Iris Johansen - Eight Days To Live

“I believe I can handle my own protection,” MacDuff said. “I’ve managed a number of years without your help, Jock.”

“Aye,” Jock said solemnly. “But those years may be telling on you, and I’m just going into my prime.”

“You’ll go with us, Jock,” Jane said. “You said you would before.”

“Again, it will be my pleasure. That’s what I want to do.” His gaze narrowed on her face. “You’re functioning at high efficiency. I didn’t expect it after seeing you downstairs.”

“I was in shock when we found Yvette’s…” She had to stop before she could go on. “Head. I couldn’t believe that anyone could be that savage. I’ve been in a state of denial since I saw Celine nailed to that door. But I have to believe it now. I have to assume that they’ll do anything and everything that they feel like doing. It doesn’t matter if it makes sense to me.” Her lips tightened. “But they’re not going to hurt anyone else in my name. And I’m not going to stand by and let them kill one more person if I can stop it.” She put her cup down on the counter. “And I will stop them. It will just take a little time.”

“They don’t want to give you that time,” MacDuff said.

“That’s right.” She said. “Eight days till doomsday, didn’t you say?”

“Seven days now,” Jock said.

“And they’re killing everyone around me to prepare the way.” She frowned. “Why are they waiting? Why not kill me now? Even Folard thought he was committing some kind of a transgression by trying to kill me before April 1.” She glanced at Jock. “You got no hint about that when you were with them?”

He shook his head. “I was an outsider. They didn’t talk to me.”

“But this Ted Weismann says that he knows.”

“Yes.”

“Damn, there’s so much that we have to find out. Who’s the man who sent Millet that newspaper article? And to what kind of job is that article about me connected? We have to make Weismann tell us. Venable has to pay him.”

“I’ve told him that,” MacDuff said. “After Yvette Denarve’s death, I can’t imagine him not doing it.”

“We have to be sure. Shall I call him back or will you?”

His brows lifted. “I’ll do it.”

“And then make arrangements for us to go to MacDuff’s Run. Oh, and make sure Venable has men protecting Eve and Joe until I can get them there.”

“Whatever you say.” He tilted his head. “What a bossy bit of goods you are, Jane.”

“You bet I am.” She looked him in the eye. “Not too eager to claim me as a member of the family now?”

“On the contrary. You’re displaying all kinds of MacDuff characteristics. No one ever said we were a tame lot.” He turned to Jock. “We’d better get moving and pack up those three paintings for Jane. I want to have her out of here and at the Run within the next several hours.”

“Call Venable now,” Jane said. “I’ll pack my own paintings.”

“I can do both.”

“Venable first. Weismann is the key to all of this.” She turned away. “I have to know why it’s happening before I can stop it.”

JANE’S PHONE RANG AS SHE was heading for the elevator to go down to the gallery. Joe Quinn.

She braced herself as she pressed the button. “I was just going to call you. I need you and Eve to go to MacDuff’s Run. There are some problems that may involve-”

“You mean a headless corpse and a danger that Eve might follow in her footsteps?” Joe asked bluntly. “Yes, I can see that would be a problem.”

“How did-” She stopped. “MacDuff phoned you.”

“Hell, yes,” Joe said. “He wanted to assure me that he’d be able to keep Eve safe if we came to him. He said he wasn’t only going to rely on his people on the estate. He’s hiring some of his buddies he served with in the Royal Marines to guard the castle. A very tough bunch.”

“So will you come?” She paused. “Will Eve come?”

“She’s in the middle of a reconstruction, but I had a hard time keeping her at the cottage after you called her the night of Celine Denarve’s death.” He was silent a moment. “She’ll come if she thinks you need her. I’d say that this latest murder constitutes a very real need.”

“And you’ll come with her?”

“I’ll come and check out MacDuff’s security arrangements.”

“Joe.”

“No, Jane. I’m not going to be walled up in that castle like a scared rabbit. As soon as I make sure the two of you are safe, I’m going to meet with Venable and see what I can do about catching those sons of bitches.”

“Joe, dammit, you’ll be a target, too.”

“Then let them try to take me down. They won’t find it easy going. I face scum like them every day of my life.” He paused. “I think you understand. You’re probably angry as hell by now. I’d say they’ve pushed you a little too far.”

Joe knew her too well. “I do understand,” she said. “But will Eve?”

“If it means keeping you safe. She’s lived with a cop too long not to know that I have to do what I have to do.” His voice became brusque. “When are you going to MacDuff’s Run?”

“Tonight.”

“Then we’ll see you there tomorrow afternoon. If we can tear through the red tape and get the skull Eve’s reconstructing through Security and Customs. Homeland Security is a little difficult these days about things like that.”

“You’ll breeze right through. I have faith in you.”

“And we have faith in you,” he said quietly. “We’ve always been a great team. Hold on until we can get there and give you backup.” He hung up.

She felt a surge of warmth as she pressed the disconnect. No sappy sentiment, just those final words of faith and support. Tough yet understanding. Joe. Her friend who had given her that same support and understanding during all those years since she’d come to live with him and Eve.

She should have known he’d choose to team up with Venable. Another thing for her to worry about. Well, Venable would just have to take care of him or she’d-

What was she thinking? Joe wasn’t only a detective, he was a former SEAL. No one took care of Joe but Joe. Unless she could find a way of doing it without infringing on his independence. That sounded familiar. Joe and she were a lot alike.

MacDuff was just hanging up the phone when she got off the elevator in the gallery. “You got around to calling Venable?” she asked. “But you called Joe first. Why?”

“I wanted to pave the way for you. And it’s the duty of the host to offer the invitation. I learned that at my mother’s knee.”

“And what did you learn from Venable?”

“Nothing good,” he said grimly. “Weismann’s running scared. He said he can’t trust Venable right now. One of his contacts with the agency set up a trap for him. He barely got away with his skin intact. He’s going underground until he decides it’s safe for him.”

“No!” Jane said. “He can’t do that. Who knows how many people could die before he surfaces again. Venable has got to find him.”

“He’s trying,” MacDuff said. “But Weismann has probably been preparing for his vanishing act for years. It’s not going to be easy trying to track him.”

“I don’t care about easy. He’s got to do it.”

“Weismann’s ended all communication with Venable. He told him not to come after him, not to try to reach him.”

“The hell we won’t go after him.”

“My thought exactly,” MacDuff said. “As soon as I get you to MacDuff’s Run, I’ll see what I can do. Jock may have some idea how we can trace him.”

“But Jock’s already said that he didn’t know that much about Weismann.”