Stalemate

by Iris Johansen

  “Tell me where you are. Tell me how I can help.”

  “I’ll fill you in on the important agendas first. I don’t know how long I can stay in this blind. They’ve been searching for me since they got their hands on Quinn. I may have to go on the run again.”

  “Then talk, dammit.”

  He laughed. “Okay, then it’s time that I started shorthand. One, I’m going strictly against Quinn’s orders. He didn’t want you involved. But I saw them carry that boy Miguel out of the castle on that cross. I think we need a little outside involvement.” His voice sobered and the next words came hard and quick. “The first thing you have to know is that Montalvo is being…”

  Excitement was surging through Eve as she hung up the phone fifteen minutes later. Excitement? Or hope? For the first time since she’d found out Joe was gone she felt as if she might see a way through this fog of ugliness generated by Diaz.

  She threw back the covers and jumped out of bed. Get dressed. Galen was on-site and ready to help. She had to make plans of her own.

  She glanced at the phone. It had been hours since Diaz had called. Was he trying to make her apprehensive? A psychological ploy? Perhaps. How the hell did she know?

  Go on. Call, Diaz. I’m ready for you.

  “I’m not going,” Miguel said. “If you put me on that helicopter to Bogotá, I’ll hijack it and come back.”

  “You won’t try that kind of stupidity,” Montalvo said. “I’ve taught you better.”

  “You’ve taught me loyalty and teamwork. I was stupid enough to get caught. I’m definitely stupid enough to force myself on you at a time like this.”

  “With two broken ribs and those hands?”

  “Only the hands would bother me. I can get around the rest.” He frowned. “And my fingers work. You could rig up something.”

  “Miguel…” Montalvo shrugged. “Let me think about it.”

  “She’s not going to give you much time to think about anything,” Miguel said. “When she was here, I could feel the impatience in her. She was hurting for me but she wants her man back.”

  He frowned. “He’s not her man. Neither of them is that dependent on the other. It’s not in their characters.”

  Miguel smiled. “You don’t want it to be true. Interesting.”

  “Why should I care what—” Montalvo stopped. “No, I don’t want it to be true, you perceptive rascal. You’d do well to concentrate on recovery and forget about my concerns.”

  “But your concerns are my concerns. I can’t help being involved. It’s your fault for saving me from having my head blown off.”

  Montalvo sighed. “I’m beginning to regret that moment.”

  Miguel shook his head. “It’s no good you telling me that. I saw your face when you were taking me off that cross. You were as tender as Mary with Christ at Calvary.”

  “I believe I’m going to be ill. You’re not Christ. I’m not Mary. You can’t even get the sex right.”

  “Well, something like that.”

  “I can see you’re going to hold that Jesus image up to me for the rest of your life.”

  “Possibly.” His smile faded. “I told you what I had to do. Now set it up so that my mission paves the way for your mission.”

  “You’ve had your answer.”

  Miguel stared him in the eye. “And you’ve had your answer. I won’t back down. I don’t care if it complicates everything. Work it out.”

  Montalvo got to his feet. “Maybe. It all depends on Eve. I don’t know what the hell is happening right now.” He moved toward the door. “In the meantime go to sleep and stop thinking up things to torment me.”

  “It’s my duty.” Miguel closed his eyes. “I must keep you humble, Colonel. I embrace the task gladly.”

  “I’m sure you do,” he said as he left the bedroom.

  Blast the boy, he thought with exasperation. He was relieved that Miguel was progressing so rapidly but not that his will was gaining determination on a pace with his physical strength. He’d always had a power and mental ability far beyond his years but that episode at the castle had changed him. No, not changed, just made his character deepen, harden.

  And why the hell shouldn’t it have done that? An experience of that nature was enough to drive some men mad. He was lucky that it had only caused Miguel to toughen. The boy was totally remarkable.

  And it was time Montalvo started to move against that slimeball of an informer who had betrayed Miguel, he thought grimly.

  He headed downstairs to go pay a visit to Destando.

