Page 47 of Wired Target

“It’s not enough.”Feirn lifted his shirt to show washboard abs; tucked into the waistband of his touristy shorts was a nine-mil pistol on one side and on the other, a clip-on holder of throwing knives.“If I’m not there to protect you ...”

“I’m giving you an order, Feirn.Stay here.The Mistress’s house is not far away.I’ll text and let you know when I’ll be back.”Connor whirled on a heel and stalked down wide wooden steps that led to a gravel turnaround where he’d parked his rental, a sporty black Jeep.The open-air model was popular in the Islands, sporting a soft top that could be folded away for an adventurous feeling.

In his current cowboy getup, Connor couldn’t look more different than the mysterious Master of the Yam Khûmk?n.But that didn’t mean he was safe, neither from his legal enemies nor his illegal ones.Getting hauled in by the authorities would really put a wrinkle in his long-term plans.

“But a long-distance relationship just isn’t working for me,” he muttered, adjusting his hat as he slid into the boxy Jeep.

Connor pulled out of the driveway and turned right.The two-lane road leading to Sophie’s address was narrow but well-maintained, its shoulders lushly planted and neatly mowed.Coconut palms, lush hedges and kamani trees waved their branches and splashed shade on the quiet byway.

So complete was the change of scene that it was hard to believe that until a few days ago, he’d been in his tower prison, plotting his escape.If only he could fling this stupid hat over his shoulder and speed to Sophie while whooping aloud from the heady freedom of being back on his home island—but he was already taking chances, as Feirn had pointed out.

So, Connor watched the speed limit, a ridiculous thirty-five miles an hour, and traveled sedately along the scenic route peppered with mansions until he arrived at Sophie’s address.

He drove past it slowly, casing the setup, taking in the high walls, intimidating gate, and security obelisk.She’d described the layout to him on their last phone call.

Should he drive up to the kiosk and announce himself?Getting in any other way would set off alarms and draw attention; yet leaving a trace of himself “on the record” was also foolish and could put Sophie in a bind if she was ever called on to testify as to his whereabouts.

Connor turned around in a neighbor’s driveway and drove back, this time pulling up out of visual range of the gate onto the grassy shoulder beside Sophie’s rock wall.He took out his phone.As he pressed Sophie’s number to call her, Connor heard a roar.

He looked up.

The grille of a large, dark green SUV, much larger and more powerful than his little sport Jeep, was bearing down on him.

28

Once the children had gone to the nursery with Armita, Sophie picked up the icy glasses of passion fruit juice that Armita had poured for her and Lei.She set one down in front of Lei and sat on the white canvas-covered couch near sliding glass doors that opened onto the patio and the fenced-off infinity pool.“Sorry it took so long to get a little privacy.In fact, maybe we should go to my office for the statement.”

Lei, dabbing at the blot of spit-up Sean had left on her shoulder, shook her head.“I like it right here, where I can see your zillion-dollar view.And I wouldn’t have missed my auntie time with your kids for anything.Now, let’s get this over with; I’ll ask for only the most necessary information about who might have been taking a shot at you.I’ll try not to get into too many backstory questions.”Lei took out her phone and thumbed to the Record feature, stating the date, location, and names of people present.“State your name and position, for the record.”

Sophie did so.

“Now, tell us where you went after the drone attack.”

Sophie outlined the steps she had taken and their direction.

“Why did you undertake to investigate who might have been operating the drone, without authorization or backup?”

“Because I thought the drone attack might have been aimed at me.”This was the meat of the issue at hand.Sophie sighed.“My mother, Pim Wat, is a wanted criminal rumored to be a killer for hire.I have reason to believe she has a contract out on my life, as revenge for my participation in turning her over to the CIA some years ago.”

“That’s why, as soon as the attack was over, you undertook to try to apprehend the drone operator yourself?”

“Yes.In case it was my mother operating the drone.When I verified it was not, I decided to get home as fast as possible to protect my children.She is coming for them, you see.”Sophie met Lei’s eyes.“She wants to kill me and take my children.”

The moment passed as the words settled, forever on the record, burning painfully in Sophie’s heart and mind.She drew a deep, shaky breath and sighed it out.

A terrible rending crash of steel outside the gate sounded through the window; both women started as the estate’s security alarm went off with a shrill beeping.

Sophie shot to her feet.Lei’s hand landed on her weapon as she rose.

Bill’s voice came from the intercom on the wall.“Sophie!There’s been a serious car accident outside your front gate!”

29

Day 8

Raveaux, Sam and Rab moved through inky dark nighttime water fifty feet offshore from Pim Wat’s compound on Corfu.Raveaux wore a supple black wetsuit and fins with a mask and a rebreather device; so did his companions.Their way was lit by small, high-intensity blue underwater handheld lights.

When they reached the approximate coordinates Raveaux had set, he surfaced, lifted his mask, and used a night vision scope to examine the ocean-facing side of Pim Wat’s mansion.

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