# Killing Games222

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your own and let's get some sleep."

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He snappd off the light, but found that the room was

still fairly bright with daylight coming through the drapes.

When she didn't move from the trd, he tugged the

towel from around his waist, it to the and

settled into his pillow.

Then she was sliding down on the tred and her hands

were working on the negligee. It and

slitted eyes he in all the delightful colors and curves

about her.

Then her face was near his. He put his arms around her

and pulled her easily against him. He orrned his eyes wide

then and watched her head tilt slowly to one side and her

lips part. Slowly her lids dropped until her eyes were

closed.

"Why, Miss Purdue, I do trlieve you want me to kiss

you."

"More than that, you bastard. I plan on staying in this

"Ihat's all I needed to hear."

Her lips were full of fire with her body close against

im, her rrrfume flooding his nostrils. She turned her face,

rubbed her cheek against his. He pressed his lips against

er throat and then her shoulder as he let his hands roam.

"You'd never know all this was there, with the clothes

you usually wear," he chuckled.

"Must you talk?" Her voice was low and raspy now.

She undulated against his exploring palms, and he

pressed his lips to her warm flesh. Her hands went behind

his head to put it gently, pressing his mouth a little more

y against her. Her fingers moved, the nails straying

easily through his hair as he moved one hand against her

ack, holding her with the Other. His hand traced the

smoothly arching curve of her spine, caressed the mound

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that was her hip and her indented waist and then her breast.

She slid against him, her cheek touching his again and

then her mouth against his, her lips moist, her tongue alive

and restless, darting and probing. Her hand closed convul-

sively against his ann, the fingers gripping tightly and then

relaxing, suddenly gripping again.

Her voice was hot in his ear, the breath washing against

his neck as she said softly, "Nick, oh, Nick, darling. This

is crazy. Darling, darling

It was too much, way too much, overdone. But Caner

pushed the words from his mind. She wasn't reaching his

mind now anyway.

The smell and touch of her reminded him of Jova's re-

cent plea in her bedimm. But he pushai that from his

mind as well, and concentrated on Sharon Purdue's ample,

willing

Down, down he went, with his lips over her hard flat

belly to her hip. She moaned and he to press his

mouth against the softness of her other thigh. His lips were

parted and his tongue savored her flesh. He moved his

mouth up and down, teasing her.

Her belly undulated demandingly. "Oh, please!"

He kissed her all over, using verve and imagination,

taking time.

Finally he pressed his lips against her crinkly, deep-set

navel. She moaned sharply.

"Finish it!" she demanded.

He knew she didn't mean that. She was anxious, yes,

but there was more to come.

He climbed onto his knees on the bed, trtween her legs,

and fell forward on his elbows. He didn't enter her yet, but

went instead to her high-surging breasts and lowerul his

open mouth towardone of the dollar-size circles that

stared up at him, its sensitive flesh crinkled with tiny little

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bumps. The nipple at its center high and waiting. He

kissed the aureole, pressing hard against the pillow Of

breast beneath it, and then he t'X)k the hard nipple between

his tongue and uplrr lip.

She squirmed, rmving her breast against his mouth, but

he held the nipple fast. Then he brought his hands up to

ld the large breast on each side and moved it back and

orth as he relaxed his mouth and let the nipple slip around

Inside it and then out and back again. He did the same

with her other breast until she was wild with desire. She

was gasping and pulling at him, her legs flexing at his

ides, but he still would not drive himself into the final

phase of the act.

Instead, he leaned back on his haunches and said, "Turn

over."

"Oh, Nick.. e"

She tumed, presenting to him the small but Fitly

unded cheeks of her lxxtom. When he lifted her hips at

ither side, she came up to her knees. He drew close,

ouched, and trgan teasing her. He supprted his weight

n her back and reached trneath her with his hands to

hake and fondle her susrrnded breasts. The urgent rota-

•on and backward thrusting of her hips caused her warmth

enclose him.

She moaned and he continued playing with her free-

ging breasts, taking both of them in his hand, squeezing

em together, and brushing åe very hard nipples with his

ngertips. He moved his lower txxiy only slightly, still

ing.

Suddenly she drew her legs up and tumed around. As

sat back, she whirled, straddled his lap, and came

own around him ... all around him. She tEgan jogging up

d down, her breasts bouncing delightfully.

"Oh!" she cried. "Oh, yes, long and wild!"

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He made it long and wild, bucking and driving, caress-

ing her intimately with his fingers at the same time.

It was up, up, up into the breathless reaches of high

passion until they extended themselves and seemed to

touch the very stars. And then they plummeted downward

and she hugged him and covered his face with 0Fn-

mouthed kisses.

"More," Sbe murmured.

"You've got to be kidding

For the next half hour they found pleasure after pleasure

in each other's arms. No matter what it turned out to she

was involved in, Carter would always give her credit for

knowing her way around a man's body. As an agent' she

was a wasted talent. Her true art was in t*d. The surprise

factor was one of her biggest assets in trd, he decided. She

seemed to wing it, always doing what came naturally to

her. Together they skirted ecstasy like two demons around

the fires of hell before they finally went off on another

fling into space and timelessness.

Sharon seemed deter-mined to drive him to complete ex-

haustion. And she was almost succeeding.

"Tired?" she asked, when they finally lay limp in each

other's arms.

"I'll say," Carter groaned. "Can't hold my eyes

"Let's rest a while," she purred, pulling away from him

and fluttering the covers around him. "After all, we've got

the whole long morning ahead of us."

Carter allowed her to arrange him onwne side of the

bed. He didn't his eyes. And after a few minutes he

adjusted his breathing to the long slow beat of sleeping.

Another minute and he felt her move from the bed, heard

her pad through the sitting to her own bedroom.

Through üle two doors he saw her dressing quickly.

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Seconds later, she left the suite noiselessly.

Carter smiled himself to sleep.

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The very slight click of the sitting room door awakened

him. He barely cracked one eye. He could see her as she

closed the door and tumed the second lock. She moved

into her own and he watched her strip.

He a quick glance at his wrist t*fore shutting his

eyes again.

It was one-thirty in the Little Miss Purdue

had evidently had a busy morning.

Carter continued to breathe the slow, relaxed way of a

soundly sleeping person as she padded into the and

crawled back into the bed.

Then she was kissing him, gently shaking him. He

fought her sleepily, and she lay quietly t*side him in the

dim light for a while before snuggling up to him again.

Ihis time she seemed determined to arouse him, so he al-

lowed himself to awakened.

*'You've been sleeping a long time," she scolded, feign-

ing a pout. It didn't become her. "It's after one."

"With you here Epside me? Nonsense," he yawned, tak-

ing her into his arms but still acting out his drowsy role.

"Really you have, Nick," she insisted.

"Why didn't you wake me up?" he asked without

ing his eyes.

"You were tired," she stroking his head with

her fingers.

"Did you sleep well?" he said, his face shielded from

her eyes by her own soft flesh.

"Like a baby." Her hand moved over his chest and ab-

domen in small circular motions he found more and more

difficult to ignore. Then she raised herself up so that one

hard-tipped breast tk)unced provcxatively in his face, and


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he was awake. He opened his eyes and his mouth simulta-

neously, his hand reaching out to enclose the other breast.

"It's time you stopped ignoring me," she with

delight, and Carter ü•uly admired her durability.

"Enough," he groaned suddenly. "I can't handle all

these sudden IErsonality changes on an empty stomach!"

He slid from the trd and pulled on his pants. While she

combed her hair he ordered lunch from service.

She was still playing the femme fatale when lunch for

two arrived. Instead of hiding in the bedroom, she stayed

on the balcony in full view of the young waiter with the

sun shining through her negligee.

Over the food, she skillfully managed to get the conver-

sation back to Howard.

"What will you do if Howard's story tums out to

true?"

"What story?"

"Why... I don't know. He seems to think he has some-

thing criminal on Sir Charles."

Caner kept his eyes on his food. "I'll probably talk to

Sir Charles."

"But what if it's true?"

'"Ihen I'll probably let Cory Howard go his own merry

way."

Sharon "And kill Sir Charles?"

He at her sharply. "Do you have a sugges-

don?"

