The Bullet Read online

  He sat there for a moment gazing at Spruce Knob Mountain in the distance. The tallest mountain in the Allegheny range, it was beautifully majestic. This entire area was mountainous except for the flat riverbeds. Both the Blue Ridge and Allegheny ranges met here in West Virginia to form deep gorges and rugged wilderness and matchless beauty.

  A completely foreign environment for Kaskov.

  However, a terrain like this would make it easy to hide a young woman like Cara in those mountains.

  Yet give him just a sign, any indication, and Jock would still find her.

  But first he had to track down Kaskov. He doubted if Kaskov would make a great effort to hide from him since he’d practically sent him an invitation through Palik. It was probably just part of the hoops Kaskov wanted him to jump through. That being the case, he would choose a place where he could indulge his taste for luxury and still be able to station his guards with maximum efficiency. Jock has already found that there were only two locations in the Coal Town area that would meet those criteria.

  He got out of the car and moved into the brush. The plateau or the riverbed? He’d already done the calculations and the psychological reasons for either choice. Time now for instinct.

  The river bed …

  * * *

  “Open your eyes. I know you’ve not been sleeping,” Svardak said roughly. “Stop trying to play me for a fool.”

  “I was sleeping,” Cara said as she opened her eyes and stared coolly up at him from her nest of throws in front of the fireplace. “I slept for hours. Until you came stumbling into the room and woke me. And I didn’t have to try to play you for a fool. You did that very well on your own.” She struggled to sit up as she spoke. “Either a fool or a madman. Are you going to hit me again? Or maybe you’d rather toss me out in that gorge to be with Marian. I really don’t care. But I do want to go to the bathroom and clean up. If you prefer to deny me that simple courtesy, I’ll learn to live with it. Though you might not be happy with the result.”

  He was frowning at her. “You’re like him,” he said slowly. “Last night, I thought that you were just out of your head. But you’re like him.”

  “Like whom?”

  “Kaskov.” His lips twisted. “You’re like that son of a bitch Kaskov. You look like an angel from heaven, but you’re as bad as he is. It’s no wonder he cares about you.”

  She stiffened as his words hit home. The reason why she had been taken? It had always been a possibility in the back of her mind. It wouldn’t be the first time she had been targeted. Her grandfather had many enemies, both in the criminal underworld and all the victims he’d left in his wake. Which was Svardak? “Kaskov doesn’t care about me. I’ve never lived with him. Hardly ever seen him. We’re almost strangers. Can’t you tell? I’ve never even called him grandfather. If you know anything about him, you should know Kaskov cares only about himself.”

  “I know a great deal about him,” he said bitterly. “And I realize that there might be one other thing that he cares about.” He reached down, tore the throws off her, and tossed them aside. “But by all means, we must make you both comfortable and presentable before I show you to Kaskov. Before-and-after contrast is everything.” He pulled her to her feet. “Come along. I’ll take you to see Marian’s quarters. I’m certain she wouldn’t mind you using them. You seem to have formed such a rapport with the poor woman in this short time. I shouldn’t be surprised. After all, I intended her death to send a warning to Kaskov that tribute was required.” He was dragging her across the room toward a door to the left of the fireplace. “However, I should tell you that side of the house butts up against the canyon, and since you’re a musician and not an acrobat, you’d find it impossible to get out the one window without falling to your death. That would make Kaskov extremely sad.” He threw open the door. “And it might make me even sadder because I would have failed.” He shoved her into the room. “But that won’t happen, Cara.”

  She was in a bathroom, she realized. A simple ivory-tiled shower at the far end of the small room. A toilet. A vanity with a double mirror reflecting both her and Svardak.

  A mirror that was broken and splintered in one upper corner … with a smear of blood caught in the splinters.

  Svardak met her eyes in the mirror. “No, it wasn’t me. Marian became quite desperate and depressed toward the end and did it herself. I just didn’t get around to cleaning it before you came.” He smiled. “Oh, that did upset you.” Then he was pulling her into a small anteroom, where there was only a small cot and the window he’d mentioned. He opened the window and stood aside. “As I told you, even Marian wouldn’t have been depressed enough to try to escape this way.”

