Quinn - Iris Johansen [43]
She was silent. “You don’t want us to be targeted from outside.”
“A precaution. I don’t think it would happen. He’s angry, and he’ll prefer a knife to a bullet. If he comes tonight at all. Where’s McVey?”
“In the dining room playing with that equipment again. He appears besotted with gadgets.”
“They can be interesting.” He leaned back in his chair. “I like them, too.”
“You spent enough time with McVey examining it. Will we be able to get a trace?”
“Good chance. It’s hooked up correctly, and it’s fairly sophisticated. Why don’t you lean back and try to relax? You look as if you’re so stiff you’d break if I touched you.”
“I can’t relax.” She made a face. “But you look as if you’re having no problem. This kind of situation doesn’t bother you?”
“It bothers me.” But only because of the danger to Eve. “But I like it. This is why I joined the Bureau. Moments like this are as close to what I felt as a SEAL as I can get.”
“Living on the edge?” She was studying his face. “Yes, I can see that you like it. I’ve never seen you more alive. You’re relaxed, but you look as if you’re ready to jump up and go for the kill.” She smiled faintly. “Aren’t you lucky that I furnished you with a reason to resurrect old times?”
“I’m lucky as long as you stay out of it and let me—”
The phone on the table beside her rang.
McVey was in the room in a heartbeat. “I switched on the machine. Let me take the call.” He picked up the receiver. “McVey.” He listened, then shook his head at Eve. “Thanks, Pauley.” He hung up. “Pauley Williams. He’s in the next apartment and has a key to my place. I asked him to listen for any disturbance and check if he heard anything.” He added quickly as Eve made an exclamation, “I told him to be careful. Don’t worry, Pauley isn’t that self-sacrificing. He wouldn’t go in if he didn’t think it was safe.”
“And did he hear anything?”
McVey nodded. “And he found the lock was broken. I left the desk neat as a pin, and the pad was on the floor and the Rolodex had cards missing from it.” He grinned jubilantly. “I think we’ve got him, Eve.”
“It seems you’re right.” Her hands were clenching the arms of the chair. “When did this Pauley first hear an intruder?”
“About fifty minutes ago. Like I said, he wouldn’t take a risk. He waited to go into the apartment until after he thought he heard the front door close.”
“Less than fifty minutes,” Joe said. “And he has this phone number and address.” He looked at Eve. “Now he only has to choose which one to use.”
“He’ll phone.” She moistened her lips. “I think.”
“Fifty minutes. If you guess wrong, he could be here from that apartment in Dunwoody in another ten minutes.”
“He’d want to be sure.”
“Maybe. Or maybe he’s furious enough to kill anyone here he can get his hands on.”
“Why are you trying to scare me?”
“I want you to get the hell out of here and leave this to me.”
“After all the preparations we’ve made?” McVey interceded. “It’s not going to hurt her to take a phone call, then I could—”
“Be quiet, McVey,” Joe said. “Eve?”
She shook her head.
Joe had known that she’d refuse, but he’d had to make one last attempt. He turned on his heel. “Then get back to the dining room and make sure that we can trace any call, McVey. I’m going to scout around outside and make sure the area is secure.” He unlocked and opened the door. “In case you’re wrong, and he wants immediate and lethal contact.”
CHAPTER
7
JOE RETURNED THIRTY MINUTES later. “No bogeyman is lurking at the moment,” he told Eve. “That doesn’t mean the situation might not change in another five minutes.” He headed toward the room. “I’m going to go to the kitchen and listen on the extension if there’s a call.”
“Okay.”
It was only a breath of sound, and he glanced over his shoulder at her. Then he muttered a curse and turned and strode over to her. He took her face in his two hands and stared fiercely down into her face. “Don’t be afraid. It’s going to be fine. Whatever happens, I’ll make