Iris Johansen - Stalemate

"Welcome, Ms. Duncan." The door slid open. "Did you have a good journey?"

Montalvo. In the lantern light he looked younger, stronger, more vibrant than his photographs. Also, considerably more dangerous; the photographs had not shown the gun that was holstered at his hip.

"Considering where I was going." She unfastened her seat belt. "And why have I become Ms. Duncan when you were calling me Eve the last few times you phoned?"

He chuckled. "I thought it would put you more at ease if I was more impersonal. No?"

"No. Nothing is going to put me at ease until I get out of here. Call me what you like." She ignored his hand and jumped down from the helicopter. "Where's the Gonzales family?"

"Inside the hut. The children were frightened."

"Of you?"

"Possibly." He grabbed her two bags. "Is this all?"

"Clothes and my equipment."

"I should have told you that you didn't need the equipment. I have all you'll need at the compound."

"I like my own equipment."

"I can understand that. I have weapons that I've used for years and the familiarity is comforting." He threw the bags in the back of the jeep. "There's a certain feel…"

Her gaze went to the gun on his hip. "Death?"

The smile never left his face. "I never thought about it. Don't you think that your tools would reflect death more than mine? You actually work with human skulls."

"Not to destroy them."

"Good point. I do destroy on occasion." He waved his hand at the hut. "We'll get the Gonzales family on board and then get you to the compound. You must be tired."

"I'm perfectly fine."

He turned and met her eyes. "No, you're not fine. You're tense and a little frightened. Oh, not of me. I don't frighten you. But you're wondering somewhere deep inside if you've made a mistake. If it's worth quarreling with your Joe. If I'll do what you want me to do."

Jesus, he must be a mind reader. That was exactly how she felt.

"And the answer to all those questions is no," he said softly. "And yes, and yes. You've done the right thing for both of us. And I won't let you regret it."

She tore her gaze away from his. "We'll see." She shifted her eyes to the woman who was hurrying toward the helicopter with two children in tow. She stiffened. "Where's Gonzales?"

"Ye of little faith. Not that I don't approve of suspicion." He waved his hand again. "Soldono is bringing Gonzales separately. I wanted the bastard to sweat up to the last minute about whether I'd actually let him go."

"Cruel."

"He deserves it. He betrayed me. He's lucky to get out with his skin."

She watched the thin, dark man bolt out of the hut and run toward the aircraft. He cast one panicky glance at Montalvo and then dove into the helicopter. A moment later the door was closed and the rotors whirled. "I'd say he was sweating even enough to please you."

"No. I don't like traitors. Even Soldono didn't object when I decided to punish him a little. He knows Gonzales got off lucky." He turned to the man coming toward him. "Don't you, Soldono?"

Soldono was a tall, lean, sandy-haired man in his thirties who looked rawhide-tough. "I guess you could say that. He's not dead." He held out his hand to Eve. "Mark Soldono, CIA. I'm sorry for my part in involving you with this mess. I hope you'll let me do everything to make your stay easier at the compound."

She felt a surge of relief. "You're coming with us?"

He grimaced. "Montalvo wanted to provide you with a sense of security. I guess that's me." His glance shifted to the helicopter that was lifting off the ground. "Though you've done a better job than I have so far. I don't like the price you paid but thanks anyway."

"It wasn't all about Gonzales," Eve said. "He was just a fringe benefit."

Montalvo chuckled. "I enjoy your turn of phrase. 'Fringe benefit'…" He got into the driver's seat of the jeep. "I'll have to see what other fringe benefits I can find for you."

"You can't beat a human life."

"Yet neither of us is here because of life, but death. What does that say?" He started the jeep. "Never mind. It's not fair to argue philosophy when you're so tired. Sit back and relax. It's ten miles to the compound. The last mile has three checkpoints."

"You're very careful."

"It's how I've stayed alive for all these years. I'm an old man for my business."

"Forty-two?"

"You've been asking questions. Forty-one, actually."

"And running guns is so dangerous?"

He shrugged. "Everyone in this part of the world wants weapons, and if they can get them without paying, then they'll do it. Weapons are like drugs. The more you have, the more you think you need."

"How very profitable for you."

"Yes, it is." He turned to look at her. "Do you want to discuss it? I'll be happy to do it, but it's not a subject that's going to make us get along with any degree of harmony."

She gazed at him for a moment before glancing away. She hadn't expected him to be like this. No anger, no ugliness, every antagonistic remark met with calm control. She had realized he was intelligent and persuasive, but often when people got what they wanted they changed. "I don't believe anything is going to make our relationship harmonious. But there's no use doing anything to make it worse." She leaned against the back of the seat. "All we have to do is survive each other."

"Very sensible." He looked back at Soldono. "Perhaps I didn't need you after all, Soldono. She doesn't seem at all nervous with me."

"She's barely met you," Soldono said dryly. "Give her an hour or two. I'm staying, Montalvo."

Montalvo smiled. "Of course you are. I just thought I'd ruffle you a bit so that you could show Eve how forceful and determined you can be." He turned on the CD player. "Chopin. That's your favorite, isn't it?"

Yes, she loved Chopin. She could feel a chill go through her. How the hell did he know a little detail like that?

"Sorry." Montalvo turned the CD off. "I intended to make you feel comforted, not threatened. Okay, no music. No conversation."

The knowledge that he had read her response so easily wasn't guaranteed to make her feel less threatened. She looked straight ahead. "Do what you like. It doesn't bother me."

He didn't answer and when she shot him a glance it was to see a faint smile on his face.

Let him smile, she thought wearily. Let him feel confident and powerful and all-knowing. She needed a night's sleep to fully recover from the emotional and physical drain that was sapping her of strength. She'd deal with Montalvo tomorrow.

The compound was encircled by high stucco walls and looked like an armed fort. No, it was an armed fort, Eve saw as she entered the tall wooden gates into the courtyard. The battlements were manned by guards with rifles. Mounted at two points she noticed something even more threatening.

"Missiles?" she asked as she got out of the jeep. "My God, are you preparing for a war?"

"I'm always prepared for war. That's what keeps it at bay." He took her luggage out of the jeep. "But you'll be relieved to know they aren't nuclear."

"That makes me feel much better," she said sarcastically. "No wonder the CIA is so interested in you."

"One has to be a bit special to earn such interest. It's quite flattering."

"Don't be flattered," Soldono said as he got out of the jeep. "You'd be surprised at the scum we deal with."

"No, I wouldn't." He turned to a tall, good-looking man dressed in khakis who was approaching. "This is Miguel Vicente. He'll show you to your room. There are guards in the hall. If you need anything during the night, just ask one of them to get it for you. I have breakfast at nine. I'll send Miguel to get you tomorrow morning and bring you to the dining room."

As she looked at him, she realized that Miguel was more boy than man. Probably not more than nineteen or twenty. But he also wore a holstered pistol on his hip. Good God, talk about an armed camp.