Stalemate, Page 2

He didn’t look at her. “You know why.”

  “Joe.”

  “I have my own obsession. Now get your ass in gear. We need to get some food down you.” He shot her a glance. “It’s okay. I’m over it. It just had to come out.”

  “Why now?”

  “Why not?”

  She hesitated, gazing at him. It wasn’t over. She could sense the turbulence, the reckless energy whirling below the surface.

  “You’re down to ten minutes.”

  She tried to smile. “You used up five telling me what an obsessive wacko I am.”

  “Takes one to know one.” He turned on the oven. “And you’re my wacko.”

  She felt a sudden surge of warmth. He was the only man she’d ever known who could make her flit from emotion to emotion in the space of a heartbeat. She’d been angry, upset, defensive, and yet now she was feeling this powerful surge of affection. She turned away and headed down the hall. “Wackos of the world, unite.”

  “I only want to unite with one wacko and I fully intend to do it later tonight. After I feed you and stoke up your energy level.”

  “Promises, promises.”

  She was still smiling as she stepped into the shower a few minutes later. She could feel a tingle of sexual anticipation and excitement start within her. Jesus, you’d think after all these years with Joe that sex wouldn’t be this urgent. Wasn’t it supposed to become merely comfortable after a while? Their coming together was just as wild and passionate as that first time. Her body was tensing, readying at the thought.

  She took a deep breath and closed her eyes as the water flowed over her. She’d tell Joe about Montalvo’s call over dinner but right now she wanted to relax and forget about everything but Joe….

  Joe was taking the garlic bread out of the oven when his cell phone rang.

  Soldono.

  He was tempted to let his voice mail pick up.

  Shit.

  He punched the button. “Quinn. Go away, Soldono. I’m not talking to you. We’re done.”

  “If we were done, you wouldn’t have answered the phone. Have you talked to her? It’s almost nine-thirty, dammit. Time’s running out.”

  “No, and I’m not going to.”

  “You will. You have a conscience.”

  “My conscience concerns Eve, Eve’s physical safety, and Eve’s mental well-being. Period. Bottom line.”

  “And what does her conscience dictate, Quinn? I’ve heard Eve Duncan’s conscience is a little more encompassing. What would she say?”

  “I’ll never know. Neither will you, Soldono.” He hung up the phone. Keep cool. He’d already let Soldono get under his skin or he wouldn’t have answered the phone.

  “Who’s Soldono?”

  He turned to see Eve, wrapped in a terry robe, standing in the doorway. “No one important.”

  She frowned. “If he weren’t important to you, he wouldn’t be able to make you this angry.”

  “I’m not angry.”

  “Who’s Soldono? An officer at the precinct?”

  “No.” He placed the garlic bread on a plate. “We’ve got to both eat this to cancel the odor out. Maybe garlic wasn’t such a good idea. Of course, it’s supposed to keep away vampires.”

  “Is Soldono a vampire?”

  “Drop it, Eve.”

  “Why?” She sat down at the table. “I’ve an idea he may be one of the reasons you were on the attack tonight. Who is he?”

  He put her bowl of stew in front of her. “CIA. Satisfied?”

  “No. Is that all I’m going to get?”

  His lips lifted in a sardonic smile. “Soldono says that it’s not. But it’s all you’re going to get now.”

  Her forehead wrinkled in thought as she remembered something. “When you came into the house, you turned the phone back on. No comment. You just turned it on.”

  “Jane couldn’t get in touch with you.”

  “But you didn’t ask me why I turned it off.”

  “You were working.”

  “Joe.”

  He didn’t answer.

  “Talk to me. You knew about my call from Montalvo, didn’t you?”

  “Yes.” He poured some coffee. “Why didn’t you phone me and tell me about it?”

  “I thought it would wait until you got home.” She grimaced. “Okay, I didn’t want to think about him. It was interfering with Marty. It was just a kind of follow-up call to see if I’d changed my mind. And he didn’t exactly issue any firm threats.”

  “You should have called me. I don’t like being shut out.”

  “Neither do I. What does Soldono want with us?”

