Iris Johansen - Eve

Eve knew that was true, but the actual voicing of it sent panic soaring through her. “She won’t blow it. She’s a professional. And she cares about that kid, dammit.”

John didn’t answer as he turned away. “I’m going to scout around the immediate perimeter and make sure we’re secure. Stay here and keep your hand on your weapon.” He disappeared into the shrubbery.

Eve leaned back against the huge oak tree and stared after him into the darkness. She couldn’t blame him for being doubtful. Catherine was only one person, and even the most skilled professional would have difficulty in the situation in which Eve had tossed her. Eve just had to trust her.

But she had problems with trust, and Catherine had only appeared in her life recently.

Before Catherine, she had let only Joe come close to her.

Joe.

A pang of aching loneliness swept through her. She had tried to push thoughts of him away, but they were suddenly all around her. She wanted desperately to see him, touch him. She wouldn’t feel such panic if Joe were here. He was a rock, a north star to guide her.

God knows she needed that steady north star in these woods.

Don’t be selfish, she thought in disgust. What she needed didn’t matter. It was right that she had made sure Joe wouldn’t be involved in the madness Black was weaving around them.

But that didn’t stop the loneliness.

“DID YOU PULL UP THE MAP, Joe?” Catherine asked.

“Yep, I’ve got it.” Joe was squinting at the map he’d accessed on his computer from the county records. “The deed had to be redone when the property was sold a few years ago to Gallo. It should be accurate.”

“Print it out. You can hook up the computer to my portable printer on the backseat.”

“Right.”

“We’re about a mile from the property now. I think we’d better ditch the car and start hiking.” Catherine pulled onto a side road and drove a mile or so until she found a turnout that would completely hide the car and pulled deep into the brush.

Joe pulled out the map from the printer. “Let’s go.”

She flicked off the headlights. “And where are we going?”

“I’m checking terrain. There are three areas where Black would be unlikely to set up camp. There’s a marsh to the east, high hills on the north tip of the lake, and a stretch to the southwest that was cleared of timber and would be very exposed.” He was circling the areas as he spoke. “Anywhere else is a possibility.”

“That still leaves a hell of a lot of territory for us to cover.” She looked away from him. “We could try to follow Queen back after Gallo hands over the ledger.”

“You’ve been working with Venable too long. Are you willing to risk Cara Clark’s life if Black finds out that someone is tagging Queen?”

“Not unless there’s no other option.” She shrugged. “You’re right, my mind-set is different from yours. Let’s get going.”

She took the Celltec device out of the car and pressed the access button. No light. No red button. “Dammit, I can’t get any response. But Eve says he’s here somewhere. Maybe we’re out of cell-tower range.”

“Whatever.” Joe was moving quickly through the brush. “I’m not going to wait for your gadget to kick in while he could be killing Eve and the kid.”

And neither was Catherine. She jammed the Celltec in her pocket and followed him.

“QUEEN IS ON HIS WAY,” BLACKtold Gallo. “Don’t keep him waiting. The poor man isn’t really equipped anymore for the rough life. He’s gotten soft since his early years in the military. Hiring people like us to do his dirty work has sapped his strength.”

“But not his greed.”

“No, that goes on forever. I’ll see you shortly, Gallo.” He hung up.

John turned to Eve. “Stay here.” He got the ledger from his duffel. “And look sharp.”

“I’m going with you.” She held up her hand as he opened his lips. “I won’t get in your way, but I won’t be left behind.”

“Have it your way.” He turned and moved toward the lake. “But if I go down, you don’t stay around and try to save my neck. You take off and do any rescue attempt from long distance.”

She didn’t answer.

“I mean it, Eve.”

“If you go down, you’re out of it, and I make my own decisions.” She added grimly, “So if you want your way, you’d better not go down, John. Where are we going to intercept Queen?”

“The path winds a good three miles through heavy brush that starts about a half mile from here.” He was walking fast, almost trotting. “I’ll reconnoiter the area on both sides of the trail to make sure Black hasn’t staged an ambush, then wait for Queen to show.” He frowned. “And you will get in my way. I’ll have to worry about you.”

“Then park me somewhere close to the path and come back for me after you make sure the area’s clear.” She kept pace with him. “That’s as far as I’ll go, John.”

He gave her an exasperated glance but didn’t reply.

Five minutes later, they entered into the thick shrubbery that John had mentioned. There was bright moonlight, but the lake path was barely discernible given the overhanging foliage and twisting turns.

John nudged her deeper into the shrubbery. “Don’t move.”

Then he was gone.

Could she trust him to come back for her? He was being too damn protective.

But John appeared beside her several minutes later. “Come on.” He took her arm and was half pushing her down the path. “Queen will be coming around that second curve up ahead in a few minutes. I want to be there ahead of him.”

She pulled her arm away and reached in her jacket for her gun. “Then stop protecting me and go get him. I’ll be right behind you.”

John moved rapidly ahead of her and around the turn.

Her heart was beating hard as she ran after him. Queen might not be as deadly as Black, but he was totally without conscience, and that itself was dangerous.

She stopped short as she came around the turn.

Queen was standing in the center of the path staring warily at John Gallo.

Queen glanced at her as she came into view. “Eve Duncan? I don’t believe we’ve formally met, but I feel as if I know you intimately. You must think she’s expendable, or you wouldn’t have brought her along, Gallo. Black will kill her, you know. Probably in front of you if he thinks you have a passion for her.”

“I know he’ll try.”

Queen smiled. “I’ll bet on him. He’s remarkable in his field. Of course, he has one glaring fault. He’s unpredictable. His bloodlust is so extreme that it sometimes dominates his reasoning. I’ve had a few problems with him on that level lately, but I’ve worked them out.”

“Congratulations,” Eve said dryly. “Maybe because you’re two of a kind.”

He shook his head. “He’s only a tool. We’re nothing alike.” He turned back to Gallo. “The ledger.”

John reached into his pocket and pulled out the ledger. “Catch.” He threw it to Queen. “For all the good it may do you.”

“Sour grapes? You mustn’t be bitter that I’ve finally won the prize.” Queen pulled out a small pen flashlight and was shining it on the first pages of the ledger. “Okay, no tricks. Not that I’d ever suspect you of trying to cheat me.” He tucked the ledger in his jacket. “Now I’d better get back to Black. We wouldn’t want him to get nervous. He meant it when he told you he’d kill the kid.”

“And will still kill her if no one stops him,” Eve said.

“You may try. Black is looking forward to it. He’s planned something special.” Queen added viciously, “I wish I could be here for the show. I’d like to see you taken down, Gallo. But it’s safer for me to take the ledger and ride off into the sunset.” He turned and started back down the path. “May you both rot in hell. Good night and good-bye.”