Page 57 of Collin: Episodes 13-15
Mikhail snorted. “You no worry?”
“Alice is smarter than you. And she’s a woman.”
“What this mean?”
Collin laughed. “No one sees her coming until she wants them to. And they don’t expect her.”
If he knew Ash and his sister, she’d already have changed her hair color as well as Dana’s, probably cut Dana’s hair, put her in boy clothes, plus found another car. With Ash on the other end of the phone and not on Mikhail’s radar for at least the next few hours, they had all the money they needed. Ash had nothing but cash from the last six months of hefty paychecks and almost nothing to spend it on. Alice would head inland, away from the coast and Mikhail’s old stomping grounds where she knew he had had friends.
With a judge’s order for producing Dana, Damian and Ash would be able to get her into protective custody. And Ash had the entire killing on video including Barker’s threat to unalive Alice herself before she pulled the trigger on him. There might be a trial, but she was well within her rights of self-defense.
Alice would be safe. And with Mikhail out of the woodwork here, the story would come out, and she could be protected from him too. She’d have people looking after her. Even if he died, Richard and Linda would look after her for him.
Collin wrapped that knowledge around his chest.
The challenge in front of him right now was living. Émeric had made it an order. One he didn’t know how to follow.
He looked back toward Émeric. What he wouldn’t give for the man’s heat against his skin right now. His bones hurt beneath his skin and sinew.
“Mikhail,” Émeric snapped. “You know what happens if the boy stops shivering?”
Mikhail’s nostrils flared. “Yes.”
“Find him a coat.”
“No.”
“You want him dead?”
“Da.”
“You at least need him until the exchange. What if Reevesworth can’t find the record?”
“I cut off your finger; tell him I keep cutting till he find.”
Émeric controlled himself with a deep breath. “There must be something we have that you want. Collin represents a significant investment to my husband and I.”
“Yes. I certain. Many loads. Much spunk.”
A tick showed in Émeric’s jaw, but he visibly calmed himself. “More than that. This operation here must have required significant capital.”
“Nyet. Not my money. Barker’s money, some others.”
“Have you been paid?”
“Da. And record will pay more.”
“Something else, then.”
Mikhail laughed. “You not afraid he offer to take the boy instead of you? Two hostages, one bribe.”
“You don’t know Richard.”
“No.” Mikhail crouched down in front of Émeric. “But I know whoever I give him back still hostage. Richard will answer to me forever. No more train. No more projects ’cept what Bernstein say. All the money I want.” Mikhail rubbed his thumb and first two fingers together, grinning.
“You can’t control Richard like that.”
“Why?”