  He didn’t answer for a moment. “He doesn’t want us. He wants you.”

  “What?”

  “He wants you to go down to Colombia and do the reconstruction Montalvo is asking.” His hand tightened on his cup. “He doesn’t give a damn that once you’re down there, your chances of getting out alive stink. If knowing the identity of that skull is important to Montalvo, he’s not going to want anyone else alive and walking around to share that knowledge.”

  “You’re preaching to the choir. I’ve no intention of going down there.”

  “Good. Then we’ll forget both Montalvo and Soldono. Eat your stew.”

  “We won’t forget it. Why is the CIA involved with Montalvo? You said he was a crook.”

  “The CIA sometimes has strange bedfellows.”

  “I want to know, Joe.”

  “Okay.” His lips tightened. “Soldono called me because he couldn’t reach you and he was on the hot seat. Montalvo called you because he expected Soldono or one of his superiors to have already put the screws to you.”

  “Why would they do that?”

  “Soldono had an informant, Pedro Gonzales, in Montalvo’s camp. Montalvo found out about him and has been holding him locked up in his stockade. He offered to release Gonzales if Soldono could get you to come.”

  “And if he couldn’t?”

  “What do you think happens to traitors?”

  “He’d kill him,” she whispered.

  “He’s a dirtball,” Joe said harshly. “Even Soldono admitted that Gonzales was every bit as much a criminal as Montalvo. He just wasn’t as smart. That’s why he was trying to find a way to get him out that wouldn’t involve an innocent U.S. citizen.”

  “He was helping the CIA.”

  “For money, Eve. For money.”

  “Yes, but he…” She moistened her lips. “Life is precious. I could save him.”

  “And get killed yourself.”

  She rubbed her temple. “I know. I’m just trying to think of a way…. How much time do we have?”

  “Not enough.”

  “How much?”

  He glanced at his watch. “Twenty-five minutes.”

  Shock jolted through her. “My God, and you weren’t going to tell me?”

  His lips twisted. “Evidently I was or I wouldn’t have done it. Maybe I was just trying to save my ass when you found out later.”

  “Call Soldono.”

  “No, you’re not going.”

  “I didn’t say I was. Tell Soldono I’ll talk to Montalvo. Maybe I can stall him until the CIA can free Gonzales.”

  Joe stared at her without speaking.

  “Dammit, Joe. I don’t care if he’s a crook. Maybe he was trying to change if he was working with the CIA. What do we know? What will it hurt me to make the attempt to stop him from being killed?”

  “I don’t know and I don’t want to know.”

  “Don’t do this.” Her hand clenched into a fist on the table. “There’s too much pain in the world. I don’t want anyone hurt or killed if I can prevent it. It’s only a phone call, Joe.”

  He hesitated and then took out his phone and dialed. “It had better be only a call.” When Soldono answered the phone, he said curtly, “Tell Montalvo she’ll talk business to him if he wants to call her back.”

  “Jesus, you cut it close enough. I’ve only got fifteen mi
nutes.”

  “Then get off the line and talk to him.” Joe hung up. “This is a mistake, Eve. He’ll take it as a sign of weakness.”

  “I don’t care.” She picked up her coffee cup and cradled it in her hands. The warmth felt good to her. “I don’t want to enter into a battle of wills with the bastard. I just want to buy a little time to save a life.” She looked at the telephone. “I suppose I should expect a call from him tonight.”

  “Yes.” Joe stood up and pushed his chair back. “And I want to hear every word. Put him on speaker.”

  She nodded. “I’d record it but I don’t imagine he’ll say anything incriminating. You said he was smart.”

  He nodded curtly. “I wish you’d have been as smart.”

  “Would you really have let Gonzales die if I hadn’t pushed you to tell me about Soldono?”

  “What do you think?” He took the plates to the sink. “You know the answer. I don’t give a damn about a son of a bitch like Gonzales. Hell, I probably wouldn’t have cared if he was a priest instead of a crook. Not if it meant trouble for you.” He put the plates into the dishwasher. “Now go in and make yourself comfortable on the couch and wait for the slimeball to call.”

