Fatal Tide (17 page)

“I’ll play it by ear. But I want as few guards functioning as possible when they unearth that chest.”

“The birdcall?”

“Right. Owl. I saw one in the trees.” Kelby drew the camouflage brush around him as he settled on the second branch. From this viewpoint he could see both the road and the rock in the middle of the glade. Melis was standing by the front bumper of the Mercedes, and she looked small and infinitely fragile from this distance.

Don’t think about her.

Think about the business at hand. The four men Archer had sent up the trail were close. In a moment they’d be here in the trees.

Silence. Breathe shallow. Don’t move a muscle.

The man who had driven the Mercedes was standing at the top of the trail and waving a flashlight at them.

Archer muttered a curse.

Melis stared at him in surprise. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. Giles is giving us the all-clear,” Archer said. “Let’s go, Melis.”

Melis tried not to show her relief. She had been tense from the moment Archer had dispatched his men to search the area. She shouldn’t have worried. Kelby had said he and Nicholas would have no problem. But it didn’t matter what she should or should not have felt. The fear was there, and she couldn’t reason it away. “Let me go back to town. You can see I didn’t set a trap for you.”

“Stop whining.” He took her elbow and nudged her up the trail. “It’s very distasteful. You’ve been very good. I don’t want to have to punish you.”

She drew a deep, shaky breath. “You won’t hurt Susie? I’ve done everything you said.”

“You’ve made a good start.” Archer’s eager gaze was on the trees, and his tone was absent. “Don’t talk to me. You’re not important right now. I’ll deal with you later.”

They had rolled the rock away and Pennig was digging. Melis and Archer stood together a couple of yards away.

There wasn’t much time now, Kelby knew.

One man at the road.

One man seven yards from the tree where Kelby was sitting.

One man about twenty yards on the other side of the glade. He was the difficult target. They’d have to take out the men on this side and then make their way to the other side. The cover was sparse and the man had an Uzi. Archer’s men on this side of the glade were armed only with handguns.

Kelby drew a deep breath, cupped his hands over his mouth, and made the sound of an owl.

A beam from the flashlight of the man closest to him immediately circled the trees. It focused on the yellow eyes of the owl in the branches of the tree next to Kelby. At the sudden glare of light, the owl gave a cry of his own and flew from the branch.

The flashlight went out.

Kelby waited.

One minute.

Two minutes.

The soft hoot of the owl. Another hoot.

Nicholas had gotten the man at the road.

His turn.

He threw the rock in his hand at the shrubbery several yards left of where the man below him was standing.

The man whirled and moved toward the shrubbery.

Fast.

Silent.

Kelby was down the tree and a yard behind the guard before he knew he was there. The man started to turn and opened his lips to call out.

Too late. The garrote twisted about his neck, cutting through flesh so that only a gasp came from his lips. He was dead in seconds.

Kelby let the body fall and gave three soft hoots to signal Nicholas. He gave a glance at Melis and Archer. Pennig had already dug at least two feet into the ground.

Shit.

One more guard to take out across the glade before it was safe to go after Pennig and Archer.

He started moving, low, fast, around the glade toward the man with the Uzi.

“I thought you said it was only a couple of feet down,” Archer said. “We should be striking pay dirt.”

“Anytime.” Melis moistened her lips. There had been nothing but silence from the trees where Archer had stationed his men. It could mean nothing. Or it could mean failure. “I’m only telling you what Phil told me. Phil hated physical labor. He told me that it was stupid to dig deep when we had a rock to roll over it.”

“I don’t love it myself,” Pennig said between his teeth as his shovel bit deep. “If I wanted to be a ditchdigger, I wouldn’t have—” He stopped. “I think I’ve hit something.”

Archer moved closer. “Dig, dammit.”

“I’m doing it. I’m doing it.” He was shoveling faster.

And they were ignoring her.

Melis took a tiny step backward toward the two pines. Then another step.

They were pulling out the chest, breaking the lock.

She took two more steps back.

As soon as they opened the chest and started going through it, she’d bolt and run.

