"Hmph," she murmured. "Pretty cool."

"Dar!" Kerry called down from the bridge. "Radar just picked up something."

Dar handed her father back his toy. "About d.a.m.ned time." She 300*

felt tension grip her guts, and she wanted the confrontation to be long over and done with.

"Heck of a vacation there, Dardar," her father commented wryly. "Maybe next time ya'll should go find you some little farm somewhere and just do you a picnic or something."

Dar shook her head. "I should have guessed. Even when we spent a couple days up at the lake, Kerry's horse got bee stung, she fell off, we almost capsized, and we managed to out ourselves on a family hay wagon ride."

Andrew ruffled her hair. "You always did get into the d.a.m.ndest things. You remember that time we done went up to that ranch and you rode up on that bull?"

Dar covered her eyes. "Don't mention that to Kerry, please?"

"Mention what to me?" Kerry materialized at her elbow, peering out through the rain. When it appeared that neither of the Roberts was going to answer, she asked, "Any sign of them yet?

Charlie's going to stay up at the controls. It's tough for him to get up and down the ladder." And it gave him something very useful to do, Kerry reasoned, since no one was willing to trust Bob with the boat.

"Couldn't hardly see nothing yet in this spit," Andy said. "You two ready?"

Kerry patted her rain slicker. "About as ready as I'm going to get. Dar?"

Dar had her hood down, and the wind was whipping her dark hair relentlessly. "I'm ready." She lifted her chin. "Lights."

They looked in the direction she indicated, and sure enough, a moving speck could be seen very faintly through the storm. Kerry flexed her hands nervously, her heart rate picking up speed now that things were happening. She wasn't stupid enough to ignore the fact that she was scared; any reasonable person would be in her place.

She trusted Dar, and she certainly trusted Andy. However, she didn't trust DeSalliers, and part of her worried that logic didn't have a lot to do with his planned actions. She worried about Bud, trapped in the man's hands, and she worried about what they would find over on the other boat.

The cabin door opened and Bob stuck his head out. "I think he's on the radio,"he said, just as Charlie called down from the bridge with the same news.

Dar squared her shoulders and walked over to the door. Bob backed out of her way as she went for the radio console inside, Kerry and Andy at her back.

DeSalliers' voice cut through the static. "Roberts? One more chance at answering, then I slit this piece of s.h.i.t's throat."

Andy's eyes narrowed. "Ah already do not like this man."*301 Dar picked up the mic. "I'm here," she answered shortly.

"About time you showed up."

"You have what I asked for?"

"I have what you need," Dar replied. "So let's get this over with."

DeSalliers laughed. "You don't like not being in control, do you, Roberts? Well, that's too bad. You just sit there. I'll tell you when I'm ready."

The transmission was terminated and Dar dropped the mic on the console as though it were a dead rat. "I've encountered more appealing things than that six days dead on the roadside up to Marathon," she commented. "What an a.s.shole."

"Yeah, well, he's going to get what he wants, isn't he?" Bob asked bitterly. "To h.e.l.l with the rest of us." He stomped over to the chair and flung himself down in it. "f.u.c.k you all."

Andrew folded his arms over his broad chest. "This here situation's just chock full of jacka.s.ses, ain't it?"

"Yeah, isn't it?" Bob shot back at him.

"You know something?" Kerry addressed Bob before either Dar or Andrew could answer. "I'm really starting to regret risking my life for you, and I hate that. So cut it out and grow up before I have to do something about it."

Bob subsided into a sullen silence, his eyes fixed firmly on the floor.

Kerry expelled a breath in disgust and gave herself a tiny shake. She pushed her hood back, revealing damp and tangled blonde hair that she ran her hands through in agitation. "Jesus."

Dar put an arm around her and pulled her close. She hit the intercom. "Hold steady here, Charlie. Let's wait to see what this b.a.s.t.a.r.d has in mind."

"Ain't no good, whatever," Charlie replied glumly. "Sons of b.i.t.c.hes."

"Mah gosh, listen to this here language," Andrew drawled. "Ah ought to spank the lot of you."