  “It’s the right thing to do, Joe.”

  Montalvo didn’t call.

  One hour passed.

  Two hours.

  Three.

  Joe called Soldono’s number and got only the voice mail.

  Four.

  Five.

  “Come to bed.” Joe pulled her to her feet. “He’s playing games with you.”

  “Why would he do that?”

  “How do I know?” He put his arm around her waist and led her toward their room. “But we didn’t hear from Soldono either, and he would have called if he hadn’t been able to reach Montalvo with the message.”

  “Why don’t you call Soldono again?”

  “As soon as I get you tucked into bed.”

  “You’re treating me like a child.”

  “Not a child.” He pushed her down on the bed. “There’s nothing childlike about you. Sometimes I wish there were.” He lay down beside her and pulled up the covers. “I’d celebrate the child in you. I’d give a party every day with red balloons and firecrackers.” He pulled her close. “Now relax and try to sleep. You did what you could and now it’s up to Montalvo.”

  “Call Soldono again.”

  “Nag.” He took his cell phone out and dialed the number. “Still voice mail.” He put the phone on the nightstand. “It could be that Montalvo gave Soldono orders not to talk to us before he did.”

  “Maybe.” She didn’t know what to think. Her nerves and expectations had been screwed up to face Montalvo and then there had been nothing. She felt flat and anxious at the same time.

  And tired. Very, very tired.

  She nestled closer to Joe. “This isn’t what I was anticipating for tonight.” She had a sudden thought. “Or were you trying to distract me?”

  “You think I was trying to lure you with my manly body.”

  “You would have succeeded.”

  “Past tense.”

  “If you—”

  “Hush.” He pressed his lips to her temple. “Neither one of us is going anywhere. It can wait. I can wait. Love isn’t only sex.” He chuckled. “Though it’s a damn entertaining part of it, isn’t it?”

  “Yes.” She cuddled her cheek into the hollow of his shoulder. “I can’t be a child for you. That part of me isn’t alive any longer if it ever existed, but I still like the red balloons and the firecrackers. There are celebrations and then there are celebrations. Sex is a celebration. So is lying here close to you.”

  His arm tightened around her. “God, you’re easy to please. Go to sleep, Eve. The celebration will still be going on when you wake up….”

  2

  Don’t go, Mama.”

  Eve opened her eyes to see Bonnie sitting in the rocking chair across the room. She was dressed in jeans and the Bugs Bunny shirt Eve had last seen her wearing that day she was taken. “I’m not going anywhere, baby. I just have to see if I can help that man.”

  Bonnie shook her curly red head. “Joe’s worried. He’s afraid you may go.”

  She looked at the indented pillow next to her. “Where is Joe?”

  “He’s on the porch trying to call Soldono again. He waited until you were asleep. He doesn’t want you to know. He doesn’t like it when things scare you.”

  “I’m not scared.”

  “You should be. You will be.”

  “Okay, Miss Know-It-All. You’ll forgive me if I take your predictions with a grain of salt. Your crystal ball doesn’t always work.”

  “I don’t know it all. Sometimes I just get a feeling. Usually when it concerns you.” She leaned back in the chair and tucked her leg beneath her. “Joe’s not the only one who worries about you, Mama.”

  Eve cleared her throat to ease it of the tightness. “No, Jane does too.”

  Bonnie chuckled. “You never give up. Me, Mama.”

  “Which probably means that I’m worrying about myself, since you’re undoubtedly a figment of my imagination.”

  “Not ‘undoubtedly.’ You have plenty of doubts and we both know it. You’re just afraid to admit it.”

  “That you’re a ghost? You’re damn right I’m afraid to admit it. I told Joe that I was a wacko, but that would put me beyond the pale.” She stopped, frowning. “Why are you laughing?”

  “Because you’re worried because you said ‘damn’ in front of a kid.”

  “I am not.” But she’d had a fleeting moment when that thought had crossed her mind. “It’s all part of the fantasy. They could probably write a textbook on me.”

  “It shouldn’t bother you,” Bonnie said gently. “I’m not a kid anymore, Mama. Not really. I couldn’t stay seven forever. It doesn’t happen like that.”