"I I guess I don't know."

Her face had paled and that stark, cold hardness had

retumed to her eyes. But it faded a little when Carter

again.

"I really enjoyed this morning."

"*Ihank you. So did I."

They finished the meal and Caner stood. "Gonna get

dressed. Time to go to work."

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They moved inside and parted in the center of the sitting

room. Seconds later, in his own trdrcx)tn, Ca.rter sensed

her t*hind him.

He turned and smiled.

ne negligee was a gossamer puddle at her feet.

'One more time?" she asked.

And Carter, with tlr premonition it might well be the

last time he'd be with her alone, pulled her roughly into his

arms. He was all caveman, no nibbling and coaxing and

teasing, but all demanding and taking. It was as though he

wanted to hurt her, but she writhed in pleasure, no matter

how he her to his will.


NINE

It was three in the afternoon by the time Carter stepped

from the cab in front of the slightly dilapidated old man-

sion. He was about eight miles from the center of San

Juan, and he had taken two buses and three cabs to get

there after buying a cheap suitcase and the items of cloth-

ing he would need for the coming night's work.

By now be could be fairly sure that no one was on his

tail. But then, if his observations were in agreement with

his calculations, they were probably figuring that there was

no reason to follow him.

He gave the cabby—a jovial giant of a man with a tiny

mustache and droopy eyes—an American fifty. "Will this

make you wait?"

ne man bit the bill, then cackled. "For this, seöor, you

can have my mother-in-law and you don't need Senora

Pina's place!"

Carter laughed and, carrying fre bag, moved up the

wide steps under the stone portico. It was immediately ten

degrees cooler out of the brilliant sun.

He rang the twice and waited. When nothing hap-

rned he rang again, several times. When there was still no

response, he raprd hard with his knuckles.

At last the door 'swung to reveal a sleepy-eyed

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young girl blinking at the sudden light. She was stark

naked, with small, erect breasts and blond hair, uncurled

and falling to her shoulders.

'Oh, seöor," she whined, "we are not open, yet. We

don't do business until six in the evening. Come back

then."

She started to close the door. Carter caught it and

stepped around her into the high-ceilinged hall.

"I'm not a custorner," he said. "I'm a friend ... of Se-

fiora Pina."

"Madre de Dios!" the young girl cried. "Don't tell her I

answered the door like this. She will put me back on the

Carter patted her cheek. "Your secret is safe with me.

Where is she?"

"In the charrl," the girl replied, closing the door. "If

you will let me get a robe, I will—

"Never mind. I know the way."

Carter moved through the mansion toward the rear of

the house. Little had changed in the three years since Se-

nora Pina had hidden him in one of the many upstairs bed-

rooms and saved his life.

He walked through the spacious living room where

nightly the girls met their clients. It had a massive stone

fireplace, tall windows elaborately draped, and rich fur-

nishings. The enormous rug on the floor was a genuine

oriental, and the traditional fumiture had been designed

with a view to comfort as well as period style.

But then everything around Senora Pina had style ...

except, perhaps, some of her younger girls.

firough a small sitting room he entered another long

hall. At the end of it there were three steps down to an

ornately carved pair of doors. Carter one of them

and slid into the dim chapel.

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The only light in the windowless room came from tall

tapers around the wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling altar.

As he slid quietly into one of the four Carter

could barely see the kneeling figure, all in black, trfore

the altar.

The only sound was her whispered prayers.

He waited patiently, actually enjoying the quiet serenity

of the room. He knew the woman was aware of his pres-

ence, but he also knew that nothing—not even a visit by

the local police—could disrupt her moming, afternoon,

and evening ritual.

Senora Pina might lun the most exclusive and profitable

whorehouse in the islands, but she was the most devout

Catholic he had ever known.

At last, with a groan, the woman stcxxi and walked up

the aisle. 'lhere was no surprise when she saw him. "Hello,

Nick," she said, kissing him lightly on both cheeks. "You

are a long time away."

'"lhree years," he said, nodding.

"How is your wound?"

"Fine, thanks to you."

"No, .thanks to God. He was looking over you." She

smiled. "Come, we will have coffee in the sitting

In the hall she shed the heavy dark shawl from her head.

Her jet-black hair had sprouted flecks of gray. It was pulled

severely back from a pretty but wom, tired face. The fig-

ure, in an expensive black blouse and skirt, was still gaod,

but the shoulders stooped slightly and Carter noticed that

she favored her right leg.

They were scarcely seated when a maid aMEared with a

silver service and Senora Pina poured. It was as if he had

been expcted.

"What brings you back to San Juan?" she asked, hand-

ing him his coffee.


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"The usual," he replied, accepting the fragile china cup

and saucer. "Trouble."

"Ah, then you are still in the same line of business," she

said, with a flash of even, white teeth in the still attractive,

olive-toned face.

"I'm too young to die and too por to retire," he joked

with a grin.

Ihey talked for another fifteen minutes about nothing

and everything. Then she asked, "Well, what is it?"

"Does Santiago still work for you?"

"Of course." The smile faded. "Your business is not

with him?"

S'Oh, no, only that I need his help. I would like to have

him in on this."

Seiora Pina pressed a button with her foot and the

maid appeared at once, as if she had tren just outside the

door.

"S', seiora?"

"Where is Santiago?"

"I believe in the POI, Seiora."

"Ask him to come in here at once."

seiora."

From the inside pocket of his jacket, Carter produced a

map he had crudely drawn in the taxi. "Do you still own

She laughed, a low, tinkling sound full of genuine

mirth. "Of course I do. It's still my summer house away

from the heat here in San Juan."

Carter matched her smile. He knew that the "heat" she

referred to wasn't all weather. Every summer, for

ances' sake, the plice would close her down for three

weeks to a month. During that time, Senora Pina, San-

tiago, and her merry band of ladies would move shop to

the big plantation house on Topaz Road outside of Fajardo.

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Business, of course, wasn't as good from the coast and

smaller city, but that was all right. ney just treated it as a

working vacation in the c'»ler mountain air.

"Is the old tunnel still there?"

She nodded. "Never used anymore, of course, since

Chara died. But it's still there. "

Chara had been Senora Pina's lifelong lover. He was a

smuggler, and had built a tunnel from the plantation house

to an abandoned schoolhouse nearly a mile away. Many

times in the old days it had saved him from a jail sentence.

The door orrned and Santiago entered. He recognized

Carter at once and, like Senora Pina, showed no surprise.

Carter stocü "How are you, amigo?"

"Well, older, but still fit," the other man replied, shak-

ing Carter's hand and taking a chair.

Santiago—it was the only name Carter had ever heard

him called—was a tall man with thick brown, gray-flecked

hair and a striking face. The lines were sharp, angular,

strong. His features reminded Carter of a sculpture not

quite finished, the head done in an ancient and rough

Greek style, with the chisel marks and lines and gouges

obvious in the stone.

When he sat he rested his hands, one over the other, on

his lap. Like the man, the hands were large and strong.

Carter knew. He had seen those hands kill three men,

quickly, quietly, efficiently.

"Santiago, I need your help, tonight and for a

couple of days on another island. "Ihe pay is

The man swiveled his chiseled profile his employer.

She nodded and he turned back to Carter.

"What do I do?"

"I want to fool some people into thinking I am meeting

someone at Divino: I will need five besides yourself. Can

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"lhe pay is good, you say?"

"It is."

"Then I can get all you want."

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"Excellent." Carter smoothed out the map. 'II don't

know how many there will be, but I imagine they will

already be on their way to Fajardo. Ihat is, if I'm right."

"You mean," Senora Pina said, • •this may come to noth-

ing."

"Perhaps. I wish it would be nothing, but my instincts

tell me they will be there." Carter turned back to the man.

"And they will be good, very well trained. Your people

will have to be invisible."

Santiago smiled. ' Clhey will be peasants from the

mountains. No one sees peasants."

"All right. I want one man here at the fork outside of

Fajardo. I don't know how many or how they will come up

Topaz Road, but he will them."

"It will be no problem."

"Three more along the road spotting their progress, and

a fifth man on the hill, here, behind the house to tell us

what they do."

