He thought about it. It could be that Queen had gotten impatient and was trying for a strike. But there was another possibility. “No, let them reach the courtyard. I’ll make a decision then.” He hung up and quickly dressed.
The buzzer sounded again. C2 camera.
He pressed the video. Two figures, dark clothes, moving swiftly. He zeroed in on them.
A woman, dark hair pulled back, slightly exotic features.
A man, tall, brown hair, dark eyes. He’d seen photos of that face. Joe Quinn.
The woman must be Catherine Ling.
Hanks phoned. “They’re right on top of you. What do we do? Take them out?”
Dammit, I’m backed in a corner, Gallo thought. He couldn’t risk Joe Quinn getting killed, and he couldn’t even guarantee to control the situation once Quinn erupted on the scene.
“No, don’t touch them. I’ll call you back.”
He had known that it might come to this when he had taken Eve, but he’d considered it worth it. What the hell. It might have been necessary anyway. The circle was closing.
He had to move fast. Quinn and Catherine Ling had gotten around most of the alarms with incredible speed and accuracy. They’d be in the house in no time.
He snatched the backpack he always kept ready from the closet and moved down the hall toward the guest room.
Eve sat up as he threw open the door. Her eyes were wide in her pale face. “What is it?”
“It’s your Joe Quinn being superhero,” he said. “I’d heard he was smart. I didn’t realize he’d be able to move this fast.”
“What do you mean? Where is he?”
“Pounding on the gates.” He was crossing the room toward the bed. “I’ll either have to kill him or bow out. I’m going to let him have the castle.”
Her hands clenched on the cover. “I’m not going with you.”
“I’m not asking you to come. I think we’ve said what had to be said.” He reached in his pocket and handed her a key. “Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Queen may get desperate and aggressive once they realize I’ve gone. You may need ammunition.”
She gazed at the key in her palm. “I don’t understand.”
“Blackmail.” He turned and moved toward the door. “He’ll understand even if you don’t. If you don’t need to use the leverage, save it for me. Believe me, I can use it.” He reached in his pocket, pulled out her phone, and handed it to her. “Your property. You might try to intercept your Joe Quinn. I’ll try to call Hanks off, but if they come together, there might be damage.”
He moved quickly down the hall and down the stairs.
“John!” Eve had followed him and was standing at the top of the stairs. She was wearing one of Judy’s sweatshirts, her red-brown hair was rumpled, her expression intense. She looked almost as young as she’d been when he’d first met her. “Dammit, I’m not going to let you go without telling me about Paul Black. Where is he? Talk to me.”
“Sorry. No more time. You’ll have to be satisfied.” He opened the door to the basement and ran down the stairs.
She called after him. “How can you say that? I’m not satisfied.” He went around the corner of the landing, and she was lost to view.
Check to see how close Quinn was to gaining entrance.
John punched the video button on the panel by the exit door that accessed the passage to the outside. He couldn’t see Joe Quinn, but Catherine Ling was almost directly beneath the camera. She was working quickly to disable the house alarm. The expression on that beautiful, exotic face was intent, totally focused.
Suddenly she stopped and looked up.
He inhaled sharply.
She knew he was watching her.
What the hell? He knew she couldn’t see that camera, but she still knew. Incredible instincts. Catherine Ling was remarkable. He’d be interested to explore those instincts.
Not now. No time.
He keyed in the exit code for the door, and it swung open. The next moment, he was closing and locking it behind him.
He pulled out his phone as he moved down the ramp that led to the outside passage.
CHAPTER
13
“I THINK THEY KNOW WE’RE HERE.” Catherine turned as Joe came around the side of the house. She clipped the final wire on the alarm. “We should get the hell out of this courtyard.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.” She shook her head. “No. But I’d lay odds I’m right.”
“You go. Take the mountain road back down to the car. I’m going in.”
“The alarms are off.” Catherine moved toward the French doors across the veranda. “Divide and conquer. You take the kitchen door. Be careful.”
