Silencing Eve (18 page)

“And who is that?”

“John Gallo.” She gazed searchingly at him. “Did Eve tell you anything about Gallo?”

He shook his head. “Not really. She mentioned his name as Bonnie’s father but wouldn’t say anything more about him. I was made to understand that anything that personal was going to remain personal. She had the same attitude toward Joe Quinn, but I had dossiers on him, so it didn’t matter. Just the length of her relationship with Quinn spoke for itself.” He paused. “What does Gallo have to do with this? Why do you have to call him?”

“Because he’s wasting his time, and he’s too valuable to waste. Right now he’s in Vancouver tracking you and probably scaring all your contacts so badly they’ll be scurrying for cover. I have to tell him I’m with you and that he should pull back.” She made a face. “Easier said than done. Gallo is … not controllable. He goes his own way.”

“Then why are you trying if he won’t listen to you?”

“Sometimes he listens to me.”

“Really?” His eyes narrowed on her face. “Tell me, do you share something besides friendship with Eve? Is Gallo your lover?”

“No, but if he was, it would be no betrayal of Eve. What was between them ended almost before it began, and all they shared was Bonnie.”

“That’s a big thing to share, possibly the biggest in Eve’s life.”

“Yes, and Gallo tells me that because they share it, Eve will always be his friend.” She met his gaze. “And that’s why he’s trying to track you down. He’s trying to save his friend, and you’re the only path we’ve been able to find that might lead to her.”

“How wonderful to be so popular. Lucky me.” He leaned back in his seat. “How good is Gallo?”

“Very, very good. Brilliant. He was in the Army Special Forces and they sent him on suicide missions.” She smiled faintly. “But he always came back. Is that good enough for you, Zander?”

“It appears to be good enough for you, Catherine.” He tilted his head. “Go ahead, make your call. We must tell Gallo that he’ll have to wait to make my acquaintance. I know he’ll be disappointed.”

“No, he’ll just make a decision whether he’ll track me along with you, Zander. Since I’m sure you won’t let me tell him where we are.”

“Correct. You have me all to yourself.” His tone took on a steely edge. “All the rest of your little group can stay out of my way.”

“No promises.” She started to dial. “They’re all individuals and have minds of their own. I’m going to fill Gallo in on everything that’s happened. I’m sure it will bore you. So why don’t you go back up to the cockpit?”

“Oh, this call won’t bore me,” he drawled. “Because you obviously want to get rid of me. That opens all kinds of interesting questions to sift through.”

She had been afraid that would be his reaction. She would always have to be on guard against Zander’s razor-sharp intellect and boundless curiosity, and her vulnerability to Gallo made her wary of exposing that possible weakness. She shrugged. “Suit yourself.”

“Oh, I will.”

“I didn’t have the—” She broke off as Gallo answered. “Hello, Gallo. I need to fill you in on a few things that I’ve learned that may come into play.”

“I haven’t found Zander yet. He and Stang seem to have disappeared. Though I think I have a line on an electronics expert he uses on occasion. His name is Weiner, and I should be able to—”

“Weiner? No, leave him alone. The man’s been practically having a nervous breakdown because he’s afraid Zander will think he’s betrayed him.”

Silence. “Now I’m curious to know how you happen to have that information.”

She braced herself. “Because I found Zander. I’m with him now.”

“The hell you are.”

“And he’s not in Vancouver and won’t return there until we find Eve.”

He said softly, “And, dammit, how can we find Eve if we can’t use him to do it?”

She glanced at Zander. “I don’t believe he’d like to be used. But he may come around to being of minimal help.”

“He’s in the room with you, isn’t he?”

“A plane, actually. And, yes, he’s listening.”

“And is he a threat to you?”

“Not at the moment. It’s my choice to be here. If I behave myself, I may escape being thrown out over the Rockies.”

“I want to talk to him.”

“That wouldn’t be a good idea. I was joking about being thrown out over the mountains.”

“More likely the Pacific,” Zander murmured. “I could talk to him, Catherine.”

