Taking Eve

by Iris Johansen

  “I don’t want to accommodate you. You’re interfering with a police investigation.”

  “That’s true, but I’m sure you don’t have jurisdiction down here.” He added recklessly, “And I think you know I don’t give a damn about your precious law if it gets in my way.”

  “Give me that security disk.”

  “I plan on doing that. You have the contacts to identify anyone the security camera picked up. I could do it eventually, but it would take me more time.”

  Joe held out his hand again.

  “No, a promise. You get in touch with me the minute you identify this bastard.”

  “You’d trust me?”

  “If you gave your word. You’re one of those rare individuals who actually value their word. Jane wouldn’t feel as she does about you if you weren’t straight.” He gazed directly into Joe’s eyes. “Promise me.”

  Joe hesitated, then shrugged. “I promise. If you don’t try to kill him before I get to him.”

  “I never ‘try’ to kill anyone.” He handed him the disk. “And I’m too irritated at what happened to Jane to not concentrate on finality. He shouldn’t have made that clumsy attempt on someone who is mine.”

  “You arrogant son of a bitch. Jane doesn’t belong to anyone but herself.”

  “Doesn’t she?” He pretended to think about it. “You might be right, but then you might not. You don’t really know, do you? Possession is so complicated. The nuances are—” He broke off as he saw the veterinary van come around the bend in the road. “At any rate, I won’t do any permanent damage to him until I find out all the answers. Is that good enough for you?” He didn’t wait for an answer as his pace increased as he walked toward the van. “But I warn you, I’m not going to wait around for you to make your move.”

  He heard a muttered curse from behind him, but his attention was now focused on the van that had pulled up before the air ambulance.

  He started running again as the van’s doors opened. Devon jumped down and headed for the plane. A moment later, the stretcher bearing Jane was being lifted from the vehicle.

  He felt the rage that he’d managed to control once more stinging him as he was again reminded of her helplessness. That sniper might not have taken her life, but he had temporarily taken her strength. From the moment he had met Jane, he had been aware of her endurance and strength, and it had struck a chord in him that was almost as powerful as the basic sexual attraction that had drawn him. He had known she could fight him in any arena, and it had excited him. He had tried to keep himself from looking beyond that excitement and that strange sense of possession that it brought with it.

  Or wondering if there was anything beyond it at all. He’d had many women, and none of them had stirred him the way Jane did. He had not been able either to walk away or let her go. What he was feeling now was confusing, and he had felt not only anger but something deeper, stranger, when he had thought she might be dying. He refused to examine that emotion more closely. It was foreign and far too dangerous.

  Better to embrace the rage and the possessiveness.

  Yes, he could deal with those emotions. Protectiveness was a natural result of thinking of Jane as belonging to him. And rage? Rage was his brother, the impetus that had driven him, saved him, defined him.

  And might someday destroy him.

  But not now. He could use it and let it use him to find the enemy.

  Jane’s enemy. Caleb’s enemy. They had become one in his mind, as Jane was becoming inexorably interwoven with him in his thoughts.

  He rejected the idea as soon as he recognized it. Too close. Veer away. Obey the boundaries.

  * * *

  “JANE.”

  She opened her eyes to see Seth Caleb bending over the stretcher. “Hi,” she said drowsily. “I was wondering if you’d … get here.”

  “You shouldn’t have wondered.” He was smiling. “Expect it.”

  “Not … true. I can’t expect … anything of … you.” She tried to pull her thoughts together. “I’m blurry. Devon insisted on giving me another sedative to get me through the trip. Why weren’t—that’s right, you went after that sniper. Did you get him?”

  “No, he had a boat hidden at an inlet near here.” He took her hand. “But don’t worry, I’ll find him.”

  “I’m not worried. I think this drug is a mood elev … a happy pill. Even you’re looking completely unthreatening.”

  “I’m not a threat to you.”

