Stalemate

14

"How is he?" Eve asked as Montalvo came out of the bedroom. "What did the doctor say?"

"He's going to live. He's lost some blood. He's getting a transfusion now. Soldono is his blood type," Montalvo said. "He's going to need surgery on both hands. I'll send him to a specialist for that. He's lucky that his arms were draped over the cross and bore some of his weight. He is going to be okay. I'll see to it. He has two broken ribs. Diaz had him beaten before they put him on the cross. No internal damage other than that break." His lips tightened. "He told me he was lucky. Diaz assured him that if he hadn't wanted to send you a message he would have killed him."

"And the message is that Diaz has Joe?"

He nodded. "He saw him at the castle. Diaz's men captured him in the woods near the village."

"What about Galen?"

"Galen wasn't with him."

"What?"

"They may have separated and only Quinn was captured. Galen definitely wasn't being held at the castle."

Eve frowned. "Galen wouldn't have left Joe."

Montalvo shrugged. "I can only tell you what Miguel told me."

And what he had said meant her last hope was gone that Diaz was lying about holding Joe prisoner.

"What happened? Why was Miguel captured?"

"Miguel thinks it was an informant. Diaz's men were searching the village."

"This Destando you told me about?"

"You can bet I'm going to be paying him a visit."

"May I see Miguel?"

He nodded. "Not for long. And he may not make much sense. He's under sedation."

"I'm not going to harass him. I want to tell him I'm here for him if he needs me. I guess I'm feeling guilty for my part in sending him into Diaz's territory."

"You're feeling guilty?" he asked bitterly. "None of it was your fault. It was Miguel's fault for disobeying orders and my responsibility for giving him a mission where anything could happen." He added grimly, "And did."

"I was angry. It might have influenced you."

"It didn't influence me. I did what I'd do if any of my men disobeyed an order. If you make a mistake, you correct it."

Hard words. Hard man. And yet that last sentence echoed one of the philosophies that guided her own life. The mirror again. "I don't believe it's that black-and-white for you."

"Hell, no," he said roughly. "And right now, I'd do anything if I'd gone with him to that village."

"Didn't you think he had a better chance alone?"

"That doesn't stop me from remembering him propped against that wall, gagged to keep from screaming." He turned away. "I've got to call a specialist at your Emory University in Atlanta and arrange surgery for Miguel."

"And then?"

"Then I start moving on finding a way to get hold of Diaz and nail him to a cross." He strode down the hall.

The brutality of the words didn't shock her. The vision she'd seen earlier that evening was too vivid in her mind. Montalvo believed in revenge and it was natural that he'd want to punish the man who'd perpetrated that horror on the boy he cared about. She couldn't blame him. She was feeling angry and terrified that Diaz thought he could go through life hacking and maiming as if it were his right. The message he'd sent was very clear. Do as he commanded or risk Joe being the next victim. What the devil could she do?

She opened the door and went into Miguel's bedroom. He was lying in the bed Joe had occupied. Both of his hands were bandaged and his usually olive complexion was pale, his mouth strained.

He opened his eyes as the door closed behind her. "I… should have… stopped Quinn," he whispered. "I didn't think they'd… catch him."

"Yes, you did wrong. I'm not going to tell you that it was all right just because you've been hurt." She came to him and stood beside the bed. "I will tell you that I'm sorry that you've suffered so much. Is there anything that I can do for you?"

He tried to smile. "Kill… the bastard?"

"Not a bad idea. I can't think of anyone who'd deserve it more."

"Just…joking. Not your job. The Colonel will… do it. He promised… me."

"Then I'm sure it's as good as done. Anything else?"

"Don't give in to Diaz. Never… give in. I thought my father was a bad man. Diaz is-" He shuddered. "Don't give in. No one should give in to him. He won't let Quinn live no matter what… you do."

"Did he say that?"

"He's… angry with you. He wants you dead. He wants to hurt you. Killing Quinn will hurt you." He looked down at his bandaged hands. "He likes to hurt. He laughed when they were pounding the stakes into… my hands."

Tears stung her eyes as she reached out to touch his arm. "Don't think about it. It's over."

"I think in time I can forget the pain. It's the sound I keep hearing over and over. The sound of the stake going into-" He stopped. "You're crying. I didn't mean to make you cry." His lips lifted in the faintest smile. "It's not so bad. Though I won't be able to play the piano again."

"And the next line is that you never played before. That's a very old joke." She said unsteadily, "And if you want to play the piano, I'm sure Montalvo will make sure you're able to do it."

"Me too." His eyes closed. "He… feels sorry this happened. He won't admit it but he… likes me."

"I believe that's an open secret."

"And he doesn't want to let me… help get Diaz." His words were becoming slurred. "Wrong. I have to do it."

"For pity's sake, you're wounded. You're not in shape to do anything."

"Didn't stop… Quinn."

"And Joe is being held by Diaz."

