Killer Dreams (6 page)

But she wouldn’t be alone.

Royd would be going after Sanborne whether she did or not. She was the one being railroaded into doing what Royd wanted. No, that wasn’t true. Perhaps he was going to try to force her and use her, as he’d told her, but there would be no guilt about her using him.

She couldn’t rest any longer. She was too wired. She got out of bed and moved toward the bathroom. Fifteen minutes later she was dressed and heading to the kitchen.

She stopped short as she reached the door.

That manipulative son of a bitch. Damn him to hell.

On the counter, beside the coffeepot, where Royd had known she’d see them, were the two nooses Jock had thrown in the wastebasket.

“Okay, you’re not needed there any longer,” MacDuff said. “Come home, Jock.”

“Sanborne’s stirring. He tried to kill her.”

“And Royd stopped him. You told me that Royd had guaranteed her safety. Don’t you trust him?”

“I trust the man I met a year ago. I think I trust the man he is now but I’m not the one whose life is going to be on the line. Will you call Venable with the CIA and see if you can get a recent report on him?”

“He doesn’t work in South America. And he’s been promoted since he helped get rid of Reilly. He may not want to risk his job by revealing classified information.”

“Persuade him. He has to have contacts in Colombia. I need to know.”

“And if the report is good, you’ll come home?”

Jock was silent a moment. “For a while. I’ll have to see how it goes.”

MacDuff muttered a curse. “Jock, it’s not—” He stopped. “I’ll call you right back.” He hung up.

Jock pressed the disconnect and rose to his feet. He’d take a shower and get back to Sophie’s house. Royd had said that he’d told her to stay home and keep Michael with her but Royd didn’t know Sophie. She’d do what she thought best regardless of any orders from Royd.

With any luck MacDuff would have the information he needed shortly. When the Laird focused on any objective, it was with decisiveness and ruthless efficiency. He wanted Jock home and he’d do anything he could to ensure that goal.

And Jock knew that if he didn’t get his way, MacDuff would probably be on a plane to Washington. Jesus, Jock didn’t want him involved in this mess. MacDuff had already saved his neck and sanity, and just the knowledge that the Laird was there in the background kept Jock steady these days. But his dependence on his friend had to stop sometime.

His phone rang.

“She just got in her car with the kid,” Royd said. “Where the hell is she going?”

“Did she have any luggage?”

“No.”

“Then she’s taking Michael to school. She’ll probably stay outside and make sure he’s okay.”

“I told her to keep him home, dammit.”

“Are you following her?”

“Of course I am.”

“If you lose her, Michael goes to Thomas Jefferson Middle School. And I wouldn’t attempt to confront her in your present mood. Not if you want to get any cooperation from her. You must have done something to upset her. Did you?”

“Maybe. I took a calculated risk. It could have either frightened her into coming into my camp or made her defiant.”

“It seems you lost.”

“She may have been the one who’s lost. Boch and Sanborne must know by now that Caprio didn’t complete his mission. They’ll send someone else.”

“But they’ll scout around and make sure it’s safe.”

“She’s not safe in that house. She may not be safe anywhere in the city. Convince her.”

Jock paused. “But she’ll be safe with you?”

“I promised her. I keep my promises, Jock. Talk to her.”

“I’ll think about it.”

Royd was silent a moment. “I’m not like you. I won’t be kind to her or forgiving if she screws up. I’ll manipulate and use her to get what I want. But in the end REM-4 will be dead as a doornail and she’ll be alive. Isn’t that what we both want?”

“And the end justifies the means?”

“Hell, yes. Don’t pretend that you don’t feel the same way.”

“I try not to. That’s part of the training we both went through at Garwood. I don’t want to give those bastards anything.”

“But it’s not working, is it?”

No, it wasn’t entirely working, Jock thought wearily. That mind-twisting they had gone through had been aimed at appealing to the most savage of instincts that drove man. “Sometimes.”

