Now You See Him(82)

Francey managed to slide the knife under her skirt without attracting any attention. The men surrounding them were all mesmerized by the confrontation between the two powerful forces.

Caitlin's expression didn't waver. "I'd say you were bluffing. An act of desperation, knowing you can't save her."

"Even if I tell you the arms were delivered by a rusty fishing trawler out of Morocco on Thursday morning between 3:00 and 5:00 a.m.?"

Francey didn't need to hear the ominous rumble of voices surrounding them to know that Michael was right. "We'd best get out of here, Caitlin," someone spoke up.

"I'll do the deciding!" Caitlin shrieked. "Can't you see he's lying?"

"How would he know when the arms arrived, or how they got here? You were a fool to believe the traitor. We're leaving."

Caitlin lurched to her feet. "The first man who tries to leave is a dead man. Take him." There was a moment's hesitation as no one moved, and she screamed again. "Take him, damn you!"

To Francey's surprise, Michael didn't fight. Four men surrounded him, and she suspected if it came down to it, they would need all four to restrain him. But for now he wasn't resisting. "Let her go, Caitlin," he said evenly. "She didn't kill Patrick or your brother. She's never done you any harm. You've got me to play with—let her go."

"Her existence did me harm!" Caitlin staggered past him to grab Francey, hauling her to her feet. "The only reason I haven't killed her is because I want her to have the pleasure of watching you die first." She was drooling slightly, and her clawlike fingers were digging into Francey's arm. "And you will die, both of you. We have plenty of time. If you have a hundred soldiers surrounding us, where are they? We have guards stationed all around, and none of them has called in anything suspicious."

"None of them has called in at all," a voice spoke up. "Teddy was supposed to check in half an hour ago, Diurmud twenty minutes ago. We can't raise them on the radio."

Again the rumble grew louder. "We're out of here, Caitlin. We've followed you through thick and thin, but this goes beyond what's sensible. We're taking the arms and heading out. We're—"

The sudden explosion was deafening, blinding. Francey was thrown to the ground, something large and heavy crushing her. For a moment, stunned, she didn't move, and when her mind cleared, she realized she was in the midst of a battle zone.

Michael had vanished. Of the four men who'd surrounded him, two lay on the ground writhing in pain. The other two didn't move at all.

Francey tried to move, tried to push the dead weight off her, when suddenly that crushing burden came to life. And it was no dead weight at all; it was her murderous sister Caitlin, scrambling to her feet with insane fury, dragging Francey with her.

Francey reached beneath her for the knife Michael had slipped her, but she was hauled to her feet before her hand could connect with her one hope of salvation. "Looking for this?" Caitlin cackled, holding the knife aloft.

"Let me go, Caitlin. You don't really want to kill me. You know you don't."

"Of course I want to kill you," Caitlin said with mad cheeriness, dragging her away from the raging battle. "Since I was five years old and learned of your existence I've wanted to kill you. I'm not going to give up my last chance."

"You could escape. Everyone's busy…"

"I don't want to escape. Not if it means letting you live." She held the knife up to Francey's throat, and she was far, far stronger than her sister could have imagined. "Some things are worth dying for, and this is one of them. Come along, sister dear."

"Where are you taking me?"

"Out of the range of rescue. Not that the Cougar will waste his time. He's got more important things to do. I must admit, that was a bit of a disappointment. I thought he'd be more heartbroken at the thought of losing you. Take a bit of advice from me, dearie. Men aren't worth it."

"You're crazy, Caitlin," Francey said, trying not to stumble as Caitlin dragged her along. "You know that, don't you?"

"Yes, dearie. I know that."

Francey knew now that the rustling sound was the surf, crashing on the rocks. There were no trees around the old army barracks, only a rocky promontory with the pounding waves below. The battle raged onward, but they were moving farther and farther away, and no one would even notice they were gone.

A moon had risen, dancing through the angry clouds, and as it peeked out she could see the ocean, the sharp cliff. Francey tried to struggle, but Caitlin simply pushed the sharp blade of the knife against her neck, and she could feel the first traces of blood slide down her skin. "Are you going to die with me, Caitlin?" she asked when they finally reached the edge. "Are you going to throw yourself over with me?"