Perfect Assassin (5 page)

That stormy night she had seen Nola in labor. And, on a desolate trail bathed in moonlight, she had arrived in time to deliver Jacy into the world, then transport Nola and her child, via travois, to a road where she had flagged down a car for help.

Jacy dismounted Pete, and when he dropped onto the ground, his bad leg buckled. He swore, held on to the saddle horn, and rescued his pride and his balance before he dropped to his knees.

“Hello up there,” he called out. “Koko, it’s me.”

She stopped and searched the rocks below. He waited until her eyes locked on him two hundred feet below her. When she saw him, she gave a hearty wave, and he knew behind the wave she was smiling.

He watched as she unhooked the wooden poles from a harness she had tied around her waist. Free of her burden, she called out to him.

“You’re two days late, but I am happy to see you, my
issohko.
”

“I’m happy to see you, too, Grandmother. What have you found?”

“A bird fell from the sky. A
matsowa’p
bird, and she is hurt.”

A beautiful bird. A woman, not Marty.

Jacy wondered about that. Had Marty been transporting a passenger? It was true he flew hunters up into the mountains.

He searched the trail behind Koko, but saw no one else. “Was it Marty’s plane in your vision?”

“Yes. But he has joined his father and mother.”

Marty’s parents were both dead. Jacy understood what Koko was saying. He tied Pete to a dogwood shrub and began to negotiate the rocky trail.

Pris strained her neck to see who owned the deep voice that had boomed up the mountain minutes ago, but in her prone position she saw only treetops and more mountains.

“Is it your grandson?” she asked.

“It is him,
sisttsi nan.
He has come as I said he would.”

Pris didn’t really care who it was, only that someone had found them. The old woman had been walking for hours without complaint, dragging her behind. The trail was rough and Koko had to be exhausted.

She asked, “Now what?”

“Now Moon will take you the rest of the way.” Koko looked over her shoulder to where Prisca lay wrapped in the blankets. “Did I tell you that my grandson almost died last year? He should have, but his spirit would not allow it. It wasn’t his time, just like it wasn’t your time. I believe he is on a quest, like you.”

Listening to Koko and the way she talked, Prisca felt as if she’d been transported back in time. Still, it didn’t matter who or what this woman was, or what sort of a quest her grandson was on. What mattered was that she had been rescued from certain death.

She smiled back at Koko, relief in her own eyes. She would believe Koko and what she had said. It wasn’t her time to die, and it was true. She had unfinished business to take care of. Yes, a quest for justice, and God wouldn’t cheat her out of her revenge. Not when he knew how important it was to her.

She heard the shifting of rocks, and she looked past Koko again. This time she was rewarded by the sight of a man coming slowly up the trail.

He wore a heavy tan coat and jeans covering long athletic legs. His hair was visible around his collar, black and straight. She couldn’t see his face. It was hidden in the shadow of a hat.

He was limping, and for a moment she questioned just how much help he would be. Then he stopped and tipped the brim of his hat back and what she saw set her heart pounding. Koko’s grandson had the face of experience, with eyes as sharp as an eagle’s. A man who had seen too much, been to hell and returned. She remembered the words from a poem she’d once read.

Prisca watched Koko hug her grandson. When he hugged her back, then kissed her forehead, her heart constricted. Her mother had always kissed her cheek. She touched her face, remembering. But there would be no more kisses. No more hugs.

The reminder brought her back to the reason she had climbed into that small airplane in Missoula. She collected her raw emotions, stuffed them away, then focused on what had brought her across the ocean. Bjorn Odell and Jacy Madox were the ones responsible for her lonely existence. But thanks to Koko and to her grandson, she would soon be back on her feet, able to resume the hunt.

When Koko stepped back to let her grandson kneel down beside her, Prisca said, “I owe my life to your grandmother. She is my miracle.”

“And mine,” he said. “How badly is she hurt, Koko?”

“The leg wound is deep. A few cuts and bruises. Maybe a sprained ankle.”

Prisca again got caught up in his voice—so very low, but far more educated than he looked. It’s what distracted her and cost her not only her pride, but her dignity when he reached out and stripped the double layer of blankets from her body.

Jacy’s first thought was, where the hell are her clothes? His second thought was he hadn’t seen anything this beautiful in a very long time. If ever.

He tried to keep his eyes off her breasts, but the air was cold and the two porcelain-perfect mounds were dressed with rosy nipples and he lost focus for a moment, then he went in search of her injuries. He mentally tallied up the damage, and at the same time couldn’t ignore her narrow waist and shapely curves.