Silence from the trees around her.

Only Pennig’s and Archer’s hard breathing as they lifted the lid.

“What the hell?”

Empty
. Even from here she could see the chest was empty.

Archer was cursing and turning toward her.

She ran, zigzagging toward the pines.

A bullet seared by her ear.

Another yard. She seemed to be moving in slow motion.

A tearing pain in her left side. The force of the bullet sent her staggering the last few steps to the pine trees.

Gun. She had to get the gun. She searched wildly in the brush beneath the tree.

Archer was spewing venom, shouting for his men.

A shadowy figure a few yards from her. Another guard?

Where was the gun? It was so dark here in the shadows she couldn’t see anything.

Then she found it.

But the guard was down and Kelby was on top of him. Twisting his neck.

Archer. She had to get Archer.

She couldn’t see him. But Pennig was there, coming toward her. His face contorted with rage.

She lifted the gun and pulled the trigger.

He staggered.

She shot him again.

He fell to the ground.

Kelby was kneeling beside her, taking the gun.

She shook her head. “Archer. We have to get Archer.”

“No, we have to stop this bleeding.” His hand was unfastening her shirt. “Dammit, I told you it was too risky.”

“Archer . . .”

“He bolted when none of his men came when he called. Nicholas may be able to catch him, but he had a head start. Nicholas was on this side of the glade with me.” His voice was hoarse as he formed a compress and pressed it above the wound. “We have to get you to a doctor. I told you that—”

“Stop . . .” Lord, she was dizzy. “Stop saying I told you so. It would have worked if the chest hadn’t been . . . empty. It shouldn’t have been empty.”

“This damn blood . . .” He was cursing beneath his breath. “Where the hell is Nicholas? I need him to hold this compress while I get you back to the car. Screw Archer. We can deal with . . .”

She heard nothing else.

Red plaid drapes.

It was the first thing she noticed when she opened her eyes. Red plaid drapes and a cozy leather armchair in the corner of the room.

“You’re back with us?” A dark, fiftyish man in a cable-knit sweater smiled at her as he lifted her wrist and took her pulse. “I’m Dr. Gonzales. How do you feel?”

“A little woozy.”

“You received a wound through your left side. The bullet hit nothing vital, but you lost some blood.” He grimaced. “Not as much as your friend Mr. Kelby was afraid you’d lost. He was rudely intimidating. He came to my home shouting and threatening. I almost threw him out. We’re not used to that on Cadora. This is a very peaceful island. That’s why I settled here.”

“Where is he?”

“Outside. I told him that he could stay out in his car until you woke. He’s a very disturbing man.”

“And this is a peaceful island,” she repeated his words. “I need to see him.”

“A few minutes won’t hurt. I’ve given Kelby antibiotics for you, but if you see signs of infection, get right to a doctor.” He paused. “You know I’ll have to report this bullet wound?”

“I don’t care. Do what you have to do. What time is it?”

“A little after three in the morning.”

And she must have been shot sometime near midnight. “I was unconscious for three hours?”

“You were coming around, but I gave you a sedative when I cleaned and sewed up your side.”

Archer.

And three hours was a long time.

“I really need to see Kelby, Doctor.”

He shrugged. “If you insist. Though I really hate to give in to any of his demands. He should learn patience.” He moved toward the door. “Try not to let him upset you.”

She was already upset. She had killed a man tonight, she was completely bewildered about that empty chest, and she didn’t know what had happened to Archer.

The chest. Try to figure out what had happened to those research papers.

But the question she asked Kelby when he came into the room was, “Archer?”

“I should have known that would be your first thought.” He shook his head. “He was already in the car and speeding off when Nicholas reached the road.”

“Then it was all for nothing.” She closed her eyes as disappointment washed over her. “I risked all of our lives and he’s still alive.”

“Not for long,” Kelby said grimly. “We’ll get our chance. He’s not going to crawl in a hole. He’s going to be mad as hell and want to get back at us.” He smiled faintly. “And it wasn’t a complete bust. We took out four scumbags who were cluttering the earth.”

