Stalemate

4

Montalvo didn't call when the five days were up. Nor did he call on the sixth day, nor the seventh.

On the eighth day her cell phone rang at 3:32 p.m.

"Have you been waiting with bated breath?" Montalvo asked. "I assure you it wasn't a strategy on my part. I hate not being able to meet a challenge with utmost efficiency. I was most unhappy with my head operative, Norton, in the U.S."

"Are you going to shoot him as you did that man Aquila?"

"Ah, Soldono discussed it with you. Actually I wasn't that displeased with Norton. There's no similarity in the cases. Aquila was armed and would have killed me given the smallest chance. Inefficiency deserves replacement and withdrawal of favors. That punishment is usually enough in most situations. However, since I'd given you my word and the issue was earning your trust I was particularly irate."

"I'd never trust you."

"But you could trust my ability to do what I promised," he said softly.

"I had no faith in you. There was no way you could find the killer in such a short time."

"But I did."

She went rigid. "What?"

"I've no concrete proof. There wasn't time, but I believe I located him."

"How?"

"I had my men checking the police records of all child molesters in the towns surrounding Valdosta and Macon. None of them seemed a match. There were two attempts at kidnapping in Columbus, Georgia, and Stockbridge at about that time. But those men were apprehended almost immediately. No reports of attempts in Macon. Yet the boy was found in a grave outside Macon."

"So?"

"I studied the situation and decided to focus in on Macon. If I was looking for victims, I wouldn't commit a crime in my own backyard. I'd pick up the victim in another town and dispose of the body in a grave some distance away."

"And you found a suspect in those records?"

"No, we located a few sex perverts who were in Macon at the time. It took a little while to track down and eliminate them. And, no, I don't mean that literally. Though I'm sure they deserved it. Two were in jail at the time. The other offender had an alibi. I thought we'd run into a stone wall. I don't like to be wrong."

"You said you found him," she prompted.

"Impatient? I'm getting to that. Since I didn't want to admit being wrong, I went down another road. If he wasn't a known sex offender and didn't have a record with child molestation, what was the answer? Macon is a big college town. What if one of the students was the killer? It was a long shot but I gave the order to scan police records for any students picked up loitering near schools or day-care facilities. Donald Palker came up in the computer. He had a bottle of whiskey in the car and claimed he'd passed out after a frat party in front of Jolly Time Day Care. The Macon police get a lot of students who can't hold their liquor. Palker was a sophomore, clean-cut, got good grades, and was polite and apologetic. They let him go."

"And Marty died," she whispered. "He wasn't arrested again?"

"Yes, but not in Georgia. Last year he was put on trial in Connecticut for suspicion of murdering a ten-year-old boy. The evidence was compromised and he was released."

"He's still loose?"

"Yes, he's living with his parents in upper New York State. As I said, I didn't have time to get proof. I have a man watching Palker now. If you can have Quinn get Valdosta to search through their forensic records for DNA other than the boy's, we can get a match." He paused. "Or if you don't want to bother, Palker can disappear. It would save the courts a good deal of money and maybe save a life. It's up to you."

She shuddered. "And land in an unmarked grave? We'll get the DNA."

"I thought that would be your response. You have a horror of unmarked graves."

"Is that why you told your Miguel to bury Aquila in one?"

"No, that was purely for my convenience. Not all of my actions revolve around you." He chuckled. "But certainly a good portion of them do at the moment."

"I've no desire to be the focus of your attention."

"Nevertheless, you are." He paused and when he spoke again all trace of humor was gone from his tone. "I didn't keep to the letter of the test you gave me, but you have to admit I did very well. I showed you I was capable of giving you what you want."

"No, you didn't. Marty's murder was recent history compared to Bonnie. She was killed a long time ago. Joe and I have been searching for years with no result. We've explored every avenue. And you think you could just step into the picture and actually find her?"

"It's not what I think. It's what you think," he said softly. "Or what you hope, Eve. Right now, you're remembering all the information I gathered in just eight days. You're wondering whether if you pass up the opportunity you'll ever be able to forget that you might have found your Bonnie."

"My God, you're sadistic."

"No, I'm desperate. This is no game to me. I have to have you. You do this for me and I promise I'll find your little girl."

"And if I don't?"

"I've stacked the situation with good and bad cards. It's up to you how I play them."

"I'm responsible? Don't lay your blame on me."

"I'd never do that. I take total responsibility for everything I do. I'm going to hang up now so that you can consider the gift I've offered you."

"A gift has no strings."

"True. Good-bye, Eve. I'll be-"

"How long have you known about Palker?"

"I found out last night."

"And why didn't you call me then?"

