Hunting Eve

by Iris Johansen

  “Yes, we’re back to square one.” Doane got up from the barber’s chair and came over to the makeshift dais. “All your agony and running didn’t get you anywhere, did it?”

  “It got me somewhere. I ran you ragged. I blasted your neat little plan to kingdom come. Or you wouldn’t have abandoned the coin factory and brought me to this wreck of a town.”

  “Are you ready for the eyes now?”

  “Not yet.” She had the same reluctance she’d had before when they’d come to this point. She didn’t want to see those blue eyes staring at her. It didn’t matter whether or not they were glass. “I have to smooth the corner of the orbital cavity. One of the cavities is deeper than—”

  “Hush!” Doane’s head lifted. “A car! Do you hear it?”

  She listened, and her heart leaped. Let it be help. “Yes.” She moistened her lips. “Why don’t you take the reconstruction and get out of here? You might be able to get away before—”

  “Be quiet.” He was peering out the broken window. Then he started to laugh. “No threat. It’s our old friend, Blick. Right on time. Even a little early. I’m glad to see he was so eager.”

  She tried to hide her disappointment. “Time for what?”

  “Wouldn’t you like to know?” He took a pair of handcuffs out of his jacket pocket. “And I promise you will know very soon.” He took one of her wrists and handcuffed it to the arm of the chair on which the dais was sitting. “I have to go greet him. I wouldn’t want you to slip away on me.”

  “I can’t work this way.”

  “I’ll give you a little rest. Isn’t that kind of me? This is more important.”

  “The car has stopped. I don’t hear it any longer.”

  “Yes.” Doane strolled to the window. “He’s getting a little ahead of me. As I said, eager. I must join him and make sure that everything is as I want it.” He headed for the door. “I’ll be back soon. Now, you keep Kevin company.”

  The next moment, he had left the barbershop, and she heard his footsteps on the wooden sidewalk.

  Why the hell was Blick here? And why was she even wondering, she thought wearily. Contending with Blick couldn’t be worse than dealing with Doane. Blick was an unknown quantity, but she knew what a monster Doane could be.

  For a moment, she had hoped that car might be salvation, or at least a passerby who might possibly change the equation. Deal with the disappointment.

  And deal with the fact that she was handcuffed only scant inches from Kevin’s skull.

  Panic. There was no sense to it when she had been working this close to him all day. But she hadn’t been chained and helpless before this. It made a difference. Her heart was pounding, and she could feel the chill and nausea starting.

  It was like being stretched on an altar to be sacrificed and not be able to escape.

  Block him out. Doane would return soon.

  Block Kevin out.

  * * *

  BLICK WAS JUST COMING OUT of the saloon when Doane strolled across the street from the barbershop. “You’re very prompt, Blick. I trust you did exactly what I told you?”

  “You say that as if you have the right to tell me what to do,” Blick said sourly. “You had nothing to do with it. It was what Kevin would have wanted.”

  “You’re right. We’re both doing what my son would do if he were here.” He looked beyond Blick at the door of the saloon. “Inside?”

  “Yes,” Blick said. “And it wasn’t easy. Where’s the Duncan woman?”

  Doane jerked his head toward the barbershop. “She has a duty to do before I bring her here. But she’s almost finished.”

  “You put me through a lot of trouble. It had better be worth it. How can you be sure that she wasn’t safe up at the factory?”

  “I’m not sure. But when she pulled a knife out of nowhere, I just had a hunch that things weren’t as they should be.”

  “A hunch?”

  “Kevin would know what I meant. And approve. Did you learn so little from him, Blick?” Doane could see that the barb struck home. He should really pull back, but he didn’t give a damn. “But then you were more of an acquaintance, not kin. You couldn’t understand Kevin.”

  “That’s not true.” Blick’s face was flushed with anger. “He trusted me, he taught me.”

  “But I didn’t need teaching,” Doane said. “He was my son, one soul, Blick.”

  “No, he thought you were a fool. He used you.”

  Doane felt a bolt of pure rage and struggled to control it. “I’ll forgive that poison from you, Blick. We mustn’t have a break now, when we’re so close to the goal.”

