Iris Johansen - Stalemate

She moved over to the dais and took off the drop cloth over the reconstruction. "You're causing an awful lot of trouble, Nalia. You remind me of one of those women from the court of Camelot who had all the knights fighting over her. Only I'm one of the knights who are trying to bring you-"

Camelot.

Jane had been talking about Camelot at the art show. Camelot and MacDuff's Run.

Jane.

Panic surged through her. Of course she was okay. Montalvo had promised to protect her family.

Screw it. She needed to talk to Jane, to hear her voice. She reached into her pocket for her phone and dialed Jane's number.

No answer. No voice mail. Nothing.

Keep calm. Try again later.

She turned back to the reconstruction. Concentrate. Don't let nerves keep you from thinking logically. There could be a reason why Jane wasn't-

Her cell phone rang.

No ID.

"Hello."

"I hope Montalvo's paying you well." It was a man's deep voice, the English slightly accented. "Funeral expenses can be exorbitant these days."

"Who is this?"

"But I'll be glad to take care of that for him. You can share the grave with the bones of his wife."

"Diaz?"

"Yes, Ramon Diaz, you bitch. You're playing on the wrong side. Shall I tell you what I'll do to you if you continue to give Montalvo what he wants?"

"I'm not listening to your threats, Diaz."

"You'll listen. I'll keep you around for a week or two to amuse my men. Then I'll kill you, slowly. Very slowly."

"And will you throw me into the swamp as you did Nalia Armandariz? That was pretty stupid. She's come back to haunt you." She kept her voice cool and steady. "I'll haunt you. I'll bring her back and there's nothing you can do about it."

"Oh, but there is something I can do. You lost one daughter. Are you prepared to lose another?"

She went rigid. "What are you talking about?"

"Such a beautiful girl. Not to my taste. I prefer my partners younger and less independent. But there are many whorehouses that specialize in breaking the spirit of the women I send them."

"You can't touch Jane. I'll kill you if you lay one hand on her."

"Ah, that frightened you, didn't it? I can always find a way to reach out and get what I want."

"You slimeball."

"You're making me angry. You don't want to do that. Stop what you're doing and go back to your country. Your daughter may survive if you do that right away. Though I don't promise. It's hard to stop when you've set a plan of action in motion." He hung up.

Eve's heart was beating so hard she couldn't get her breath. Her finger was trembling as she pressed the disconnect.

Bastard. Slimy son of a bitch.

Jane.

She dialed Jane's number again.

No answer. No voice mail.

Oh, God.

She hung up and ran to the door.

Miguel was coming toward her carrying a covered tray. "I've brought your food. I hope-"

"Get Montalvo," she said through her teeth. "I want to see him now ."

Miguel took one look at her expression and set the tray on a chest beside the door. "At once. Is there anything I can do?"

"Just get Montalvo."

He turned and moved swiftly down the hall.

She tried Jane again.

Same result.

Let her be safe. Please, let her be safe.

"What's wrong?" Montalvo was hurrying down the hall toward her. "How can I help?"

"You said you'd protect my family. You promised me."

"Yes, I promised." His gaze was searching her face. "Tell me what's wrong."

"Oh, nothing. Except Diaz said that he was sending my daughter to one of his pet whorehouses."

He stiffened. "He phoned you?"

"Yes. Now tell me that my daughter is safe and that bastard is lying."

"She's safe. He's lying."

She stared him in the eye. "Now prove it. I can't reach her by phone."

He reached in his pocket and drew out his phone and dialed a number. "Montalvo. Let me speak to Jane MacGuire." He handed Eve the phone. "Proof."

"Eve?"

It was undoubtedly Jane's voice. Eve sagged back against the wall. "Thank God. Are you okay, Jane?"

"I'm fine. I'm getting a little stir-crazy. I wish you'd finish up that job and get back here."

"Where are you?"

"Some safe house in Tucson that Venable set up. It's pretty nice and they supplied me with canvases and paints to keep me occupied."

"Venable?"

"Didn't you know he was handling it?"

"No."

Silence. "Are you okay, Eve?"

"I was worried about you."

"I'm fine. But next time you take an internationally sensitive job, I want to go along. I'm bored silly."

"Sorry." She cleared her throat. "I'll be through here as soon as possible. I'll call you. Take care, Jane. I love you."

She hung up the phone and turned to Montalvo. "The CIA?"

He nodded. "I made a deal with them."

"What kind of deal?"

"I promised Venable I wouldn't sell weapons to a certain dictator on his hit list. He promised me they'd keep your daughter and mother safe. Would you like to call your mother? She's in a safe house in Griffin, Georgia."

"How did Venable persuade them to go underground?"

"They love you. He told them it would be safer for you if they were safe."

"How long have they been in safe houses?"

"Since the night Quinn and you were shot. I decided it would be better to take precautions."

"Why the CIA?"

"You'd trust them. Your daughter and mother would trust them." He shrugged. "I don't particularly trust them, but I have my own people watching the houses. And I do trust them."

"Why couldn't I reach her cell phone?"

"Venable didn't want to risk having her phone traced. I'll give you the number of the safe house. Satisfied?"

She nodded slowly. "I was frightened."

His lips tightened. "That's what Diaz wanted. What else did he say?"

"That if I didn't stop working on the reconstruction, he'd make sure I shared a grave with Nalia Armandariz. After suitable pain and degradation, of course."

"Of course." His gaze narrowed on her face. "That's enough to frighten anyone. Did he convince you?"

"He convinced me that I'd better finish this job quickly. I want that son of a bitch to go down. He's threatening people I love." She turned and started back into the library. "Now leave me alone so that I can start to work."

"In a moment." He picked up the tray Miguel had shoved hurriedly on the chest and carried it into the library. He set it on the table by the leather couch. "Miguel was very upset when you summoned me with such grimness. He'll feel much better if he picks up an empty tray a little later. Won't you oblige him?"

She nodded. "I told you, I'll eat. I'll take care of myself. It's part of the job."

He smiled faintly. "See that you do that part as well as you do the reconstruction." He turned toward the door. "Call me if you need me."

She sat down and took the cover off the tray. "I believe I've demonstrated I'm not in the least hesitant about that."

She heard him chuckle as he left the library.

"We can't find Jane MacGuire," Nekmon said when he came into the office. "She disappeared from her hotel in Phoenix a few nights ago."

Diaz muttered a curse. The response he'd gotten from Eve Duncan last night on the threat to her adopted daughter had been the strongest lead he'd had. Montalvo had probably known of that weakness and hurried to reinforce his position. "Find her."

"We're looking." Nekmon paused. "Sendak is here."

"He brought it?" Diaz asked.

"He says he has." Nekmon shifted uncomfortably. "I didn't verify."

Diaz smiled maliciously. "Coward."

"Shall I send him in?"

"By all means." He leaned back in his chair with a tingle of anticipation. Jane MacGuire wasn't the only arrow to his bow. Eve Duncan was sitting behind those high walls thinking she was safe. She would never be safe.