Iris Johansen - Stalemate

"Neither. And you're not being funny. What did Joe want with you?"

"You have an idea or you wouldn't be cozying up to Montalvo in the middle of the night."

"Joe wants information. He wants your help when he's able to go after Diaz. Anything else?"

"He wants me to keep you from involving yourself any further with Montalvo while he's incapacitated."

"He's asking a hell of a lot from you."

"No, he's not." He smiled gently. "My friend Eve Duncan was shot and almost killed. Everything Quinn asked I would have done anyway."

"I'm not going to let him go after Diaz." She met his gaze. "I'm not going to let you go after him either."

"How are you going to stop us?"

"I'm turning Montalvo loose on him. It's his battle. Hell, it's his war. Soldono says that he has no compunction about letting these criminals kill each other."

"But I believe you don't quite think of Montalvo on the same level as Diaz."

"That's because I know him. Diaz is still a mystery. It doesn't change the principle."

"Then I should have no trouble convincing you that you should shy away from Montalvo. Right?"

"Wrong. I'm going to do the reconstruction. He'll be retrieving the skull tonight and I'll do the work with as much speed as I can."

Galen gave a low whistle. "Quinn's going to have a relapse."

"No, he's not. Because you're not going to tell him anything. As far as he's concerned, you're doing what he asked you to do." Her lips twisted. "Including keeping me away from Montalvo. I'm only telling you what's happening because I know that you'll find out anyway. I can keep Joe in the dark for a limited time because he's going to be tied to that bed for a while. I just hope it's long enough for Montalvo to persuade the rebels to move against Diaz."

"Don't count on Quinn's recovery going along with your timeline. He asked me to bring him some hand weights so that he won't lose strength while he's lying in bed. He says that with my help he thinks he can get out of bed in the next two days."

"Shit."

"Even if he makes it out of bed that doesn't mean he's going to have the strength to stay on his feet. It could be days before he's even mobile."

"And it may be much sooner. I know how determined Joe can be. He's an irresistible force when he's focused on anything."

"Then you'd better work very quickly indeed. I've learned one thing working with Quinn during the past days. He won't be stopped unless you put another bullet in him."

"How comforting."

"I'm not sure I want to comfort you. I'm leaning toward going along with Quinn on this one. You believe what Montalvo told you but that doesn't mean either Quinn or I do. How do you know he's told you the truth about anything connected with that skull? It might be better for Quinn and me to go after Diaz ourselves." He shrugged. "We're not greedy. We don't have to take down Diaz's entire operation as Montalvo wants to do. We'd be happy with putting a neat bullet hole between his eyes. That's possible for a two-man job."

"Damn you, Galen. You know how dangerous it would be to get that close to Diaz."

"But we wouldn't have to depend on someone we have no idea we can trust. That's also very dangerous."

"You're saying I can't count on you?"

"You can count on my help. I'm not saying how that help will be given."

She took a deep breath to smother her anger and frustration. "Tell me what I can count on. Are you going to tell Joe that I'm doing the reconstruction?"

"No. I think you'll be telling him about that. Unless you're not planning to visit him in his sickbed, you're not going to be able to hide that you're working. Not from someone who's as intimate with you as Quinn. I've watched you doing a reconstruction. You're not even in the same world."

She hadn't thought about that. Galen was right. "Maybe not right away. I'll try to build in a delay."

"And work with the speed of light. Quinn doesn't need a spur to prod him."

"You don't believe in pressure, do you?"

"You always work better under pressure, luv."

She shook her head. "But why do you want me to work faster? Which side are you on, Galen?"

"I haven't decided." He grinned. "Elena says I'm like a cat on the proverbial hot tin roof. I jump whichever way seems best at the moment."

"Bull. I know you make commitments."

"But how I execute them is my choice," he said gently. "Now run along and get to bed. I'll stay with Quinn. I don't believe you want to see him right now. You're too full of plots and plans and you'll be trying your best to keep from shaking him and telling him to do what you say. Not good for a patient in his condition."

"Neither is trying to get out of a sickbed before he should. You're aiding and abetting him in doing that."

"Touche." He turned to the door. "But I won't shake-" He broke off as Montalvo's door opened.

Montalvo was dressed in khakis and army boots, the ever-present pistol holstered on his hip as he strode quickly toward them. He nodded at Eve. "Is this quick enough for you? We're not on our way but I'm in full throttle at making plans. We should be ready to leave by eight tonight." He went past her and ran down the staircase.

"You certainly lit a fire under him," Galen murmured. "Or should I say a bonfire. You could almost warm your hands at it."

She knew what he meant. Montalvo's excitement and urgency were almost palpable. "He's been waiting for this. He used to be a soldier and he likes a challenge. He's going to love every minute of going after that skull under Diaz's nose."

"Yeah." Galen was still looking after him. "It's kind of addictive."

Good God, Galen actually sounded wistful, she thought in exasperation.

Men.

"He'll be lucky if he comes back with his own head, much less that skull," she said curtly.

"He seems to have a well-trained team. He has a good chance."

"According to Montalvo, Diaz knew he was close to finding her body. Maybe he knows more than Montalvo thinks about where the grave is located. We'll see if he manages to deliver that skull to me tonight." She turned and started back toward her room. She was weaving a little and concentrated on trying to steady herself. She was exhausted and her head was pounding. She needed sleep to heal and she had to heal. She had a strenuous couple of days ahead if Montalvo delivered the skull to her tonight.

She glanced back over her shoulder and saw Galen at last turning away from staring after Montalvo and opening Joe's door. Galen was proving as difficult as all the other men here at the compound.

Cat on a hot tin roof, indeed.

"Duarte hasn't reported since Tuesday, two days ago," Nekmon said. "We know he was in the area and monitoring what was happening at the compound. He made no mention of Eve Duncan. We know that a doctor was called to the compound from the village also two days ago. He's still there."

Diaz frowned. "Then, if Duarte did manage to take his shot at Eve Duncan, he botched it. Dead women don't need doctors."

"We're not sure she was at the compound."

"Because the man we sent to Atlanta could find no record of her leaving? Don't be a fool. Montalvo could find a way of sneaking her over any border."

Nekmon nodded. "And Joe Quinn did leave Atlanta for Bogota. But after that we lost track of him."

"You seem to be losing track of a good many people," Diaz said sarcastically. "Aquila, Duarte, and you can't even locate Eve Duncan, much less lose her."

"If Duarte took his shot, there's a chance that she's dead. He was good."

"Then why call the doctor?"

Nekmon lifted his shoulders in a slight shrug. "Quinn? Montalvo himself?"

"Guesses. God, I'm tired of guesses. I want answers. I want this problem resolved." He scowled down at the wine in his glass. "Montalvo has been a thorn in my side for too many years. He should have been killed when he came charging after me when we got rid of the Armandariz woman."