Running Dark

54

BANNER STOOD NEXT TO THE REDOUBTABLE’S MEDIC AS HE worked on irrigating Sumner’s gunshot wound.

“The wound isn’t bad, but he’s lost a ton of blood and taken a hell of a hit on his head,” the medic said.

Banner nodded. Sumner still hadn’t regained consciousness after they’d boarded the Kaiser Franz, and now he wouldn’t. The medic had knocked him out with pain pills. Sumner lay on the gurney, looking like death.

Emma stood on the other side of Sumner, watching. Banner thought she looked pale but remarkably good, considering her ordeal.

“What will happen to Stark?” she asked.

Banner sighed. “Hard to say. He has an excellent defense, due to the fact that he notified the authorities about the theft.”

“Has he said who the financier was that propped up Price?”

Banner shook his head. “He says he’ll take the Fifth if asked. He seems to think he’ll be putting his life in danger if he speaks.”

Emma nodded, but Banner thought she didn’t look too concerned about the possibility.

There was a knock at the door. A man stuck his head in. “Ms. Caldridge? Someone has asked to speak with you.”

Emma stepped into the hall.

Stark stood there.

“What do you want?” Emma said.

“I wanted to see if he’s okay.”

Emma sighed. “The doctor thinks he’ll heal.”

Stark ran a hand through his hair. “I also wanted to tell you I’m sorry. For everything. I should have spoken up when I realized someone was testing the drug illegally. I was a fool.”

Emma didn’t reply. People were dead because of him. When she remained quiet, Stark started again.

“I’ve resigned. I quit.”

Emma wasn’t impressed, and she let him see that she wasn’t.

“I want you to know that I’ve decided to make some changes.”

Emma said nothing.

“May I call you sometime?”

“No.”

He heaved a sigh. Emma turned to walk back into the infirmary.

“Emma?”

She stopped.

“I want to be the type of man someone would trust with their life.”

Emma went back through the door to two such men.

EMMA STRETCHED AWAKE. She sat in a large armchair placed next to Sumner’s bed. She checked her watch by the light of a small reading lamp on the nightstand. It was five o’clock in the morning. She glanced up. Sumner’s eyes were open, and he watched her in silence.

“When did you wake up?” Emma spoke in a whisper.

“Ten minutes ago.”

“How do you feel?”

He grimaced. “Like a hatchet’s been inserted into my brain.”

Emma smiled.

“Did everyone make it?”

“Everyone except Herr Schullmann. Hassim’s fine. Not a scratch on him. Marina’s not so fine. They patched her up as best they could and are flying her to a real hospital. Doctor says she’s critical.”

“Does she know about her father?”

Emma shook her head. “I don’t think so. She wasn’t conscious. They’ll probably hold that information until she’s better. And Block asked me to keep this near you.” She bent to the floor and slid the Dragunov out from under the bed. She showed it to him. She was glad to see Sumner smile. “He and Cindy said they’ll stop by later.”

Sumner shifted. “I’m very, very happy to see you.”

“I think you already told me that on the cruise ship.”

He nodded. “Well, I’m saying it again.”

“We have to stop meeting like this,” Emma said, trying to lighten the moment. She was suddenly nervous about the direction the conversation was taking.

He moved to shake his head but hissed in pain. He gave a weak wave of the hand. “I agree. I promise to make it better next time.”

She raised an eyebrow. “Oh, really? How?”

“I’m going to teach you how to shoot a rifle.”

Emma laughed.