  The call from Diaz to Eve came four hours later.

  “Very well,” he said. “I’ll arrange a meeting in a place other than the castle to receive the skull if my informants tell me that Armandariz is not going to be a problem.”

  Eve felt a surge of relief. “He won’t be a problem. Where?”

  “The woods on the other side of the village.”

  “Where you could have thirty sharpshooters ready to pick us off after you have the skull? I don’t think so.”

  “Take it or leave it.”

  “I’ll leave it. I won’t die for an affair that’s run its course. I told you I wanted to live. You’ve given me no chance at all.”

  “Then I kill Quinn.”

  “If that’s what you have to do. Call me back if you change your mind.”

  “Wait.” Diaz hesitated before saying sourly, “Perhaps we can come to an agreement. What do you consider a safe exchange?”

  “A helicopter pickup for Joe and me immediately after the exchange to whisk us both back to Bogotá. I’m going to ask Venable with the CIA to send a copter to get us out. Where’s your helicopter pad?”

  “On the grounds in back of the castle.”

  “Too dangerous for me. Where else can he land?”

  “There’s a pad on the outskirts of the village near the cemetery.”

  She was silent. “The cemetery is too out in the open. I’d be a target. Anywhere else?”

  “Maybe the church on the cemetery grounds.”

  Yes. She tried to sound uncertain. “I don’t know…”

  “I’m tired of fooling with you. It’s the church or the deal is a wash.”

  She waited a few seconds and then said reluctantly, “I suppose the church would be safe enough. I won’t have the skull with me but it will be close by. When I see that you’re the only one in the church, I’ll go and fetch it. And I’m going to ask the helicopter pilot to skim over those woods across from the cemetery and use infrared to make sure there’s no one waiting to put a bullet in the copter’s gas tank when we take off.”

  “My, how suspicious you are.”

  “I won’t even deign to answer that one. I saw what you did to Miguel. You’re a butcher.”

  “Montalvo likes the boy. I had an idea it would bother him.”

  “Then you’ll be glad to know it did. He won’t leave his side.”

  “And that should make it easier for you to deliver the skull,” he said mockingly. “He won’t miss you in his bed.”

  “Nothing about this is going to be easy. I’m dealing with a man who’s plotting and planning how to get what he wants and still manage to kill me. Even when I get Joe safely to Bogotá, I’m going to have to come back and face Montalvo, who is going to be mad as hell I spoiled his plans.”

  “That’s true. He may kill you.”

  “He won’t kill me. We’re too good together. But I’m going to have to handle him carefully.”

  “Only for a little while. I told you I intended to arrange his death within the next few weeks. You’d do better to stay in Bogotá.”

  “I’m touched by your concern,” she said sarcastically. “But I’ll manage my own business, thank you.”

  “I don’t care about your shoddy little affairs. You and Quinn are nothing to me.” His voice became cold. “I want the skull delivered by midnight tomorrow night. If it’s not, I’ll send Quinn back to you in a dozen separate baskets.”

 
Don’t let her voice show the terror that thought brought. “You’re beginning to lack imagination. The crucifix was much more effective.”

  “Are you mocking me? You believe you’re so strong and intelligent. I detest women who think they’re as good as men. In the end they find out how weak they are.”

  “Like your mother, Diaz? It takes a real man to kill the woman who bore and raised him.” Shut up. She had what she wanted. She didn’t want to ruin everything because he infuriated her. “I’ll be at the church tomorrow at midnight. If I have any trouble getting the skull, I’ll—”

  “No ifs,” he said harshly. “You will do it.” He paused. “You may be through with Quinn but you have a fondness for Jane MacGuire. Did you think you could hide her away from me forever?” He hung up.

  He was bluffing.

  Jane was safe.

  Jesus, but she had to be sure.

  She phoned Venable. “Diaz just mentioned Jane and he sounded very confident.”

  “She’s safe.” He added, “Okay, we think her safe house was compromised. One of the agents was followed back to the house but he noticed the surveillance. They pulled out of the area a few hours later and she’s been relocated in Flagstaff.”

