Blood in the Marsh (26 page)

“So did I. Just like I thought we were too good of friends to lie to one another. You said you’d turned in your card, man. That you just acted as a stringer in a clinch.”

“That wasn’t a lie.”

“And is this one of those clinches?”

Nick looked at him. “You know I can’t talk about it.”

“So what can you tell me?”

“That if we don’t both do our jobs a whole lot more people are going to die. This thing’s gotten personal. I’m gonna find that bastard and I am going to take him out—regardless of what anyone says. You get my drift?”

Michael nodded. “Yeah, and for once, old buddy, I wholeheartedly agree.”

Sea Island

Chelsey pulled her car in the garage and parked it. Lyra had insisted they return to the house when she had called the studio and gotten no answer. She called the police station where Michael worked and was told he had left over an hour ago. Then she had called the house again and gotten a recorded message saying that the number she had dialed was either out of order or no longer in service. She called the operator and asked her to check the line and the operator told her that the phone must be off the hook.

That was when she dragged Chelsey from the restaurant. All the way back she fidgeted, sure that something terrible had happened. She unlocked the garage door and bounded into the kitchen. “Nick!”

Hands suddenly grabbed her and almost jerked her down. She tugged, trying to break free and heard a scream behind her. The man holding her yanked her around and she saw Chelsey. A man in black, wearing a ski mask, had hold of her arm, pressing a gun to her head.

Lyra froze, not knowing what to do. The man holding her pulled her through the house into the den and shoved her down on the couch. She watched fearfully as Chelsey was pushed into the room, the gun still at her head.

“What do you want?” Lyra’s voice was thick with fear.

“I want you to get the diary. Then you’re going to go with us.”

“I don’t know where it is.”

The man looked over at Chelsey for a moment. “I think you do, Lyra. And unless you want to see your friend’s brains become part of the wallpaper you’ll do exactly like I tell you. Do you understand?”

Lyra nodded and the man jerked her up. She went with him upstairs and walked to the desk in her room, opening the top drawer. She scrambled around in it frantically for a moment then looked at the man. “It was right here!”

He stepped over and jerked the drawer out, dumping its contents on the floor. “Don’t fuck with me, honey, or I’ll rip your friend’s heart out and shove it down her throat.”

Lyra swallowed and nodded. “But I’m telling you the truth. I left it here in the desk this morning!”

They both heard a noise downstairs and the man grabbed her, holding her in front of him as he started for the door.

Downstairs, Nick and Michael had arrived at the house, leaving the Jeep on the street and coming in on foot, just in case someone was inside. They saw the open door of the garage and crept in silently, entering the house.

Stopping in the hall, Nick heard Chelsey crying. He edged to the door of the den and looked in then backed up and whispered to Michael. Michael nodded and passed him, pausing as he reached the door. He stepped past it and worked his way to the other entrance.

Nick waited as Michael stepped into the den from the front entrance then silently slipped in from the rear. The man holding the gun on Chelsey yelled “Hold it!”as he saw Michael.

Michael held up his hands and moved farther into the room. “I said, hold it!” the man yelled. “I’ll blow her brains out, man!”

Michael stopped as he saw Nick move up silently behind the man. “Okay, okay. I’m not moving. Now why don’t you let the girl go?”

The man laughed and at that moment, Nick grabbed his hand, jerking the gun away from Chelsey’s head. Michael dove at her, tackling her to the floor as the gun went off. The man whirled and took a swing at Nick. Nick jabbed him in the side with his free hand, still clamped on to his wrist with the other.

They fought over the gun for a few moments, getting it trapped between them. Michael felt like he was watching an old movie as the gun went off. He didn’t know which one had been shot but he prayed it wasn’t Nick. The man in the mask staggered back and fell against the wall. As he slid to the floor, he left a bloody track on the wallpaper. Nick didn’t wait to see if he was still alive. He took off up the stairs three at a time.

Lyra and the second man were standing just inside her bedroom door. She had heard the shots and was sure Chelsey was dead. Tears stung her eyes and she shook as the man shoved her out into the hall.

They passed two opened doorways and moved toward the stairs. Just as they passed the second door, Nick jumped out and grabbed the man around the throat. All three of them went down in a heap. Lyra elbowed the man holding her in the ribs and rolled away, seeing Nick still hanging onto him.