And that mocking tongue would probably stir Gallo into a fury. “Zander wasn’t the only reason I called you. I wanted to make sure you weren’t wasting your time looking for him, but there are other things I needed to tell you.” She briefly told him all she had learned in her conversation with Jane, then their chase after Eve to the airport in Wyoming. “Seattle, not Vancouver, Gallo. He’s going to try some way to get Eve with Zander in Seattle. At least, that’s what Eve guessed when she wrote those letters on the clay.”

“And Jane thinks that Doane’s ex-wife may know something about Doane?”

“I don’t know what Jane thinks. Harriet Weber is one big question mark right now. But she thinks it’s worth pursuing. Kendra is working on the journal and seeing what connections she can make with the new info about Harriet.” She paused. “There you have it, Gallo. It’s all I can give you to work with.”

“You’re going to Seattle, aren’t you?”

“Yes, but if you’re thinking about teaming with me and Zander, forget it. Zander won’t have it. He’s barely tolerating me. You’re on your own.” She hesitated. “But there’s a way that you could help Eve if you’ll do it.”

“Of course I’ll do it,” he said roughly. “Don’t be ridiculous. What is it?”

“Joe Quinn is somewhere up there in Vancouver. Jane called and told him that Seattle was going to be the hot spot.”

“I don’t like where this is going.”

“Joe is nearly crazy, he’s so afraid about Eve. He’s not going to be either cautious or safe. He may even give away the edge that Doane believes he’s safe from pursuit. Joe will tear down to Seattle and go for broke.” She paused. “Having someone around to balance that desperation would be very desirable.”

“For God’s sake, he’s Eve’s lover. I’m the father of her child. Don’t you see a few difficulties in having me chum up with him? I assure you that Quinn will.”

“You specialize in overcoming difficulties. I’ve watched you do it. It’s a matter of whether you’ll exert the effort. I can’t persuade you. Only you can decide whether it’s worth it to save Eve. I’ll keep you in the loop with any information that comes up. I’m going to hang up now.”

Gallo muttered a curse. “I need to be with you there. Why the hell didn’t you bring me into the picture when you tapped Venable? Why face Zander alone?”

“Why not?” She looked at Zander. “We’re making real progress in getting to know each other. He assured me that he wouldn’t throw me out of the plane in the mountains. It would definitely be the Pacific. Now that would extend our relationship over I don’t know how many more miles. He obviously wants to keep me with him.”

“That’s not amusing.”

“Actually, sometimes Zander is amusing.” She added, “I don’t have a choice. I have to work it this way, Gallo. I’ll call you when I can.” She hung up.

“He’s very protective,” Zander said. “He didn’t like it that I have you in my clutches.”

“I thought it was the other way around,” Catherine said. “And some men are naturally protective.”

“Of you.” He chuckled. “But not of Joe Quinn. I found it clever how you manipulated him to do what you wished.”

“I didn’t manipulate him. It will be his decision. I just made a decision that would help find Eve.”

“And you now have all your ducks in a row to move forward. It was fascinating watching you create an army out of a band of revolutionaries.”

“They’re brilliant, competent people. I did the best I could. But I’m handicapped from now on. As I said, they’re on their own.” She met his gaze. “It’s you and me, Zander.”

“That remains to be seen. But until I make a decision, you do have amusement value.”

“I don’t believe anyone has ever listed that as one of my primary assets.”

“Doesn’t your son think you’re amusing?”

“We won’t talk about Luke if you don’t mind. You appear to be curious about everything and everyone around you, but I’m aware that knowledge can give one weapons. You must already realize I’m vulnerable where my son is concerned. I can’t hide it now. But I can keep you from knowing any more about my relationship with Luke.”

“As you like.” His gaze shifted to the window next to him. “You’re afraid I’ll target your son to hurt you. It’s very intelligent of you to consider the possibility, but I don’t hurt children. It’s one of my idiosyncrasies.”

“We’ll still not discuss him.”

“You’re wise not to trust me. You should hold tight to anyone you value.” His gaze shifted back to her. “In many ways you remind me of Eve.”

“I don’t know why. Eve and I share a few philosophies, but we’re not at all alike.”

He smiled faintly. “Then why do I feel that if you were the one missing, I’d be sitting here talking to Eve? She’d be looking for you with the same passion you’re showing trying to save her.”

“I don’t know why you’d think that.” She tilted her head. “Perhaps you know her better than I do.” She added slyly, “Or it could be fatherly instinct.”