"Have… to… help. Maybe it will stop the sound…"

"Miguel, your job is just to concentrate on getting well. There's nothing else that-"

He was asleep. His chest was moving steadily in and out, his breathing deep and regular. Montalvo had warned her that Miguel was sedated and her visit couldn't be for long and she'd probably exceeded that limit. She was torn by pity and anger and a kind of maternal protectiveness as she gazed down at Miguel. He was only a boy, dammit.

She gently tucked the sheet higher around him and moved toward the door.

Don't give in to Diaz.

Easy to say. The last thing she wanted to do was to follow any order from that beast.

Joe. What about Joe?

Yet Miguel had said Joe was dead whether or not she disobeyed Diaz.

He would not die. She would not allow that to happen.

Think about it. There had to be an out. Diaz was a dragon who was scourging all of their lives. They couldn't let him win. Although right now it seemed as if that was what was happening, she thought bitterly.

She closed the door and went down the hall toward her own room. Grab a shower. Change her clothes and then sit down and try to puzzle a way out for all of them.

Her cell phone rang before she reached her door.

"How did you like my messenger?" Diaz asked. "I thought it was quite a dramatic way to convey my wishes."

"It was hideous. You're hideous."

"Sticks and stones may break my bones but words may never harm me. Isn't that the way the English saying goes? I didn't use words to break Miguel Vicente's bones. I gave my men a baseball bat."

"And then you crucified him."

"I thought it fitting. Rather biblical in flavor."

"Satanic in flavor."

"It's nothing to what I'll do to Quinn if you don't follow my orders to the letter. Did you know I boiled a man in oil once? It took him a long time to die. I was pleasantly surprised. I thought it would be over in the blink of an eye." His tone hardened. "I want the skull in my hands by tomorrow night. I want assurance by tomorrow afternoon that Armandariz believes you to be a lying bitch."

"I'd be a fool to do all that without some proof that you'd release Joe. I could never trust your word."

"That's true. But I'm in control here. You'll do as I say or Quinn dies."

She hesitated, a hundred frantic thoughts cascading through her mind. What did she know about Diaz? Dammit, she wasn't prepared for this. Okay, go with instinct. "And I may die too. Why should I risk my life when you're not offering me any chance of a way out?"

"Because you're a soft woman and he's your lover."

That was the strongest wild card Diaz was holding. She had to take it away from him. "I'd hate to have anything happen to Joe for old times' sake but he's no longer my lover."

Silence. "You lie. He followed you here. He took a bullet for you."

"But why did he have to follow me here? Why did I take this job? Money? If you investigated me, you have to know money doesn't mean that much to me."

"Money is important to everyone." He paused. "Why else?"

"Montalvo. I was bored with my relationship with Joe. Montalvo is new and exciting."

"You're fucking him?"

"Every chance I get."

"I don't believe you."

"Believe what you like. I've tried to keep our relationship under wraps because I didn't want to hurt Joe before I could make a final break. But life is looking very good to me right now and I'm not going to toss it away for a man I'm going to leave anyway. If I decide to do what you wish, I'm going to walk away safe and sound."

"Back to Montalvo?"

"Back to Montalvo. I'll put Joe on a plane to Atlanta and wave him good-bye."

"You're making a bad exchange. Montalvo's not going to live longer than the next few weeks."

"You haven't managed to kill him yet. He's a survivor. That's one of the things that excites me about him."

"Whore."

"Beast. Find me a safe way out and I'll find a way to get that skull."

Another silence. "I'll think about it." He hung up.

But he'd call back if she'd managed to convince him. Toward the end of the conversation she'd thought he'd accepted the lie as truth. Jesus, she'd taken a giant leap and wasn't sure if she'd plunged Joe off that precipice. She hadn't had any option. Diaz was using her love for Joe as a weapon that could kill both of them. The only way to keep him from dominating the situation was to take that weapon away from Diaz.

And what would she do when he called her back? Listen to his deal and then try to find a way to save Joe. At best, it would be a stopgap measure. She had to do better than that. She had to take the control away from Diaz. Initiate instead of defend. And she had no idea in hell how to do that.

It had better not remain a mystery for long, she thought desperately as she went into her room. She had to have a coun-terplan ready to meet any trap Diaz was going to set for her.

Go on. Do what she'd been starting to do when that call had shaken her to the core. Shower. Change. Get something to eat. And during every minute she was doing those mundane tasks keep thinking, keep searching for a way out…

Diaz hadn't called back by the time she was ready to go downstairs. She hadn't really expected him to move fast. He probably had to consider whether there was truth in her words and then make a decision if he wanted to offer her what she'd told him she wanted.

She passed a mirror on the way to the door and grimaced. She had a right to look tired, since she hadn't slept in almost two days, but she was positively haggard. How pleased Diaz would be if he could see her now. Actually, she didn't feel nearly as exhausted as she looked. She was wired.

Montalvo glanced up as she entered the library. "Feel better? Miguel doesn't blame you for anything."

"Nor you?" She dropped down in the visitor's chair.

"Though he may try to use his injury to manipulate you. He's capable of it."

"Yes, he is. And I fully expect to have to slap him down." He added, "After the bastard gets well."

