Silencing Eve (12 page)

The door swung open. “I’m Howard Stang.” Stang was a tall, thirtyish man in a beige sweater. “And you are?”

“Catherine Ling.” The white-haired man who had spoken strolled forward from the balcony to confront her. He was dressed in black slacks and a white shirt whose sleeves were rolled up to reveal that there was a cast on his right forearm. He appeared ageless, but her immediate impression was of power, elegance, and leashed violence. “If I’m not mistaken?”

She nodded curtly. “But I’m curious to know how you guessed. I didn’t tell Venable I was coming to see you.”

“Really? He didn’t send you?”

“Hell, no. The two of you are dancing around each other like Olympic fencers. He’d be afraid of sending you underground where he couldn’t get his hands on you.”

Zander smiled faintly. “I don’t have to go underground to be sure that he can’t get his hands on me. But Venable is proving moderately helpful, and I don’t mind giving him limited access.” His smile faded. “But I’m not pleased he was less than discreet about taking you or anyone else into his confidence.”

“He didn’t think that I’d go knocking on your door.”

“Then he has bad judgment, and I’m even less pleased.”

She changed the subject. “How did you know who I was?”

“A matter of elimination.” He turned to Stang. “Why don’t we get the lady a cup of coffee?” He looked at Catherine. “Or do you prefer tea? Since you grew up in Hong Kong, I’m sure that’s your preference.”

“Either will do.” She shut the door behind her as Stang went to the phone. “Elimination?”

“You’re bold, smart, and you have a certain dash. You had to have a CIA connection, or you would never have been able to locate me. Eve mentioned her friend, Catherine Ling, who was with the CIA.” He waved his hand. “Elimination.”

“Joe mentioned that you’d talked to Eve in the mountains. I didn’t think I’d be the topic of conversation.”

“You weren’t, actually; she didn’t bring you up until right before she took off into the woods. That’s why I felt I had to check you out while I had nothing better to do here in Denver.”

“And that’s how you knew I grew up in Hong Kong?”

“Yes. And that you’d have been the first to try to find Eve if you’d known what had happened to her. No one told you, did they? Venable kept you in the dark.”

Sharp. Very sharp.

She studied Zander. Ice-cold. Completely in control. Dangerous.

And challenging.

“And Venable heard about it from me,” she said grimly. “I just found out when I got back to Miami yesterday morning.”

“And you were angry, and you wanted to kill him.”

“Yes, but I didn’t. Because he thinks he was right, and he can help me find Eve.” She looked him in the eye. “And he told me where you were even though he didn’t know that I might blow your cozy little relationship.”

He chuckled. “You make us sound like lovers. I assure you that I’m not of the gay persuasion, and there’s nothing cozy about anything between Venable and me. We’re both very wary of what the other might do.” He gestured to a chair. “Won’t you sit down? I’m finding your visit very entertaining. I’ve been extremely bored lately.”

“I’ve not been bored,” she said bluntly as she sat down in the chair. “I’ve been scared and sick and angry. I wanted to kill Doane. I wanted to strangle Venable.” She looked up at him. “And I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do to you, but it wasn’t going to be pretty. I was told you had a chance to help Eve when she was free in those mountains, and you didn’t do it. Why?”

“Doane was my target. Eve would have been in the way.”

“They told me that Eve’s your daughter. That had no impact on your decision?”

He shook his head. “Does that put me beyond the pale in your eyes?”

“No, my father was an American soldier who deserted my mother before I was born. My mother was a whore, who was hooked on drugs and let me fend for myself on the streets. I don’t have any faith in family or obligation. But some people do. I hoped that you might be one of them. Because that would mean Eve has a better chance of surviving.”

He nodded mockingly. “My regrets.”

“Not accepted. Because even if you don’t give a damn that Eve is your daughter, if you talked to her for any time at all, you know what kind of person she is. She deserves to live.” She met his eyes. “And you seem to be in the best position to keep her alive. That’s why I’m here.”

“Really? Interesting.” He sat down opposite her. “And what is your purpose, Agent Ling? Do you intend to try to intimidate me into doing as you wish?”

