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“A little something we found lying around.”
Remi set it down beside Karna. He smiled and gave the lid a pat.
“What about her?” Sam asked.
“Ah, the Dragon Lady. Very simple, really. She thought I was dead; she let her guard down. As she approached, I grabbed Ajay’s gun—this one here—and shot her in the right leg. Then again in the left leg for good measure. I think it took the wind out of her sails, don’t you?”
“I’d say so.”
Sam turned to Zhilan. He crouched down and dumped Marjorie on the ground beside her. Zhilan reached out and touched her daughter’s face. Sam and Remi watched, stunned, as Zhilan’s eyes brimmed with tears.
“She’s alive,” Sam told her.
“And Russell?”
“No.”
“You killed him? You killed my son?”
“Only because he gave me no choice,” said Sam.
“Then I will kill you, Sam Fargo.”
“You can try. But think about this first: we could have left Marjorie in there to die. We didn’t. Jack could have killed you. He didn’t. You’re here because of your husband. He sent you and your children to do his dirty work, and now one of them is dead.
“We’re getting off this mountain and we’re taking you with us. As soon as we get to a phone, we’re going to call the FBI and tell them everything we know. You’ve got a choice to make: do you want to be a witness or a defendant alongside your husband? No matter what, you’re going to jail, but depending on how you play your cards Marjorie might have a chance.”
Remi said, “How old is she?”
“Twenty-two.”
“She’s got a long life ahead of her. It’s largely up to you how she spends it: free, and out from under her father’s thumb, or in prison.”
Zhilan’s hateful stare suddenly gave out. Her face went slack, as though she had just let down a heavy burden. She said, “What would I need to do?”
“Tell the FBI everything you know about Charles King’s i
llegal dealings—every nasty thing he’s ever done or ordered you to do on his behalf.”
Remi said, “A smart lady like you, I’ll bet you’re a big believer in insurance. You have a very thick file on King stashed away somewhere, don’t you?”
“What’s it going to be?” Sam asked.
Zhilan hesitated, then nodded.
“Good choice. Jack, we seem to have misplaced our radios.”
“I have mine right here.”
“Get on the line and try to raise Gupta. It’s time to get out of here.”
EPILOGUE
KATHMANDU, NEPAL
WEEKS LATER
Sam and Remi’s rescue from the Shangri-La temple mountain had unfolded without any dilemma. As he had promised, Gupta had orbited the area, listening and waiting for their call. He returned and picked them up. Four hours after they left Chinese airspace, Gupta landed the Chetak at Itanagar Airport.