The man rolled over on his stomach and tried to push himself up. Nick’s arms moved in a powerful motion and Lyra heard a peculiar grating noise. A split second later, the man collapsed to the floor.

For a moment, she stood rooted in place as Nick stood. She didn’t know whether to embrace him or run from him after what she’d seen him do. “God, I was so afraid,” she whispered. “When you called we went right over to the restaurant and waited but you never showed up. Then when we got back those men were here and…”

“Wait!” Nick moved to capture her hands in his. “I think you better start at the beginning. But first, I have to make a call. Why don’t you go downstairs and check on Chelsey. She’s with Michael. I’ll be down in a minute.”

“Who do you have to call?”

“Lyra, please, just do like I asked and don’t ask any questions.”

“But why won’t you tell me?”

“Please.”

After a moment, she turned and walked downstairs. Michael was sitting on the couch, holding Chelsey as she cried against his chest. He looked up as she entered. The sight of him holding Chelsey sent a sharp bolt of jealously racing through her. She mentally scolded herself. Chelsey had just been through a terrible trauma and needed comfort. Surely, she wouldn’t begrudge her friend the solace that could be found in the safety of his arms.

She tried to ignore the selfish whine of an inner voice that insisted she could use some comfort as she walked over to sit down across from him.

“Nick?” he asked.

“He said he had to make a call. Michael, who is he calling and why is he so secretive about it?”

Michael looked at her for a moment then shook his head. “I don’t think I’m the one to answer that question. You’ll have to get those answers from Nick.”

She made no comment and moments later Nick entered the room. His face wore the look of some ancient warrior—his eyes blazed and an electric charge seemed to hover around him. He caught Michael’s eye and some unheard message passed between them. Michael nodded and looked away, and then Nick walked over to Lyra. “I think it’d be best if you took Chelsey upstairs until we get things cleaned up.”

“Get things cleaned up? What does that mean? The bodies? Just how are you going to ‘clean’ this up? They’re dead, Nick!” She turned to look at Michael. “Shouldn’t you call and report this or something? You are a policeman.”

“It’s already been reported,” Nick said quietly. “Someone will be here soon to remove the bodies and I think it’s best if you and Chelsey aren’t around for that, so will you please take her up to her room?”

Lyra crossed her arms and stared at him for a moment then nodded. “Okay, but after whoever it is leaves, I want some answers.”

Nick didn’t agree or disagree; he just took her hand and helped her up. “I’ll let you know when everything’s taken care of.”

She made no reply and dropped his hand. “Come on, Chels,” she said softly as she took Chelsey’s arm. “Let’s go upstairs so you can relax.”

“Relax?” Chelsey’s voice was loud and shrill. “A man threatens to blow my brains out and you expect me to relax? You’re as crazy as they are, Lyra! What we should be doing is getting as far away from this place as we can. We should just go to the airport and get the first flight out!”

“We’ll talk about it upstairs, okay?” Lyra was beginning to think that maybe that was a good idea.

“Fine!”

They went upstairs and Michael turned to Nick. “You do realize that you’re going to have to give her some explanation, don’t you?”

“I’ll cross that bridge when I get to it.”

“Dammit, Nick! Will you back out of your killing-machine mode for a minute and think? She’s supposed to be someone you care about. Don’t you think that means you at least owe her the truth?”

Nick sat down and stared evenly at Michael. “You’re my best friend, Michael, and I value that friendship more than you know. And since I do, I’m going to say this once and only once. You above all people know that there are certain things I can’t discuss—not with you, with Lyra, with anyone. Not because I don’t want to but because if I did I’d be putting whomever it is at terrible risk. And just so we’ll be clear on this, I want you to know that I do care about Lyra, more than I thought I was capable of. I’d do anything for her and I’ll do anything to protect her. But I won’t put her in any more danger than she’s already in. I can’t do that to her, and if keeping her safe means keeping certain things unsaid then that’s how it’ll have to be.”

Michael didn’t respond for a long moment then he nodded. “I understand and I’m sorry I jumped on you. You’re right, there are things you can’t tell her. But there are things you can and that’s what I was talking about. I think it’s important that you play it straight with her, Nick. She’s a special lady and I mean that in every sense of the word. There are a lot of women in the world, but damn few ladies.”