"Why don't you tell me, Eve?"

"You didn't want to keep me in suspense. Your ego would have told you to call me as soon as possible so that you would have at least come closer to your deadline."

"Really?"

"Really."

"Then why didn't I do it?"

"Joe. You knew Joe wouldn't be home at this time of day. You didn't want him to hear what you said to me before. You don't want him to know now."

"Very good. You are coming to know me."

"Not enough. How many people did you pay off to keep any information about you buried as deep as that man you killed and threw in the ground?"

"A good many. I'm flattered you've been interested enough to try. And, as I told you before, this is between the two of us. I'm sure Joe Quinn has been putting up roadblocks since the moment I called you. He gets in the way. You know that as well as I do. I can't have him doing that. He stands over you like a guardian angel protecting you from my devilish ways."

"He's a good man and I listen to his advice."

"I know. That's one of the things I've had to overcome. But I have overcome it, haven't I? When all is said and done, you don't care if you're being wise. You don't care if there's danger. You're tired and hurting and you want your heart eased of pain." His voice lowered to soft urgency. "I'll give you that ease, Eve. Come to me. Help me and I'll help you."

Christ, she was bending, yielding to his words as if he were indeed Lucifer tempting her with untold riches.

But the riches were not unspecified; she knew exactly what she would get from him.

"Call me when you're ready to come and I'll make arrangements." He hung up.

Dear God.

She rose to her feet and went to the window to look out at the lake.

Help me and I'll help you.

Lord, she did need help. She needed someone to tell her she was crazy to be drawn into the web Montalvo had woven. Yet that was what Joe had been doing all along and she had been ignoring him, fighting him.

Because she didn't want to be saved. From the moment he had mentioned Bonnie she had wanted to risk everything for the chance that Montalvo was not lying to her. Somewhere deep within her she had desperately wanted Montalvo to be successful in finding out Marty's identity and locating his killer. If he could do it once, he might be able to do it twice.

And he had done what he had promised. He had met the test.

Help me and I'll help you.

She closed her eyes as the words repeated over and over in her mind.

Help me and I'll-

Her eyes flicked open and she turned away from the lake. There was no need to dwell on Montalvo's words. They had already done their work. He hadn't even had to be particularly persuasive after the first attempt. It had been overkill. On a subconscious level she had been persuading herself these last days.

And there was no question in her mind or heart that she was going to let Montalvo help her find Bonnie.

She phoned Montalvo back thirty minutes later. "I'm coming. But on my terms, not yours."

"What terms?"

"You're not sending any plane for me. I'll arrange with the CIA to bring me to you."

"Agreed."

"And you'll have Gonzales and his family waiting when I get off the plane and they'll board it and the CIA will fly them out of Colombia."

"Agreed."

"And you won't wait until I finish the job to get your people working on finding my daughter. You'll start at once."

"Agreed. Anything else?"

"No." She paused. "I'm good, but I'm not a miracle worker. I may not be able to do what you wish. I'm bargaining for the attempt, not the success."

"I've seen your work. At times you come very close to miracles."

"I mean it, Montalvo."

He didn't speak for a moment. "As long as I feel you're giving it your best effort, I won't quarrel with you."

"I can't do anything else but my best. It's the only way I work. One other thing. Joe Quinn."

"He can't come with you."

"I don't want him to come with me. I may be willing to risk my own neck with you, but I won't risk Joe's. But he's not going to see it my way. I need a promise from you. Under no circumstances will you harm my family, particularly Joe. No matter what he does, what he says, how much trouble you believe he's going to cause, you will not hurt Joe Quinn."

"That may be a most difficult condition. I've checked his background. Police, FBI, ex-SEAL. He could cause a disturbance."

"You're damn right he could. Ask me if I care. Give me your promise."

"Would you trust my word?"

"Probably not. But if I make it a part of the bargain you'd know it was a deal breaker."

"I do keep my word. It's one of my eccentricities."

"We'll see. Give me your promise. I want the words."

He sighed. "Under no circumstances will I harm your admirable Joe Quinn. Satisfied?"

"No, I'm not satisfied about anything connected with this. I'm just trying to minimize the damage."

"And you've done a good job. I'd expect nothing less of you." His voice became crisp. "Now let me go over arrangements. You'll be landing at a strip in a small village, San Cristal. The countryside is rough and it's difficult for even a helicopter to land near the compound. You'll be brought by jeep to within one mile of the compound, where you'll go through the checkpoints."

"Very isolated. How do you do business?"

"By staying alive and not inviting anyone too close. My men know the jungle around the compound and can spot anyone who gets too near."

"Like Aquila?"

