Stalemate

by Iris Johansen

“I thought you would.” He took the glass of water and put it on the nightstand. “I’ll send him to you in three hours. No sooner. I want you to get that nap that Dr. Diego recommended.”

  “I want to see him now.”

  “Then you’ll have to crawl out of that bed, search the house, and risk injuring yourself. In which case you’d be no good to Galen or your Joe.” He started for the door. “We’ll talk later after you finish being reassured by someone you trust.” He glanced back over his shoulder as he opened the door. “Remember, the first bullet was for you.”

  “But it didn’t kill me,” she said bluntly. “And it took Joe out of the picture. That’s what you wanted.”

  He shook his head. “I was hoping you wouldn’t explore that path but I should have known you would, considering how clever you are. Ask Galen whether that bullet would have killed you if Quinn hadn’t interfered.”

  “Don’t worry. I will.”

  He smiled ruefully and inclined his head. “I expect nothing less of you, Eve.”

  He left the bedroom.

  Damn him. She didn’t want to lie here in this bed and be bombarded by worry about Joe. She wanted to see him. Galen would help her to see him. She lifted herself on her elbow and then fell back as pain shot through her head.

  Maybe not now. Montalvo was right. She’d have to crawl out of this bed if she tried to get up.

  Three hours. Montalvo had promised to send Galen in three hours….

  Galen.

  He smiled down at her as she opened her eyes. “It’s about time, luv. I was just going to give you a good shake.”

  “You would not.” She tried to smile. “Or I’d have a very firm word with you. My head is very fragile at the moment.”

  His smile faded. “I don’t doubt it. You had me scared when I ran over there and saw the two of you drenched in blood.”

  “Drenched?”

  “Well, perhaps not quite. But in my heightened state it appeared that way.”

  “I want to see Joe.”

  He nodded. “I suspected as much. He’s better today. He’s still going in and out of consciousness but he won’t scare you like he would have yesterday when you first woke up.”

  She frowned. “Yesterday? I woke up three hours ago.”

  “I beg to disagree. Montalvo sent me in here yesterday but you weren’t stirring. So I’ve been checking every few hours and waiting for you to wake up.”

  “It doesn’t seem possible.” But she did feel better. Her head was less painful, her thinking was sharper. “Did he drug me?”

  “I wouldn’t know. I wouldn’t put it past him.” He shrugged. “Or maybe it was just Mother Nature who put you out. You were pretty messed up.” He gazed at her critically. “You still look weak as a kitten. Suppose I get Miguel to bring you some soup and then we’ll make the attempt to see Joe. I have no desire to have you fainting and forcing me to lug you around.”

  “And I have no intention of—” But she still felt weak. “Okay, soup sounds fine. Thank you.”

  She watched him leave the room before she carefully sat up in bed. A little dizziness but it passed quickly and she swung her legs to the floor. Get to the bathroom, wash her face and brush her teeth.

  Slowly.

  Her legs felt like spaghetti.

  But by the time she reached the bathroom she felt stronger. By the time she finished cleaning up she felt almost like a human being again.

  “Eve?” Galen was knocking on the door.

  “I’m okay.” She threw open the door. “I feel better now.”

  “You look better.” He handed her a pair of khakis, underwear, and a loose white shirt. “I rifled your suitcase. I’ll help you dress when you finish your soup.”

  “That won’t be necess—” Screw being independent. She had to get to Joe and she’d take any help that would be necessary. “We’ll see.” She dropped the clothes on the bottom of the bed and climbed back under the covers with a sigh of relief. She felt as tired as if she’d run the Boston Marathon. “For God’s sake, it’s only a glancing wound. But it doesn’t feel that way.”

  “It’s a head wound, and concussion isn’t just a minor inconvenience.” Galen tucked the covers around her. “And an inch to the left and we wouldn’t be having this conversation.”

  “Could it have been a deliberate miss?”

  “No, you were the target. And I hate to toot my own horn but if I hadn’t tackled that son of a bitch at just that second you’d have been with the angels.”