'Ille big man's eyebrows furrowed. "l do not under-

stand. What do you mean?"

"We want to be in the house." Caner laid the bag he had

brought on its side and opened the lid. From it he took two

identical white tropical suits and a denim jacket and bnght

yellow shirt. "I bought these this moming. You are about

e size of the man they think I am going to meet, You will

wear one of the white suits and this hat. Just after dark, I

ant you to drive out of Fajardo and meet me at Divino. I

ill wear the denim jacket and the yellow shirt. In the

asita, I will strip and dress two dummies in my clothes

the white suit."

Carter knew that neither Senora Pina nor Santiago com-

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pletely understood what he was driving at, but he also

knew that they would follow his lead.

Santiago SEX)ke. "Will we need hardware?"

"If you mean guns, no. We will need six high-m».vered

walkies and a motorcycle. Can you handle that?"

Senora Pina stood. "f will make a phone call." She

lirn}Ed from the room, and Carter returned to the map,

IY)inting to the rise behind the house.

"I want this man to placed in such a way that he can

see all approaches to the house and the interior of the great

room.

"That is what you mean by 'observe'?"

"Yes. Have the bike ready at the schoolhouse. We'll nde

to Point Puerca. I'll have a seaplane waiting for us there."

"It is a very elaborate plan to just •observe.' If these

men are your enemies, why don't we simply kill them?"

Carter's grin was clear across his face- "Because I won't

know if they are my enemies unless they kill the dum-

mies.

Outside. the last gray of dusk was just into

darkness. Inside a small restaurant off the central square of

Fajardo, a candle burned between them like a votive light.

The meal was finished. The check was paid. It would be

only a few minutes until Carter would leave the restaurant,

climb solo into the little Opel she had rented, and drive up

into the mountains to Divino.

When he had returned to the hotel from Seöora Pina's to

tell Sharon that he would be meeting Hö.vard at ten that

evening. she had merely shrugged. When he had told her

that Howard was definitely against seeing her, that he

would meet only with Carter, she had shrugged again.

But beneath the calm exterior she was seething, and

Carter could sense it.

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is it ... what's the matter?" he had pressed.

"When I came back with the car, I called Jova's rch)m,"

she had replied trtween clenched teeth. "She wasn't there.

When I inquired at the desk, they told me that she had

checked out and taken the airport bus. Did you know atk)ut

"Yes."

'41 thought we were a team!" she exploded. 'SAnd, as

half of this team, I think I should be informed of what's

going on!"

Carter had plastered the most abashed. guilty look he

could muster on his face. He apologized. He explained that

it had been Jova's decision. He strengthened and com-

pounded the lie by telling Sharon that Jova had no wish to

stay in San Juan. And since he didn't feel she should go

back to Cayman Brac, she might as well return to Washing-

ton.

After another five minutes of fanciful storytelling in his

most contrite manner, Sharon seemed to accept that

Caner's only real error was in not thinking the girl's depar-

ture important enough to raise Sharon's ire.

In the car, driving to the western end of the island and

Fajardo, she warrned to him again. Now, sitting across the

table from him, surrounded by the contented hum from

other diners, she radiated the same warmth he had experi-

enced earlier, in bed.

"You know, Nick," she said, "I really horr you can

convince Cory to simply drop all this and come back to

London with us and take it up directly with M16."

"That would be nice," Caner agreed. "But knowing him

as we both do, I doubt he'll take that route."

The thin waiter appeared, gesturing with his coffeepot.

Carter raised his eyebrows to Sharon, who shook her head.

The waiter moved on, slipping by the elbows of patrons

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like a matador avoiding the horns of the bull.

Caner stod "When you finish your coffee, go back to

the room. I'll phone you from up there as as I know

anything."

Sharon nodded, tugging absently at the scarf knotted

around her neck. "Be careful. You know Cory's

"Yeah," Carter replied, and moved out of the restaurant

with his mind uying to work through the faqade of her face

and find out how much real meaning had tren in her last

words.

Outside, walking toward the OFEI, he tried to spot San-

tiago's man.

He couldn't. Other than a scant few tourists, everyone

looked alike and paid him no attention at all.

In minutes he was outside the -town and at the cross-

roads. Left went down to the cxean. In a few hours, San-

tiago would come from that direction. Caner tumed right

and started to climb. As he drove, he ran his hand under

the seat and found the battery-rx)wered walkie-talkie.

So far, so gocxi, he thought. Santiago's Æxople were on

the ball.

He on the button and set the walkie in the

seat beside him.

It was ten miles from the fork to the cutoff to Divino.

Carter drove slowly, uying to the watchers. He

couldn't, and smiled to himself.

About halfway up, the walkie crackled and a voice

came through: "Sehor C. , this is Fajardo."

"Go ahead."

'The lady has left the restaurant. She walked to the

center of the square and talked to a man on a

"Could you get close enough to hear?" Carter asked.

"Not words, butthe man had an accent—British."

The Killmaster had guessed right, but he didn't feel


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good about it. The final tally on Sharon Purdue would

come at the plantation house.

"She has left the man and is now walking across the

square. I think she is going back to your hotel. Should I

follow?"

"No, Fajardo, get on out to the crossroads."

Caner waited a few minutes and depressed the. "send"

button again. ' SLet me know who is on the road."

A youthful voice came back at once in Spanish: "You

passed me about ten minutes ago, sefior."

And a second voice, older, lower: "You are just going

by me now."

About three minutes later the third man checked in:

"You are about three miles from me, Senor C. I can just

make out your lights through the trees."

"All right," Carter said, "you all know the game. The

minute they pass your checkpoint, get out. Your job is

done."

There was a chorus of agreement and the walkie went

dead.

Twenty minutes later he srx»tted the sign announcing the

estate and passed through two tall stone arches. Two

hundred yards of gravel drive wound under huge umbrella

trees to the turnaround in front of the house.

Carter stopped and killed the engine.

The casita was part stucco, part brick, a rambling. two-

story monstrosity built into the side of an emerald hilL

Carter picked up the walkie. "Anybody on the hill?"

seior. My name is Manuel."

"How goes it?" Carter asked.

"l arrived just before sundown. I looked over the whole

area, nere is no advance man, seöor, or I would have

flushed him."

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g *Good. How's your view?"

'*There is very little cannot see the drive, the front

and rear patios. and both sides of the house."

"How about the bay window lcxjking out over the rear

patio and the pool?"

"I will able to tell tEtter when you are inside and

there is a light. but it should not be a problem."

"Talk to you from inside," Carter growled, and got out

of the can

He took his regular small airline bag and the cheap suit-

case he had purchased that morning from the trunk, closed

it, and walked into the front patio.

A narrow walk was bordered by meticulously kept flow-

ering shrubs. Senora Pina had told him that twice a week a

gardener came up from Fajardo to maintain the place. lhe

inside wall of the entranceway and the wall of the house

itself were a mass of bougainvillaea vines with thousands

of crimson and purple blossoms. Along the front of the

house, dew-laden hibiscus clustered thickly on stcxky

bushes. A twenty-foot-high flowenng poinsettia tree stood

in one comer of the patio.

It was all very beautiful. Carter only hoped it looked the

same way come morning.

He used the key Santiago had provided and slipped into

the front hallway. By feel, he made it back to the great

room overlooking the rear patio. When he had lit several

candles, he slipped across the room to a large closet.

Manuel had done his work. Inside were two large male

mannequins, their flesh tones a mahogany tin.

He carried both of them to the wicker table and chairs in

the center of the room and orrned the suitcase. When the

larger of the two dummies was dressed in the white suit.

shirt, and a string tie, he set it in one of the high-backed

chairs facing away from the window.

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Then he stripped, and dressed the second one in the

dark trousers, yellow shirt, and denim jacket. This one he

placed in a chair across from the first, so it could only be

partially seen from through the window.

A final touch was a wide-brimmed Panama forthe San-

tiago mannequin, and a fishennan's cap for his own.

It took him another ten minutes to kill all but two of the

candles and arrange those two on the wicker table just so.

When this was done, he 0Æxned the dra'XS and grabbed the

walkie.

"Manuel?"

*'How dcrs it look?"

