Silencing Eve (38 page)

“Tell me you won’t have anyone there to meet her,” Jane said. “You’ll keep your word.”

“Unless something happens to indicate that Harriet’s plans are escalating. Then all bets are off.” He changed the subject. “You promised to tell me the location of those nukes. I need that info, Jane.”

“But you won’t act on the information while we still have a chance to get our hands on Harriet and Doane? That’s first on the agenda, right?”

“I’ll get a force together, and we’ll be poised to move to defuse those nukes at the first sign that there’s any immediate danger.”

“In your opinion.”

“In my opinion. Give me the locations.”

“We can’t be certain. According to Kendra, there’s a good chance that the one in Seattle is somewhere in the King Street Station. You’ll have to explore to find out exactly where.”

“Got it. As long as we know the approximate location, I can arrange a flyover by a plane with terahertz spectroscopes. They can detect plutonium signatures at great distances,” Venable said. “What about Chicago?”

“The Wrigley Building, where there’s another clock tower. We think it’s on the lowest floor, but we can’t be—”

“I think I’ve found it,” Margaret said from across the aisle. She held up a security video.

“Wait a minute, Venable.” Jane asked Margaret, “What did you find?”

“There’s a small room down there where the Wrigley executives used to store boating equipment. I don’t know if it was supposed to be emergency stuff since the complex is on the river or if the executives once did some public-relations gigs on the water. Anyway, there are black-and-white photos on the walls that show them standing at the rail of various craft and having a good old time.”

“Where are you going with this?”

“That it must have been decades ago. Everything is covered with dust except for the oars and various pieces of equipment that are covered by plastic.” She made a face. “Very well chewed plastic.”

“What else?”

“Half of a life preserver. The rats really must have loved the material that was used to make that preserver. W and R were the only letters left of the original Wrigley.” She paused. “It was leaning against the wall beneath a large wood panel that had ships carved on it. I couldn’t tell if there were any burned-out wires in the area.”

“If it was a room that had been deserted for decades, it would be a safe place to hide that device,” Trevor said. “Maybe your rats are more reliable than you thought, Margaret.”

“They’re not my rats,” she said flatly. “But they may have come through for us. Though I guarantee that wasn’t their purpose. They only have one purpose.”

“Talk to Venable. He’ll want to know everything there is to know about that room.” She handed Margaret her phone. “It might be a good idea to skip the bit about the rats.”

“No, he has to take me the way he finds me,” Margaret said. “He’ll survive it. Venable has had to deal with me before.” She started to speak into the phone.

“I have to go up to the cockpit and tell Caleb of our new destination,” Jane told Trevor as she unbuckled her seat belt. “You heard me try to pin Venable down. He wasn’t having it.”

“I think he’s trying.” Trevor reached out and gently stroked her cheek. “He likes Eve. If he can, he’ll give her every break.”

“If he can,” she repeated. For the briefest instant, she rested her cheek on his hand. He had strong hands, wonderful hands, she thought. Hands that brought pleasure and built that golden cocoon that shut out the world and made everything safe and good. As safe and good as Trevor was himself. She gave his palm a quick kiss and rose to her feet. “I can always count on you to make me see the bright side.”

“That’s what I want for you. The bright side all the way.” He smiled. “So give Caleb his new marching orders and come back, and we’ll work on it. We have a few hours we can steal before we have to hit the ground running. I’m going to use every one of them.”

Jane’s smile lingered as she headed for the cockpit. A few hours to steal. A few hours to be close to him and build a few more memories.

Loving memories. Bright memories.

Driftwood Cottage

“HARRIET’S ON HER WAY.”
Doane’s face was flushed as he came back into the cottage. “She should be here within a few hours. You’re a dead man, Zander.”

“You’ve been saying that for too long. Repetition is boring.”

“You won’t be bored when I blow her brains out.” Doane took a step closer to Eve and touched her hair. “All that ugly brain matter tangled in this pretty hair…”

“Crude. Why do you persist in thinking that it will matter to me?”

“When it gets down to those final moments, it will matter.” He smiled down at Eve. “Harriet wanted me to just kill you and get you out of the way. She just never understood how unsatisfying that would have been. She never admits she’s wrong.”

