And Then You Die (6 page)

“You see something?” Jimenez asked.

The grove was in deep shadow. Perez saw nothing.

But had he heard something?

He'd almost fallen on that damn slippery shale when they'd gone down the slope. His ankle still throbbed.

Screw Esteban.

It was a bird.

“I was just catching my breath.” He turned around and started down the hill. “I don't see anything.”

Thank you, God.

Bess could feel every muscle go limp as she realized the soldiers hadn't heard Josie.

They were leaving the grove, searching the hillside beyond the trees for more signs of her passing through.

If she was very still, if she could keep Josie still . . .

There was a chance.

The soldiers were almost out of sight. In a moment it would be safe to move out and try to find another hiding place for the night.

Or maybe she should keep moving. How far was she from the coast? she wondered wearily. She must have come at least thirty miles from Tenajo, and that left another twenty to go.

Twenty miles. The distance seemed so small when you were driving it in a car. It was an eternity on foot. It seemed impossible to––

It wasn't impossible. That was only a stupid excuse because she was so tired. She would not give up. Josie needed her. Emily needed her.

Josie whimpered again.

“Don't nag, kid. We're on our way.” She carefully edged out from beneath the tree. “But I need a little help. Okay?”

She needed more than a little help.

But she'd take what she could get.

Darkness was falling. They could no longer see to track the Grady woman. She would be safe for the night.

Esteban clenched his hands into fists as he gazed up at the hills.

Four days. Those fools had been searching for four days and they still hadn't found her. Kaldak had vanished without a trace, but there was no reason his men should not have been able to capture the woman. He could almost imagine the bitch laughing at them.

No, they had pushed her too hard for her to be amused by the hunt. They had found blood on the rocks that afternoon.

Why would she not give up?

A hand clamped over Bess's mouth, jarring her awake.

Someone was astride her. Sweat. Musk. A man . . .

Esteban's soldiers. They had found the cave. . . .

She rolled to the side and struck upward with her fist. She connected with flesh.

“Be
still
. I won't hurt you.”

Kaldak!

She struck out again.

“Dammit, I'm here to help you.”

Josie let out a shrill wail from the pallet Bess had made for her against the cave wall.

Kaldak stiffened. “What the hell?”

He had relaxed his hold. Bess heaved up and to the side, dislodging him, and jumped to her feet.

Do it right, she told herself. Do it right.

She whirled, her fist punching at his stomach as he got to his feet. She grabbed his arm, swiveled, and flipped him over her shoulder to the ground.

She heard him swearing as she snatched up Josie and took off for the cave entrance.

He brought her down with a tackle. She fell on her left side, instinctively protecting Josie, and rolled the baby away from her. Her knee sliced up into Kaldak's groin.

He grunted with pain but flipped her over and straddled her. His hands closed on her throat.

He was going to kill her. Oh, God, she didn't want to die. Her fingernails dug viciously into the backs of his hands.

“Stop it,” he said through his teeth. “I'm not used to pulling back. I could break your neck without––” He drew a deep breath and slowly loosened his grasp. “Listen to me, I'm not going to hurt you. I'm not going to hurt Josie. I'm trying to help you.”

“Bullshit.”

“Then run away. Be stupid. In one day, maybe two, Esteban will catch up with you. He's camped not four miles from here right now.”

She glared up at him. “How do you know that if you aren't with him?”

“He tracked you. I tracked him. He was easier than you.”

She shook her head. “When I lost you, you called out the soldiers.”

“I didn't have to call them. They were pouring through these hills eight hours after you took off from Tenajo. If I'd joined Esteban, wouldn't they be here right now?”

Josie let out another wail.

“She needs you,” Kaldak said. “And we need her to be quiet. I'll let you up if you promise to hear me out.”

“Would you trust me?”

“No, but I think you're an intelligent woman who will weigh the consequences. I can get you out of these hills.”

“I can get myself out.”

“Maybe. But you can't radio a helicopter in for a pickup. Do you want to dodge Esteban for the next week and risk getting Josie captured again?”

