The Right Side Of The Law Part 21

Sitting fifteen feet in the air, Kristen calculated the best way to the ground then picked her way carefully from limb to limb. Five minutes later she was sucked close to the house, considering her next move. She could walk out the front gate, but Ryland Archard was a cop. What if he had an alarm on his iron gate? So far Brodie didn't know she was gone, and she meant to keep it that way for as long as she could.

The hole in the hedge took a long ten minutes to find, but it was a perfectfit. Looking back, Kristen could see Brodie standing in the yellow kitchen, seethat he was talking on the phone. So much for not using the phone, she thought.

His obvious lie brought a wave of fear racingthrough her. Fear that, as a mother, she had abandonedher child in a dangerous situation and now she would pay dearly for that error. The fear made her anxious, and Kristen began to run. Keeping an eye out for trouble, scanning the streets block by block for a cab, she headed into the heart of New Orleans.

Near Ca.n.a.l Street, she hailed a cab. Grateful when it pulled to the side of the street, she climbed in and shut the door.

The cab driver turned.

Kristen sucked in her breath and started at the man's shiny bald head. She grabbed for the door, had it openwhen the cabbie said in thick New Orleansfashion,"How y'all doin' this evenin', miss? Where to?"

Kristen hesitated, remembered a similar situation that had caused her to needlessly panic. She relaxed back in the seat, then reached up and fingered the blackbangs on the wig that covered her head.

"You feelin' all right, miss?"

Kristen nodded. "Jus' fine," she drawled. "Take me to the women's shelter on Carmel Avenue, please.

Carmel in Algiers."

"That's the only Carmel there is, miss. Y'all will be there in fifteen minutes."

True to his word, fifteen minutes later, Kristen paid the cab driver with the little bit of money she'd found on Margo's dresser. As the cab droveoff,she hurriedup the stairs to the shelter. She was inside, heading for her old room when she glimpsed the back of a man just turning down the corridor ahead of her-a big man. Her heart in her throat, Kristen hurried to the end of the hall. When she got there, no one was in sight. Thinking she was again overreacting, she reached for the doork.n.o.b to her old room. She was ready to burst inside, when common sense returned. What if Amanda was sharing Sister Marian's room? What if this was now someone else's room?

Kristen took a deep breath, then rappedsharply onthe door. She heard footsteps coming toward the door and she tried to relax. The door opened, and there, toher surprise, stood Blu, wearing a scowl. A moment later he said, "I overlooked one thing. You're a good mother. Of course you would want to check on Mandybefore she went to bed. My mistake."

Kristen heard the words, dismissed them as she scanned the empty room. Convinced her daughter was in another room, she demanded, "Where is she?"

His face was void of emotion. Kristen wrapped her arms around herself and took a step back. "I said, where is-"

"Sit down, Angel."

The way he said the words, dread and fear grabbedKristen by the throat and squeezed. She shook her head, tried to speak. She backed up, tried again to say something.

She heard Blu swear, then he was moving toward her. "Breathe,dammit, you're going to pa.s.s out if you don't."

He gripped her arms, shook her. Air filled Kristen'slungs as she fought to regain her freedom. He let go, then stepped away from her.

"You promised me!" Kristen couldn't hold back the tears. "Where's my daughter? d.a.m.n you, Blu! Where's Amanda?"

This hadn't been part of his plan, and Blu hated to think of what that meant. Now he would be forced to tell her the truth. He said, "You were suppose to stay at Margo's place. You were-"

"Where's my daughter?"

Blu braced himself for the hate that was about to fill her eyes. "Salva has her."

"Oh, G.o.d! Oh, G.o.d!"

As her knees buckled, Blu caught her and eased her down onto the edge of the bed. She bent over holding her stomach, and started to moan. Blu watched, helpless to do anything for her.

"I knew it. I knew no one would be able to stop him from taking us back. Oh, G.o.d. Amanda... He's got Amanda."

Her pain was sharp, her hate as she gazed up at himwas sharper, slicinghim into pieces. "I hate you! Hateyou!"

"You have that right." Blu kept his voice steady. "But you can hate me from Margo's house. Right now I've gottoget back to theDemon's Eye," he said. "I haven't answered Maland's demand yet, and-"

"What demand? How dare you do anything without discussing it with me? Haven't you done enough to me? To us?"

Blu stayed where he was, let her vent.

Suddenly she was on her feet. "Amanda is my child! My life! My future! Oh, G.o.d, he has her."

She broke down again, and Blu had all he could do to not reach out to her,tohold her. But she would push him away if he did. He knew that there would never be another chance to hold her, to kiss her, or to tell herthat he loved her. He'd always wantedto tell her that.

"I want to see the demand." She stuck out her hand, her pretty brown eyes clouded with tears.

Blu pulled the slip of paper from his pocket and handed it to her. She unfolded it, read it with shaky hands. He waited, wasn't surprised when the frown came. She looked up, still scowling. "He wants to trade Amanda for me? I don't understand. It must be some kind of a trick."

Blu shook his head. "It's no trick. He doesn't want Mandy. Why would he want someone else's child?"