“Yeah, sometimes. But not when it concerns Boch and Sanborne.” He paused. “I’m driving through a school zone.”

“What street?”

“Sycamore.”

“Like I said, she’s taking him to school. She’ll park and watch the school. She won’t risk him. Do you want me to take over surveillance?”

Silence. “Yes, I have to contact Kelly and make plans. I’ll call you when I can take my turn.”

“I’ll be there in thirty minutes.”

Blast Jock.

MacDuff stood up and went to the window of his study to look down at the sea crashing against the cliff. He didn’t need this problem Jock had dumped in his lap. Why couldn’t the boy just do what he said and come home?

Because Jock wasn’t a boy any longer and he did what he wanted, not what MacDuff ordered these days. In some ways it had been easier when Jock was that sick robot he’d been when he’d found him all those months ago.

Easier, not better. Jock was gradually coming around to be the man he might have become if he’d not been victimized by Thomas Reilly. No, that wasn’t true. His experiences had changed him and he’d never be the lively, cheerful boy who had run in and out of the castle all through his childhood. But he had a chance to come out of the darkness into the light, and by damn, MacDuff would see that he did it.

Okay, get him home. Involve him in the search and make him forget about Sophie Dunston and her problems. God knows, Jock had problems enough of his own.

He reached for his phone and dialed Venable. “MacDuff. I have a favor to ask.”

“Again? I did you a big favor when I let you take jurisdiction over Jock. I’m not about to put my ass on the line a second time.”

“It’s no big deal. I just need some information.”

Venable was silent a moment. “I told you I couldn’t do anything about Sanborne. He has too much clout. No one can make a move on him without a truckful of proof. I assigned someone to check on Garwood and there was absolutely no connection with Sanborne. It was a plastic factory that failed after only a year in business. The CIA’s position on Sophie Dunston is that she’s a wacko and out to get revenge on the company that fired her.”

“Jock believes her.”

“And do you think that the Company would think him any more stable? For God’s sake, he was in a mental hospital too. And he tried to commit suicide three times.”

Better to get away from Jock’s past, MacDuff thought. Venable hadn’t wanted to trust him with Jock’s custody and didn’t need any reminders of how volatile Jock had been. “I’m not asking you to go after Sanborne.”

“Good, because it’s not going to happen.”

“I want you to run a check on a man who works with one of your operatives in Colombia. I need it right away. A few hours max.”

“Tough. I’m a busy man.”

“I know. But it will help me bring Jock under my wing here. You’ve never approved of him running around on his own.”

“You’ve got that right,” Venable said sourly. He sighed. “Okay, give me the damn name.”

“Hi, Sophie.”

She stiffened and then relaxed as she saw Jock walking toward her car.

He held up a McDonald’s bag. “I brought you a cheeseburger and fries. I’d bet you haven’t had any breakfast and I thought you might need some fuel. You’ve been sitting there for four hours.”

“How do you know?” She unlocked the passenger door, took the cheeseburger, and unwrapped it. “Did you follow me?”

“No, Royd followed you. He turned you over to me. He said he had things to do but I think he wanted me to smooth over ruffled feathers. He said he made a calculated move and it could have backfired.”

“Bastard.” She bit into the cheeseburger. “Christ, he’s an iceberg.”

“Not really. Actually, the opposite is probably closer to the truth. He’s on fire. French fry?”

She took one. “You’re defending him?”

“No, I’m explaining him. I wouldn’t waste my breath if I didn’t believe you may have to understand Royd.”

“Why?”

“I think you know. You’re angry but you already realize that Royd could help you.”

“And I’m supposed to trust him?”

He nodded. “MacDuff thinks you can.”

“What?”

“I asked him to check on Royd’s current operations in Colombia.”

“And?”

“A friend in the CIA contacted Ralph Soldono, the operative who deals with Royd in Colombia. Soldono is very impressed with Royd. He thinks he’s some kind of military superman. He goes in either by himself or with a few of his men and he does the job.”

