Fatal Tide (19 page)

“Bitch.” He drew a deep breath. “You’ll pay for that. I’d almost rather have my hands on you than the papers.”

“It won’t happen. I’m safe here. Kelby will protect me. He doesn’t give a damn about me, but that doesn’t matter. I give him what he wants and he keeps all the nasty impotent perverts like you away from me.”

She could almost feel the heat of his rage through the phone. “He’ll get tired of you.”

“I’m too good, and there’s only one thing Kelby likes better than sex. He thinks his damn boat was made in heaven. He yells when one of the crew gets a scratch on it. But I manage to quiet him down. I learned a lot at
Kafas.
No, you’ll never get another chance at me, Archer.” She hung up.

“You gave it to him with both barrels.” Kelby raised himself on one elbow on the bed. “He certainly won’t think you’re a wimp anymore. And a man doesn’t like to have his virility questioned.”

“I wanted to make him angry.” She paused. “So he wouldn’t realize I’d deliberately dropped a weapon in his hands.”

“What weapon?”

“You.”

“Oh, big sex-hungry me, who doesn’t give a damn about you? I can’t say I liked that description.”

“I bet you like it better than impotent pervert.”

“That’s true.”

“I had to switch his focus. He’s getting impatient. Somehow he found out that Phil doesn’t have the papers. He tried to kill the dolphins and it didn’t work. And he’s not getting any satisfaction out of talking to me anymore. He senses I’m not a victim any longer. He can’t hurt me.”

Kelby went still. “He can’t?”

She shook her head. “I’m the only one who can hurt me. Maybe I should thank him. He punished me so much that I’ve developed scar tissue that would withstand almost anything.”

He reached out and touched her cheek. “When did you find this out?”

“It’s been growing on me.” She shook her head impatiently. “We don’t have time to talk about me. Archer may be calling back.”

“Why?”

“Because when he gets over the first rage at me, he’s going to think about what I said.”

“And he’ll call you back.”

“No, he’ll call you back and try to make a deal with you. He’ll threaten to blow up the
Trina
if you don’t hand me over to him.”

He nodded slowly. “Because what’s a good piece of ass in comparison to a ship like the
Trina
?”

“You have Marinth. You don’t need the tablets or the research. You’ve gotten everything material you wanted from me. All I am is a sex object. Archer understands that concept.”

“I don’t.”

She smiled. “Yeah, but you would have voted the right way at that council of noblemen.”

“What’s the purpose? Why am I serving you up to him?”

“I need to get on the ship.”

“Bullshit.”

Her smile faded. “You’ll have to be convincing. It’s probably best you tell him you have to think it over.”

“It’s not going to happen,” he said flatly. “Not again.”

She studied his expression. There was no moving him. “Then buy time. When he calls, pretend you’re considering it.”

“I’ll consider cutting his balls off.”

“Kelby. Please. You know we need the time. Stall.”

He was silent a moment. “Okay, I’ll stall. As long as he keeps his damn mouth shut about you.”

It was as much of a concession as she was going to get. She could only hope Archer was brief and to the point.

Chapter Seventeen

Melis’s hopes were answered. When Archer called Kelby at eight the next morning, he was on the phone for only a few minutes. Kelby was just as brief, except for one very convincing outburst of obscenities. “You can’t get away with that. I’ll call in the coast guard.” Then he was silent again, listening. Finally, he said, “I’ll think about it.” And hung up. He stared at her. “You were right. He threatened to blow me out of the water if I didn’t turn you and Lontana’s research over. When I mentioned the coast guard, he said I could call all I pleased and they wouldn’t come. He has them in his pocket.”

“Like Nicholas suspected.”

He nodded. “And I didn’t say any of the things I wanted to say. Satisfied?”

“It was as good as could be expected. Did he give you a time limit?”

“I didn’t give him the chance.” Kelby got out of bed and started getting dressed. “If I’d talked for another minute with that greasy asshole, it wouldn’t have been pretty.”

“Where are you going?”

“I can’t stay here. I’m about to explode. I’m going on deck to wait for Nicholas to come back from his watch.”

She watched the door slam behind him.

He didn’t want her with him. He was angry and protective and trying to shut her away from Archer. She’d never seen him more determined. She couldn’t allow it. She had to be there when Nicholas got back.

She got out of bed and started getting dressed.

“As far as I can tell, Archer has four men on board,” Nicholas said when he came back at noon. “And they’re good. They’re moving around, watching for boats, watching for swimmers. They have searchlights constantly focused on the water around the ship. Chancy to plant an explosive on the hull. And it will be damn hard to board her without a distraction.”

“What kind of distraction?” Melis asked.

He shrugged. “We’ll work it out.” He looked at Kelby. “I saw Archer. And he received a shipment last night. Four six-by-seven crates.”

“No additional manpower? The four men he has would only give him defense.”

Nicholas shook his head. “But they could come anytime.”

“Then we need to move fast. If we can’t plant the explosives on the hull, we probably need a small rocket launcher.”

Melis stiffened in shock. “What?”

Kelby ignored her. “How long will it take to get it?”

“Twenty-four hours. Maybe a little longer. My nearest supplier is in Zurich. Do we have that long?”