She went still. A helicopter.

“Get off me.”

“Will you listen?”

“I'll listen.”

His heavy bulk was lifted off her and she sat up and reached for Josie.

The baby wailed again.

“She has to be quiet,” Kaldak said. “There are guards around the perimeter of Esteban's camp.”

The warning caused her suspicions to ease a little. “What do you expect? You scared her.” She cuddled the baby closer. “And she's hungry and probably wet again.” She felt Josie's diaper. Damp. “I'm out of diapers. I was able to snatch only a few when I left Tenajo, and I had no time or way to keep them clean. Do you have anything I can use?”

“Maybe. I'll look in my backpack.” He shrugged the pack off his back. “I wasn't prepared for this.”

“Neither was I,” she said dryly.

Kaldak switched on the flashlight he had taken out of his backpack.

“Turn it off. They'll see it,” she said frantically.

He shook his head. “It's okay. We're far enough into the cave.” He shoved aside the metal briefcase at the bottom of the pack, pulled out a white T-shirt, and tossed it to her. “How's this?”

“It will have to do.” She glanced at him as she tore the shirt in two. “Do you have any food?”

“Field rations.”

“Get it out and open it. I'll try to feed her.” She knelt and changed Josie's diaper. “How did you find me here?”

“I tracked you.”

“So did the soldiers. They didn't find me.”

“They almost did this afternoon. In the grove.”

She went still. “How did you know that?”

“I was tracking them at that point. I was pretty sure they were on the right scent.”

“I didn't see you in the grove.”

“I saw you.”

“And you tracked me to this cave without my seeing you? How? When I saw Esteban's soldiers?”

“Maybe I'm better than they are,” he said simply.

“Why are you better? Have you done this for a living?”

“Sometimes. My profession often calls for hunting skills.” He watched as she sat Josie on her lap and began feeding her. “You do that very well.”

“Anyone can feed a baby. Talk to me. I'm listening.”

“You shouldn't have run away from me. I'm trying to help you.”

“As I recall, when you weren't ordering me around, you were threatening me. I was in your way.”

“That didn't mean I wouldn't get you safely away from Esteban. I never had any other intention.”

She studied him. It was difficult to read the expression on that face, but instinct told her he was telling the truth. “I couldn't know that. You wouldn't talk to me.”

He shrugged. “I made a mistake. I was hoping it wouldn't be necessary. I'll talk to you now.”

“What happened at Tenajo?”

“Are you sure you want to know?”

“Don't be stupid. You're damn right I do.” Her voice vibrated with feeling. “You
listen
to me. I don't give a damn about your damage control. All I care about is what's happened to Emily and me in the last week. I have a right to know. Now, you tell me.”

He was silent a moment. “Okay. Ask me questions. I'll answer what I can.”

“How did those people die?”

“I'm not entirely sure. I think it may have been an artificially produced disease.”

She stared at him in shock. “Some kind of germ-canister foul-up?”

He smiled sardonically. “You keep thinking it's an accident.”

“Are you saying that the Mexican government purposely loosed that sickness on Tenajo?”

“The Mexican government has nothing to do with it.”

“Isn't Esteban a colonel in the Mexican army?”

“A convenience that allows him a certain amount of power and freedom. It also allowed him to neatly cover up the results of the experiment.”

“Experiment?”

“They had to see if the biological agent worked. Tenajo was a testing ground.”

A little boy lying on the floor of the store with chocolate smeared on his palms.

Tears stung her eyes. “Damn you to hell.”

“I didn't know,” he said roughly.

“You had to know. You worked for him.”

“I knew something was going on at Tenajo, but I didn't suspect what it was until the night it happened. For the past few months there were some cases of minor illness in the Tenajo area. Nothing fatal. I think Esteban must have been practicing. I thought it was going to be the same thing––Esteban didn't let anyone––” He stopped in mid-sentence. “I didn't know.”

“Why did––” She tried to steady her voice. “Why would they do this?”