"What?"

Blu hadn't planned to tell her anything until she was free of Maland. Now he knew he had no choice. "Your name is Kristie Aldwin. You're nineteen. You'll be twenty next month. July ninth. You grew up on your grandfather's fishing boat near Crawford's Corner. When you were sixteen you were seeing a guy named Benjamin Frank. I believe he's Mandy's father. You were kidnapped off his boat in the middle of a storm. Ben Frank drowned. They found his body. They never found yours."

He decided to forget about Curt and the role he'd played in Angel's kidnapping for the time being. She was already looking at him as though he'd lost his mind.

"Salvador Maland is an international slave trader, among other things. But he didn't kidnap you to sell you like the others. With you..." Blu shrugged. "He liked what he saw and decided to make you his. Ironically, he's Taber Denoux's brother-the man I helped put away last year. That's why he had my picture."

"And Amanda is Ben's baby? You're sure?"

"I don't have solid proof. But yes, I believe that's true." Blu hesitated, then came clean. "My old boss, Patch, has a lot of contacts in low places. He was able to get the information for me."

"And he just gave it to you because you asked?"

Blu didn't answer.

"Of course not. I'm being naive again, aren't I? You no doubt went out and pounded some poor man's face..." She sucked in her breath and squeezed her eyes shut. "Oh, G.o.d, you did, didn't you? It was the night you came back to theNightwing bleeding and in a sour mood."

Blu didn't deny it, there was no reason.

"Why didn't you tell me this sooner?"

"I planned to give you the files when the time was right."

"And when was that going to be?" She held up her hand. "Never mind. I've heard enough. I want you out of here. Go!"

Blu didn't move.

"I said, go!"

"So you can do what?"

"Is my grandfather still alive?"

"Yes."

"Then I'll make the trade. Amanda will ... will be raised by my grandfather and I'll return to the island.

At least my daughter will be free."

Blu studied her tear-streaked face. "You think I'd let you do that?"

She glared at him. "This is my choice, not yours. You don't even get a vote. I trusted you once, I won't make that mistake again. I'm going through with Salva's demand. And not you or anyone else can stop me."

She brushed the tears from her cheeks and set her shoulders-proving to Blu that she was stronger than anyone would ever imagine. "Salva says I'm to be on the wharf at seven tomorrow morning."

"Angel, I think-"

"No. You don't get to think anymore, Blu Devil. The demand requires that you accompany me to the wharf. I guess we both know why that is, but it makes no difference. Amanda is the important one in this. When the trade is made, I expect you to honor my wishes and get her to my grandfather. Now go away. I want to be alone."

Chapter 16 ^ The sunlight made Angel's hair look like pure silk as she reached the wharf. Blu kept pace with her, his eyes glued on Salvador Maland at the end of the wharf. He counted six men with him-the man on Maland's right held Mandy.

She looked scared, but unharmed. Blu found himself silently saying a prayer that she would remain that way. "Not so fast," he growled at Angel. "You're walking too d.a.m.n fast."

His gaze went back to Salva where he stood in his flowing black pajamas like some exalted king. Blu tried to relax, but he was having a hard time breathing.

It was time for Angel to hang back and wait. He said, "This is as far as you go for now. If Maland's serious about the trade, he's going to have to send Mandy before he gets you."

Blu's voice was flat, his throat dry. He stopped alongside Angel and scanned the wharf, dissecting the situation. Maland had chosen a congested wharf to make the exchange. The boats going in and out of portwould benefit his escape once he had what he wanted.The trick would be to force him into making a mistake.

"Don't move from here until you hear me call to you," Blu insisted, then he started walking again. Thirty feet from Maland, he stopped once more. "I hear Taber's got a new profession in Angola," he called to Salva. "All that long hair and those good looks are serving him well."

He watched Salva's lip curl, watched the man's fist clench. "You got something of mine, Blu Devil. Did you taste it?"

The question wasn't going to get an answer. Blu said, "You killed Ben Frank."

"Can you prove it?" Salva laughed. "That storm came up quick. Quicker than any of us expected. Ben could swim, all right. I could have helped him more, I suppose. But I had my hands full holding on to what I'd paid for."

Blu wouldn'tlet his anger allow him to lose control."I'm offering you a new deal. Me for them. You let them both go, and you get me instead."

The proposition seemed to surprise Salva at first, then it angered him. "You messed with her, didn't you? You got her sugar running through your veins." He was quiet a moment, then he admitted, "Ain't it arush, having her beneath you? She's heaven and h.e.l.l,Blu Devil. The best there is, and I should know, right? In my profession I'm a connoisseur."

Blu kept his emotions masked. "Do we have a deal?"

"No deal. You can have the brat as soon as I get what's mine."

Blu knew then that he'd been right. Ben Frank wasMandy's father. "I want the kid on the ground, movingthis way," Blu insisted, "or the deal'soff."

Blu saw Salva shift his gaze to where Angel stood. He licked his lips, his thoughts obviously putting together a warped fantasy or some gruesome punishment for her. Suddenly he signaled the man holding Mandyto step forward. "Let's compromise. My man will walk beside her. Keep her in line."

