Secrets of the Dead (33 page)

He made his way toward the corner the Brit had indicated. His progress was slowed by the crowd. Apparently there would be no chairs arranged in rows for the sale. Most of the people held an electronic tablet. Online bidding system, he deduced grimly. Which would make it extremely difficult to discover the identity of the buyers.

His cell vibrated in his hand. The text was from Kell.
I have a tablet. Just put in a pre-bid on Eve. Finn did the same on Royce.

Ruthlessly Declan shoved through the people. He had to stay back to avoid Malsovic seeing him, but nothing would prevent him from getting a glimpse of Eve. The British man’s words played on an endless recording in his mind.
…got quite a beating from her owner…
First they’d get the two away to safety. Then Malsovic would pay for every minute of suffering he’d inflicted on Royce Raiker and Eve.

He hung back when he got close to the corner in question. Craning his neck, he could see Eve, head held high, sporting a red mark on her cheekbone that showed promise of blooming into a vicious bruise. So she had been the blonde the British man had mentioned. Malsovic had her restrained. A rope. No. He shifted position so he could see more clearly. A leash. His chest went tight with anger. But there was a small body next to her huddled in a dog cage. And he knew that her efforts had been in vain. Royce had been recaptured.

The vibration in his hand signaled another text.
Bidding closed on Eve. Bastard isn’t waiting for auction.

He texted Kell back.
I’m ready.

Turning, he moved toward one of the double doors leading to the hallway. There was only one elevator that went to the ballroom, located in an isolated hall on the lobby level. There must be a stairway exit somewhere, but Declan was betting the buyer would elect for the privacy the elevator would ensure.

A man’s amplified voice boomed out from behind him. “Good afternoon to all of our guests. I trust you find today’s offerings intriguing.” The greeting was repeated in several other languages, each time to appreciative applause from the crowd. “Please get your tablets ready. The first item is up for bid.”

Declan stopped listening. Because Eve was being led from the ballroom through another set of doors by a hulk of a man. Bearded. Not particularly tall, but wide. His suit strained across his massive shoulders as he tugged her toward the elevator. With a purposeful stride he went out the doors closest to him, headed in the same direction, several yards ahead of them. There was only one button to press, for lobby floor. He reached out a finger to stab at it.

He didn’t look at the couple who stopped a little behind him. Not until the elevator doors opened and he stepped in. The man followed, positioning Eve on his other side. Which suited Declan perfectly. He reached forward and pressed the button to begin the descent. They had twelve floors to reach the lobby.

“When I rush him, stop the elevator,” he said in Scottish Gaelic, smiling at the man as if the words were addressed to him. Eve’s captor just frowned and didn’t answer. Crouching to the floor, Declan did a deft sleight of hand and picked up the pen he’d just laid there. Rising, he offered it to her captor. “Is this yours?”

He wouldn’t understand the language any better this time around, but his meaning was clear. The man’s gaze dropped to the outstretched pen. Even as he shook his head Declan closed in to knee him violently in the balls.

The man let out a high-pitched keening moan. His grip on the leash slackened. Eve surged forward and pressed the button that would stop the elevator. Then the man’s hands came up, and with a roar he wrapped them around Declan’s throat. Took him down.

Declan was outweighed by a hundred pounds, give or take. So he had to be sneaky. Fast. And he had no qualms about fighting dirty. He brought the pen up, narrowly dodging the hamlike fist that grazed his cheek and jammed it into the man’s neck. Blood spurted from the wound. But it didn’t stop him from wrapping his hands around Declan’s throat. Squeezing.

He jabbed repetitively at the hands choking him with the pen. But his vision was graying. His strength ebbing. His motions grew weaker. Then the man above him screamed. Rolled to the side. Howled again.

It took a moment to realize what was going on. Declan rose. Eve had taken off a stiletto and was grinding its sharp heel into her buyer’s temple. The man reached up to capture her wrist. And Declan took the opportunity to raise his foot and stomp violently on the man’s balls again. And this time the man cried out and curled to a fetal position, the fight streaming out of him.

Eve released a long shuddering breath as she reached for the elevator button again. “Going down?”