“What kind of job?”

“Everything from rescuing kidnapped executives held by the rebels to eliminating a particularly vicious band of bandits. He’s fast, smart, and he doesn’t quit.”

She remembered the air of confidence that surrounded Royd. “I could guess all that.”

“Soldono also said that he’d never taken on a job and then backed out, no matter how tough or dirty it became.” He paused. “And that he kept his word. That’s what you really want to know, isn’t it?”

“Yes, that’s what I want to know.” Her hands clenched on the burger. “He promised me he’d keep Michael alive and that REM-4 would be destroyed. Should I believe him?”

He smiled. “I know better than to interfere with your decisions. I can only give you the best information I have and leave it to your judgment. He’s evidently fairly incredible and Soldono finds him reliable. That being said, he’s not subtle or polite and he’ll probably risk your life. You’ve got to decide whether he’ll be able to keep you alive and make the risk worth your while. And he’ll probably rub you the wrong way a dozen times a day.”

Her lips tightened as she remembered the two nooses on the counter. “Oh, yes.”

Jock was studying her expression. “But you’re leaning in his direction.”

“You know I’ve wanted to get into the facility and destroy all the REM-4 records. I just couldn’t get in to do it. Royd has a man on the inside at the facility and he knows more than I do. Probably a lot more. He says he’s going to use me. Let him try.” She tossed the rest of the sandwich into the bag. “I might end up using him.” She looked at him. “But I want you out of this, Jock. Go home.”

“I keep hearing that.” He made a face. “And if I like Royd’s plan of attack I may go back to MacDuff’s Run for a while. I’ll have to see. Have you told Michael anything?”

“No, I woke him up late and used that as an excuse to drive him to school.”

“That can’t go on. He’ll—”

“I know that,” she interrupted. “But I’m not going to tell him anything until I have to do it. I have enough trouble keeping him calm. I don’t want to give him any more reason for bad dreams.”

He nodded. “Just be prepared.” He opened the car door. “I’ll go back to my own car. I have some phone calls to make. I’ll stay here and pick up Michael when he gets out of school, if you like.”

She shook her head. “He has soccer practice again. I’ll take him by Chuck E. Cheese’s before I bring him home.”

“Do you want company?”

“No, I’ve cleared my schedule for today and I have some thinking to do.”

“I’ll still stick around for a while. And either Royd or I will be shadowing you for the rest of the day. Call me if you change your mind.”

She watched him walk away. She’d much rather Jock stick around than Royd, and she wished she could change her mind. But Royd was driven and Jock needed to go home. It was much better she deal with that damn bastard until she could see her way clear.

6

W
hat’s going on, Mom?” Michael wasn’t looking at her, his gaze fixed out the car window. “What’s wrong?”

Her hands tightened on the steering wheel. Michael had been very quiet during dinner and she’d half expected this question. “What do you mean?”

“You’re worried. At first, I thought it was about me, but it’s more. Isn’t it?”

She should have known Michael would sense her inner disturbance. After all he’d gone through, his awareness had been honed to razor sharpness. Sometimes she wondered how he managed to be as normal as he was. “It’s nothing for you to worry about. It’s work stuff.”

His gaze swung to her face. “Honest?”

She hesitated. She wanted to protect him, but was protecting him from the truth best? The situation was becoming ugly and there might come a time when he might be faced with that ugliness. “Yes, it’s nothing for you to worry about right now. And no, it’s not about work.”

He was silent a moment. “Grandpa?”

She bit her lip. It was the first time he’d mentioned his grandfather since that day on the pier. “Partly. I may have to send you away to your father for a while.”

He shook his head. “He won’t want me.”

“He
will
want you. He loves you.”

“He acts funny around me. I think he’s glad when I go home.”

“Maybe he thinks you don’t want to be with him. You should talk.”

