start searching for you? I know that mountain and the woods surrounding it very well. I might find you."

"You might," Fiona said cheerfully. "You have a better chance than almost anyone because Mack will want to help you." She chuckled. "Except he'll be torn because he's now been trained to also take care of Sinbad. I believe Sinbad knows the mountain even better than Mack, and I've got him on my side right now. He loves you but he knows I understand him. He's very complicated, and that's important to him."

"I imagine it is. Look, if you won't be reasonable enough to let Kalim take you down to the stables, will you and Sinbad hide out somewhere Taylor won't be able to find you?"

"That sounds like a plan." Fiona was laughing. "If I can make it work. I'll see you soon, Kira. Take care of yourself. Sinbad and I thank you for your concern."

"You're both welcome. Though I'm not sure that Sinbad deserves it. He obviously rejected me the minute he had a talented horse whisperer seducing him with soft words and compliments."

"He still loves you," Fiona said. "And I refuse to tell him that you were prepared to withdraw any aspect of your approval. It might hurt his feelings. And he's already a little edgy."

"Heaven forbid that I do that. I'm sure he's temperamental enough as it is." She was still smiling. "I hope you're wrong, and I'm able to dig you out of whatever rabbit hole you try to tuck Sinbad and yourself into very soon. Bye, Fiona!"

"No luck?" Harlan asked as she hung up.

She shrugged as she turned to him. "What I expected. Except that I saw a few more signs of maturity peeping out around the edges. These last few weeks have changed Fiona, or maybe they've merely defined her. I can't be sure. Perhaps we've all changed a bit." She shook her head. "Did you get what you wanted from Belson?"

He nodded. "He'll have a unit on their way to Kalim's island shortly."

"It can't be too soon." She gazed up at Kalim's craggy mountain seascape again. "I want Fiona out of there."

"Did she seem that upset?"

"No, on the contrary. As I said, she was… different." She shrugged. "It was Sinbad that she said was edgy. That bothered me a little."

"Why? Sinbad is a wild horse yet has magnificent breeding. He has to be very high-strung."

"I guess it was because Sinbad never showed me that side of himself. He was always so arrogant and sure of himself that he was never edgy. Very princely, even kingly." She looked back at the mountain. It seemed even more intimidating than it had a few minutes ago. The sun was dimmer and the sky was turning gray as it began to cloud over. "That was why it surprised me when she said Sinbad was edgy. It made me… wonder."

"Did it? You believe Sinbad might have been sensing something that made him restless?"

She shrugged. "I don't know. Probably not. Anything that's even a little offbeat tends to strike me as strange these days."

"Considering what you've gone through lately, that doesn't surprise me." He reached out and took her hand. "But could I throw a little brightness into the picture? We're both alive and free, and so are the people and animals we care about. We just managed to foil the bad guy and send him on his way. Plus I'm trusting that we're going to bring the son of a bitch down very soon. Is that bright enough for you?"

Her hand squeezed his. "It's wonderful. You're wonderful. I'm feeling very lucky at this particular moment. I don't know how you could do any better."

He chuckled. "Is that a challenge? I believe I can meet it." He pointed at the mountain. "You know that edginess in Sinbad that you worried about? Those are storm clouds hovering over the mountain. I believe in a few minutes we're going to get a severe drenching. You might as well not have changed out of your wet suit. You're just lucky this launch had a few ponchos tucked away in the cabin." He tilted his head. "And we both know that horses can sense when storms are coming and become agitated. Particularly wild horses like Sinbad. True?"

"Quite true. But I refuse to give you a total victory. There could be other reasons. You've earned enough medals for one day." She was laughing even as the first claps of thunder roared in the distance.