Sanctuary (28 page)

  
Chapter Thirty-Three
  

“
DURAK!
—fool!” bellowed Ivanov as both he and Ryan replaced their receivers. “Why didn’t you get the account number?”

Ryan looked surprised. “I thought she would suspect something. I’ll call her back if you wish.” He reached for the phone again.

“No,” Ivanov spit out. “You’re right.” Then he paused, composing himself. “That was quite the performance. You’re a better liar than I thought you were.”

Sitting in the swivel chair, looking exhausted, Ryan leaned his elbows on the desk.

Ivanov began pacing the floor, rehashing his plans. Tomorrow they’d meet up with Missy James and take her to a Philadelphia bank. There they would transfer the money, not to the federal government, as Ryan had told Melissa, but to Grand Cayman and other offshore accounts hidden around the world. Once the money transfer was complete, he’d be on his way to the Caribbean for a much needed rest. He had a penchant for hot, balmy weather.

“Are we finished here?” Ryan asked rather impatiently.

“Got a plane to catch?”

Ryan regarded him coolly, then looked away.

“Betrayal doesn’t set well with you, does it?” Ivanov said, feeling amused, and for one tantalizing moment, he visualized the look of terrified shock on both Ryan’s and Melissa’s faces when they discovered Ivanov’s own treachery. He had no intention of letting them live, not once he extracted the money.
A two-for-one deal
, he thought.
I get both my revenge
and
the money
.

“I’ll get over it,” Ryan replied.

“Good man. You two can go on a second honeymoon when this is over. Plenty of time to charm your way back into her good graces,” he said. Then he clapped his hands once loudly, rubbing them together. “Better get some sleep. We’ve got a busy day tomorrow.”

Melissa waited outside, standing by her car in the parking lot of the Eden Resort Inn. She anticipated seeing her beloved again. So much so that she’d scarcely slept, too excited at the unexpected turn of events.

At 10:55 she spotted Ryan’s white SUV pulling into the parking lot. Catching a glimpse of him, her heart leaped up. She noticed the shadowy man in the backseat of the vehicle and assumed the FBI agent had come along, just as Ryan had said.

Rushing to the parked vehicle, she opened the passenger door. “Ryan … darling!”

He smiled tentatively, reaching for her as she jumped into the car. She snuggled next to him, returning his tender kisses. “I missed you so much,” she whispered, tears blinding her. “I thought I’d never see you again.”

She was startled by the sound of the car door slamming behind her. The FBI agent had gotten out and closed her door. Why? Confused, she turned toward the man, just as he slid into the backseat.

“Miss me, too?” he replied, leering at her.

She nearly choked.
“You?”
Horrified, she turned back to Ryan. “What’s
he
doing here?”

Her husband’s smile had faded. Yet something in his expression communicated compassion. “It’s okay, Melissa. Let me explain.”

“You tricked me,” she said, the truth sinking in. She grabbed for her door, pushing on the handle with all her strength.

Locked
.

“Melissa … please.”

She pushed again, to no avail. Now Ryan’s hand was on her shoulder. She twitched in horror, and he quickly removed it. Then, slumping against the door, she closed her eyes, overcome with both grief and terror. Helpless … defeated, she prayed.
Please, Lord, help me
.

Turning to Ryan, she unleashed her fury. “You said I could trust you!”

Ryan was silent, his eyes intense, yet empathetic.

“We’re wasting time here,” the man grumbled in the backseat. “I’ll take the account number
and
the code word.”

She stared at Ryan. “So … it’s all about the money?” she blurted. “For that you betrayed me?”

Ryan shook his head. “You don’t understand—”

“The number, please!” the man behind her roared.

Angrily, she shot him an icy look. “It’s up here.” She tapped her forehead.

Reaching into his coat, Ivanov withdrew a pocket-size notebook and tossed it over the front seat. “Write it down,” he barked.

“And if I won’t?”

“You should know the answer to that,” Ivanov replied, his greedy eyes dancing with confidence.

She studied him, despicable man that he was. “And lose your precious money forever? I don’t think so.”

Ryan looked over his shoulder at Ivanov. “I’ll handle this.”

“By all means, work your magic.”

Ryan reached for her hand, but she withdrew again. “Please, just do as he says, Mellie.”

She glared at Ryan.

“All he wants is the money. Then we can be together again,” Ryan reiterated.

She shook her head, her rage out of control. “No matter what happens, it’s over between us.”

Ryan flinched as if she’d slapped him in the face.

Ivanov asked again for the bank number, but she refused.

“Listen, Missy, I call the shots here.” Ivanov pulled his jacket away from his chest area, exposing his gun holster. “I’ve had enough of your games, young lady. I’m willing to gamble that deep down you still love your husband. So … how would you like to become a very young widow?”

