Quinn was in the shadow of the huge sweet gum tree. As soon as Kistle saw him, he was gone, vanished.
He had thought Joe Quinn would be coming after him, and he was glad that he hadn't been disappointed. Quinn knew what he was doing in the forest and would be an interesting challenge.
He could no longer see him and Quinn was making no sound. Silence and stealth. Kistle would have to be very careful. He knew Joe Quinn's background and respected it. It was good that he was going to be challenged by the best of the best. These other yokels would be a piece of cake and bore him in no time. But Quinn would not bore him.
And neither would the hunter who'd crossed his path earlier in the evening. He'd been bigger, more muscular, but just as silent. Kistle had barely caught a glimpse of him, but he'd had the same phantom elusiveness as Quinn.
A tracker they'd brought in to find him?
Possible. At any rate, someone to keep Kistle interested… until he chose to kill him.
Should he go after Quinn now? Excitement tingled through him at the thought. What a magnificently effective blow that would be to Eve. But devastation should be paced, build, until the final eruption.
He sighed as he reluctantly prepared to leave. No, he'd move away from the danger that was Joe Quinn and keep to his original plan.
What are you doing tonight, Eve? Are you waiting for me? You won't wait for long. I won't let you. You'll have to come after me yourself.
And then I'll wait for you.
'YOU'RE JANE? I'M LUIS Montalvo.' Montalvo smiled as she opened the door. 'Of course you're Jane. Miguel told me how beautiful you are. He's very disappointed that you won't let him sweep you off your feet.'
'He'll recover. I think you're the only one he takes seriously.' She stepped aside to let him enter. 'Eve will be right out. Sit down. Would you like a cup of coffee?'
'Please. Black.' He sat down on the couch. 'Where is Quinn?'
'He'll be here. He was at the forest all night.' She handed him the cup. 'You were there too, weren't you? I'm surprised you didn't run into each other.'
'It's a big area.' His gaze went to the reconstruction on the desk. 'Another child?'
'Yes. Eve calls her Carrie. She couldn't bear not to try to finish her if she got the chance.'
He nodded thoughtfully. 'I can see it. Food for the soul.'
'What?'
'It keeps her going. Perhaps subconsciously she thinks of each child as a stepstone to get to her Bonnie. If she does enough good works, then someday she'll be rewarded by finding her daughter.'
Oh, yes, Jane could see how Eve could have been drawn to Montalvo. Those high cheekbones and dark eyes were totally arresting and he radiated confidence and vitality. Looks, charisma, and what was more dangerous, intelligence.
'I never thought of it quite like that,' she said slowly. 'I think it's probably much simpler. She's a good woman trying to save others from pain.'
He nodded. 'You could be right. I have a tendency to overanalyze at times. Particularly when I need to know how someone is going to react. It's important to me to know how Eve thinks.' He lifted his cup to his lips. 'I bought a painting of yours a month ago.'
Her brows lifted. 'Why? You don't have to know how I think.'
'I found it fascinating. I went to the gallery because I was curious about Eve's daughter and found myself caught.'
'Which painting?'
'It's one of Quinn's lake cottage. Very serene. I tried to buy another one, but they told me it wasn't for sale. It was the portrait of a man. You titled it
'I don't know.' She shrugged. 'He doesn't exist. I just started sketching his face one night. It wouldn't leave me alone, so I thought if I did a portrait it would be a catharsis. It didn't work. I still paint him.'
'Interesting. Perhaps it's not a person; it's the face of guilt.'
'It could be true. We all have reason to be guilty in some area.' She met his gaze. 'But some of us aren't tormented by it.'
He chuckled. 'You're talking about me. You're right, I've developed a thick skin over the years. But I don't believe you're talking about my past. You're more personally involved.'
'Very personally. I love Joe. Eve has a right to do what she wants to do. I'll back her all the way. But don't you make trouble for her.'
His smile faded. 'That's the last thing I want to do. I want her to be happy and at peace. I'm the one who can do that for her, Jane.'
He was almost making her believe it. She shook her head. 'She's happy with Joe.'
'Is she?' He finished his coffee and set the cup on the coffee table. 'There are degrees of happiness, just as there are degrees of guilt. As you said, Eve should do what she wants.'
And he would do everything he could to make sure what Eve wanted was what he wanted, Jane thought. Persuasive as Satan, and yet she believed he meant every word he said. What a lethal combination.
He shook his head as he studied her expression. 'Don't worry,' he said gently. 'I only want to give her what she-'
'Hello, Montalvo,' Eve said as she opened the door. 'I've just been on the phone with Joe. He'll be right down.'
'Oh, that's right. Miguel told me he had another room.' Montalvo rose to his feet. 'Very wise. He doesn't need distractions.' He smiled. 'Hello, Eve. I've been getting to know your Jane. I feel as if I've run a gauntlet. She's very like you.'
'I take that as a compliment.'
Eve was tense, but Jane could sense the odd familiarity that was almost a bond between her and Montalvo.
Yes, he did, and that would be the most dangerous weapon Montalvo had in his possession.
'Would you like coffee, Eve? Or how about orange juice? It's pretty-' Jane's cell phone rang and she took it out of her pocket and checked the ID. 'It's my agent, Eve. I can have him call back.'
'No, go take the call. I'm not letting you put your life on hold for me.' She went to the sideboard and poured herself a cup of coffee. 'Shoo.'
Jane hesitated. She was probably being idiotically protective. Eve wouldn't accept hovering from anyone. She punched the button on her phone as she headed for her bedroom. 'If you need me, give a shout.'
'IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU, EVE,' Montalvo said quietly. 'They say anticipation makes pleasure more intense. I could do without the anticipation. I don't like doing without you.'
'You never had me.' She stared at him over the rim of the cup as she lifted it to her lips. She had hoped that when she saw him again he'd be less than she remembered him. He was the same Montalvo, dark eyes that gazed out at the world with intelligence and boldness, dark hair, full well-shaped lips, and a strength and vibrance that was like a living force. 'I told you that I didn't want you involved in this, Montalvo. I want you out of my life.'
'I'm not interfering. I felt duty-bound to have Miguel guard you, otherwise I've stayed in the background. Have I approached you?' He smiled. 'After all, Quinn invited me here.'
'Because you have information we need. Do you think I don't know Joe wouldn't have-' There was a knock on the door. 'That must be Joe.' She set down her cup and moved toward the door.
'What a polite knock,' Montalvo murmured. 'I approve.'
Dammit, he was enjoying the fact that Joe wasn't staying with her. She threw open the door. 'Did Jane forget to give you your key?' She took her own key from the chest by the door and handed it to him. 'Montalvo's already here.'
'So I see.' Joe came into the room and shut the door. 'Let's get to it.'
'Certainly.' He opened the portfolio he'd placed on the coffee table. 'First, tell me what you've found out, Quinn.'
