Your Next Breath by Iris Johansen Read Free Book Online

safe.”
    “Then have Venable make it safe.”
    “Look, stay there. I’m going to be on my way to Tibet to track down that shooter anyway.”
    Silence. “I don’t think that will be necessary.” A flicker of expression crossed Erin’s face. “You don’t have to do that.”
    “Of course, I do. He’s my only lead to—” She caught another flicker of expression, and her eyes narrowed. “Why won’t it be necessary?”
    “I don’t think that sniper will be around much longer.”
    “Erin.”
    “Les kept blacking out on the way to Hong Kong.” She moistened her lips. “And I don’t know how to fly a helicopter. I had to find a way for both of us to survive.”
    Catherine knew what was coming. “So you asked for help?”
    Erin made a face. “Cameron. I yelled his name like a banshee. Just the way I did when I was being tortured by Kadmus. I was praying he was still linked to me.”
    It was one of Cameron’s bizarre and annoying psychic abilities to be able to go into a mind if he chose and either read or take control. He had been able to do that with Erin when she was being tortured, to keep the pain at bay. “You should have known he would be.” She made a face. “He considers you one of his chosen ones whom he has to guard.”
    “Things could have changed. I never accepted what he had to offer. I was lucky he was there for me before when I needed him.”
    “And how did he help you this time?”
    “I told you, I don’t know how to fly a helicopter. Cameron came in and took me through every motion, everything I had to do to get us to Hong Kong. I couldn’t count on Les. Though he did manage to land when we got to the city. Cameron was able to leave me about five minutes before that time.”
    “Came in” Catherine knew what that meant. Erin was telling her that Cameron had linked with her mind and virtually took over, as he’d done when he’d made Erin impervious to pain while she was undergoing those months of torture when she was being held captive by Kadmus. Cameron was probably the most skilled and talented psychic that either of them would ever encounter. Catherine had had experience with the psychics the CIA had recruited. She’d even attended a workshop in Rome to teach her how to deal with foreign agents who might possibly be able to read minds. None of Venable’s parade of gifted psychics could hold a candle to Cameron. He was totally unique in that area. Not to mention having several other lethal talents that were exceptionally intimidating. “He took over right away?”
    “Yes, thank God. He told me exactly what to do. I was pretty scared, Catherine.”
    “Since you were probably bouncing around on air currents and dodging mountaintops, I can see that you might be,” she said dryly. “So you think that in between making sure that the two of you got safely to Hong Kong that Cameron was gathering information about how you got into that position?”
    She shrugged. “Cameron always knew what I knew when we were linked before. This time I know he was angry. I could feel it.”
    “That doesn’t mean he’s going after that shooter.”
    “It doesn’t mean he’s not or sending someone else to intercept him. He has a good many men in Tibet.” She added quietly, “It would be a waste of your time to come here. It’s a very long trip, it will all be over by the time you get off that plane.”
    She was probably right, Catherine thought with frustration. Particularly if Cameron was as disturbed as Erin had said. No one could take action with more lethal efficiency than Cameron. “I don’t want that shooter dead. I need information. Cameron will ruin everything.”
    Erin was silent.
    What could she say? Catherine thought. They both knew Cameron would do exactly as he wished. “Can you reach him?”
    Erin shook her head. “Only if I’m in need. Otherwise, the contact always comes from him.” She paused. “Can you? Most of the time after the two of you came together before, he