“When will she be here?”

“Beginning to be frightened? I’d say perhaps three hours. You have time to bond a little longer.” He went to the cabinet. “And I have time to dig two graves out in Kevin’s garden.” He pulled out a shovel. “Those places I chose will do very well, Eve. I’ve never dug a grave for anyone but Kevin’s little girls. Well, there was that agent who got in my way back at your lake cottage, but he didn’t matter. There was no pleasure in it. This one will be different.”

“Would you like help?” Zander asked. “If you’ll undo these handcuffs, I’d be glad to volunteer.”

“Do those cuffs bother you? Do you feel powerless? That must be maddening for you. You are powerless, Zander. Those are the finest military handcuffs, and they’ll hold you until the bullet goes into your brain.”

“Then I take it my offer is refused?”

Doane’s smile lost a little of its malicious pleasure. “You arrogant bastard.”

The front door slammed behind him.

“I thought for a minute that he’d take that shovel to your head,” Eve said dryly.

“There was a possibility but not a very great one. It would have spoiled his precious finale. He’s exceptionally single-minded.”

“I’ve noticed that.”

“And he won’t complete the show until Harriet is here.” He was staring thoughtfully at the door. “It would be much easier to take Doane out before she arrives on the scene.”

“Oh, would it?”

“But, since she apparently may be more dangerous in your eyes, I’d have trouble convincing you to run the risk of her blowing up Seattle and Chicago if she became upset that we had shifted the balance.”

“Yes, a good deal of trouble, Zander.” She shook her head. “And I’m having trouble with believing this discussion. You’re talking as if it’s a done deal.”

“No, there will be difficulties. It might be nice to have skilled assistance if it proves very dicey. We’ll have to see if Catherine comes through.”

“Catherine?”

“I told her that she had to redouble her efforts to find this lovely cottage.”

“And what did she say?”

“Well, nothing really. That was about the time when I knocked her unconscious.” He smiled. “But I’m sure that she’ll do as I suggested.”

“I’m not certain those circumstances would lend to compliance. Catherine doesn’t appreciate force.”

“But she does appreciate you. I think she probably weighed her anger at me and her affection for you, then got to work.” His smile faded. “If you want to take down Harriet, too, we’ll have to wait until she’s almost here before we bid good-bye to Doane.”

“She’s almost here now according to Doane.”

“But she’s not on the doorstep. Timing is everything.”

“And Catherine may appear and come to our rescue.”

“Wouldn’t that be delightful? Of course, it would ruin my image, but I might be able to bear that coming from Catherine.” He thought about it. “No, I still couldn’t stand it.”

“Then there’s no question she’ll do it for sheer punishment’s sake. You should not have knocked her out, Zander.”

“I do many things I shouldn’t do. I’m sure you’ve heard.”

“Yes.” It was bizarre sitting here in this equally bizarre and dangerous situation perfectly at ease with him, talking and even smiling. “You do have that reputation.”

“And I’ll do a few more before this night is over.” He met her eyes. “And I won’t regret one single act. After all, I am a lost soul, Eve.”

“I don’t know about that. Bonnie says there are second chances.”

“And, of course, she’s an expert.”

“She wouldn’t claim to be an expert. She only tells me what she’s learned since she left me.”

He was silent a moment. “And since she’s my granddaughter and therefore supremely intelligent, I’m inclined to believe her.” His lips twisted. “But only inclined considering her ethereal state. Suppose we change the conversation to a subject on which we both agree.”

Her brows rose. “And what is that?”

“Why, Catherine, of course. Tell me all about Catherine. She was a little too uptight to confide in me while she was my so-called bodyguard.”

“And I won’t break her confidence unless given permission.” She added quietly, “But I will tell you that she has amazing perseverance. She’ll find us, Zander.”

“Oh, I’m sure she’ll make every attempt. And there’s no doubt she’s pulled Joe Quinn into the search front and center by now.”

“Joe’s always front and center.”

“You really do care about him?”

“With my whole heart.”

“I can’t say the same. Quinn and I were at odds most of the time we were on the search in Colorado.”

“That doesn’t surprise me. You’re both alpha males.” She added quietly, “Joe has a tendency to trample down opposition if it gets in his way. He wouldn’t like the idea that he couldn’t control you. And you probably felt the same way about him.”

