“Kadmus?”
“Possibly. Whoever it was wanted your telephone number very badly.”
“Evidently, I may be about to be contacted,” Catherine said. “I’m flattered. I’ve been pretty much ignored since I snatched Erin. I must have made more of an impression on the bastard than I thought.”
“Enough to be targeted. Be careful, Catherine.”
“My phone is blocked. He can’t track me unless I actually pick up. That means I won’t be able to pick up while I’m in this house with the others.” She was thinking quickly, sorting out options. “But he wants contact. I need to give him what he wants. Can you put a tracking device on my phone for the next twenty-four hours so that I can grab his signal?”
“I’ve already done it.”
“Thanks, Venable.” She hung up.
What did Kadmus want from her beside the obvious? Revenge? Information? She was clearly going to find out.
And what then?
Go after Kadmus herself? Or stick with Cameron’s plan for tomorrow night? Tomorrow night might be too late. She had an idea that Kadmus was impatient and hungry. Impatient men were prone to mistakes. Cameron has set up his scenario and just assumed she would go along with it. Maybe she would. But she would have to think about it and maybe do a little reconnoitering of her own.
Her phone rang. Private number.
Is that you, Kadmus? Probably. But you can’t have me. Not yet.
He was as impatient as she’d thought. But if he’d called once, he’d call again.
Soon.
And she’d be ready for him.
CHINATOWN
CLEMENT STREET
WEDNESDAY
9:35 P.M.
Call me, Kadmus.
She gazed at her reflection in a shop window that sold Chinese toys. Pretty, genteel toys. Nothing Luke would appreciate. She didn’t look very genteel herself. She had aimed at appearing to be a casual tourist. She wore a loose white blouse, had bound her hair up beneath a colorful scarf, and was wearing large tortoiseshell glasses.
Call me, Kadmus.
She’d been moving around Chinatown for the last hour, waiting for a call that had not come. Though she had stayed principally in the alleyways and away from anywhere that she might be recognized. It was irritating that Kadmus had not seen fit to call when she was perfectly placed now.
Four blocks from the fireworks factory.
A good sixteen blocks from Celia’s house.
If Kadmus tapped her phone, he would definitely trace her to this area, and it would be a smooth way to make a connection to the factory if they decided to use Cameron’s plan. It might be assumed she’d come from the factory safe house.
And the distance to Celia’s house should be safe for everyone there.
Just call and get this over with, Kadmus.
Five minutes later, the phone rang.
Private number.
Be cool. No eagerness.
She let it ring three times before she picked up. “Is that you, Kadmus? I hear you’ve been exceptionally inquisitive. I’m flattered you think that I’m worth all the money you must have spent.”
“I’m only going to talk for a few minutes,” Kadmus said. “I know you probably have a trace, bitch.”
“And you don’t? Talk, Kadmus.”
“I want Cameron. You’re going to give him to me.”
“He’s not mine to give. Find him yourself.”
“You were with him when you took that scumbag, Jack Sen, from the hospital. What did Cameron promise you to help him? Money? Treasure? Death to your enemies? He’s very good at promises. But don’t bank on his keeping them. I’ve already killed one man he promised to take under his wing.”
“Did you torture him as you did Erin?”
“Yes, the fool killed himself rather than betray Cameron.” He paused. “I should have gone another route and tortured his children. But I learn from my mistakes.”
She tensed. “What are you saying?”
“You have a son, and you have him with you. You apparently can’t bear to be parted from him. Give me Cameron or I’ll not only kill your boy, I’ll cut him into pieces … very slowly.”
She drew a deep breath, trying to suppress the anger … and fear. “You bastard. Luke has nothing to do with this.”
“I really don’t care,” Kadmus said. “I’ll take him, or Erin Sullivan, or your friend, Hu Chang. Anyone who stands in my way. You stand in my way, Ling.”
“You can’t touch him. You have no idea where he is now.”
“I’ll find out. I have photos of all of you. I have men searching the city. I’ll find your Luke, then you’ll come begging to trade Cameron. But it might be too late. If I find Cameron first, I won’t have a use for the boy. He’ll be in my way, and I’ll kill him.” He added persuasively, “What do you care about Cameron? Let me have him and keep your son. I’m hanging up now. I’ll call you tomorrow evening. By that time, I should have my sights on you. It might be your last chance to deal.” He hung up.
Move!
Three minutes would have been enough for him to get a fix on her location. There would be someone here within a few minutes or less.
She accessed the tracking device as she started trotting down the street, then ducked into the alley. It gave her a general location somewhere near the park but had not had time to pinpoint the exact location, dammit. She hadn’t really expected to get lucky. She ducked into an alley and ran toward the brightly lit street at the other end. Stay away from Celia’s and keep running until Kadmus’s men gave up the search.
Run.
Don’t get near Luke until it was safe.
Oh, God, when would it be safe for him?
That bastard, Kadmus. He had meant it when he’d said he’d chop him into pieces. Look what he’d done to Erin.
Watch.
Run.
She darted in and out of alleys and streets for the next ten minutes.
She finally stopped and drew a deep breath. She’d not seen any signs of pursuit, but that didn’t mean that she was free to go back to the house. Give it another ten minutes.
“Or fifteen.”
She whirled to see Cameron walking down the alley toward her.
She could only see him dimly, but his grim expression was not to be mistaken. She braced herself. “Ten should be enough. I haven’t seen any signs of Kadmus’s men.” She moistened her lips. “And I do have on a disguise.”
“Not much of one.” He stopped before her. “That scarf only makes you look more exotic.”
“I considered wearing a wig, but I decided the scarf looked more casual. I think it works.” Why was she standing here talking to him about wigs? she thought impatiently. “Why are you here?”
“Because you’re here,” he said roughly. “And because you didn’t see fit to tell me that you were playing Kadmus alone.”
“It was a recent development. I thought it had potential.” She paused. “I don’t have to ask how you knew about it.”
“It was too dangerous trusting you to be cool and reasonable after last night. I had to know what you were thinking.” He added, “And what you were doing.”
“And you found out. I’m sure you eavesdropped on my conversation with that bastard.” Her lips twisted. “Am I a threat to you, Cameron? Kadmus wants to use me as one, and he’s determined to find my Achilles’ heel. What do you generally do to threats?”
“That wouldn’t apply. It’s not the same.”
“You’d destroy them.”
“It’s not the same,” he repeated.
“No? Then what should I do if Kadmus does get his hands on Luke and wants me to hand you over to him?”
“Do as he said—betray me and save your son.”
“No!” Her eyes widened in stunned horror. She had not expected that answer. “That’s not acceptable either. You’re the Guardian and supposed to be able to solve all this kind of ugliness. What good are you?”
“Good enough to take on Kadmus. So betray me and let me do it. But that won’t happen. I promised you that I’d take care of your son.”
“Kadmus said that your promises aren’t worth a damn.”
“He lied.”