Her Wicked Hero Page 6

  “No funny business.”

  “I promise. I want everybody to come out safe and sound. You know you’re holding all the cards.”

  She watched his sly smile of satisfaction at those words.

  Thank God, the submissive crap had worked.

  He waved his pistol. “Go, fix this.”

  On her hands and knees, Marcia crawled over to the mother and child. As soon as she got to them, she wrapped her arms around them.

  “It’s going to be all right,” she murmured in soft tones. She eased up onto her feet, coaxing the mother up with her. “That’s right, come with me.” She knew the woman couldn’t understand her, but her soothing tone must have been getting through. She made sure to keep her body between the woman and Raymond, so hopefully, she couldn’t see the crazy man and his gun.

  “You’re doing so good. Let’s get your baby taken care of, shall we? Such a good baby. I bet your baby is going to grow up to be an all-star. I can’t wait to find out if he or she is a boy or girl.” Marcia kept up the non-sense talking as they made their way under the awning. Some of the tension left the woman’s body, and as a result, the toddler wasn’t thrashing around as much.

  “I wonder what beautiful name you’ve given this little bundle. I bet I can’t pronounce it.” Marcia spied the cushy pile of blankets beside the crib and correctly assumed it was the diaper changing area when the woman placed the child down on it.

  The mom looked up at her expectantly. When Marcia just stood there, she reached out with one hand. Marcia realized she was holding the cloth diaper. She smiled and handed it over.

  “Sorry about that.”

  She watched as the woman took off the soggy diaper and Marcia finally realized they were dealing with a little girl. Again, Marcia crouched beside the woman and took the soiled diaper from her. The woman pointed toward a bucket, and Marcia placed it inside.

  She knelt back down beside the two and pointed toward herself.

  Darn, she almost said Marcia. She started again. She patted her chest and said, “Lesley.”

  The woman’s eyes lit up, and she nodded. She pointed to her own chest. “Nurul.”

  Lesley pointed toward the little girl who was now just hiccupping instead of full-fledged crying. Nurul said “Hana.”

  “What a beautiful name,” Marcia said. She knew the woman wouldn’t understand the words, but she figured the sentiment would get through. Then the woman turned slightly, and she surreptitiously pointed toward the man who was unconscious on the deck.

  “Adib.” She continued to talk quickly in that other language Marcia didn’t understand, tears rolling down Nurul’s face. As if she could feel her mother’s disquiet, Hana immediately started to fuss. Marcia needed to shut this down, otherwise, Raymond was going to get really angry. She pulled Nurul into her arms.

  “Shhhh. It’s going to be okay.” The young mother clutched Marcia’s neck as if she were a lifeline. She continued to speak. Marcia stroked her back, telling her everything would be okay even though she knew it was going to take a miracle for it to be true.

  “Keep it down over there!” Raymond shouted.

  Nurul’s body shuddered, and Marcia held her tighter. Marcia glanced over at Hana who was red in the face. She picked up the bottle she’d set down.

  “Nurul,” Marcia said pulling away from the woman. She showed her the bottle then motioned toward Hana. Slowly the woman nodded. She picked up the cantankerous little girl and sat down cross-legged with the child on her lap. With a little work, the baby took the bottle and Marcia breathed a sigh of relief.

  “About goddamned time. Lesley, get over here.”

  Now what? Marcia wondered. She got up and went over to Raymond, carefully keeping her eyes downward, only looking up through her lashes. The man didn’t look angry that was a good sign. When she got within four feet of him, she stopped and waited.

  “Get me some food, there has to be something on this godforsaken boat. I want hot food. I’m going to have my rifle aimed at the kid the whole time I can’t see you. If you take more than ten minutes, I’m going to shoot the kid. I’ve killed men and women before, but never a kid. Sounds like a new kind of high point I can rack up, so don’t think I’m kidding.”

  Her eyes flew up to look at his. He chuckled.

  “Better get cracking. Don’t waste your time trying to tell if I’m serious.” He took a step toward her, and his voice lowered. “Because, Girly, I’m fucking serious as a heart attack.”