She had a superficial laceration on her thigh. He carefully removed the cloth bandage Koko had wrapped around the leg. The woman’s most serious injuries—unless she had internal trauma—were a four-inch jagged cut below her left knee, and a badly swollen left ankle.

“What’s your name?”

“I don’t know.”

He looked at her. “You don’t know?”

“She can’t remember, Moon. But I told her not to worry. It’s probably temporary.”

He rewrapped the leg, then examined the ankle.

“It doesn’t appear to be broken.”

Koko’s words reminded Jacy that his grandmother was still standing close behind him. He tossed the blanket back over the young woman. “I don’t like the look of that muscle tear on the front of her leg. She needs sutures.”

“I could have done it,” Koko said, “but I was afraid I would leave her scarred. My hands aren’t as steady as they used to be.”

It was true. Without proper medical equipment and sanitation they could make things worse.

“Vic can do it. We’ll get her back to the cabin,” Jacy said.

“That’s where I was headed.”

Jacy looked at the sky. “There’s only an hour of daylight left.”

“I don’t think she should be out here another night, Moon. Take her and ride for the cabin as fast as you can.”

The thought of leaving Koko behind brought Jacy to his feet. “There’s no way I’m going to leave you out here with a storm moving in.”

“The wind has shifted. The storm will go north. I’ll be fine.” She laid her hand on Jacy’s arm and pulled him a short distance away from the young woman. “I have seen more than the little bird falling from the sky. My vision’s telling me there is danger close by. It’s not clear what kind of danger, but I trust the feelings. You must take her quickly away from here.”

Jacy noticed his grandmother’s tired eyes. “You’re exhausted. These visions are too hard on you.”

“My vision saved her life for a reason. We cannot question why. Go now.”

“Two days ago I gave Tate hell for letting you take off alone. Now you want me to walk away after I’ve found you?”

“Yes, I do. The airplane is on the west slope. Tell Billy it is above Bottom Out Creek. I will be there waiting,
issohko.
”

Jacy nodded. “I’ll take her to the cabin and then come back up with Billy. Vic was getting ready to leave and head back to Washington, but I’ll tell him he’s going to have to delay that for a few days. He can take care of her until we get back.”

Koko walked back to the young woman and knelt beside her. Tucking the blankets back around her, she said, “It is important that you get your leg tended to as soon as possible. I will see you in a few days,
sisttsi nan.
”

“What? You’re not coming?”

“Moon will take you down the mountain. He can go faster alone. You can trust my grandson. He knows these mountains as well as I do. He will take you to his cabin. There is help there.”

Jacy went back down the trail for Pete. He gave his grandmother his supplies and the food he had left. Then he lifted the young woman and put her on Pete’s back, carefully hooking her injured leg around the saddle horn.

A soft, but firm word to his horse to stand still, and Jacy mounted the long-legged gelding and pulled the young woman back and tucked her securely against him, then gathered up the reins.

“I’ll be back for you,” he told Koko, “with Billy and Tate.”

“I will leave a trail for you to follow up the mountain, and keep a fire vigil at the crash site.” She looked in Jacy’s supply bag he’d given her. “There is enough food here for two days.”

“I’ll see you in the morning,” Jacy promised. To the young woman seated in front of him, he said, “Put your arm around my waist and hang on tight. The ride will be rough.”

“I’ve never ridden a horse before,” she whispered against his chest.

“That you remember.”

“
Ja,
that I remember.”

Chapter 4

H
e felt betrayed, but mostly he felt an overwhelming amount of guilt. He should have seen this coming. Her skills were flawless, but her heart….

Though she was Holic’s daughter, and had his blood flowing through her veins, he had always felt she was more like her mother Mady, a gentle spirit. And it was that wholesome spirit that he had fallen in love with.

Da,
he loved her. No one would ever know how much, or how much he needed to have her return that love.

Otto pulled up the collar on his leather coat, then brought the pale-gray scarf he’d given Prisca to his nose. Her sweet scent collected around him. It soothed him and made him anxious at the same time.

When he had found her gone, he had also found the cashmere scarf. He had vowed in that moment, as he’d slipped it around his neck, not to take it off until he found her and returned it to her.

Three months ago when Holic had given him the assignment as his daughter’s keeper it had felt as though he’d been given the keys to the king’s castle and all the golden eggs in the cellar. And with the gift, suddenly his life had purpose. Prisca was his purpose. To guide and protect, nurture and love.

That was the best part. His reward in return was to be close to the woman he loved. To enjoy a life where every minute of every day put him in her company.

