Death Echo

37

DAY FOUR

NEAR NANOOSE BAY

12:00 P.M.

Demidov looked at the lower set of latitude and longitude numbers on his cell phone, the ones that were direct from the locator aboard Blackbird. Reassured, he turned back to the charts of the water between Vancouver Island and the mainland of Canada. He had the charts spread over Lina’s small living room floor. Every time the breeze shifted the window curtains, the big charts fluttered.

“I’m surprised this isn’t all on a computer,” he said.

In the daylight pouring through the front windows, Lina’s red hair was younger than her skin. She tossed stray locks behind her shoulder with the practiced moves of the flirt she’d once been. But her blue eyes didn’t tease. Their color was a bit faded and a whole lot harder than it had been back when she was an untried agent assigned to Taras Demidov.

“I have a chart plotter and sonar on my boat,” she said. “It’s all I need for fishing.”

Demidov didn’t bother saying that it wasn’t enough for him. He checked the numbers again, then nodded abruptly.

“What?” she asked.

He glanced at her, then back to the charts.

Blackbird wouldn’t be sailing up the Inside Passage right away. The yacht had gone into Nanaimo harbor, to check in with Canadian customs. Even if it was the usual cursory inspection, there would be time for him to set up the interception. After that…

After that, it depended on Blackbird’s captain.

“Taras?” she asked. “Is something wrong?”

“Something is always wrong. It’s just a matter of finding out what and where and when,” Demidov said. “Your boat. Is it ready to use?”

“Always. That’s how I make my living.”

“Come, you will show me about this living.”

“Now?”

“Now.”