'We could have used Quinn.'
'And chance having Dom butcher him? He’s done too much for me already.”
“I should have known that protective streak would raise its head. Don’t hesitate to use that gun.' He hung up.
The Killing Game – Eve Duncan 02
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She sat in the car, staring up at the candles on the hill. Five minutes.
Seven minutes. The phone rang.
'Are you enjoying my candles?' Dom asked. 'I want to talk to Jane.'
'Do you doubt me? I told you I wanted you to die first.”
“Let me talk to Jane.'
'Oh, very well.'
'Eve, don’t you do what he says,' Jane yelled into the phone. 'He’s a slimy creep and I—'
Dom took the phone away. 'Is that enough? It’s all you’ll get. I’ve been very patient with Jane since she woke, but she’s really beginning to annoy me.'
'It’s enough.'
'Then step into my parlor. I’ll be there in ten minutes.'
She pressed the off button and quickly dialed Sarah. 'Ten minute-walk from here.'
“That could cover a lot of territory.'
'Find her. If he manages to kill me and escapes, you can’t let him get back to Jane.'
'We’ll do our best.' Nine minutes.
Stay in the car. Be safe for just a little longer. Sit and watch the flickering lights on the hill.
Sarah put on her utility belt and Monty tensed.
'That’s right, boy. Time to get to work.' She let Monty sniff Jane’s T-shirt. 'Find her.' She started down the trail at a trot. She’d already scoped out the lay of the land and come up with the two most logical possibilities.
He wouldn’t keep Jane out in the open. So there was the stand of woods near the base of the mountains to the west.
Or there was the bush-covered ravine to the east. Either was a fast ten-minute walk to the plateau. Which direction?
She’d make the decision when she got closer. Pray to God she’d make the right one. Monty was stretched out, almost running. Child…
Ten minutes.
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Eve opened the door and got out of the car. The air was knife sharp, cutting her to the bone. It was a moonless night, icy cold with a promise of snow.
She started up the hill.
Candles.
Flames.
Are you there yet, Dom? She reached the top. No one.
Just the candles and the flames and the flickering shadows on the desolate earth. It wasn’t as brightly lit as she’d thought from down below. There was a patch of deep shadow at the far corner of the site.
She moved farther into the circle of light. Was he watching her, or was it her imagination? She whirled around.
No one.
Or was there?
Something in those shadows…
She hesitated and then moved away from the light toward the patch of darkness. 'Dom? You wanted me here. Come and get me.' No sound.
Decision time.
Sarah paused to catch her breath. The woods or the ravine?
Monty had already made a decision. He was tearing across the ground toward the woods. He stopped, sniffed, and took off again.
He’d caught Jane’s scent.
The substance in the shadow was no standing figure, Eve realized. Something on the ground…
