Lara was bounced against the side of the door again. “I wouldn’t want to insult that great numeric gift you have that everybody keeps telling me about, but I may end up outside this car before we get to the pass if you keep jouncing me around.”

He nodded. “One more minute. But I can make the call to Volkov now.”

“I want to make the phone call to Volkov,” Lara said quietly. “You closed me out the last time and I gave in. But not this time, Tanner. I want him to know that it’s ending for him, and it’s partly because of me that it’s happening. There’s no slick card game nor even your very impressive gift of gab. There’s just me and the man who’s hated me most of his life…and made me pay.” Her voice was low and emphatic. “How he made me pay.”

He looked at her for a moment and then reached for his phone. “I hear you. In the end, it only matters that we get Volkov on that helicopter. Then we’ll leave it to Rennell to do his job. I’m just checking to see if he’s reached the pass yet.” He dialed. “Rennell, are you at the pass? Is Volkov there?” He hung up the phone. “Volkov took the bait. He’s driving up to the helicopter pad now.” He smiled at her as he handed her his phone. “Just press the button. It will bring up Volkov’s number. And it will show my name as the caller. I believe that will goad him to answer since he was ready to behead me when we walked out of the casino. But I’ll be glad to share it with you. I don’t want to be selfish.”

He was joking, but Lara realized it was an unselfish act. His hatred for Volkov must be as deep as her own, and it was natural he wanted to control every facet of his removal. She smiled. “I appreciate your generosity.”

“You’re welcome. I’m sure that you know what you have to do.”

They were at the pass now and she could see down into the canyon where the gray helicopter was sitting some hundred feet below the ridge. Volkov was getting out of his car, and he looked…stressed. That was a good sign.

“Stoke the fires,” she said softly. “Mock him. Make him want to chase us to hell and back.” She shrugged. “No problem.” She punched the number.

It rang only once before Volkov picked up the phone. “Tanner! Where are you?” His voice was harsh with malevolence. “Do you think you can get away with this? No one gets away with cheating me. When I catch you, I’m—”