Countdown - Iris Johansen [85]
“It may not come down to that. Jane’s right, there are actually two options. Maybe they’ll find Cira’s gold and manage to negotiate with Reilly to refuse Grozak.” He grimaced. “Though I wouldn’t like to bank on a long shot like that.”
Eve was silent, thinking. “Maybe it’s not such a long shot.”
Joe gazed at her inquiringly. “Why not?”
She glanced away from him. “Anything can happen. Mario could translate that scroll and it might tell them exactly where the gold is.”
“That’s not what you meant.” Joe’s eyes were narrowed on her face. “And I don’t believe it’s just wishful thinking.”
“You’re wrong. I’m wishing with all my heart they find that gold. And soon.” She picked up her phone and dialed John Logan. She got his message service and left a call-back. “I’ll phone John again when I get back.” She moved toward the front door. “I’m taking Toby for a walk by the lake. I need to blow off some steam.” She whistled for the dog. “He’s been moping around since Jane left again. Are you getting on the phone with Washington right away?”
“You bet I am.” He flipped open his phone. “Like you said, there’s not much time.”
“And you’d rather they close in on Reilly and kill the bastard than negotiate with him.”
“Hell, yes. Give him the gold and he’ll take it and bury himself somewhere only to surface again. You know that’s true.”
“Yes.” But it might also give Jane time to come out of this nightmare safely. “I’ll be back soon.”
The screen door slammed behind her and she hurried down the porch steps. Toby ran ahead of her down the path. She let him go. He needed the exercise and she needed a little time to think.
Jesus, she was scared. What the devil should she do? She could do nothing. Joe was right about the odds of finding the gold.
And wrong. It might be—
Barking.
Toby was standing in the middle of the path, barking at something in the trees. He was tense, back on his haunches, and the tone of his barking became shrill.
“Toby. Come.”
He didn’t pay any attention to her, dammit. It wasn’t unheard of for a bear or mountain lion to stray from the hills down here. She didn’t want Toby tearing in there and getting himself hurt.
“Toby!”
He was starting toward the trees.
She ran after him and grabbed his collar. “No, there’s nothing there.”
But there was something there.
The hair was rising at the back of her neck.
She jerked Toby back as he lunged forward. “Home! Go home, boy.” He turned and ran back toward the cottage, she saw with relief.
And she was right after him. Silly that her heart was beating this hard. It might not have been a dangerous wild animal at all. Toby wasn’t the brightest dog in the world. It could have been an owl or a possum.
Yet she breathed easier when she reached the porch. She sank down on the step and Toby sat down beside her. “I’m going to have to tell Jane you need a refresher course in obedience,” she whispered as she threw her arm around his back. “Come doesn’t mean attack. You could have gotten yourself torn up, boy.”
He wasn’t looking at her. His stare was intent on the path.
She felt a chill run through her. Imagination.
The path was empty. Nothing was coming toward them.
Nothing and no one.
But that knowledge didn’t chase the chill away. She stood up and headed for the front door. She hadn’t had the chance to do that thinking she was going to do, and she couldn’t put it off. “Come on. I’m going in and getting a cup of hot chocolate, Toby. I’ll let you have a treat even though you don’t deserve it.”
Jane was smiling as she hung up the phone. She always felt better after she talked to Joe and Eve. She hadn’t realized how desperate and discouraged she’d been feeling until this moment. In only this few minutes of conversation, they’d managed to share their strength with her.
A knock at the door. Trevor opened it before she could answer. “You’re about to receive a visitor,” he said grimly. “Venable just called and he’s frothing at the mouth.”
“Why?”
“He didn’t like your recent discussion with Eve and Joe. He’s talking