Deadly Games Part 3

"That this will ruin your claim of plausible denia-bility when I disappear again."

Travis snorted. "Trust me; it was ruined earlier by a tip that the Thai government is circulating your photograph with REWARD printed on it. It doesn't sound like Minh Tran is the only one expecting you."

Shrugging, Rocco shut down his laptop and slid it in his rucksack. "I wouldn't read too much into that. It's no secret Tran keeps a few officials on his payroll."

"This time it's different. Tran and the government have a conflict of interest. The Thai government wants Dr. Rufin, too. They've tripled the reward for Rufin's capture. Consequently, we've got bounty hunters springing up like mushrooms after rain."

"Great," Rocco muttered. "Guess I'll have to be extra sneaky."

"You can't go after her."

"I have to. The official investigation's been bungled from the get-go. And we both know the Agency's policy on hostage negotiation." The CIA didn't negotiate. Period. "I'm Maddy's only chance at a rescue."

"Do you really think I'd abandon her, too?" Indignation flashed in Travis's eyes and quickly disappeared. "She's been part of the team since Dante's return. Some of her research has been invaluable."

"But I feel personally responsible," Rocco said. "It's my fault she was targeted to begin with."

"No, it's Minh Tran's fault. Maddy will get help. Just not from you."

"Then whom?"

"Someoneweboth trust. Someone who can follow up other leads as well." Travis's eyes slid to his watchers. "There are other developments you're not aware of."

"Like?"

"Tran's hedging his bets by going after others he thinks you care for. Your sister's place was broken into earlier tonight. A neighbor called police. Two Thai thugs, both suspected a.s.sociates of Tran's, were picked up. One had a ransom note addressed to you."

"Jesus!" Guilt over ignoring Adele's phone call swamped Rocco. Was this what Tran's crony meant by "what we do next"? "Where is Adele?"

"I had her and your nephew relocated to a safe house, but she's making crazy demands. I hoped you could talk some sense into her."

"I'll call her."

"I'd prefer you talked to her in person," Travis said. "These men will take you."

The suggestion irritated Rocco. "Sounds like someone's worried I'll slip away." Or get in the way of an Or get in the way of an existing op. existing op. Travis was hiding something. "What aren't you telling me?" Travis was hiding something. "What aren't you telling me?"

Travis scowled. "We've heard the Thai government has a lead on Harry Gambrel's location, possibly in Burma. The Thai secret police want to retrieve him and offer a trade for Dr. Rufin. It's vital that we get to Harry first."

Harry Gambrel had disappeared two years ago, along with two other operatives: Dante Johnson and Max Duncan. The three men had been reported dead, but both Dante and Max had recently turned up alive. Making it highly plausible that Harry was alive, too. To Travis and others at the Agency, Harry was a brother in arms. Their unspoken code of honor meant allegiance.

The fact that Rocco didn't much like Harry had no bearing on the situation. Maddy, however, did.

"So you're saying that recovering Harry is more important than saving Maddy." Rocco met Travis's gaze. "Got it."

"You haven't got s.h.i.+t. s.h.i.+t." Travis rocked onto the b.a.l.l.s of his feet. "You can't even see how you're being manipulated. Tran's going after anyone he thinks you care about and you're playing right into his hands. You're too d.a.m.n close to the situation. That's why I'm doing this." Travis turned to his watchers. "Get him out of here. Take him to this address." He withdrew a slip of paper from his pocket.

"You can't be serious!" Rocco wasn't about to be locked down. "You've got to trust me!"

Travis exhaled, clearly exasperated. "I do trust you. Like a brother. The problem is, I know you. And I'd do the same thing you're contemplating."

"Then at least let me work it stateside."

"You can work it from lockdown."

"But what if Tran goes after someone else now that he can't reach Adele?"

"To get to you?" Travis sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. "If there's someone new you're seeing, I'll order her picked up as well."

"Not new, but someone I still care about. You've got to let me contact Gena."

"I don't believe this!" The scowl on Travis's face deepened. "Since when have you been in contact with her?"

"I haven't been." Dreams didn't count. "Not in years."

"Then she's just as likely off Tran's radar-which is where I want to keep her."

"What if Tran gets wind that the Thai government is looking for Harry and does some checking on his background?"

"Fine. I'll get someone to check on Gena." Travis turned to the other two men. "Now what are you waiting for? Get him out of here!"

Chapter Four.

Harlan County, Kentucky October 4, 1:25 A.M.

Mission incomplete.

Find Rufin.

Find Hades.

No! Find Max. "Remember our plan!"

Searing heat erupted beneath Taz's skull. Wrong thinking always triggered a penalty. The painful pressure took out his sense of equilibrium. Then it cut off his vision with a suddenness akin to the earth collapsing beneath his feet. The sensation of free-falling in unending darkness nauseated him as his suffering expanded.

You will do what we say.

We control you.

He crashed on the roadway, tumbling head over heels. The asphalt stung him as it sc.r.a.ped his skin, but it was the jaw-busting blow to his chin that he welcomed. For with physical pain came clarity.

He felt his arms and legs twitch and realized he was having a seizure. In the middle of a b.l.o.o.d.y highway, for G.o.d's sake! Roll. Roll. Roll. Roll.

Using the last of his dwindling concentration, he forced his body to move. First he flipped onto his back, then up onto his side and over. Blind and off balance, Taz prayed his movement was linear versus circular.

The pain in his skull spiked again, threatening to crush his consciousness. Don't think. Don't pray. Just roll. Don't think. Don't pray. Just roll.

The next time he became aware, he felt coa.r.s.e gra.s.s and bits of gravel sc.r.a.ping his cheek. He was facedown in the dirt. That the ground was softer and more uneven confirmed he'd at least made it off the roadbed.