  Close. Damn close. “And they weren’t followed to Flagstaff?”

  “My guys are careful, Eve. Stop worrying about your daughter and start worrying about yourself. What you’re doing at Diaz’s place is very risky.”

  “Not if you get that helicopter on the ground at the right time.” No, he was right, it didn’t matter if everything went like clockwork. It was still going to be dangerous. “I have to do this, Venable.”

  “I know,” he said wearily. “I wish we could help more.”

  “Soldono explained the delicacy of CIA negotiations,” she said sarcastically. “You wouldn’t want to offend any slimeballs like Diaz.”

  “It’s a dirty, fixed game. We do what we can to make the stakes as low as possible for the winners. Call me when you leave the compound and I’ll make sure the helicopter is in the area.” He hung up.

  Jane was safe. Venable was doing what he could to help her. She had managed to back Diaz into the corner she needed him to be in. Everything was as good as it could be, considering that nothing could possibly be good as long as Diaz had Joe.

  15

  It’s the church,” Diaz said to Nekmon as he hung up the phone. “Tomorrow at midnight.”

  “Where do you want men positioned in the village?”

  “Nowhere. She’s pulling in the CIA to get them out. We don’t want an incident in my territory.” He smiled maliciously. “Much better to have it closer to Montalvo’s compound. Then we can claim he ordered it shot down because he was angry with the bitch. He has ground-to-air missiles and the CIA knows it. Station a man in the ruins of that tower thirty miles from here. She’ll think she’s free and clear and then we’ll incinerate the whore.”

  “You’re going to let her get on the helicopter?”

  “Why not? It’s the best way to get rid of the bitch. The CIA won’t be a problem as long as we don’t directly interfere with their agents. Kill a CIA agent and the Agency will be very difficult to deal with.” He got to his feet. “Have you found Galen yet?”

  “We picked up a phone signal in the woods about ten miles from here.”

  “And you didn’t catch him?”

  “He was gone by the time we got to the source,” Nekmon said. “He seems to be moving constantly. But he’s not leaving the area.”

  “Perhaps he’s looking for a way to rescue his friend Quinn,” Diaz said. “I’m going to be most displeased if he manages to get in my way tomorrow night. You don’t want to know how displeased, Nekmon.”

  “He won’t be an obstacle,” Nekmon said. “I give you my word. By the way, Quinn has regained consciousness.”

  “Good. I was afraid I was going to have to bargain with a corpse. Is he going to live?”

  Nekmon nodded. “As you know, he was somewhat damaged in the struggle to take him. Do you want to see him?”

  Diaz thought about it. He was tempted to give Quinn a reason to remember him. The Duncan woman still had some feeling for the bastard or she wouldn’t be going to these lengths to free him.

  No, better not. Everything should be smooth on the surface when they met at the church.

  “Later.” He moved toward the door. Spilling blood was exciting, heady, and energizing. But sex was almost as good and he still had the young farm girl here at the castle. She was proving very amusing. She had started out as a frightened doe but recently he had noticed flashes of spirit when the pain had been too great.

  Yes, she would be a suitable substitute for the satisfaction he would relinquish from toying with Quinn.

  Soldono was on the veranda when Eve tracked him down that evening.

  “I’ve been looking for you,” Eve said. “I need your help. Where can we talk?”

  “Problems?” He took her elbow and guided her across the veranda. “This is as good as anywhere.” He shook his head. “Now that poor Miguel has been taken out of guard duty, surveillance isn’t what it used to be.”

  “You told me that you could get me out of the compound and back to the village without Montalvo knowing about it.”

  He went still. “Is that what you want to do?”

  “No, but if you can do that, I figured you could help me in another way. I want you to arrange a meeting with Armandariz for me. I can’t go to him. It’s too far and Montalvo would find out and track me down. Armandariz will have to come fairly close to the compound.”

  “Why do you want to see him?”

