Page 82 of The Death
“Not necessary,” Caleb said.
“You can’t do this alone, Caleb.”
“I’m not alone. I have Quinn, who has an entire team staked out on the next hill over. He’s very eager to go after any stragglers who manage to survive our first attack. Not that I expect many of those. You’ll recall he was very pissed off at Caldwell and Zakira after he found out the way Eve was treated in their less-than-tender care. Plus, I have a knapsack full of your puck explosives. We’ll see if they’re as impressive as you claim.”
“It’s still too risky,” Dominic said. “Don’t do it.”
“It’s already half done, Dominic. I think you just want to be here to see it for yourself. I’ll tell you what: I’ll link this phone to the pucks. In ninety seconds, you give the command.”
“You’re insane.”
Caleb chuckled. “I’ve been called worse. Much worse. But I wouldn’t disobey an order from you. Give the command and look to the west. You’ll see a grand finale to end all grand finales.” He was gone from the phone for a few seconds. Then he was back on the line. “That was Eve. She wants to talk to you before you give that order. Any objection?”
“What the hell?” Dominic asked in exasperation. “Why not? By all means. Next you’ll want a group call.”
“Nah, I’m too impatient to get on with the show,” Caleb said. “But Eve would never ask anything like this without a reason.” He paused. “You have eighty seconds now, Dominic.”
Dominic ruefully shook his head, but he was already climbing down from the tree and running toward the cave where he’d left Celine. “Caleb wants to take on Zakira’s entire army by himself. He’s certifiable.”
“It’s obviously personal to him, too,” Celine said. “He believes he’s just getting the job done.”
“Maybe.” Dominic looked at his watch for another forty-five seconds, imagining Zakira, Caldwell, and their minions standing so proudly, waiting for what they thought would be their greatest triumph.
Screw them.
“But evidently Eve has something she wants to tell me.” Dominic was quickly calling her number.
She picked up immediately.
“I only have a few seconds, Eve,” he said. “Why do you want to talk to me?”
“It’s not really you I want to speak to. I asked Caleb to connect your line to Zakira and Caldwell when you called me. I have something to say to them.”
They could suddenly hear Caldwell muttering curses and then Zakira screaming orders at someone in the background. “I’m sorry to disturb your party, Caldwell,” Eve called out to them. “But since Celine and I were to be your guests of honor and we’re definitely not coming, it would have been ruinedanyway. How about changing it to a surprise party with you as the primary guests? I think we did a good job of arranging for that theme.”
“What’s happening, Caldwell?” Zakira was shouting. “This is all your fault.”
“Shut up,” Caldwell roared. “Can’t you see this has to be a trap? Isn’t that right, Eve? And you’re the one who always wants this stupid butchery, Zakira. I’m getting out of here!”
“Too late, Caldwell,” Eve said. “I’m afraid Dominic is probably checking his watch now. Besides, you’re the one who encouraged that butchery, remember? I have only one more thing to say. Soon there’s going to be fire and explosions and intense pain. And while you’re feeling it, I want you both to remember what you said to me that day you killed that poor innocent child for no reason at all. Listen very carefully,” she said softly and deliberately. “It’s happening becausewechose it.”
She pressedDISCONNECT, and her call vanished from Dominic’s screen.
Dominic turned to Celine and said quietly, “I believe Eve said it all, didn’t she?”
She nodded. “I’m glad she had the chance to do it. Some of the things they put her through were a torment, and she had to keep it all inside.”
“She’s not the only one.” He glanced at his watch. “Eve’s right. Time is up.”
He held up his phone toward Celine. “You said you wanted to take turns when we saw a problem ahead. Well, this is one of those times, and it’s both of our battle to fight. You give the command.”
She took the phone and looked at it in bewilderment. “What command?”
He covered her hand on the phone with his own. “Initiate,” he whispered.
She shrugged but then she suddenly smiled as she met his eyes and spoke into the telephone. “Initiate.”
BOOM!
