"I'm trying, Dominic," she whispered. "But everything is going wrong and I'm scared. If you're around somewhere, I could use a little help."

12:05 A.M.

Blackjack Mountain

Where was the bastard? Chavez wondered impatiently as his gaze searched the trees surrounding the glade.

"Chavez, I presume."

Chavez whirled to face the man standing in the shadows of a huge oak tree. "Morgan?"

"Yes."

"You kept me waiting," Chavez said. "Come out where I can see you."

"I'm afraid not. I'd be too good a target. Not that I believe you'd double-cross me. Is the money in that suitcase?"

"Yes, come and get it."

"You come to me."

"Where's my son?"

"He's here behind this tree. He's sound asleep. I slipped him a Mickey and he should be out for a few hours."

Chavez moved slowly forward until he was facing Morgan.

"No unfriendly moves." Morgan was pointing a gun at him. "I hear you're very good at hand-to-hand. Put the case on the ground and open it."

Chavez unlatched the case. "It's in large bills. That's a lot of money to be crammed into a case."

"I've no objection." Morgan shone a penlight on the bills and then picked up several stacks and leafed through them one by one. "It seems to be in order." He latched the suitcase and shone the light on Barry, who was sleeping behind the tree. "Your merchandise."

Chavez glanced at the boy. "Where's Elena?"

"She'll be here in forty minutes or so. I wanted to conclude my primary business first and get out."

"And I'm to trust you that she'll come?"

"She knows the boy is here. Think what she's gone through already to save him from your clutches. She's desperate now."

"You're going to stay right here."

"I beg to disagree. Don't worry, I know if I left you with egg on your face you'd never stop hunting me. I don't have the slightest doubt you'll put a contract out on me anyway, but I understand contracts and can deal with them." He started to back into the forest. "She'll be here."

"Did you believe I'd let you leave this mountain alive?"

"Perish the thought. But I'm going to do it just the same. My former occupation gave me unique experience in escape and evasion. I know you have this mountain crawling with your people. I had to take out one to safeguard my chosen exit trail. I'm sure you won't mind. He was clumsy anyway."

He was gone.

"Gomez!"

The man ran from the trees on the other side of the glade. "I couldn't get a clear shot. Should I go after him?"

"Yes. No. Elena may be on her way. I don't want her scared off by any search parties crashing through the brush. We'll get him later. Give me your flashlight." He shone the light down on the boy. It was definitely the boy he'd seen in the picture, and he still appeared to be in a deep sleep. "I have my son and I'll soon have the woman." He added, "If she does make it this far, I want you to leave her to me. Don't interfere. Now get back to your position."

"Are you ready?" Galen whispered.

Elena nodded and adjusted her infrared night glasses. "I counted five. There could be more."

"Probably are. They may be on the move. You take the trail to the left; I'll take the right. We meet at the glade at the top."

"Right. Chavez is bound to have a man or two in the woods around the glade. Will you take them out?"

"And what will you be doing?"

She didn't answer. "Will you take them out?"

He muttered an oath. "Yes, dammit. You can trust me. I'll make sure there aren't any surprises. Satisfied?"

She nodded, her gaze on the top of the mountain.

Barry.

"Elena, just meet me there. Don't go in without me. Do you hear me?"

"I heard you. Be careful." She bent low and darted to the left.

Clear the way, her father had told her. Be silent but take them out. Clear the way.

Clear the way to Barry.

Two down.

Galen rolled the body into the bushes and jammed his knife back into its calf sheath.

No noise. No alert.

He paused a moment to get his bearings and the next target. A guard a hundred yards farther up on the trail.

He continued to carefully crawl his way up the side of the trail.

The man's neck broke as she twisted it from behind. Elena let him fall and kept going.

Don't stop.

Move faster.

More of Chavez's men on the trail ahead.

But beyond them was the glade.

Beyond them was Barry.

Clear the way.

Panic surged through Elena when she saw there was no one in the glade.

Not Chavez. Not her son.

"Chavez!"

No answer.

Her gaze searched the trees. "Chavez, I know you're there. Come out and face me."

"I was just making sure you had no company. Where's Galen?"

Elena's gaze flew across the glade to where the voice had come from. She'd discarded her night glasses and could only see by the fitful moonlight. Where was he? "Hopefully wreaking havoc on your men."

"Then he's probably dead by now. I hope you weren't fond of him."

Don't think about his words. He only wanted to shake her, weaken her. "Where's my son?"

"Here." Chavez's voice was farther left, Elena noticed. He must be moving.

She started moving herself. "Where?"

"Why should I tell you? It's no longer important. Your status as his mother is at an end."

"Bullshit."

"I've heard that maternal love makes idiots of women, and you've proved it tonight. I was doubtful you'd walk into Morgan's trap."

"I walked in and I'm walking out. I'm taking my son with me. You've moved five yards to the left. You're trying to get behind me. Do you really want to attack me from the rear? Are you afraid to look me in the eyes?"

"Don't be ridiculous. Do you think I believe that lie about you just pretending I'd beaten you? I beat you then. I'll beat you now."

"You know in your heart I was telling the truth. It must be a terrible blow to your pride. Are you afraid you'll fail again if you face me?"

"I won't be taunted into doing something stupid, Elena."

"Will you remember this later and regret it, Chavez? Oh, I know you probably wanted me helpless and unable to defend myself, but that would just prove how ineffectual you are."

"You didn't find me ineffectual when I was driving between your legs."

Don't let him shake you. Memories were also a weapon.

"The only way you could beat me was to tie me down. What kind of victory is that?"

Silence. "You bitch. Knife?"

She drew a deep, relieved breath. "Knife, hands, feet. Throw your other weapons out into the clearing. I'll do the same."

"The knife at last. Not that I didn't enjoy our less lethal bouts. Do you remember lying on the mat and-"

"Throw out your weapons."

"You first."

"And chance getting shot by one of your men in the forest?"

"You have to take your chances. Maybe I told them to leave you to me. Maybe I didn't. You're so sure I want to redeem myself. Are you certain enough to throw out your guns?"

She had hoped to place him in a position of weakness. She wasn't sure if she'd shoot him when he stepped out into the clearing, but it was definitely a possibility. Hand-to-hand was always a risk, and she had to think of Barry. Now she had no choice. If there was another man in the forest, she had to trust that Galen would take him down. She felt a sudden surge of confidence. Yes, he wouldn't fail her. She could trust Galen.