  “I don’t need your forgiveness,” Blick said roughly. “I’ve done my job, and now I’m going up to those trees in the foothills and set up. And you’d better be right, Doane.”

  “You’re not going anywhere yet,” Doane said. “Not until you show me how well you did your job. I’ve got to make sure you haven’t made any slips.” He strode toward the door to the saloon and threw it open. “After that, you can do whatever you want to do.” He glared back at Blick over his shoulder. “Coming?”

  Blick hesitated.

  Doane waited. He’d said enough to play on Blick’s pride. Don’t say any more.

  Come on, you son of a bitch.

  Then Blick was moving toward him. “I didn’t make any slips.”

  “Perhaps I wasn’t being fair.” Doane smiled as he stepped aside for Blick to enter the saloon ahead of him. “But I’m ready for show-and-tell, Blick.”

  Southern Colorado

  “HOW ARE YOU DOING?” TREVOR glanced sideways at Jane in the passenger seat as she charted their course on her tablet computer. “You seem to be holding up pretty well. We’ve been on the road a long time since we left Atlanta.”

  “Good. Better than good, actually. Amazing.”

  She shot a glance in the rearview mirror at Caleb, who met her eyes and smiled. The smile was subtle and carefully not too self-satisfied but she knew exactly what he was thinking. She wanted to slap him. If only she didn’t feel so wonderfully alive. Is this how it always felt to be him? Was Caleb’s blood so different that even the little he had given her would serve to give her this exotic sense of excitement and exhilaration?

  “I daresay she’s never felt better, Trevor,” Caleb said quietly. “I do good work.”

  “That remains to be seen,” Trevor said. “If it’s true, then I couldn’t be more happy. I just don’t trust quick fixes.”

  “Neither do I. But I’d rather fix the problem and go back and do it again if there’s a breakdown. I’m far from perfect, but I can usually piece together a successful outcome.” He tilted his head. “While you are probably close to perfect but not nearly as interesting.” He thought about it. “Except to people who like the idea of safety and happily ever after. There are those rare souls who cling to that scenario and can’t be pried away from it. Tell me, Jane, how do you feel about it?”

  “I feel that we should be getting close to our destination,” Jane said. “And that I’m in no mood to think about anything but getting to that hotel where we’re supposed to meet Kendra and Margaret.”

  “Then let’s think about them.” Caleb leaned forward and rested his crossed arms on the front car seats. “You said we were close?”

  “Yes.” She checked the GPS app on her tablet. “The hotel is just ahead.”

  After another couple minutes, they rounded a bend in the highway to see the welcome sight of the Iron Peak Hotel. But as they pulled into the parking lot, Jane suddenly stiffened in shock.

  “What’s he doing here?”

  Venable.

  He was standing next to a dozen men attired in standard-issue, black, assault-team garb: flak jackets, baseball caps, and boots.

  “What the hell? Stop the car!”

  Trevor hit the brake, and Jane was out of the Jeep before it even stopped moving. She was standing before Venable with clenched fists seconds later. “What’s going on?”

&nb
sp; Venable’s eyes widened at the sight of her. “Jane. It’s good to see you looking so well. Your doctors told me that you were being released, but I had no idea that you were this far along.”

  “I’m fine,” she said curtly. “Now what’s happening here?”

  “We have reason to believe Doane may be nearby with Eve.”

  “And you also believe that steamrolling in with a small army is your best bet? Doane is insane. Who should know that better than you? If he feels trapped, who knows what he’ll do.”

  “Do you have a better alternative?”

  “How about the alternative I’ve been suggesting.” Kendra Michaels appeared from the other side of the black-paneled vans. “Leave the battalion behind and go in stealth with a smaller team.”

  Jane moved toward her. “Did you bring him into this?”

  “No, there’s no way we’d refuse help if it was a reasonable offer. I told him this wasn’t the way to handle it, and I thought he was listening.” She gestured to Venable. “Margaret and I woke up to find them here using the lobby as a staging area. Kind of a nasty way to start a day.”

