“When will you arrive at MacDuff’s Run?”

“Another hour. But it will be at least another two hours after that before I’ll finish going over the property.” He suddenly chuckled. “I have to be careful. I don’t want to have one of MacDuff’s marines shoot a hole in me. I wouldn’t want to seriously damage your source of income.”

“Very funny,” Palik said. “But I’m not in the mood to be amused. I had to go down to the coroner’s office to get that report and I saw what Bohdan did to that agent. I didn’t like it. Because I think Bohdan enjoyed the hell out of it. Not that I give a damn about you. But I like Jane, and it makes me sick to think of Bohdan hurting her like that. So make sure whatever you do tonight doesn’t target her.”

Caleb’s hand tightened on the phone. He couldn’t speak for a moment. “There’s no way on earth I’d let it happen,” he said hoarsely. “Not if I have to bring down all Bohdan’s forces in the Congo. Look, I’m going to do everything right. All I’ll do is check out the property and then get out. I’m not even going to see Jane tonight. Stop worrying about her and get me a line on Bohdan. I can’t tell you how badly I want him.”

“You’ll have him,” Palik said grimly. “But I gave you Rodland, too. I told him that Jane wasn’t to be out of his sight. Make use of him.” He ended the call.

Chapter 5

Chapter
5

3:25 A.M.

It was raining…

Jane rolled over in bed as she saw a flash of lightning streak across the night sky outside her window.

Thunder…

And something else…

She could feel it.

She sat up and swung her legs to the floor. Then she was out of bed and crossing the room toward the window.

More lightning…She could see the rain driving across the stones of the courtyard below her.

And shadows…

She stiffened as she gazed down at the stable across the courtyard.

Shadows?

Her heart was beating fast as she leaned forward, her gaze narrowed on the building.

Shadows.

Oh, yes, definitely something else.

She whirled away from the window, grabbed her jacket from the chair, and ran out of the bedroom.

She flew down the staircase, unlocked the front door, tossed the jacket over her head to protect her from the rain, and then was running across the courtyard toward the stable.

Thunder. Rain. Lightning.

And the door of the stable that flew open as she reached it!