Her eyes flicked open. “Will there be trouble with the law?”

“I don’t think so. The Spanish authorities are very aggressive with arms dealers who supply terrorists, as Archer does. I’ve called Wilson to come here from Madrid and supply records and mug shots and generally smooth the way. Naturally, he won’t tell them we had anything to do with it. But I’d bet when they discover what kind of lowlifes are lying on the side of that mountain, they’ll find a way to forget they existed.” He smiled crookedly. “Because this is such a ‘peaceful’ island.”

“Dr. Gonzales seems very nice.”

“We didn’t see eye to eye. But he knows what he’s doing. He says we can take you out of here if you promise to rest for the next couple of days. I assume you don’t want to hang around here?”

She shook her head. “Will you help me get up?” She looked down at herself. “Where’s my shirt?”

“It was too bloody to save.” He took off his black shirt. “Wear this.” He helped her sit up and carefully put her arms in the shirt. “Okay?”

The room was going around and her side throbbed. “Okay.”

“Liar.” He picked her up and carried her toward the door. “But you’ll be better when I can get you home.”

Home? Oh, yes, the
Trina
. That was Kelby’s home, and for the past days it had become her home too. Strange . . . “Am I too heavy? I can walk.”

“I know you can. But I’m all for efficiency. It’s faster this way.” He stopped at the door when he saw Dr. Gonzales, and said curtly, “I’m taking her. Thank you for doing your job.”

“Thank you for leaving.” Gonzales smiled at Melis. “Don’t break my stitches, and stay away from violent people like this Kelby person. They’re not good for you.”

The last sentence was said to Kelby’s back as he strode past the doctor toward the car parked in the gravel driveway. Nicholas jumped out and opened the back door. “Why don’t you lie down and stretch out? Maybe you can nap.”

Melis shook her head as Kelby placed her carefully in the backseat. She didn’t want to nap. There was something very wrong and she had to think. “I’m better sitting.”

“Debatable,” Kelby said as he got in the passenger seat. “But I’m not arguing. I want to get you to the south shore where we left our tender. We’ll leave your tender at the dock, and Nicholas can pick it up tomorrow.”

As Nicholas started the car, she sat very straight and tried to block out the dull pain in her side. Think. There was a piece missing. And a question she didn’t want to ask Kelby.

She had no option. She had to ask him.

“The chest was empty, Kelby.”

“I know it, dammit.”

She moistened her lips. “Did you do it?”

She saw his shoulders stiffen, and he slowly turned to look at her. “I beg your pardon?”

“You came here to Cadora last night.”

He was silent a moment, and when he spoke, each word was precise. “We both knew how crucial it was that Archer be distracted from you. You almost got killed when he wasn’t. And you’re asking me if I came here and snatched those damn papers?”

Nicholas gave a low whistle. “Oops.”

She barely heard him. “I have to ask it. Just tell me yes or no.”

“No, goddammit, I did
not
take the papers.” He turned around to face the front. “And you’d better shut up until we get to the dock or I just might complete the job Archer screwed up on.”

She could feel the rage he was emitting. Rage and hurt. She couldn’t blame him. She would have felt the same.

But she couldn’t worry about Kelby. She had to think. She was beginning to get a terrible feeling. . . .

Chapter Sixteen

They were a few miles from the dock when she leaned forward and said to Nicholas, “Turn left at the next road.”

“What?”

“Just do it.”

Kelby gave her a cool glance. “Are you delirious?”

“No. Maybe. I think I know where Phil moved the papers. There’s a place on the coast. I have to go there. Please. Don’t ask questions.”

“You think the papers are there?”

“They might be. I have to go.”

Nicholas looked at Kelby.

Kelby shrugged. “Go ahead. Give him directions, Melis.”

The cottage was just as she remembered it. White clapboard with blue shutters closed tight. She opened the door and scrambled out of the car before Kelby could help her.

“For God’s sake, Melis.” Kelby caught up with her as she moved toward the cottage and took her arm. “You’re weak as a kitten. You’ll be lucky if you don’t fall on your face.”

