Iris Johansen - Eve

“Montalvo told me the records show he was born in Macon, Georgia.”

“Queen altered the records. He was protecting his pet cobra. It was part of the arrangement they had together. Queen protected, and Black did all his killings.” He held her eyes. “But he didn’t only do Queen’s killings. There are all kinds of indications that he was a serial killer before Queen took him under his wing. Very clever, very bloodthirsty. He liked it, and he wanted to keep on doing it. The only way he could see himself staying alive to appease his appetite was to find someone like Queen, who didn’t care what he did as long as he performed well for him. According to all the books and reports I’ve read, a serial killer of that magnitude has a tremendous ego. He has to be all-powerful.”

“The terrible thing is that they usually are,” Eve said. “They don’t stop. They just keep on killing.”

“I must have damaged Black’s ego badly when I managed to escape him and stabbed him in the belly. I told you that he had a tremendous opinion of himself. He would have wanted to hurt me. In any way he could.”

A little red-haired girl in a Bugs Bunny T-shirt.

Eve nodded slowly. “But why didn’t he go after you again?”

He shrugged. “I don’t know how he thinks. It might be that ego. He might have felt vulnerable after I almost killed him and convinced himself that he didn’t have to murder me to inflict the most hurt. He may not have known she was my daughter. Though it would not surprise me that he’d found that out. But anyone looking at me the day I came to see her would know how much I loved her.”

“Are you sure he killed her?”

“Do I have proof? No, and I won’t know until I hear it from his lips. But I believe he killed her. I’ve been tracking him over Asia and half of Europe, and there’s no question in my mind that he’s killed at least a dozen people in that time.” He paused. “Though he’s very smart. He’s like a phantom, moving in and out and away. I think when the police do come too close, he calls on Queen to help him.”

“Then he’s just as guilty of those murders as Black.”

“Yes.” He met her eyes. “But then I’m guilty of them, too.”

“What?”

“Oh, I wasn’t an accessory, but I wasn’t able to stop him. That should qualify.”

“That’s nuts,” she said flatly.

He smiled faintly. “I’m not going to address that statement. It would be redundant.”

“In all these years, you haven’t gotten close enough to catch him?”

“I got close a couple times but he slipped away.” He put his cup back on the saucer. “So I put Queen on the job.”

“What?”

“I told him that I’d give him his ledger if they gave me Black. He was pretending that he’d had nothing to do with him. I knew they were using him. It was only a matter of time until he decided that getting the ledger was more important to him than an assassin who probably knew too much about him anyway.”

Excitement was beginning to build. “Then you can get Queen to tell us where he is? Or do you know already?”

“I knew a few days ago. I’d traced him on my own to Samoa and was going to go after him myself. But I didn’t get the chance. His house was blown up, and his housekeeper and an unknown man were incinerated.”

“Then Black could be dead?”

He shook his head. “I doubt it. They’re checking the dental records, but the height and bone structure aren’t right. I think Queen sent someone to kill Black, and it went wrong. Which for me wasn’t all that bad. It meant that Black would be stirred into action against Queen.” He inclined his head. “And probably me. I can’t imagine Queen not throwing me under the bus at the earliest opportunity. When he burned my place, he was behaving with a recklessness that wasn’t characteristic.”

“Black will be coming after you.”

“He’s probably breathing down my neck right now.” He looked her in the eye. “Which makes me criminally irresponsible to be here with you.”

“You can’t be responsible for an act I committed myself.” She pushed back her chair. “That’s not possible. Now I think it’s time I went to my room and took a shower and unpacked. Unless we’re going to be leaving here soon?”

“Not soon.” He got to his feet. “But it’s probably not wise to unpack.” He added, “Nor to go to your room. I want you to stay here tonight.”

She stiffened, her gaze flying to his face. “Why?”

“In another life, you wouldn’t even have to ask.”

She felt a rush of heat that surprised her. It was as if her body had memories of him that triggered responses that were purely instinctive. “But that was another life.”

“Have you ever considered reincarnation?”

“No.” She started for the door. “I’ll call you after I shower and we’ll discuss-”

“I meant it about staying,” he said. “And it wasn’t for the most obvious and pleasant reason. I just couldn’t resist giving the answer that I-” He shook his head ruefully. “I know that it would only make things more difficult, but I’m finding I don’t have much control. I’m reacting instinctively.”

As I have been doing, she thought. Evidently, they were both being ambushed by memories. “Then I think it’s best to think before you act.” She had to be honest. “This is strange for me, too.” She changed the subject. “Why do you want me to stay?”

“Because I set you up. And I don’t want you to be alone.”

“Set me… What the hell are you talking about?”

“I told you once that you couldn’t trust me. Not if it was something I really wanted.” He smiled crookedly. “I really want to get Paul Black.”

“Well, so do I. What does that have to do with anything?”

“I was trying to be so damn noble and all that crap. I was going to keep you from being hurt. I was going to try to make up for all I did to you.” He shrugged. “But I’m not noble. I’m worse than the kid who screwed you and left you alone and pregnant. You were right to tell me to keep to the plan and get out of your life.”

“You’re making me sound like a victim. I wasn’t one then, and I’m certainly not one now. I made sure I was in control of keeping myself from getting pregnant and I blew it. Now will you stop reminiscing and tell me what you’re talking about?”

“Reminiscing? That sounds almost sentimental. Neither one of us was ever that,” he said. “And I’m talking about the reason I gave in and brought you here. Insurance. It was clear for whatever reason that Black wasn’t eager to confront me. I needed a goad. He figured he’d hurt me before by killing Bonnie. Now he’s coming back to revisit the situation, and, lo and behold, you’re back in my life.” He paused. “As I arranged.”

“You’re saying I’m bait?” She shook her head. “Don’t flatter yourself. I wouldn’t be that passive. If you’d said that was what you intended, do you think that I wouldn’t have come? The only difference would have been that we might have gotten together a plan that was mutually agreeable.”

He stared at her and smiled slowly. “I thought I remembered everything about you, but some details must have slipped away.”

She looked at the door. “You think that Queen or Black will know I’m in Room 1502? No one knows you’re here?”

“I made sure that they wouldn’t. I bribed the clerk to give you 1502 and set up a signal alarm so that I’d know if anyone entered the room. I went in earlier and mussed up the bed and made it look occupied.” He paused. “And I set up a camera to record any visitors.”

Her brows rose. “My, you were thorough.”

“I’m a good hunter,” he said simply. “I’ve been well trained. Ask Queen.”