  She grimaced. “I have to convince the neurotic bastard that I lied to him and erase everything that Montalvo wanted to accomplish. To top it off I have to persuade him to give me back the reconstruction.”

  Soldono whistled softly. “I can see why he’d want to track you down. Montalvo might just put a bullet in you.”

  “I’ll take the chance. It’s the only way I can save Joe. Montalvo doesn’t give a damn about him. Can you do it? You’ve dealt with the rebels, haven’t you?”

  “I’ve dealt with everyone in this stinking jungle at one time or another.”

  “Then will you help me?”

  “I shouldn’t do it. And you shouldn’t trust any bargain you make with Diaz.”

  “I don’t have a choice.” She added unsteadily, “You saw what he did to Miguel. That’s not going to happen to Joe.”

  He frowned thoughtfully. “I don’t know if I can convince Armandariz.”

  “Try. He wants to believe his daughter’s still alive. That should take him halfway. He doesn’t like Montalvo and that may bring him the rest of the way. Will you do it?”

  “How soon do you have to meet with him?”

  “Tomorrow morning. And ask him to bring the reconstruction with him. He may not go along with it but we have to make the attempt.”

  “This isn’t smart, Eve.”

  “It’s the best I can do. I won’t have Joe killed.” She repeated, “Will you do it?”

  He hesitated and then slowly nodded.

  “Thank God.” She squeezed his arm. “And thank you, Soldono.”

  “You can thank me by getting out of this in one piece. My job is keeping you safe, not Quinn.” He turned away. “And I’d better get my ass in gear. I’ll need to go some distance into the jungle if I’m going to phone Armandariz with no risk of being monitored. And it may take a long, long discussion to get him here.” He glanced back over his shoulder. “Change your mind, Eve. This is too risky. If the rebels don’t kill you, Montalvo will.”

  “Why not throw in Diaz?” she asked. “There’s no win-win situation here. I just have to survive and keep Joe alive.” She turned on her heel. “I’ll be in my room waiting for you to tell me what’s happening.”

  Soldono didn’t show up at her room until almost 2:30 A.M.

  “This morning before dawn,” he said when she opened the door. “Sorry y
ou’re not going to get much sleep but it’s safer for me to smuggle you out of the compound at that time.”

  “That doesn’t matter. Where’s the meeting?”

  “At a clearing about five miles from here.”

  “Is he going to bring the reconstruction?”

  He shrugged. “He wouldn’t commit himself. You’ll see when you get there. I did the best I could.”

  “You did very well. Thank you, Soldono.”

  “I’ll meet you on the veranda at five-thirty A.M. We’ve got to be over the wall and on our way fifteen minutes later.”

  “How can you be sure that we’ll be able to get out?”

  “I’m not sure. But the west wall was guarded by a man named Destando and Montalvo paid him a visit last night.”

  She stiffened. “Destando? He’s the man Miguel said could be the informant.”

  He nodded. “I heard a shot about five minutes after Montalvo went into Destando’s quarters. Evidently Montalvo took care of his leak. If the west wall is guarded, it won’t be by anyone experienced. Quinn and Galen went over the west wall. I’m wondering if Destando was deliberately remiss in his duty that night.”

  She watched him walk away and drew a deep breath.

  So far, so good.

  “Armandariz should be in the glade just ahead,” Soldono murmured. “I can’t go any farther. He said for you to come alone. I’ll stay here and guard your back.”

  “If Armandariz has as many guards milling around as he did in the camp, that’s not going to be very effective.” She moved down the path. “But thanks for the thought.”

  “Don’t push him too hard,” Soldono said. “He wasn’t eager for this meeting. If he gets too angry with you for lying to him, he might cut your throat.”

  “I’ll push him as hard as I have to.” She strained her eyes to see in the darkness that was only marginally lessened by the coming dawn. “I have no choice.”

  Soldono was leaning against a tree and straightened when she came down the path an hour later. “I was getting worried.”

  “So was I.” She started down the trail. “He didn’t want to believe me. I was too convincing before.”