“Maybe.” Kelby glanced at Melis. “We bought some time. He’ll probably wait to go after us until he’s certain I won’t give him what he wants.”

“I don’t like it,” Nicholas said. “We’ll tip our hand the minute we use it. They could blow us out of the water if they brought on some of the really big stuff.”

“Then we’ll have to find a way to not tip our hand. Get it.”

He nodded. “I’ll get on the phone and start making purchases.” Nicholas started up the deck. “But we should keep an eye on the
Jolie Fille
to make sure the status doesn’t change.”

“I’ll take the tender out and stand watch. You get some sleep and relieve me at dawn.”

“Right.”

Melis waited until Nicholas had gone belowdeck before she turned to Kelby. “Rocket launchers? It sounds like we’re going to war.”

“Just getting prepared for all eventualities,” Kelby said. “I don’t want to use that kind of firepower if I don’t have to. Very messy.”

“And they’ll fire back. Nicholas is right, it’s more dangerous.”

“Maybe I’ll decide Nicholas is wrong about attaching the explosives to the hull. We’ll see.”

“He said you could board it if you had a distraction.”

Kelby’s lips tightened. “No, Melis, you’re out of it.”

“The hell I am.”

“Listen to me. I understood what you were going through. So I let you talk me into setting Archer up and you nearly got killed. I never want to go through that again.” His voice was hard. “You can argue until you’re blue in the face. No way.”

He turned and strode away from her.

He meant it. There was no doubt about his determination to keep her out of any action against Archer.

And there was no doubt that she couldn’t permit him to do it.

Melis watched Kelby’s tender disappear beyond the horizon before she went to hunt Nicholas.

He was just hanging up the phone. “Looks like the launcher is a go. But we can’t get it before—”

“I need your help,” Melis said.

Nicholas gazed at her warily. “I don’t think I’m going to like this.”

“Neither of you wants to use that launcher. You and Kelby need a distraction. I can give you one. Only Kelby won’t have it.”

“Why do you think I will?”

“Because it’s logical and there’s no time to find another one. I don’t want any rockets lobbed onto the
Trina
. Kelby loves this ship.”

“I’m not fond of the idea myself.” Then he shook his head. “It’s too risky. Archer hates your guts.”

“He won’t hurt me right away.”

“You don’t know that.”

“I know him. I can see into every dirty cranny of his mind. I’m no martyr. I can do this, Nicholas. I just need a little help to divert Archer’s attention at the critical moment. What kind of distraction did you have in mind?”

“An explosion to draw the guards away from the rail.”

“You can get me a grenade?”

He nodded. “I have something much more sophisticated. Small and easily hidden.”

“Then just tell me where and when you want the explosion.”

He hesitated. “Kelby will kill me.”

“You’re going to do it?”

“What would you do if I turned you down?”

“Find another way to do it without you or that explosive.”

“I think you would.” He was silent a moment more. “Let me think about it.” He turned and walked away from her.

“There’s not much time,” she called after him.

He glanced over his shoulder, and his expression surprised her with its hardness. “Don’t push me, Melis. I’m not playing the clown right now. You can’t coerce me into doing anything I don’t want to do. If I go along with you, it will be because I think it’s the smartest thing to do for all of us. It won’t be because you’re in a fever to get to Archer. I wouldn’t do that to Jed. And I damn well wouldn’t do it to myself.”

She stared after him in surprise and uneasiness as he crossed the deck and gazed out at the sea. She had seen only a few glimpses of this darker, more dangerous Nicholas that he hid so well behind that light facade. She wanted to go after him and try to convince him, but she knew it would be useless. His expression had been remote and totally intimidating. She would have to wait until he came to her.

She sat down in a deck chair, her gaze on Nicholas’s ugly/arresting profile. Shaman. The title he used as a joke didn’t seem to be so funny right now. He was exuding a quiet force and power that made her wonder if she knew him at all. The man who had painted the eyes on the dodo bird was not this man.

It was over thirty minutes before he left the rail and strode across the deck to her.

“Okay, it’s a go,” he said curtly. “There’s a chance you’ll bite it, but you’re safer with Kelby and me in the plan. And we need that distraction. I’ll take the heat.”

Relief surged through her. “Where do you want me to throw the explosive?”

“The engine room or the galley. Either would have enough compressed gas to fuel an explosion.”

“And how am I supposed to carry this explosive?”

“The sole of your right deck shoe. There will be a switch to arm and you’ll have fifteen seconds to toss it. So you’d better be damn ready. We’ve just got to pray he doesn’t search you that thoroughly.”

“I think I know how to prevent that.” She smiled without mirth. “I have a distraction of my own in mind.” She kicked off her deck shoes. “Get to work, Nicholas.” She turned to leave. “I’m going to go to my cabin and make a few preparations.”

“And it might be a good idea to say your prayers. Your chances of getting out of this alive are maybe fifty-fifty.”

His voice was cool and without expression, and she glanced back at him. “You’re clearly upset about that.”

