“Then I will do what I can to fill any void.”
She gave him a searching look and then forced a smile. “Don’t make promises you can’t keep.”
“I never do that.”
“So where did you and your family stay when you were here?”
“I will show you.”
They walked on, through the center of town. A quarter of a kilometer past that, Waller led her down some worn steps and stopped at a small cottage with a wooden door and two windows in front.
“There,” he said.
“It’s very quaint.”
“My father died in that cottage.”
“God, I’m sorry to hear that.”
“I’m sure he was too.”
He took her arm again. “Now, for the lunch. Down this way. All is arranged. We must eat light because the meal tonight will be substantial.”
“I take it you like to be in control.”
“There are leaders and there are followers. It is the natural order of things. Would you want a follower leading or a leader following?”
“I guess it depends on where they wanted you to go.”
“You are a strange young woman.”
“I’ve heard worse.”
“I meant that as a compliment.”
His grip tightened on her arm. As they walked along Reggie found herself consumed with worry over what had happened to Bill Young. If Kuchin had harmed him? Then even killing the man would not be enough. Nothing would, if an innocent man had died because of her.
CHAPTER
48
I’VE GOT TO USE the john,” Shaw called out into the darkness. “Now.”
A minute went by and he thought that no one was going to respond. Then the door opened and the same man appeared. “I told you about the toilet in the corner over there.”
“I don’t think I can hit the bowl from here. Go figure.”
The man stepped forward. “Then I guess I’ll have to untie you.”
“I guess you will.”
“Firing line,” the man reminded him.
“Right, got it.” Shaw kept his gaze dead on the man as he approached, his muscles tensing, his mind burning through every possible angle and point of attack on the primary and secondary targets. He would put the man between him and the shooter and work his way out of here. It was as solid a plan as he could concoct under the circumstances.
Unfortunately, he never got a chance to execute it.
The man punched the syringe in his arm, right through his shirt.