Quinn - Iris Johansen [48]
His hands tightened on the steering wheel. “No way.”
“Take me home.” She looked at him. “You heard him. He’s coming after me. He has to be able to find me.”
“So you’re making it easy for him.”
“No, I’m sure that you’ll make it a challenge,” she said. “You’re not going to let me be there alone.”
“And you’re not arguing with me about it?”
“I tried that, and it didn’t work.” She smiled with an effort. “You just keep on coming.”
“You’re damn right I do.” He paused. “That second newspaper article McVey wrote will be coming out in a few hours from now. It’s going to cause Zeus to blow sky-high again.”
“Then maybe he’ll make his move sooner. Or he’ll get so angry, he’ll make a mistake. Either way, it won’t be bad for us. Nothing will be bad as long as he doesn’t get discouraged and disappear. I figure we can hold him here if he knows I’m there in that house, and all he has to do is worry about how to get to me.”
“We probably can,” Joe said. “But I’m not going to be your only protection, Eve. That’s bullshit after we saw how close he came. I’d like to surround you with an army, but I’ll limit it to pulling in one of Slindak’s men to watch the house.” He held up his hand as she started to speak. “Don’t worry; Zeus will be expecting it. One man will be a challenge, not a deterrent. I just want the extra insurance.”
“You may be right.” She was silent, thinking about it. Then she slowly nodded. “If you promise he won’t interfere. I don’t want him in the way.”
“It would take a lot to discourage Zeus. Having you within his sights will be like putting a steak just outside the cage of a hungry wolf. It will only be a question of time before he finds a way to break out and get it.”
“You’re calling me a piece of meat? Not at all flattering, Joe.”
“I’m not in the mood to be flattering. The only thing I can see good about this is that I’ll be with you in that house.”
She was silent a moment. “That’s the only good thing I can see good about it, too, Joe. You help keep away the darkness.”
Forever. Let me hold the darkness at bay for you. Let me help you find the dawn.
Don’t say it. Keep it on an even keel.
“I’m glad we’re in agreement on something at last. It’s about time. But I’ve decided that it’s your house that’s dark. I think that we’ll paint a couple rooms while I’m staying there.”
She stared at him in bewilderment. “What?”
“It will make the time pass. I thought the living room could use brightening. What color do you think?”
She said blankly, “I have no idea.”
“Maybe a gold-beige?” he suggested. “Think about it while I stop at my hotel and pick up a bag. It shouldn’t take long…”
Two Days Later
“WHAT IS THIS STUFF?” Eve asked as she tentatively tasted the salad. “Exotic. You know I’m just a simple Southern woman with down-home tastes, Joe. Are you trying to educate my palate?”
“It’s not ‘stuff.’” Joe sat down across from her. “I got the recipe from an Indian woman in Bombay. And you’re about as simple as an Einstein equation. Try it. You’ll like it.”
She took another bite. “It’s good. Where did you learn to cook?”
“When I was in the service. I was young, with a tremendous hunger, and food was only part of it. I was all over the world tasting and experiencing everything. The good things I wanted to take home with me.”
“And the bad things?”
He shrugged. “I learned from them, too, then tried to let them go.”
“Not easy.”
“No, but that’s life.” He smiled. “I’m glad you let me loose in your kitchen. Cooking relaxes me.”
“And it bores me. I had to put wholesome meals on the table for Bonnie, but I assure you that they lacked inspiration. And definitely nothing exotic.” She finished the last bite. “I doubt that I would have picked up any exotic recipes even if I’d gone to India. Which I most certainly didn’t. I’ve never been out of Georgia.”
“You’ve missed a lot. I’d like to show you some of the parts of the world I’ve visited. It would be great seeing them through your eyes.”
“I don’t feel as if I’ve missed much. I had everything I wanted or needed