cabin.”
She didn’t argue. She had an uneasy feeling that… it was almost as if she was being watched. But there could be no one watching in this very private sanctuary.
She glanced back over her shoulder to see John still leaning against the tree beside the lake. His gaze was on her, but there was a remoteness about him that was as chilling as everything surrounding him.
She was glad to get inside the cabin and slam the door. Imagination. They were getting close to Bonnie’s murderer, and Eve’s nerves were raw and on edge. It was no wonder that she wasn’t thinking with any degree of clarity.
The remedy was to get her mind working on a real problem and solution.
Catherine. She still had to call Catherine.
She reached for her phone and quickly dialed.
“I’m in Milwaukee. I just got off the plane from St. Louis,” Catherine said, when she picked up the call. “Where are you? Still at the Marriott?”
“No, we’re at a cabin in the woods about seventy miles from the city.” She paused. “Queen should be on his way to Milwaukee. John told him that he’d give him a ledger he desperately wants if he could get Black to release Cara Clark.”
“Fat chance. I saw what he did to that kid’s mother and grandmother. He likes what he does. I can’t see him giving up another kill because Queen wants him to do it.”
“Neither does John. But he’s hoping for a distraction.”
“And I’m thinking Queen will go for a double cross,” Catherine said. “But we might be able to use that, too.”
“Listen, Catherine, I know you have a stake in finding Black, too. But you can’t kill him until I can talk to him. I have to be certain he killed Bonnie. I have to know what happened and where I can find her.”
“It’s going to be hard to remember that when I think about that kid, Cara, watching what Black did to her mother. But I promise I won’t do anything that will hurt you, Eve. How is Queen arriving? Military or commercial?”
“I don’t know.”
“I’m thinking commercial. He’s crooked, and he tries to keep MI from knowing anything about his less legal moves. I believe I’ll stick around here at the airport and see if I can spot Queen.”
“And then what?”
“I’ll play it by ear.” She paused. “I just called the hospital. Judy Clark is out of ICU. They think she’ll make it.”
“Wonderful. John called and inquired, but they wouldn’t tell him anything.”
“It’s a murder case. They probably weren’t sure that he wasn’t checking to see if he had to go to the hospital and finish the job. It’s a cynical world.”
“And you were just as doubtful about him.”
“Not anymore. Not about this murder. But that doesn’t mean I’m convinced he’s one of the good guys. A good guy doesn’t dope you and lug you to his lair in Utah.” She went on before Eve could answer. “I’ll call you if I find out anything interesting. Have you talked to Joe?”
“No.”
“Neither have I lately. He called once, and I ignored it, so that I wouldn’t have to lie to him. But you
“I’m hoping that it will all be over before-”
“Don’t fool yourself.” Catherine hung up.
Eve wasn’t about to deceive herself that she had anything but the smallest chance of keeping Joe away from the danger to come. Yet she had to take that chance. Her world was chaos, and she had to keep Joe away from it.
She went to the window and gazed out. It was nearly dark, and John was a dark shadow against the paler gray shadow of the lake. He was very still. His head lifted, as if he was listening.
What was he hearing?
Sounds of the forest?
Voices?
Did you hear voices, John Gallo?
And she must still doubt his sanity if she thought that there was a possibility that he did.
And what voices?
The voices of men you’ve killed?
Bonnie’s voice?
He was straightening, turning away, coming back to the cabin.
She whirled away from the window, feeling a bolt of panic, as if caught intruding. She went to the stove and put on the coffeepot.
But the question stayed with her.
Bonnie’s voice?
CATHERINE DIALED VENABLE AS soon as she hung up from Eve. “I have to know when Queen is arriving in Milwaukee,” she said curtly. “He’s probably on commercial. Can you get it for me right away?”
“Your wish is my command,” Venable said sarcastically. “You do know that the St. Louis police have been making inquiries about you? They want to know if you might have turned rogue.”
“It was Paul Black. But Queen is up to his eyebrows in this shit. I have to get that kid away from Black. Can you get me the info on Queen?”
“I’ll get it. Anything else?”
“Equipment. Active-infrared night-vision glasses. Guns. I couldn’t take mine on the plane.” She had another thought. “The latest version of Celltec our people have managed to develop. Deliver it to me at the Milwaukee airport right away.”
“And how do you know I have contacts in Milwaukee?”
“You have contacts everywhere.”
He swore beneath his breath. “You’ll have them.” He hung up.
And he would deliver as promised. Venable didn’t like the idea of the kid being taken. He wasn’t a bad guy if his duty didn’t get in the way of his sense of right and wrong. Duty always won hands down in that case. She had learned that through bitter experience.
But he’d come through this time.
She turned and headed for the bar in the terminal to wait for Venable to call her back.
“HE’S ON DELTA 105 AND SHOULD be arriving at eight fifteen,” Venable said. “Did you get your equipment?”
“Delivered thirty minutes ago. Very prompt, Venable.”
“Thank you. I always like to please you. It was hard as hell to get my hands on that Celltec.” He paused. “Be careful, Catherine.”
“Queen should be no problem.”
“He can recognize you. You’re very memorable.”
“I’ll stay out of his sight. That’s why you got me the latest version of Celltec. I can tap into any of his calls from halfway across the airport.”
“See that you do.” He hung up.
