Elite Operatives: Demons Are Forever Part 42

"He cared enough to look you up and send her pictures."

"I don't get that part." Jack went quiet for a moment. "Either way, he never manned up enough to approach me and deal with his actions. I don't like cowards."

"I guess. But you never know what reasons people have for their actions. It's not like you haven't been there." Jack straightened and glared at her. "Are you going to tell me how you know? If not, how long are we going to continue the insinuation game?"

"You still haven't asked the right-"

"f.u.c.k that, Landis," Jack shouted. "Don't start getting all superior on me again about what I've done."

"It was never about any of that. Yes, you worked for sc.u.m and you were good at it because you learned from the best. And honestly, I can't blame you for leaving the organization. When it comes down to it, they only took us in because of what we can do for them, not the other way around. None of the three cares about our needs. They care about our skills."

"Pierce is worse than the rest." Jack gripped the rail with both hands. "All he cares about is himself and how much he gets if we do the job."

"Don't be naive. They're all the same. At least he doesn't pretend to care. He acknowledges good work and rewards it accordingly."

"Rewards who?" Jack looked puzzled. "What?"

"He let you live, didn't he? Take that as a show of affection. It's as good as it gets. And in case you never noticed, you were the only one he ever showed any understanding and weakness for."

"Are you s.h.i.tting me?" Jack laughed bitterly. "The guy ran me ragged, never said a good word."

* 316 *

"Then you clearly don't remember how you were the only kid he ever ran to when you fell, or hurt yourself, or got sick. The only one he visited in the recovery ward and slept by their side."

"I don't remember..." Jack stared off into the distance. "Why don't I remember that?"

"I do. I wished he'd have shown even a fraction of that interest in me."

Jack went silent, either because she was trying to remember or, because for the first time since their reunion, she was speechless.

Either way, Chase had had enough of her pity parade and insane ideas of how the world had conspired against her. In reality, as a kid, Jack had it better than the rest, as far as Pierce was concerned.

And had it been any other op but Jack who'd deserted and deceived him, they simply wouldn't have lived to b.i.t.c.h about it. "The right question is... Who did I kill? " Chase said, aggravated.

"What?"

"Do you remember Stellari?"

Jack looked surprised. "That was a long time ago."

"I worked deep cover on that case. I was in the warehouse when everything went to h.e.l.l with the Russian arms dealer and the feds."

"That was ten years ago. One of my first jobs."

"If you say so."

"You've known about me from practically the beginning." The shock was clear on Jack's face. "You made me and never told anyone?"

She ignored the question. "A lot of innocent people died that night."

Jack didn't respond right away but looked back out over the water. "I know."

"You killed some of those innocent men." Jack nodded.

"You also killed my lover. Stellari's daughter." Jack spun to look at her with a horrified expression. "I...I had no idea. I...was just shooting at anything that moved. I had no idea his daughter was even there. Christ. I never even saw you." She pounded her fist on the railing. "You've got to believe me, Landis, I * 317 *

never saw her. I was pumped on adrenaline and angry at the world.

I wanted the likes of the Russians to respect and fear me. I wanted them to accept me, because no one else would. After I survived Israel and fooled the EOO, I thought I had to reinvent myself. Show everyone who Jack really was."

"And who was that?"

"Someone to be reckoned with. Taken seriously. Not some misfit who jumped when she was asked to and was ignored if she wasn't needed. I wanted someone to care if I lived or died, even if it was for the wrong reasons."

"I cared."

"I know." Jack frowned. "But I didn't want to make you a conspirator. If they ever found out you knew or that we had contact, they'd have taken you down with me."

"I would have at least gone down fighting for something.

Someone I believed in. That would have been a first."

"You must've been very angry with me." Jack hung her head and shook it slowly from side to side. "Not only for lying to you, but...Stellari's daughter...I don't know how to apologize. I don't think that's even possible."

"There was a lot of shooting going on. I can't say for sure you killed her, but yes. I was furious."

"And you never told Pierce," Jack repeated in disbelief.

"Would you have told on me? Even if I never spoke to you again, and let you think I was dead. Even if you thought I had killed your lover?"

Jack considered the question only for a few seconds before answering, and when she did, there was a catch in her voice. "No."

"Then you know why."

Jack nodded ruefully. "Yeah."

"They'd never hurt me," Heather insisted. "I can't say I'm happy with how all this has played out, but they'd never harm me." Dario's eyes narrowed dubiously. "How are you so sure, Heather?"

* 318 *

"Why would they? I'm no threat. As a matter of fact, I'm helping them out."

"They got what they needed from you, which now makes you disposable, if not redundant. You're nothing but an extra headache for them now."

"I know what you're trying to do."

"Oh?"