  Her blood turned to ice. She couldn’t help the whimper that escaped. He shoved her with the muzzle of his rifle, and she stumbled a step backward. “Go. Time’s a-wastin'.”

  Marcia turned and ran toward the little kitchen she’d seen. She ignored it when Nurul called out her name. There was a little metal contraption that had a teapot sitting on top of it. She didn’t see any kind of propane tank beside it, but there were matches close by. That had to be what they used to cook on. Marcia felt tears of frustration starting.

  “Stop! You can do this.” If she could gut a fish and fry it in a pan over an open fire, she could figure this out.

  She went to the cooler that wasn’t very cool. Good, maybe she could find something in here to poison Raymond with. There were a lot of things she didn’t recognize. Eventually, she found three eggs, and that she could work with. They’d been near the bottom where items were colder. So much for poisoning the beast. She also found a baggie full of cooked rice. Good, she could warm that up to go with the scrambled eggs.

  She peeked out and saw that Nurul was still feeding Hana, so she wouldn’t be any help. Maybe that was for the best, they’d probably be working at cross-purposes in the kitchen, anyway. There was one long thin cupboard, and in there she struck gold. Frying pan, spices, dishes, and cooking oil. Now, she just had to figure out how to light the freaking little stove.

  She took off the teapot and replaced it with the skillet. She fiddled with the knob until she heard a hissing sound. She lit a match and prayed. She backed far away, and with just two fingers she touched the match next to the burner. Marcia sighed with relief when a small flame licked upwards. Success!

  She poured some cooking oil into the pan and cracked the eggs into the bowl. She soon had scrambled eggs and rice on a plate, no silverware, just chopsticks. Marcia left the galley and made sure she was in front of the mother and child as she walked toward Raymond with his hot food.

  “Weren’t you damn lucky? You did it with thirty seconds to spare,” he grinned. She hated it when he gave a genuine smile, it made her realize he could be charming and good-looking. It scared her to think how many people had failed to see the monster underneath the mask.

  “Bitch, get me a fork,” he bellowed when she handed him the chopsticks.

  “I looked, they only had chopsticks. I’m sorry. Please forgive me.”

  He put the food on the deck floor. “Go find something for me to drink. I’ll have to use my own fork. Hurry back.”

  He started to shrug off his backpack and Marcia ran toward the galley again. Near the bottom of the cooler, she’d seen a couple of jugs of liquid. She pushed things aside and found the jugs. One was milk, and the other was a light orange color liquid. She took a quick taste. Kind of warm papaya juice. Frantically, she went to the cupboard and looked for glass.

  Shazam! Her eyes widened when she spotted the pistol. It looked like it was from World War II, but it still was a gun. She checked the chamber and saw that it was loaded. The safety was on, so she put it into the waistband of her jeans, under her shirt, then grabbed the glass and poured some juice for ratboy. She took a step toward the door, then realized she was thirsty. She drank half, then poured some more for weaselface.

  “Took you long enough,” he said when she returned.

  She saw that he’d eaten half the plate. Maybe he’d be in a better mood now. He slurped up the glass. “Get me more.”

  Marcia hurried back and got him another glass. She grabbed a handful of rice for herself and wol
fed it down. She didn’t know when she’d get to eat again. She needed to keep her strength up, now it wasn’t just her life depending on her simpering performance.

  “I’m waiting,” he yelled out.

  Nurul was done feeding Hana and stared at her with a scared expression as she hurried by on her way to Raymond. He grabbed the glass from her.

  “Can I check out the old man?” Marcia asked tentatively.

  “Let him die.”

  “You can’t mean that.” But as soon as the words were out of her mouth, Marcia realized they weren’t true. Raymond meant it. He didn’t care who he hurt or killed. She had to figure out an angle to get the old man some help. She had to.

  Raymond continued to eat, staring at her with a satisfied gleam in his eye. “You’re trying to figure me out, aren’t you?”

  She slowly nodded her head.

  “I just don’t register in your mind.” His eyes twinkled. “I’m really a simple man. I eat. I shit. I fuck. Too bad you’re not blonde and stacked, if you were, I’d be all over you. You’re beginning to have the right attitude though, I’m kind of liking that.”

