Stalemate

not changed, just made his character deepen, harden.

And why the hell shouldn't it have done that? An experience of that nature was enough to drive some men mad. He was lucky that it had only caused Miguel to toughen. The boy was totally remarkable.

And it was time Montalvo started to move against that slimeball of an informer who had betrayed Miguel, he thought grimly.

He headed downstairs to go pay a visit to Destando.

* * *

The call from Diaz to Eve came four hours later.

'Very well,' he said. 'I'll arrange a meeting in a place other than the castle to receive the skull if my informants tell me that Armandariz is not going to be a problem.'

Eve felt a surge of relief. 'He won't be a problem. Where?'

'The woods on the other side of the village.'

'Where you could have thirty sharpshooters ready to pick us off after you have the skull? I don't think so.'

'Take it or leave it.'

'I'll leave it. I won't die for an affair that's run its course. I told you I wanted to live. You've given me no chance at all.'

'Then I kill Quinn.'

'If that's what you have to do. Call me back if you change your mind.'

'Wait.' Diaz hesitated before saying sourly, 'Perhaps we can come to an agreement. What do you consider a safe exchange?'

'A helicopter pickup for Joe and me immediately after the exchange to whisk us both back to Bogota. I'm going to ask Venable with the CIA to send a copter to get us out. Where's your helicopter pad?'

'On the grounds in back of the castle.'

'Too dangerous for me. Where else can he land?'

'There's a pad on the outskirts of the village near the cemetery.'

She was silent. 'The cemetery is too out in the open. I'd be a target. Anywhere else?'

'Maybe the church on the cemetery grounds.'

Yes. She tried to sound uncertain. 'I don't know…'

'I'm tired of fooling with you. It's the church or the deal is a wash.'

She waited a few seconds and then said reluctantly, 'I suppose the church would be safe enough. I won't have the skull with me but it will be close by. When I see that you're the only one in the church, I'll go and fetch it. And I'm going to ask the helicopter pilot to skim over those woods across from the cemetery and use infrared to make sure there's no one waiting to put a bullet in the copter's gas tank when we take off.'

'My, how suspicious you are.'

'I won't even deign to answer that one. I saw what you did to Miguel. You're a butcher.'

'Montalvo likes the boy. I had an idea it would bother him.'

'Then you'll be glad to know it did. He won't leave his side.'

'And that should make it easier for you to deliver the skull,' he said mockingly. 'He won't miss you in his bed.'

'Nothing about this is going to be easy. I'm dealing with a man who's plotting and planning how to get what he wants and still manage to kill me. Even when I get Joe safely to Bogota, I'm going to have to come back and face Montalvo, who is going to be mad as hell I spoiled his plans.'

'That's true. He may kill you.'

'He won't kill me. We're too good together. But I'm going to have to handle him carefully.'

'Only for a little while. I told you I intended to arrange his death within the next few weeks. You'd do better to stay in Bogota.'

'I'm touched by your concern,' she said sarcastically. 'But I'll manage my own business, thank you.'

'I don't care about your shoddy little affairs. You and Quinn are nothing to me.' His voice became cold. 'I want the skull delivered by midnight tomorrow night. If it's not, I'll send Quinn back to you in a dozen separate baskets.'

Don't let her voice show the terror that thought brought. 'You're beginning to lack imagination. The crucifix was much more effective.'

'Are you mocking me? You believe you're so strong and intelligent. I detest women who think they're as good as men. In the end they find out how weak they are.'

'Like your mother, Diaz? It takes a real man to kill the woman who bore and raised him.' Shut up. She had what she wanted. She didn't want to ruin everything because he infuriated her. 'I'll be at the church tomorrow at midnight. If I have any trouble getting the skull, I'll-'

'No ifs,' he said harshly 'You will do it.' He paused. 'You may be through with Quinn but you have a fondness for Jane MacGuire. Did you think you could hide her away from me forever?' He hung up.

He was bluffing.

Jane was safe.

Jesus, but she had to be sure.

She phoned Venable. 'Diaz just mentioned Jane and he sounded very confident.'

'She's safe.' He added, 'Okay, we think her safe house was compromised. One of the agents was followed back to the house but he noticed the surveillance. They pulled out of the area a few hours later and she's been relocated in Flagstaff.'

Close. Damn close. 'And they weren't followed to Flagstaff?'

'My guys are careful, Eve. Stop worrying about your daughter and start worrying about yourself. What you're doing at Diaz's place is very risky.'

'Not if you get that helicopter on the ground at the right time.' No, he was right, it didn't matter if everything went like clockwork. It was still going to be dangerous. 'I have to do this, Venable.'

'I know,' he said wearily. 'I wish we could help more.'

'Soldono explained the delicacy of CIA negotiations,' she said sarcastically. 'You wouldn't want to offend any slime-balls like Diaz.'

'It's a dirty, fixed game. We do what we can to make the stakes as low as possible for the winners. Call me when you leave the compound and I'll make sure the helicopter is in the area.' He hung up.

Jane was safe. Venable was doing what he could to help her. She had managed to back Diaz into the corner she needed him to be in. Everything was as good as it could be, considering that nothing could possibly be good as long as Diaz had Joe.

15

'It's the church,' Diaz said to Nekmon as he hung up the phone. 'Tomorrow at