“When a test takes place on a limited plane it's usually meant to be applied on a larger scale somewhere else.”

“Where?”

“I don't know.”

She felt dazed. It was difficult to think. “You said the public health department did a sweep. Why didn't they pick up on something?”

“Esteban didn't call them in until after the cleanup and the cholera was planted. He has his own doctors in the Mexico City morgue who will give autopsy reports to the effect that it was cholera that killed Tenajo.”

“All this trouble . . . It must have been in the planning stage for a long time.”

“Two years that I know about.”

“If you work with Esteban, why did you help me?”

“I don't work with Esteban.” He added dryly, “Can't you tell? I'm one of the good guys.”

“No, I can't tell. I watched you kill a man.”

“Then don't trust me. Don't trust anyone. But let me help you. I
can
help you, Bess.”

“How? Are you some sort of government agent?”

“Some sort.”

“Be specific, dammit.”

“I've been with the CIA for a number of years.”

She felt a rush of relief. “You could have told me.”

“I wouldn't have told you now if I could have found a way around it. Besides, would you have believed me?”

Did she believe him now? He could be lying.

But to what end? He had gotten her out of San Andreas and there was no reason for him to show up here without Esteban's soldiers if he meant to turn her over to them. “You should have told me.”

“You know now.” He held her gaze. “Listen to me, Bess. I'll take care of you. I intend to get you out of here and safely to the U.S. There's nothing I won't do to make sure of that. I
will
do it. If you don't believe anything else, believe that.”

She did believe it. No one could doubt his sincerity.

He reached for the baby. “Now, let me finish feeding her while you eat something yourself.”

Her arms tightened around the baby. “I can eat later.”

“Actually, you can't. I had to leave the jeep in the lower foothills. We have a long trek out of these hills. I want to get started right away.” He took Josie and the food from her. “Dig another can out of my pack and eat.”

She hesitated and then did as he told her. She needed strength to get through this. She wrinkled her nose at the first bite. No wonder Josie had been tentative.

But the baby was now contentedly devouring the rations Kaldak was feeding her with surprising gentleness and skill. “She seems to have stood the trip well,” he said. “She looks healthy.”

“She's a survivor. Most babies are if you give them a chance.”

He smiled down at the baby and wiped her mouth. “I like survivors.” He looked up at Bess. “You don't look so bad yourself. I expected to have to lug you over the hills in a sling after four days on the run.”

“You still might. Or I might be the one dragging you.” She put the spoon back into the pack and tossed the empty ration can aside. “Let's go.” She picked up Josie's blanket. “Give her to me. I'll carry her on my back.”

He wrinkled his nose. “That's very unpleasant-smelling. Urine?”

“What do you expect? I had a chance to wash the blanket only once. If it bothers you, stay away from us.”

“It bothers me. I have a very delicate nose. But I can get used to anything.” He picked up the backpack. “I think I can manage to stand you for a day or two.”

“Is that how long it will take? What about the helicopter?”

“You made good time, but Esteban is too close. We'll have to backtrack and go around to the north. The hills are too rough here to land a helicopter.” He placed Josie in the sling and helped Bess put it on. “So I've arranged a set-down about thirty miles from here. As soon as we get clear of these hills, I'll call for a pickup.”

He seemed so sure, almost casual. For the first time, hope surged through her. She had never given up, but now she could see a light at the end of the tunnel.

And she wasn't alone any longer.

“Then what are we waiting for?” She strode past him and out of the cave.

Kaldak raised a brow as he followed her. “Me, evidently.”

Six

The rats.

Esteban jerked upright on his cot.
“No.”

No rats. Only a nightmare. He was sweating, shuddering. The odor of garbage and decay filled his nostrils.

Why wouldn't the rats go away?

He stood up and moved naked to the washstand and splashed water in his face. The rats had not come to plague him in a long time. There must be a reason.

The Grady woman. The nightmare had first come the night after she had escaped with Kaldak. When he found and killed Bess Grady, the rats would flee back into their holes.