  Marcia shuddered. He said it so evenly like it was normal.

  “Jesus, don’t get your tit in a wringer. I told you, you’re not my type. Just keep feeding me, and we’ll be okay.”

  She couldn’t help herself. “What will it hurt to help the old man?” she asked quietly.

  “It’s a waste of effort. A bullet is more expedient.”

  Marcia gnawed her bottom lip and gasped in pain. She’d forgotten her injury. “How long before we get to where we’re going to?” she asked, changing the subject.

  “I’d say we’re almost there.”

  “Really?” Marcia spun around to see what he was looking at. Nothing made sense, all she could see was more jungle.

  “It’s almost dark, we’re not going to be floating down the river in the middle of the night. Haven’t you noticed all the turns we’ve had to navigate? Shit, Lesley, use your brain.” He started to guide the boat toward the shore.

  Oh no, Marcia saw the old man start to move. He was up on his hands and knees. What was he saying? She swung her head around and saw Raymond casually lifting his rifle.

  5

  Zed heard a shot ring out as he saw the boat up ahead in the moonlight.

  Was that a baby crying?

  He ran for all that he was worth. Then he heard three more shots and splashing.

  “Come on, Nurul, follow me,” a woman yelled.

  What the hell?

  “I’m going to kill you, you bitch,” a man’s voice rang out. “Don’t think this is the end of things. I’ll find you.”

  Well, a man and a woman speaking English indicated that Raymond and Marcia were alive. Raymond sounded pissed, so score one for the good guys. Zed spotted two small shapes on the shore and as he got closer, the cries of the baby grew louder and louder.

  “It’s going to be okay, Nurul. I promise. Since you can’t understand me, I also promise you that we’ll find a unicorn that will take us to safety,” Marcia said in a calm and comforting voice. Zed grinned. He liked her style. He wondered who the woman with the baby was. The other woman said something in a language Zed didn’t understand, but he could tell she was crying along with the baby.

  Zed was closer to the women than he was to the boat, but neutralizing Raymond was the smart move. He started toward the river, but then saw that Raymond was pushing off from the shore at the same time he lifted his rifle and fired more shots at the women.

  “Get down,” Zed shouted to Marcia. Zed raised his rifle and took aim at the same time Raymond dropped to the deck. He’d obviously heard Zed’s shout. Dammit.

  “Help us,” Marcia shouted.

  “I need to stop Raymond, or he’ll come back for you,” Zed objected.

  “Forget Raymond. He hurt Hana, we need to get her to a doctor.”

  Zed looked back at the boat. Goddammit, it was already floating toward the middle of the river. He headed toward the women.

  When he reached the trio, Marcia started talking again.

  “Come on, we have to hurry. Raymond said there was some kind of camp down river.”

  Zed looked down at the little brunette giving him orders and barked out a laugh, he couldn’t help it. “Before you start acting like my commanding officer, aren’t you going to ask who I am?” Zed asked sardonically.

  “You were shooting at Raymond and trying to help us. I pray to God you’re one of the good guys.”

  Underneath all the dirt on her face, he saw the swelling on her cheek and eye, and he took note of the tear tracks. He couldn’t tell if her attitude was an act or sheer bravado. He saw her lower lip tremble. Ah, hell.

  “Marcia, didn’t you know, the bad guys think they are the good guys,” Zed said gently. He tried to get a look at the mother and baby, but the mother jerked away from him, cuddling her child close. “Who’s Hana?” he asked Marcia.

  “You called me Marcia,” she said excitedly. “Mr. B. sent you.” A smile broke over her face, and it hit him right in the gut. “Hana is the baby. He yanked her away from Nurul, I’m pretty sure he broke her arm, that’s why she won’t stop crying. After that, he threatened to kill Nurul’s father if she didn’t get Hana to stop crying.” Marcia’s voice broke, “Then the bastard killed him.”

  Zed watched as a tear spilled down her face.