  She might have tried it if she’d lived another few days, Cara thought. She stared down through the veil of pine trees to the twisting depths of the canyon that plunged only a scant six to eight inches from this window. Anything to get away from this man who must have made her life hell.

  He added, “And if she had, she would only have run into the guards I have stationed down the trails.”

  “Down the trails?”

  “The mountain and the cliff trails. Did you think I only had those few guards you saw up here in the thicket? I wouldn’t take a treasure like you without having adequate protection. I’ve been planning this for too long.” He slanted a look at her. “I was sure that it would not only be Kaskov who might be interested in you. I knew Joe Quinn was going to be tracking you, and that would require me to be ready. It’s much easier to set traps than go on the defense.”

  “It would be even easier to take me somewhere Joe wouldn’t be able to find me. Why bother with him? Joe doesn’t have anything to do with Kaskov.”

  “But you’re very fond of him, and that could be a weapon if I choose to use it. Besides, I’m very happy here. I’ve become accustomed to this little shack. It’s quite homelike.” He nodded at a tan duffel on the floor under the window. “I brought a few more items of clothing for you. Put on the red blouse after your shower. It will photograph beautifully.”

  “Photograph?” She immediately thought of the photograph of Marian on the wall of the other room.

  “You heard me. I need a photo of you.”

  “To put up beside Marian’s? A gallery of victims? That just shows how sick you are.”

  “I’ve been thinking of taking the photo of Marian down. It’s served its purpose.”

  “To shock and horrify me?”

  “Yes, it worked beautifully.”

  “It won’t anymore. I think she’s strong and beautiful, and so was her music. You just couldn’t see it.”

  “And you can?” His lips thinned. “She was as soft and weak as you are. I broke her, Cara. Just as I’ll break you.”

  “She probably only pretended.”

  “I broke her.” His eyes were glittering with anger. “When I finished, she did anything I wanted. And when she played, she did it in the proper way. My way.”

  “Stilted and afraid?” She lifted her chin, glaring at him. “And you don’t even see that you didn’t break her at all? She couldn’t stand what you were doing to her music, so she just went away.”

  “I killed her.”

  “She beat you. She didn’t want to let you take that part of her, so she just stopped fighting. But she kept her music.”

  “Liar!” He hit her in the stomach with his fist.

  Pain.

  She staggered back against the wall.

  He was breathing hard. “Stop doing this to me. I don’t want to hurt you yet. I have to follow the plan.” He straightened. “You will do what I told you to do. I want that photo. And I’m sure you’d prefer to get yourself ready. Marian always thought I was too rough.” He pushed her back into the adjoining bathroom. “Now I’ll get you out of those ropes.” He pulled a length of chain with a set of double handcuffs out of the top drawer of the vanity. The handcuffs were linked with a footlong length of the same chain that was fastened to the vanity. He slipped two han
dcuffs on her wrists that were linked with an eight inch chain and locked them in front of her. “The principal chain is fastened to the wall in back of the vanity, and it’s very secure. The length of the chain will allow you to use the shower and facilities and barely reach the cot in the next room.”

  She looked down at the chains and handcuffs on her wrists. “And Marian lived like this for over a month?”

  “No, it was much worse for her. I told you, I became very bored with her. I had to find ways to make her amuse me. Perhaps you can keep me entertained without my exerting myself.”

  “But it’s not about me, it’s about Kaskov, isn’t it?”

  “No, it’s also about you. Anna wouldn’t want me to leave you out. She wasn’t left out.”

  “Anna?”

  “My sister.” He turned and headed for the door. “He didn’t leave her out, Cara. Now clean up and change, and I’ll give you something to eat. Then we’ll discuss what else you can do to entertain both me and Kaskov.”

  The door closed behind him.

