Hunted

Chapter 28: Confrontation

Jack Haley's anger had been like an elevator. After he had heard Robert Clark's name for the first time, the urge for immediate and violent revenge manifested itself deep in his heart and mind. But time often dissipates such feelings, and so it was as Haley returned to Malu III to deposit his prisoner.

The place was in an uproar when he arrived. He clenched the device ferociously, ready to leave instantly, in case any security people had an understandably itchy trigger finger. They did, but Ambassador Hendrick interceded so swiftly that Haley was allowed to tell his story while the would-be assassin received medical attention. Ambassador Hendrick was obviously glad for Haley's reappearance, and she had reason to protect him-there were five dead humans in the room, and there was no indication as to whether she was a target or involved in their plot. The wounded assassin was revived long enough to corroborate a good portion of Haley's tale before being put under for his own well-being. While the alien ambassadors were far from convinced of Hendrick's complete innocence, they were at least willing to give her the benefit of the doubt-Haley had, after all, killed the assassins, and the diplomat from Ralii was doing fine and more inclined to accept the story than some of the others, further easing the tension.

They wanted Haley to stay, of course, but he wouldn't, and if any of them had thoughts of forcing him to remain, those thoughts never had time to be put into words or actions. Haley simply apologized and vanished from their presence, leaving the three extra devices in Ambassador Hendrick's possession as added evidence against Syntek.

During Haley's brief flight home, he tried to rekindle the fading embers of rage that demanded revenge on Clark. But he had won, and Clark would soon be faced with public condemnation, as Haley had been. More important now was Janet.

He spent less than three minutes at his mother-in-law's home, long enough to find out that Janet had been abducted the previous night, and that the police had no leads whatsoever. Someone had broken a lock on the back door and taken her as she slept. Haley promised the frantic woman a full explanation of what had been happening, as soon as he had his little girl back.

Now his path wound back toward Robert Clark again, and his anger surged to new heights. It hadn't been enough for Clark to ruin him and kill his wife, now he was attacking a six-year-old girl as well. If she had been harmed in any way.... Haley's grip on the pulse rifle was vicious.

* * *

Robert Clark looked up slowly from his work. His expression was serene and thoroughly undisturbed, as if people made a habit of suddenly appearing in his office. "Jack Haley, I assume."

Haley didn't answer immediately, simply allowed his heavy, deep breaths to go in and out of his nose. There was a temptation to simply shoot this man and ask questions of someone else, but Haley wanted answers of which Clark might be the only possible provider. Clark was aged, but there was nothing old about the calm, confident look of total control that emanated from his mesmerizing blue eyes. "I want my little girl back. Now!"

Clark smiled softly. "I can imagine you do. And what do I get in return for handing her to you?"

"You get to live," Haley said, leveling the rifle so that it pointed squarely at Clark's face. Haley set the gun for pulse fire. If he had to shoot, he wanted Clark alive-at least until he had Janet or knew where she was. He aimed at Clark's head, but intended to fire at his arms or legs if he needed to fire at all.

"You're a persuasive negotiator, Jack," said Clark, adding a salesman's phony smile.

"'Haley' will do," Haley said in a low, menacing voice. "We aren't on a first name basis."