  Or Bonnie. Her Bonnie.

  “You don’t look upset,” Galen said. “It’s the truth, Eve.”

  She shook her head to clear it. “I know, Galen. Tell me what happened.”

  “I was cruising around and I spotted someone moving toward the path where I’d left you and Quinn. He was kneeling and aiming his rifle, drawing a bead, when I got close enough to see him. I reached him in seconds but he got off two shots before I put him down.”

  “You weren’t hurt at all?”

  He shook his head. “But he wasn’t easy and he was a professional. I might not have been able to save your necks if he hadn’t been concentrating so completely on the shot.”

  “Montalvo’s men are professionals.”

  He studied her expression. “You want that shooter to be one of Montalvo’s men. Why?”

  “It’s not that I want it to be him. I have to question everything Montalvo does.” Because too much was riding on whether she could trust Montalvo. “What happened after you spoiled that shot?”

  “I broke the bastard’s neck. Then I ran over to you to see if you were both still alive. By that time Soldono was there checking you out. He called Montalvo and got his guy, Miguel, and a team of men out there at top speed. They brought the two of you back to the compound and had their medics do emergency procedures. They sent for Dr. Diego, who lives in the village, and he was here within the hour.”

  “And the shooter?”

  “Miguel thought he recognized him as one of Diaz’s men. Paulo Duarte. Very lethal. Very nasty. Diaz saves him for special jobs that require—”

  “How do you know Miguel is telling the truth?”

  “A good question.” Miguel was standing in the doorway with a smile on his face and a tray in his hands. “I would lie for the Colonel. There’s no question about that being true.” He came forward. “It’s also true that I’m very happy that you’re looking better. I was worried about you.” He set the tray down on the bedside table. “So was the Colonel. He wouldn’t leave your side until he was sure you were out of danger.”

  “I’m sure that wasn’t entirely unbiased concern.”

  “No, of course not. But he does regard you highly. Even if you weren’t useful I’m positive he wouldn’t want you to be killed.”

  “How kind.”

  He chuckled as he handed her a napkin. “I’ve no way with words like the Colonel. He’s always reproving me.” He glanced at Galen. “You’re going to take her to Quinn?”

  “That’s my intention. Any objections?”

  “No, the Colonel said when I thought she was able that I shouldn’t interfere.” He headed for the door. “But I’d better check with the doctor. That would affect my decision.”

  “The hell it would,” Eve said. “I’m seeing Joe.”

  “I have to ask the doctor,” he repeated as he left the bedroom.

  “Stubborn kid,” Galen murmured. “But that kid commanded that troop of men who came after you like a seasoned veteran. Montalvo’s lucky to have him.”

  “Not lucky for Miguel. He hero-worships Montalvo.” She was eating the soup quickly. “And, as he said, he’d lie for him without a thought.”

  “He didn’t lie about the shooter being Duarte. I rifled his pockets and didn’t find any ID but I took a photo of him with my phone and sent it off to my contact in Bogotá. The ID came back six hours later. Paulo Duarte. He’s been working for Ramon Diaz for the last three years. One ugly customer.”

  “And D
iaz sent him to kill me.”

  “Presumably. Montalvo told me the reason why he’d have a motive to do it. You do get yourself in tight corners, luv.”

  And she’d gotten Joe into that corner too. He was lying in another of these palatial rooms fighting to survive because she’d waded recklessly into this mess.

  “No one had to follow you, Eve,” Galen said quietly, his gaze on her face. “You told us to stay away. So stop blaming yourself. We came because we couldn’t do anything else. You didn’t know what you’d be up against.”

  “I knew it could be bad.” She finished her soup and threw back the covers. “I need to see Joe. I’m still a little unsteady. Will you help me dress?”

  “My pleasure.” He smiled as he picked up the bra on the bed. “Turnabout is fair play. You’ve seen me naked.”

  Naked? Oh, yes, she’d almost forgotten that night in Louisiana. “Joe didn’t get much pleasure when you told him, you devil.”