  “Only doing my duty,” Venable said sarcastically. “Funny what passes for gratitude these days. Jane, I’m sure Quinn would agree that every means has to be used to get Eve back.”

  Jane stared at him in bewilderment. “Not every means. Not if it’s this risky. I respect you, Venable. You’re not stupid. Why are you doing this?”

  “We have a different opinion. Mine is based on more experience than you’ll ever have.”

  Jane gave up and turned to Kendra. “Is Margaret still with you?”

  “She’s bringing the car around. We were planning to meet you down the road.”

  “Why?” Venable asked. “You weren’t planning on doing anything stupid?”

  “No, you’ve got that covered,” Kendra said.

  “Problem?” Caleb climbed out of the Jeep.

  “Maybe,” Jane said.

  Venable held up his hands. “Look, a stealth operation is easier said than done. The road up the mountain to the coin factory goes along the ridge around that ghost town; it’s narrow, and you can see it from miles away. You could be picked off with no problem. We need power and intimidation if we’re going to make a deal.”

  Kendra glanced at the black-clad team. “Well, you’ve got enough for that.”

  “Enough to send Doane into a killing fit,” Jane said. “If that’s what you believe, why are you still here?”

  “We have another unit coming in from Wyoming, right across the border. They should be here any minute.”

  Kendra nodded. “By all means, all you need is another dozen or so.” She got into the rental car in which Margaret had just pulled up. “Good luck, Venable. I hope to hell you don’t get Eve killed.”

  “That’s not my intention.” Venable’s eyes were narrowed on Kendra. “And what do you intend to do?”

  “Why should I tell you? You appear to like surprises. You sure gave us one this morning,” Kendra said. “Maybe we’re going to do a little sightseeing.” Kendra motioned to Trevor, who was still behind the wheel. “Follow us.”

  Trevor nodded as Jane and Caleb climbed into the car.

  Both cars turned wide to exit the parking lot.

  As Jane looked back, it was to see Venable still standing there, and she could see his lips moving in what must be obscenities.

  A mile and a half down the road, Margaret slowed to allow the Jeep to pull alongside.

  “We’re going to that coin factory?” Jane said.

  “That’s where I’m going. Your choice.”

  “There’s no choice. Eve might be there.” Jane’s lips curved in the ghost of a smile. “And I have to see if that landscape really looks the way I drew it.”

  “From the mural, it appears that’s already established,” Margaret said. “You did well, Jane.”

  “And Eve could be held there,” Kendra said. “I’d bet the coin press in Doane’s car was from that coin factory. It’s all coming together.” She frowned. “And I’d wait for Quinn or Venable to make the first move, but I’m scared to death what Venable may do. I want to be there to see for myself. Maybe I can stop him if he knows someone else is there but his team.”

  “I agree that this is a crazy idea of Venable’s,” Jane said, troubled. “But in spite of your opinion of him, he’s no fool.”

  Kendra was silent. “No, he’s not. But what if he’s more interested in nailing Doane than saving Eve? From that perspective, wouldn’t his plan make perfect sense?”

  “That’s a strong accusation, Kendra.”

  “It’s a strong hunch, Jane.”

  And Jane believed in hunches. She also couldn’t stand the thought of waiting and deferring to anyone else when she could be on the spot, moving and using her own judgment when it came to the person she loved.

  She hesitated, then glanced at Caleb and Trevor. “I’m going to break a few rules and probably get in trouble with the CIA. Would you care to join me?”

  Caleb smiled. “Venable has always been suspicious of me anyway. It’s only a tiny step from suspicion to conviction in the eyes of the CIA. I might as well push him over the line. Trevor?”

  “I’ve become accustomed to being your chauffeur. What would you do without me?” Trevor said. “Point the way.”

  “Good God.” Jane grimaced. “They actually agreed on something, Kendra. That may either be a celestial sign from above, or we may be in deep, deep shit.”

  “Okay,” Kendra said. “You can handle it. I’ll lead the way.” She looked behind them. “But we’d better hurry. I want to be up at that coin factory when Venable gets there.” She started the car. “And if we hang out here too long, I have a feeling Venable will try to stop us.” She added sarcastically, “Purely for our own good and safety, of course.”

