Quinn - Iris Johansen [67]
“No.”
“I didn’t think so.” He turned toward the cabin.
But Catherine had been caught by that first response. “Why didn’t you think Gallo was connected to terrorists?”
“Gallo’s not the type. He seemed to be a real nice guy.”
She stiffened. “Wait a minute. You’ve met Gallo?”
“Yeah, he invited us all up here for a barbecue when he took over the place. He said that you never could tell when you needed the law to protect you, and he wanted to make sure that we all knew each other and exactly where the place was located.”
“What?”
“It was a real nice barbecue. My wife brought the potato salad.”
“How … nice.”
“He’s a local. He was brought up in Wisconsin before he went into the service. He was an Army Ranger, you know.”
“Yes, I did know.”
“I always wanted to be a Ranger, but then I met Sarah. That put an end to that. I’ll be right back.” He ducked into the cabin.
She pursed her lips in a silent whistle. A barbecue? Just a local boy trying to protect himself by getting to know the local authorities. Clever and foresighted. Gallo was a man who was accustomed to trouble and trying to minimize the impact.
And he had done just that with the sheriff and his deputies. They would do their job, but they liked Gallo and would give him every benefit of the doubt.
And by tomorrow she would be almost alone in these woods with Gallo.
Under the circumstances, that would not be a bad thing. No one to get in her way. She’d always preferred to work alone. No one for her to worry about when she got on the hunt.
“Come on in.” Deputy Johan stood in the doorway. “Andy is putting on the coffee. He’s real eager to meet you. He said the sheriff told him about you.” He grinned. “The sheriff said you were one of those Lara Croft types. You sure look the part.”
“Thank you … I think.” She moved toward him. “I actually came to take a look around the cabin and see if I could find anything that would be helpful. I don’t really know what I’m looking for. Do you think the sheriff would object if I did that?”
“Nah, you’re one of us. Though I think you’re out of luck. Do you want us to help?”
“No, I know my way around. On the night that Gallo took it on the run, I brought a child here who Paul Black had kidnapped. I had to find a haven for her until we could get her out to safety.”
“See, Black was a real scumbag. Not worth bothering about.”
“Yes, I see your point.” She took a last look at the dark woods before she entered the house.
You’re out there. I feel it, Gallo. You felt safe here with all these good old boys looking for you, but that’s going to change. I’m going to know you so well that you’re not going to be able to breathe without me knowing how deep. Before long, we’re going to be close as lovers.
Lovers. Where had that come from? Probably because Gallo had been Eve’s lover all those years ago when she was only a sixteen-year-old kid.
“Agent Ling?”
Her smile was dazzling. “Coming. I need that coffee. Then you and Andy can tell me all about the barbecue and everything that you learned about Gallo. Probably a lot of details sank into your mind though you didn’t realize it. It’s automatic with a good law officer like you…”
* * *
CATHERINE WATCHED THE TAILLIGHTS of the three sheriff’s cars fade in the distance before she turned and went back into the cabin. Sheriff Rupert had been pleasant and firm and as much as told her she was wasting her time, continuing to search for Gallo.
And she had been pleasant and firm and resisted telling him to go to hell. It had been a very satisfactory interchange because she was now rid of them and could run her own show.
Should she get some sleep before she took off into the woods?
Probably. She wouldn’t get much rest once she was on the hunt. She’d had breakfast cooked by the accommodating deputies,