He moved to the tent entrance and stared out into the darkness. Bess Grady was out there somewhere. Close. His instincts seldom failed him when he was this near a prey.

To hell with the darkness. He couldn't wait for morning.

“Wake up, Perez!” he shouted as he pulled on his clothes. “Rouse the men. We leave in ten minutes.”

“We can stop here and rest for a few minutes.” Kaldak shrugged off his backpack. “You'd better change the baby and give her some water.”

“Of course I'll do that,” Bess said, bristling. “You don't have to tell me. We managed quite well without you.”

“Sorry. I guess I'm used to running things.”

“You don't have to tell me that either.” In the last eight hours he had demonstrated that characteristic time and time again. The decisions had all been his, and he had made them easily and surely, pushing and prodding her every step of the way.

“You're cross with me.” His brows lifted. “I'm surprised you didn't let me know earlier.”

“I don't like being left out of decisions.” She finished diapering Josie and held her hand out for the canteen. “But this is your area of expertise. It was clear you knew what you were doing. I would have been stupid to argue with you.”

Kaldak's gaze focused on Josie. “She's a very good baby.”

“Yes, she is,” Bess said, softening. She fed Josie a little more water and wiped her forehead and neck and then did the same for herself. Though the poor kid was hot and sweaty, and a heat rash was starting on her neck, she had let out only a few whimpers during the journey. Josie was a true miracle.

She tenderly brushed the baby's dark wispy hair away from her face. Josie smiled up at her and Bess couldn't resist giving her a quick hug. “Do you have children?”

He shook his head. “Do you?”

“No, but I've always been crazy about kids.” She smiled. “Emily has a daughter, Julie, and she's a charmer. When she was Josie's age, she was cute as a button. Red hair and a yell that nearly brought the house down. Not placid like Josie.”

“Josie has a pretty good pair of lungs herself.”

“But she uses them to make her needs known. Julie usually just wanted to make a statement. I remember once we took her to the lake and she saw––” Good God, she must be tired. What was she rambling about? And to Kaldak, of all people. “I'm sorry, you can't be interested in this.”

“I'm interested.” He stood up. “Are you rested enough to go on?”

“What would you do if I said I wasn't?”

“Tell you we have to keep pushing anyway.”

“I thought as much,” she said dryly as she put Josie into the sling. “I'm ready.” Her gaze went to the hills behind them. “Do you suppose they're close?”

“Closer than I'd like. I caught sight of them two hours after we started.”

“Why didn't you tell me?” she asked, startled.

“Why worry you? It was still dark and they were having trouble tracking. I did some weaving and lost them again.” He frowned. “But I didn't expect them to start before dawn. Esteban is driving them hard.” He started down the trail. “He wants you.”

Her lips tightened grimly. “Well, he won't get me. How much longer do we have to go?”

“Another few hours before we're clear to radio for the helicopter. After that, maybe two hours to the rendezvous point.”

Relief rushed through her. Not much longer. “Thank God.”

“Oh, yes, and me, of course.”

Good heavens, Kaldak was actually smiling at her.

She smiled back. “Of course.”

Esteban looked down at the tracks. “Two of them?”

Perez nodded. “Joaquin says a man is with her. A large man. He must have joined her last night. It was only a single set of tracks before.” He looked back over his shoulder. “Benito is motioning to me. Do I have your permission to––”

“Go.”

She had help. The Grady bitch had help.

Kaldak? He was a big man.

Yes, probably Kaldak; he had already demonstrated his skill in making his way through these hills. Now he was with the woman and if he was CIA, he might be able to pull in more help.

If Esteban didn't reach them before they got out of the hills.

Perez was back. “We've intercepted a radio signal.”

“Where?” Esteban asked.

“Southwest. Six miles.”

They had cleared the hills and were radioing for assistance. Probably a helicopter.

Goddammit.

“
Get
them.”

Bess staggered and then caught herself before she could fall.

“All right?” Kaldak asked, not looking back.

