Eve - Iris Johansen [128]
“You don’t have the right to tell me what to do,” Catherine said coldly. “It’s because of you that Eve is in this mess, and that kid up there is on the verge of getting killed.”
“Catherine,” Eve said. “Can you locate Black?”
“Yes. I should be in tower range, and I’ll bet he’s close enough.” Catherine pulled out the Celltec. “Come on,” she murmured. “Find the bastard…” She pressed the button.
The beeper went off immediately, then the small screen lit up with coordinates and squared an area. “Jackpot,” Catherine whispered. “The boulders. He’s behind the boulders.”
Eve’s gaze flew to the four huge boulders blocking the path. Steep incline on one side falling to the lake, open terrain on the other, where Cara was climbing. “There’s no way to get to him!”
“There’s a way,” Catherine said slowly. “Just not for us. We have to hang tight.”
“What the hell are you talking about?” Gallo said roughly. “You stay here, and I’ll go off the path in the shrubs until I run out of cover, then take off after the kid. You give me protective fire until I can grab her and get her behind that stand of trees.”
“Too risky,” Catherine said. “Hang tight. We’ll have a chance if—”
“Gallo!” It was Black shouting. “I’m tired of waiting for you. I know you’re out there. Perhaps you need a little encouragement.”
A bullet caused the rocks to splinter two feet from where Cara was climbing.
She looked back with panic and frantically tried to climb faster.
“The next bullet will hit her heel. It will probably take her foot off. Do you want to see that, Eve?”
“No,” Eve shouted. “Don’t shoot her, Black.” She turned to Gallo. “You go after her the way you said. I’ll go up the path and try to distract him.”
“Come on,” Black called. “And bring Gallo with you. I was disappointed that I was going to have to use a rifle. This will be much better.”
“I’ll go slow,” Eve said. “I’ll talk to him on the way. Get to her, John.”
Catherine was cursing. “Dammit, stall. Don’t do this.”
“No choice,” Eve said. “He meant what he said. I’m not going to let him blow off body parts while we watch. Go, John. Once she’s safe, we can go after Black.”
“Son of a bitch. You’re right, no damn choice.” John ducked into the shrubbery and was gone.
“Eve, listen to me. I know you’re frantic about the kid, but there’s another chance to—” She shook her head. “But I don’t know if it will be in time.”
“If you get a shot, take it, Catherine.” Eve started down the path. She shouted. “Hold your fire, I’m coming, Black. Gallo doesn’t think Cara is important enough, but I do. Maybe after you have me, you’ll be able to persuade him.”
“Oh, yes, I can be very persuasive with your kind of collateral.”
“Keep on talking to him, Eve,” Catherine said curtly. “Stall. Joe should be here anytime.”
“Joe.” Eve stopped on the path as shock seared through her. “What are you talking about, Catherine? Joe?”
* * *
EVE DUNCAN HAD STOPPED IN the middle of the path and was looking back over her shoulder, Black saw, annoyed. What was happening? Was Gallo trying to talk her out of coming?
“I mean it, Gallo,” he shouted. “Don’t play with me. Maybe I should blow off your lady’s foot instead of the kid’s. I’m aiming right now.”
“But you’ll never pull the trigger.”
His head jerked around to see the man who’d spoken crouched on the rock behind him. He received a wild mixture of impressions as the man jumped him. Bare-chested. Barefoot. Brown hair plastered and damp.
Then he was knocked to the ground and the attacker was on top of him and jerking the rifle out of his hand. It went off as he threw it to one side.
Black was cursing as he reached for his knife in his arm holster. “Who the hell are—” But he knew who he was. “Quinn.” His knife plunged up at Quinn’s abdomen. “Son of a bitch, how did—”
Quinn grabbed his wrist and twisted the knife to one side. “Give it up, Black. I don’t want to kill you yet. You have questions to answer.”
Black kneed him in the groin and rolled out from underneath him. “I’m not going to die,