Page 19 of Wired Ghost

“Not relevant right now. I’m leaving immediately, but it’ll take me a day or so to get to the Big Island. Liaise me with a rescue chopper and the operative that’s looking for them.”

“I’m not sure what your role is with this company any longer, Mr. Hamilton.” Bix’s tone was dry. “But I’m pretty sure you’re not giving orders anymore.”

“I don’t give a shit what you think. Get me what I need, and we can discuss chain of command later.” Connor ended the call, already rising from his chair. He opened the door and bellowed into the hallway. “Nine! Get me the helicopter, now!”

* * *

The helicopter liftedand sped away from the compound. Watching the ancient stone temple recede and be swallowed by the surrounding jungle, Connor suppressed worry and doubt.

Pi had been removed. Connor had confirmation that the man had been ejected outside of the walls and the compound was closed to him; but there was no way for Connor to be sure how much influence he still retained among the men. Nine had kept his ear to the ground, but had only been able to confirm that Pi had been working to raise resistance against Connor’s leadership for months. It was a vulnerable time to leave the compound.

But Connor had to rescue Sophie. He was the only one who could track her location accurately.

Perhaps, while in flight, he could make contact with the Master. Nine had located the Master on his own private island in the Philippines. He had taken his lover, Sophie’s mother, Pim Wat, there to be nursed back to health after he had extracted her from the United States interrogation unit at Guantánamo.

The Master carried a private cell phone, though Connor had never called it. Connor pinged the number on his own satellite-enabled phone as the helicopter headed toward Chiang Mai, where Connor planned to catch a private jet to Hawaii.

“Number One. Why have you disturbed my retreat?” As always, the Master’s voice was an instrument that could reach into his very bones and create a connection.

“I’m sorry, Master—it’s an emergency. I have had to remove Pi and expel him from the compound. I worry that he has supporters among the men, and now I have to leave the compound to rescue Sophie from volcanic activity on the Big Island. I thought I should contact you, to let you know that the stronghold is vulnerable, and I am not physically present.”

A short silence. He could see the Master’s severely handsome face in his mind’s eye: the sculptured mouth tightened, the elegant lines of his dark brows lowered in disapproval. “Who have you left in charge?”

“My second, Nine, is traveling with me, so I left the three elders who have proved themselves both loyal and capable in charge.” Connor gave him their designations.

“You were right to contact me. These are good men, but your absence leaves a void for Pi’s poison to work. I told you there would be consequences for sparing his life. I will have to return.”

Connor frowned. Soon he would see Sophie, if all went well, and she would want to know news of her pit viper of a mother. “And what of Pim Wat?”

“Pim Wat will come with me to the compound. It was time for us to return, anyway.”

“She is well, then?” Pim Wat had been in a self-induced catatonic state following injuries sustained in her capture by the CIA. Connor had hoped she’d die in Guantánamo; the woman was that evil. But the Master had intervened, breaking her out of the prison, proving he could have done so easily at any time.

“Pim Wat is as well as she will become. Contact me when you plan to return. Don’t worry about the men; I will return and monitor the situation.” The Master ended the call.

As always, when the Master’s voice ceased, Connor was left wanting more. He shut his eyes for a moment, meditating on the powerful attraction the man emitted, how he used that to control and influence everyone around him.

The use of voice tones to elicit obedience was something he would study carefully from this day forward. Connor still had so much to learn.

He leaned back against the padded seat, relaxing into his harness as the chopper flew toward their destination. The relief brought by surrendering the tremendous responsibility of the compound’s leadership was so great that he immediately fell asleep.

Chapter Thirteen

Sophie

The last partof the wall climb alongside the underground pond was particularly grueling. The ledge ran out, and they had to use both hands to maneuver their way along the rough wall, taking turns holding the torch in their mouths, or passing it back and forth.

Finally, they reached the other side. Sophie took the sputtering light from Jake after she made her way off the wall onto solid ground. Once she was out of the way, he leaped off the side of the cliff onto the rocky bank and let out a yodeling yell, pounding his chest. “Tarzan, baby. I’m the ape man.”

Sophie grinned. “I don’t get it.”

“Me Tarzan, you Jane. Classic stories by Edgar Rice Burroughs.” He groaned, rubbing his pectoral area. “Dammit, I forgot about my ribs there for a moment. You can look up my literary reference when we get out of here. Meanwhile, I see that bathing pond we were discussing earlier. It’s right over there.” He pointed.

Sophie turned to look. Jake grabbed the torch out of her hand, and lit his, just as the one she was holding went out. “Whew. Not in a hurry to experience complete darkness again any time soon.”

Sophie peered ahead. “There does seem to be some water up ahead. Make sure that new torch is really going.”

“It’s burning fine, babe, and so is my libido. Now that I’m your ‘cootie’ I’m going to make a move to seal the deal.” He slid an arm around Sophie and leaned in for a kiss, then wrinkled his nose. “Whew. Babe, you stink. I think we better see if we can get clean before any more hanky panky.”

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