After several seconds, the voice came back. 'SVery

good, senore If you could move the candle on your right

just a little toward the window?"

Carter did. "How's that?"

"Perfect. I am lc»king through field glasses, and they

are very lifelike."

Carter dressed, grabbed his flight bag, and made his

way down to the wine cellar. With the aid of his penlight,

he found the proper wine rack and pulled it inward. Behind

it was a trapdoor with a large metal ring. He it and

went down the dozen steps to the tunnel.

There he left his bag and a lighted candle. Leaving the

trap open, he returned to the great room, where he built a

drink at the bar, lit a cigarette, and sat back to wait.

"Seöor C. • •

"Yes?"

'This is the halfway point. Santiago has just passed me."

"G€x)d. Fajardo?"

"Nothing yet, seöor. nere has been no one approaching

the crossroads since Santiago passed by."

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"Stay alert." Carter said, and he did a last once-over of

the room to make sure the scene was set.

"Tlis is numtxr three. Santiago is just oppsite me."

"Check."

Carter moved to the front of the house. He unl«xked the

front door, left the key in the lock and the dCÅ)r ajar, and

returned to the great room. Carefully, he arranged glasses

half full of brandy and a bottle on the table. To these he

added cups, saucers, and a carafe of steaming coffee.

As a last touch. he used his rrnknife to drill a hole in

the Santiago dummy's mouth. From a on the bar he

got a cigar and lit it. When it was going steady and even,

he inserted it and stood back.

"A touch of genius, if do say so myself," he said to

himself and chuckled.

"Sefior C... ."

"Yes, Manuel?"

"Santiago has arrived."

"I hear him."•

Moments later, Santiago lumbered into the room, carry-

ing a small flight bag. He took everything in with one

glance, and grinned. "A work of art."

"Thank you, amigo. Did you lock the front dcx)r?"

The man held up the key.

"Seöor C. , this is Fajardo."

"Yes?" Carter said.

"If it were a baseball game, you would have just hit a

home nm."

"How so?"

"Five men, one woman. They are in two cars. They just

passed the crossroads and went up Topaz Road."

"Did you recognize the Englishman you saw earlier with

the woman?"

"S(, senor. He is driving the lead car. They are going

very fast."

KILLING GAMES

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111

"All right. Fajardo, you get back to the hotel and keep

ck of the lady. Weill get a reB)rt in the morning."

"St. Vaya con Dior."

Caner lowered the walkie. 'Change."

By the time Santiago had changed into a dark tunleneck

d black trousers. checkB)ints one and two had an-

ounced the caravan's passing.

'They are moving fast," Santiago said.

"Yeah," Carter hissed, 'they sure as hell are."

"Yes."

Tis is numt*r three. They have pulled off the road

st tElow me and left the cars. They are all armed.

achine guns, I think. The rnen are moving on toward the

ouse. The woman is staying behind. It like she is

overing their rear down the road."

"Manuel," Ca.rter said into the walkie, "did you get

"St. I have two of them in my glasses. They have left

e road and are coming up through the trees."

"Okay, Manuel, it's all yours."

"S(, sehor. I will memorize what faces I can see

learly."

"Santiago, let's go!"

The two men raced to the wine cellar They pulled the

ine rack flush behind them and secured the trapd(M.

aner found his bag, and Santiago led the way through the

nnel with a powerful flashlight.

Only twice did they hit water, so less than five minutes

ad elapsed t*fore they were crawling through a second

pdoor opening into the moonlight.

"ne motorcycle is there, in the woods, under a tarpau-

n."

"Roll it out," Carter replied, and brought the walkie to

s lips. "Manuel?"

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"'I*hey are all around the house, seöor. One man has

climbed the palmetto tree and is going through a second-

story window. Two are somewhere in the front courtyard.

and the other two are going over the wall to the rear patio.

Now those two---

Suddenly Manuel's voice was drowned out by the chat-

ter of gunfire. Even without the aid of the walkie Carter

could hear it clearly through the hills.

It to go on forever and then, just as suddenly as

it had started, it

Carter waited a few seconds and spoke into the walkie.

"Manuel?"

"Seöor, if it had been you and Santiago in there, you

would now have been with the angels. They are inside.

Wait ... they have discovered the trick. Three of them are

going through the house the other two are outside,

searching."

"Sign off, Manuel, and watch yourself," Carter

growled, and tumed to Santiago,

"Have you observed enough?" the man asked.

"Yeah, I sure as hell have. Crank that thing up. Let's get

the hell out of here!"

At midnight sharp, they tumed the motorcycle over t

one of Santiago's people at the Point Puerca marina and

climbed into the plane.

"Santiago, Luis Pedroza," Carter said, a map.

lhe two men nodded and Pedroza lcx»ked down at th

map. "Where to?"

"Tortola, Do you know someplace you can dump us

we don't have to go through customs?"

"Yeah, right here. There's a deep cove just west o

Brewer's Bay. •can be down and gone before anybod

knows we've even landed."

KILLING GAMES

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113

"Perfect," Carter said. handing the pilot an envelope.

'There's a fat tx)nus in there for your trouble."

Pedroza pocketed the envelope and started the plane.

'Like I say, amigo. it's a pleasure doing business with

Five minutes later they were cruising high over the

ean.


TEN

ne tall, suntanned girl behind the desk wore an off-

the-shoulder, low-cut blouse that hid none of her physical

attributes. She was also genuinely pretty, with warm brown

eyes set far apart, a provocatively soft mouth, a r:Mt nose,

and flawless skin, all framed by loose, raven-black hair

that tumbled atX)ut her bare shoulders.

"Gocxi morning, sir," she said, managing to retain her

commercial smile even after taking in Carter's bedraggled,

unshaven apFarance.

"Mornin', darlin'. MacSweeney, Colin MacSweeney.

Got my reservation?" It was a sloppy Texas accent, but she

wouldn't know the difference.

She trgan punching a computer, still throwing sidelong

glances at his face and clothes.

"Been one hell of a night. Had plane trouble out of San

Juan, had to land in St. Thomas and take the ferry from

there. Slept on a hard bench most of the night. Hell of a

night."

Actually, he and Santiago had srrnt most of the night

sleeping on the beach, and the tEtter pan of the morning

hoofing it to where they could find a taxi.

"I'm sorry about that. Here we are, Mr. MacSweeney

114

KILLING GAMES

115


115

.. a suite?" She said it with amazement on her face, until

he saw the wad he produced from his jacket pocket.

"I'll just give ya two days in advance. How will that be,

S Ihat will be fine, sir." Her voice was like syrup now,

d her eyes told Carter that he was her kind of man. 'Take

is gentleman to bungalow nine."

A young bellboy took Carter's bag, but before he fol-

wed, Carter leaned over the counter.

"I don't mean to tE forward, darlin', but with only two

ys, a man's got to hurry a bit. What time do you get

lhe smile got wider. "Three."

"Drink by the poi?"

She shrugged and the front of the blouse did wonderful

ings. "I usually drop by ffe pcx»l when I get off."

"I'll just bet you do, darlin'."

lhe bungalow was deluxe, consisting of a huge high-

ilinged living rcx»m, an even larger bedroom, and a ter-

e with a view of the entire resort.

Carter pressed a twenty into the bellboy's hand. "Thank

out son. Say, 01' Marcus wouldn't be around this morn-

g, would he?"

"He usually is, sir, but lately he's sailing every

orning."

' 'That so? When does he get back usually?"

A shrug. "Depnds. Sornetimes in the aftemoon, some-

mes not until evening."

"l see," Carter said, pressing another twenty in the

y's hand. "Well, if you see him, don't tell him I'm here,

ill ya? We•re 01' friends and I want to surprise him.

kay?"

"Sure." He started for the dc»r.

"Say, what kind of a boat is Marcus sailin' now?"

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"It's the hotel's, a thirty-footer, two-masted, called the

Lilly."

It would be. Carter thought, and smiled the young man

out before he dived for the island directory. He looked up

the nurnt*r where he had left Santiago off, and dialed.

"The Sea View. good morning."

"MC Santiago's please."

It was answered at once.

"It's me. Marcus takes a sail every morning on the hotel

boat. It's called the Lilly. Ask around and see if you can

find out where he goes. Also uy to pick us up a boat."

