On the Hunt - Page 64

“Is it well hidden?”

“Of course. No one will find it in the reeds.”

“Good. Because you’re going to take a trip in it tonight and bring Harlan’s niece to the encampment. You’ll have to keep her safe there until Harlan can join you and do it himself. And I chose you because you know this island like the back of your hand, along with every inlet and tree and lake. No one will be able to catch you even if you need to hide out for a while.”

“That is true,” he said. “But you know Hathor Island almost as well as I do. Why do you not take her yourself?”

“Because almost is not enough in this case, my friend.” She paused. No, she had promised to tell him everything. It was only fair she did so. “And I may not be available to make it safe enough for her. I’m dropping you off in the woods leading out to the pier and you’ll take the boat down the path to the inlet while I bring Fiona to you. Once she’s in the boat, you’ll have to move very fast while I create as much distraction as I can manage.”

“You’re not coming with us?” he asked slowly. “I don’t believe I like that plan. I know Harlan will not. Think of something else.”

“There isn’t anything else,” Kira said. “Pull over to the side of the road.” She opened the door when he did as instructed. “No one from the pier or the cruiser can see you going into the woods from here. Now take the motorboat to the inlet and get it ready to rescue a damsel in distress just as you promised. It’s simply a different damsel. I’ll be right back, Aban.”

“I do not like this,” Aban whispered again.

But Kira could see him moving toward the motorboat as she was heading down the pier.

There was one more thing she had to do, and it had to be done now. She dialed Harlan.

He answered immediately but sounded a little impatient. “I know I told you I’d call you as soon as possible, but Kalim and his villagers received info about where the cruiser might be berthed together with the people who were seen hunting down Abdullah. Kalim asked me to help him and his people track them down. I can’t give you a full report right now.”

“That’s not why I’m calling you,” Kira said. “You probably have all the wrong information anyway, because it came from Taylor. And I can see that cruiser you’re talking about and it’s only a stone’s throw from where I’m standing right now.”

“What the hell are you talking about?” he asked harshly.

“Listen, I don’t have much time. Taylor is going to call you any moment and he’ll be telling you a bunch of lies, but the one thing that’s true is that Fiona will be safe and I made sure that Aban took her back to the encampment so you can keep her safe. The other thing that’s true is that I had to make a deal with Taylor to find the treasure and give it to him to make certain he’d give me Fiona in return. That means he keeps me with him until I can do that. And I will do that, Harlan. Because I won’t let him get his hands on Fiona again—and not those jewels at the bottom of the sea, either. I’ll find a way of stopping him. Now quit muttering curses beneath your breath. I know that you’re going to go after him and find me. It would be natural for you. And I’m glad you have Mack. Keep him close. He’ll help you. Tell him it’s a game. It’s what I’d do for you if you’d done some crazy stunt. Except this isn’t crazy. It’s the only thing I could think of to keep Fiona alive. Taylor would have killed her. I know it, Harlan. Play his nasty game and we might be able to keep everyone alive.”

“Will you be quiet?” Harlan asked hoarsely. “I’m trying to think of some way I can just manage to keep you alive. You know it’s you he’ll kill, don’t you? You’re number one on his list right now.”

“No, that’s definitely you. Though we might be able to use that in some way. But right now all I can think about is using the treasure.” She heard Taylor coming down the ramp toward the pier. “My time’s up. I have to get back to him now so that he can start to torment you and tell you where to send my sled so that he can use it against you. He particularly liked that idea. And be sure that you act angry and a little heartbroken that he’d decided to use me against you, too. After all, I’m something of a precious jewel myself.”

“Yes, you are. When you don’t see fit to torture me into complete oblivion.” He had to clear his throat. “Don’t you dare let him hurt you. Angry? I’m going to kill the son of a bitch the minute I see him. But I’m begging you. Don’t do this, Kira.”

“Too late. It’s already done. Taylor would kill me anyway for taking Fiona away from him if I didn’t supply a replacement. We can do this, Harlan. Take care of yourself.” She was walking toward the cruiser as she spoke and called out to Taylor, “I’m finished with talking to Harlan. You can talk to him now. I believe he’ll go along with what I want. He’ll let me use the sled as long as I turn over Fiona to him.” She stopped and stood looking up at Taylor. “You need to hand her over now.”

“You’ll get her.” He turned and grabbed Fiona’s arm and shoved her down so hard, she fell to her knees on the pier. “Here.”

“Come on!” Kira jerked Fiona to her feet and dragged her down the pier toward the woods. “You’ve caused enough trouble. Did you have to throw the damn cup at him? Are you trying to spoil everything?”

“You didn’t hear what he said to me,” Fiona said.

“And I don’t care!” Kira shoved Fiona off the pier and onto the path leading through the woods. “Run!” she hissed. “As fast as you can! Now! I’ll be right behind you.”

Then Kira turned back toward the cruiser. “Did you have to hit her so hard, Taylor? Why make it so difficult? She can barely stand up.”

Fiona looked at her in bewilderment and then started to run full-speed down the path into the woods.

Kira took another step toward the cruiser, blocking Taylor’s view of Fiona. “And I see you have that rifle pointed at her. Don’t you dare shoot her after I managed to talk Harlan into letting me use that sled. You’re ruining everything!”

“Get out of my way, Kira.” Then he heard the sound of the motorboat coming from the woods. “Damn you.” He shouted, “Donovan, go after her. Don’t let her get away.”

Donovan was off the ramp and running down the pier. He brutally knocked Kira down as he passed her and then disappeared into the woods.

Taylor whirled back to face Kira as she got to her feet. “He’ll bring her back,” he said savagely. “And he’ll be her first customer when he throws her back into that whore’s room I gave her.”

“No, he won’t,” Kira said. “I took care to keep her safe. Do you think I’d let you spoil all my plans? I told you that you couldn’t have both of us. Now either shoot me or take me aboard and give me a room where I won’t have to look at you or your men until I can arrange a delivery of that sled from Harlan.” She was coming up the ramp toward him now, careful to still block his view of Fiona. “Like I said, Taylor, you can’t have everything. Be content you managed to get your hands on me. I’m a much better deal for you than his niece.”

“I’m tempted.” He was looking down at his rifle. “But maybe I’ll let you live until I get that treasure.”