  Rio Grande Forest

  Colorado

  “IT TOOK OVER FOUR HOURS, not three,” Joe said as he pushed his way through the wet brush. “Zander was wrong.”

  “It might not have been four for him,” Stang said as he checked to see if Dr. Eland was making good speed behind him as he followed Joe through the forest. “And we’re getting close to the coordinates Zander gave us.”

  Joe nodded. “Jane sent me an e-mail while we were flying in here when she couldn’t reach me by phone. This is the same region that Kendra Michaels told her was a high probability for where Eve might be held.” He added impatiently, “We’re closing in on Doane. But not fast enough, dammit.” His pace increased. “And where is Zander? We should almost be where he told us to meet him.”

  “May I suggest you let me go first?” Stang said. “If he sees you, he may decide not to show. He doesn’t like surprises.”

  “No, I don’t,” Zander said as he dropped down from the overhanging branch over the path ahead. He was cradling a rifle in his right arm. He added coldly, “Which begs the question, why the hell did you bring Quinn, Stang?”

  “He wanted to come,” Stang said simply. “And since I’d already done a good many things that would make you angry with me, I thought one more wouldn’t do any harm.”

  “The hell it won’t. He’ll be in my way.”

  “Tough,” Joe said. “I don’t give a damn if I get in the way of your vendetta with Doane. I just have to make sure you don’t catch Eve in the cross fire.”

  “She’s not stupid, and she can take care of herself.”

  Joe stiffened. “You said that with confidence. You’ve seen her, talked to her?”

  Zander didn’t answer.

  Joe was next to him in seconds. “Answer me. Or so help me, I’ll break your neck.”

  “Quinn,” Stang said warningly.

  “It’s okay, Stang,” Zander said. “I won’t hurt him.”

  Joe stared at him incredulously. “You’re damn right you won’t.”

  “Not because you don’t deserve it,” Zander said. “But I understand you can be lethal, and with this broken wrist, even if I p
ut you down, you could probably do me more damage than I can afford right now.” He stared him directly in the eye. “So I’ll have to endure you until this is over. Providing you don’t do anything that will keep me from taking out Doane.”

  “Have you seen or talked to Eve?” Joe repeated. “Do you still think she’s alive?”

  He nodded slowly. “The chase was pretty rough and the signs are that he caught her; but there was no body, so that probably means he didn’t kill her. But he’s got her again.”

  “Again? She was free?”

  “She’d escaped and been on the run from him for the past few days.”

  Joe cursed. “Son of a bitch.”

  “Can we get to her?” Stang asked.

  “Maybe. If I move fast enough,” Zander said. “He may suspect, but he doesn’t know for certain that Eve has help on the mountain. She’d be too smart to tell him.” He was silent a moment. “Or perhaps too damn protective. He wants to finish the plans he made for her before he heads in my direction.” He grimaced. “Which, hopefully, he thinks is Vancouver.”

  “Protective?” Stang asked. “Of you? Why should—”

  “Zander, I’m going to charge you a small fortune for this idiocy.” Dr. Daniel Eland had emerged from the shrubbery behind them. “Not only do you drag me out of bed and my own country, but you throw me into these woods and make me walk miles to get to you.” Eland was glaring at Zander. He was a tall, spare man with gray-flecked black hair and a large nose and mouth. At the moment, that mouth was spewing curses and complaints that ended, “Now show me what you’ve done to yourself, so I can fix it and get out of this place.”

  Zander glanced at Joe, obviously not liking the idea of appearing vulnerable. Then he slowly lifted his left arm. “Set it and make it useable for the next twenty-four hours or so.”

  “Holy shit.” Eland took one look at the bone protruding out of the skin of Zander’s forearm. “You’re lucky you didn’t sever an artery.” He pushed him to the side of the trail. “Sit down. This may take a while.”

  Zander dropped to the ground and leaned against a pine tree. “It can’t take a while. We haven’t got the time.”

  “Tell me where Eve is,” Joe said.