"Any particular brand?"

"The Lilly is sails. Pick us up a fast inboard."

"Will do."

"I'm in bungalow nine. I'll by the pool around

"I'll see you then."

Carter hung up and trailed clothes to the shower. When

he had all the sand washed off, he shaved and returned to

the phone. When he had the AXE message center machine

in Washington, he delivered a cryptic location-giver.

"N3 to NI as MacSweeney, Tortola Bay Resort, number

nine," he said, and hung up.

As he SEK)ke, he leafed through the ' Things To Do"

brochure for the resort. On the last page his eye fell on the

masthead listing the staff.

At the very top was ALEXANDER MARCUS, MANAGER.

The Tortola Bay Resort was built a finger of lush

green jutting out from the island itself. The bungalows

atx)ut forty of them—ringed the end of the finger, with th

large main building containing offices and nx»rns in th

center. It was all' stone, with lots of domes, arches, an

filigree.


117

In fact. the whole setup looked as if it had de-

signed by an architect who'd read Tales Of the Arabian

Nights once too often.

At a quarter to three, Carter rolled off the bed where he

had sprawled into instant sleep, and made for the bath.

After splashing a lot of cold water on his face, he climbed

into a pair of trunks, a towel, and headed outside

to the pcxyl.

He ordered a gin and tonic, designated a chaise with his

towel, and dived in. lhe pool was like tepid bath water but

still refreshing. After a dozen laps, he climbed out to find

his drink waiting. He settled into the chaise, lit a cigarette,

and glanced around.

At three-fifty a night for a room—and five hundred

dollars and up for a suite or bungalow—the Tortola Bay

Resort didn't attract Aunt Fannie and Uncle Jud from

Dubuque. Nearly every face he saw he recognized from

magazines or newspapers.

Two chaises away, an Italian actress was being overdra-

atic with a French Formula One driver while her pro-

ucer husband, looking bored, half listened to a Holly-

ood starlet whose eyes and conversation reflected the

revious night's 'tactical mistakes.

Just tryond them, a sleek New York model who had

ently become disengaged from her husband—a Detroit

otor executive—was tEnding the ear of a famous Span-

sh painter, The gist of the conversation seemed to de-

iled instructions on how to paint his next masterpiece.

The painter seemed far more interested in the

f line and form poured into her plunging swimsuit.

The model looked up long enough to give Carter an

•stocratic and tolerant smile, and quickly went back to

er stream of atrocious Spanish.

Suddenly Carter noticed all the male heads around the


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turning in his direction. Then a shadow fell across

him and he up to see why.

"Hello."

"Hello, darlin', sit right down."

She c»zed into the chaise beside Carter, and the Italian

star and Hollywcxxi starlet tumed green.

'Ihey had every reason to. In her string bikini, the dark-

haired desk clerk looked as good or tetter than any of the

exotic, international beauties sunning themselves there.

"Sorry I'm late. I got a call from my boss. He won't be

back until late. I'll have to do the five o'clock audit."

Caner up. S That would be 01' Marcus."

"You know Alex?"

"Well," Caner drawled, "let's just say I know his tX)SS."

"His tX)ss?" She looked Irrplexed, and then a little light

came on in her eyes. "Oh, you mean Cayman Interna-

tional?"

"Yeah," Carter said, leaning close enough to absorb

some of the ample heat from her body. "I'll let ya in on a

little secret, darlin' .. ."

She leaned a little herself, until her lips were breathing

on his. VOh, I love secrets."

"Ya see, I own quite a chunk of Texas, but what with oil

the way it is now, I'm lookin' to diversify."

"Really?" The light in her eyes had literally made them

turn green, the color of money. If she appeared to be some-

thing of a dingaling, it was all an act. "For instance," she

continued, "in the islands?"

"You might say that. 'Course, I wouldrYt want it nosed

around and make the price go up

"Of course not."

"This Cayman .lnternational is a little tight-mouthed

about their assets, •and like any good businessman, I like to

know if they're keepin' a plum back when they're offerin'

the apples."


119

She rolled to her side and faced Carter. The movement

dislodged one breast from its tiny crocheted cup. If she

noticed, she did nothing atX)ut it.

Carter guessed she noticed.

"Could I of any help? I've with the resort for

three years and do most of the internal bookkeeping."

Oh, brother, Carter thought, wait until I tell Howard

about his loyal employees!

"Darlin', those words are music to my ears," he replied,

and then abruptly changed the subject. "By the way, where

is Marcus?"

"I don't know. He called from the ship-to-shore phone

on the boat."

SThat so? When do ya reckon he'll be back?"

She shrugged. "Probably not until at least midnight. He

asked me to check out the eleven o'clock turnover on the

desk."

Carter nodded, his face a mask of deep concentration.

"One of the bellboys told me Marcus has doin' a hell

of a lot of all-day sailin' lately. Wonder where he goes

The dark eyes narrowed and Carter sensed bells of cau-

tion going off in her pretty head. He saw Santiago ap-

proach one of the two pool bars and take a stool.

"But I guess if you're the manager, you can play when-

ever ya want to, can't ya. But, say, darlin', hete we are

•abberin' and my manners have gone to hell. What would

ou like to drink?'

"A gin and tonic, no lime," she replied, relaxing and

gaining the smile.

"Be right back," he said, rising. "By the way, darlin',

hat's your handle?"

"Handle ... She flushed a little and rewrapped the

errant breast. Caner could hear the audible groans from the

y males.

"Your name, darlin' "

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"Oh.. Eugenie."

"Well, Genie honey, you just bake there for a minute

and 01' Mac will be back with the refreshments."

Carter jogged around the pool and made the stool beside

Santiago just before a plump matron who lc»ked like the

front window of Cartier's grabbed it.

"Couple of gin and tonics, pardner... make one of

them a double." The barman moved away and Carter

spoke, barely moving his lips and without turning his eyes

or head toward Santiago. "Got anything?"

"A couple of fisherrnen have spotted him leaving the

past three days. Evidently, one man sailing the Lilly is a

rough case , . that's why they noticed."

"Did they see his route?"

"Watched him cut into the channel between Great Ca-

manoe and Scrub Island, then he disaprrared. A chaner

captain told me he spotted Marcus heading past the Dogs

that's three small islands about four miles east of here. "

• 'lhere must be thirty or forty uninhabited and privately

owned islands in the Virgins," Carter growled. •s We donst

have nearly enough time to check half of them. Did you

get a

"Yeah, seventeen-footer, inboard. She's got a three-fifty

QYysler marine, and will do sixty easy and quietly."

"Good man. Where?"

SSA little marina at East End, It's called Jacob's, dock

four."

"Okay, I want you to get sorne night glasses and two

scuba rigs tanks, everything."

"We going out?"

"Yeah. The little lady says Marcus won't be back until

midnight or later. If can narrow the islands down, we'll

tot to spot the Lilly."

"You're sure he's not on Tortola?" Santiago murmured.

"Pretty sure. If Marcus is making daily runs, it's proba-

KILLING GAMES

121


121

bly to take Howard supplies and get instructions. That

would mean no phone."

"Got you," Santiago replied. "What time?"

"I'll try to make it at nine. Be ready."

"Here you are, sir. *Ihe double has the bent straw."

' 'Thanks, pardner."

Carter signed the check and retumed to the lounges.

"Here ya are, Genie darlin'." He handed her the double.

"And may make a little suggestion?"

"I'm always open to suggestions," she said, and smiled

brightly.

"Well, it's only three-thirty, and it's gettin' awful hot out

here. An' since you don't have to be at that desk until five,

maybe we can avail ourselves of the air conditioning in my

bungalow and talk about your place in the scheme of things

when I expand Texas!"

Drink in hand, she was up and leading the way.

Carter had no more trouble following her meaning than

he did her well-filled bikini around the pool. They came to

the lawn surrounded by hedges, and she continued to take

the lead to number nine.

She opened the door, took his hand in her long fingers,

and pulled him inside. *Ihe door closed with a kick from

her sandaled foot. Two soft arms closed around his neck.

