Another silence. Sorry. Ill leave it in your hands. I know you wont fail me. She hung up the phone.
That damn skull again, tying his hands, keeping him from doing his job.
He leaned forward and opened the glove box. He had plenty of time to update his list. With one bold, satisfying stroke, he crossed out Gary Kesslers name.
8:35 A.M.
Eve jumped out of the car as soon as it stopped at her mothers cottage.
Hold it. Joe was beside her, pushing her to one side. I go in first.
He had gone in first at the motel and found Gary. No. Mom!
No answer.
Then Sandra called out, Its okay, Eve. Pilton wont let me come out, but everythings fine.
Relief almost made Eve ill. Were coming in.
Logan had pulled in behind Joes car. Its okay?
Apparently. Joe was scanning the surrounding woods. Maybe. Go in and make sure theyre ready to go. Ill stay out here.
Logan followed Eve toward the porch.
Wait. Joe asked, Wheres the skull, Logan?
Front passenger seat. Keep an eye on it.
Ill do that. Joes gaze never left the woods. Hurry and get everyone into the cars.
He was out there.
Christ, he could almost smell him, Joe thought.
Smell the blood. Smell the hunger.
His nerves were screaming Fiskes presence. It was as if hed been catapulted back into his past of targets and sanctioned killings. Fiske would under-stand that world. He was out there now, primed, ready. To do what?
Throw a stick of dynamite into the cottage?
Launch a sniper attack as they came out on the porch?
If that were true, Joe would be the first target. The sentry was always the first put down.
But Fiske was acting at a disadvantage. His orders would not have been solely assassination.
The skull.
Joe smiled grimly. So lets end it now. Lets make the hunter the hunted.
Are you watching, Fiske?
He took off his jacket, reached into Logans car, and pulled out the leather case containing the skull.
Bait, Fiske.
He deliberately held up the case above his head.
See it?
He started running, zigzagging through the brush toward the woods.
Come and get it, bastard.
Fiskes eyes opened wide in shock.
The son of a bitch was taunting him. And he was doing it with that leather case, which had to contain the skull.
He watched Quinn run across the rough terrain. He knew what he was doing and he was good. Hed be no easy target.
Pleasure and eagerness suddenly surged through him. The Chadbourne bitch had said to get the skull. First priority. Hed had no idea the priority would offer him such an interesting challenge.
He set off in a diagonal path to intercept Quinn.
Margaret, you go in the van with Pilton, Logan said as he came down the steps. Well take Sandra with us.
Im to go back to Sanibel? Margaret asked. When will you contact me?
When its safe, Logan said. Im going to let Quinn set up a meeting with that reporter with the
Wheres Joe? Eve had stopped on the top step.
Hes got to be around here. Logan swiftly scanned the area.
Eves gaze went to the car.
No Joe.
Her heart was beating so hard it hurt. Fiske.