“You’re right and I don’t plan on letting her get away.”

They both stood as the buzzer to the front gate sounded. Nick walked out the front door and a few minutes later a van pulled around to the back of the house. Six men got out with Nick and came in the house. Michael got out of their way as two of them bagged the body in the den then went upstairs. The other four started checking the alarm systems and all the phones.

Half an hour later, the bodies had been loaded into the van and Nick stood outside, talking with the men. When he came back in the house Michael was waiting in the kitchen. “So?”

“So, the phones are tapped and the entire house is bugged.”

“But how’s that possible? Surely no one could have gotten in while we were here without us knowing.”

“Looks like they did, unless you want to claim credit.”

Michael rubbed his hands over his face. “You have any ideas?”

“Let’s just say we’re going to have to reevaluate our position and decide if we want to chance staying here or find another place. There is a safe house in the area if we need to use it.”

“I don’t think that’s our decision to make,” Michael said as he got up to get a pitcher of tea out of the refrigerator. “Lyra and Chelsey should have a vote in this.”

Nick nodded and sat down beside him. “Right now I just want to take a shower and relax. I can’t talk to her until then.”

Michael looked up as Nick started out of the room. “Relax? You can relax? Well, man, if you can do that then I wish you’d fill me in on your secret.”

Chapter Ten

Wednesday Morning—Sea Island

Nick was waiting in the kitchen when Lyra came downstairs. The sun was just coming up but he had been sitting there for several hours. She hadn’t given him a chance to talk to her the night before. Chelsey was almost hysterical and Lyra had insisted on staying by her side all night.

She walked past him without a word and fixed herself a cup of coffee then sat down across from him. Nick studied her for a moment in the dim light, thinking that even the first thing in the morning after going through a brush with death she held a unique appeal.

“Did you get any sleep?”

She shook her head and took a sip of coffee. “Not much. Chelsey’s not in very good shape. Having someone stick a gun to her head and threaten to blow her brains out is not something she was prepared for. I think she needs someone besides me to help her right now. I’m just not qualified and to be honest, I’m having a little trouble dealing with all this myself.”

“It’s enough to throw anyone for a loop.”

“Except you.” She faced him. “Why is that, Nick? I mean, I saw you—I watched you and it didn’t scare you at all. In fact, it was as if you completely changed. I’ve never seen anything like it, but I have read about such things. You behaved as if an entirely new personality took control and that personality was not afraid in the least. In fact, the expression on your face was almost one of pleasure.”

He raised his eyebrows at her in surprise. “You think I enjoyed what happened?”

“No, I didn’t say that. But there was an expression on your face I can’t describe. Like you were totally focused on what was going on and like part of you enjoyed the challenge of the fight. It reminded me of the way kickboxers look at one another, or boxers.”

“I was just trying to make sure you were safe.”

“And you had to kill two men to do that? Nick, I know you think I’m some innocent and naive girl, and in many ways, maybe I am. But I’m not stupid or blind and I know that you’re not just some simple struggling magician who did a stint in the Navy. And I think there’s a lot more to your job with the government than you’ve said.”

She stood up, freshened her coffee then his, and sat back down. “I asked Michael, but he wouldn’t say anything. He said I should ask you. So, I’m asking you. Who are you really, Nick, and why are you really here on the island?”

Nick sighed and ran his hands through his hair. “Everything I’ve told you is the truth, Lyra. I’ll admit that there are things I’ve left out, but that’s because I don’t have a choice. I want to be honest with you and I’ll tell you everything I can, but you have to understand that there are things I can’t talk about—to anyone.”

“Then why don’t you tell me what you can talk about? Like what you really do and why you came here?”

“I’m currently in the employ of the United States government in a capacity I am not at liberty to discuss. I came to St. Simons on assignment, again, something I’m not at liberty to discuss.”

Lyra stared at him for a minute with a suspicious look. “And am I part of that assignment, Nick? Is that why you’re here with me?”

“What makes you ask something like that?”

“Call it intuition. You didn’t answer my question.”