The comment eased some of the tension and drew a smile from both Dar and Kerry. "I hate waiting," Dar admitted. "And he's right. I hate not being in control." She released Kerry and turned, choosing a path and pacing it across the living area.

Kerry leaned against the radio console and watched her, resigning herself to the knowledge that all they could really do is wait.

As Dar paced, Andrew merely leaned back against the door frame and relaxed.

At last, DeSalliers' boat approached them, circling their position twice before they were contacted again. Dar's nerves had tightened almost to the breaking point. She'd stopped pacing and 302*

ended up back out on the stern in the rain, counting to several thousand under her breath in a vain attempt to relax.

Kerry stuck her head out of the cabin. "Dar. He's on."

Dar stalked to the door and ducked inside. She could feel her breathing coming quickly, and she took a second to inhale, hold it, then exhale before she picked up the mic. "Yeah?" She unkeyed and waited. The sudden warmth of Kerry's hand on her side almost made her jump, but after a second she relaxed a little, calming as Kerry's thumb idly rubbed her skin.

"I see you've got a canoe back there," DeSalliers said. "Get in it and get over here. No bulls.h.i.t, no smart talk, or I'll gun the engines and run your sorry a.s.s over."

"Make sure you hit me the first time," Dar growled back. "Or you'll end up upside down talking to crabs." She keyed off and dropped the mic, then headed for the door. "C'mon."

Andrew held the door and waited for them to go ahead of him.

As they pa.s.sed him, he turned to face Bob. "You mess with anything while them girls are over there, Ah will kill you."

Bob stared at him.

"That is not a bluff, it's a promise," Andrew said quietly. He turned and closed the door after him.

Dar made her way down the ladder and into the solid black watercraft in which her father had arrived. It was a familiar sight: two incredibly tough rubber pontoons and a flexible but stiff inner structure, and engines that could probably propel a jet. It had hooks and catches everywhere that were intended for military use, not surprising since its primary purpose was to carry Navy SEALS into battle. She didn't ask how Andrew had gotten it.

Dar turned and took hold of Kerry as she climbed down, keeping her steady as she joined her in the bottom of the craft. They were both in dark rain slickers, and Andrew was almost invisible as he made his way into the boat, causing it to rock under his weight.

He was dressed in full-length black neoprene, with a canvas vest buckled over it that held all sorts of things, including one waterproof case Dar knew usually housed a sidearm. The thought put a sudden p.r.i.c.kle down her back, and she tried not to think about how dangerous the situation was.

DeSalliers sounded like he was capable of anything. Dar let out a slow breath, acknowledging the fear she was now feeling in her guts. But the fact was, her father was also capable of anything, and having him there shifted the odds, if not in their favor, at least more toward equality.

Andrew took a seat at the controls and started the powerful engines. "Want to let us loose, Dardar?"

"Sure." Dar untied the craft and tossed the end of the rope up onto the Dixie. The waves were pitching up and down severely, but*303 apparently she'd gotten used to them because they didn't disturb her much. Kerry, however, sat down on one of the hard seats and wrapped her arms and legs around the stanchions.

Andrew aimed the boat toward DeSalliers' craft, visible as a brightly lit outline against the rain. "Here we go."

Dar held on with one hand and put her free hand on Kerry's shoulder. She leaned close to her ear. "Scared?" Kerry turned, and Dar knew she was looking up at her even though the darkness made her features invisible.

"Yes."

"Me too," Dar replied. "My knees are shaking so badly I don't want to sit down in case I can't get up again."

Kerry laughed faintly. "Are you trying to make me feel better?"

She squeezed Dar's hand. "If you are, it's working."

Dar pressed her cheek against Kerry's. "I love you."

Kerry smiled, a motion Dar could feel against her skin. "That works even better," she admitted. "I love you too."

"We're gonna be fine," Dar went on. "But if you want to stay in the boat with Dad, it's okay, Ker. I'm not joking. I know this is scary as h.e.l.l, and it's no reflection on you if you want to stay here."

It was so tempting. The thought of staying at Andrew's very, very safe side was so enticing, Kerry could almost feel the agreement tickling the back of her throat. However, the image of her waiting in the darkness while Dar went into danger alone was far more horrific. "Thanks for the offer," she turned her head and kissed Dar, "but where you go, I go. I'd croak from anxiety if you left me here."