He shook his head again. “He won’t want me. And I wouldn’t go anyway. If you’re in trouble, I’m going to stay with you.”

So much for honesty. She drew a deep, frustrated breath. “We’ll talk about it when we get home. I’m not really in trouble and there’s nothing—”

“Look at those trucks.” Michael was rolling down the window. “What’s happening?”

Three blue and white trucks with Baltimore Light and Gas emblazoned on the sides were parked at the side of the street with lights flashing. Her own headlights illuminated the figure of a policeman in the middle of the street talking to the motorist in the sedan in front of her.

She slowed down and then stopped. “I don’t know. We’ll have to see.” The policeman was waving the motorist to go on and was walking toward her. “What’s the problem, Officer?”

“Gas leak. Do you live in this block?”

“No, four blocks down.” She glanced at the gray-uniformed utility employees who were going from house to house. “Are they evacuating?”

“Nah, they’re just checking out the houses for leaks and they want us to keep anyone from entering until they finish.” He smiled. “They’ve only found two minor ones so far. But we have to be careful. We’re advising everyone on the street to not turn on any power sources until we give the okay.”

“I’m on High Tower Street. Does that go for us?”

He checked his clipboard. “No reports of leaks past Northrup. You should be okay. Might be a good idea to take a few extra precautions.” He waved her ahead. “Call the gas company if you have any questions.”

“Don’t worry, I will.”

“Will we be able to smell the gas if we’ve got a leak?” Michael asked as she drove past the roadblock.

“I’m sure we can. They put in scent as a safety measure so that we can detect it. That’s how people can tell to call the gas company.” There were no utility trucks in the next block, or in the next one. Her own block was equally quiet. “I think we’ll call the gas company anyway.” She pulled into the driveway and pressed the garage opener. “In fact, we probably should do it before we go into—”

“Stop.” Royd was at her window. “Now!”

She instinctively hit the brakes.

“Get out! Both of you.”

His tone was so urgent she didn’t hesitate. She opened the door. “Michael, get out.”

“Mom, what…” But he was scrambling out of the car as he spoke.

“Good.” Royd was getting into the driver’s seat. “Now take him to my car, the tan Toyota parked on the street. The keys are in the ignition. Get him out of here. I’ll call you when it’s safe to come back.”

She hesitated.

“Get the hell out of here.”

She grabbed Michael and ran toward the Toyota.

A moment later they were halfway down the block.

“Mom, who was—”

“Hush.” Her gaze was on the rearview mirror. What the devil…Her van was rolling toward the open garage. As she watched, the van suddenly lurched forward.

Royd jumped from the vehicle and rolled over and over on the front lawn as the van entered the garage.

What on earth?

Michael was peering over his shoulder. “What’s he doing? Why did he tell us—”

The house exploded!

The windows of the Toyota rattled with the force of the blast.

Flames.

Wood, doors, and glass were shattered all over the lawn.

Royd!

Where was Royd?

The last she had seen of him, he was on the lawn, but black smoke was curling out of the wreck of the house and the grass was covered with burning beams.

Her phone rang.

“Go around the corner and drive to the end of the street,” Royd said. “Don’t stop until then. I’ll meet you.”

“What happened? What did you do?”

He was gone.

She dropped the phone and made the turn at the end of the block. She caught a glimpse of people running out of their houses and up the street toward the inferno that had been her home.

Her home. Michael’s home.

She looked down at him. His face was pale and his hands were clenched on his book bag. “Hold on, Michael. We’re safe.”

He shook his head as he turned around to stare straight ahead. He was probably in shock.

Who could blame him? She was in shock too.

Royd was standing on the corner. She pulled over to the curb.

He jumped into the backseat. “Drive. Get out of here. I don’t want you seen.”

She could hear the wail of a siren as she pressed the accelerator. “Why not?”