  “Yes, you are.” Even now, through the warm haze, she could feel the swirling danger that was Seth Caleb. His hand holding her own was strong and could have been comforting, but it was not. She could feel the power and the magnetism drawing her, absorbing her. Ordinarily, she would have backed away or ignored it, but at this moment she was open, accepting … welcoming the invasion. “But that’s okay. It doesn’t matter.”

  “How complacent. You must really be out of it.” His thumb was moving back and forth on her inner wrist. “I don’t know if I like not mattering.”

  “Too bad.” She had a sudden thought. “Where’s Joe? He was going to find you.”

  “He’s right behind me. I imagine he’s going with you on the air ambulance.”

  “You’re not going?”

  “I’m flying my own plane. You can’t get rid of me, Jane.”

  “I don’t want to get rid of you. Or maybe I do. I’m confused right now.” She was staring dreamily at him. “You’re a truly beautiful man, Caleb. Do you know that? I’d like to paint you.”

  “It can be arranged. But I’m not cheap.”

  “You’re joking? I’m having trouble telling … It probably wouldn’t be a good idea anyway. I don’t know if anyone could manage to do … the fire.”

  “What fire?”

  “All around you … Flame and darkness. Mostly … flame.” She wanted to reach out and touch those flames, the urge was almost irresistible. How would it feel? How would he feel?

  “I see.”

  “But it doesn’t interfere with how beautiful…” She couldn’t keep her eyes open any longer. “Maybe I can … paint you…”

  “If I don’t burn you.”

  “Yes, but I don’t think you…”

  She was asleep.

  * * *

  CALEB WATCHED THE AIR AMBULANCE take off before he turned and headed toward the Gulfstream parked across the tarmac.

  “Wait for me.”

  He turned to see Margaret running toward him, her ponytail flying, her cheeks flushed, a knapsack on her back. She looked like a young girl running away from home, he thought.

  His brows lifted in surprise. “I thought you were going with Jane on the air ambulance.”

  “I opted out at the last minute before they took off.”

  “Why?”

  She fell into step with him. “I decided to go with you.”

  “And may I ask why I’m so honored?”

  “It will cause me less trouble.” She grinned. “And Devon less headaches. Puerto Rico has fairly strict immigration laws.”

  “And?”

  “I have no papers.” She corrected, “Well, that’s not true. I have papers, but they’re forged and won’t bear close scrutiny. Devon wasn’t about to look too closely, but I can’t count on anyone in a bureaucracy being as lenient. They’d probably turn me over to Homeland Security.”

  “Why don’t you have papers?”

  She shrugged. “I just don’t. You don’t really care, do you?”

  “I’m curious.”

  She just looked at him.

  “And what makes you think I won’t turn you over to Homeland Security?”

  She met his gaze. “You don’t like bureaucracies. You don’t like rules. You don’t like laws. You do as you like.”

  “But not necessarily as you like.”

  “That’s true. But I want to help Jane, and that might sway you. You’re stalking Jane, and you can never tell when you might need a diversion to—”

  “Stalki
ng?” He smiled faintly. “That’s a strange phrase. It makes me sound like either a creep or an animal. Which one, Margaret?”

  “You’re not a creep.”

  His smile deepened. “Then what animal, Margaret?”

  “I’m not sure. You’re just not … the same as other people.” She shrugged. “Not that it bothers me. Neither am I. We’re all animals, aren’t we? We’ve just evolved to being more civilized. Some of us are just closer to being what we were than others. I could tell you were very close when I first saw you.”

  “Interesting. Does that mean I whisper to you like some of your four-footed friends?”

  “I don’t know. If you did, I don’t know if I’d want to listen. Sometimes I don’t.” She started to climb the stairs of the plane. “But I wouldn’t be afraid like Jane.”

  He stiffened. “She’s not afraid of me, Margaret.”

  “She’s afraid of something when she’s with you.” She turned at the top of the steps to look down at him. “Maybe it’s part of the mating ritual. What do you think?”

  He stared at her coldly, then suddenly smiled. “I think you’re bold as brass, and I’m beginning to like you. That could be very dangerous for one of us.”