Glossy black hair streamed trhind her as lush red lips

lifted to his mouth, crushing against it. A darting tongue

probed his mouth hungrily. She ground her hips on his,

pressing her body against him, squeezing his neck so hard

it hurt.

Finally she came up for air.

"You're my kind of man," she groaned hoarsely, and

then the lips were back on his to smother any answer he

might have wanted to make.

She was grinding again, then nipping, then biting....

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"What are you, a cannibal?" Carter panted at last.

"You're going to be the cannibal," she smiled, taking

off. ecome on!"

The red message light was lit on the sitting room phone,

but, for the moment, Carter ignored it. His mind was on

other things.

Eugenie went through the sitting room like a young

deer. It was obvious that she didn't have conversation on

her mind.

By the time Carter hit the door, the top of the bikini was

gone and she was working on the strings that held the bot-

tom together

When in Rome, Carter thought, peeling off his trunks

and meeting her in the center of the room.

He tried to remain ccx)l and maintain self-control, but he

felt it melting away by the proximity of her hot

body, and the even hotter greediness of her lips.

Together they fen, side by side, to the bed. He plunged

his lips into the valley between her breasts and pressed the

soft mounds to his cheeks. They were firm and ripe, with

the need for love almost screaming from their inviting nip-

ples. There were two concentric circles in two shades of

pink agaihst the paleness of the skin where the bikini had

shielded her from the sun.

"Oh, take me!" she hissed. "Take me!"

Carter began to kiss her shoulders, then the delicious

mounds that stood straight up and seemed to tremble like

two sand castles in a minor earthquake. And the earthquake

was inside her, heaving her chest and m4ing her hips

writhe and her legs chum and sending little growls and

moans from her throat. He kissed the nipples, felt her

hands tear at his hair.

She tugged and urged until he was between her thighs.

His hands slid under her writhing body to grip her as she


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found him with her own hands.

123

"ncre," she panted as she arched upward, enveloping

him.

A momentary pause, and then violence. She. wriggled

beneath him and tossed her head on the pillow, clamping

her long legs high around his back. She praised him gasp-

ingly and in the most basic language, rotating upward at

the same time, acting as if she could have taken much

more of him.

He began a slow, methodical plunging.

"Oh, Mac," she breathed, 'Syou're good. Ohhhh,

soooo gooood"'

They moved in perfect rhythm, lunging and rotating.

Their bodies slapped and the bed groaned sharply. Carter

felt himself ascending. Again, now that he was in the midst

of it and taking her, he felt the sense of detachment, almost

as if he were standing back and watching another couple

perform the act.

"Ihe physical building of passion—slowly and evenly

—didn't detract from this curious mental sensation. He

propped himself on his arms and watched her lust-

contorted features as she voraciously tc»k all he had to

give her. He quickened the pace of his thrusts. She gasped

and groaned, demanding still more. He tried to match her,

but her thrusts were too erratically swift. and so he merely

held himself in place, slightly elevated, and let her do it

all.

She cried out and shrieked, seeming to take him in a

great opening surge that was hot and all-consuming. He hit

her with a torrent of short, savage strokes, made it over,

and began to recover. They tX)th were still.

She cooed against his ear and petted his back and hair,

and then she pulled his face around and kissed him with

her mouth as hot and moist and orxn as a mouth can be.

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She talked against his lips and tongue in incoherent gasps.

Well. he had done his duty, Carter sard to himself, and it

hadn't bad, of course.

But now he forced his mind to take over from his body.

"Tell you what, darlin'

She was doing things with her hand. It took all his will-

power to ignore it. "What time do you finish at the desk?"

"About six."

"Well, why don't you pop over to your room and climb

into something fancy. Then I'll pick you up in your office

about six-thirty and we'll have an early dinner. "

"And after dinner?" she whispered coyly.

"Why, darlin•, need you ask? Now just scoot along. I

got to call my bankers."

Reluctantly. she left the bed and dressed. "I could just

meet you in the dining room "

"No. no. can't do that, darlin' I'm a gentleman. I'll

pick you up!"

He waited until he was sure she was well gone before

climbing into his trunks and hitting the pay phone between

the bungalows.

Hawk wasn't in, but that didn't really matter. He goi the

big man's good right arm, Ginger Bateman, and she was

up on the whole mission as if she were Hawk himself.

Caner brought her up to date on everything in sharp

detail, and included the plan for the coming night's events.

"It sounds sticky and very, very shaky," she said when

he paused for breath at last.

agree, but where we pin it I don't know, and I might

not know after seeing Howard. I'd like to risk putting peo-

ple on all three of them."

"Sir Charles, Avery, and Hutchins?"

"That's right," Carter replied. "Don't know what we

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can find, but it's bound to be more than we've got."

125

"Since Hutchins is CIA, he should be no problem. lhe

other two? .. Hard to say, but I'm sure Hawk will go

along."

"Use free-lance in England. You've got a

"What about Sharon Purdue? Sounds like she's in up to

her earrings."

"No doubt about it. Her, too, if you can find her. Now,

anything for me?"

"Are you sitting down?"

"No chair," Carter said, "but give it to me anyway "

"You've joined Howard's club."

"Remember your kickoff contact in London?"

'Otto Luderman, yeah. "

"He's dead. Someone sliced him from ear to ear with

the jagged edge of a broken bottle."

Carter felt an ice-cold chill ripple up his spine and raise

the hairs on the back of his neck. "And my prints were all

over the bottle."

"Bingo, superspy. And that ain't all."

"Rita Lyon," he said hoarsely.

"You get to open door number two. They are combing

the islands for you, so you've only got so much time."

"Let's hope I use it wisely. Give my best to the man,"

Carter hung up. As he jogged back to the bunialow, he

found himself darting looks over his shoulder.

There was no doubt about it now. He and Cory Howard

were being royally set up.


ELEVEN

Carter barged right past the young night clerk with the

hail-fellow-well-met attitude he had already established,

and entered Eugenie's office.

"Here I am, darlin•. right on time!" He gave her lips a

brushing kiss and got a radiant smile in return. dress

she wore told him she had decided to go all out in this

seduction for a better position of employment; the black

silk dipped and clung to her every ample curve.

"I'll be Just a moment," she purred.

"You just take your time, Genie."

Carter perched on the edge of the desk where he could

take in the whole of the office, and lit a cigarette.

It her five minutes to finish up what she was doing.

In that time Carter perused the white cards on the fronts of

file drawers and every other labeled piece of information

he could see.

By the time she was locking up with a small ring of

keys, Carter had spotted the file drawer he wanted. It con-

tained the tax returns for the last seven yeari.

"Ready," she said, holding the door.

"Then let's do it!"

She locked the door, and arm in arm they entered the

dining room.

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127

It fit the rest of the resort E*lfectly, with low-key light-

ing and high prices. A velvet rope was stretched before the

three steps leading down to the main room. A headwaiter

in a tuxedo practically leaped at it when they ,apFxared,

bringing a smile to Caner's face.

Little Eugenie had spread the word about the investment

baron from Texas.

They were shown to one of the very private booths near

the dance floor. Caner ordered drinks, dinner, and wine all

at the same time, bringing a lifted eyebrow from the

woman.

"No matter how good the food is, darlin'." he coun-

tered, "we don't want to waste the evening eating, do we?"

She laughed and swayed agamst him, clutching his arm

and letting him feel the pneumatic surge of her breast.

"You make me feel like Cinderella!"

"How sweet. Drink up." He signaled the waiter for two

more doubles.

From the salad through the entree he kept up a steady

patter that kept her mmd off the fact that she was drinking

as much or more than she was eating.

Over dessert. Carter disdained coffee and ordered

brandy instead.

They had been seated a minute or two after seven. At

8:05 he signed the check, rose, and reached for her hand.

She never realized that she had been so whisked through a

dinner.

He held her up all the way back to bungalow nine. By

the time they got inside she was walking on the sides of her

shoes instead of the heels.

'Ihe moment they were in the door, Carter got amorous.

His hands worked at her hips, tugging her close.

"Ohhh, what a tiger!" Her voice diPIEd low on the last

word and roughened sexily. She tried to say more, but gave

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up when her tongue got twisted up in her teeth. Instead,

she tried to drill two holes through his chest with her

breasts.

