Read Online Day of Doom by David Baldacci - Free Book Online Page B

“However, being ofa kind and compassionate nature —”
    Ian snorted at this remark, but sheignored this, too, and continued. “The only

    reason you’re not dead is because, in keeping with my compassionate nature, I have decided to give you a second chance.”
    “Why?” he shot back.
    “I’m a loving, caring mother and, therefore, I don’t want to have to kill my own son.”
    Ian  scowled.   “I  don’t  believe
    anything you say.”
    “I’m on my way out to see you, son. And your sister, Natalie. If you’re smart, and I hope you are, you will reconsider your loyalties and side with me. If you continue to support the Cahills, only death awaits you.   And   your sister. It will be out of my hands. It really will be.”
    “You don’t care what happens to us.
    You   bloody  well   shot  your   own

    daughter!”
    “It was just a flesh wound. To my knowledge, no one has ever died from being shot in the foot. Perhaps a permanent limp, a bit of arthritis, but is that really so bad?”
    “You’re barking mad. You could’ve   killed   her.”
    “On the contrary, did you know that certain of the Vespers   did   want to kill your sister? I intervened and they shot Nellie Gomez instead. Worse the luck she survived. Why aim for the shoulder when a perfectly good head was right there? I will never understand. However, the fact remains: But for me, your precious sister would be dead. So, you see, dear boy, I   do   care.”
    “They should have kept you in

    prison. You simply bought your way out. It’s pathetic.”
    Isabel took a step closer, nearly filling the screen. The charm bracelet she never took off rattled on her wrist. “I
    raised you to be a Lucian. I raised you to be loyal.” She paused and added quietly, “I suppose I should tell you.”
    “Tell me what?”
    “I’m dying.”
    Ian snorted. “Right. Do you think I’m a fool?”
    She held up her arm and let her sleeve slide down. There was a large reddish-purple mass on it.
    “Poisoned, Ian. Slow-acting, but irreversible. From the South American blowfish. My death will not be pretty.”
    Ian stared at the disfigured arm. It

    looked quite painful, but he knew his mother too well to be fooled. “How could
    someone poison you? You’re the queen of poisoners. You poison others, not the other way around.”
    “I went to visit your father, Vikram.”
    “What? Why?” Ian hadn’t seen his father in quite some time. Not since Vikram had fled the country for South America after abandoning his family.
    “He’s my husband. I love him. I’ve always loved him. He had fallen ill. Nothing life threatening, but he was in the hospital. But it was really a trap set by my enemies. Instead of seeing your father I got this, administered by a kindly old woman dressed as a nurse who I took to be totally harmless until she stuck the needle into my arm.” She paused. “I calculate that I have

    at most five days to live.” She lowered her arm and her sleeve slid back down.
    “The organ shutdown will be massive and linear.   Death   will   follow   almost
    immediately.”
    “I . . . I don’t believe you.”
    “I completely understand why you feel that way, son.”
    This response surprised Ian. He had always assumed that his mother would never understand how another person felt about anything.
    She said, “But the fact is, as one grows close to death, the only thing that matters is family, Ian. I hope you can see that.”
    Isabel’s   tone   had   lost   itsaggressiveness. It was lower, gentler. Herfeatures had softened, too. She was a very

    attractive woman when she wasn’t running around as a homicidal maniac killing people   and   shouting   things   like, “Everyone must die. Now!”
    Ian stared into his mother’s big eyes.
    “But if you saved Natalie, then you were behind her kidnapping. It’s the only way you could have known where