The Search (10 page)

"Why go to all that trouble to--" Galen gave a low whistle. "That scheming asshole."

"And then I came along," Logan went on. "I think if Chen Li hadn't gotten sick, I would have had an untimely accident. And he might have gotten away with it." His lips twisted. "Like you said, I thought he was my best friend."

"Then maybe the scarab was some kind of taunt."

"Maybe. But I feel as if-- Who the hell knows? That scarab just makes me uneasy. Has Sarah turned in?"

Galen grimaced. "After she beat me three games at poker. She could make her living in Las Vegas. Sharp."

"I know. She took me to the cleaners once when I first met her. She told me poker is the game of choice when the rescue teams are waiting to go to work at a disaster site."

"Well, let's hope this job doesn't qualify as a disaster." They had reached the campsite and he lowered his voice to avoid waking Sarah, who was lying with Monty beside her across from the fire. "What are the chances?"

"I bought time tonight. I figure we have two days before Rudzak gets suspicious. If we move fast and have surprise on our side . . . seven out of ten."

Galen dropped down on his bedroll. "We'll have to make sure of both. I have a lot of living to do. There are millions of people out there who haven't yet experienced my intelligence and charm."

"I'll keep that in mind." Logan stretched out on his bedroll and closed his eyes.

Death.

Galen was right. It had been a long time for Logan, but he hadn't felt a moment of hesitation. He had always believed in an eye for an eye. Primitive but fair.

Rudzak understood that philosophy. He had waited almost fifteen years to get Logan, and he was out there now, salivating.

Logan had gone over and over in his mind the possible targets. Which one would Rudzak pick next?

Screw him. No use worrying about future targets until Bassett was free and he had Sarah, Monty, Galen, and his team to help do that job.

And seven out of ten odds weren't that bad.

Seven out of ten.

Sarah stared into the darkness as she heard Logan lie down across from her. Those were good odds, better than what she had gone up against in a dozen situations in her life. And the chances of survival for her and Monty had to be even greater because their part would be finished the moment Rudzak's camp was located. She would have no part in the attack, and even if Logan and Galen were captured or killed, she and Monty had the training and experience to survive alone in the jungle.

Jesus, that was cold.

No, it wasn't. She had a perfect right to preserve her life and that of Monty with no sense of guilt. She liked Galen, but he had been hired to do a job and evidently he was a mercenary who was paid well to take his chances. As for Logan, he was the one who had drawn all of them into this web. Even if his motive in rescuing his employee was compassionate, his methods were certainly not. No, she was in this alone and would act accordingly.

Monty whimpered and put his head on her arm, sensing her tension. She reached out to stroke, quiet him. No, she wasn't alone. Not as long as she had Monty. "Go to sleep, boy."

Scared?

She was scared. She'd been scared since the moment she'd caught sight of that burned-out research facility. Premonition?

Hell, no. Imagination.

But Monty wouldn't believe that, not when he could feel the tension tightening her muscles.

She gently stroked his throat. "A little, but it's okay."

He relaxed. Monty knew about fear. How sometimes you had to keep on going even if you were scared. Once he'd crawled down a tunnel in a crushed parking garage when he'd caught scent of a victim. She'd gone in after him and the shaft had crashed down behind them. There had been no going back, and there had been nothing but darkness and fear ahead. She had felt Monty trembling beside her and could smell his fear and her own. He could have frozen, but he'd crawled on his belly through the long tunnel, guiding her until she could see light ahead.

If they survived that nightmare, they could survive anything.

And seven out of ten odds weren't bad at all.

"Wake up. It's time to leave."

Sarah's eyes flew open to see Logan's face above her. "Okay." She sat up and threw aside her blanket. "Monty."

Monty stretched and then trotted over to the nearest tree to take care of morning business.

"Here's your backpack." Logan dropped it beside her. "I took a few bottles out and put them in mine. I didn't have room for many."

"I don't need your help. I could have managed."

"I wasn't being gentlemanly." Logan was smiling, but the words were crisp. "I can't afford to have you falling behind."

She put on the backpack. "I won't fall behind. You worry about keeping up with me. This stroll through the jungle is going to be a little more demanding than playing tennis at one of your fancy country clubs." She looked around and suddenly realized they were the only two in the clearing. "Where's Galen?"

"He went on ahead."

"Why?"

"To take care of a few things. We have information that Rudzak may have set up a decoy camp about ten miles to the west. Galen will join us later."

"And what direction are we taking?"

"East." Logan was putting out the fire. "We should reach the search area by noon. After that, it's up to you and Monty."

"Right. Do you have anything belonging to Bassett?"

