Quicksand (26 page)

He suddenly chuckled as he realized what he was thinking. If the branch broke, it didn't really matter how angry Montalvo was going to be.

"You're laughing." The little girl had raised her head and was staring at him with sudden indignation. "I don't think this is funny." Her eyes were glittering. "I'm scared. That man, Kistle, said he'd feed me to an alligator."

"I don't think he has trained alligators. I think this one is strictly on his own."

"I know that." She buried her face in Miguel's shoulder. "Are you scared too?" Poor kid. She had been through hell in the last couple days and she was showing more guts than a lot of men he knew. "Very scared." His hand gently stroked her hair. "But maybe we can make it through this together. I don't believe this branch is going to break. You don't weigh much." But he had felt the branch give a little when he'd pulled himself up on it. They might be on borrowed time now. "I'll wait for a few minutes until my cell phone dries out a little and then try to call for help. If it doesn't work, we'll just sit here and either wait for those alligators to go away or until my friend comes to get us."

"Is Eve your friend?"

She wasn't shaking quite so much now. "Yes, but I was speaking of my friend Montalvo. We've been together for a long time and I tend to think of him first. I was just a young boy when he found me in the jungle."

"Were you lost?"

"Yes." There were many ways of being lost, so it wasn't a complete lie. "It's easy to get lost. Aren't there stories in your fairy-tale books about children getting lost in the forest?"

"I don't read fairy tales anymore. Mama says that it's better for me to face what happens in the real world."

Miguel glanced down at the alligators swimming below them and turned her head on his shoulder so that she couldn't see them. "I don't think that a little escape from the real world is too bad. Maybe your mother wouldn't object if you thought of something a little distracting at the moment."

"What?"

"Well, I don't know any fairy tales. My father didn't approve of them either." Unless they appeared in one of his cocaine hallucinations. "But after I went to Montalvo I used to read books from his library. I found one about Tarzan and the apes." That should be okay to talk to a kid about. At any rate, it was as close to squeaky clean as Miguel's background provided.

"Tarzan was lost alone in the jungle too. Just like me. Then this big, ugly ape found him and took him home."

"Like Montalvo?"

Miguel grinned at the thought. "Exactly like Montalvo."

NO QUINN.

No Kistle.

Montalvo moved silently through the underbrush. He could feel the familiar tension and exhilaration that always gripped him when he was on the hunt. He'd already explored the east side of the island and now he was moving west. There couldn't be much more territory to cover. This was a small island, not like the acreage in Clayborne Forest. He could smell the rotting vegetation underfoot mixed with the sweet fragrance of water lilies floating on the nearby water. No scent of sweat or soap, salt or musk. He hadn't really expected it. Both Quinn and Kistle would have made sure to rid themselves of those telltale signs.

But Eve was no soldier. He had made her go shower in the jungle in Colombia to rid herself of that clean scent that clung to her.

Eve.

He immediately banished the thought of her. Don't think of Eve now. If he managed to get Kistle, then there would be no danger to Eve. It was the only way to—

The cell phone in his pocket vibrated.

Shit. Not now.

He looked at the ID. Miguel.

He punched the button. "What is it?" he whispered.

"Two alligators, one tree, me, and Laura Ann." The phone was crackling. "No, I think one of the alligators got bored waiting and swam away. But I believe we could still use some assistance. This branch is a little unstable."

Damn it to hell. "Where?"

"Off the north side of the island."

"How bad is it?"

"Laura Ann is a few inches away from me."

"And you don't want to scare her."

"That's right. Though she's amazingly resilient. I'm sorry to spoil your fun, but I really think you should take care of plucking us out of this tree before you go back to—" The cell phone crackled and disconnected.

No choice. Montalvo thrust his cell back in his pocket. If Miguel thought the situation required an SOS, then it must be deteriorating rapidly.

He set off at a trot toward the north.

THE BRANCH CRACKED AGAIN AND
began to slowly give way.

"Oops." Miguel scrambled to pull the little girl higher and closer to the trunk. But the break was too close to where they were huddling. Could he manage to get to that higher branch?

Not likely. Maybe.

He'd have to try.