“Later. Get out of the subdivision and turn left at the cross-street.” He flipped open his phone and dialed a number. “All hell’s broken loose, Jock. Meet us at the La Quinta Inn on Highway Forty.” He hung up. “Pull over and you and the boy get in the backseat. I’ll drive.”

“Stop ordering me around, Royd.” She tried to steady her voice. “All I need from you are answers.”

“That may not be all the boy needs,” he said quietly. “And I can’t help him right now.”

He was right. Michael had just seen his home blown to bits and she had already decided he was dazed and in shock. He did need her. She pulled to the curb. “Come on, Michael. We need to get in the backseat.”

He didn’t argue, but his movements were stiff and uncoordinated as he obeyed her.

“It’s okay, Michael.” That was a lie. “No, it’s not okay.” She slipped her arm around his shoulders. “It’s terrible, but we’ll find a way to make it okay.”

He didn’t look at her. His gaze was fixed on Royd as he got into the driver’s seat. “Who is he?”

“His name is Matt Royd.”

“He blew up our house.”

“No, he didn’t. He doesn’t want to hurt us.”

“Then why did—”

“I’ll explain when I know myself. Can you wait until we get to this motel and we have a chance to find out? Jock is going to meet us there.”

He nodded slowly.

“Good.” She leaned back and drew him closer. “I won’t let anything hurt you, Michael.”

He lifted his head to stare into her eyes. “What kind of schmuck do you think I am? I’m not scared something will happen to me. It’s you, Mom.”

Her arm tightened. “Sorry.” She cleared her throat. “Well, I won’t let anything happen to me either.” She lifted her gaze to meet Royd’s in the rearview mirror. “Get us to that motel, Royd. My son and I want answers.”

“Wait here.” Royd jumped out of the car and strode toward the motel office. Five minutes later he came out and got into the car. “Room Fifty-two. First floor. It’s at the end of the building. No one’s occupying the rooms on either side of you. I paid to keep it that way.”

He parked the car in the parking spot in front of the room and handed her the key. “Lock the door behind you. Go in and get the boy settled. I’ll wait for Jock.”

“I’m not ‘the boy,’” Michael said. “My name is Michael Edmunds.”

Royd nodded. “I apologize. I’m Matt Royd.” He held out his hand. “Things are a little confused right now but that’s no reason for me to treat you as if you weren’t present. Will you take your mother into the room and get her a glass of water? She looks a bit shaken.”

Michael gazed at Royd’s outstretched hand and then slowly reached out and shook it. “It’s no wonder,” he said gruffly. “But she’ll be okay. She’s tough.”

“I can tell.” Royd’s gaze shifted to Sophie. “And I think your Michael’s pretty tough too. It would be a good idea to be upfront with him.”

She got out of the car. “I don’t need advice on how to communicate with my son. Come on, Michael.”

“Wait.” Michael was staring at Royd. “If you didn’t blow up our house, then it was someone else. Right? It wasn’t an accident?”

Royd didn’t hesitate. “Right. It wasn’t an accident. It was just someone trying to make it look like an accident.”

“That’s enough,” Sophie said.

Royd shrugged. “This seems to be my time for making blunders.”

“It will be a big blunder if you don’t come in soon and tell me exactly what’s happening.” She glanced at Michael. “I mean, tell us.”

He smiled faintly. “I thought that was what you meant. I’ll be in as soon as Jock gets here.”

“You’d better.” She strode to the door and unlocked it. “I’m tired of being put off, Royd.”

“He said to lock the door,” Michael said as she slammed the door behind them.

She turned the dead bolt. “I was going to do it.”

“You’re mad at him.” Michael was studying her face. “Why?”

“He rubs me the wrong way.”

“Didn’t he sort of save us?”

“Yes. Sort of.”

“But you don’t like him.”

“I don’t know him well. But he’s one of those people who run over you if you don’t get out of their way.”

“I didn’t like him much either at first but maybe he’s not so bad.”

“What?”