"Margaret expressed me an old baseball cap he'd left in his locker at the Silicon Valley plant. But he hasn't been home in six months. Will the scent still be strong enough?"

"Probably. But couldn't Castleton have gotten you something down here belonging to him?"

"No." Logan turned away. "That wasn't an option."

"Why wasn't it--"

"Does Monty eat this early?"

She shook her head. "He can do that after we've been on the trail for a while."

"Then let's get going."

No question about breakfast for her. He was as cold and efficient as a surgeon's scalpel and she didn't like the fact that he hadn't told her earlier about the decoy camp. "Do you suppose I could brush my teeth and go to the bathroom?"

The sarcasm didn't faze him. "If you hurry."

She stiffened when she saw his gaze go to the trees at the edge of the clearing. "What are you looking at? Do you think someone's watching us?"

"No, Galen reconnoitered the area before he set up camp, and he didn't think it was necessary to take turns on guard duty last night."

She hadn't been aware there had even been a discussion about setting up guards. She had thought they were safe for at least that one night. "Then why are you behaving as if you think someone is--"

"It doesn't hurt to be careful. Rudzak seldom does the expected." He moved toward the trees. "But this time neither are we."

They stopped to eat at ten and reached the search site at twelve forty-five. By that time Sarah's shirt was plastered to her body with perspiration, but Monty was still moving swiftly. She gave him his third bowl of water and sank down beside him as he drank it.

"We need to hurry." Logan had come back to stand beside her.

"Fifteen minutes. Monty needs rest." She took off her backpack, then took a drink of water herself. "From now on we'll be leading, not following. Give me Bassett's cap."

He reached into his pack, pulled out a faded Giants ball cap, and tossed it to her.

She put it aside and dug into her pack for the canvas utility belt. It was a little large, and she took out her knife and cut additional holes. Then she got out Monty's leash and tossed it on top of the utility belt.

"Why do you need the utility belt?" Logan asked.

"I probably won't need it this time, but I always wear it when I'm on a search. When I put it on, it's a signal to Monty that we're going to go to work." She leaned back against a tree. "I'd advise you to rest. If Monty catches the scent, we'll stop only to give him water."

He sat down across from her and took off his hat. "Okay, I could use some rest."

He didn't look tired. He looked tough as hell. His shirt was as damp with perspiration as hers was, but she could feel the waves of energy and tension he was emitting. Was the tension caused by fear? Maybe. But if he was afraid, he wouldn't give in to it. He was totally relentless as he had led her through the jungle.

She stroked Monty's head. "You set a pretty hard pace."

"I told you we were in a hurry." He smiled sardonically. "I'm sorry if you were disappointed. I know you would have enjoyed leaving me in the dust."

"You're in good shape," she said grudgingly.

"It must be all that tennis at the country club."

"Maybe." At that moment she couldn't imagine him in a country-club setting. He looked more like a scruffy gunrunner than a tycoon. After a short silence she asked, "What's Galen up to?"

"What?"

"You said Galen was taking care of a few things. What's he planning on doing? Or aren't I supposed to know?"

"You want details? I thought you weren't interested in anything but your and Monty's involvement."

"This does involve us. If you manage to get yourselves killed, I want a decent chance of getting out of this jungle. What's Galen doing?"

"Attacking the decoy camp."

Her eyes widened. "By himself?"

"No, Galen's good, but he's not Superman. When he's ready, he'll radio for his team to come in by helicopter."

"How many are in his team?"

"Twelve."

"Against how many of Rudzak's men?"

"Our informant, Sanchez, said at least twenty. That leaves eight at the real camp, where Bassett should be."

"And the plan?"

"Galen's unit hits the decoy camp and makes Rudzak think we've fallen into the trap. Galen pretends to get out by the skin of his teeth and proceeds to the main camp to rendezvous with us. We get Bassett out, hop on the helicopter, and head for home."

Her lips twisted. "Very simple."

"Not simple at all. If Galen's not convincing enough, Rudzak will head back to the base immediately and we'll be in deep shit."

"Why even go after the decoy?"

"Rudzak will be getting suspicious that he hasn't heard from Sanchez or his man in Santo Camaro. If an attack on the decoy doesn't occur by tonight, then he'll think we're onto him and we'll lose the element of surprise." He glanced at Monty. "That's why Monty has to find this base by nightfall."

"I can't promise that. What do we do if we don't find it? What if Rudzak isn't fooled by Galen's attack?"

"Then we try to get out of the jungle before Rudzak tracks us down."

There were too many things that could go wrong. She didn't like it.

"I don't like it either." He was reading her expression. "But it's our best shot." He got to his feet. "Monty's had his fifteen minutes. Let's go."

She slowly stood up and looked at the sun. Seven, maybe eight hours until nightfall.