"Divide and conquer, like Brett said earlier."

"What would I gain? I'm not asking you to become my friend or ever see me again, and I doubt anything I say will make you help me from this predicament. Besides, it's not like you can do anything about it, even if you wanted to."

That was true, she thought.

"I don't want to see you get killed."

"They would never."

"That you don't know them... Brett...has already been established. But I wonder how little you actually do know her."

"Enough. I know her enough to believe you're evil."

"I doubt you even know her name. Let's face it. We're both aware it's not Brett. It would be highly unprofessional-not to mention dense-to give me her real ident.i.ty. But I wonder if the name she's given you is real." Heather had the same thought in China. Truth was, she didn't know Landis or Jack at all. Who was to say they weren't hit men, or whatever they were called, after Rozsa for their own benefit, like bounty hunters. Maybe they were after Dario to steal the money he intended to give to Rozsa. Who knew what was true anymore?

Maybe the whole story about Jack's girlfriend was just to make Heather feel sorry for them. And how did they conveniently happen to find Gigi's cell? Could it be that Dario had nothing to do with her death after all, and they had made her disappear to get Heather to help? G.o.d, this was all too much to take in.

"You don't have to believe me, Heather. But if you ask me, this has nothing to do with any honorable cause, if that's what they've convinced you of. They haven't told me why they want Rozsa, but I'm guessing they're bounty hunters. There must be millions on his * 319 *

head. Last time I checked, there was nothing honorable about their sort. They'll kill their own mother if the price is right." Oh, my G.o.d. Dario had spoken her thoughts. Could this possibly be true? She had never asked for or seen any official credentials. Maybe she could ask for that now. She got up from the chair and took a couple of steps toward the balcony, then reconsidered. No. What if they really were criminals and killed her on the spot for asking too many questions? They had no further use for her. She sat back down. But then why were they keeping her alive if they didn't need her? Landis could have let her rot in the Chinese prison.

"They probably still need you. I wouldn't know why, but perhaps some involvement in tomorrow's arrangement. Implicate you somehow with Rozsa."

Landis had admitted she thought Heather was helping Rozsa when they started following her. Could Dario be right?

"Perhaps they want someone to take the fall for what they're about to pull off. Someone they have evidence is linked to Rozsa."

"The payment through the brownstone's IP address," she whispered, and caught Dario's look of surprise, though concern quickly replaced it.

"Do they have any kind of proof, Heather? Something they can use against you?"

She needed to get out of here, fast.

"From the look on your face, I'd say they do." Dario shook his head. "They have framed you."

She looked over at him.

"Go, Heather. Go home to your brother. Leave now, while they're busy plotting and planning how to spend my money after tomorrow."

He was right. She had to leave. She got up and checked the balcony to make sure they weren't looking.

Dario followed her gaze. "Their backs are turned. Do it now.

It'll be a while before they notice you're gone. Go." She grabbed her purse and quietly walked to the door, keeping one eye on the balcony.

* 320 *

"Good luck," Dario called as she slipped into the hallway and shut the door.

"You like Heather a lot, don't you?" Jack asked.

Chase didn't reply. Not because she didn't know the answer, but because she didn't want to admit it. She wasn't prepared to face her feelings, especially since she knew they were futile and unrequited.

"You don't have to tell me if you don't want," Jack said, "because I already know."

She shrugged.

"Want to know how I know?"

She shrugged again.

"Because the only time you don't check the time is when she's around."

She hadn't realized it, but it was true. Time never seemed to matter with Heather. She didn't feel chased or worried time would run out when they were together. As a matter of fact, she had a hard time thinking about anything at all around Heather. Even her upcoming deadline for her next novel was trivial.

"I know I've been hard on her because of...well, you know why," Jack said gently. "But you know what? She's a wonderful woman. Look at everything she's done for us, and at the risk of her own well-being. She loves her brother to the point of selling her...

you know..."

"Her occupation has never mattered."

"Then what's the problem?"

"I am. I don't have the right to burden anyone with my life. My demons."

"I used to think the same, but you know, some demons...with the help of someone who truly loves you, eventually get the h.e.l.l up and leave."

"And the rest?"

"Some never do." Jack looked away. "Some demons are forever." She put her hand on Jack's shoulder. "We'll find Lynx."

* 321 *

"Yeah." Jack faced her. "We will."

She pivoted to check on Dario. "He has a smug look on his face."Jack grinned. "Want me to change that?"

"Yes." She smiled back. "In this case, you can tease the animal."

"Let's see what he's up to." Jack opened the balcony door.

"Send Heather out. I want to talk to her."

"Sure." Jack went inside, but came back almost immediately and stuck her head out the door. "Uhm, we have a problem." She sounded upset.