"Laura Ann, we're going higher." He tightened his thighs around the branch and inched carefully forward. "Listen, if we happen to take a dunking, I want you to swim for the bank. Don't wait for me. Don't look back. Don't stop. Montalvo will be here soon."

"No. I won't leave you." Her arms tightened around his neck. "They'll eat you."

"No, they won't. I'm practically a superman. You saw how I fought off that alligator. Alligators have no real family feeling. Maybe if I wound one, that other alligator will come back and attack him."

"Will that work?"

"Of course it will." The branch was splitting, the pale fibers gleamed in the darkness. It wouldn't hold much longer. "But we'll try to get to that other branch before I—"

"For God's sake, Miguel. What are you doing?"

Relief so intense it made Miguel almost light-headed poured through him as he saw Montalvo swimming toward the boat Miguel had abandoned to come after Laura Ann. "I'm being a hero. But evidently not very well. I'd get in that boat fast. We seem to be fascinating this alligator, but his buddy may come back. And there are too many underwater roots for you to get that boat close to the tree, if that's what you plan on doing. Could you nudge this alligator out of the way?" He added, "Quickly, please?"

"Nudge?" Montalvo pulled himself onto the boat. "I don't think there's any question of nudging. I'll have to get off a couple shots that will take him down."

"Good idea. Isn't it fortunate they're not an endangered species in this swamp any longer?"

"Get
rid
of him," Laura Ann said through her teeth. "Now."

"She's growing impatient. Smart girl. Did I tell you how remarkably intelligent she is?"

"I'll have to get close enough to shoot him in a vulnerable spot. A bullet wouldn't puncture that tough hide. The eye, I think . . ." He was rowing, drawing nearer. "Get her on a higher branch."

"It's not that easy. I've been trying."

The branch dipped another two inches.

Laura Ann cried out, her arms tightening to a stranglehold around Miguel's neck.

"Shh," Miguel whispered. "My friend is here. He'll help us. He's very smart."

"Montalvo?" she asked shakily. "The one who's like the ugly ape?"

"Ape?" Montalvo maneuvered the boat at an angle. "After I get you out of there I think we'll have to talk, Miguel."

"It was actually complimentary . . . sort of," Miguel said.

"I can imagine." He was drawing a bead on the alligator under the tree. "That branch is holding by a few splinters of wood. Don't even breathe."

"I won't," Miguel said hoarsely. "Who needs oxygen?" The alligator was turning toward Montalvo's boat as if sensing danger . . . or fresh meat. Montalvo shot it in the eye.

But the alligator moved in the last second and the bullet only skimmed the edge of its eye. The alligator exploded into action, its powerful tail whipping in a fury of pain and rage. It struck the trunk of the tree with desperate force.

And the last splinters of wood holding the branch broke.

"The bank," Miguel yelled to Laura Ann as they hit the water only yards from the wounded alligator. With all his strength he threw her toward the island. "Swim!"

"Shit." Montalvo gunned the boat and sent it between the little girl and the alligator. The alligator crashed into the boat, rocking it wildly. "Miguel, go after her. I don't know how long I can distract him."

Miguel hesitated.

"Go!"

Miguel struck out for the bank.

JOE'S FISTS CLENCHED AS HE SAW
the alligator ram Montalvo's boat again, striking it with that massive tail and spinning it sideways. Dammit, one more hit and Montalvo could be in the water. From where Joe was standing on the bank of Kistle's island, he could see Montalvo desperately trying to focus his rifle, but it was all he could do to keep the boat afloat. Let Montalvo work it out for himself, Joe thought. Miguel and the little girl had safely reached the bank of the other island. Joe had other things to do. Kistle must be close now. He might be just up ahead watching this same disaster scenario Joe was looking at. He started to turn away.

No, dammit, if Kistle was watching Montalvo, then he'd be a sitting duck in that boat. Kistle had already told Joe he was going after Laura Ann. He'd have to take out the men who stood in his way to get her.

The alligator's tail struck Montalvo's boat again. Again. And yet again. Whirling it like a top. If Kistle didn't kill Montalvo, then the alligator would when the boat capsized. Damn it to hell.

