Death Echo

61

DAY FIVE

VANCOUVER ISLAND

4:15 P.M.

Taras Demidov divided his attention between his cell phone screen and Lina Fredric.

Both required watching. His two coordinates were no longer closing with one another, which was making his boss crazier than usual. He had kept making and countering his own orders, until finally Demidov quit following them. He was waiting for two like orders in a row.

As for the woman, Lina was restless, wanting to go back to her safe little life. Demidov didn’t understand the desire. The grave was safe. Life was for taking risks. Lina had become too soft for anything but death.

Demidov’s boss might be crazy, but he didn’t have a soft impulse in his body.

“Don’t worry, little bird,” Demidov said to her. “This will all be done in a day or two. You’ll be taking fat fishermen out on the water again, and I’ll be another name you’ve forgotten.”

Her expression said everything she was too frightened to voice.

“Why would I kill you?” he asked practically. “You could be of use again. A smart man plans ahead.”

“And you’re a very smart man,” she said, her voice empty.

“I live. Others died.” He shrugged. “That is smart enough, yes?”

His cell phone chimed softly.

A text message appeared on the screen: TARGET ON MOVE. INTERCEPT TOMORROW. NEW COORDINATES TO FOLLOW.