Innocent as Sin

23

Castillo del Cielo

Saturday

Rand broke into a run as soon as he saw the lights go out by the garage.

“Where’s Jimmy?” he asked. “The lights just went out.”

“I’m driving toward the garage. He’s bringing an ATV from the back. He’s in uniform, so don’t-What the hell is that?”

“Music.”

“Sounds like a train wreck.”

“Louder than a scream,” Rand said roughly. He hurdled some plants to straighten out the meandering walkway.

“Not good.”

All Rand said was, “Light a fire and get there!”

“Limos are cluttering up the drive.”

“Put it in low range and make your own road,” Rand snarled. “Is the garden wall set to stun?”

A pause while Faroe radioed Hamm, then Faroe said, “Not electrified.”

“Thank you, God.”

“You’re welcome.”

Rand hit the gate at a run, grabbed the top, and vaulted over. The backpack caught on vines, pulling him off balance. He landed hard, went to his knees, and scrambled upright again.

“Talk to me.”

Rand didn’t answer. He didn’t know where his enemy was, but he was certain an enemy was there, waiting in the scented darkness.

“Two minutes to backup.”

When Rand spotted the thin figure against a bank of pale flowers, he knew Kayla didn’t have two minutes. He shucked his backpack, reached in, and pulled out a wicked folding knife. He opened it with a flick of his thumb. His other hand held a big, dark flashlight.

“One bogey,” he murmured. “I’m going in.”

“Wait for backup.”

Rand ignored his boss and shouted, “Kayla, stay hidden!”

Kayla heard Rand, but couldn’t see him. All she could see was the thin man coming closer to her with each step. She would rather have run, but she was cornered. Grimly she held on to her little knife and waited. She’d only get one swipe at the man. She wanted it to count.

Light speared out, pinning the thin man’s face in its blinding beam. He flinched and covered his eyes. He was wearing thin black leather gloves. Metal flashed in his hand.

A knife, not a gun.

Kayla didn’t wait for a better chance. She sprang out of cover and ran in the direction Rand’s voice had come from.

Rand turned off the light, opened his eyes, and went down the pathway with the gliding strides of a hunter.

The thin man went into a knife fighter’s crouch. Rand kept on coming. The man saw the gleam of metal in Rand’s hand, the length of his opponent’s arms, and decided to fight another day. He spun and ran.

Rand took off after him. Before he could gain any ground, the thin man scrambled up the vines, went over the fence, and vanished. Rand thought about going after him, but didn’t want to leave Kayla alone. No doubt Bertone had more than one killer on the payroll.

The screaming feedback from the speakers went silent.

“Jimmy killed the speakers. What’s your status?”

“One bogey over the fence, west side of garden. Can Jimmy get him?”

“He’s on the east, but he’ll try. How’s Kayla?”

Rand switched on the flashlight and ran it over Kayla. Pale, trembling a little, breathing hard. “No blood.” Then he smiled slightly. “Nice knife, honey. Just big enough to get the job done. You can put it away now.”

Kayla looked at the knife in his hand.

He folded it with a swift motion and put it in his pocket. “See? Totally harmless.”

She gave him a look of disbelief, but she folded her knife.

And waited.

“Jimmy says the bogey is gone. Poof.”

“Probably went home to Poppa,” Rand said.

Kayla started to say something, realized he wasn’t talking to her, and shut up.

“What?” Faroe asked.

“He’s Bertone’s. I saw the pass-off when Bertone sent him after Kayla.”

“What a sweet cluster this has become.”

“Ya think?”

The lights in the garden came on again.

“It’s Hamm,” a voice called out. “I’m coming in.”

Kayla flinched and opened her knife again.

“Easy,” Rand said, grabbing her wrist. “Hamm is on the side of the angels.”

“He works for Bertone.”

She yanked back suddenly, trying to free her wrist. Rand didn’t let go. Kayla went still, waiting for a chance to run.

Again.