HONG KONG
Blood.
The blood was staining the floor and the rush mat where Jack Sen’s mother had been doing her prayer ritual.
Her throat had been cut.
Cameron gazed down at her and felt the anger begin to surge through him. She was white-haired, small and fragile. She had not had to die. She would have told what Kadmus wanted to know with very little torture.
Or perhaps she would have not told where her son had taken Erin and Catherine. Maternal protectiveness was an amazingly strong feeling. He had just encountered that particular emotion in Catherine.
At any rate, the sight of the old lady’s blood-soaked body filled him with rage. A waste of an innocent life. And he’d had a part of the ugliness that had been brought down on her. The innocent were often savaged by Kadmus, but Cameron’s not being permitted to kill the bastard had caused this particular atrocity. The domino effect had started and wouldn’t stop until Cameron halted it.
Banish the anger. Think. The old lady had not been dead long and consequently any information she’d told Kadmus or Brasden might not have been acted upon. The flight to San Francisco would not have landed yet. Damage control.
Don’t contact Catherine as his instincts told him to do. She would be angry, too, and it might lead her to act when he preferred her to hide until he could get to her.
Hu Chang.
Two minutes later, Cameron had made contact with him. “How long before you land?”
“Another hour. You are well, I trust? You left us in rather tumultuous circumstances.”
“I’m safe. But you may not be. I’m at the home of Jack Sen’s mother, and her throat’s been cut. The place has been ransacked. It’s reasonable to assume that she told Kadmus everything she knew. I don’t believe they would have killed her unless they were satisfied with the information she gave them. They would have toyed with her longer.”
“Sen lived with his mother?”
“Yes, and he wouldn’t have given her details, but he might have thought it safe to mention San Francisco.”
“Then we may expect a welcoming committee?”
“Possibly. Or they may not have had time to rally their troops. The flight is going to land at a private airport. The minute it hits the ground, get Catherine, Erin, and Luke off the plane before it taxis to a hangar. Run and keep on running until you leave the airport behind. Tell Sen to taxi to the hangar and stall for at least fifteen minutes before he opens the door. If he thinks any of Kadmus’s men are at the hangar, tell him to stay put and call the police. Sen was supposed to take you to a safe house, but scratch that. Do you know anyone in San Francisco who might be safe shelter for Erin?”
“I have a few acquaintances who might qualify.” He paused. “This is going to cause Catherine to be upset.”
“Tell me about it.”
“I believe it best that I not involve her until the last minute. Then she will only be concerned about saving Luke and Erin and not planning long-range.”
“Wise man.”
“That goes without saying. But that doesn’t take wisdom, only the knowledge of my Catherine.” His tone hardened. “I do not like the fact that Sen was vulnerable and that you’re having to scramble to keep Catherine safe. I thought better of you.”
“I don’t like it either. Sen has always been trustworthy before. He might have gotten careless.” He added wearily, “I suppose no one is trustworthy who has people he cares about.”
“And whom do you care about, Cameron?” Hu Chang asked quietly.
“Why, no one,” he said with bitter mockery. “That’s why I’m considered so trustworthy.” He was silent for a moment. “But the committee may lose faith in me shortly. They made a wrong decision, and they won’t back down. I may have to force the point.”
“What do you mean?”
“Just what I said. I’m on my way to San Francisco. Keep everyone safe until I get there.” He broke the connection.
He shook his head regretfully as he glanced once more down at the elderly woman on the floor. Then he strode to the back of the house and slipped out the same alleyway he’d entered.
Dammit, he didn’t like having to rely on Hu Chang to pull his irons out of the fire. Everything had been planned, and he’d been in total control. That’s the way he liked it, the way he had to have it. He had told Catherine that, he remembered. It had made her angry and indignant. But, then, she was always indignant and angry with him. It was the nature of their relationship.
And after they had sex, it would be the same. He could not imagine anything different. He could imagine many erotic and bizarre acts with her, but her character would not change. And that would make every coming together all the more exciting.
And they would come together, he thought recklessly. The chance he was taking might very well be the end of him. He deserved a reward after all the punishment he’d taken over the years.
He deserved Catherine Ling.
* * *
“My mother?” Jack Sen’s face was pale with pain as he glanced at Hu Chang in the copilot’s seat next to him. “You’re sure?”
“Cameron was sure,” Hu Chang said gravely. “I regret to be the bearer of such grievous tidings.”
Sen’s lips twisted. “The sons of bitches.” His eyes glittered with moisture. “She was gentle, kind, always smiling…”
“Are you willing to do as Cameron asked? There may be an element of danger for you.”
Sen jerked his attention back to Hu Chang. “I’ll do it,” he said hoarsely. “I almost hope they are waiting at the hangar. I have my gun, and I’ll use it if anyone gets in my way.”
Hu Chang nodded. “Do what you must. But Cameron said to tell you to disappear. You can’t help him any longer.”
“I understand.” Sen drew a deep, shaky, breath. “But I may be able to help my mother’s soul. Someone should pay.” He glanced at Hu Chang. “I’m on the approach. We should be landing in five minutes. Go back and get ready.”
Hu Chang got up from the seat. “We will be ready.” He hesitated as he opened the door. “But you should know that I received the impression that Cameron is planning on making them pay. Why not leave it to him?”
Sen didn’t answer.
Hu Chang shrugged as he left the cockpit. He had done his best. Sen would do what his heart and mind dictated. His own job was to make their escape from the airport as speedy and seamless as possible.
He must get Catherine moving and not have second thoughts about going to the hangar with Jack Sen.
His demeanor must be perfect and reflect urgency, gravity. Maybe even desperation. Yes, desperation would be good.
He moved swiftly down the aisle. “Gather your possessions, Catherine, Erin. Quickly. Luke, help them!” His voice was hard, whiplike, and the desperation was there. “Sen tells me all hell has broken out, and our plans have to change.”
* * *
Hu Chan threw the door open. “Out.” He jumped to the ground and helped Erin to the tarmac. “Run.” He jerked his head toward the woods to the west of the airport. “Head toward the woods, not the airport. Luke, go with Erin and help her.” He saw him hesitate, and said impatiently, “I’ll take care of Catherine.”
“Right.” The boy dashed past him and caught up with Erin.
Catherine glanced back over her shoulder at the plane, which was already starting to taxi. “I don’t like this, Hu Chang. All you said was—What the hell went wrong?”
“Later,” Hu Chang said. “There’s no time. I see lights beyond those trees. We need to get through the woods to the nearest street and get a taxi.” His pace increased. “Run! Don’t lose sight of Luke and Erin.”
She instinctively obeyed. She ran across the runway and headed for the woods. Luke had stopped, waiting for her. She motioned for him to go on. Then she put on speed to make sure that he would. She caught up with him, and, five minutes later, they were tearing through the trees. It took them all another five minutes to traverse the rough ground and ditches to make it to the street that bordered the stretch of trees.