For some reason, dying in a ditch seemed preferable to being run over and smashed to smithereens by a tractor trailer.

He recalled the cabin he'd been holed up in the last few nights. It had appeared out of nowhere, replete with clothes, food, supplies. But how he'd gotten there was a mystery. Had he imagined it? Flickering memories of climbing out of a ravine and wandering for days didn't quite fill in all the blanks.

Maybe he should have stayed at the cabin a while longer. It had been quiet and deserted. Except, the owner would have returned sooner or later. And the growing urgency to find Rufin allowed Taz no respite.

Mission incomplete.

Flipping onto his back took most of his strength, but this time when he opened his eyes he saw tiny pinp.r.i.c.ks of light high above.

Stars. Billions of them. Crikey, when was the last time he'd even seen the night sky? Just admired it, lying softly beneath it?

A woman's voice teased his ear."And every night we're apart, I'll look up at the sky and think of you. Knowing you're out there somewhere, looking up at the very same stars. Hurry home to me!"

Taz writhed as white-hot agony ripped down his spine like a glowing welder's torch. The price for a memory of love was the worst.

Those memories aren't real. Forget them.

Bulls.h.i.+t! He recalled the scent of roses and screamed as fire licked through his veins.

"Hurry home."

It was too late. He could never go home.

Tears rolled down his cheeks as he surrendered his thoughts. Mission incomplete. Mission incomplete. The phrase played over and over in his mind. The phrase played over and over in his mind.

Roger, Taz acknowledged when he finally regained some control. He needed to find Dr. Rufin in order to complete the mission. The problem was, he had no idea where Rufin was. The telepathic link between them was gone. Or broken. Taz acknowledged when he finally regained some control. He needed to find Dr. Rufin in order to complete the mission. The problem was, he had no idea where Rufin was. The telepathic link between them was gone. Or broken.

Taz had a vague recollection of discussing a contingency plan with Hades, but whatever strategy they'd formulated was also gone. Unfortunately, the urge to follow through-find Rufin-had not abated. In fact, it grew stronger and carried the threat that to not follow through meant punishment for someone he loved.

The scent of roses. No! If they harmed her ...

I will find Rufin! Even if that meant opening his connection to Hades once more, something Taz had actively resisted. The mixed messages he received from Hades- Even if that meant opening his connection to Hades once more, something Taz had actively resisted. The mixed messages he received from Hades-"I'm Max, not Hades. You're Logan, not Taz" Taz"-were confusing and ultimately short-circuited his thinking.

So why the h.e.l.l could he tune into Hades' thought but not Rufin's? Practice? He and Hades had done it for months. Had Rufin tested the connection more than once?

Doesn't matter.

The fact was, Taz had no choice but to contact Hades. He needed Hades' help to find Dr. Rufin.

Closing his eyes, Taz drew his awareness into his body, focusing on his breath first, then on his heartbeat, then finally on his individual molecules. He concentrated, sensing the electrical pulse darting between cells. On. Off. On. Off.

And in that tiny s.p.a.ce between flashes, he slipped free, to another level of mind.

Here, for a short time at least, Taz could direct and manipulate the thoughts of others. Most others anyway. He could also access a direct link to Hades.

Help me, Hades.

The message Taz sent was guarded. Not so much language as image. Sensation.

Hades' response was swift. Strong. I'm here. I'm here. Or rather, Or rather, we're we're here. here.

Taz realized Hades was with a woman. He opened his side of the connection fully, briefly, and sensed the fierce bond between Hades and this female. That Hades would risk h.e.l.l's punishment to love again astounded Taz. Instinctively he pulled away.

Wait! Hades called out. Hades called out. I can help you. Tell me where you are. I can help you. Tell me where you are.

A sudden and overwhelming blitz of sensory data hit Taz, shattering the connection to Hades. Taz snapped back to reality, hyperaware of his surroundings. A car had slowed, pulled over.

He'd been spotted.

A woman, no two women, exited the car simultaneously and ran toward where he lay. The woman carrying the flashlight gasped and skittered to a stop. "I think ... he's dead."

Taz raised his head and groaned, getting their attention. Both women scrambled toward him once again. They were young; college age.

He managed to perform a quick mental intrusion and learned the women were headed home, to Tennessee, from Eastern Kentucky University.

The blonde with the flashlight dropped to her knees beside him. "You're hurt. Don't try to move. Mary Anne can call an ambulance."

"I'm fine." Taz winced as he pushed up on his elbows. "Maybe a sc.r.a.pe or two, but nothing serious. Bet I looked like roadkill."

The one named Mary Anne glanced around the highway. "What happened? Where's your car?"

"I was. .h.i.tchhiking." Taz realized his blunder as the women exchanged uneasy looks. Both wondered why he was. .h.i.tchhiking this late at night, on a relatively deserted highway. Then he caught an undercurrent of fear. Double crikey! Mary Anne had just seen a horror movie with that same theme.

"I've been backpacking up in Cranks Creek," Taz rushed on. "But a bear wandered into my camp and demolished my tent, my sleeping bag. Everything. I decided to head back to civilization and spend my last few nights in a motel, but I sure picked the wrong road to thumb a ride on. The only car that came by didn't see me. I jumped back, but he still clipped me with the fender and kept on going."

"That's. .h.i.t and run," the first girl said. Liz. Liz. Her name was Liz. "Did you get a tag number?" Her name was Liz. "Did you get a tag number?"

"Nah. Too dark." Eager to demonstrate that he was unharmed-and harmless-Taz pushed to his feet. "A hot shower will fix what ails me. That and talking to my girlfriend. Trip's been miserable without her."

Mary Anne and Liz both grinned, their relief evident. "We can give you a ride to the next town if you like."

Taz smiled. I like. I like."If it's no trouble that would be great."

Chapter Five.