“Oh, I’ll be upset if he kills you. So upset I’ll have to justify letting you go after him by killing him myself. But since I’ve made a decision, I won’t let emotion interfere. We’ve just got to get the job done and try to stay alive.” He picked up the white deck shoes. “I’ll get these ready for you. Nice thick soles. That’s a lucky break.” He headed toward his cabin. “We’ll need all the luck we can get.”

She felt sick.

Don’t look in the mirror. Don’t think about it. Just go up on the deck to Nicholas.

He was standing by the rail next to the tender. “I polished up your deck shoes. No one would ever know— My God.” His eyes widened. “What the hell are you dressed up for? Halloween?”

She touched the white organdy empire-waist dress with a shaking hand. “No, but there’s an element of horror in it. It’s a present from Archer. I described it in one of my tapes, and he had it made up exactly. A child’s dress in an adult size. You’ll tie my hands and pin that note we wrote to the bodice of this disgusting abomination and send me to Archer with Kelby’s compliments.” She swallowed. “He knows what putting on this dress would do to me. He won’t think I can do it. So he’ll deduce that it was Kelby.”

“Jesus.”

“One, it will add to the veracity of handing me over. Two, seeing me in it will definitely distract Archer. He’ll be triumphant. He’ll be excited. He likes little girls.” She drew a deep breath and slipped on the white deck shoes he’d handed her. “Now, let’s get out of here. I want this dress off as quickly as possible.”

“We can’t get any closer without them seeing us,” Nicholas said as he cut the motor. He sat and gazed at Archer’s ship gleaming in the darkness. “Last chance. Are you sure you want to do this?”

“I’m sure.” She held out her wrists. “Tie me. Tight. But make sure I can see my watch.”

He took the rope he’d brought and bound her wrists. “This is ugly, Melis.”

“He’s ugly.” Dear God, she was scared as she gazed at the ship. The organdy dress, her bound hands, the feeling of helplessness. She could almost hear the pounding of the drums of
Kafas
. She wanted to scream—or whimper.

But she wasn’t helpless. She was doing this of her own free will. So get it started. “One more thing, Nicholas. Knock me out.”

“What?”

“Hit me. Make sure I have a bruise, but I’d appreciate it if you wouldn’t break my jaw. I want Archer to feel I’m totally helpless when he looks at me through those binoculars.”

“I don’t like to—”

“I don’t care what you like. You know you should do it. Hit me, dammit.”

“Then don’t look at me.”

“Some shaman.” She shifted her gaze back to the ship.

“Shamans were magicians, not warriors. Though they did officiate at the burnings at the stake. That’s what I feel like I’m doing at—”

Pain exploded in her jaw as he unleashed a right hook.

Nicholas gazed down at Melis crumpled in the seat. She looked like a little girl taking a nap in that dress.

And he felt like a son of a bitch. He was tempted to just turn the boat around and go back to the
Trina
.

He couldn’t do it. He was committed, and in these kinds of situations it was often suicide to pay attention to second thoughts. Besides, Melis had gone too far to be cheated. He patted her cheek. “Good luck.” He pressed the timer to set the clock on the rescue flare for three minutes, threw his waterproofed bundle into the water, and then followed it. He moved through the water with long, strong strokes. It would take him at least twenty minutes to swim to the island where Kelby was watching the ship. He wouldn’t get a warm welcome. By that time Melis should have been brought onto Archer’s ship and Kelby would probably know it.

A shrill whistling shrieked behind him.

He looked back over his shoulder to see the rescue flare explode in the dark sky.

“What the hell is it?” Archer ran out onto the deck, his gaze on the rocket. “Destrex, turn on the searchlights.” He took the binoculars from the first mate. At first he’d thought they were under attack, but Kelby wouldn’t have called attention to himself in this blatant fashion. And the possibility of a true rescue situation was minimal.

His gaze raked the waters in the area of the rocket. Nothing. “Where are those lights, dammit?”

The lights speared out over the water. A motorboat. Engine turned off, rocking on the waves.

“It’s too far to blow it out of the water,” Destrex said. “Besides, I think it’s empty.”

Archer focused on the boat.

A glimmer of white . . . He adjusted the focus again.

A little girl with golden hair, her delicate wrists bound with rope.

Melis!

“Yes.”

Excitement was tearing through him. Kelby had caved. Nothing could be clearer. He
had
her.

He turned to Destrex. “Go get her. Check the tender to make sure there aren’t any booby traps, but bring her to me.”

He watched Destrex and the two men lower the boat and glide out over the water. And then focused his binoculars on Melis again. She was obviously unconscious. Had she been drugged? She would have had to be restrained in some way to be forced into that dress. It would have stirred too many nightmare memories of
Kafas
.

But Kelby’s forcing her to wear it was the clearest indication that he was giving in on all fronts. He was not only surrendering Melis, he was gift-wrapping her in the packaging Archer had chosen. There was definitely nothing even the slightest bit sentimental about his feelings for her.

Destrex had reached the tender and was checking it out. Then he lifted Melis to one of the men in the boat. They were speeding back.

His heart was beating painfully hard as he watched the boat coming toward him. He wasn’t sure if it was hate, lust, or anticipation that was causing the blood to surge wildly through his veins. It didn’t matter.