He had loved Miss Pris forever, from the moment he had seen her at age ten. He’d been twenty and yet he had known that she was the one. He’d waited and kept his eye on her as she grew to become an adult, and in that time his love had grown, too.

Why had she left? Had she left the mission, or had she left him?

Their work was timely. It was critical that they stay on schedule. She knew that. Knew the importance of each kill. They had talked daily about their agenda. The kill-file was like a detailed map. If they followed the plan to the letter it would be as easy as shooting ducks out of the water at a summer carnival.

The only catch to the entire mission was to stay on schedule. One delay made the file useless.

He had called her phone when he’d realized she was gone. When she hadn’t answered, he had left several messages. But she hadn’t answered any of them.

Why? What had happened? Had she willingly left him?

The thought of her hurt made him crazy. He would never forgive himself if he had allowed harm to come to her.

Did she know how worried he was? How he hadn’t been able to sleep since she had left?

He had been careful not to push her too hard in the work. He’d also been careful not to show his feelings too much. She was young, and he hadn’t wanted to scare her. But he often wrestled with the idea of telling her.

Secrets were the seeds to unhappiness. That’s what his father used to say. It would be good to share his feelings with her. It could bring them closer. Maybe she felt the same and she was just waiting for him to make the first move.

He needed her to love him as he loved her.

Otto walked past the flight schedule in the airport and saw a dozen delays. Thankful that none of them affected him, he headed for gate seven. His destination, Poland.

He raised the gray cashmere scarf and brushed it slowly across his cheek. Then brought it to his nose and inhaled sharply. Like a stiff snort of cocaine, the scent of sweet ginger and spice energized him and refueled his cause, as well as his love for Miss Pris.

Prisca woke up in a warm bed, the smell of bacon heavy in the air. She woke up slowly, groggy, aware she was sharing her pillow with something furry.

She sat up, startling awake whatever was sleeping next to her. The fur pile jumped up with a growl, and Prisca screamed.

The door burst open and that startled her, too, and she clutched the blanket to her bare breasts as a stranger appeared with a metal spatula in hand.

“What the hell is wrong?”

“That’s what’s wrong,” she hollered back, because he’d shouted the question at her.

“Weeko, dammit, Moon told you to stay out of here.”

“Weeko? What’s a weeko?”

“That’s her name.”

“What is she?”

“A raccoon. You’ve never seen one before?”

“No. Does it bite?”

“If she’s cornered. I’ve been bitten a few times.”

“Then get it out of here.”

The stranger scooped the raccoon under his arm and started out the door.

“Wait.”

He turned. “Yeah?”

“Who are you?”

“I’m Vic Krandle.”

“Moon’s friend?”

“That’s right. I worked on your leg last night. You don’t remember?”

“Vaguely.”

“That’s because I gave you a shot to put you out while I sutured your leg.”

Moon’s friend was average in weight and thin. He wore fashion jeans and a lemon-yellow sweater. He didn’t look like anyone Koko’s grandson would be friends with. He had a city flair about him, his hair short, and his hands looked as though they hadn’t ever been dirty once.

“Where’s Moon?”

“He left before dawn with the BLM to go back up to the crash site.”

“BLM?”

“Bureau of Land Management.”

Prisca stiffened. “They’re investigating the crash?”

“That, and bringing down the remains of Marty Stollen.”

Prisca looked away.

“Sorry. Billy mentioned he would be by to talk to you as soon as they got things settled on the mountain.”

“Today?”

“No, I don’t think so. Moon talked like he might not be back until tomorrow. But who knows. He said you don’t remember your name. Any change this morning?”

“No.”

Prisca turned and stared out the window, not wanting to remember anything about those terrifying minutes when she knew they were going to crash into the mountain.

“You all right?”

She looked back at Vic Krandle. “I’d like to get out of bed, but I need some clothes.”

“You didn’t come with clothes. I don’t know if you remember that or not, but don’t worry. We’ll get you some eventually. But for now, Moon left you a shirt of his.” He pointed to the red plaid flannel that hung on the log bedpost.

She eyed the shirt, then scowled at Vic. “That’s all there is?”

“Your left ankle is pretty swollen. You won’t be up and around for a while. Best to stay off it as much as possible.”

“I would prefer a doctor’s opinion on that.”

Pris was anxious to get out of there. If they were investigating the crash they might find her missing bag. Depending on how thorough they were, they might discover her secret.