“I’m not going to barge in with guns blazing,” Joe said sarcastically. “And I’m not leaving here without Eve.” He added curtly, “But I don’t need you. Get out of here.”
Catherine was bent over the locks on the French doors. “Shut up, Joe. I’m busy. I’ll see you inside.”
Joe didn’t argue. He shrugged and hurried around the side of the house toward the kitchen door.
Catherine didn’t like this.
It was too quiet.
Queen’s map and plans had said there were no courtyard guards, but she had still expected it to be harder. Queen had been too wary of Gallo and Intelligence’s own chance of infiltrating the compound. If it was this easy, why hadn’t they tried their luck before?
The French doors swung open.
Darkness.
She drew her gun and threw herself into the room and to the side.
She waited.
Nothing.
But she could hear someone in the hall.
“Joe?” Eve’s voice. “Joe, it’s okay. He’s not here.”
Catherine rose to her feet. “Eve!”
Eve threw the door open. “John didn’t mention you, Catherine. Are you okay? Where’s Joe?”
“Here.” Joe was standing in the doorway, a gun in his hand. “Where’s Gallo?”
“I don’t know. Gone. He knew you were coming.” She moved across the room toward him. “How did you find out where I was?”
“Queen.” His gaze was narrowed, moving around the hall. “Gone? You’re certain?”
“He told me that he was leaving. He gave me back my phone and said to try to intercept you. I tried, but I guess you had your phone off. He didn’t want you hurt.”
“I bet he didn’t,” Joe said bitterly. “And did he hurt you, Eve?”
She shook her head. “No, I was a little scared and uneasy at the beginning, but I’m—”
Joe had pulled her close and kissed her hard. “Thank God.”
“He didn’t mean to hurt me, Joe.”
“The hell he didn’t.” Joe let her go. “He’s nuts. Ask Queen.”
“John’s not crazy.” She made a face. “Though he might deny that himself. Emotionally disturbed on some subjects? Yes. But he’s not insane.”
“He evidently managed to convince you,” Joe said. “Let’s see if he can convince me when I catch up with the bastard. We didn’t see any vehicles leave the garage. How did he get away?”
She shook her head. “When he came to my room to tell me he was leaving, he had a backpack.”
“And how long ago was that?” Catherine asked.
“Fifteen minutes? I’m not sure. I’d followed him when he was going downstairs and ran back upstairs to throw on some clothes. Then I came down to see if I could open the doors and try to locate you.”
“And intercept me,” Joe said tightly.
She looked at him. “Yes. Even if he wasn’t here, he has guards on the property who might hurt you.”
“Bill Hanks, head of his security,” Catherine said. “Five others on the team. Besides the guards at the two checkpoints.”
“Queen, again?” Eve asked.
Catherine nodded. “I think he was planning a major assault. He’s not fond of John Gallo.”
“John’s not fond of him, either.”
>
“You said you followed him downstairs. Where did he go?”
Eve pointed to the door at the end of the hall. “I think it leads to the basement.”
Joe turned and headed for the door. “Stay with her, Catherine.”
Eve sat down on the bottom step. “I’m fine. You don’t have to guard me, Catherine. Go with him.”
“It’s easier to do what he says than to argue with him.” Catherine smiled. “Unless I have a reason to argue. I don’t right now. I’ll just let Joe work off some of that steam and let you fill me in while he’s not around.”
Eve nodded. “I can tell that his steam is scalding hot.” She frowned. “Dammit, it didn’t have to be this bad. I tried to get John to let me contact Joe and tell him I was all right.”
“I’m not sure that would have done much good. Joe would still have gone on the warpath.”
“But you might not have had to come with him. I’m sorry, Catherine. I didn’t intend to involve anyone but myself. John pulled the rug out from under me.”
“Well, I am involved. I started all of this by trying to solve all your problems. You should sock me.”
