Death Echo

according to one source. Others say it’s Lubakov, or his son or brother-in-law or nephew. All names could be aliases. Could be ten other people. The players change too often to keep a scorecard. Whatever, Demidovclimbed the ranks by playing brass-knuckle hardball, with extra innings of shoot, shovel, and shut-up.”
    Mac smiled unwillingly. “Demidov and his boss probably work for the national government or the higher ranks of the crime lords.”
    â€œOften the same people,” she said. “One-stop shopping at its finest.”
    â€œLock down the electronics. Redhead II slowing.” Mac gave her the code on his computer and locked his cell phone himself.
    Emma hit keys quickly on her computer, did the same for his, and went below to shove both computers under the mattress in the master stateroom. Not proof against a real thief, but all she wanted was to minimize the chances of “accidental” discovery by a guest on the boat.
    By the time she came back to the main cabin and locked down her cell phone, Mac had turned on the joystick and was inching closer to Redhead II. The water was almost as calm as a backyard swimming pool—with teenagers performing cannonball dives. But much nicer than the open strait.
    â€œLee of the island,” she said, sighing. “I think I’m in love.”
    â€œWould you rather handle the talk or the joystick?” was all Mac said.
    She decided that the water wasn’t all that calm. “Talk.”
    â€œPut out fenders on the starboard side so that they’ll protect us from the Redhead II .” Without looking away from the other boat, he handed her one of the headsets. He was already wearing the other.
    She yanked the headset into place and turned it on. “You there?”
    â€œYeah.”
    â€œWith Demidov, I’m going for total arm candy with just enough brains so a man knows the difference between me and a blow-up doll,” she said.
    â€œCan’t wait for you to try out that act with me,” was all Mac said.
    â€œThat way, I have a fallback position,” she added. “With him, not you.”
    She put four fenders overboard in record time before she looked up to check their position.
    Redhead II was breathtakingly close.
    â€œGood god. Why don’t I just throw him a headphone?” she muttered under her breath.
    â€œWe may need it later,” Mac said. “If you can keep him off the boat—”
    â€œI’d rather drown him than let him aboard,” she said quickly.
    â€œGet his info first, then do whatever you can get away with.”
    She laughed. “I knew there was a reason I liked you.”
    â€œYeah, yeah, yeah, just what every mother wants for her daughter.”
    â€œNo. Just what every daughter wants for herself .”
    Emma stepped outside.
    Like Mac, Lina was at the wheel, working to keep the two boats close enough, but not too close. Demidov was standing on the port side, waiting. He had his hands in the pockets of his jacket, staring across to Blackbird .
    At that moment, Emma believed every word in the files about Demidov that she had just scanned. Her pulse jumped, but not in a happy way.
    That is one really hard piece of work, she thought. If you’re fooled by the gray hair, you’re dead.
    She moved her microphone a few inches to the side. No use shouting in Mac’s ears. This way, he might be able to hear both conversations.
    â€œHi, I’m Emma,” she said, pitching her voice to reach across the boats. “Who are you?”
    â€œI would rather come aboard to talk,” Demidov said.
    His face was angular, lean, fined down like that of a ballet dancer still trying to hold center stage with dancers half his age.
    It made him look all the more dangerous.
    Discipline, experience, and talent all in one package, she thought unhappily.
    Then she got down to work.
    â€œThe captain told me he would rather talk over the sides. Gunwales?” she asked, going for nautically clueless. “Is that what you call them?”
    â€œI wish to make a business proposition,” he said, ignoring her attempt to engage him in getting-to-know-you chatter.
    â€œThat’s the captain’s department,” she said. “I’m just a first mate in training. But I know he doesn’t like strangers on board. He’s really touchy that way.”
    If Demidov was surprised or angry, it didn’t show in his body language.