“I’m a doctor, of sorts. A physical therapist, actually. But I spent a year’s internship in New York before I found my calling. There will be a scar on your leg, but I did my best.” He started for the door. “Moon will be back with Koko before long. Just sit tight, and don’t worry about anything. When the man gets back he’ll work on finding out who you are.”

“The man?”

He stopped and turned around. “Moon. I’ve learned over the months I’ve been here that there isn’t much he can’t do. Say, how old are you? You look pretty young.”

“I’m… I don’t remember.”

This game was getting too hard to play. She needed to escape, only how and when? If she had her cell phone she would break down and call Otto. Maybe it was a good thing she didn’t have it with her. What would she tell him?

“Where am I?”

“Montana.” The raccoon started to squirm under his arm, and he dropped the animal outside the door and she scurried away.

“Yes, but where exactly?”

“On a lake called Two Medicine.”

“That doesn’t help much.”

“I guess we’re about a hundred miles south of the Canadian border.”

Canada. She was close to Canada. The thought revived her. That’s where she would escape to. Soon, very soon.

“I’m from D.C. I was planning on going home today. Moon showing up last night with you changed my plans. But I guess I don’t mind. This place has started to grow on me. The man, too. He’s ornery, but smarter than most, and tougher than anyone I’ve ever worked with.”

“Worked with?”

“He wasn’t ever supposed to walk again after his accident. I moved in to rehabilitate him.”

“Is that why he limps?”

“He was in a wheelchair for months, but he beat the odds. No surprise. As I said, he’s one tough sonofabitch. You hungry?”

“I could eat something.”

“I’ll bring you in a tray. Then we’ll talk about your injuries and what you can expect in the next few days.”

Jacy was relieved to see his grandmother at the crash site when he, Billy and Tate arrived with the BLM crew. They had followed the trail she had promised to leave for them.

He had been thinking about her, had worried all night—in between worrying about the woman who hadn’t let go of him the entire trip down the mountain.

He understood her concern for the young woman—Koko was a caring soul. More generous than anyone he knew. She took on the problems of the world as if they were her own. But he was pretty sure she hadn’t told him everything about her vision. She was keeping something to herself and he wanted to know why and what she was holding back.

He looked over the site. The plane was pretty much gone, scrap metal and charred ash smoldering in the crisp morning air. It would be hard to say what had caused the accident, but there would be a thorough investigation. The plane wasn’t that old, but it had seen a lot of miles, with mostly thrift maintenance. Any number of things could have caused the aircraft to go down.

“His distress call was generic,” Billy said. “He was losing altitude. Nothing more.”

The crew started to go to work, and Jacy limped over to his grandmother who sat cross-legged in front of a small fire with her eyes closed. He crouched down next to her and touched her shoulder. She blinked open her eyes and when she looked up at him, she smiled.

“Good to see you, Grandson. Our little bird is safe?”

“She’s at the cabin with Vic.” He studied Koko’s face, said, “So what’s going on? What haven’t you told me?”

“Things aren’t clear yet. I’m still seeing pictures in my mind. But I’m sure it will all make sense soon enough.”

“Yesterday you seemed anxious to return to the crash site.”

“I did want to spend some time here, but
sisttsi nan
needed better care than I could give her, so I chose to start down the mountain. I didn’t want to leave Marty. His spirit was troubled.”

“Marty?”

“He was afraid at the end. I felt it. I have prayed for his spirit to take flight. For peace on his journey. He soars now with the eagles.”

Jacy fastened his eyes on a backpack. “And that?”

“It’s
sisttsi nan
’s bag. I found it over there.” Koko pointed a distance away from the airplane rubble. “It must have been thrown from the plane. Her personal things and clothes.”

Jacy stood and went to the pack. “Any ID?”

“No.”

Jacy unzipped the bag and rifled it. Koko was right, there was no identification.

“I searched the area after I found the bag, but I think everything else has been lost in the fire.”

“Billy’s crew will take over now. I’ve come to take you home if you’re ready.”

“Yes, I’m ready. And you’re sure your city boy, Vic, is taking care of our little bird?”

Jacy grinned. His grandmother didn’t think much of Vic Krandle, or his fancy equipment. The doctor turned sophisticated government physical therapist was smart, aggressive and not shy when it came to going head-to-head with Koko on modern medicine verses holistic alternatives.

“Vic says she’s going to be fine, thanks to you.”

Koko snorted. “At least he’s an honest man. Arrogant, but honest.”

She stood and pulled her thin coat around her, then retied her pink wool scarf. “We go home now. Marty’s at peace. My work here is done.” When she walked past Jacy, she touched his face. “Come,
issohko.
Take me home.”