She didn’t feel weak. The fear-driven adrenaline was surging through her.

“Why do you think they may be hidden here?” Kelby asked.

“We lived in that cottage for a few months while we were searching the area.” Her eyes were focused on the front door as she shook Kelby’s hand away from her arm. “It’s the only explan—”

The front door opened and a figure was silhouetted against the lamplight.

She felt Kelby tense beside her.

He was afraid of that unknown danger. She was afraid, too, but not for the same reason. She took a step forward. “Phil?”

“You shouldn’t have come, Melis.” He came down the two steps toward her. “I hoped to see you at a happier time.”

“Where? At the pearly gates? You’re supposed to be dead, Phil.”

“As Mark Twain said, the reports of my death are greatly exaggerated.”

Kelby took a step forward. “Lontana?”

Phil nodded. “Hello, Kelby. Great job. I knew you could do it. Of course, I could have done it better.”

“What?”

“Why, Marinth, of course.” He smiled. “I’d like to shake your hand, but that’s not in the cards, is it?”

“I don’t know yet.” He took Melis’s arm again. “I do know that I want Melis to sit down. She’s been hurt.”

“Hurt?” Phil looked at her with concern. “Is it bad?”

“What the hell do you care?” Melis said. “What did you expect to happen, Phil?”

“I care very much,” Phil said. “It’s not fair of you to doubt I’d worry about you.”

“But not enough,” Melis said. “You didn’t care if you put my head on the block by moving that chest.”

“Is that how you were wounded? I hoped Archer wouldn’t try to get those papers from you.” He looked pained. “I didn’t want to do it. It was necessary. You wouldn’t help me, Melis.”

“This is beginning to reek,” Kelby said. “What the hell did you do, Lontana?”

“He staged his own death,” Melis said. “He blew up the
Last Home
himself.”

“Do you realize how much that hurt me?” Phil asked.

“How did you get away? Scuba gear and someone in a boat nearby to pick you up?”

Phil nodded. “I was so sad when I saw her blow. I loved that ship.”

“But it was worth the sacrifice,” Melis said. “It got you what you wanted.”

“What?” Kelby asked. “He didn’t want to deal with Archer any longer?”

“On the way here I was hoping that was it.” She met Phil’s eyes. “But I know you, Phil. You’d never have sacrificed the
Last Home
unless it was going to bring you something better. And the only thing you valued more was Marinth. You made a deal with Archer, didn’t you?”

“Why would you think—”

“Didn’t you?”

He nodded slowly. “I didn’t have any choice. You wouldn’t help me. Marinth was lying there, waiting for me, and I couldn’t touch it. It was your fault.”

“Why, you son of a bitch,” Kelby murmured. “So you set Archer on Melis’s trail.”

“I told you, I didn’t want to do it. It’s not as if she was the target. We just wanted to make her upset enough so that she’d turn to you to help her. I knew you’d make Marinth a bargaining chip. You know what’s important.”

“Do I?”

“I tried for six years to get her to use the dolphins. You can understand. I had to have Marinth.”

“But you don’t have it,” Melis said. “Kelby has it.”

Lontana glanced away from her. “I may not have the glory, but I’ll know that I was the one who made it all possible.” He shrugged. “As for any profit, I’m getting older. I don’t need much money. All I want is to stay here and watch Marinth come to life.”

“And you’ve been here in this cottage all this time?”

“Except when I was out in the boat keeping an eye on you with my binoculars.” He smiled eagerly. “Admit it, Melis. Wasn’t it a thrill? I wish I’d been down there with you. When I saw you pull up those nets, I wanted to shout with joy.”

“You were in the second boat I saw,” Nicholas said.

Phil nodded. “You surprised me that time. And you are . . .”

“Nicholas Lyons.”

“Oh, yes, I’ve heard of you.”

“You know a lot about what’s been going on, don’t you, Phil?” Melis asked slowly. “Do you think I’m idiot enough to believe you’d be content to sit on the sidelines and watch someone else get credit for finding Marinth?”

