She looked up at him as she got in the car. “In the end I'm going to have to go in alone. He mentioned a house where he's keeping Jason and my father. If you rush that house, he'll press his little button and everything will go up in flames.”

“With him in it?”

“I'm not taking a chance with that crazy bastard when Jason's life is at stake.”

“Then you'll have to get us a target,” George said. “Can you get him to stand in front of a window or door where we can pick him off?”

“Maybe.”

“And maybe not,” Silver said. “You don't know yourself if you'll be able to push him to do what you want.”

“You will not rush that house. You don't run any risk that might endanger Jason.”

He lifted his shoulders and slammed the door. “Okay, we don't rush the house.”

But he hadn't addressed her last, more comprehensive demand, she realized.

Well, she couldn't argue with him right now. The full impact of Trask's call was hitting home. She had to garner her strength and try to rid herself of this cold, paralyzing terror.

The call came from Dickens promptly at nine that night.

“Walk two blocks east to the Baptist church. I'll be there in ten minutes. If there's anyone with you, I take off and I won't be back.”

“I'll come alone.” She hung up the phone and turned to Silver. “Ten minutes. The Baptist church two blocks east.”

“We're on our way.” He headed for the door. “Come on, George.”

“Action, at last,” George said as he stood up and grabbed the duffel at his feet. “Let's go.”

“Wait,” Kerry said. “How long will it take you to get into Dickens's mind?”

“Not long. It depends on the subject. Five. Ten minutes.”

“And how will I know whether or not he's blind to you?”

“You'll know. I won't let you go two blocks with the bastard if I can't do it.”

“The hell you won't. I'm not going to forgive you if you do something to make Trask—”

“What have I got to lose?” There was a touch of recklessness in his tone. “You're not big on forgiveness where I'm concerned, anyway. If it comes down to you or your brother, guess which one I'm going to choose?”

“Out, Brad,” George said quickly. “Haven't you ever heard honesty is overrated in a situation like this?” He opened the door and pushed him out. “It seems Brad's barbaric instincts are at the forefront, Kerry. I'll make sure you see us tailing you, since Brad says he'll make Dickens blind to us. I don't quite believe him, but it's a most interesting situation.”

Interesting? It was terrifying, she thought. “You listen to me.” She stared Silver directly in the eyes. “You've broken your promise to me before, but you can't break this one. You promise me right now that you'll wait until I give you a safe target to take out Trask.”

“And what if you find you can't push him? I'm supposed to sit around and watch him burn you all to kingdom come?”

“Then you'll have to trust me to find some other way to lure him to expose himself.”

He just looked at her.

“Promise me, Silver.”

He was silent a moment. “I promise you I'll give you your chance.” The door closed behind him.

It wasn't the answer she'd wanted, but it was all she was going to get. It was bad enough that she wasn't sure she could influence Trask. Silver had become an unknown quantity.

She checked her watch. Only a few minutes had passed, but it was time she left. How did she know what Dickens would do if she wasn't there on time? He was another unknown quantity. Her life seemed to be full of them.

The blue Ford made three passes around the block where Kerry stood before it pulled over to the curb.

“Get in.” Dickens leaned over and opened the passenger door. He took her purse, rifled through it, and then ran his hand over her breasts and arms.

She pulled away. “What are you doing?”

“Checking for weapons and to see if you're wearing a wire.” He gave a nervous glance at the Baptist church and then down the street. “Let's get out of here. I want to get this over with.”

“No more than I do.” She slammed the car door. “Where are you taking me?”

He dialed his phone. “I've got her. No, there's no one around. I made sure before I picked her up. I know my business, Trask.”

“I want to talk to him.”

He shrugged and handed her the phone.

“You said I could talk to my brother, Trask.”

“Ah, yes. I was a little worried he'd be reluctant, but I believe he has something to say to you.”

Jason came on the line. “Kerry, don't come. Find a way to get away.”

He was alive. She hadn't realized until this moment how frightened she'd been that Trask had already killed him. “Are you okay?”

“Don't come,” Jason said desperately. “My life isn't worth—”

Trask came on the line. “He must care a great deal for you. He's a smart man, and I don't believe he has any doubt that his own life is on the line. Now, you be good and don't give Dickens any trouble. He's nervous and he can be quite lethal. I don't want anything to happen to you.” He hung up.

She handed Dickens the phone. “He said you're nervous. That must mean you don't like doing this. Wouldn't it be smarter to help me save my brother and bring Trask down?”

“Shut up.” He pulled away from the curb. “I'm not nervous. Everything's fine. This is all going to be over tonight.”

Where was Silver? He'd said five or ten minutes, and yet Dickens showed no sign that— Hell, what did she expect? She didn't know whether she'd even be able to tell any difference in Dickens's behavior if Silver had managed to get into his mind. “They'll catch you, Dickens.”

“No, they won't. I'm through here the minute Trask gets on that plane with Ki Yong.” He turned the corner and headed for the edge of town. “I'll disappear into the sunset with a bag full of money.”

“If Trask doesn't decide you'd be perfect for one of his experiments with Firestorm.” With seeming casualness, she shifted her gaze to the side mirror. Her heart sank as she saw the street behind them was empty. No one was following.

Dear God. Had something happened? Don't think about it. If she had to cope, she'd do it. “Trask is capable of any deceit. You must know what he did to Fairchild. What's to keep him from—”

A brown Lexus had turned the corner with George at the wheel.

Get closer,” Silver said curtly. “You can't lose him.”

“No?” George raised his brows. “You'll excuse me from being ignorant of the process, but wouldn't you be able to find out where he's going?”

“I don't want to waste the effort,” he said curtly. “I'm having to dig down beneath layers of slime to find out what I need to know about the guards surrounding the farmhouse.”

“Farmhouse?”

“That's where he's taking her. A farmhouse. Dickens had to scout it out for Trask.”

“Then maybe you should find out where it is so that we can go ahead and wait for—”

“For Christ's sake, it doesn't work that way. I don't know this asshole's mind. I have to pick up what I can until I get control.”

“Okay,” he said soothingly. “Just a suggestion. You're right, I don't how this works. Who the hell does?”

“Sorry.” Silver's gaze never left the car ahead of them. “Just get closer and don't lose him.”

“You're sure he won't see us?”

“No, I'm not sure, but I don't think he will. I believe I've already got that much control.”

“Then it's a chance.”

“Hell, yes.”

What is it?” Dickens was staring suspiciously at Kerry's face.

Shit. “Nothing.” She looked hurriedly away from the mirror and tried to distract him. “Trask's not stable, you know. Anyone's a target.”

It didn't work. Dickens's gaze had followed hers to the mirror.

She tensed. Jesus, George had moved to only a few car lengths behind them and wasn't even trying to avoid being seen.

Dickens shrugged and glanced away. “Shut up and stop trying to spook me. I'm not buying it.”