Iris Johansen - Quicksand

"What else did you find out?"

"Not enough. Kistle has been brilliant about covering his tracks. But some of it may give us a clearer picture of him."

"Us?" His lips twisted. "Don't tell me you're going to share?"

"Of course. Eve wouldn't understand me doing anything else."

Damn, the bastard was clever, Joe thought bitterly. And he had studied Eve enough to know exactly how she would react. "And when are we going to be privy to this information?"

"That's up to you. Whenever you and Eve decide to set up a meeting with me. I'm entirely at your disposal."

"I could probably find out the same information if I worked at it."

"I'm certain you could. If you took the time." He glanced at Cassidy, who was talking to the deputies. "Perhaps he could help you. Oh, that's right; you'd prefer the FBI to do a quick exit."

"I didn't say that."

"No, but you want to catch Kistle and wring the truth out of him. It could get very messy and the FBI could interfere."

"So could the sheriff's department."

"You'd have no trouble with them." He turned away. "Miguel is at the hotel guarding Eve. When you want to see me, ask Miguel to contact me."

"Don't hold your breath. Where are you going?"

"I'm going to join Cassidy and tell him we should go check out that tree. Who knows? We may find something interesting."

Joe doubted it. Kistle's moves so far had been smart and careful. His gaze returned to the overhanging branches of the trees. Yes, he could almost see Kistle moving across that bog. Joe had crossed a narrow river that way when he was on a mission in Libya. Hand over hand, hands gripping, moving, gripping again, muscles straining. His heart had beat fast, hard, but not with fear. Joy, fierce exhilaration in the celebration of his own strength and the conquering of the river below him. He could feel that same flow of heady exuberance now. He had a sudden urge to climb that tree and follow the-

"It brings it all back, doesn't it?" Montalvo said softly. Joe turned to see him standing a few yards away, staring at the branches as Joe himself had been doing. "Life was simpler then. A soldier has so few rules to live by. Kill or be killed. Survive the fires, the rivers, the bullets. Live for the moment and enjoy that moment. Sometimes I miss it."

So did Joe. Every now and then he welcomed the chance to break free and become that man again, to embrace the savagery. "It was a long time ago."

Montalvo nodded and turned away again. "Yes, for me, too. But today it seems like yesterday. Isn't that strange?"

Joe watched him walk away. Hell, for a moment he had actually felt a kind of bond with Montalvo. So they had a common military background and some of the same feelings and attitudes bred from those experiences. As he'd told Montalvo, those experiences had been a long time ago and the war they were now fighting was with each other.

Montalvo stopped again before he reached Cassidy. "I'll be waiting for you to contact me, Quinn." He smiled. "I'm sure that Eve would want to know everything I know. Don't you?"

Bastard.

"I'VE BROUGHT WINE," MIGUELsaid when Eve opened the door at six that night. He handed her the bottle. "I'm assured it's much better than what is stored in the cellars of this hotel."

"And who assured you?"

"Mr. BlackJack Calahan. He owns the only liquor store in Bloomburg." He looked past her to Jane as he came into the room. "You are Jane MacGuire. I'm delighted to meet you. I'm sure Eve has told you what a fine, upstanding man I am."

"She told me you're interesting." Jane looked at the label of the wine. "But you have very bad taste in wine."

"That's because I grew up in the jungle and I have no social skills. BlackJack lied to me?"

"BlackJack must have seen you coming." Jane put the wine on the table. "Eve's already ordered dinner. It should be here soon."

"Too bad. I thought I'd have time to impress you with my stories of life in Colombia."

"I'd rather hear if you've had any news from Clayborne Forest," Eve said. "I know about your life in Colombia." She looked down at his bandaged hands. "And what you went through makes me sick."

"It wasn't bad. Montalvo made it challenging. He likes challenges." His gaze went to the reconstruction of Carrie on the desk. "Is she dining with us? Not that I'd object. But it's difficult to divide my attention between the two of you, and that would-"

"Have you heard anything?" Eve interrupted. "I haven't heard from Joe since this morning."

"Montalvo saw him and I assume he was well."

"Montalvo and Joe?" Eve said slowly.

"All is well. Montalvo didn't mention attempted murder or mayhem on either part." He was staring at Jane. "You're very beautiful. That red-brown hair and brown eyes are like Eve's, yet you're different. Same strength, same character in your face, but it's not the same."

"If we look alike it's pure coincidence. We're not related."

"I think you are in spirit. But you're a firecracker set to gloriously explode. She's a wonderful enigma that could take a man a lifetime to solve."

Jane shook her head in disgust. "Talk about saccharine. I believe I'm going to be sick."

Miguel beamed. "And you have a tongue that's as sharp as a machete. I believe I may be in love."

Jane blinked. "What?"

"I can't be in love with Eve. That would cause too many complications. You're much safer. Do you have a man?"

"That's none of your business."

"Do you?"

"I have a relationship."

"Why isn't he with you?"

"Trevor has his own life. I have mine." Jane frowned. "Back off, Miguel."

He sighed. "I'll try to contain myself. But it's difficult. I would really have liked to have been in love with you. It would have been beyond everything."

Eve was shaking her head. "Stop making Jane uncomfortable or I'll kick you out."

"She's not uncomfortable, she's tough like you." Miguel smiled. "And she likes me, or she would have kicked me out herself." There was a knock on the door and Miguel swung around to open it. "That must be dinner. I'll get-" He broke off as he opened the door. "Good evening, Quinn. Eve was just asking about you. I told her you'd met with Montalvo and survived." He stepped aside to let him in. "I've been looking forward to spending the evening with your two beautiful-" His smile faded. "You're very grim. Does that mean that you're not going to permit me to intrude?"

"I don't care what you do," Joe said. "I'm going to talk to Eve and I want you to call Montalvo and tell him to come here tomorrow morning at eight. Then I'll get back to Clayborne Forest."

"Ask him," Miguel corrected. "I don't tell Montalvo anything."

"Then ask him." He turned to Eve. "May I talk to you?" She nodded. "Hell, yes. That's what I've wanted you to do since we got here." She turned and headed toward her bedroom. "I'll eat later, Jane. You two go ahead."

"We're being thrown together," Miguel said as the door closed behind them. "It may be fate, Jane."

"I doubt it," Jane said dryly. "I believe in fate, but this was Joe in tornado mode. Why don't you call Montalvo to set up that meeting for tomorrow? I think that would be more beneficial than all this chitchat."

"You're right. Montalvo will want to know. Will you lock me out if I step outside in the hall to phone him?"

"Privacy?" She raised her brows. "From me? When I'm the love of your life?"

He flinched. "Stung." He opened the door. "I'll make my call and then plead humbly to be permitted back in. You'll, of course, be impressed by my sincerity and-"

"Bullshit." She closed the door firmly behind him.

He was still smiling as he dialed Montalvo.

"Quinn is here. He wants you to come to the hotel at eight tomorrow morning."

"Good. I'll be there. I'm going back to see Cassidy again. I think he's been talking to his superiors about dropping the case."