"Why don't you run into the bedrcx)ln and get sexy.

darlin'„ while I fix us a little nightcap?"

"Oh, I don't know if 1 can handle-—

"Sure you can."

She staggered away and the Killmaster hit the wet bar.

He poured himself a glass of water, then swallowed a cape

sule recently developed by the AXE medicos that worked

wonders to quickly neutralize the effects of much

booze inbibed in a hurry.

Two minutes later he walked into the bedroom, a glass

in each hand. "Here we are!"

She had managed to get her dress off and that was all.

At that point she had collapsed across the bed.

Carter discarded the glasses and efficiently divested her

of the rest of her clothing. When she was naked, he slipped

her body under the sheet and returned to the sitting room.

There were two sets of keys in her purse. He mxketed

both of them and slipped from the bungalow.

Minutes later he was using a jimmy to the rear

French doors of Eugenie's office. Using a penlight, he

went directly to the file drawer he had spotted earlier.

The third key he tried orrned the drawer. Quickly he

fingered through the folders until he located the corporate

tax return for the previous year.

He found what he wanted on page twenty of the return:

property taxes paid on two islands called Big Rock and

Little Rock.

He replaced the folder and locked the drawer. On a wall

map he traced the. route that Santiago's fishermen had

given for Marcus ahd the Lilly: around Scrub Island and on

to the Dogs. If Marcus had proceeded on east and slightly


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north, he would have hit the tiny Rock Islands.

129

Carter was willing to trt a month's pay that he had his

route.

nere were three keys on Eugenie's second ring. One

was to room 419 in the hotel. The other two belonged to a

Ford, and there was a small tag with the license number on

the ring.

Jt ten minutes of prowling the parking lot before he

found a gray Mustang that matched the tag.

He hit the East End section with five minutes to spare

before nine o'clock.

When the car was parked and locked. Caner hurried

down the promenade that ran along the piers of the marina.

There was very little sound except the lapping of the water

and music from a hotel up the beach. Somewhere to his

left. probably on a boat, a woman began to laugh. The

laughter was strident and breathy, as though she were being

tickled.

men he spotted the right number. Ten steps out onto the

pier. Santiago apfrared like a out of the darkness.

'*Ihis way!"

The boat was low in the water, fast and sleek, perfect

for their needs. From a console the two bucket

seats, Santiago produced a nautical map of the islands.

"Here," Carter said. "They're called Big Rock and Lit-

tle Rock."

The engine roared to life. and seconds later they were

lurching through the opening in the stone breakwater to-

ward the open sea.

"There," Carter called, "through those bending trees. a

It was imÆ»ssibie in the darkness to see any with

the naked eye. But with the night glasses, one of the masts


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NICK CARTER

and a portion of the Lilly's gleaming white side was distin-

guishable.

'SHe's making sail," Santiago said, handing Carter the

glasses.

The Killmaster refocused for his own eyes and trained

the glasses. He saw a single man on the aft deck, and then

the Lilly was moving.

"He's coming out," Carter hissed. "Over you go."

Both men had already donned the wet suits, masks, and

flippers. Santiago had strapped one of the small-tank scuba

rigs onto his back. The words were scarcely out of Carter's

mouth when the man rolled over the side and quickly dis-

appeared.

Carter let the launch idle him further around the island.

When the Lilly, already out of the cove, was out of sight,

he upped the throttle just enough to give him about five

knots, and entered the fairly wide channel the two

islands.

When he figured he was just orpsite where the Lilly

had been moored on the other side of Big Rock, he killed

the engine and dropped anchor.

Then, standing up in the boat, not giving a damn

his silhouette against the moonless gray night sky, he

slipped into the scuba tank. When it was secure and the air

mixture was right, he slipped into the crystal-clear water.

It was about two hundred yards to the sandy beach. He

came up only once for bearings. His feet hit bottom twenty

yards out and he kicked off the flippers. When the water

was just below his knees, he dashed for\he thick under-

growth and trees. Once there, he shed the tank and took a

bearing off the bobbing boat behind him. Shod with

sneakers he had attached to his utility belt, he struck off

inland.

The island was like a one-humped camel with the spine

KILLING GAMES

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running the long way. It was hard going uphill, and then,

over the hump, hard to keep a slow pace going down the

other side.

He could see the ocean again when, about halfway

down, the thick foliage began to thin out. Moments later he

spotted a clearing to his left and veered that way.

Ihen he saw it, shrouded by the trees: a small, one-

story stucco job with an honest-to-god tin roof. Smoke

belched from a stovepqx at one end, and a water tank had

been erected at the other. There wasn't a sign of an electric

wire or a telephone line.

Primitive living at its best. Caner thought, but one hell

of a place to hide.

From where he stood, a path led directly down to the

house. Without worrying about noise, he started down. He

was counting on the fact that Cory Howard already knew

he was there, so the man wouldn't shoot his visitor without

identifying him first,

Carter left the path when it petered out at the narrow

clearing around the house. He was just approaching the

front door, when a flash came on behind him, fully outlin-

ing him in its glare.

"Keep the hands where they can be seen, no quick

moves. Turn around very slowly. "

Carter did. "Hello, Cory."

"Hello, Nick. I thought it was you."

"It's been a long hunt, Cory," the Killmaster said,

barely making out the Walther held steady in the man's

hand. "Not thinking of shooting me after I've worked so

hard, are you?"

"I don't shoot oid friends, Nick. You know that."

lees talk."

"Afraid not. I'm leaving soon. I'm afraid you've come

for nothing. Inside."

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NICK CARTER

"I may be able to help."

O'Don't think so. You're loose, Nick, but you've still got

to battle bureaucratic red tape. I don't."

' 'Cory.. i" Carter a step forward.

"Don't do it, Nick. I won't kill you, but I'll put a slug

where it hurts. Inside."

Carter turned and walked to the door. It was an old-

fashioned latch. He lifted it and walked into the single

large room. He could•tell Howard had followed him by the

degree of light. In the center of the room he tumed.

"There's a humcane lamp, there, to your right," How-

ard said, dancing his beam that way,

Suddenly a materialized from the darkness tEhind

Howard against the wall. It moved quickly, without a

sound. One arrn went around Howard's neck, lifting him.

The other knocked his gun hand down with a savage chop.

The Walther clattered to the wooden floor.

Cory Howard struggled, but the arm at his neck and the

knee in his back held him like a vise.

"His name is Santiago, Cory. You and I are good, but

when it comes to a backup and night fighting, he's the

best."

"Jesus ... "

"Care to talk now, Cory? I'm in this as deep as you are,

and I want out."

*Ihe big man sighed• deeply and ncxided. "Oh, what the

hell. Let's talk."

Carter lit the hurricane lamp.

"so," Caner said at last, after an hour of hearing

Cory Howard out, "your initial reaction was that you

were double-crossed and fingered?"

Howard nodded: '"That's it. I mean, they obviously

wanted Marcel Longchamp dead. I jumped to the conclu-

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Sion that the head of StarFire, Denis Jeansoulin, had fin-

gered us. Hell. he was the only one I called to pick

Longchamp up."

"But when Jeansoulin blew his brains out, you changed

your mind and started digging."

"Right," Howard replied. "And it a lot of digging,

right on through about seven holding companies, until I

found out that the principal ownership of StarFire went to

Sir Charles Martin. Then, when Jeansoulin's secretary was

appointed interim president of the company, I knew who

had really fingered Lilly and me."

"Still a little thin to go after a fish as big as Sir

Charles," Caner said, pouring them both fresh brandies.

"True, but Lilly gave me another solid clue before she

died. The night I took her and Jova out, we had an M16

contact in Subotica. Yugoslavia. He debriefed me and in-

terviewed Lilly before he arranged transport for us to Lon-

don. His name was Wolf Longbone. Many moons ago.

Wolf caught a knife in the throat in West Berlin. He healed,

but it left him with a strange, very hoarse way of

It's like he can't get enough air to get his words out. Lilly

swore to me it was Longbone who ran the raid the night

she and Longchamp bought it."

Carter stayed calm. There would be time enough to in-

form Howard that it was ten to one Wolf Longbone was

Rita Lyon's killer. 'Go on."