“Catherine. I’m not CIA right now, I’m Eve’s friend,” she said. “And if you can’t act like a father, you should try to be her friend, too.” She added, “And stop being sarcastic. You can’t be intimidated. I don’t even know if you’d care if you lived or died.” She tilted her head. “I’m curious. Would you?”

“Sometimes. It depends on the moment. How about you?”

“Most of my moments are pretty damn good now. I have my son back.”

His brows rose. “If you’re not here to force me to your will, why did you come here, Catherine?”

“Venable said that you might be able to locate Doane by hacking security and traffic cameras and that he might still be in the area. I wanted to be on the spot if that happened.” She paused. “And Doane wants you dead, and that gives me another reason to be here.”

“And why is that?”

“I’m going to be your bodyguard.”

She heard Stang give a strangled gasp across the room.

Zander’s eyes widened. “I beg your pardon?”

“I’m going to take care of you,” she said simply. “I can’t let Doane kill you. You told Venable that Doane said he wanted to kill Eve in front of you. To keep Eve alive, I have to keep you alive.”

“Did it occur to you that I might be able to take care of myself?”

“Yes, but I can’t take the risk.” Her jaw set with determination. “I won’t let Eve die because I left her fate up to a man I’m not sure gives a damn. So suck it up, Zander. You’re stuck with me.”

He gazed at her for a long moment, and she had no idea what he was thinking. “The hell I am,” he said softly. “Do you realize how easily I could dispose of you?”

“I realize you’re an expert. But it wouldn’t be easy, Zander.”

He didn’t speak for another minute. “No, I don’t think it would.” He leaned back in the chair. “Tell me, do you wear a knife in a holster on your calf?”

“What?” she asked in surprise. “Sometimes.”

“Now?”

“Yes, I didn’t know what to expect. Why?”

“Just something Eve told me about you. I was trying to fasten a knife on her calf and she said that she wasn’t like you and that you’d be more prepared.”

“You gave her a knife?”

“It seemed to be the thing to do at the time. Of course, then I sent her off to face her fate with Doane. So don’t think I was being particularly generous to her.”

“I won’t.” She paused. “But maybe you were, considering what a cold bastard you seem to be.” She got to her feet. “May I go to the bathroom and freshen up? I just flew in from Atlanta and came straight here.”

“By all means.” He nodded at a door leading off the sitting room. “Make yourself at home.”

“Oh, I intend to do that.” She headed for the door he’d indicated. “And you might call housekeeping and get me a cot. Of course, I can always sleep on that sofa.”

“You really meant it.” He was gazing at her quizzically. “You’re moving in.”

“It’s the most practical thing to do. I have to be near you.” She tensed, waiting for the response.

“You’re being absurd, you know. And you could be very annoying. You have that potential.”

“Yes, I do. But I’m competent, reasonably intelligent, and I’m possibly the most stubborn person you’ve ever met. So unless you intend to drop me off that balcony over there, you’re not going to get rid of me.”

“Tempting,” he murmured.

“I’m sure it is.” She paused at the door. “So make up your mind.”

He gazed at her without expression. “I object to destroying lovely pieces of art unless necessary. I’ll keep you around until you annoy me too much.” He added as he got to his feet, “But if I find that you’re neither helpful nor as competent as you claim, that time will come sooner rather than later.” He glanced at Stang. “Confrontation over, Stang. We’ll keep her around.” He turned and strolled back out on the balcony.

Catherine’s gaze followed him. “Why do I feel like a stray puppy tossed over to you to watch, Stang?”

“You should be grateful,” Stang said dryly. “And take into account that he meant what he said. You took a chance.”

She had been aware of that threat the entire time she had been with Zander. “Life is full of chances. You just have to turn them into opportunities.” She opened the bathroom door. “I’ll be out in a few minutes, and you can show me the process of what you’re doing to monitor those cameras. Do you know you’re looking for a Toyota 4-Runner with a dented left fender?”

“Yes.”

“But you didn’t hear it from Venable.”

He shook his head. “Zander never trusts one source, particularly if it’s government connected.”

“Very intelligent.” She added, “And, after we go over the cameras, then I want you to go over the security measures in place here.”

“Security?” He looked at her in amazement. “You really meant what you said about protecting Zander?”