Joe jumped into the water and swam toward the boat. "Montalvo!" He took out his machete and cut his arm. "I'm leaving a blood trail. When I get close enough for the gator to smell the blood, he'll leave the boat and come after me. You'll have time for one shot." He added grimly, "It had better be a good one."

"It will be." Montalvo fought off another reeling blow to the boat and managed to right it as it almost tipped over.

Joe kept the machete ready as he drew closer to the alligator. Any minute now. Yes!

The alligator was turning, gliding away from the boat.

Joe splashed the water in invitation.

"Come on," he whispered. "Come and get me, ugly."

The alligator was swimming toward him.

"I've got him in my sights," Montalvo said. "Get out of there."

"Three more yards," Joe called. "I don't want him going under the water after me." One.

Protruding silver eyes glittering.

Two.

Snout opening, teeth gleaming.

Three!

"Now!"

Joe dove underwater as the alligator was almost on him. Fast, deep, he swam under the belly of the alligator.

He didn't hear Montalvo's shot. He wasn't about to wait around to find out if he'd gotten the gator. If he hadn't, Joe had to swim for his life.

He didn't surface until he was near the bank.

Montalvo's boat was only a few yards away. "You'd better get on board. There are more alligators than our late friend in these waters."

"You got him?"

"Yes." Montalvo reached down a hand to pull him onto the boat. "Have you no trust? I told you I'd make the shot."

"If you wanted to make it."

"I wanted to make it," he said quietly. "You literally gave your blood for me." He turned the boat toward the bank. "Though I'm puzzled why you did it."

"So am I," Joe said curtly. "We have to pick up Miguel and Laura Ann and get out of here. Kistle will be able to pick us off from any vantage point on the north side of the island. I was following him when I saw that damn alligator. Kistle probably saw you too. He set Laura Ann up on that island as bait, but she spoiled his fun. But now he's got what he wanted. We're prime targets."

"Then let's get going. Have you seen Eve?"

"No. And Kistle is unpredictable. I have to get back to Kistle's island before he changes his mind again and goes after her."

THE MOON HAD COME FROM
behind the clouds and its light was bright enough that Kistle didn't even need his night goggles to sight down his rifle.

Excitement was racing through him. He couldn't believe it. It was all working out as he'd originally planned it. He would have all of them! The child and Miguel were huddled together in full view on the island and Quinn and Montalvo were in the boat only a short distance away. He had only to pick and choose. The power of life and death was his again and he was drunk with the taste of it.

Pick and choose . . .

He'd have to kill the men, of course. It was too dangerous to do anything else. But he might be able to just wound the child so that he could have her to play with later. He couldn't bear the thought of not breaking that little bitch. He'd have to shoot her first or they would rush to protect her. Yes, that was the thing to do . . .

A rustle behind him!

He whirled to see Eve Duncan emerging from the trees. He relaxed. No real threat. She was almost staggering and there was a patch of blood on her windbreaker. She was wounded and he'd taken her weapon. She was just a desperate woman trying to save the people important to her. It might even make the kills richer to have her witness them. "Just in time. But I'm in a little hurry so I can't talk to you." He gestured with the rifle. "Come here. I don't want you behind me where I can't see you if you rush me. Every shot has to count."

"Shot?" Eve tensed as her gaze followed his across the water to the island. "Oh, my God." He chuckled. "That's the way I feel. Like God loosing a lightning bolt. I thought I'd have to work much harder to set this up again, but providence took a hand. Now come and stand beside me and watch."

Eve moved slowly until she was a few yards away on the bank. "Don't do this, Kistle."

"You know that I will. The child first."

"Always the children," she said bitterly. "Like Bonnie."

"Yes."

"Did you kill Bonnie, Kistle?"

"I could have killed her."

"Did you kill her? Is she here?"

Kistle smiled maliciously. "I told you where you could get your answer." He moved to the edge of the bank and lifted the rifle to sight on Laura Ann. "Now don't make a move or the shot to her arm will go into her head. I want her to keep you company for a while."

"Wait."

"I can't wait. Quinn and Montalvo are already heading to pick them up. They'll be moving fast and I—"