Iris Johansen - Stalemate

"I'm hanging up, Joe. When you call me again, I want to hear you're in Bogota." She pressed the disconnect.

Jesus, it was exactly what she'd been afraid would happen. Admit it, what she'd known would happen or she would never have made Joe a part of her deal with Montalvo. Yet there had been the slightest hope that her actions wouldn't impact Joe.

She stood up and went over to the window and gazed out at the dark jungle. He was there. Close. She was filled with panic and yet there was also a tingle of primitive joy. They were together. That was how it should be. Her mind had said to leave him, but there was no rhyme or reason where instincts were concerned.

Crush those instincts. Protect Joe. She could understand his doubts about her safety. Telephones were often deceptive and unsatisfactory. Yet if she tried to meet with Joe and convince him in person that he should leave, she might be tempted to go with him. She didn't know what Montalvo's reactions would be if she ran. She would have bet on violence before she'd come here. Now she knew him better and yet he'd become eve more of an unknown quantity. He was a desperate man. Desperation could be even more deadly than ruthlessness.

"Quinn's here," Miguel said as he came into the library. "We have a report of a helicopter sighting this afternoon. We think it landed about twenty miles north."

Montalvo frowned. "You're sure it wasn't one of Diaz's? He's been making his presence known lately."

"We checked the number. Rented in Bogota to a Carmine Valdez. The pilot was to drop the clients off and then stay in the neighborhood to pick them up when they called."

"Description?"

"Does it matter? Quinn would have hired someone to do the rental for him."

"No, it doesn't matter." Montalvo grimaced. "I was hoping that I wouldn't have to face that problem right now. I'm making progress."

Miguel nodded. "But she's an emotional woman. She can be swayed by her feelings. I could see that tonight. She wanted to reach out and comfort me."

"She'd do just as well to comfort a tiger cub."

"Tiger cubs can be very cuddly," he protested. His expression sobered. "Do you believe Quinn is close? We've had no report from any of our sentries."

"Quinn was in the SEALs. There's a good chance our sentries wouldn't see him. If they did, they might wish they hadn't."

"Do you want me to go out and find him?"

"No, I don't know yet what I'd do with him if we found him."

"So what do we do?"

"We tell the men to be on high alert. We report any sign of Quinn. And we don't touch a hair of his head until I give the word."

"He could be an opportunity."

How many times had he said that? Montalvo thought as he gazed at the boy. It shouldn't surprise him that Miguel had thrown it back at him. An opportunity was to be grasped, never ignored.

"This particular opportunity could have a backlash. We'll wait and watch and see what he does."

"And see what she does?"

Yes, it all depended on Eve. Quinn would try to get in touch with her and his influence would be powerful. Which way would she jump?

It was almost midnight when Eve left her room. She saw Soldono crossing the foyer as she started down the steps.

He stopped. "It appears to be a late night for all of us."

"I have to see Montalvo."

"And I just came from having him grill me."

"Why?"

His gaze searched her face. "I think you know."

"Joe?"

He nodded. "Montalvo wanted to know if the CIA is helping him. He's here in Colombia."

It couldn't have been worse news. If Montalvo knew, they might be scouring the jungle for Joe right now.

Soldono's eyes narrowed on her face. "Just how near is he, Eve?"

"Too close. Did you help him get here?"

"Not personally. But there's a good chance Venable might have given him a hand."

"Then tell Venable to get him out of here, dammit."

"I don't give Venable orders. He's my boss."

"Then he shouldn't interfere in my business. I got Gonzales out of here for you. You owe me. I won't have Joe killed."

"I'll do everything I can to-"

"Forget it." She strode past him. "I'll take care of it myself." She went into the library and slammed the door. "You promised me Joe wouldn't be hurt, Montalvo."

Montalvo turned away from the window. "He hasn't been hurt yet."

Yet. Ice shivered through her. "And he won't be. I have your word. If you do anything to him, I'll kill you myself."

"I'd be stupid to take out Quinn when I have you considering helping me. I've worked very hard to accomplish that coup. I don't want you angry with me. But he shouldn't have come after you. Accidents happen."

"Not to Joe."

"He's contacted you?"

She hesitated. "Yes."

"And you couldn't persuade him to let you make your own choice." He shrugged. "He's a stubborn man."

"He's not sure that you're not holding me against my will. He said that you could be forcing me to tell him everything's all right."

"A valid premise." He met her gaze. "Convince him. I can't keep him safe if he persists in getting in my way. My men are trained as soldiers. When attacked, they react instinctively."

"Then you can forget about my doing the reconstruction."

"Stalemate." He was silent a moment, thinking. "You want Quinn to leave. You don't want to be forced to make a decision, even by him. What can I do to help you get him away from here?"

Knock the stubborn idiot on the head and put him on a helicopter, she thought in frustration. "I need to see him face-to-face. He needs to know that I'm under no restrictions. I have to have time to talk to him and persuade him to leave. It's the only thing I can think of that might help."

"And what do you want me to do?"

"I want you to swear you won't follow me and that no one will hurt Joe while I'm meeting with him."

He studied her, his expression impassive. "And what if I give you my word and then you take off with him?"

"I'll promise I won't do that. If I go, it won't involve Joe."

He nodded slowly. "I believe you."

"Swear to me."

He smiled. "I swear on the grave of my wife that I'll not follow you or do harm to your Joe. When do you want to do this?"

"As soon as I can get in touch with him. Tonight."

"You want to go alone? The jungle's not safe at night."

"And I'd probably get lost. I'm not jungle-savvy. Give me Soldono."

"Miguel would be happy to-"

"Soldono."

"Very well. Understandable. Miguel is definitely loyal to me. Sometimes a little too much." He moved toward the door. "You make your call. I'll get Soldono for you."

She reached for her cell phone. She'd bought time for Joe. If she could convince him to go, then he might get away from here alive. Montalvo had not been reassuring.

She drew a deep breath and dialed Joe's number.

Please listen, Joe. Listen.

"It could be a trap," Soldono murmured as he guided her through the dense undergrowth. "Montalvo could rid himself of an encumbrance and still bank on forcing you to do the reconstruction."

"It wouldn't be his style." Her gaze was peering ahead into the darkness. She'd taken down the directions but she didn't even know how far they'd traveled in the last ten minutes. "And he could force me to do a job but not necessarily a good job."

"You appear to be getting to know him very well."

"I've had no choice. I need to-" She jumped as the bushes ahead parted.

"Take off, Soldono. I've got her."

Joe.

But not the Joe to whom she was accustomed. He was dressed in khakis and boots, his hair tied back by a bandanna. This was Joe the ex-SEAL, the man who could kill silently and efficiently. She had seen him like this before when they'd been together in the bayous of Louisiana.

"That's up to Eve," Soldono said. "I promised her I'd take her to you and then bring her back to the compound."