He looked disconcerted. Then he chuckled and rose to his feet. “As I said, you do have amusement value.” He headed for the cockpit. “Buckle up. I think we’re on the way down.”

She watched him disappear into the cockpit. The tension was easing, they had struck a balance, but she knew that he could turn and strike with lightning force if he decided to do so.

She glanced out the window and saw that they were going through wispy clouds. Zander was right, they should be landing in Seattle within minutes.

If they were right about Doane and Eve’s being on the plane that had taken off from that airport in Wyoming, they should have landed in the Seattle area hours ago.

If Doane hadn’t pulled a fast one and fooled Eve about the destination.

She felt her muscles stiffen at the thought that they might be in the wrong city with little time to spare before Doane ignited those nukes.

No, she had to trust that Eve had given them the right information or go crazy.

She closed her eyes.

Be here, Eve.

Please, be here.

Driftwood Cottage

“WE’RE HOME,” DOANE SAID
as he took the blindfold off Eve’s eyes. “And it’s a very special home. Kevin loved this place.”

“It took you long enough to drive here,” Eve said as she looked up the hill at the cottage. “I thought you were taking me to Canada.” Where was she? The area appeared completely deserted, and the drive from the small airport where they’d landed had seemed to be as long as she’d said.

Dark hills loomed in contrast with the beach where the car was parked. Sand, pale driftwood gleaming in the moonlight, a weather-beaten cottage on the hill.

Surf crashing against the rocky shore.

“Not as placid and beautiful as your cottage on the lake,” Doane said as he pulled Eve out of the rental car and pushed her up the path. “This is Kevin’s house. He bought it when he was in Seattle trying to find a suitable location for the device. He got a good deal of pleasure out of this place. He said it suited him.”

“I can see how it might. Totally bizarre and theatrical.” And chilling. The cottage was small and rustic, half-hidden by rocks but what she could see was like a scene from a horror film. In front of the cottage were scores of individual pieces of white driftwood whose twisted branches were oddly shaped like gleaming headstones. They appeared to be entreating mercy from the darkness of the sky above. The thought of Kevin’s standing here and looking at those twisted branches was frightening. She could almost feel him beside her.

No, behind her. If she looked over her shoulder, would she see Doane … or Kevin?

“And I liked the thought of nature unchained,” Doane said. “I believed it might increase your feeling of helplessness.”

“It doesn’t,” she lied. She would not look over her shoulder at him. Instead, she glanced around the deserted beach and hills. “But it’s not what I expected. You’re not going to have much impact with your dirty bomb out here in the boonies. I was expecting a big-city locale.”

“You’ll get it.” He pushed her inside. “This is what you might call a holding tank. I have to get everything ready before I throw you and Zander together for the finale.”

“What do you have to get ready? I thought you told me everything was set to go, that all it would take would be pressing a button. Was that a lie?”

“I don’t have to lie to you. I don’t have to tell you anything.”

“But you like to tell me all your plans. It gives you some kind of cheap thrill.” She wrinkled her nose as she looked around the small room. It was dusty and smelled of mildew. The only furniture was a wooden table and simple kitchen chairs, a faded couch, an easy chair, and coffee table in front of a stone fireplace. “Your choice of prisons isn’t improving. This isn’t any better than that motel. How long do we have to be here?”

“Until I make arrangements.” He pushed her down in a chair at the table and tied her. “And I’m going to have to leave you for a while to do it.” He chuckled. “I see your eyes light up. Don’t be too eager. You’ll still have my full attention. But now that you’ve finished the reconstruction, you’re not going to be occupied. I’ll have to take care of that problem.”

“I can’t wait to learn how.”

“You won’t have to wait long.” He put the case containing Kevin’s skull on the table beside her. “And I’ll leave Kevin here to keep you company.” He opened the case and gently pulled the reconstruction from the box. “I know how much you like him to be close to you, to watch you.”

She didn’t look at the reconstruction. She knew every line, every curve of that face she’d rebuilt from the burned horror of the skull Doane had given her to re-create. It was a handsome face, but all she could see was the twisted soul beneath it. “If I get loose, the first thing I’ll do will be to light a fire in that fireplace and throw him into it. It’s where you should have left him instead of trying to resurrect him.”