“Believe what you like.”

“I will. But I don’t like it.” She tried to steady her voice. “Do you know what I believe? I’m beginning to think you’re as guilty as Archer. I’m putting together the pieces. What was the deal? Archer was to torment me until I was desperate enough to do what you wanted. What were you going to get in return? And don’t tell me it was a chance to stay here and experience Marinth secondhand.”

“I never wanted to hurt you, Melis. I knew Archer couldn’t break you. But you had to be urged along.”

“Urged?” She had a moment’s memory of those nightmare conversations. That hideous moment when she had stared down at Carolyn’s body. “Oh, yes, he was very persuasive. But what was your price, Phil?”

He shifted uneasily. “I think you’d better leave now.”

“Not yet.” Kelby took a step closer. “Let’s talk about targets. You said Melis wasn’t the target. Who was the target, Lontana?”

Phil started to turn and go back into the cottage.

“It was you, Kelby,” Melis said. “From the beginning it was you. All Archer put me through was just to keep us heading toward Marinth. To unsettle me, keep me off balance, make sure I kept on pushing you. He wasn’t sure he’d be able to get those research papers from me. Isn’t that right, Phil?”

“Nonsense.”

“You wanted Marinth. You set Kelby up to find it for you. But what happens after he finds it? I think you told Archer to kill Kelby and destroy the
Trina
so that you could move in on the project. That would be the only payoff that would make sense. Marinth and Kelby’s death for your research papers. Why did you move that chest from the mountain?”

He was silent a moment and then he shrugged. “I knew Archer was probably playing a double game. He was aware that you knew where the chest was. If he could get the research from you, he’d do it and leave me out in the cold.”

“You mean he wouldn’t take me down,” Kelby said.

“I’m not admitting anything,” Phil said. “Actually, I think I could like you, Kelby. We have a good deal in common.”

“Archer
was
playing a double game. He was expecting you to come to the mountain tonight to help me, Kelby,” Melis said. “I was surprised he was upset when his men didn’t find anyone in the woods. He expected you to be there. Then, if I was lying about the location of the chest, he could still get the research papers from Phil as the price for killing you. Where’s the chest, Phil?”

He hesitated. “In the cabinet under the window seat.”

“Weren’t you afraid Archer would come here and find it?”

“He doesn’t know I’m here. I’m not stupid enough to let him get his hands on me. We communicate by phone. He’s a barbarian.”

“And what are you, Phil?”

“Go get the chest, Nicholas,” Kelby said.

Nicholas nodded and started toward the house.

“Those tablets are mine, and so is the research,” Phil said quickly. “You can’t take them away from me.”

“Watch us,” Kelby said. “The tablets were found by Melis, and the research came from them. You get nothing, Lontana.”

“Stop him, Melis. You know how hard I worked.”

“You’re incredible,” Kelby said. “You actually expect her to help you?”

“I helped her. I gave her a home when she needed it,” he said defensively. “If she hadn’t been so stubborn, none of this would have been necessary.”

“I’ve got them. Papers and tablets.” Nicholas had come out of the cottage carrying a large wooden box. “I’ll go put them in the car.”

“Don’t let him take them away, Melis. I only did what I had to do,” Phil said desperately. “I didn’t do anything really wrong. There are so many riches down there in Marinth. This sonic device was only the tip of the iceberg. I’m the only one who has the right to explore it. The entire world could benefit from what I find down there.”

“Could it?” Melis’s voice was uneven. “At the moment I don’t really care how the world is going to be a better place because of your lies. I just want to know one thing. When you were trying to persuade Archer to fund Marinth, you evidently told him a good deal about me. You told him about Carolyn and my files?”

He was silent a moment. “I might have mentioned them. He said he needed a hook. We were discussing options.”

She felt sick. “Options? My God.” Rage seared through her. She took a step closer. “Carolyn died because you told him about her and those files. You son of a bitch. He
butchered
her.”

His eyes widened. “She’s dead?”