  She stood there gazing at it for an instant before she turned around to face the mirror over the vanity. The splintered glass, the smear of blood. Had Marian taken her fists and pounded it and tried to smash it? Depression and frustration? Or had she wanted to break off one of those splinters to cut her own wrists? Cara had tried to lead Svardak in that direction because she couldn’t bear the thought that he’d believed he’d completely destroyed Marian. She would probably never know the truth, but Cara didn’t believe it was the latter. Marian had held on so long, she didn’t think she’d give up at the end. Maybe she’d wanted to retrieve one of those mirrored splinters to cut Svardak’s throat, Cara thought fiercely. She only wished Marian had managed to do it.

  Should she try to clean the blood from the mirror?

  No, she didn’t want to erase the signs of the battle Marian had waged. It would hurt her every time she looked at them, but she did not want that battle ignored as if it hadn’t existed.

  “I’m finding out things, Marian,” she whispered. “And he might be even more terrible than I thought. I doubt if you even knew anything about Kaskov. You might just have been a piece in his puzzle.”

  As he intended Cara to be a pawn.

  He wouldn’t do it. Marian hadn’t been able to escape him, but Cara would search until she found a way. She couldn’t permit him to hurt her or any of the people she loved. “He thinks I’m weak because all he sees in me is the music. He thinks that I won’t be able to fight hard enough to bring him down. He’s wrong, isn’t he? I thought that might be true in the beginning, but now I know the music just makes us stronger…”

  She gave one last glance at the web of splintered glass, then turned to the shower and began to awkwardly take off her clothes.

  RIVER’S END, COAL TOWN, WEST VIRGINIA

  “I need answers, Kaskov,” Jock said coldly from the doorway behind the luxurious granite dining table where Kaskov was having his breakfast. “And I didn’t appreciate having to run across three states to find you without a definite address or a current phone number.”

  Kaskov didn’t look up from his eggs Benedict. “Stop complaining, Gavin. You would have had to come here anyway. And it always amuses me to offer you a challenge. It took you practically no time to locate me once you were in the area. You didn’t damage any of my men, did you? I might need them.” He finally turned his head and studied Jock’s expression. “Ah, what I expected. Actually, what I wanted.” He added quietly, “I’m almost certain she’s not dead, Gavin. Would you care to sit down and have a cup of coffee while we discuss it?”

  Jock gazed at him, weighing his words. Kaskov hadn’t changed since Jock had last seen him. Late fifties, gray-streaked dark hair, strong, fit body. Total confidence, no fear, no hesitation. “Almost isn’t good enough. If I find you’re wrong, I’ll kill you first, then go after Nikolai. I couldn’t locate him on the grounds. Did you send him away?”

  “It seemed the prudent thing to do since I knew you’d probably know he was at the hotel.”

  Jock shrugged. “It’s only a delay.” He walked toward the dining table. “I’ll find him.”

  “I know you will. You have that talent.” He pushed aside his plate and poured himself a cup of coffee. “You’re quite superb. Probably the most exceptional hunter that I’ve ever run across.” He took a sip of coffee. “And reputedly the best assassin though you haven’t let me test your abilities in that area.”

  “That was a long time ago.”

  “But it’s something that never leaves you,” he said softly. “Does it?”

  “No.” He poured himself a cup of coffee from the carafe. “Which is why you should answer me very quickly. You don’t want me to become impatient.”

  “Why not? It’s sometimes very entertaining to watch you go into orbit. Though I admit I’m not in the mood at present.” He gestured to the chair across from him. “Sit down, I need to get this over. I had trouble getting rid of Nikolai, and I don’t want him bursting in here and trying to protect me before you realize you have no reason to kill him.”

  Jock hesitated and dropped into the chair. “Convince me.”

  “I sent him to the hotel to get Cara and bring her to me.”

  “Not convincing.”

  “I’d been told that Cara might be targeted by a very nasty individual and that I needed to remove her very quickly. I sent Nikolai because she knew him and might not be afraid of him. I didn’t want to alarm her.”