  “He needed stirring up.” He helped her take off the nightshirt. “And I’m always willing to oblige….”

  Montalvo met her at the door as she walked slowly down the hall toward Joe’s bedroom. “It’s good to see you on your feet.” He nodded at Galen. “I’ll take her in to see him.”

  Galen’s brows raised. “Eve?”

  She nodded curtly. “I don’t care. I just want to see Joe.”

  “I’ll deliver her safely back to her room, Galen.” Montalvo opened the door for her. “She won’t be long.”

  “Don’t count on it.” She went past him into the room that was dimly lit by a single lamp on the bedside table.

  Joe was lying in the massive bed across the room. For a big man he looked…small. Small and oddly helpless. It shook her. She wasn’t accustomed to Joe looking anything but tough and totally pulled together.

  She sank down in the chair beside the bed.

  “He’s just had his medication,” Montalvo said behind her. “He won’t be awake again for another couple hours. That’s why I thought you might want to go back to your room after you assured yourself that he wasn’t any worse than I told you.”

  “For once you were wrong about me.” She took Joe’s hand in both of hers. “I won’t go anywhere until he knows I’m alive and with him.” She leaned back in the chair. “So you might as well run along, Montalvo.”

  “Soon.” He sat down in a chair a short distance away. “I’ll keep you company for a time.”

  “I don’t need your company. I have Joe.”

  “Who’s not with us at present.”

  “He’s always with me.”

  He was silent a moment. “Your history with Quinn must be extraordinary.”

  Joe holding her through the night in the time after Bonnie had been taken. Joe talking to her, trying to make sense out of the madness. Joe giving, taking, beside her through a thousand dawns and sunsets.

  “You have no idea,” she said unsteadily.

  “No, but I wish I did. I had Nalia for only three years. We had the joy. We had no real time to bond as you did with Quinn. We were cheated of that.” He stared down at the carpet at his feet. “And she was cheated of so much more. There was a whole world I was going to show her. She grew up in the jungle and only knew struggle and war. Yet she became…a wonder. Do you believe people are born with souls?”

  “Yes.”

  “I didn’t. Not before I met her.” He paused. “Your Joe will be fine. I promise you.”

  Her hand tightened on Joe’s. “I know he will. I won’t let it be any other way.”

  He got to his feet. “And I had no part in hurting him, Eve. I gave you your chance. I didn’t betray you.”

  She didn’t answer.

  “I know you’re confused and you don’t want to waste any time thinking about anything but Quinn. That will pass. Truth is important. We both realize that in the end there’s very little as vital.”

  “Except your revenge.”

  “And your revenge.” He headed for the door. “I’ll have Miguel check on you during the next few hours. He’ll get you anything you need.”

  “I don’t need revenge right now. I need Joe to get well.”

  “I believe that will also pass after he recovers. And you might consider what Quinn’s reaction is going to be. Revenge is a very basic desire. How primitive is your Joe Quinn?”

  She remembered the Joe who had met her that night in the jungle. Primitive? Hell, yes. “I don’t want to think about that right now. Go away, Montalvo.”

  He smiled. “Forgive me. I didn’t mean to disturb you.”

  “No, with you it comes naturally.”

  “Perhaps. Or it could be that I’m eaten up with envy of your history with Quinn. But new history is formed every day. Sometimes you just have to put the old history behind you.”

  She frowned. “What the devil are you talking about?”

  “Something you don’t want to hear. Good night, Eve. I’ll see you in the morning. Or if you want to talk to me, I’m always at your disposal.”

  She watched the door close behind him. As usual, he was being maddeningly enigmatic, and she didn’t want to deal with him right now. She had enough on her plate and she needed to concentrate all her attention on Joe.

  Jesus, he was pale. Montalvo had said he’d lost a lot of blood and there was clear evidence that was true.

  Wake up, Joe.

  Look at me. Let me see that you’re going to be fine. Just wake up…

  “Eve?”

  Eve’s lids flew open. Joe was awake and looking up at her.