"Yes, he got much too near. When may I expect you?"

"I'll let you know. I have to talk to Venable."

"He'll be full of warnings and gloom, but he'll go along with you. He's very concerned about Gonzales. For such an experienced agent, I found he has a conscience where innocent bystanders are concerned."

"You act as if that's rare."

"I appreciate those who have a code and stick by it. Most of us change with the winds."

"Speak for yourself. I don't. Neither does Joe. I'll call you when I firm up the flight with Venable." She hung up.

Committed.

Fear. Uncertainty. Excitement.

And the excitement was growing, she realized. Facing the unknown, a challenge to be met, a chance to find Bonnie. She suddenly felt vibrantly alive. She hadn't expected this reaction. Now that the decision was made it was as if every facet of her mind and body were readying for a battle.

And that's exactly what it might prove to be, she thought ruefully.

Well, time to call in reinforcements. She looked up the number and quickly dialed Venable.

"It's my duty to try to dissuade you," Venable said. "You're putting yourself at risk and we're not in a position to help you if you need it." He added wearily, "I'd think you'd realize that. We haven't even been able to help Gonzales."

"I won't ask for help. This is my choice. If I get in trouble, it's up to me to find a way out."

"What about Quinn? What have you told him?"

"Nothing." She paused. "He's not involved with this."

"Yet."

"He's not going to know anything until I'm halfway to Colombia. He's going to be angry and he's going to try to get you to do something to get me out of Montalvo's compound. You're not to do it. If you come for me, I won't go with you. And you may lose men trying to make me. Do you understand?"

"Understood. But there's no way you'll get Quinn to understand. He may come after all of us."

"I'll try to explain-I have to do this. Try to keep him away from me and safe, Venable. You owe me for Gonzales. Pay me back by protecting Joe." She had to get off the phone. She was getting too emotional. "I'll be waiting for someone to pick me up at nine-thirty in the morning."

"I'll have a man there. You won't change your mind?"

"I won't change my mind."

She stood there a moment, fighting for control, after she'd hung up. Talking about Joe had brought the effect on him of what she was doing to the forefront. He would understand her going, he would not understand her not letting him go with her. He would regard it as a betrayal of their relationship.

So be it. She would worry about damage control later. She had done all she could to keep him safe. She just had to forge forward.

But that was not going to be tonight. She had Joe for one more night. The next days ahead would be for Bonnie. She would take tonight for herself.

"We have to make a trip to the village tomorrow, Soldono," Montalvo said as he turned away from the phone. "I'm going to have a visitor."

"She's actually going to come?"

"With many stipulations." He smiled. "She very wisely hedged her bet as much as she could. But the bottom line is that she's coming."

"God help her."

Montalvo's smile faded. "God helps he who helps himself. Eve Duncan is doing what she can to help herself. We must hope that she continues in that vein." He turned away. "Now go and tell Maria Gonzales and the children to pack up. I won't release her husband until the last minute before we leave for the landing pad. It won't hurt him to sweat a little more."

"You're releasing them?"

"A condition of your Ms. Duncan's. I expected it." He gave Soldono a cool glance. "You were wise not to make the attempt to get them out before this. I was a little worried you might not be as intelligent as I thought you to be. You might have set my plan back severely if you'd made me use violence when I'd tracked you down. I'm being forced to strike a very delicate balance with Eve Duncan."

Soldono met his gaze. "If I'd found a way, I would have done it." He turned away. "And I wouldn't have been as easy as Aquila."

Montalvo laughed. "Good for you. A break at last in your demeanor. I was getting tired of you being so diplomatic with me."

"There was a man's life at stake. I did what I had to do."

"And now the man is going to be freed and you can be yourself. It will be a relief to both of us." Montalvo waved his hand. "Go get the woman and children. Miguel will give you cash to set them all up far away from me."

"Why?"

"It may discourage me from obeying the rule I set up for the compound." He paused. "Or it might not. So don't tell me where you settle them."

"You're a strange man, Montalvo."

"Strange is better than ordinary. I swore when I was a child that I would never be run-of-the-mill. I've kept my word."

"That you have." Soldono was heading for the door. "There's no use me being here if you're releasing Gonzales. I'll be boarding the plane with them."

"No, I want you to stay here."

"Why?"

"Eve Duncan will feel safer here with you on the scene."

He hesitated. "I'll have to check with Venable."

"We both know there won't be a problem. Not only will you be providing security to a U.S. citizen, but you'll continue to be in a position to spy on my operations. After all, that's how all this started in the beginning."

"I have to warn you that I'll provide her with all the security of which I'm capable. I won't be a cardboard figure, Montalvo."

