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The last I heard, he was on his way to Copenhagen. Probably to promote something totally illegal and revolutionary of which Venable would absolutely disapprove.”
    “It’s possible.”
    “It’s probable.” She made a dismissing gesture. “And why are we talking about Cameron? He has nothing to do with this.”
    “No? Cameron has a habit of intruding on situations surrounding people he considers his own.”
    “You mean Erin.” She frowned. “Yes, he does consider himself her protector. Well, he can just stay out of this.”
    “If he chooses.” Hu Chang looked down at his phone as it buzzed. “They’ve arrived at Chen Lu’s. Shall I set up a Skype on your computer for you to see for yourself that Erin is well?”
    She hesitated. “Yes.”
    “Excellent.” He took her computer and set it up on the desk. “It will give you comfort and permit you to expend a little of that anger I can sense in you.”
    “I just want to see that Erin isn’t badly hurt.”
    “That, also.” He was adjusting the input buttons. “It will just take a moment…”
    *   *   *
    “What do you mean you didn’t take her down, Nagoles?” Santos said softly. “She was next on the list. It was one step closer.”
    “I had to move too fast,” Carlos Nagoles said quickly. “That CIA agent was rushing her off the mountain. I had a bead on her when she turned to talk to some priest. I would have had her if she hadn’t bowed to the bastard. I shot the priest instead.”
    “Stupidity.”
    “I wounded her. I got Caudell in the shoulder.”
    “Not good enough.”
    “I’ll go after her. You said you think Ling will send her to Chen Lu’s palace?”
    “It’s very likely.” Santos was trying to keep his temper under control. Nagoles was in an optimum position to go after Erin Sullivan, and he was usually competent. He’d been working for Santos for over eight years, and the kills had all been clean or bloody, whatever Santos preferred. He might have to get rid of him later, but he needed this kill. “I don’t have to tell you that I won’t tolerate another failure, Nagoles. I’ve been waiting for this for a long time. Everything has to go smoothly.”
    “It will. I had it all set up. It should have been easy. She had virtually no protection before Caudell showed up.”
    But it hadn’t been easy, and it had to be because that bitch, Ling, had learned of the deaths and set up a stalemate to prevent any more. The thought sent the rage curling, searing, through Santos. She probably thought she had beaten him with this move.
    As she had triumphed over him in that penthouse when she had killed his Delores. That sudden memory was like salt rubbed in a raw wound.
    He couldn’t let even a temporary triumph stand. He had planned too long, researched too deeply, while he was in that stinking prison. She had to be shown who was the master. “It’s just going to be harder now that she has Chen Lu’s security forces at her disposal. But you will do it, Nagoles. I won’t have Ling think I’ve fumbled this kill.”
    “She won’t. I’m already off Kadmus Mountain and on my way to the next mountain over, where you can arrange to send your helicopter to pick me up.” He paused. “I won’t disappoint you, Santos. Trust me.”
    “I did trust you. From now, on you’ll have to earn it. I don’t have to tell you what will happen if you fail me again.” He hung up, turned to Manuel Dorgal, and said curtly, “She’s still alive. He bungled it.”
    “You should have sent me.” Dorgal smiled. “Never let an errand boy do an executive’s job. I know how important Erin Sullivan’s death was to move your plan forward. Do you want me to go after her?”
    “No, I’m giving him another chance. I have another job for you.”
    “Whatever. But you’re very tense,” Dorgal said. “I brought you a pretty little sixteen-year-old when I came in from Caracas today. She may even be a virgin. Why don’t you try her? It will relax