Iris Johansen - Blood Game

“I promise that I-”

SHE WAS GONE.

“AM I TO ASSUME THAT YOU’REfinished?” Caleb asked. “I don’t wish to interrupt, but my curiosity is off the charts. Considering, I believe I’ve been very patient.”

Joe had almost forgotten Caleb was there. He turned and braced himself. “Well? Say it. Not that I give a damn.”

“Don’t be on the defensive. Who could understand better?” He smiled. “And now I know what Megan confided in Renata about you. Ghosts? Very interesting. But not a talent I’d like to have.”

“Neither do I.” He paused. “But I’m beginning to accept it.”

“And use it. Touchy-feely?”

“Nothing so light. She went through hell.”

“Nancy Jo Norris?”

“Yes.”

“And was it worthwhile?”

“I’d better make sure it is.” He headed for his car. “I’ll call forensics and get them back here, but I need to get on the computer.”

“Am I invited this time?”

He nodded. “I may need you. I don’t know his exact location. Nancy Jo said he’s probably in a motel somewhere in Roswell. That’s about forty minutes from here. Sparse furniture. Flowered cotton bedspread.”

“Not very helpful.”

“Exterior door is painted red.”

“Better.” He got into Joe’s car. “You drive. You know the city.” He reached for Joe’s computer on the seat. “I’ll search for any motels in Roswell with red doors.”

IT WAS TIME TO MOVE, JELAKthought, as he reluctantly put the goblet back in the case. Perhaps a hotel somewhere outside the city. He’d always thought that losing himself in the center of a city was safer, but everything was changing now. That photo Quinn had released to the media was dangerous. He might be recognized. He’d been forced to make very public kills, and not only Joe Quinn but Seth Caleb was after him.

But he’d shown them both they couldn’t stop him. Margaret Selkirk had been a triumph, and soon he’d be beyond this running. Soon no one would be able to stop him.

He gave the perfect twelve goblet a final caress before he slowly shut the case. He could almost feel the power it was radiating.

Do you feel it, Eve?

You will.

“RED DOOR INN.” CALEB LOOKEDup from the computer. “It’s a chain. There’s one on Holcomb Bridge Road in Roswell.”

Joe’s hands tightened on the steering wheel. “Anything else similar?”

“Not so far.” He was flipping through the hotels. “Not in Roswell.”

“Then let’s go for it.” He reached for his phone. “I’ll call the desk and see if I can find out which room by giving a description of him.”

“IT’S A ONE-STORY MOTEL,”Joe said as he hung up. “The clerk said Jelak may be in room 24. He registered under the name of Ted Jonas two days ago. The clerk couldn’t recall his face, but remembers noticing that he had biceps like a weight lifter.”

“Yes, ” Caleb said. “How far?”

“A couple miles.” He looked at Caleb. “Get out here.”

“What?”

“You said that you could feel him. Well, by the looks of those tire tracks Jelak left in the mud, he must have been able to feel you too. Isn’t that right?”

“Yes, but the circumstances are different. We’re in the middle of the city. There’s so much interference from other people that it’s doubtful that he could sense me.”

“Screw doubtful. I’m not having you blow it for me.”

“Dammit, I won’t blow it. We go in fast, and it won’t matter if Jelak knows we’re coming.”

Joe pulled over to the curb. “Get out.”

Caleb muttered a curse and opened the door. “You’re making a mistake. I can get him.”

“So can I. If you don’t send up any red flags.” Joe pulled out into traffic again. “I won’t take that chance.”

“I’m not going to give up.”

Joe knew that he wouldn’t. Caleb would do anything he had to do. He could only hope that he could find Jelak before Caleb managed to get to the motel.

ROOM 24 HAD TO BE ON THEfar side of the U-shaped structure. Joe cruised slowly along the parking area, his gaze on the red doors.

The late-afternoon sun highlighted the faded brilliance of the chipped paint and the brass numbers on the doors.

Room 18.

A cleaning woman was opening the door of the room.

A stocky man in a Braves baseball cap was loading up his gray Honda at the end of the row of rooms. He opened the driver’s door and shoved a black Croco case into the passenger’s seat.

Goblets in a black Croco case.

He was going to change to a smaller car, maybe a foreign job.

And that man in the baseball cap wasn’t stocky, he was muscular.

Jelak.

Joe stomped on the brakes.

Jelak’s head lifted at the screeching sound. Fury twisted his face as he saw Joe jump out of the car. “No!”

He threw himself into the Honda.

Joe drew his Magnum. “Stop. You’re under arrest, Jelak.”

“The hell I am.”

Joe saw the dull luster of metal in Jelak’s hand and hit the pavement.

A bullet splintered the red door behind him.

Jelak was barreling toward him in the Honda.

Joe rolled out of the path of the tires as the car skidded by him.

He lifted his Magnum and got off a quick shot.

He saw Jelak jerk as the bullet hit him. Fierce pleasure tore through him.

But the bastard didn’t stop. He rounded the corner of the motel and headed for the street.

Joe jumped in his car and did a U-turn.

Jelak was already on the street and heading for the freeway when he got around the building.

And Caleb was running down the block toward the Honda.

Shit. Jelak would pick him off. Joe aimed at the Honda’s rear tire.

The Honda swerved as the tire blew.

Caleb was alongside it and grabbed for the open window, his feet bracing against the side of the car.

Jelak was lifting his gun.

“Caleb, jump, dammit,” Joe called.

Caleb released the window, fell to the street, and rolled to the curb.

Jelak was on the freeway, riding on the rim of the blown tire.

Joe called for backup as he entered the street. Jelak couldn’t go far with that tire. They might have the bastard.

Caleb was up, running toward him, jumping into the passenger seat. “You screwed it up,” he said through his teeth. “You should have let me-”

“Shut up,” Joe said as he entered the freeway. “He has a bullet in him and a blown tire. I’ve called for backup. We’ll get him. And what the hell were you trying to do jumping on his car like a damn monkey?”

Caleb ignored him, his gaze on the cars whizzing in the lanes ahead of them. “I don’t see him. I don’t feel him. I think he’s already off the freeway. Take the next exit.”

It would make sense, Joe thought. That tire alone would have made Jelak try to get off the freeway as soon as possible. He exited the freeway at the next exit and started to double back.

“We’ve lost him,” Caleb said. “Dammit, it would have to be in the middle of the city. I can’t feel him.”

“I shot him. Maybe I got lucky, and the bastard’s dead.”

Caleb shook his head. “He’s not dead. I’d know it.”

Joe didn’t think he was dead either. He didn’t have any special insight like Caleb, but he was sure that all of Nancy Jo’s efforts had been wasted. If he’d been lucky, he would have found Jelak in that motel room instead of ready to fly the coop. He’d almost had him. “You’re probably right. Then we just keep on looking.”

HE WAS STAGGERING, JELAKrealized, as he clutched the black Croco case tighter under his arm. He was getting weaker, and he had to find a place to rest, to heal. After he had abandoned the car behind that deserted warehouse, he must have walked miles. Twice he’d had to hide in the brush when a squad car had cruised slowly by.