Page 38 of The Death
“Thank you. I know I’m not. But right now it feels like I am. It’s just me and Michael. I’m feeling very helpless. I’ll be back in touch.” She pressedDISCONNECT.
Celine closed her eyes. “I hate this for her. She’s going through hell, and there’s nothing we can do.” Her eyes flicked open, shimmering with tears. “But we’ve got to change that,don’t we? Dominic? This is about a little boy who could die if we don’t stop them. So start thinking and reaching out to all those contacts you have tucked away.”
“I will,” he said gently. “But you know where we have to go first.”
Yes, she knew, and that was why the pain was so intense. “Kontara,” she whispered. “You’re going to try to persuade her to lead you to Shafira.”
“I’m not going to have to persuade her. She’s known it’s coming, and she’s been preparing herself for it. You’ve been preparing her for it, too, whether you realized it or not. All that’s left is the commitment. When she hears about Michael being held by those sons of bitches, the commitment will be there.”
“And you can see it coming. You set the stage and the action happens.” Her lips twisted. “Don’t you get bored with always being right?”
“I’m not always right. It’s just a question of logic and knowing human nature. And there are some things I don’t want to be right about.” He paused. “I don’t want you to insist on going with the team to Shafira. I find it’s killing me to think about it. I’d like to lock you up somewhere on the estate to keep you safe and away from that blasted mountain. But you’re going to go because you won’t let Kontara go back there and stay behind yourself.”
“There are other reasons.”
“I know. Eve and her son.”
“Which is reason enough. But you’re right, regardless of the reason, I’ve got to go. And I’d advise you not to try to stop me.”
He shook his head. “You’d only find a way to get loose and follow us. I’m better off keeping an eye on you.” He washeading for the door. “And now I’d better go and talk to Kontara. I don’t believe you’d like to come with me?”
“No, I’ll talk to her later. I don’t want her to feel I’m putting pressure on her either way.” She watched him walk out of the room before she headed out of the gym to go to her room to shower. No, Dominic wasn’t always right. He hadn’t been right today when he’d gone through the reasons why she’d insist on going to Shafira.
Kontara.
Eve.
Eve’s son, Michael.
But he’d left out one very important name…
Alex Dominic.
CHAPTER
11
No, I haven’t heard from Caldwell yet,” Eve told Joe when she picked up his call. “The bastard is probably trying to insert a little more tension to torture me with. As if I haven’t been going through enough.” She added through set teeth, “But I mustn’t let him see that he’s getting to me. The weaker I appear, the more powerful he thinks he is. Dominic said that we have to stall him at all costs, and I think he’s right.”
“So do I,” Joe said. “And I was grateful when he called me and said he was doing everything he could to locate him. But I’m trying to arrange to trace your call and get another possible address in case Dominic is wrong about where Caldwell is keeping Michael. I wish to hell it wasn’t so risky to try to get him to call me instead.”
“No,” she said quickly. “He has to think I’m only a weak woman trying desperately to negotiate for my son. Everyone knows your reputation as a detective. He’d probably bristle or balk if he had to talk to you when it’s me he’s trying to pressure. The best I can do is to record the call and let you hear it later.”
“That’s not good enough.”
She was suddenly hearing another call come in. “Wait, that might be him. I’ll include you on the call, but you need to just listen, okay?”
“Got it.”
She took a deep breath, pressed theCONNECTbutton twice, and then took the new call. “Eve Duncan.”
“You sound a little upset, Eve.” The voice of the man on the line was mocking. “Ezra Caldwell here. Did I keep you waiting? What a pity.”
“Isn’t that what you meant to do?” Eve asked bitterly. “There was no need for you to put me through all this worry if you didn’t hope I’d get a little hysterical and easier for you to manipulate.”
“Yes, that was my intention. But you disappoint me. You don’t seem at all hysterical. You’re even stronger than I thought when I chose you to do the mask.”
“No, I’m not hysterical. But I’m angry as hell that you took my son and let me go through this hell of not knowing if he’s alive or dead.”
