Iris Johansen - Stalemate

Diaz hadn't called back by the time she was ready to go downstairs. She hadn't really expected him to move fast. He probably had to consider whether there was truth in her words and then make a decision if he wanted to offer her what she'd told him she wanted.

She passed a mirror on the way to the door and grimaced. She had a right to look tired, since she hadn't slept in almost two days, but she was positively haggard. How pleased Diaz would be if he could see her now. Actually, she didn't feel nearly as exhausted as she looked. She was wired.

Montalvo glanced up as she entered the library. "Feel better? Miguel doesn't blame you for anything."

"Nor you?" She dropped down in the visitor's chair.

"Though he may try to use his injury to manipulate you. He's capable of it."

"Yes, he is. And I fully expect to have to slap him down." He added, "After the bastard gets well."

"He wants to go after Diaz. He said you won't let him. That's good."

"Maybe. It might be better to give him a role. After what he went through he deserves to get some of his own back."

"I agree. But I'm more interested in getting Joe out of that castle than letting the two of you go after your revenge."

"Even if the one begets the other?" He didn't wait for an answer. "Has Diaz called you back yet?"

"Yes."

He stiffened. "And?"

"The same as before. A little added gloating about what he did to Miguel." She shuddered. "He enjoyed it."

"I don't doubt that."

"Neither do I." She straightened in the chair. "And I'm not letting him do that to Joe. So I've got to move quickly. He wants the skull. I'm going to give it to him. With all the embroidery that he asked me to tack on to the deal. Diaz wants me to convince Armandariz that I didn't tell the truth about the validity of the reconstruction. I'll need your help to intercede with Armandariz for me in both cases."

"You're going to tell Armandariz that you lied?" he asked harshly. "No way."

"Don't tell me that. I'll do whatever is necessary to get Joe away from him."

"I won't let you give him the skull."

"If you can think of any other way I'm open to suggestion."

"You're not going to give him the skull."

She sat there looking at him.

He muttered a curse. "He'll scoop you up and cut your throat if you go near him."

"I'm working on that. He's not totally in control any longer."

"The hell he's not."

"I told him that I wouldn't meet his terms unless I had an escape hole. That I wasn't going to risk my life for Joe's."

"And he believed you?"

"Perhaps. We'll have to see. I tried to make my holdout as reasonable as possible." She stared him in the eye. "I told him I was fucking you and that I was going to leave Joe anyway."

"Indeed?" he murmured. "Why?"

"I needed an excuse for being less than eager to get Joe out of his hands. It gave me more negotiating power."

"If Diaz believed you."

"I think he did. We'll see when he calls me back." She added, "And if he agrees, I'll set up the meeting place."

"No," Montalvo said flatly. "Forget it. It's not going to happen."

Despair tore through her. His refusal wasn't unexpected but she'd been hoping against hope. She stood up. "Is that your last word?"

He nodded and repeated, "It's not going to happen. I'm not going to cut you down from a crucifix, Eve."

She turned on her heel and walked out of the room.

Christ, she felt alone. She had desperately wanted Montalvo's help and it was clear she wasn't going to get it. She could see his viewpoint. He'd spent years bringing Armandariz to this point and he wasn't willing to give up the advantage. Okay, then she'd have to work through this by herself. She'd go back to her room and sleep for a few hours. She had an idea she wasn't going to get much in the foreseeable future. Then she'd sit down and try to puzzle a way out of this predicament.

She thought it would take time for her to go to sleep but she dropped off almost immediately.

She woke to the sound of the ringing of the phone four hours later.

Diaz?

She scrambled to reach the phone on the nightstand. "Hello."

"You sound sleepy. Wake up, Eve. We have things to talk about."

"Galen?" She sat up straight in bed. "Where are you?"

"At the moment? I'm in a blind in an oak tree about a mile from Diaz's fancy castle and damned uncomfortable. I'm not accustomed to the rough life anymore."

"I imagine Joe's a little uncomfortable himself."

"Not my fault." Galen's voice was suddenly sober. "I couldn't do anything with him. I tried to stop him. I wanted to be the one to rush into the dragon's lair but he wasn't having any of it. He said it was more logical that he do it. Actually, he was right. Diaz wouldn't have much use for me except to use my handsome head to decorate his fireplace. Quinn was much more likely to stay alive until he could finish the job."

"Killing Diaz? For God's sake, Miguel said Joe was still unconscious while he was there. He'll be lucky not to bleed to death."

"He may be waking up about now. I've been using the audio spy equipment to monitor the castle and it's weird he's not come around yet. I'd bet he's playing possum. And he won't bleed to death unless Diaz opens his wounds. It's not likely. Diaz enjoys live entertainment. He'll ignore Quinn while he's out cold."

"What?"

"Quinn's not stupid. Stubborn. Not stupid. He knew he was too weak to function as he usually did. So he decided he had to avoid confrontation until he could slit the toad's throat. He wasn't in top form so he couldn't chance getting close to Diaz in the castle. So we decided to blow the bastard up. We planted a nice hefty stash of dynamite around the castle. We were going to set it off once we were in the woods but it turned out the whole area was crawling with Diaz's men."

"That's what Miguel said."

"Anyway we were cornered and Quinn tossed me the detonator and told me to do the job. Then he ran out of the shrubbery and drew them away from me. He knew we weren't both going to be able to get away and he was too weak to make it." He paused. "He's got guts, your Joe, luv."

"You don't have to tell me that."

"I couldn't blow the castle. That's where they took Quinn. Like I said, I've been hanging out listening in on what was happening inside the castle with some of this handy-dandy surveillance equipment and looking for an opportunity. I figured my best bet would be to know what was going on so that I could bring in some reinforcements."

"Tell me where you are. Tell me how I can help."

"I'll fill you in on the important agendas first. I don't know how long I can stay in this blind. They've been searching for me since they got their hands on Quinn. I may have to go on the run again."

"Then talk, dammit."

He laughed. "Okay, then it's time that I started shorthand. One, I'm going strictly against Quinn's orders. He didn't want you involved. But I saw them carry that boy Miguel out of the castle on that cross. I think we need a little outside involvement." His voice sobered and the next words came hard and quick. "The first thing you have to know is that Montalvo is being…"

Excitement was surging through Eve as she hung up the phone fifteen minutes later. Excitement? Or hope? For the first time since she'd found out Joe was gone she felt as if she might see a way through this fog of ugliness generated by Diaz.

She threw back the covers and jumped out of bed. Get dressed. Galen was on-site and ready to help. She had to make plans of her own.

She glanced at the phone. It had been hours since Diaz had called. Was he trying to make her apprehensive? A psychological ploy? Perhaps. How the hell did she know?

Go on. Call, Diaz. I'm ready for you.

"I'm not going," Miguel said. "If you put me on that helicopter to Bogota, I'll hijack it and come back."