“I don’t usually say things I don’t mean.” She cast a glance at the door to the balcony. “He knew I meant it. That’s why he was so pissed at me. That’s the moment when it was touch-and-go.”

“You’re underestimating Zander. You may not have even reached that point yet,” Stang said. “And I’m not looking forward to the time that you do. You seem sincere about wanting to help Eve Duncan.”

“And are you sincere, Stang?”

“Oh, yes. And, like you, I’ve run a few risks because I wanted Zander to be more involved.” He turned at a knock on the door and moved to answer it. “That must be your tea. I’m sure that you can spare time to drink it before you go about saving Zander…”

CHAPTER

7

Starlite Motel
Casper, Wyoming

“WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO FINISH?”
Doane asked impatiently as he watched Eve’s hands carefully smoothing the clay down one cheek of Kevin’s reconstruction. “I thought you’d be done by noon today. Are you stalling?”

“Why should I be stalling? Do you think that I’m particularly fond of this tiny room? The sooner we get on the road, the better.” She glanced at him. “If somebody recognizes you, I’ll at least have a chance of getting away from you.”

“But I’m a dead man.” He smiled. “No one is looking for me … or you.”

“That’s right.” She looked back at the reconstruction. “How could I forget? Hope springs eternal.”

“He looks almost done. I’m tired of waiting.” He was gazing at the skull in discontent. “I’ll get the eyeballs. I have them safely tucked in a handkerchief in my suitcase.”

“Forty more minutes.” She met his eyes. “Do you believe I enjoy working on him? This is the third time I’ve had to make repairs on your Kevin’s skull. And this time you didn’t even salvage enough clay for me to do the job right. That makes it twice as hard to fill in and smooth.” She had to turn his impatience into anger, so that he’d seek a release. It was the only way she could to think to get him out of the room. “Did it ever occur to you that it’s a bad omen, and your son’s skull should just be tossed in the nearest garbage can?”

“Bitch.” His hand dug into her hair and he jerked her head back.

Pain.

“No?” she asked. “Well, he’ll be just as much a piece of garbage if you don’t let me finish him properly.” She glared up at him. “But what do I care? You want trash, I’ll give you trash.”

He cursed and gave her hair one more vicious twist before he released it. “It’s your fault you had to keep doing him over. You showed him no respect. You could have done him permanent damage by tossing that skull off the cliff while we were in the mountains.”

“I can but try,” she murmured.

He took a step toward her, then stopped. “Finish him. I’ll give you thirty minutes.” He handcuffed her right wrist to the chair. “I’ve got to get gas for the car at the motel gas station. I can keep an eye on the door of this unit from there. When I come back, you’d better be finished, or I’ll beat you unconscious.”

She looked down at the handcuffs. “This will be awkward working.”

“Finish him.” The door slammed behind him.

She drew a deep, relieved breath.

Okay, get to work.

She took some of the clay from the skull’s reconstruction, not too much or Doane would know it was missing. She’d been telling the truth about the scarcity of materials. Then she flattened the clay out on the table. She took her spatula and started to write on the clay.

Not too deep or it would break apart.

A capital
S,
small
e,
and then
WA
. No room for anything else.

Seattle, Washington. Would it be clear to anyone looking for a direction? It was as close as she could come.

The
S
looked more like an eight. She’d have to do it over.

It broke apart when she tried to alter it.

Keep calm.

Only ten minutes had passed.

She still had time.

She carefully meshed the clay together and started over again.

*   *   *

STANG RUSHED INTO THE
sitting room.

“We’ve got another hit.” He threw a map of Wyoming down on the desk in front of Zander. “Casper, Wyoming.”

“Where?” Catherine jumped up from her chair and was across the room in three strides. “What part of the city?”

“Outskirts.” Stang was looking at the computer 3-D map of the city. “Weiner says the camera was across the road at a tire store.” He pointed at the building. “But it still photographed the motel gas station across the way.” He pointed at four pumps. “There.”

“Has Weiner verified?” Zander asked.

“Yes, he says it’s the same vehicle he saw at the Colorado border. But we only got a visual for about ten minutes. Then it moved on and out of camera range.”

“On the road?”

“No.” He smiled. “It moved to the north in the parking lot and seemed to be going around a corner.”