  “I just tell the truth.” She straightened. “And here’s another truth. I owe Jane a debt, and I’ll pay it. I won’t let what you’re planning on doing with her get in the way.”

  “And you still expect me to take you to San Juan?”

  “Why not? You don’t like anything easy. The hunt would be boring.”

  “What would you do if I told you to get off my plane?”

  “Find another way to San Juan.” She tilted her head. “Oh, and I might have to go to … where is it? Georgia later. Can you get me better documents than I have right now?”

  “Why should I?”

  “Because I can help find Eve Duncan, and that would make Jane happy. Happy with me, happy with you for putting me into a position to help her find Eve.”

  “So I’m to break the law because you think I might find you valuable later?”

  “Wouldn’t it be a good enough reason for you?” She was studying him, her gaze narrowed. “And you’d enjoy it. You like taking chances.”

  Her eyes were fixed on his face, and he found himself caught and held.

  Clear eyes. Shrewd eyes. Wise eyes.

  What the hell? he thought recklessly.

  “You’re damn right I’d enjoy it.” He took the steps two at a time. “But if I’m taking the risk, I’m running the show. You do what I tell you once we land in San Juan. Deal?”

  “Of course.” Her cheerful smile lit her face. “I would never argue with an expert, Caleb.”

  “How do you know I am?”

  “Stalking,” she murmured. “Dodging and hiding are all a part of going after prey. You’d have to be good at it.” She was heading for the cockpit. “This is exciting. I’m a pretty good sailor, but I’ve never had a chance to learn anything about flying. Will you teach me how to take off?”

  “No. You’d probably try to steal the plane.”

  “I don’t steal. Sometimes I borrow. That’s all right. I’ll watch and try to learn on my own.”

  * * *

  WHEN JANE WOKE AGAIN, SHE was being wheeled down a white-tiled corridor.

  “It’s okay, Jane.” Joe was beside her. “We’re getting you into ER.”

  No darkness, no flames. Not that fascinating face that held and touched and drew her, she realized with relief that held an element of regret.

  Just Joe. Safety. Strength. Comrade.

  Green walls. White coats, teal coats. It had to be the hospital in San Juan. Her head was clearing, thank heavens. “We made a deal. You’ve delivered me, now get the hell out of here. Go to Eve.”

  “Shut up, brat.” His smile belied the roughness of the words. “I’m working on it. I tried to reach Venable on the ambulance plane but couldn’t get through. I’ll call again while they’re working on you in there. I’ve arranged to have a plane waiting, and I’ll leave right after they give me a report. Okay?”

  “I guess so.” She reached out and grabbed his hand. “It’s going to be all right, Joe.” She tried to keep the desperation from her voice. “She’s got to be okay. She’s so good, Joe. Why would anyone want to hurt her?”

  “Why would anyone want to hurt you?” His eyes were glittering. “It can be a nasty world. We both know that, Jane. We just have to make sure that dirt doesn’t touch her.” He released her hand as the nurse bustled toward her. “And you have to get well before you can help me do that. Do what they tell you, Jane.”

  “I will. You know I will.” She called as the ER doors swung shut behind her, “Call Venable now, Joe … Let me know what he says.”

  * * *

  “I’M AT THE LAKE COTTAGE, Quinn,” Venable said flatly as soon as he picked up the call. “She’s not here.” He paused. “There’s one vehicle in the driveway. There’s mud on the tires as if it had been driven. How many should be here?”

  “Only one. I left the jeep at the airport.”

  “So she had to have had a ride if she went to the airport as she planned.”

  “She was planning on driving herself.” He added, “I contacted the policeman I had watching the place. He took a look around the lake and went inside the house. He said that she was nowhere in the vicinity.”

  Venable was silent. “I sent an agent out here last night, too. I had Tad Dukes looking around the grounds. I can’t get in contact with him.”

  Joe cursed low and vehemently. “And why did you have a man out there if, according to you, nothing was supposed to be wrong?”

