No One to Trust by Iris Johansen Read Free Book Online Page B

be a grand adventure. Will you come with me?”
    Barry stared at him gravely. “Mama will be safe? She won’t fall either?”
    “Your mama will be safe.”
    A sudden luminous smile lit the child’s face. “When can we go?”
    Galen laughed, stood up, and lifted him from the jeep. “Right now.” He pointed to the helicopter, whose side door was opening. “You stand right here while I get your mother and Father Dominic fastened up.”
    “Can I help?” Barry asked eagerly.
    “No, you just keep an eye on the helicopter for me.”
    Galen had practically hypnotized Barry, Elena thought in amazement. Talk about Peter Pan.
    He grabbed the harness Carmichael dropped, put it on, and then spaced a twenty-foot length from Elena’s position before clipping his and Forbes’s harnesses onto the line.
    “Shit.” Forbes’s gaze was on the road. “Cars. Only a few minutes away.”
    “It might be enough time.” Galen waved at Carmichael and then grabbed Barry and tied him securely to his body. “All set, lad?”
    Barry nodded as his arms slid around Galen’s neck. “I just hold on?”
    He lifted his thumb to signal Carmichael. “You just hold on. See, there goes your mama.…”
    Elena tried to keep an eye on Barry below her, but the wind was too strong. It was twirling her like a top as the helicopter lifted her and spun away from the mountain.
    The figures looked like puppets dancing on the end of a cord.
    Gomez lifted his gun. “I’ll try for the gas tank of the helicopter.”
    “No!” Chavez struck his hand. “If the helicopter goes down, so does my son.” He could feel the rage tear through him, choking him. “See if you can get a good shot at the woman. Blow her head off.”
    Gomez aimed carefully and then lowered the gun. “Too far away. And she’s almost up to the helicopter door. If you don’t want the chopper downed, I can’t risk it.”
    They were almost gone from view. The bitch had stolen his son not once but twice. She had won.
    No, he wouldn’t accept that.
    “Find out who helped her. Did you recognize any of the men?”
    “No, but I’ll check with the men in the other car. One of them might have gotten a better look.”
    He turned away from the cliff. “Do it. Find out who helped her. They’re going to pay for what they’ve done.”

    Barry was laughing as they pulled him into the helicopter. “I flew, Mama.” He hurled himself at Elena after Galen unhooked him. “Wasn’t it fun? Can we go again?”
    “Maybe someday. But not quite like this.” She gave him a hug. “I’m glad you enjoyed it.”
    “I did.” He turned to Galen. “Thank you very much.”
    Galen nodded solemnly. “You’re very welcome. It was my pleasure.” He shook hands with the two men who’d manned the winch. “Good job.” He turned to Elena. “Tad Pullman and Dave Jebb, Elena.”
    She nodded. “Thank you.”
    Galen said to Barry, “Would you like to go up and meet the pilot who gave us such a great ride?”
    “Please,” he said eagerly. “Carmichael?”
    “Yes, that’s his name.” He looked at Elena. “May I?”
    She nodded curtly. Dominic was stirring and she didn’t want Barry to be present when he found out what had happened.
    Forbes was staring out the window down at the ground below. “Come here for a moment, Elena.”
    She went to the window. “What’s wrong? Is there—”
    Black smoke. Flames spiking up against the sky.
    “Dominic’s house?”
    “Yes,” she whispered. All those memories of Barry’s childhood—gone, destroyed in one cruel act. She closed her eyes for a moment until the pain subsided. “We’re not going to tell Barry.”
    “I’m sorry.”
    “So am I. I have to break it to Dominic. He spent six yearsin that house. It was his home too.” She sat down beside Dominic and leaned back against the fuselage. She could feel the craft vibrate against the muscles of her spine, and she shifted to ease the pressure. Her wound was throbbing again and she felt a little