Iris Johansen - Stalemate

"No, call them off. Both of you stay here. Leave him to me." He moved forward, darting from tree to tree, taking shelter where he could. It brought back memories of the years he'd spent with the rebels. The same instincts tuned to excruciating acuteness, the adrenaline racing.

A bullet whistled by his ear and buried itself in the tree next to him.

He dodged to the left.

A palmetto bush moved up ahead.

Meant to draw him out and into a line of fire.

Circle around and approach the area.

Move softly, quietly.

Aquila was waiting ahead with his rifle aimed on anything that moved.

Another slight shiver of movement to the left of the tree.

The light was flickering, changing. Montalvo waited for his eyes to become accustomed to the gray pearl of dawn.

The last movement was not a ploy. He could see Aquila's faint outline against the bushes.

He dropped to one knee and aimed his rifle. It was not an easy shot. Poor light, long distance, and Aquila could move at any second.

Concentrate.

His finger pulled the-

Aquila moved to the left!

Take the shot anyway. Make the shot two feet to the left to allow for-

He pulled the trigger.

Aquila fell to the ground.

Playing dead? Wounded? Or really dead?

He circled and cautiously moved toward him. Aquila was a snake and he had no desire to be bitten by him in his death throes.

No danger.

As he drew closer, he could see Aquila lying crumpled on the ground, the top of his head blown off. It had been a true shot.

"Is this what I'm supposed to see?" Soldono asked.

He turned around to watch Soldono and Miguel coming toward him. "Yes." He told Miguel, "Bury him here, where he fell."

Miguel nodded. "I'll get a shovel from the truck." He disappeared into the shrubbery.

Soldono was looking down at Aquila. "Who was he?"

"Someone who made me very angry."

"Why?"

"That's not important to anyone but me."

"It's important for me to know why you dragged me through the jungle to watch you blow a man's head off."

"I saw an opportunity and I took it." He turned and strode in the direction of the truck. "I thought it was a good idea."

He could feel Soldono's bewildered and faintly repulsed gaze on his back as he moved through the trees. Ordinarily he wouldn't have chosen to have him along when he went after Aquila, but as he'd said, the opportunity was there.

Dawn was beginning to break. By the time he got back to the compound it would be full daylight. He'd grab a nap and then he'd call Norton in Macon and see what information he had for him.

Eve Duncan was waiting.

The dossier on Montalvo was waiting for Eve when they got back to the lake cottage the next day.

"I suppose you want to look at it before dinner," Joe said.

She nodded absently as she opened the envelope. "I'm not really hungry."

"I'll make a pot of coffee." Joe went into the kitchen. "But you've got to eat later. Jane made me promise to make you put on the weight you've lost."

"Okay." There wasn't much in the envelope. A few photos and two sheets of paper. "From what Venable told us I expected a rap sheet the size of a telephone book."

Joe came back and picked up one of the sheets. "No jail time. Ten years ago he was picked up for suspicion of weapons trafficking a few times. After that, nothing."

"How can that be? Venable said he was a big-time dealer."

"He's either very smart, has contacts in high places, or has enough money to bribe his way out of trouble. Maybe all three."

"I believe you're right." She glanced through the photos. Montalvo wasn't a conventionally handsome man. His nose had been broken at some time, his lips were well-shaped but large. His dark hair was threaded with silver at the temples and his eyes were dark and stared out of the photo with direct boldness. "How old is he?"

Joe scanned the report. "It doesn't say. Presumed early forties."

"Presumed? Venable couldn't even get his birth date?"

Joe shook his head. "Not according to this dossier. He was supposed to have fought with the rebels when he was younger."

"Presumed? Supposed? Personal information? Where was he born? Family members? For God's sake, if he was picked up by the police they must have had some record."

"The CIA's first contact with him was when he was selling weapons to the rebels ten years ago. He'd set up a compound in the jungle and ran it like a feudal castle. They probed; they asked questions and came up with zilch."

"A mystery man?"

"There's no mystery that can't be solved. Perhaps they know more than what's on this sheet."

"That's more logical than them not being able to trace his background. Soldono and he seemed to be in each other's pockets." Her hand clenched. "I want to know more, dammit."

"You know enough. He's a crook, he has no compunction about killing a man and his entire family, and he'll use you if you let him. I'd say that about covers it."

"I guess you're right." She looked down at the photos again. "It's just… he's very… it's hard to dismiss him without knowing what makes him tick. What reconstruction does he want me to do? Why doesn't he try for DNA? He must have the money. He's going to a hell of a lot of trouble to get me down there."

"Including making you think about him nonstop." Joe threw the sheet down on the coffee table. "You've turned down criminals before when they've come to you. What's different about Montalvo?"

The others hadn't offered her Bonnie.

She tried to smile. "I guess I won't find out what's different about him from this rap sheet."

"You've got what you want from the bastard. You've found out who Marty is. Walk away from him."

"When Gonzales and his family are free and clear. Soldono hasn't called yet to say he's gotten them out. I'll call him tonight to see if there's any progress."

"And I'll check with Valdosta to see if the kid is who Montalvo said he was." He went back to the kitchen. "The coffee should be finished. Want a cup?"

"A little later. I think I'll go for a walk by the lake. Do you want to come along?"

He shook his head. "I want to call Valdosta. I hope they tell me that fax is a fake."

"I don't think that-I don't know. He was just so pumped when he was talking to me. I don't believe he was lying." She opened the screen door. "I'll be back in half an hour."

"Okay." He was already dialing his phone, his expression intent on the task at hand.

Joe was always intent, she thought as she went down the steps. Intent, focused, totally involved with whatever he was working on. That's what made him a brilliant cop.

The lake was smooth as glass.

Peace.

She loved the peace of this cottage and she loved the solid security of her life with Joe. He'd formed cushioned walls around her to protect her from all harm.

She didn't want to leave this haven. She wanted to stay here forever surrounded by Joe's love and care.

Why was she even thinking of leaving? That thought had come out of nowhere. She had no intention of altering her life or taking a chance on…

On what? Going down to Colombia on the chance that Montalvo could do what he'd promised. Risking her life on a criminal who cared nothing for the peace she loved.

Her telephone rang.

Soldono. A rush of hope surged through her. Give me an out, Soldono. Tell me you've gotten Gonzales away and I've no excuse to go to Montalvo.

No excuse but Bonnie.

"What's happening?" she asked as soon as she picked up the phone. "Gonzales?"

"Not yet." Soldono paused. "It's difficult. Montalvo must expect me to make that move. They're very well-guarded."

"That's not what I wanted to hear." She paused. "How serious is he about killing the family?"

"Too serious to discount the possibility."