No, it wasn't all right. Kaldak had increased the pace in the last hour and she was bone weary, hot, and had a stitch in her side. “Can we go just a little slower?”

“No.”

“Why not? We're close, aren't we?”

“Close isn't home.”

“Josie needs changing.”

“She'll have to wait. Hurry.”

The last word was so fraught with tension, her stride automatically accelerated. She glanced back over her shoulder. “What's wrong? Are they close?”

“They've always been close and they're bound to have picked up the signal.”

Josie whimpered.

Poor baby. “How far do we have to go?”

“Another hour. And Esteban probably is no more than twenty minutes behind us.”

“What if the helicopter isn't there?”

Kaldak didn't answer.

He didn't have to answer.

In the valley below, the army-green helicopter shimmered in the twilight. It looked beautiful.

Bess's pace hastened in response to the hope leaping through her. “It's there. We're going––”

A bullet whistled past her ear.

“Shit.” Kaldak grabbed her arm and pulled her down. She stumbled on a tuft of grass, caught her balance.

A second shot. Kicking up dirt ahead of her.

She glanced over her shoulder.

Soldiers. Streaming over the hill.

The helicopter door was open.

Another shot.

She jerked as pain streaked along her side.

They reached the helicopter. Kaldak tossed her onto the floor and followed her.

“Up, Cass,” he shouted.

The door was still open as the helicopter rose jerkily.

One of the soldiers leaped upward and caught hold. Kaldak ground his heel on the man's hand and he fell back to the ground.

Bullets sprayed the helicopter.

What if they hit the fuel tank?

Clear. They were high above the ground. Surely out of range.

She looked at Kaldak. He nodded and she went limp with relief.

“You're bleeding.” He was looking at her shirt. “You were hit?”

“My side. It's all right. Just a graze I think. I'll tend to–– Oh, my God.”

Josie was too still.

Bess frantically shrugged off the sling. The blanket was stained with blood.

Josie.

“Son of a bitch. Son of a bitch. Son of a bitch.” Tears were running down her cheeks. “They shot her. They shot Josie.” The bullet that had grazed her side must have gone through the baby. “Goddamn baby killers.”

“Is she dead?”

“I'm trying to find out.” Hip wound. Blood. Too much blood. “She's alive. Barely.”

“Can we save her?”

“I don't know. I know first aid, but I'm not a doctor. Maybe. If I can stop the bleeding.” She was working quickly. “You get her to a hospital.”

“I can't risk you. We can't land until––”

“Don't tell me that. I don't care where you take us.” She shot him a fierce glance. “You get me to a medical facility where I can get help for her.”

Kaldak nodded. “I'll find a place.” He headed for the cockpit.

“Son of a bitch.” She couldn't stop crying. She had sworn never to open herself to this kind of agony again. Yet here it was, deeper than ever before. “Hold on, Josie,” she whispered. “We've gone through too much together. Don't leave me now, baby.”

“We're going to set down.” Kaldak was back. “How is she?”

“Unconscious. I've managed to stop the bleeding. Unless there's internal bleeding. Where are we?”

“Gulf of Mexico. I've located an aircraft carrier, the USS
Montana.
They'll have a doctor and full medical care. We should be down in ten minutes.” He headed back to the cockpit. “One way or the other.”

“What do you mean?”

“Aircraft carriers don't like uninvited guests. They're proving a little difficult and threatening to shoot us down.” He glanced back over his shoulder. “Don't worry, I'll take care of it.”

She cuddled Josie closer. She couldn't worry about anything but the baby. Let Kaldak take care of everything else.

Esteban's fists clenched as he watched the lights of the helicopter fade in the distance.

She was gone. She had escaped him.

No.

He drew a deep, ragged breath.

Kaldak had taken her away. He was probably already thinking that she was out of Esteban's reach.

He was wrong. There was always a way to bring down any prey. He would find her.

“Tell the radioman to get up here, Perez.”

The woman had to die. And no one was ever out of reach.

Bess leaned her head on her hands. She felt utterly helpless.