Dar nodded, as though she had fully expected Kerry's answer.

"Okay." They watched the boat grow larger and larger in front of them. "I need to play tough with him, because of the twenty five thousand."

Kerry nodded. "I know."

"So, if I sound like I don't give a d.a.m.n about Bud, it's for a reason."

Kerry patted her hand. "Honey, I know that. If you didn't give a c.r.a.p about Bud, you wouldn't be here," she said. "I'll back you up, whatever you do or say. I trust you."

"Even if I walk out?"

Kerry drew in a breath. "I'm with you, no matter what."

As the motor slowed its rhythm, Dar straightened up.

DeSalliers' boat swam in her vision, armed men visible on the stern deck.

"Paladar, those fellers have rifles," Andrew said suddenly.

"I know, Dad," Dar acknowledged. "We'll be careful."

"Ah do not like this," Andrew objected. "Ah do not like this one bit."

304*

Dar clenched her hands on the grips that lined the edge of the boat. "Neither do I, Dad, but I can't leave Bud there. What else can we do?"

Andrew frowned at the approaching vessel. "You listen here,"

he said, suddenly. "I signal you duck, you do it, hear?" He took hold of Dar's arm. "Ah am not fooling, Dar."

Dar could see the utter seriousness in his eyes. "I hear," she repeated. "Be careful."

The big ex-SEAL snorted. "You all be careful or else ah'm going to be spanking the both of you for a long time."

"We'll be okay." Kerry stood up as they neared the back of the boat, which was pitching up and down nauseatingly. "We'll keep their attention, Dad. See if you can cause them some trouble while we do, okay?"

"Ah will give them trouble," Andrew muttered, pulling the boat even with the deck and holding his position. "Ah will blow that G.o.d d.a.m.ned thing up and out of this here ocean if that feller so much as tweaks any of your toenails."

Dar took a deep breath. 'Here we go."

"Paladar Katherine, you be careful," her father said suddenly.

"Please."

Dar felt a little warmth spread in her guts. "I will, Dad." She reached for the ladder hanging down from the stern of the huge boat, ignoring the armed men watching her from above. Now that it was happening, she felt some of her nervousness drop away as it was replaced by adrenaline. Her nerves steadied, and she felt her heart rate slow as she climbed up to the pitching deck.

She put her hands on the top railing and pressed her body over in a swift, easy motion, forcing the guards to move back or else be slammed into. Dar took a step forward, her body blocking access to the ladder in order to give Kerry time to climb on board.

"Only one of you," the man nearest her said suddenly. "Tell the other one to get lost."

Dar turned as Kerry's head emerged over the top of the ladder.

Ignoring the guard completely, she offered Kerry a hand over,.

"I said-"

"Shut up." Dar pinned him with a hard stare. "Either we both come, or we both leave. You choose." She watched him hesitate.

"Pick!" she added in a loud bark.

He backed up a step and Kerry climbed down and joined Dar on the deck, brushing off her rain slicker. Dar took a breath. "All right." She caught her balance on the heaving stern. "Let's go."

The guards looked over the side as the engines on the watercraft gunned and it backed away from the yacht. The guard captain regained his att.i.tude. "Who is that?"

"My canoe paddler," Dar told him. "Now, are we going inside,*305 or should I just call him back?"

The guard gazed at her. "I didn't forget you from last time, b.i.t.c.h. You'll pay for that before you leave." He gestured with the gun barrel toward the door to the yacht's cabin. "If you leave."

Dar and Kerry walked past him. Three guards fell in behind them, guns held at the ready. It was too late to turn back.

ANDREW RAN THE watercraft back to the Dixie, and fastened it to the line he'd left in the water for that purpose. He slipped his slimline tank on, adjusted his mask, and entered the water in barely the time it took to think about it.

Under the surface, the conditions were a lot easier. He could feel the pull of the waves above him, but they didn't impede his progress, and he finned quickly toward the other boat. The sound of the hull breeching the water guided him, his light left unlit on his belt. No sense in advertising.