Page 81 of Sigma

And I see past it.

He’s gone, then, and I’m left alone in the garden, mind whirling.

If there’s anything I know for certain, it’s that if I don’t change the course of this thing, Apollo won’t walk away from this alive.

What frightens me is I know I’m not about to let that happen.

I can’t.

I won’t.

Because Isee.

I see him.

I’m the crazy one, in all this.

Because where do I go?

Back to the tower…

To wait for the man beneath the monster.

16

Waiting

We have a plan. A shitty one, a desperate one, but a plan.

Sasha drives one SUV with Valentine and me in the back. No one speaks. Duke and Thresh are in another, following behind us, and Puck and Lear are in a third, preceding us. Harris is at the controls of a helicopter, along with Anselm and his rifle; there was no time to procure something from RTI’s fleet, so it’s a thirty-year-old Sukhoi bought with cash, but it will serve the purpose.

It’s a long drive from Madrid to Apollo’s castle, and I don’t know Spanish geography at all, so I have no clue where we’re going. I’m too wound up to care, and it’s a relief to just let the men handle those details.

I use the technique Anselm taught me to tune out of the drive.

* * *

What feels like an eternity later,I feel the SUV begin to slow, and then we turn off of the paved highway and I hear gravel under our tires. I rouse myself from my not-quite-sleep and look around—it’s night.

“We’re here?” I ask.

“Yes,” Sasha answers. “Dawn is a few hours away. I think the plan is wait till first light.”

I can’t see much beyond the windows, the headlights illuminating wine grapevines in endless rows. Stars scintillate in their trillions.

Sasha touches his ear, listening. “Da, I agree.” He slows the vehicle to a stop. Turns to look at us. “We can go closer this night. Harris and Anselm are at an airfield some ten minutes’ flight from here. We will wait till dawn.”

I look at Valentine, and he’s as on edge and pissed as I am.

“No,” I snap. “I’m not waiting for dawn.” I shove open the door and start walking. “Let’s go, Val.”

He’s beside me in a heartbeat, but then his hands grab my arms and he’s stopping me. His eyes are tortured. “I’m not losing you now,” he murmurs. “Nor her. Just wait, darling.”

I push at him, but he won’t let go. “Wait, wait! All you assholes want to do is wait! How can I wait? My daughter isout there!She’s close, Val. Can’t you feel her?”

His eyes water. “Yes, Kyrie, I feel her. You think this is easy for me? I want to blow his doors off and take his head for a trophy.” He pulls me into his arms. “We have to trust Harris. This is what he does, honey.”

“I know,” I whisper, miserably. “But this isRin.”