  She had told Eve that before but to Eve she looked exactly the same: curly red hair, bright eyes, luminous smile.

  Her Bonnie…

  “I am your Bonnie. I’ll always be with you.”

  Bonnie hadn’t been with her during that year after that monster had taken her away and killed her. Eve had gone almost insane herself and was spiraling ever closer to the step that would have given her peace. Then she had begun to have the dreams of Bonnie. They had saved her and helped her to start living again. “You haven’t come in a long time.”

  “I have to give you a chance to go on without me. It’s a rule. You’ve been happy with Joe.”

  “I think you make up the rules as you go along.” She quickly corrected, “Or I do.”

  “You slipped.” Bonnie’s freckled nose wrinkled as she grinned in delight. Then her smile faded. “I don’t make the rules. But I’m glad we have something to go by. Otherwise I’d stay with you all the time.”

  “I’d love that.”

  “But it’s not good for you.”

  “Bull.” She paused. “Then why are you here now? Montalvo?”

  “Partly. I was going to come anyway. I don’t like it that you’re so unhappy about Marty.”

  “I’m unhappy about all the lost ones.”

  “Yes, but this one is hurting you more than usual. I can feel your pain. Why?”

  “I don’t know.” She thought about it. “Maybe it’s not Marty.” She wearily shook her head. “It could be that I’ve done this too long. These days every one of those skulls they bring me makes me flinch. Maybe it’s all the lost ones, all the terrible brutality in the world. Children should be safe and loved. We should find a way to keep the monsters away from them. But we haven’t and it goes on and on.”

  “And you go on and on. That’s pretty wonderful, Mama.”

  “It doesn’t bring you back to me. I want to bring you home, Bonnie.”

  “I’m home whenever I’m with you. It will come.”

  Love flowed through Eve in a warm tide. Jesus, she mustn’t cry. Change the subject. “You said the reason you came was part
ly Montalvo. What part?”

  “The fear. It’s all around you.”

  “I told you I wasn’t afraid of him.”

  “Because you don’t know him. He’s not what you think. He’s not what anyone thinks. The fear will come.” She sat up straight in the chair. “I have to go. Joe’s finished with his call. He couldn’t reach Soldono. He’s going to come back to bed.”

  “Why leave?” she asked with sly mockery. “Why not stick around to say hello?”

  “You’re kidding me. You don’t want me to do that. You’ve never shared me with Joe. I don’t know why.”

  Neither did Eve. Trust? That couldn’t be the reason. She’d trust Joe with her life. They were closer than any couple she knew. Yet she’d never told him about the dreams of Bonnie.

  “Not dreams,” Bonnie said softly. “Not dreams, Mama. Close your eyes. I’m going now.”

  “And you don’t want me to see you vanish like something in a Star Trek transporter?” She closed her eyes. “You used to like those Star Trek reruns. Do you remember how you—”

  Aching emptiness. Sadness.

  She opened her eyes. No Bonnie. The rocking chair was vacant. Tears stung her eyes. Stupid. Weeping because Bonnie had drifted away from her again.

  Beloved dream. Beloved spirit. Beloved Bonnie.

  She could hear Joe’s quiet steps coming down the hall.

  She instinctively shut her eyes again. She didn’t want to have Joe know that she was crying. She couldn’t bear to make explanations right now. Better to pretend to be asleep.

  He slipped into bed and drew close to her. He whispered, “Eve?”

  She didn’t answer.

  He hesitated and then lay back against his pillow.

  She felt as if she’d betrayed him. There shouldn’t be pretense between them. Why couldn’t she lower the barriers and confide in him? He was so good to her. Even if he didn’t understand he’d never condemn her.

  She couldn’t do it. Lately it was as if there was a growing distance between them. Sometimes the closeness was there, sometimes she had to work to keep it firm, keep the substance of their love in focus.

  Like Bonnie, drifting back and forth into her life like a puff of smoke.

  Like Bonnie…

  She was asleep. Eve hadn’t been asleep when he’d come to bed but she was sleeping now.