There was a flicker of fear in her husband’s eyes. Relenting, she took her pen and began to write the account number on the small notebook. Finished, she handed it over to Ivanov. “How do you know I didn’t just make up a number?”

“Melissa—” Ryan said.

“No, that’s a very good question,” Ivanov said. “Which is why we’re all going to the Philadelphia bank together. Anything goes wrong—the account number’s false—and I’m the instant owner of waterfront property. Follow me?”

She stared back at the monster.
How can this be happening?

He kept it up. “When the wire transfer is complete, you go your merry way, with or without your husband. It’s no concern of mine.”

To Ryan, Ivanov snapped, “Get moving.”

She couldn’t help keeping her eyes on Ryan as he pulled out of the parking lot. His gaze, however, was on the road. Silence fell over the car as they drove out of the parking lot. Melissa prayed from her heart,
Lord, I trust you
.

When they reached the outskirts of Philadelphia, Ryan made a turn onto I-76, heading south. Within minutes they were in the congested downtown area. Ryan pulled into a parking garage connected to a bank, removing the parking ticket from the machine as they passed the entrance into a labyrinth of increasingly darker levels.

Melissa grew more nervous as Ryan pulled into an available space near the elevator.

“All right, you lovebirds, it’s show time. We’re getting out of the car and going inside,” Ivanov said, glowering at Melissa. “
Without
drawing attention to ourselves. Catch my drift?”

Ivanov pulled the handle and kicked his door open. Once out, he opened her door. Ryan emerged from his side, and the three of them walked toward the elevator doors, Ivanov taking up the rear, glancing about the parking lot. They were alone. Seconds before the elevator opened, Ivanov grabbed Melissa by the shirt and shoved her against the concrete wall.

“Lord, help me!” she whispered sharply, catching her breath.

“Hey, easy!” Ryan yelled.

Ivanov shot him a loathsome look. Melissa caught Ryan’s eye and saw deep concern etched in his face. Ivanov leaned close to her, his repulsive breath overpowering. “Anything happens in there, and Ryan doesn’t walk out… .”

“I know what you’re capable of,” she said, looking at Ryan again. The muscles in her husband’s jaw twitched. He returned her gaze but remained sadly silent.

“That’s right. You
would
know,” Ivanov taunted. “Your daddy made some very poor decisions. Wouldn’t advise you to make the same mistake.”

“You’re not half the man my father was,” she murmured.

Ivanov laughed at her comment. “Maybe. But I’m alive.” He released her, removed his cell phone from his coat pocket, and punched in some numbers. “Yeah, we’re here. Meet us at the fourth-floor elevator.”

Ivanov hung up, gesturing to the open elevator. The doors swallowed them with a swish, and they soared to the fourth floor. She noticed the marblelike floors with low-growing plants in lovely urns and the occasional hibiscus tree in various corners.
All fake
, she thought.
It’s all a façade
.

A man who appeared to be a bank officer arrived as they entered the hallway. His face turned ashen when he spotted Ivanov. “What are
you
doing here?”

“I’m handling this one myself. Too much on the line,” Ivanov said.

Was he referring to the men who normally handled his criminal transactions? Melissa wondered.

The officer turned to face Ryan and Melissa, obviously scrutinizing them. “Relax,” Ivanov muttered to him. “They’re with me.”

Melissa caught the knowing exchange between the bank officer and Ivanov. Why would Ivanov allow her to witness this event? Unless …

She dreaded the answer, knowing she was in grave danger.

“Follow me,” the man replied, evidently peeved at Ivanov’s indiscretion.

Ivanov grabbed Melissa’s arm, and she and Ryan were led through an office area. Dozens of bank employees worked at well-polished desks. Unsuspecting souls.

They were ushered down a short hallway, then into a small windowless room. A lone computer perched on an executive desk. Several chairs lined the walls. Numerous wires ran from the computer to the right wall. Ivanov closed the door.

Melissa made a quick assessment of the situation and realized that her escape options were limited. This was to be the location of the money transfer.

“Have a seat,” Ivanov ordered.

Ryan took the chair next to her. “Are you all right?” he whispered.

It was a little late for caring. “I think he’s going to kill me,” she said softly.

“Quiet!” Ivanov bellowed, causing the bank officer to jolt in his seat. He grabbed a chair near the wall and pulled it over to the desk, where he was able to oversee the phone call to Switzerland.

After a brief conversation, the officer recited the code word and account number she’d given to Ivanov. Moments later, the bank officer acknowledged, “The information is correct. They’ll transfer the funds immediately.”