Eve - Iris Johansen [79]
Catherine nodded. “And keep cool, Joe. I know you’re mad as hell. But Eve won’t thank us if we kill Gallo when she thinks she can get information out of him.”
“Ask me if I care.” He was moving up the mountain. “I’ll be careful because I want to keep Eve alive, but there’s no way I’ll stay cool. Gallo is going down.”
* * *
THE BUZZER WENT OFF ON THE security pad on the nightstand in Gallo’s bedroom.
South slope.
He reached over and activated the video camera. No picture.
His phone rang.
“I’ve got it, Hanks,” he said when he picked up. “Any other alarms?”
“Not yet. Two cameras on the south slope have been disabled. They missed this one. We should have a visual when the courtyard C2 picks them up. They’re pretty good, and I figure that they’ll get C1 and take it out. But C2 is impossible to detect unless you know where to look. Shall I get a team to head up the slope and intercept?”
He thought about it. It could be that Queen had gotten impatient and was trying for a strike. But there was another possibility. “No, let them reach the courtyard. I’ll make a decision then.” He hung up and quickly dressed.
The buzzer sounded again. C2 camera.
He pressed the video. Two figures, dark clothes, moving swiftly. He zeroed in on them.
A woman, dark hair pulled back, slightly exotic features.
A man, tall, brown hair, dark eyes. He’d seen photos of that face. Joe Quinn.
The woman must be Catherine Ling.
Hanks phoned. “They’re right on top of you. What do we do? Take them out?”
Dammit, I’m backed in a corner, Gallo thought. He couldn’t risk Joe Quinn getting killed, and he couldn’t even guarantee to control the situation once Quinn erupted on the scene.
“No, don’t touch them. I’ll call you back.”
He had known that it might come to this when he had taken Eve, but he’d considered it worth it. What the hell. It might have been necessary anyway. The circle was closing.
He had to move fast. Quinn and Catherine Ling had gotten around most of the alarms with incredible speed and accuracy. They’d be in the house in no time.
He snatched the backpack he always kept ready from the closet and moved down the hall toward the guest room.
Eve sat up as he threw open the door. Her eyes were wide in her pale face. “What is it?”
“It’s your Joe Quinn being superhero,” he said. “I’d heard he was smart. I didn’t realize he’d be able to move this fast.”
“What do you mean? Where is he?”
“Pounding on the gates.” He was crossing the room toward the bed. “I’ll either have to kill him or bow out. I’m going to let him have the castle.”
Her hands clenched on the cover. “I’m not going with you.”
“I’m not asking you to come. I think we’ve said what had to be said.” He reached in his pocket and handed her a key. “Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Queen may get desperate and aggressive once they realize I’ve gone. You may need ammunition.”
She gazed at the key in her palm. “I don’t understand.”
“Blackmail.” He turned and moved toward the door. “He’ll understand even if you don’t. If you don’t need to use the leverage, save it for me. Believe me, I can use it.” He reached in his pocket, pulled out her phone, and handed it to her. “Your property. You might try to intercept your Joe Quinn. I’ll try to call Hanks off, but if they come together, there might be damage.”
He moved quickly down the hall and down the stairs.
“John!” Eve had followed him and was standing at the top of the stairs. She was wearing one of Judy’s sweatshirts, her red-brown hair was rumpled, her expression intense. She looked almost as young as she’d been when he’d first met her. “Dammit, I’m not