"Good. The safer she feels, the more productive she'll be."

Soldono shook his head and strode out of the room.

Montalvo stood up and moved across the office to the window to stare out at the jungle. Excitement was tingling through him.

She was coming.

It had been a hard fight but he had won. He had been patient and not reached out and grabbed. He had used his mind and not muscle.

Are you as excited as I am, Eve? I believe you are. I could hear it in your voice. I could sense it.

I'm getting closer, you son of a bitch. One step at a time, one person at a time. You can't stop me, Diaz.

She was coming.

Nekmon hesitated outside the bedroom door. Diaz had a new woman with him and he usually didn't like to be disturbed. Screw it. Diaz had told him to report as soon as he knew anything about Aquila. If he didn't do as ordered, he'd be in trouble anyway. Damned if he did, damned if he didn't.

He knocked. "Nekmon."

"Come in. Come in," Diaz said impatiently.

The scent of perfume and marijuana hit his nostrils as soon as he opened the door. "I'm sorry to bother you, but you said-"

"I know what I said." Diaz sat up, leaned back against the padded velvet headboard, and lit a joint. "Talk and get out."

Nekmon carefully avoided looking at the naked woman lying next to Diaz. "Aquila reported in night before last. He didn't have much. Montalvo has been very quiet lately and staying close to home. He did come up with one name several times during surveillance. Something about a job and an Eve Duncan."

"Who the shit is Eve Duncan?"

"I went to the Internet. If it's the same one, she's some kind of big-time forensic sculptor."

Diaz stiffened. "What?"

"My report's on your desk. I could get it for you now."

"No, not now," he said absently. "But I want to know if Aquila calls with any other info."

"We haven't heard from him in twenty-four hours. He should be calling every eight hours per your orders."

Diaz muttered a curse. "The idiot was probably clumsy."

"That's my guess. Do I send someone else?"

Diaz nodded slowly. "Send Duarte."

Nekmon's brows lifted. "You believe that will be necessary?"

"It can't hurt. I like to be prepared." He murmured, "Eve Duncan. The bastard must be getting close."

"Can I do anything else?"

"Not in here. I don't like sandwiches." He handed the joint to the woman next to him.

Only it wasn't a woman, Nekmon noticed. It was a girl not over eleven or twelve. He vaguely remembered seeing her working on one of the coca farms. Evidently Diaz had seen her, too, and decided he liked what he saw. It didn't surprise him. Diaz usually liked the young ones. He often bought girls even younger from the whorehouses in Bogota.

"I'll go then. Good night, Mr. Diaz."

Diaz didn't answer. He was already moving over the young girl. "Now let's see how well you've learned your lessons, little puta…"

"Again, Joe?" Eve's voice was breathless as she cuddled closer to him. "Don't tell me I've worn you out?"

"Okay, I won't tell you." He rolled over and was on top of her. "Now put up or shut up."

"You mean put out." She smiled up at him. "No problem."

"I hope not." His hand caressed her cheek. "That's what I want for you, Eve. No problems ever."

"There are always problems." She turned her head to kiss his palm. "But moments like this make us forget about them. You're a wonderful man and a hell of a lover." She whispered, "I love you, Joe."

"I gathered that by the way you seduced me tonight. You didn't let me eat my supper before you set out to do your best to get me in the sack."

"You were easy. It didn't take my best. Are you complaining?"

"If I were, you should send me to a shrink." He bent down and kissed her, slow, lingering. "God, I'm glad to be seduced. I was trying to be reserved and not use sex to influence you."

"How stupid can you get? Use it." She chuckled. "It won't get you anywhere, but we'll have a hell of a good time."

"What a healthy attitude." He started to move. "I believe I will…"

Joe was carefully getting out of bed and heading for the bathroom. The door closed silently and she heard the shower.

He didn't want to wake her, Eve knew. It was six-thirty. He'd get dressed and be on the way to the precinct within thirty minutes.

She'd lie here and pretend to be asleep and hope he didn't turn on the light and see the tears staining her cheeks. This was going to be the most difficult time. She wanted to talk to him, tell him everything. She wanted to draw him back to her and forget about Venable's agent, who'd be here in a few hours. Why was she doing this when she could have Joe and hours like the ones that had spun by like molten gold?

Golden nights and silver mornings.

Who had said that?

Jane. After she had come back from MacDuff's Run.

Last night had been golden. But this morning was anything but silver. It was shoddy metal and was leaving a taste of bitter brass in her mouth.

The decision was made. Good-byes were always hard. If she didn't go today, she would go tomorrow or the next day. She knew herself too well not to know that.

She just had to hope that Joe didn't turn on the light.