Eve - Iris Johansen [114]
“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.
Catherine checked her watch. Thirty minutes before Queen’s flight arrival. Time to position herself and get ready.
And hope Queen called Paul Black as soon as he reached the terminal. Otherwise it might get very dicey if she had to follow him to another location.
* * *
PAUL BLACK WAS REFUSING to answer his phone, dammit.
The bastard always tries to dominate me, Queen thought. He could imagine Black sitting there smiling as he let the phone ring.
Queen stopped at the baggage claim and dialed again.
That time it rang four times, but Black finally answered.
“I told you I was handling this,” Black said. “I don’t want you whining at me about the kid. We’re getting along just fine, aren’t we, Cara? She understands the rules now.”
“I’m not going to argue with you about her any longer. There’s so much publicity that you can’t let her live. It would be too awkward. Just be sure that she totally disappears. Where are you?”
“Just outside Milwaukee.”
“Gallo and Duncan aren’t at the Marriott any longer.”
“I didn’t believe they’d stay there for long. But I have you to tell me where they are, don’t I? Why do you think I answered your call?”
“You didn’t answer the first call,” Queen said sourly.
“Where