“I’m not here with you because of my work. I’m here because I love you, Lyra. As to why I came—it has to do with a job I was doing in 2002in South America. I went there undercover and set myself up with a certain group. I was there for almost a year and some new faces showed up on the scene. Strange things started happening and we got information that the man who was behind it was using some kind of very powerful and very effective drug to enlarge his army. We tried to get our hands on the drug, but could never get to the ringleader. It was as if he was always one step ahead of us. We did manage to take a couple of his men and, from blood work, it was determined that the drug was some type of mind-control substance that had never been seen before. Our scientists couldn’t determine the formula, but our government very much wanted it.”

Lyra stared at him with wide eyes, sitting as still as a statue as he talked. Nick paused to take a drink of coffee then continued. “After three months we got a tip and set up a trap for this mystery man. But somehow things got screwed up and when we got there, the man was dead. At least we thought it was the man we were looking for. One of his own men identified him. But then six months later someone within our organization was killed and upon autopsy it was discovered that he had been treated with the same drug. And this was a man who was never involved in the first operation. That was when we realized the man we had been looking for in South America was not the man we found dead.”

“And your search for this mystery man led you here?”

“That’s about it.”

“But how? I mean why a place like St. Simons?”

Nick reached over and took her hand. “I can’t tell you that. All I can say is that our organization received information that the man we were looking for was here. I don’t know myself who the information came from, but whoever it was it was considered very reliable. So, I was sent to see what I could find.”

Lyra was quiet for a moment. “Exactly what is this organization you keep referring to?”

“Some people like to call it the company.”

“The company?”

“The CIA,” Michael said from the doorway. “To us regular folks, it’s the C, fucking IA.”

Lyra turned to Nick with a shocked expression. “The CIA? The CIA! You dickhead! You’ve been using me all along, haven’t you? Now I get it! Oh, yeah! It’s all too clear! God, how could I have been so stupid? Damn you, Nick!”

She jumped up and ran out of the room. Michael looked at Nick with a grimace. “Guess I stuck my foot in it, huh?”

Nick shook his head. “I don’t get it. What’s she going off about? I told her I loved her and that was the reason I was here.”

“Yeah, well, who’s gonna believe a spook?”

Nick frowned and stood up. “I’ve got to talk to her.”

He went upstairs and found Lyra sitting in the middle of her bed, flipping through the diary. She gave him a hateful look as he walked in. “I don’t remember inviting you in my room so leave.”

“Lyra, will you just listen to me for a minute?”

“What? Listen to you lie to me some more? Just stop it, okay? I’ve got the picture. You came here looking for the guy who has this drug and it just so happens that some age-old body thief is here, who just so conveniently happens to use some kind of drug to control his followers—and who for some reason has chosen me as his sacrificial lamb. It all fits so neat.”

“Lyra, I swear to you on my honor—on my soul—that I love you with all my heart and I have never used you,” he said seriously. “I did come here to find the man who controls the drug but I had no idea you even existed and I fell in love with you the first time I saw you.”

Lyra hugged the diary to her chest and looked at him with tear-filled eyes. “Then if you didn’t plan all this, who did?”

“I don’t know. But I am going to find out. You do believe me, don’t you?”

She stared into his eyes for a long time. “I want to, but to be honest, you scare me.”

“Sometimes I scare myself,” he said as he sat down and faced her. “But right how I want to find out more from this diary.”

“No.”

“What do you mean no?”

“You heard me. No. I’ told you that I’m not letting anyone else read it. So go away and I’ll let you know what I find out.”

“Lyra.”

“I mean it, Nick.”

“Fine. I’ll be downstairs.”

She waited until he left then got up to get the diary from it’s hiding place. Getting comfortable on the bed, she opened it to read..

I feel sure that you have many questions. I can picture you in my mind with that serious expression on your face and your golden eyes dark with concentration. You want to know how I come to know about Adoul. It is time you found out.

When I was twenty-one years old, I took a trip to Europe. Not in an airplane, but by steamer ship. The year was 1949. Three weeks out at sea we were hit by a terrible storm. Many people were injured and several died. I myself suffered a blow to the head and was unconscious for several days.

I remember waking up and finding myself in a strange cabin. The room was lit only by the glow of a glass hurricane lamp. I tried to sit up but the act of moving made the room swim in and out of focus and so I thought better of it. The ship’s doctor came in and seemed surprised to find me awake. He said I had been unconscious for three days and was not sure I would come around at all. He checked me and then left to have someone bring me some broth and fresh water.

