Eve - Iris Johansen [80]
“Sorry. No more time. You’ll have to be satisfied.” He opened the door to the basement and ran down the stairs.
She called after him. “How can you say that? I’m not satisfied.” He went around the corner of the landing, and she was lost to view.
Check to see how close Quinn was to gaining entrance.
John punched the video button on the panel by the exit door that accessed the passage to the outside. He couldn’t see Joe Quinn, but Catherine Ling was almost directly beneath the camera. She was working quickly to disable the house alarm. The expression on that beautiful, exotic face was intent, totally focused.
Suddenly she stopped and looked up.
He inhaled sharply.
She knew he was watching her.
What the hell? He knew she couldn’t see that camera, but she still knew. Incredible instincts. Catherine Ling was remarkable. He’d be interested to explore those instincts.
Not now. No time.
He keyed in the exit code for the door, and it swung open. The next moment, he was closing and locking it behind him.
He pulled out his phone as he moved down the ramp that led to the outside passage.
CHAPTER
13
“I THINK THEY KNOW WE’RE HERE.” Catherine turned as Joe came around the side of the house. She clipped the final wire on the alarm. “We should get the hell out of this courtyard.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.” She shook her head. “No. But I’d lay odds I’m right.”
“You go. Take the mountain road back down to the car. I’m going in.”
“The alarms are off.” Catherine moved toward the French doors across the veranda. “Divide and conquer. You take the kitchen door. Be careful.”
“I’m not going to barge in with guns blazing,” Joe said sarcastically. “And I’m not leaving here without Eve.” He added curtly, “But I don’t need you. Get out of here.”
Catherine was bent over the locks on the French doors. “Shut up, Joe. I’m busy. I’ll see you inside.”
Joe didn’t argue. He shrugged and hurried around the side of the house toward the kitchen door.
Catherine didn’t like this.
It was too quiet.
Queen’s map and plans had said there were no courtyard guards, but she had still expected it to be harder. Queen had been too wary of Gallo and Intelligence’s own chance of infiltrating the compound. If it was this easy, why hadn’t they tried their luck before?
The French doors swung open.
Darkness.
She drew her gun and threw herself into the room and to the side.
She waited.
Nothing.
But she could hear someone in the hall.
“Joe?” Eve’s voice. “Joe, it’s okay. He’s not here.”
Catherine rose to her feet. “Eve!”
Eve threw the door open. “John didn’t mention you, Catherine. Are you okay? Where’s Joe?”
“Here.” Joe was standing in the doorway, a gun in his hand. “Where’s Gallo?”
“I don’t know. Gone. He knew you were coming.” She moved across the room toward him. “How did you find out where I was?”
“Queen.” His gaze was narrowed, moving around the hall. “Gone? You’re certain?”
“He told me that he was leaving. He gave me back my phone and said to try to intercept you. I tried, but I guess you had your phone off. He didn’t want you hurt.”
“I bet he didn’t,” Joe said bitterly. “And did he hurt you, Eve?”
She shook her head. “No, I was a little scared and uneasy at the beginning, but I’m—”
Joe had pulled her close and kissed her hard. “Thank God.”
“He didn’t mean to hurt me, Joe.”
“The hell he didn’t.” Joe let her go. “He’s nuts. Ask Queen.”
“John’s not crazy.” She made a face. “Though he might deny that himself. Emotionally disturbed on some subjects? Yes. But he’s not insane.”
“He evidently managed to convince you,” Joe said. “Let’s see if he can convince me when I catch up with the bastard. We didn’t see any vehicles leave the garage. How did he get away?”
She shook her head. “When he came to my room to tell me he was leaving, he had a backpack.”
“And how long ago was that?” Catherine asked.
“Fifteen minutes? I’m not sure. I’d followed him when he was going downstairs and ran back upstairs to throw on some clothes. Then I came down to see if I could