Father Night by Eric Van Lustbader Read Free Book Online Page A

people who knew this, and now Vera was one.
    For a long time, with these memories swirling, she said nothing, hunched over, elbows on knees, as if drawing in on herself. She knew this pose well; she assumed it whenever she felt emotionally threatened. Physical threats she could handle—she could take direct action, change the situation. But this—this made her feel helpless. And then the fear would rise like a tide, the same fear that had overwhelmed her in that awful room where Morgan Herr had kept her for a week, brainwashing her. It had taken her a long time and a lot of hard work with Jack and Annika’s help, but at last she had been certain she had left that nightmare behind. And now it seemed as if it was about to happen all over again, as if Morgan Herr hadn’t died, as if he had returned from the dead.
    All this she told Vera, and more. At first she did so haltingly, the terror like a ball of needles in her throat, but then the words began to flow more and more easily, and she began to feel an immense sense of relief.
    “So, what,” Vera said when she had concluded, “you actually think this guy didn’t die?”
    “That’s just it,” Alli cried. “I know he died. Jack was there. He went out the motel window. He broke his neck and his back. He’s dead and buried.”
    “So what has you so freaked out? You being tied up, the date you were abducted, all this information is public knowledge. Anyone could have—”
    “But not the chair.” Alli reached over for Vera’s iPad, brought up the images she had saved of the nudes with Alli’s face. She pointed. “No one but Jack and the cops knew that I had been tied to a chair just like this.”
    “Now you’re getting me freaked out,” Vera said. “Let’s try to think about this rationally.”
    “There’s nothing rational about it.”
    Alli shivered and Vera put an arm around her.
    ”This one detail has brought the nightmare rushing back at me. I can’t help thinking…” Her voice petered out, as if she were afraid to articulate the terrible thoughts whirling through her mind.
    Vera took a breath and let it out. “Okay, okay. I agree, this is serious. I’m on board.” She reached for her cell. “There’s someone who can help us. She’s a genius at computer hacking. If anyone can find this cocksucker, it’s her.”
    Alli looked up. “Who is it?”
    But Vera had already punched in the number and now held a forefinger across her lips. “Hey, it’s me.… I know, but this is important.… No, no, not me. Alli … Carson.… Hmmm, okay, but you’ll like this one, a real challenge.… I agree, let’s meet. Tell me where and when. Oh, and, Caro, I’d like to bring her.”
    Alli stared at Vera as she disconnected. “Caro?”
    “Yeah.” Vera looked at her in a steady, serious manner. “I’ve known for a while where your cousin is. I guess we all have angles to play.”
    *   *   *
    T HE FUNERAL home van kept up a steady pace along the highway, moving away from Sheremetyevo Airport. Boris sat glowering, having been forced to give up his weapon. Jack was suffused by an icy calm. He tried to make eye contact with Annika, but she was staring fixedly at Gourdjiev, dead asleep in his deep meditative state, helpless as a newborn.
    As the car jounced around, Jack began to inch himself farther from Annika. It was imperative that he get as far from her as possible so the gunman would have difficulty keeping a constant eye on both of them. He moved carefully and in inconstant bursts timed to the swaying of the van. Even so, the increasing gap finally became apparent to the gunman, and with a wave of the Magnum’s barrel, he indicated that Jack should move back toward Annika.
    Jack rose to comply, but instead of moving sideways, he launched himself at the gunman. The Magnum exploded near his left ear, deafening him, but he already had his elbow beneath the gunman’s chin, shoving it against his Adam’s apple. The gunman struck him on the side of