I closed my eyes and heard a soft voice from beside the bed. Turning to see who had come into the room so quietly, I was met by a vision of a ghostly form. Nebulous and of no apparent shape, it swam with soft colors, as if it were some force of nature, like the aurora borealis. Thinking that I must be hallucinating due to the head injury, I closed my eyes again. The voice called to me once more and I opened my eyes. As I did, the shape moved above me, descending slowly, closer, and closer. It touched me and I was filled with warmth like a spring morning after a cold hard winter. My entire body felt as if it were glowing.

Then we merged, becoming one mind, one body. Suddenly I knew. I was no longer merely Lucius. I was also Akmal. For it was his spirit that had joined mine. It was then that I received the information I have shared with you.

After Akmal died in 1094, he was granted his wish—in a roundabout manner. Each time Adoul would steal another life, another body, Akmal would return to merge with someone and together they would take up the fight against Adoul. Unfortunately, he had been unsuccessful in each attempt to destroy Adoul. When he merged with me, I brought a new way of thinking to him. I saw things in what is and what might be—the art of illusion and sleight of hand. Akmal and I devised a way to fight Adoul that had not been tried before. I spent my whole life preparing for that battle. Now the time is almost at hand. Soon it will be decided once and for all time.

“Lyra?” She heard Michael’s voice outside her door.

“Come on in.”

He opened the door. “ I think we need to get Chelsey to a hospital. She doesn’t look too good and I’m afraid she’s in shock.”

Nick walked up behind him. “What was that?”

“We need to get Chelsey to a hospital.:

“Let me call and get someone to check her out.”

“Okay, but do it now, will you? I’m really worried about her.”

Nick pulled out his cell phone and Michael followed him down the hall.

Lyra took the diary and walked into the bathroom. There was a secret compartment in the floor. She had found it one morning when she dropped her hair clamp and had knelt down to reach between the cabinet and the old claw footed tub. She’d bumped her hand against the baseboard beside the tub and it had fallen open.

At first, she thought it was just a loose board but after closer examination, she realized it was a hiding place. It was lined with waterproofing material so it would stay dry and there was an old photograph in it. It was of LuciusLuciusLuciusLuciusLuciusLucius, taken when he was on stage. Behind him was a shapely woman who was wearing an elaborate, feathered mask. Lyra had put the photo in the desk.

Now she put the diary in the hiding place, and then walked down the hall to see Chelsey while Nick was on the phone. Wonder what he meant about changing his tactics?

That question and many others were forgotten as she walked in and saw Chelsey. She was lying propped up on a mound of pillows and her eyes appeared unfocused and directed at a point on the ceiling. Her face was so pale she looked like an alabaster statue and she was so still she almost looked dead.

Lyra ran over to the bed and sat down, talking Chelsey’s hand. “Chels? It’s Lyra. Can you hear me? Come on, Chels, talk to me, please. You have to focus now, Chelsey. Listen to me and try to concentrate. I need you to talk to me. I want you to look at me. Do you hear me? Look at me, Chelsey!”

Chelsey didn’t move and Lyra looked at Michael who stood beside the bed. He shook his head and sat down. Nick came in the room and they both looked at him. “Someone will be here within the hour.”

Michael nodded. “You know, Nick, this is starting to get a little too personal for my taste. I think we should get serious about finding this bastard and nailing his ass to the wall.”

Friday

Lyra walked down the stairs carrying the breakfast tray. Michael and Nick turned to look at her as she walked in the kitchen. She shook her head and put the tray on the counter. “She barely touched anything. I think those pills that doctor gave her are doing her more harm than good. She just lies there like a zombie.”

“Sit down.” Michael pulled out a chair for her at the table. “You need to eat, too, you know. You’ve been waiting on Chelsey hand and foot for the last two days and you’re wearing yourself out. You have to get some rest or you won’t do her or anyone else any good. Now sit down.”

Lyra sighed and took the offered seat. “In case you’ve forgotten, Chelsey wouldn’t be lying up there like a vegetable if it weren’t for me! I’m the reason she’s so…so…”

Michael put his hands on the tops of her shoulders. “Lyra, it’s not your fault. What’s it gonna take to convince you of that? You didn’t ask to be this lunatic’s next victim so you’ve got to quit blaming yourself.”