“I think that would be wise.” As he kept a careful eye on the man on the floor, she started the elevator. Declan reached out to take her hand. Tug her forward. And had time for one frustratingly short kiss before he glanced at the man stirring on the floor. With a quick move he gave the guy a kick where he had to already be throbbing. And didn’t much mind the misery-filled moan that filled the space.

Slipping out of his suit jacket, he wrapped it around Eve’s shoulders. “Royce.” Her voice was worried. “He’s still up there and Malsovic bragged that there was a lot of interest. We have to get back before he’s sold.”

Rewrapping an arm around her waist, he hugged her close. The relief that came from touching her nearly made him weak. “Kell and Finn are up there. Inside the ballroom.” Which reminded him that he needed to send a message that Eve was safe. “We’ve got a plan.” Much like the one that had just been enacted. “But first we have to get you somewhere safe.”

“No, I can…”

He shot her a look, and she subsided. “You’re right. Give me money for a cab, and go do what needs to be done. The only thing that matters now is Royce.”

His arm squeezed her tighter. “You matter, Evie. You matter plenty. When this is over we’re going to talk about that.” And because she did matter—too damn much—he wanted her somewhere safe before the final scene with Malsovic went down.

When the elevator doors opened, they left the man lying inside the car and swiftly headed toward the nearest exit. Declan summoned a cab and gave her a short rundown on what she’d find in the hotel room when she got there. “We’ve already texted the girl’s mother her location. Huan is still upstairs, but she may arrive for her daughter before we get there.”

“Yes, I’m acquainted with Huan, although I didn’t know she had a daughter.” A taxi rolled slowly up to where they stood. “She provided the tub of water for Malsovic to try his hand at waterboarding.”

His organs went to ice. His hand rose to cup her face. “He…tortured you?” Ever dark fear he’d had while they searched for her congealed in his chest. Searching her gaze, he asked, “What else did he do to you?” Cold deadly fury spread through him.

“Nothing.” Her hand came up to cover his reassuringly. “We were never alone. And I want you to promise to be careful when you return to the ballroom. I didn’t come through this to lose you now. Don’t let your hatred of him blind you to the fact that he’s still dangerous.”

He reached in back of her to open the cab door and then pulled out some bills so she could pay the driver. Once she was seated inside he leaned down for a lingering kiss. “Don’t worry about me.” He straightened, his smile grim. “I’m dangerous, too.”

_______

“The payment is
complete.” Finn Carstens didn’t give Royce much more than a glance. The boy would recognize him, and hopefully not be too traumatized to play along on the final act. He pretended to peruse the documentation Malsovic had on Royce’s parentage with a critical eye. Finally he collected it into a pile and looked up at the man. “Everything seems to be in order.”

“I wish you luck with your future transactions.” Malsovic’s voice was heavy with meaning.

Finn offered him a small smile. “I have been waiting a long time for such an opportunity. The boy is quite a prize. It’s too bad Trettin takes such a large percentage from each transaction for himself.” He could tell by the man’s grimace that he’d struck a nerve. He looked around, lowered his voice. “I think perhaps you and I could do further business together, but there is no need to discuss it here. Too many ears. But I have a small job I need done, and I would pay well. No transaction fees.”

Shrugging, Malsovic said, “It never hurts to discuss business.”

“My philosophy exactly.” He drew out his phone to text Kell. “I’ll have my associate come to take care of the boy. Valuable merchandise requires close monitoring.”

Malsovic stared at Royce. “He is a troublemaker, that one. He will take supervision.”

Finn shrugged. “I won’t have him long.” When Kell approached he said, “You may take him out of the cage, but do not let go of him. If he escapes your life will be worth nothing.” Malsovic handed Kell the key and the man bent to unlock the door of the cage, grabbing Royce by the arm and drawing him out. Finn gave him the receipt he’d received to prove he’d made payment and the documentation on the boy.

“I’ll guard him with my life.” Kell led the boy toward the door.

Finn watched them go then turned to Malsovic again. “Let’s step outside the ballroom and find a quiet corner.” He was somewhat surprised when the other man followed him but probably shouldn’t have been. Every person there had been searched for weapons. Armed guards dotted each of the doorways. Malsovic probably thought he was safer here than he’d be anywhere else.

