concentrate on that later. Now we've got him in our sights.'
'Not yet,' Montalvo said. 'And considering his experience, it won't be easy.' He turned to Eve and said quietly, 'But we'll get him this time.' He didn't wait for an answer but headed for the door. 'I'll be in touch.'
Joe turned to her when the door shut behind him. 'Don't get your hopes up. It still might not be Kistle, Eve.'
'Don't tell me that,' she said with sudden fierceness. 'I'm going to keep on hoping. I
'Cassidy's bowing out of the case.' He lifted his hand as he saw her open her lips. 'It's okay. We don't need him. He could get in the way. I can still request the information from the national database at Quantico.' He moved toward the door. 'I'll get right on it.' He paused to look back at her. 'How are you? Should I stay?'
She shook her head. 'This is no real surprise. I knew he was a monster. I just didn't know he was such a clever one.' She looked back down at the report. 'Go on. Talk to Quantico.'
SIX
JANE CAME OUT OF THE bedroom ten minutes later. 'How did it go?' she asked as she saw the reports and photos spread out on the coffee table. 'I gather Montalvo came through for you?'
'Yes.' She couldn't look at these reports and newspapers stories anymore right now. They hurt too much. 'He did what he promised. Joe's going to see if he can use them to get any more information.'
'Cooperation between them?' Jane raised her brows. 'Really?
'Really.' Eve began to stack the information and put it back in the portfolio. 'What did your agent want?'
'Nothing much.'
'Jane.'
She made a face. 'He wanted me to go to Paris. A gallery there wants to exhibit the six paintings that didn't sell from the last show. He thinks it would open doors. I told him that a U.S. audience is just fine.'
'Bullshit,' Eve said. 'Go. You don't have to sit here and hold my hand.'
'I want to do it.'
'Too bad. I'm feeling bad enough without guilt thrown into the mix. All I'm doing is sitting here while everyone else is trying to catch that bastard. You don't have to sit with me. One of us should do something productive.' She got to her feet. 'In fact, I'm going to start working on Carrie right now. You pack your bag and get out of here.'
'No.'
'Yes.' Eve stared her in the eye. 'I won't have Kistle spoil one more moment of my life. Everything around me is dirty and sad right now. You and your paintings are bright and full of beauty. I want to think of you in Paris. I want you to call and tell me what's happening in that world.'
Jane gazed at her searchingly. 'You mean it.' She hesitated. 'Will you call me when they catch Kistle? I'll fly back to be with you.'
'The minute I hear.' Eve gave her a quick hug. 'Now get out of here so I can concentrate on Carrie.' She moved toward the table. 'Call and get me another pot of coffee before you leave, will you?'
Jane was still standing there. 'I don't give a damn about Paris or the show, Eve. You're the only one who's important to me.'
'The coffee,' Eve said as she took off the drop cloth. 'And Paris is important to me. Get out of here, Jane.'
'Okay, I'm on my way.' Jane went into the bedroom and closed the door.
Damn, she was going to miss her, Eve thought. But it was better for Jane to leave. She wouldn't have let her come with her to Bloomburg if she hadn't been so shaken. As she'd told Jane, it was ugly here and it was going to get uglier. After what Montalvo had told her about Kistle, it was clear that his behavior in contacting her was unusual for him. And those two poor deputies he had killed in her name were a message sent to frighten her. Kistle wasn't going to be content to keep his distance. He wanted to touch her, scare her, hurt her.
And Jane mustn't be here and get in his way.
She began to check the clay tissue depth beneath Carrie's cheekbone. 'It's just you and me, Carrie,' she whispered. 'I have to work fast and finish you as quickly as possible. I don't think he's going to give me much time…'
'YOU HAVE TO BE KIDDING, Venable,' Montalvo said. 'If you think I'm going to give you any information for a harebrained scheme like that, you're mistaken.'
'It's my best bet.' Venable said. 'I can't keep Cassidy on the hook for more than another day. Hell, I know it's a long shot. But I'm going with it. I've called that Sheriff Dodsworth and asked for his permission and cooperation and he gave it reluctantly.'
'He didn't laugh in your face?'
'He's too polite. But he was damn skeptical.'
'Amazing,' Montalvo murmured.
'Be quiet, Montalvo. I'm doing the best I can. I have to keep this low-key. You don't have to pay me until we locate Bobby Joe. But I'd appreciate it if you'd give this option the benefit of the doubt.' He paused. 'Or else you might end up with egg on your face.'
Montalvo hadn't expected that last remark. He'd thought it had been desperation that had led Venable to come up with this bizarre scheme, but he knew few men more clever or practical. 'You actually believe this is a solution?'
'Hell, yes, I've seen it happen.'
What the hell? At least, it would be interesting and he might be able to use it. 'I'll go along with you for a while. What do you want me to do?'
'I can't be a party to this and, under the circumstances, I doubt if Quinn would want to stand in. Will you be out there at six in the morning to guide the process and bolster up the sheriff?'
'Very well, but if the place is teeming with media, I'm out of there.'
'Don't worry, I was very solemn and impressive with our sheriff. He's not going to leak anything.'
'He wasn't the one I'm worried about.' He took out his notebook and pencil. 'Okay, give me the details.'
Five minutes later Montalvo hung up the phone and thoughtfully studied his notes. Incredible. Even more incredible that Venable believed it to be a true and valid solution.
But the premise definitely had possibilities. This morning he'd been able to see that Eve was on edge and frustrated that she was unable to actively participate in the hunt for Kistle. Even if this scheme didn't pan out, it gave him an opportunity to involve Eve in a way that would be safe for her. They'd be working together as they had in Colombia.
Yes, it was definitely worthwhile.
He began to dial Eve's number.
EVE THREW OPEN THE DOOR to Montalvo's knock. 'Okay, what is it? You said Venable had a plan to help catch Kistle.'
'In a way. Actually, it's to keep the FBI on the job. We do want to have all the help we can get, don't we?'
'Of course we do. Though Joe says they may get in the way.'
'I'm willing to risk it.' He came into the room and closed the door. 'But the FBI doesn't believe their expertise is needed to catch Kistle and the cop killings appear to be open-and-shut cases. But there may be a way to keep them involved. You knew about Bobby Joe Windlaw.'
She nodded. 'But he may not have been killed by Kistle.'
