Iris Johansen - Blood Game

Go on, Quinn. Do your duty. Be her honor guard.

I’ll be right behind you.

NO USE HURRYING, JOE THOUGHT.He’d let the M.E. van get to the morgue and the techs ready Nicole Spelling for the final visit from her parents.

Neither Joe nor Nicole’s parents would be eager for that final confirmation.

He took his foot off the accelerator and braked to slow down.

Nothing happened.

He pressed the brake again.

Nothing.

Shit.

No brakes?

Joe stomped on the brake again.

Nothing. Completely gone.

Okay. No reason to panic. He wasn’t driving through the hills any longer. It was pitch-dark out here in the country, but he could barely make out dirt on the far side of the road. No deep gullies or ditches. He’d wait until he came to a level stretch, then drive off the road into the dirt that bordered it.

There. Up ahead.

He eased the car off the road and bumped along the rough dirt, gradually slowing. Then he swerved and came to a stop.

He sat there for a moment, getting his breath. The situation might not have been life-threatening, but it hadn’t been pleasant.

And it shouldn’t have happened.

There had been no problem on the drive up here. He kept the cars in great shape, and there should have been no-

“Need a lift?”

He tensed. His gaze shifted to the man walking toward him in the darkness. He could see only a dark silhouette framed against the headlights of the car parked several yards away.

“I’d say you might.” Ed Norris smiled as he got close enough for Joe to identify. “Judging by that vehicular swan dive I saw you pull. It looked like your brakes are shot. You should really have them examined regularly. I could give you the name of my mechanic.”

Joe got out of the car. “Should I ask what you’re doing here, Norris?”

“I told you that I’d be the only one tailing you from now on. When I heard about Nicole Spelling, I naturally decided I had to see what was happening.”

“And you didn’t by any chance tamper with my brakes?”

Norris’s smile vanished. “Hell, no. Why would I do that?”

“I don’t think you did. It’s not your style.” His gaze searched the darkness behind Norris. “So it might be a good idea for us to get in your car and get the hell out-”

A motion behind Norris in the darkness, black on black.

“Down!” Joe pushed Norris to the ground.

A bullet tore past Joe’s ear as he dropped on top of him.

The second bullet didn’t miss.

EVE WAS STILL UP WORKINGwhen her phone rang at eleven forty that night.

Joe? He’d called earlier to tell her he’d be late.

It wasn’t Joe.

“Eve, Caleb. I’m going to pick you and Jane up in fifteen minutes. Be dressed and ready to go.”

“I’ve already told you, I’m not taking any orders from you. I’ve discussed it with Jane and we’re not at all pleased about the way you-”

“Don’t argue. I’m taking you to the hospital. Damn, I guessed wrong. I never thought he’d go for Joe.”

Her heart stopped. “Joe? Joe’s in the hospital?”

“No. I’ll explain on the way. Get Jane and be ready.” He hung up.

She wanted to murder him. Throwing that out about Joe, then hanging up. She didn’t know if Joe’s not being in the hospital was bad or good.

She was scared to death it was bad.

She headed down the hall to wake up Jane.

“TELL ME ABOUT JOE,” SHEsaid, as she and Jane got into Caleb’s car. “Now.”

“I don’t have anything to tell. I wish I did.” He pulled out of the driveway. “I’ve been in contact with Detective Schindler at the precinct. He came back early from Dahlonega to do paperwork. Quinn was accompanying the body to the morgue later. They got a call from Georgia State Patrol that Joe’s car was found at the side of the road about ten miles out of Dahlonega. Ed Norris was lying near it. He’d been shot. His car was nearby too.”

“What about Joe?” Jane asked.

Caleb shook his head. “No sign of him. They took Norris to Northside Hospital for treatment. Shoulder wound. He was unconscious, but the EMTs didn’t think the wound was life-threatening.”

“Joe,” Eve said. “If Norris was there, he has to know what happened to Joe. I have to talk to him.”

“That’s why we’re on the way to the hospital,” Caleb said. “I knew that would be your first reaction. I already checked with the hospital. They’re not allowing anyone to see him yet. And he has a whole platoon of security camping out in the hall to protect the great man.”

“I have to see him.”

He nodded. “I’ll see to it. Let me go in first.”

“Dammit, we’ve got to talk to him,” Jane said. “You have to make it happen, Caleb.”

“I said I’d do it. Have a little faith.” Caleb glanced at her. “I want to find Quinn as much as you do.”

“No way.”

“Perhaps not for the same reasons, but I’m very heavily invested in Quinn’s well-being. I promise we’ll find out everything Norris knows within a few minutes of getting to the hospital.”

“Providing he’s not still unconscious,” Eve said.

“Then it may take a few minutes more,” he said absently.

Eve stared at him, startled.

“I won’t hurt him,” Caleb said, as he noticed her expression. “Trust me.”

She had to trust him. She had to know about Joe.

“HE’S AWAKE.” CALEB WASwhisking Eve and Jane through the crowd of security and police in the hall outside Norris’s room.

The crowd was parting like the Red Sea, Eve thought. Smiling at Caleb as if he was their best friend and politely at her and Jane. One of the aides even opened the door and stepped aside to let them enter.

Ed Norris’s shoulder was bandaged, and he was very pale. His gaze fastened on Eve’s face. “You’re Eve Duncan. I’ve wanted to meet you ever since I heard about that goblet that bastard left at your place. He wants to kill you too.”

“Where’s Joe Quinn?”

He shook his head. “I don’t know. I stopped because Quinn was having car trouble. He asked me if I’d tampered with his brakes, then told me to get back in my car.”

“You were shot. Was Joe shot too?”

“I wish I could tell you. He saw someone behind me and told me to get down. Then he pushed me down and dropped on top of me.” His lips tightened. “The bullet hit my shoulder on my way down. If he hadn’t pushed me, it would probably have been a chest or heart wound. He saved my life.”

“But what happened to Joe?”

“I passed out almost immediately.” He paused. “I thought I heard another shot.”

Eve inhaled sharply.

“I’m sorry. I’m not sure,” Norris said. “Damn, I feel helpless. I’ve got to get out of this hospital.”

Eve felt helpless too. Helpless and scared and panicky. “Thank you.” She turned toward the door. “If you remember anything more, call me.”

“I will.” He added as she reached the door, “It was Jelak, wasn’t it?”

“Yes, I’m sure it was.”

She left the room and let Caleb carve a path for them through the crowd to the elevator. She didn’t speak until the doors of the elevator closed behind them. “It had to be Jelak.”

Caleb nodded. “That goes without saying.”

“He stalked Joe and shot him,” Jane said. “Revenge for the bullet he took from Joe?”

“He was terribly angry with him,” Eve said. “He said Joe was in his way.”

“Not revenge. At least not the major motivation.” The doors opened, and Caleb stepped aside for them to exit. “Which may be a lucky break.”

Eve’s gaze flew to his face. “What?”