“Yes, but I was right.”

“Right, perhaps. But I’d wager not particularly moral.”

“And now we’re back to the lost soul.” He smiled. “And our joint wish that Catherine and your Joe are having a successful bonding to find Doane’s graveyard. Hopefully before he manages to put us in it.”

Seattle

“DAMMIT, CATHERINE, WHERE THE HELL
is that information on Oregon real-estate records?” Joe asked as he strode back into the sitting room. “You said that Langley promised it to you within the hour. I should have known those bureaucrats would drag their feet when they’re most needed.”

“They’re not bureaucrats. I’ve worked with these agents, and they do their best. Sid is very sharp.” She glared at him. “I hate bureaucrats as much as you do, but you can’t condemn the entire world because you’re hurting, Joe.”

“I can if what they’re doing is hurting Eve.”

She dropped the argument because she was almost as impatient as Joe. “Did either of you find that online book about driftwood artistry?”

“I didn’t,” Gallo said. “Nothing in any of the libraries or sites in Washington State.”

“You should have looked at Oregon,” Joe said. “I found a reference to a self-published Portland University book that contained photos and descriptions by a Josiah Natlow. One of the descriptions was of several pieces that resembled headstones.”

Catherine inhaled sharply. “Where?”

“It didn’t give a location. I’ve tracked down Natlow’s telephone number, and I’ve been calling him for the last ten minutes. No answer,” he said through set teeth. “Get that answer from Langley. We’re running out of time. According to what Jane told us, Harriet Weber should be landing in three hours.”

“You call Natlow back,” Catherine said. “I’ll get on the line to Langley.”

“Good.”

“May I suggest we get on the road,” Gallo said quietly. “Quinn is right, every minute may count.”

“Just wait until I get through to—” Her phone rang, and she glanced at the ID. “Langley.” She punched the speaker and the access button. “It’s about time. What have you got for me, Sid?”

“Success,” Sid said. “And if you’d been asking the right questions, we would have gotten it for you sooner. Kevin Relling purchased a small acreage five and a half years ago. The paperwork was buried beneath four fake companies and one legitimate franchise, but I finally dug through all the shit.”

“Near the beach?”

“On the hill above with beach access.”

“What about the driftwood?”

“Give me a break. There’s no way these records would mention driftwood.”

“Where is it?”

“Right below Oregon’s northern border with Washington.”

“On the Oregon side?”

“That’s what I said.”

“Give me the address.”

“Twelve Moonspinner Place.”

“Sickeningly poetic for the domicile of a mass murderer.”

“Yeah, anything else?”

“No. Thanks, Sid.” She hung up and jumped to her feet. Excitement was zinging through her. “Come on, we’ve
got
it.” She started for the door. “Gallo, do you know far it is to the Oregon border?”

“About 140 miles from here.”

“Shit.” Joe was jerking open the door. “God, it’s going to be close.”

“What about a helicopter?”

“By the time we get to the airport and rent it, we’ll have lost too much time,” Joe said. “And if Doane hears a plane overhead, it could trigger—” He broke off. “We’ll just have to break every speed record and take the fastest highway. I’ll drive, Gallo. You keep calling Natlow to verify. I’ll Google the house and area and see what we’re up against.”

A few minutes later, they were in the car and heading through the city streets. Catherine knew they couldn’t travel any faster until they got on the highway, but she was breathless, tense, and only wanted to
hurry.
Joe was right, it was going to be incredibly close. “What if Sid is wrong?” she asked jerkily. “Wrong address? Wrong Relling? We don’t have time for mistakes.”

“You’re borrowing trouble,” Gallo said quietly. “And I don’t believe he’s wrong. I just pulled up the Natlow photo that Quinn found in that Portland University site.” He handed her his phone. “Pretty convincing.”

Stark white branches curved in a wild, horribly macabre simile to a headstone. She felt sick as she stared at it. Death. Both Doane and Kevin had been totally absorbed with death as a means to power. This piece of driftwood was meant to fling that ugly power in the faces of anyone looking at it. She hadn’t the slightest doubt that this photo was part of Doane’s tapestry of evil.