They walked across the plush lobby outside the ballroom, with its scattered couches and chairs grouped for intimate conversation. Finn pretended to look around, and be unhappy with the smattering of people there. “Follow me. Our business is too sensitive to discuss out here.” He led the man toward the men’s restroom in the far corner. Ushered him inside.

There was a sitting area outside the restroom itself. The place appeared to be deserted. Finn turned to the other man. “There is someone I want you to meet.”

“I meet no one without hearing of your needs. And payment must be made first.”

Declan appeared from around a corner. “I agree. Payment definitely needs to be made. By you.”

Finn moved to block the door should Malsovic decide to flee. But the man showed no fear. “Gallagher. It is a pity I missed you with the rifle.” The two men circled each other warily. “Not a pity that your wife was unharmed, however. She earned me fifty thousand dollars tonight and is already on her way to an Indonesian brothel.” He bared his teeth. “She will spend her life cursing you for not rescuing her.”

A quick feint had Malsovic dodging. Declan followed up with a wicked cross jab that rocked the man’s head back. “She is safe in my hotel room, and have you checked your overseas account lately?” The other man wiggled his jaw and spat blood at Declan’s feet. “The money bid for her came from the money you stole from me.”

His face suffused with fury, Malsovic charged, head butting Declan in the gut and taking him down. Finn settled against the door, arms folded across his chest to watch the show. Malsovic had a thumb gouging Declan’s eye, which was dislodged a moment later when Declan kneed the man in the balls, before plowing his fist into the man’s face. Malsovic wrapped his hands around his throat. Squeezed. Bucking beneath him, he dislodged Declan and the two men rolled, a tangle of limbs and flying fists. Malsovic grasped Declan’s head in his hands and rapped it hard against the floor. Declan’s hand came up to lock around one of the man’s wrists and gave it a quick vicious twist. The sickening crack had Malsovic screaming in pain.

“That,” Declan said as he brought his head up to crack it against the other man’s, “was for Royce Raiker.” Giving a might heave, he unseated him and rolled quickly on top of him. “This,” he drew his fist back, “is for what you did to Eve.” Blood sprayed when his blow landed. Followed with a second. And then a third. Malsovic’s movements were growing weaker. And the rage in Declan’s face showed no signs of dissipating.

“Gallagher.” Finn’s voice was mild. “C’mon, man, that’s enough.”

“It’s not nearly enough.”

He’d been in enough fights to recognize the ferocity in his words. The fury hazing the man’s eyes. Crossing to stay his drawn back fist, Finn said quietly, “He’s got a lifetime behind bars ahead of him. You don’t want to deprive him of that.”

Slowly reason returned to his friend’s expression, although it was no less fierce. “Let’s get this piece of shit handed over to the authorities. The sooner he starts that life sentence, the better.” Declan got up, hauling Malsovic to his feet, shoving him toward the door. He and Finn flanked the man, one on each arm, but they provided more support than restraint.

They moved to the lone elevator, shared it with a corpulent man in an ill-fitting suit. He held a length of rope, and it entwined the three small Asian girls who had been held in a cell in the ballroom. With a pudgy finger the man reached out to press the button for lobby floor. Finn and Declan exchanged a meaningful glance.

“How much for the girls?” Declan asked. Malsovic picked that moment to ram his elbow hard into his gut, and Declan slammed the man’s head against the side of the elevator twice in quick succession.

The man frowned at them, sidling away to the corner of the elevator. “No English.”

Finn pulled out his wallet. “US dollars.”

Shaking his head, the man clutched the rope more tightly. Stared at the floor numbers as they descended. Declan reached into his pocket and brought out a pen, handed it to Finn. “Go for the eye,” he advised.

It wasn’t necessary. The elevator settled on the lobby floor and the doors slid open to frame a half a dozen cops in full riot gear, weapons ready, shouting commands in Malay. Another dozen were running through a door that must lead to the stairwell.

Declan raised his voice above the chaos. “Take us to US Federal Agent Stillions.”

_______

“Your mom is
going to be pretty mad that she slept through this.” Adam Raiker’s voice was gruffer than usual. His jaw was tight. But no one could mistake the raw joy in his gaze as he gazed at Royce on video chat.