"Do you remember my old secretary at M16, Caroline

Carter shook his head. "I never met her."

"Well, when I left. she was assigned to Sir Phillip

Avery. After a year or so, she was shoved into the tunnel. "

"Records?" Carter asked,

"Yeah. I contacted her a few days ago. She's on my

side, and one reason is, she thinks Avery is playing some


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pretty weird games with M16 economic intelligence."

"Like passing it on to someone who could profit highly

from it?"

"Exactly," Howard said, nodding. "Everything live

found points to Sir Charles, but it's bloody hard to prove.

The man is so insulated with wealth and layers of legal

shelters, he's practically imm)ssible to pin anything on."

"So you decided to draw him out into the OFn with an

extortion bit. Not smart. Cory."

Howard smiled, almost a leer. '9011? You're here, aren't

"Touché," Caner said. "More on that later. What about

Caroline Minor and this Longbone character?"

"When Wolf Longbone left the agency, he started a pri-

vate security company, Protec Limited. They 0}xrate out of

London, and they specialize in corporations operating in

Third-World countries. Once again it a lot of digging,

but I found out that Protec is owned by a large holding

company in Geneva."

"And that holding company," Carter finished, "is con-

trolled by Sir Charles Martin."

"Bingo. I also discovered that, wherever Protec OE*r-

ated„ a lot of important people died or A lot

of companies, like StarFire, suddenly came under Sir

Charles's Geneva corporations."

Carter stood and began to pace. "So it would that

the glue, or proof, if we can get it, is Wolf Longbone."

"Right. I had Caroline dig up everything in the M16

records that Longbone had anything to do •ith or even had

his name on. Right away she came up with an interesting

little item. Longbone, even retired from the agency, still

had total access to Records."

Carter froze. "That•s a hell of a breach of security. "

"And more. His authorization came from Sir Phillip

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135

Avery. I asked Caroline to feed everything about Longbone

into a computer and try to come up with a pattern. I got

word tonight that she has come up with something that

might be the key. That's why I was leaving for London."

Carter sighed and slumped back into the chair. "That's

not going to easy."

"I know, but I've come too far to stop now."

'Granted. What about those two international detec-

tives, Guido Narboni and Jules Lafaye?"

S They're scum, anything for a buck."

"Did you kill them in Paris?"

Howard nodded. "Had to. I can't prove it, but I'd bet

anything Longbone sent them after me. I was getting too

close to Henri Liard."

Here Carter leaned forward until their faces were only

inches apart. He told Howard in detail about Otto Luder-

man and Rita Lyon.

"Dammit!" the other man gasped, slamming the fist of

one hand into the palm of the other. 'That proves it. Every-

one who helped lead you to me was whiffed right after you

got the lead. That's it, Nick—once you reached me they

were to waste the both of us!" Suddenly Howard's face lost

a couple of shades of color. "Are you sure you didn't lead

them here?"

"Positive. I figured out who was feeding them my

movements."

"I'm listening."

"Our man Hutchins in CIA is thick as thieves with

Avery. Only the two of them handled Sir Charles's intelli-

gence. When I was given this mission, I was to contact no

one else, none of our people nor M16. They also saddled

me with an agent from Sir Phillip's office. Tell me, Cory,

what you can about Sharon Purdue."

What color was left in Cory Howard's face drained

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away and he slumped further into the chair. "Oh, no. She

was assigned to help you hunt for me?"

"That's right. Seems she was very close to you at one

time."

Now the gnn returned, lopsided and sardonic. "Righto,

that she was. Sharon is a very ambitious woman. She is

also the most nationalistic person I've ever known."

How SO

"All for Queen and Country, no matter what. If she had

her way, Nick, the empire would have never folded.

What's more. she would wipe out a third of the world to

get the empire back. She's got tunnel vision—anything

that's good for England is good for the world."

"That's a dangerous person," Carter growled. "lhe kind

who sees a Communist under every rock and shoots before

asking questions."

"That's Sharon. "

"But would you say she is honest?"

'Ohs yes." Howard said, "she's blind, but she's honest.

Sir Phillip Avery is just like her. If he told her to blow up

Whitehall because of Communist infiltration, she would do

it because she would think it was right."

Carter leaned back and lit a fresh cigarette. "That an-

swers a lot of questions."

lhe Killmaster fell into a mood of intense concentra-

tion. Cory Howard saw and recognized the mood. He

could almost hear the wheels turning in Carter's mind, and

kept his silence.

And turning they were.

Sir Charles, Sir Phillip, and John Hutchins had formed a

little intelligence triumverate: you pat our back, we'll pat

yours. Was it all for personal gain, or were they all doing

what they were doing for their respective nations?

And what was the key that held them together?

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Mines mining ... metals precious industrial met-

als...

That had to be it, Carter thought.

'Cory," he said at last, "we're getting out of here. I'll

see your Caroline Minor in England. I want you to try

again for this Henri Liard in Paris. But first I want you to

send another extortion threat to Sir Charles. Tell him that

you are narrowing in, that you are extending the deadline.

I'll inform Hutchins in Washington that I've missed you

but I'm still close. I'll say I've tracked you to Rio or some-

where in South America. That should throw them off for a

bit."

"You'll only have a few hours in London," Howard re-

plied cryptically. "That's home ground for Longbone. He'll

have the city covered like the proverbial blanket."

"I know. I'll just have to use every minute the best I

can."

"Nick : '

"l think we're coming to the same conclusions. What if

Sir Charles is using Avery and Hutchins to build his own

"It could be that Avery and Hutchins are using Sir

Charles to feather their own nests and further their own

philosophies."

Howard sighed and stood. "Or both."

"Or both," Carter agreed.

"What then? What if we don't get enough proof to push

it all upstairs?"

"Then," Carter said, "I turn you loose."


TWELVE

The next twenty-four hours would a sleepless night-

mare.

Using the launch, Santiago femed them back to the iso-

lated west end of Tortola, where Lufs Pedroza was still

hanging around in of picking up cargo, human or

otherwise.

"Santo Domingo? Hell, yes."

Price was settled. and Carter penned a note to Eugenie

begging her forgiveness for stealing off in the dead of

night: emergency business in the form of a new oil find in

one of his Texas fields.

Santiago would retum the launch, her car, and plant a

note in bungalow nine. He would also gather Carter's

things and place the bag under the name of MacSweeney

on a London flight. Then he would present another note to

Alex Marcus penned by Howard. Marcus would see that

Santiago got back to San Juam

They hit Santo Domingo in the Dornvican Republic

around nine in the morning, just in time to catch a flight to

New York.

"What makes you think they won't watching Ken-

nedy?" Howard asked.

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139

"l don't," Carter growled, "but these marbles are all in

England now, since they don't know if I made contact with

you or not. My guess is they'll watch Heathrow and Gat-

wick."

*Ihat night they boarded the Concorde for Paris, where

they split up, Howard to run down Henri Liard and put him

on the griddle, Carter by train to the NATO airbase outside

Brussels.

It was a long, roundabout, and time-consuming route,

but Carter felt it would give him a few precious hours in

London he was spotted.

At first, General Mark Seever, head of NATO air com-

mand in Bnrssels, wasn't too happy about putting a jet at

Carter's disposal. A phone call to Hawk and then the Pen-

tagon changed his mind.

Two hours later, Carter landed at the military section of

Birmingham's Midlands Airport wearing the uniform and

double bars of a captain in the U.S.A.E He taxied off the

base and changed into workingman's clothing in the Brit-

Rail men's 100.

The wait for a train into Victoria Station was less than

an houn Carter slept all the way, and left the train to imme-

diately be swallowed up in the rush-hour crowd.

Wearily he moved around the huge structure several

times before coming to a halt at the airport transfer area.

He waited while a man with a flat Midland's accent

claimed three bags, and then stepped forward and gave the

woman behind the counter his identification.

"MacSweeney. Colin MacSweeney. I had a bag for-

warded here from Heathrow."

"One moment, sir." It seemed an eternity, but at last she

returned. "There you are, sir. That'll be four pounds

twenty."

Carter paid her and hit the street. He passed several taxi

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