“I’ll think about it.” Eve grinned. “But I don’t believe that an—”
“What are you doing sitting on the steps?” Judy was coming down the hall, dressed in a navy robe and furry blue slippers. “For goodness’ sake, you look like an orphan sitting there, Eve. Come along to the kitchen. I’ve made coffee and I have doughnuts. They’re store bought, but they’re pretty good.” She turned to Catherine. “Who are you?”
“Catherine Ling. And you are?”
“Judy Clark,” Eve said. “She cooks for John Gallo.” She looked at Judy. “John’s left the property, Judy. You don’t have to wait on his guests any longer.”
“Yes, I do. John just called me and told me to take care of you.” She turned and moved down the hall. “So come on. I’ve told Bill Hanks to come to the house. John wants me to smooth the way and make sure there’s no trouble.”
“Why would he do that?” Catherine asked as she caught up with the cook.
“How do I know?” Judy said. “He doesn’t usually mind causing his share of trouble. I just take orders.” She opened the door to reveal a pristine, clean, bright kitchen. “Sit down. There’s another one of you, isn’t there?”
“Joe went down in the basement to see if he could track Gallo.”
“John is long gone now. Pour your own coffee. I’ll go after this Joe. I don’t want him bumping into Hanks when I’m not around.” She turned, and her furry slippers flopped as she hurried back down the hall.
“A character?” Catherine asked Eve.
“Maybe. But I think I like her.” She poured coffee into two cups. “And evidently John trusts her.”
“Then are we sure that she’s not doping the coffee?”
“Trust you to think of that.” She lifted her cup to her lips. “Though, as a matter of fact, getting doped was how I got here. John thought he would avoid complications.”
“Gallo doped you?” Catherine looked at the cup in front of her. “Then I think I’ll pass on this.”
Eve couldn’t blame her. “Then go make a pot of your own. But Judy will probably go on the attack for messing around her kitchen.”
Catherine studied her. “You appear to be very at home here. Comfortable.”
“Not comfortable. I’m just not afraid.” She looked at Catherine over the rim of her cup. “John never intended to hurt me, Catherine. And he wouldn’t have left if he’d wanted to hurt you or Joe. He was trying to avoid trouble.”
“Then he shouldn’t have kidnapped you and brought you here. Not a good way to avoid problems.”
“I’m not defending him. He was arrogant and completely wrong.”
“Then why does it sound that way?”
Because Eve was more confused and divided than she’d ever been in her life. She took a swallow of coffee. “He didn’t kill Bonnie, Catherine.”
“Because he told you he didn’t? Queen thinks he’s a split personality.”
“From what I’ve heard about him, Queen may be a monster himself.”
“I won’t disagree with you. But he’s one of the monsters I deal with every day. Gallo is apparently a different breed.” Catherine picked up her cup. “Maybe I’ll chance this stuff. It doesn’t seem to have hurt you.”
“I was the official food taster?”
She grinned. “Well, you were going to do it anyway.” She sipped the coffee. “And maybe the dope is in the store-bought doughnuts.”
Eve smiled back at her. “Then we’ll skip them.” Lord, she was glad that Catherine had come with Joe. She needed her to lighten the tension gripping her as she waited for the confrontation with Joe. “John didn’t kill her, Catherine. I know it.”
“You couldn’t know it unless he’d prove it. Did he?”
A wild story about a little girl who sang songs to him in prison. “All the Pretty Little Horses.” A wild story she believed with all her heart. “No, he didn’t prove anything.”
“You were very emotionally attached to him as a teenager. Could that have influenced you?”
“I keep telling you, it was no love affair.” But it had turned into a love story for both of them. Though not for each other. A love story about Bonnie. “He didn’t do it.” She finished her coffee. “He’s trying to find out who did kill her.”
Catherine stared at her. “He told you that? Queen said he was very clever. Eve, he’d realize that was the most persuasive thing he could say that would make you believe he wasn’t her killer. You’d identify with him immediately.”
And Eve knew that was true. It didn’t make any difference. “I believe him.”
