Bride of the Tiger by Heather Graham (best large ereader .txt) 📗

with murder, Tine. Your blond friend was killed, remember?”

“She wasn’t murdered; she just got in the way of a bullet. Her destiny, it would seem,” he said pleasantly. “But nobody’s going to get me, Tara. Know why? Because you’re going to leave there. Right now. You’re going to go down to the lobby, and you’ll see a man who you’re going to greet like a long-lost friend.”

“You’re crazy! I’m going to hang up and call the police immediately.”

“No, you’re not. You’re going to bring Saunders and his pretty little girlfriend and come downstairs.”

She couldn’t restrain her gasp. How could he possibly know that Jimmy was here?

She heard him chuckle. Anger swept through her, along with the fear. “You’re still out of your mind, Tine. Why the hell would I do a thing like that?”

“Why indeed?” he mocked her. “I’ll tell you why. I just couldn’t seem to reach you, Tara. Tyler was there, every damned place you were. But he’s gone now. What did you do, have a blowout with him, too, sweets? All the better. I still have this little yen, you know? I always was the possessive sort.”

“The criminal sort, you mean. You should be shot, Tine. But that’s not my concern. I’ll never come to you.”

“I think you will. You see, Tara, you were nicely, safely guarded. Forewarned, after those fools messed up yesterday. I had to rethink my plans.”

“What are you talking about?”

“An old friend of mine. A certain lovely little redhead. She’s sitting here with me right now. So pretty, so young. And if you don’t do exactly what I say, I’m afraid that I’ll have to kill her. Ashley will die, and it will be all your fault, darling.”

Tara sank all the way to the floor, the blood draining from her face. Jimmy came rushing toward her, ready to grasp the phone. Life came back to her even as desperate tears rushed to her eyes. She shook her head vehemently, holding the receiver tightly.

“Got you on that one, didn’t I, love?” Tine inquired lightly.

“I don’t believe that you have Ashley!” she cried.

“Oh, but I do. It was easy. She stepped into the hallway all alone. She was at the door, Tara, just about to open it. And we simply put this little cloth over her face and she was as docile as a lamb. The annoyance was getting rid of the old man. And the detective. Quietly, of course. You want to talk to her?”

Tara didn’t answer, because Ashley was already on the phone, her voice definitely scared, but her words full of bravado.

“Tara, don’t you dare do a thing he says! Go to the police right away! He—”

Tara closed her eyes, because Ashley broke off with a small scream, and Tine got back on the phone.

“Don’t call the police, Tara. If I see so much as a hint of the police, I’ll shoot her. Maybe I’ll take out both her kneecaps first. I can’t tell you how bad that hurts, baby. Nothing, no tricks. You and Saunders and his little tramp do exactly as I say. Go downstairs now. Come to me, baby. I’ve been waiting for you.”

Jimmy tried to snatch the phone again. Tara covered the mouthpiece, shaking her head, tears in her eyes.

“He has Ashley. He says he’ll kill her if we don’t come right now. I know that he has her; I heard her. I heard her…scream.”

Despite her protests, Jimmy wrenched the phone from her. “Elliott, you idiot. My brother is here, you know. He’ll tear up half the country to find her!”

Tara didn’t hear Tine’s answer, but she could tell when the phone went dead in Jimmy’s hand, because he stared at it for a minute and then hung up.

“What?” she whispered.

“He, uh, he, he expects to get in contact with Rafe. I imagine he wants to make a trade. Us for the mask.”

“But Rafe doesn’t have the mask.”

“But I do. I had it when I stumbled into Tanya’s doorway, and it’s still there. Hidden.”

Tanya said something to Jimmy. Tara came to her feet. “How did he see everything? What has he done with Sam? And Ashley!”

“We’d better go,” Jimmy said.

“There has to be something we can do. Something that won’t jeopardize Ashley’s life.”

“I think there is. Where’s your purse? I can leave a note in it for Rafe. Unobtrusive, in case Tine sends someone in here to check after we’re gone, but it’s a place I’m willing to bet Rafe will think to look.”

“Couldn’t we call—”

“I wouldn’t trust that phone. Hurry, get me a paper and a pen.”

“But what are you going to say?”

“I’ve got a pretty good idea of where we’re going. You forget—I stole the mask from him.”

Tara gave Jimmy her handbag, paper and a pen. He scribbled a note and placed it inside the purse. Tanya remained quietly at his side. She must be frightened, Tara thought. But the other woman remained silent and poised. Tara decided that she was going to do the same. She couldn’t do anything less. Of all people, Ashley didn’t deserve to be in this mess.

“All right, let’s go,” Jimmy said.

He didn’t bother replacing his mustache, and the three of them went down in the elevator together in silence. When they reached the lobby, Tara prayed wildly that a score of policemen would jump out from behind the counter and produce a handcuffed Tine.

It didn’t happen. Some tourists walked by, chattering in French. A group of Americans went past, boisterously discussing the delicious meal they’d had for lunch.

Then a tall man with broad shoulders and a Latin accent suddenly threw his arms out toward Tara.

“There you are! Come, give your old amigo a hug!”

Tara gritted her teeth as the man embraced her. He reached past her, smiling as he shook hands with Jimmy and Tanya.

“Now. Out front,” he ordered under his breath.

They stepped outside. A black limousine swept into the circular drive. The man who had met them tipped the doorman and hugged Tara’s shoulders again—then shoved her into the