Blu considered what Maland said. "All right."

Salva nodded, then said, "You're a dead man, duFray. Know that this isn't over after today. We still have a score to settle. Just you and me."

Blu was in full agreement. "You're right, Maland. Today is just the beginning of you and me."

"I'll be waiting on the island. Princess will be waiting, too," he taunted. "But you might not recognize her when you get there."

"Angel," Blu called. "Start walking."

The man who held Mandy set her tiny feet on the wharf. When her bright eyes locked on Angel, then on Blu, she cried,"Da," and started to run toward him.

Her unexpected actions drew Salva's attention, and as Blu took in his enemy's expression, he knew Salva had just realized his error. "She's an imposter," he roared, pointing at Angel.

A half second later Blu hollered, "Mort, get Mandy."

The moment the words were out, Mort-wearing a long blond wig-raced to Mandy and scooped her up beneath his arm. As he raced for cover, Salva shouted, "Kill them. Kill them all."

As Salva's men produced an a.r.s.enal of weapons, Blu quickly took out the man who had been holding Mandy. A right to his jaw, and the man lay unconscious on the wharf. Then he was calling out to Salva, challenging him in hopes of distracting his men away from Mort and Mandy. His taunts worked and he suddenly found himself dodging bullets as he raced along the wharf in the opposite direction Mort had gone.

Blu heard police sirens moving in fast and knew that Jackson Ward was on top of the situation. His backup squads would be saturating the wharf within minutes, and Maland's yacht had probably already been boarded by the coast guard.

Maland's fury zeroed in on the one man he wanted dead above all else. Half his men had deserted him, but he wasn't retreating himself-his focus was solely on bringing his enemy down.

Blu was in midair, on his way into the water, when he felt the bullets. .h.i.t him. It didn't matter, he thought, already resigned to whatever Fate had planned for him. The impact shook him, took him farther into the air, then dropped him.

The pain was real. Real enough that it should have grabbed his attention, but as Blu hit the water all he was thinking about was that Mandy was safe and that he'd kept his promise to Angel. She was free as a bird now. And he'd accomplished that without putting her anywhere near Salvador Maland.

Kristie Aldwin had watched everything from a distance onboard theNightwing. She was supposed to be safe at Margo's house with Brodie, but she'd insisted that he take hertothe wharf. As she watched the police arrest Salva's men, she recalled the moment she'd seen Mort in hisAngel disguise appear on the dock with Blu.

From a distance Mort had easily pa.s.sed for her in the blond wig. It was amazing, but with makeup and the right clothes he had become her.

Never in herwildestdreams had Kristie imagined Blu's plan would work, but he'd given her no choice last night when she'd attempted to strong-arm him intogoing along with her decision to trade herself for Amanda. Blu had simply swore, then picked her up andhanded her to Brodie Hewitt who had been waiting just outside the door, saying, "Take her back to Margo's and this time, dammit, tie her up if you have to."

That was the only time Blu had touched her. Back at his sister's house, he had explained to her that, yes, he'd set it up to have Amanda kidnapped from the shelter. That Mort, dressed in a blond wig earlier in theday, had escorted hertothe shelter for that sole purpose. At that point, Blu told her about her brother, Curt,and how he had sold her to Salva three years ago. Then he'd told her that last night Curt had been the one who had taken Amanda from the shelter and delivered her to Salva. Blu said Curt had actually expected to find her there instead of Amanda because he'd been tricked by Mort's disguise, but when she wasn't there, he had settled for her daughter-as Blu knew he would.

Kristie snapped out of her musing as Brodie hauled back on the throttle and brought theNightwing in close to Mort and Amanda. Through her tears, Kristie knew just what to do to rescue her daughter from the river, and she went to work tossing out the life preserver. Once Mort was in the boat and Amanda in Kristie's arms, Brodie had the engine at full throttle once more, in search of Blu.

Blu...As Amanda clung to her mother, her little teeth chattering, Kristie begantoscan the water. Blu's valiant effort to draw the gunfire away from her daughter flashed before her eyes, and she again found herself crying. Dread swept over her, along with an enormous amount of guilt for the things she'd said to him last night. She wanted to take them all back, to ask him to forgive her. Was it too late?

They neared the wharf. Kristie could see Salva wrestling with two policemen as they cuffed his hands behind his back. As if some powerful force struck him, he stopped his struggle and turned his head toward the water. His furious gaze found her quickly, and for an instant a strange kind of anguish swept his eyes. Anguish over what he'd lost-was that what she was seeing? Kristie believed it was. And it was then she decided, that in a crazy, bizarre way she would never understand, Salvador Maland had loved her.

A violent chill swept over her with the realization, and she hugged Amanda closer. The radio squawked. Kristie turned, watched Brodie pick up the receiver and speak into it. She watched as his face grimaced, watched as he glanced her way. She knew the report was coming from Jackson Ward, that the information was about Blu.

Then theNightwing was moving off, leaving the wharf and heading for River Bay.