“What did you think would happen when you turned that bastard loose on her? No, you set everything in motion and then just sat here on your island and waited for Marinth to drop into your lap.”

“I never intended for her to be hurt.”

“Like you never intended for Kelby to be killed?”

He moistened his lips. “I never admitted—”

“You may be a dreamer, but you’re not a fool. Somewhere in the back of your mind you must have known what the possibilities were with Carolyn.” Her voice was shaking with rage. “You didn’t care about Carolyn. You didn’t care about Kelby. You didn’t care about me. You didn’t care about anything but Marinth.”

“You’re not being fair. I cared about you. I’ve always been very fond of you, Melis.”

“Have you? Is that why you forgot the years we spent together? Is that why you made a deal to kill Kelby? Is that why you let Archer kill my best friend? Is that why you let loose that murderer to tear me apart with his filth?”

“It’s not my fault.” He tried to smile. “And no one could tear you apart. I know how strong you are. I knew you’d bounce back. You were always a gutsy—”

“It’s no use talking to you. You’re as much a murderer as Archer, and you don’t even realize it. Well, I realize it. Damn you to hell, Phil.” She turned and stalked toward the car.

“You never understood about Marinth. I was
right,
” he called after her. “It’s not my fault every little thing didn’t work out. You’ve got to get them to give back my chest. I need it.”

Every little thing? Melis thought in astonishment. Three innocent people had died because of Phil’s passion for a dead city. He still didn’t realize the enormity of what he’d done. He probably never would.

“I think letting Lontana sit here in his cozy little cottage is a mistake,” Kelby murmured as he opened the car’s back door for her. “Why don’t you and Nicholas wait for me while I go back and make sure Lontana never causes you this kind of grief again?”

She shook her head.

“Why not? He’s officially dead anyway.”

He meant it. His expression was harder than she’d ever seen it.

She shook her head again.

He shrugged. “Okay. Maybe later. I guess you’ve gone through enough tonight.” He got into the backseat beside her. “Let’s go, Nicholas.”

“He deserves it, Melis,” Nicholas said as he started the car. “You should reconsider.”

“I know he deserves it. I . . . just can’t handle it right now. He did help me when I needed him. That keeps getting in the way.” She wearily rubbed her temple. “And he doesn’t even think he’s done anything wrong. He has a missing cog in his conscience where Marinth is concerned.”

“How did you know it was Lontana?” Kelby asked.

“I didn’t know. I guessed. It was all wrong. I was lying in that doctor’s cottage and trying to piece it together, but I couldn’t. You told me that you didn’t do it. And the only other two people who knew where it was buried were Phil and me.”

“I could have been lying.”

She shook her head. “I knew you weren’t. I’m sorry I had to ask you.”

“I’m sorry too. I was ready to strangle you.”

“I know. But I had to be sure. The other explanation was too wild for me to accept.” Her lips twisted. “No, that’s not true. It hurt too much to realize Phil could do that to me.”

“I think Nicholas should turn the car around.”

“No.” She leaned her head back on the seat. She was bone-weary and hurting in mind and body. And maybe in her heart. She had mourned Phil in Athens, but the separation she felt now was deeper, sharper, bitter. “If I didn’t do it and you didn’t do it, then Phil had to have moved the papers. What reason would he have for doing it before his death? The Phil I thought I knew would have told me. Marinth meant everything to him. If he was in danger, he wouldn’t chance having all that knowledge lost forever.” She paused. “But he didn’t tell me. So that led me to start thinking of other possibilities, and I came up with something crazy. Only it wasn’t crazy, was it? It was sane and true and so ugly—”

“Hush.” Kelby pulled her head down to rest on his shoulder. “It’s over, unless you want to change your mind about me going back to see Lontana. I’m at your service.”

“That wouldn’t change things. I’m always going to remember that he wasn’t the friend I thought he was, that he sacrificed me for Marinth. I don’t want to remember his death too.”

“Have it your way. But it would be a very pleasant memory for me.” His hand gently rubbed the back of her neck. “Does your wound hurt?”