"He wants to go after Diaz. He said you won't let him. That's good."

"Maybe. It might be better to give him a role. After what he went through he deserves to get some of his own back."

"I agree. But I'm more interested in getting Joe out of that castle than letting the two of you go after your revenge."

"Even if the one begets the other?" He didn't wait for an answer. "Has Diaz called you back yet?"

"Yes."

He stiffened. "And?"

"The same as before. A little added gloating about what he did to Miguel." She shuddered. "He enjoyed it."

"I don't doubt that."

"Neither do I." She straightened in the chair. "And I'm not letting him do that to Joe. So I've got to move quickly. He wants the skull. I'm going to give it to him. With all the embroidery that he asked me to tack on to the deal. Diaz wants me to convince Armandariz that I didn't tell the truth about the validity of the reconstruction. I'll need your help to intercede with Armandariz for me in both cases."

"You're going to tell Armandariz that you lied?" he asked harshly. "No way."

"Don't tell me that. I'll do whatever is necessary to get Joe away from him."

"I won't let you give him the skull."

"If you can think of any other way I'm open to suggestion."

"You're not going to give him the skull."

She sat there looking at him.

He muttered a curse. "He'll scoop you up and cut your throat if you go near him."

"I'm working on that. He's not totally in control any longer."

"The hell he's not."

"I told him that I wouldn't meet his terms unless I had an escape hole. That I wasn't going to risk my life for Joe's."

"And he believed you?"

"Perhaps. We'll have to see. I tried to make my holdout as reasonable as possible." She stared him in the eye. "I told him I was fucking you and that I was going to leave Joe anyway."

"Indeed?" he murmured. "Why?"

"I needed an excuse for being less than eager to get Joe out of his hands. It gave me more negotiating power."

"If Diaz believed you."

"I think he did. We'll see when he calls me back." She added, "And if he agrees, I'll set up the meeting place."

"No," Montalvo said flatly. "Forget it. It's not going to happen."

Despair tore through her. His refusal wasn't unexpected but she'd been hoping against hope. She stood up. "Is that your last word?"

He nodded and repeated, "It's not going to happen. I'm not going to cut you down from a crucifix, Eve."

She turned on her heel and walked out of the room.

Christ, she felt alone. She had desperately wanted Montalvo's help and it was clear she wasn't going to get it. She could see his viewpoint. He'd spent years bringing Armandariz to this point and he wasn't willing to give up the advantage. Okay, then she'd have to work through this by herself. She'd go back to her room and sleep for a few hours. She had an idea she wasn't going to get much in the foreseeable future. Then she'd sit down and try to puzzle a way out of this predicament.

She thought it would take time for her to go to sleep but she dropped off almost immediately.

She woke to the sound of the ringing of the phone four hours later.

Diaz?

She scrambled to reach the phone on the nightstand. "Hello."

"You sound sleepy. Wake up, Eve. We have things to talk about."

"Galen?" She sat up straight in bed. "Where are you?"

"At the moment? I'm in a blind in an oak tree about a mile from Diaz's fancy castle and damned uncomfortable. I'm not accustomed to the rough life anymore."

"I imagine Joe's a little uncomfortable himself."

"Not my fault." Galen's voice was suddenly sober. "I couldn't do anything with him. I tried to stop him. I wanted to be the one to rush into the dragon's lair but he wasn't having any of it. He said it was more logical that he do it. Actually, he was right. Diaz wouldn't have much use for me except to use my handsome head to decorate his fireplace. Quinn was much more likely to stay alive until he could finish the job."

"Killing Diaz? For God's sake, Miguel said Joe was still unconscious while he was there. He'll be lucky not to bleed to death."

"He may be waking up about now. I've been using the audio spy equipment to monitor the castle and it's weird he's not come around yet. I'd bet he's playing possum. And he won't bleed to death unless Diaz opens his wounds. It's not likely. Diaz enjoys live entertainment. He'll ignore Quinn while he's out cold."

"What?"

"Quinn's not stupid. Stubborn. Not stupid. He knew he was too weak to function as he usually did. So he decided he had to avoid confrontation until he could slit the toad's throat. He wasn't in top form so he couldn't chance getting close to Diaz in the castle. So we decided to blow the bastard up. We planted a nice hefty stash of dynamite around the castle. We were going to set it off once we were in the woods but it turned out the whole area was crawling with Diaz's men."

"That's what Miguel said."

"Anyway we were cornered and Quinn tossed me the detonator and told me to do the job. Then he ran out of the shrubbery and drew them away from me. He knew we weren't both going to be able to get away and he was too weak to make it." He paused. "He's got guts, your Joe, luv."

"You don't have to tell me that."

"I couldn't blow the castle. That's where they took Quinn. Like I said, I've been hanging out listening in on what was happening inside the castle with some of this handy-dandy surveillance equipment and looking for an opportunity. I figured my best bet would be to know what was going on so that I could bring in some reinforcements."

"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 Bogota, 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 Bogota. 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 Bogota, 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 Bogota."

"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 slime-balls 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.