  “Marcia, we need to go,” he said as he looked toward the water. Even though the boat was down river, he would still feel a lot better when they were hidden in the trees. “You can tell me everything when we’re safer.”

  Marcia nodded.

  “Are either you or Nurul injured, or can you walk?”

  “We can walk,” Marcia assured him.

  When they got a little further in the jungle, then he could take a look at the little one’s arm. If it was broken, he could work to set it. He could also call Dex to find out if any of the medication he had in his pack would be acceptable to give to a baby. He hoped so, he hated to hear her in so much pain.

  “I’m going to lead, and we’ll have Nurul follow me, and you’ll take up the rear, okay?” he asked Marcia.

  “Makes perfect sense,” she said. “I’ll holler if she’s having trouble keeping up.”

  “Let me know if you’re having trouble too. I can see he hit you,” Zed said indicating her face. “What else did he do? Is there any immediate treatment that you need?”

  “Seriously, I’m fine. We just need to take care of Hana and get the heck out of here.”

  He gave her a considering look and decided she wasn’t lying to him. Using hand signals, Marcia and Zed made it clear to Nurul she needed to follow Zed into the jungle. He carefully chose the easiest path possible. When they had gone maybe a quarter of a mile and came to a log that would allow the women to rest against, Zed called a halt to their trek. Hana’s shrieks had subsided to whimpers which were even more heart-wrenching. When he tried to help the mother sit down, she waved him off.

  “You better let me,” Marcia said.

  Marcia helped to ease the young woman down onto the jungle floor, helping to hold the baby’s head. When she was done, Marcia slumped down next to her, and Zed crouched down beside Marcia.

  “Are you all right?” The bruising on her face had been agonizing to think about while they’d been walking. Zed kept his voice low, so he didn’t disturb the baby.

  “Yes, why?” Marcia asked.

  “Querida, your face,” Zed gently cupped her cheek. It felt inordinately warm to the touch, he prayed to God that none of the bones in her cheek had been broken.

  “This is nothing,” Marcia smiled grimly. “I’ve had worse when I played goalie on my soccer team. It’s Hana we have to worry about.”

  “Fair enough,” Zed kept his laugh quiet. “Tell me what happened,” he said as he dropped his hand.

  “I shot Raymond three times, but I failed. I didn’t manage to kill him.” Zed could tell that Marcia had been re
playing the events in her mind and was angry at herself. She needed to calm down.

  “Marcia, start at the beginning. Take me through what happened after Raymond kidnapped you. I especially want to know anything he might have said about why he took you, and what he planned to do with you.”

  Marcia didn’t immediately start talking, she took a deep breath to collect her thoughts. She reminded him of one of his colleagues who was going to brief their lieutenant.

  “After he took me, it was what you would expect. He tied me up, and it was a forced march to the river.” Marcia looked off into space for a moment, and Zed knew there was more than she was telling him, but then she continued. “The important thing is, I finally figured out how to get information from him.”

  “How?”

  “He likes women to be all subservient. As long as I kept up that attitude, I could ask him questions. He didn’t tell me much, but he said some things. It was frustrating. When I tried to get more from him, he caught on and got angry.”

  Before he could ask her what, she was continuing.

  “Did Mr. B. fill you in on the off-the-books ops he’s been running?” she asked.

  Zed nodded.

  She took a deep breath and nodded. “Raymond was in on the one that went south, the one where the Saudi palace was bombed. His friends died, but he got out alive. He’s holding a major grudge. At the heart of this, he wants Mr. B. to suffer, so torturing his daughters is high on his list, but the guy is greedy too.”

  Zed waited.

  “There’s somebody named Jefferies. I couldn’t get a bead on who that was, but apparently, Raymond thinks Jefferies will pay for me. I don’t know what my value is to him, or what he’s going to do for me.” She gave Zed a hard look, “I never let on that I wasn’t Lesley Brockman.”

  “Good girl,” he said soothingly.

  Suddenly she wasn’t in report mode. She raised her eyebrow. “I’m not a dog.”

  Zed bit his lip. “Well okay then,” he drawled. “The phrase good girl has now been wiped from my vocabulary.”