Catherine shook her head. “Look at it objectively from my point of view, Joe’s point of view. Gallo finds out that we’re on his trail. He has a choice of going deeper undercover, killing you and everyone connected with you, or convincing you that he’s not really the bad guy as you’ve been told. The first two choices are messy and would interfere with this nice life he’s built for himself. So he looks for a way to get you away to himself and go for option three.”
“He didn’t kill her.” Eve saw the impatience on Catherine’s face, and added, “I know you think I’m being unreasonable. You’re right. Reason has nothing to do with this. But he loved Bonnie, and he would never murder her.”
“He couldn’t have loved her. He didn’t know her.”
Eve couldn’t explain without seeming even more irrational than Catherine thought her to be. She could only repeat. “He didn’t kill her. If it will make you feel better, I’m not going to let him off with just accepting that as fact. There are so many things about this I don’t understand, but I think he’s way ahead of me in the search for Bonnie’s murderer. I believe he knows who did kill her, and I’m going after him and make him tell me who it is.”
“Or make him confess that he did it himself.” She was frowning down at the coffee in her cup. “I don’t like the setup, Eve. He swoops down and takes you away and hypnotizes you into thinking you have some kind of joint mission. The odds of his being able to do that are damn slim. He has to be a spellbinder. I knew when I was talking to Queen that Gallo was bigger than life. Yeah, I was feeling sorry that he was a victim, but I don’t feel sorry for him now.”
“I’m not going to try to convince you.” She stood up. “I’m going after Joe. I’m getting worried. He should have been back by now.”
“Wait. I’ll go with you.”
“Finish your coffee.” Eve was already at the door. “Judy said there was no way he could catch up with Gallo.”
“She doesn’t know Joe.” She joined Eve as she reached the hall. “I wouldn’t want him after me. He’s a driven—” She broke off as Judy opened the basement door.
Joe was not with her.
Eve stiffened. “You didn’t find him down there, Judy?”
She shook her head. “He found a hatchet among the tools dow
n there and broke the lock on the exit door. There’s a passage that leads underneath the courtyard and down the mountain. John always left a vehicle in the trees about a quarter mile down the path. Your Joe Quinn is somewhere in the passage or already on the mountain path.” She paused. “I had to call Bill Hanks to go after him.”
Eve’s heart skipped a beat. “Why? You said John told you to make sure there was no conflict between them. You’re putting them in a hunt-and-chase position. That’s asking for trouble.”
Judy shrugged. “He was going after John. I couldn’t run the risk of him catching him. I told Hanks to try to be careful. But nothing is going to happen to John.” She looked Eve straight in the eye. “You have your priorities, I have mine. Too bad if your Joe Quinn gets hurt. If he’d stayed here, he would have been fine.”
It was all very simple for Judy, Eve realized. If John Gallo was threatened, then Judy would cause the sky to fall to get him out of trouble. She wouldn’t care who else was hurt. Eve started for the basement door. “You get on the phone and get Hanks off Joe’s trail.”
“Where you going?” Judy asked warily.
“I’m going to find Joe. If you want to obey John’s orders to keep me safe, you’d better make sure Hanks backs off because I’m going to be with Joe.”
“No.” Judy took an impulsive step toward her. “You can’t get in—”
“But she can,” Catherine said softly. She gave Judy a look that stopped her in her tracks. “And you’d better back off, too, and do what she says.” She was following Eve down the basement stairs. “Then you can go to your cozy little kitchen, have one of your dandy ‘store-bought’ doughnuts, and wait for the flak to settle.”
* * *
TIRE TRACKS.
Joe dropped to his knees and examined the marks to the side of the trail. Fresh tracks. The driver was in a hurry. He had peeled onto the road. Heavy truck or van, probably an off-road vehicle.
How fresh? He listened, tuning out the night sounds. The sound of an engine, faint but …
Yes.
And that driver had to be John Gallo.
He felt a rush of fierce satisfaction.
He jumped to his feet and scrambled up on the shoulder of the slope, drawing his gun. Damn I wish I had my rifle. But his Beretta had a fairly long range for a handgun. It might be enough if he could get close enough to shoot out one of the back tires.
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