Death Echo

turns him over to them alive,” Alara said. “Dead? Perhaps he would be useful to Russia as fertilizer, nothing more.”
    â€œDoes Uncle Sam have any preferences about Temuri?”
    â€œWe would…enjoy…talking with him. But it is not required. Proof of death is. He has several rewards on his head. In fact, he is worth more dead to us than alive to Russia.”
    â€œI’m not a bounty hunter.”
    â€œYet St. Kilda has collected bounties in the past.”
    â€œAny bodies on our ticket were made on the way to a different goal,” Steele said. “Did you trace the telephone number Demidov gave our agent as a contact?”
    â€œUseless. The phone was probably recently purchased and won’t be in anyone’s electronic files for a week or so. Too late to do us any good.”
    â€œDo you know any more about what is actually at risk than Demidov does?”
    Alara’s mouth tightened. “No. We are unhappy to find out he knew that much. It means there are more loose ends than we thought.”
    â€œAnd the time limit?”
    â€œUnchanged.” She stood up. “I wish your agents luck. We all will need it.”

48
    DAY FOUR
STRAIT OF GEORGIA
4:50 P.M .
    B lackbird rose on the breast of the creaming wave. Wind combed salt spray from the sea and dashed it over the windshield. Hands light on the wheel, Emma held the yacht’s bow into the weather, enjoying the swell and rush of water. Mac was at the dining table, awash in charts. He kept them corralled with a casual ease she envied. She was just learning to be at home on the restless strait.
    He was at home.
    Her phone rang.
    â€œI’ll get it,” Mac said, reaching into her purse. “It’s Faroe.”
    â€œSo talk to him. I’m busy.”
    Mac answered the phone. “We’re about an hour south of Campbell. Where are you?”
    â€œHello to you, too,” Grace said.
    â€œSorry. I was expecting your husband. Hello, how are you, how is Annalise, and why are you calling?”
    â€œFaroe is looking at reports from various Canadian marine weather stations on his computer. He’s making unhappy noises.”
    â€œWe’re fine. Blackbird may be beautiful, but she’s not just a pretty face. She’s built for this part of the world.”
    â€œHow is Emma taking to it?”
    â€œFish to water,” Mac said. “Quick and smart. You may not get her back.”
    â€œThinking about keeping her?” Grace asked, amused.
    â€œYes.”
    â€œWhat does she think about it?”
    â€œNo screaming yet,” Mac said.
    â€œGive yourself time. It doesn’t always happen for new lovers the first few rounds.”
    Mac made a choked sound. “Joe wants to know if you’re going to run through the night,” Grace continued.
    â€œNo. Even if the water was calm and my first mate had all the appeal of moldy concrete, I wouldn’t run in the dark past all those coastal log yards unless something bigger and meaner than me was closing in fast.”
    â€œSee any cruise ships?” Grace asked.
    â€œFour of them so far, but none are headed toward Campbell. You expecting trouble from a bunch of retired folks on their dream vacations?”
    â€œNo. I just always wanted to see a cruise ship from a distance. All those lights and glamour.”
    â€œOnly at night. Close up in daylight, at the end of a season, cruise ships look like hookers after a hard night.”
    â€œYou and Faroe. Not happy unless you’re captain. Let us know if anything changes. We’ll do the same. Hello and good-bye to your first mate.”
    Mac closed the phone and answered the question Emma hadn’t asked. “Faroe is following the weather up here and got nervous.”
    â€œIs this the kind of water you call snotty?” Emma asked.
    â€œGetting there,” Mac said. “If I want to use the electronic charts, are you happy steering by compass for a few minutes?”
    â€œBetter that than autopilot. It doesn’t correct fast enough for this kind of water.”
    â€œTold you.”
    â€œYeah, yeah,” she said without heat. “So I’m a slow learner.”
    Suddenly she felt his heat and sheer bulk along the left side of her body. The warm, slightly rough surface of his fingertips traced from her left cheekbone to her jaw, her throat, and lingered on her pulse. Her heart stopped, then beat double time. His breath