  “But alarm or not, you were going to take her.”

  He nodded. “He’s very dangerous, Gavin. I needed to get her out of there.”

  “But you didn’t get her out.” His lips tightened. “Why not?”

  “Nikolai was too late. Her schedule said that she’d be in Charlotte for another night. She changed it at the last minute and went to Atlanta. By the time Nikolai found that out, he’d lost almost the entire day.” His lips twisted. “Don’t blame Nikolai. I imagine it was your fault she changed schedules. You were there in Atlanta, weren’t you?”

  “Aye.” Jock stared him directly in the eye. “I was there.”

  “But not close enough to do Cara any good?”

  “That’s also true.”

  “And now you’re blaming yourself for not being able to keep her safe. Good. It will make it all the easier for me.”

  “I don’t intend to make anything easy for you. On the contrary. Why am I here?”

  “I needed you. I have excellent men, but none on your level. You’re totally unique. How many times have I asked you to come to work for me?” He lifted his hand. “Never mind. I know that would be dangerous for both of us. I have rules, and you’re a loose cannon. But one can never be sure when circumstances will change, and I’m content to use you at present.”

  “Who took Cara if it wasn’t Nikolai? I suppose it was one of your long list of enemies who wants to strike a bargain with you?” His hand clenched on the cup in his hand. “This isn’t the first time that it’s happened. I tried to tell her it was a risk just being around you. She wouldn’t listen to me.”

  “Because she has that peculiar idea that honor still exists in this world.” He shrugged. “When we both know, it does not. But I found it very convenient when I decided she was offering me something that I wanted very much.”

  “You son of a bitch.”

  “Absolutely. But after that episode a few years ago, when Cara was nearly killed by one of the people in my circle whom I’d … offended, I made sure it would not happen again. I vetted everyone with whom I came in contact, I had any suspect individuals watched. And she was safe, Gavin.”

  “The hell she was. Then where is she?”

  “That’s what you’re here to find out.” He added quietly, “And you’ll have to do it quickly. I don’t know how much time she’s going to have. I might be able to stall for a short time, but I believe he’s erratic.”

  “I want a name.”

  “John Svardak.”
/>
  Jock leaned forward. “Will he negotiate?”

  “Not in good faith.” He smiled faintly. “Were you planning on offering him my head if he gave you Cara?”

  “It was a possibility. Or money. I have plenty of money. If he wants more, then I’ll take some of yours.”

  “Oh, will you?”

  “Or anything else he’ll accept.”

  “I’m afraid it’s not going to be that simple. The first option would probably be his preference, but he’d want my death later rather than sooner. And he’d almost certainly kill Cara in the most painful way possible before he let it happen.” He met Jock’s eyes. “He’s quite mad. He was diagnosed with schizophrenia in a hospital in Estonia over thirty years ago. He was incarcerated in a mental hospital for almost twenty years before he escaped. He’s high-functioning and brilliant. He’d earned degrees in law and pharmaceuticals while he was in the hospital, and it was probably easy for him to disappear off the radar once he escaped. In the last ten years, he’s evidently been very busy acquiring money and making plans how to best make my existence totally miserable.”

  “Thirty years,” Jock repeated. “No one can say you don’t leave an impression on those around you. What the hell did you do to him?”

  “Nothing.” He shrugged. “Not that I wouldn’t have done a good deal to him if I’d found him. But he’d been placed in the hospital under a false name, Fedor Petrov, and he slipped through my fingers. I thought he might have committed suicide or something equally pleasant. I didn’t know he was still alive until I received the first photo.”

  “Photo?”

  Kaskov got to his feet and went to the buffet sideboard against the wall. “Five months ago I received two photos in the mail.” He took a large manila envelope from a drawer and handed it to Jock. “You might call them Before and After. The envelope was postmarked in St. Petersburg. Then the next month I received another two photos with the envelope postmarked in Ireland. Then the next month two photos postmarked in Bermuda. The last one I received was two days ago from Charlotte, North Carolina.”