“Oh, not like Jock,” Michael said quickly. “But he kind of makes me feel safe. Like Schwarzenegger in the
Terminator
movie I saw at Dad’s.”

Trust Dave to show Michael movies on the taboo list for him. “Royd’s not some futuristic Terminator.” It was odd that he’d picked up on the lethal violence inherent in Royd, but perhaps it wasn’t a bad thing that anything or anyone could give him a sense of security at this time. “But you can feel safe with him. He used to be a SEAL and he knows what he’s doing.”

“A SEAL?”

She could see that had impressed him. Maybe too much. “Sit down and try to rest. We’ve had quite an evening.”

Michael shook his head. “You sit down.” He went toward the bathroom. “Mr. Royd said you should have some water.”

“Mr. Royd is an—” She stopped. Keeping Michael busy and in a protective mode was healthy. It would stop him from thinking of the past few hours. She dropped down in the occasional chair by the bed. “Thanks. That would be good.”

He handed her the glass of water and sat down on the bed. “You’re welcome.” His expression was grave. “And Mr. Royd was right. I need to know what’s going on so I can help, Mom.”

Jesus, he didn’t sound like a child at all.

But that didn’t mean she should burden him with this horror.

But the horror had come knocking on his door again. If she didn’t tell him at least part of the story, she risked him withdrawing even farther into night terrors. The unknown was usually worse than facing reality. It was a toss-up what would be best for him.

“Mom.” His face was strained and his eyes were pleading. “Don’t close me out. I have to help you.”

“Michael…” She reached out to touch his cheek. Lord, she loved him. What was she supposed to tell him? That his mother had been prepared to kill a man? That last night a man had been trying to kill them both only yards from where he slept? Okay, skip that part of the story and just give him the background. That was bad enough. “Years ago I was very worried about your grandfather. You probably don’t remember, but he had terrible dreams. Sort of like you. And he didn’t sleep much. I wanted very much to help him. So I started working on…”

“It was that man, Sanborne, who blew up our house?” Michael said.

Sophie nodded. “Probably. At least he gave the order.”

“Because he wanted to kill you. He hates you?”

“I don’t think he even hates me. I’m in his way. He just wants to wipe out everyone who knows about REM-4.”

“Well, I hate him.” Michael’s eyes were blazing. “I want to kill him.”

“Michael, I understand. But I have to shoulder some of the blame. It’s not—”

“He hurt Grandpa and Grandma and all those people. He hurt you.” He threw himself into her arms. “It’s not your fault. It’s not your fault. He did it. He did it all.”

She could feel his tears against her cheek as she held him close. “He’ll be punished, Michael. As I told you, it’s just difficult to find a way to do it.”

“Why? The good guys are supposed to help. The good guys are supposed to win.”

“We will win.” She pushed him away to look down into his face. “I promise you, Michael.” She had to make him believe. “We
will
win.”

“He blew up our house,” he said fiercely. “Why don’t we go blow up his?”

Good heavens. “An eye for an eye?”

“I bet Mr. Royd would do it. Why don’t we ask him?”

“We have a lot of questions to ask him. I don’t believe that should be one of them.” She kissed his forehead. Time to get back to normal, everyday things if he was going to have a chance for an undisturbed night. “Now go wash your face. Neither of us ate much for dinner. I’ll call Domino’s for some pizza.”

“I’m not hungry.” He frowned. “But you should eat. Go ahead.”

“Thank you. I imagine you’ll be able to choke down a few bites. I’ll just step outside and ask Royd if he wants to join us.” She headed for the door. “And Jock should be here soon. He likes pepperoni, doesn’t he?”

“With mushrooms.” Michael was heading for the bathroom. “I’ll be right back.”

Michael was reacting more normally than she had hoped, she realized with relief as she opened the door. She had thought fear would be the primary response, but she had underestimated him. It had been shock and then anger and protectiveness that had dominated.