Eve - Iris Johansen [123]
But that didn’t stop the loneliness.
* * *
“DID YOU PULL UP THE MAP, Joe?” Catherine asked.
“Yep, I’ve got it.” Joe was squinting at the map he’d accessed on his computer from the county records. “The deed had to be redone when the property was sold a few years ago to Gallo. It should be accurate.”
“Print it out. You can hook up the computer to my portable printer on the backseat.”
“Right.”
“We’re about a mile from the property now. I think we’d better ditch the car and start hiking.” Catherine pulled onto a side road and drove a mile or so until she found a turnout that would completely hide the car and pulled deep into the brush.
Joe pulled out the map from the printer. “Let’s go.”
She flicked off the headlights. “And where are we going?”
“I’m checking terrain. There are three areas where Black would be unlikely to set up camp. There’s a marsh to the east, high hills on the north tip of the lake, and a stretch to the southwest that was cleared of timber and would be very exposed.” He was circling the areas as he spoke. “Anywhere else is a possibility.”
“That still leaves a hell of a lot of territory for us to cover.” She looked away from him. “We could try to follow Queen back after Gallo hands over the ledger.”
“You’ve been working with Venable too long. Are you willing to risk Cara Clark’s life if Black finds out that someone is tagging Queen?”
“Not unless there’s no other option.” She shrugged. “You’re right, my mind-set is different from yours. Let’s get going.”
She took the Celltec device out of the car and pressed the access button. No light. No red button. “Dammit, I can’t get any response. But Eve says he’s here somewhere. Maybe we’re out of cell-tower range.”
“Whatever.” Joe was moving quickly through the brush. “I’m not going to wait for your gadget to kick in while he could be killing Eve and the kid.”
And neither was Catherine. She jammed the Celltec in her pocket and followed him.
* * *
“QUEEN IS ON HIS WAY,” BLACK told Gallo. “Don’t keep him waiting. The poor man isn’t really equipped anymore for the rough life. He’s gotten soft since his early years in the military. Hiring people like us to do his dirty work has sapped his strength.”
“But not his greed.”
“No, that goes on forever. I’ll see you shortly, Gallo.” He hung up.
John turned to Eve. “Stay here.” He got the ledger from his duffel. “And look sharp.”
“I’m going with you.” She held up her hand as he opened his lips. “I won’t get in your way, but I won’t be left behind.”
“Have it your way.” He turned and moved toward the lake. “But if I go down, you don’t stay around and try to save my neck. You take off and do any rescue attempt from long distance.”
She didn’t answer.
“I mean it, Eve.”
“If you go down, you’re out of it, and I make my own decisions.” She added grimly, “So if you want your way, you’d better not go down, John. Where are we going to intercept Queen?”
“The path winds a good three miles through heavy brush that starts about a half mile from here.” He was walking fast, almost trotting. “I’ll reconnoiter the area on both sides of the trail to make sure Black hasn’t staged an ambush, then wait for Queen to show.” He frowned. “And you will get in my way. I’ll have to worry about you.”
“Then park me somewhere close to the path and come back for me after you make sure the area’s clear.” She kept pace with him. “That’s as far as I’ll go, John.”
He gave her an exasperated glance but didn’t reply.
Five minutes later, they entered into the thick shrubbery that John had mentioned. There was bright moonlight, but the lake path was barely discernible given the overhanging foliage and twisting turns.
John nudged her deeper into the shrubbery. “Don’t move.”
Then he was gone.
Could she trust him to come back for her? He was being too damn protective.
But John appeared beside her several minutes later. “Come on.” He took her arm and was half pushing her down the path. “Queen will be coming around that second curve up ahead in a few minutes. I want to be there