  “You were concerned when you called and left a message. It seemed like a good idea.” He continued quickly, “And I sent Agent Pastori out today and he said there was a FedEx notice on the front door that stated that the driver had been there and was unable to make the pickup.”

  “The reconstruction. Eve wouldn’t have left without making arrangements for it to be sent out.”

  “Even if she was frantic about Jane?”

  “She would have made arrangements. She’s a professional. What else did your agent find? What about Ben? He was supposed to be there.”

  “No sign of him.”

  There was something in his tone that caused Joe to tense. “Are you lying to me, Venable?”

  “Why would I do—Okay, I’m not lying. I’m just omitting.”

  “Omitting what?”

  “We found traces of blood on the grass on the side of the road about a mile from the cottage.”

  He felt sick. “Eve?”

  “No, I knew that would be your first question, and I had Pastori run a blood test before the police forensic team got there. B-negative. Eve is A-positive, right?”

  “Yes. I don’t know what Ben’s blood type is.”

  “We’re checking on it.”

  “Damn you. You weren’t going to tell me.”

  “I’d have told you. Just a delay until you got here. I thought I’d know more by then.” He added testily, “And there wasn’t much use your making wild guesses and my life miserable.”

  “What else is there that you didn’t tell me?”

  “Fresh tire tracks in the mud. Truck. We’re trying to identify what kind of truck would use them. Traces of fertilizer and hay embedded in the cavities. Any farmers near you?”

  “Several. I don’t know any of them personally. Get on it.”

  “We already are. Right now, we’re trying to contact Dukes. I don’t like it. There’s no reason why I shouldn’t be able to reach him.” He paused. “How is Jane?”

  “Surviving. She could be worse. I’m in San Juan. She’s in the ER right now.” He said. “That’s all? No Eve. No Ben? Just a few drops of blood?”

  “That’s all right now. I’ll try to have something more for you by the time you get here. When will that be?”

  “A few hours. Jane made me promise that I’d get out of here soon.”

&n
bsp; “That doesn’t surprise me.”

  “And I may have a photo of her shooter. The hangars had video cameras. I need you to process and identify.”

  “Of course.”

  “And I don’t want any stalling,” Joe said grimly. “I want to know accurately and fast. No hesitation, no sleight of hand. If I think that you’re keeping anything from me, it’s not going to be pretty, Venable.” He paused. “And when I see you at the cottage, you’re going to tell me what’s going on and what game you’ve been playing with us.”

  “No game. I’m not always the bad guy. Did it occur to you that I might only be trying to keep you all alive?”

  “It occurred to me. It also occurred to me that you could be manipulating us as you’ve done before. It could go either way.”

  “But you’re willing to trust me enough to ask me to help you.”

  “I’m not asking, I’m telling you. I’d use the devil himself if I thought I could control him. I can control you, Venable. Whatever the nasty business you’re dealing with, you like Eve, and you wouldn’t hurt her if you didn’t have to do it. I’ll be there to make sure that doesn’t become an option.”

  “I do like her, Quinn,” he said quietly. “And I’ll do everything I can to help you get her back. I’m happy as hell you managed to snag that video photo.”

  “I didn’t snag it. Seth Caleb took it from the camera, and I took it from him.”

  “Caleb.” Venable’s tone was thoughtful. “An interesting man. I remember that he always seemed to be showing up when you least expected him.”

  “He hasn’t changed.”

  “But this time he’s been helpful?”

  “Helpful? No, not intentionally. This time he thinks that he can use me.” He added dryly, “As I’m using you. No one is exempt. I’ll see you at the cottage, Venable.” He hung up.

  Blood on the grass.

  Not Eve’s blood. He had to take comfort in that fact. It might not even be Ben’s blood.

  There was no comfort in that stark scenario Venable had painted.

  No Eve. No Ben.

  Blood.

  His palms were suddenly cold with sweat.

  Stop thinking about it. Within a few hours, he’d be at the cottage and making his own assessment. Just sit here until Jane got out of ER, then he could start moving.