“The baby?”

She looked up to see Kaldak standing beside her by Josie's bed.

“Dr. Caudill did what he could,” she said wearily. “He thinks there's a severed vertebra but he's not a specialist.”

“Do you want me to get one for you?”

She smiled crookedly. “Are you going to kidnap a specialist and fly him to the aircraft carrier? Not a good idea. Captain Hodgell wasn't at all pleased to have us land here. You're right, we were lucky we weren't shot down on the approach.”

“For all they knew, the helicopter could have been loaded with dynamite.” He shrugged. “It was the best I could do.”

“It was a very good best. Thank you.”

“You order. I obey.” He squatted down before her chair. “You didn't answer me. Do you want me to go for a specialist?”

She shook her head. “That can wait. He wouldn't operate anyway until she's in better shape. She may not make it, Kaldak.”

“When will you know?”

“An hour, two. If she stabilizes . . .”

He looked at the baby in the makeshift crib they'd fashioned out of the hospital bed. “Did she wake up?”

“No.” She tried to steady her voice. “She may never wake up again.”

“I've got a hunch she will. She came this far. She survived Tenajo. I don't think she's meant to die.”

“And was she meant to be shot?” she asked fiercely. “She's a little baby. God shouldn't let things like this––”

“Shh.” His hand closed over hers. “Don't blame God. Blame Esteban.”

“I do blame Esteban. I want to burn him at the stake.”

“Entirely understandable.” He released her hand, stood up, and headed for the door. “I'll be back in a minute. You need food, but I know I can't get you to eat. I'll bring coffee instead. It may be a long wait for us.”

“You don't have to wait with me. There's nothing you can do.”

He paused at the door. “I'm not doing it for you. I think Josie will know I'm here. I'll be right back.”

It was four hours later that Josie's vital signs stabilized. An hour later she opened her eyes.

“She's smiling,” Bess whispered in wonder.

“I told you she wanted to live.” Kaldak gently touched the baby's cheek. “Some things are meant to be.”

“I'm in no mood for philosophy. I still don't know if she's ever going to be able to take her first step.” But relief and joy were soaring within her. At least, the baby was going to live.

“Dr. Caudill said the best man for spinal injuries is Dr. Harry Kenwood at Johns Hopkins,” Kaldak said. “I've arranged an air ambulance to take us there early tomorrow morning.”

“You have?”

“And now, I believe it's time for you to eat.” He wrinkled his nose. “And shower. Josie may have a relapse when she rouses enough to get a whiff of you.”

“I'm surprised you bore with me all these hours,” she said tartly.

“I considered it an exercise in discipline.” He turned away from her. “Go shower. I'll send in the nurse to watch Josie and get you some food and fresh clothes.”

“Wait.”

He looked back at her.

“Emily.”

He shook his head. “I contacted our people in Mexico City. No word. But, if she's on foot, it's possible she hasn't reached the coast yet.”

“Then I have to go back for her.”

“No.” The swift, harsh negative startled her. He hadn't used that tone with her since Tenajo.

“I won't abandon her.”

“No one's suggesting you abandon her.” He glanced at the baby. “Do you want to leave Josie before you know her condition?”

Bess's gaze followed his to Josie. She was as torn as Kaldak had known she'd be. “You know I don't. But I have to go. You can take Josie to––”

“You're handing her over to me? You scarcely let me touch her all the way here.”

“I can't leave Emily there.”

“For God's sake, Esteban will snatch you up as soon as you set foot back in Mexico.”

“I'll go to the embassy and––”

“No, we'll talk about it later. Let me think about it. I may have a solution.”

She watched him walk away. If he had a solution for this, he'd rival Solomon, she thought wearily. Then again, he'd managed to get her out of Mexico and saved Josie by finding a medical facility. Maybe he could work this miracle too.

Two hours later he knocked on the door of the tiny cabin she'd been allotted. “Come on. We're going to the radio room. I've arranged to radio someone.”

Frowning, she fell into step with him. “Who?”