Iris Johansen - Eight Days To Live

“That doesn’t mean that Roland isn’t going to do the same thing.”

“You’re not telling me anything I don’t know.” She stared thoughtfully down at the phone. “But we might work out a way to use this ploy of Roland’s when there wouldn’t be a chance if I dealt strictly with Millet. And I’d be with Eve. I’d be able to help her more if we’re in the same place.”

“And you wouldn’t trust anyone else to be there for her,” he said roughly. “Only you. Okay, I know you wouldn’t trust me, but what about Jock Gavin. What about Joe Quinn? Let someone else take the risk.”

She raised her gaze. “You know that I’d have a better chance to get to Eve. And you know that Millet will kill her if he thinks he’s going down. She’s hurt, Caleb. Someone’s got to be there if she needs help.”

He muttered a curse. “And who’s going to be there if you need help?”

“Who do you think?” She smiled faintly. “Eve.”

“A united front,” he said curtly. “And you think that’s all you need. But this time, you may find it’s not quite enough.”

“Then we have to do whatever is necessary to make up the difference.” She added, “I’m not fool enough to think that I can do this alone. That would be crazy. All I’m saying is that we’ve got to have a plan that will give us a chance.”

“And still lets you go into that damn temple with Eve.”

“Yes.” He wasn’t going to like this. “And I want you to be the one to stay with the coins and guard them.”

“Hell, no. Don’t try to stick me with that kind of bullshit milk-toast job.”

“Milk toast? As soon as Roland takes me away from those Judas coins, whoever he leaves with you is going to have orders to take off with them.” She paused. “And that means that you’re going to be in the way.”

He thought about it. “If I protect your coins and get rid of Roland’s man, who’s going to try to cut my throat, am I on my own?”

He was always on his own. He meant he wanted her blessing to turn hunter.

Why not? she thought recklessly. He would probably do it anyway no matter what she said. He had told her that savagery could be selective, and if it concerned Eve, she would have no qualms about it.

It did concern Eve. Tomorrow, Eve could live or die depending on what they all did or didn’t do to save her. It was time to forget about anything but getting her away from Millet alive.

“Do what you like.” She lifted her phone again to call Jock. “As long as it doesn’t interfere with any plan we can put in place to get Eve out.”

“I won’t interfere.” His lips twisted. “And I’d be touched that you trusted me enough to give me carte blanche if I didn’t realize that this time you really didn’t give a damn. You wouldn’t care if I brought that temple down like the biblical Samson did.”

Is he right? Jane wondered wearily. The answer came back clear and direct as an arrow. Of course he’s right.

Stop the killing. Let their damn Judas temple collapse on the heads of those bastards.

5:05 P.M.

Day Eight

“THERE IT IS.” CALEB NODDED down at the knoll they were flying over. “And I believe that’s our Mr. Roland and party.” He glanced at Jane. “Last chance to change your mind.”

She shook her head and turned to Marc Lestall, the pilot. “But fly around that knoll and make sure there’s no one else there but them.”

“Right.” Marc banked to the left.

Three men as Roland had promised, Jane thought. The expert to examine the bottle, Roland himself, and the third man, who was probably fairly lethal. A jeep and a motorcycle parked in the trees.

“Clear,” Marc said. “Should I land?”

“Just a minute.” Caleb dialed Jock. “Millet?” He hung up and turned to Jane. “Ten minutes south of here heading toward the place you agreed on with a jeep full of men and firepower.” He paused. “And no Eve.”

It was what they had expected.

“Then we’ll have to go find her. Remember, try to delay any move you make against Roland’s man in case Roland checks back with him. I want to keep from bringing the situation to a head before we have to do it.” She nodded at Marc. “Let’s go down.”

Three minutes later, the helicopter was on the ground, and Jane jumped out of the aircraft.

“You’re late,” Roland said. “But considering that your nerves are probably coming into play, I’ll forgive you. You’ve been dreading this day for some time, haven’t you?” He smiled. “And Millet has been looking forward to it with anticipation.”

“It’s just another day. It’s you ghouls who have made it into something horrible.” She called to Marc, who was still at the controls. “Get out of here, Marc.”

The pilot’s gaze was on Roland. “You’re certain?”

“Go,” Caleb said.

A moment later, Marc was lifting off.

Jane handed Roland the portable container. “You turn the switch to open the case. Where’s your expert?”

He turned to a thin, tall man wearing glasses. “George Kandor. George, take the case and run a check on it.”

“Be careful,” Jane said. “And don’t remove the stopper.”

“I know my business.” Kandor took the case and turned back to his equipment beside the tree. “I won’t be able to tell much, Roland.”

“I just want to make sure that bottle contains the same objects that were in the photo.” Roland turned to Jane. “This won’t take long. I know you’re eager to be on your way.” His gaze shifted to Caleb. “You must be Seth Caleb. You’re something of an unknown factor to both Millet and me. We’ve been able to access your CIA and Interpol records, and they’ve come back with very little information. Which means that you’ve been exceptionally law-abiding or that you’re very clever.”

“Guess,” Caleb said.

“It doesn’t matter. I’ve got both possibilities covered. Though I really expected Jane to bring Jock Gavin. Gavin has the reputation of being lethal.” He gestured to the fair-haired man, who had been silent throughout the exchange. “Carl Trobell. Naturally, I can’t tap Millet’s resources, but Trobell comes with excellent references.” He smiled. “He has almost as much experience as Jock Gavin, and he’s fully capable of protecting my coins.”

Trobell nodded, but didn’t speak.

Dead eyes, Jane thought. Like the photos of killers you see in the newspapers who had committed hideous crimes, and you realized that there was nothing behind those eyes that had anything to do with humanity. She quickly glanced away from him. “They’re not yours yet.”

“Soon.” Roland paused. “I’m sure you have a weapon. Give it to me.”

“Go to hell.”

He shrugged. “I can understand your concern. I’ll let it pass as a gesture of good faith.” He turned to Kandor, who was replacing the bottle in the case. “Well?”

“It appears to be the same as the photo you showed me.”

“I thought it would be.” He turned back to Jane. “You wouldn’t take a chance on cheating me. You have too much at stake. Shall we go? I have a jeep parked in the trees, as I’m sure you verified on that pass.”

She nodded and started to turn away but suddenly whirled back to face Caleb.

“It’s all right,” he said quietly. “Stop worrying, Jane.” He smiled. “I’m Samson, remember.”

But he hadn’t been Samson when he’d faced Faruk yesterday. He’d been tragically, almost fatally weak. What if Trobell was like Faruk? Or even if he wasn’t, every instinct was telling her that Trobell was every bit as deadly as Roland claimed.

“Eve,” Caleb reminded her.

Yes, Eve. Eve needed her, and she couldn’t change her mind now.