  “Hi,” she said softly as she leaned forward, her hand grasping his. “You’re being very boring lying there sleeping. I must have dozed off.”

  “Sorry.” His gaze was on the bandage on her temple. “Are you okay?”

  “I’m fine.”

  “How fine?”

  She should have known Joe wouldn’t accept a pat answer. “The bullet grazed my temple. It was a little too close and I ended up with a concussion. It put me out for a time or I would have been here sooner.”

  “Montalvo was here. I asked…He said you were alive and well.” His lips tightened. “Liar.”

  “No, I was as well as could be expected. He didn’t want you to worry.”

  “Is that why they kept giving me drugs?”

  “No, they gave you drugs because you were in pain. You got the worst of the attack. You covered me with your body.”

  “Not in time. You were still hurt.”

  “In plenty of time. I’m alive. According to Galen, I wouldn’t have been if you hadn’t jerked me down. The bullet was aimed at my head.”

  “Damn him.” He was silent a moment. “Then it probably wasn’t Montalvo. He wouldn’t mind me dead. But he wants you alive and functioning.”

  “Galen checked his ID and the shooter was named Duarte and he works for Ramon Diaz. Diaz must have sent him to make sure I didn’t do the job I was brought here to do.”

  “He came close.” Joe’s eyes were once again on the bandage on Eve’s temple. “Too close.”

  She didn’t like the hard edge she heard in his voice. She had heard it before and it usually meant anger barely leashed. “It didn’t happen, Joe.”

  “He hurt you.”

  “Not nearly as much as you were hurt.”

  “And you think Diaz isn’t going to come after you again? You’re caught in the middle between him and Montalvo. He’s going to keep on coming until he puts you down.”

  “That’s not going to happen. Stop thinking about it. Concentrate on getting well. That’s what’s important right now.”

  He nodded curtly. “Damn right, that’s important. I’ll be out of this bed by the end of the week.”

  “Not likely.”

  “Entirely likely.” He closed his eyes. “Tell Galen I want to see him, will you?”

  “Hey, are you trying to get rid of me?”

  “Hell, no.” He didn’t open his eyes but he squeezed her hand before releasing it. “I’m
just making sure no one else does.”

  How primitive is your Joe Quinn?

  Montalvo’s words came back to her as she looked down at Joe. She hadn’t even wanted to consider the answer to a question that would have opened a whole can of worms. Yet she knew it had been in the back of her mind. There was no one who was more protective or more vengeful than Joe if the occasion warranted it.

  Jesus, and this occasion definitely warranted it.

  “Stop fretting and get me Galen,” Joe said.

  “I’m not fretting. I want to shake you.”

  He opened his eyes and smiled faintly. “The way I wanted to shake you when you wouldn’t come back to Bogotá with me? Don’t argue. I’m not listening.”

  Her hands closed in frustration as she stared at him. “Joe, this isn’t the—”

  “Galen,” he said again.

  She jumped to her feet. “I’ll get Galen because you’re hurt and I don’t want you upset.” She strode toward the door. “But this isn’t the end of this discussion.” She jerked open the door. “What the devil am I talking about? You won’t even let me argue you back to some sort of reason.”

  “I’m being perfectly reasonable. It’s the oldest logic in history. Cause and effect. Action and reaction.”

  “Logic, hell.” She slammed the door behind her. Then she leaned back against it and tried to get her breath. Dizzy.

  And angry.

  And scared.

  “Are you well?” Miguel was beside her. “May I help you?”

  “I’m okay.” Not well. Definitely not well. “Yes, you can help me. Go get Galen and tell him to go and see Joe.”

  “After I help you back to your room.”

  “I’m not going back to my room. Where’s Montalvo?”

  “His bedroom. It’s after three in the morning. He’s retired for the night.”

  “Where’s his bedroom?”

  Miguel nodded to a room at the end of the corridor. “I could wake him and send him to you.”

  “No, you go find Galen. Joe will probably get out of bed and try to go after him if he doesn’t show up in his room soon. The idiot doesn’t know his limitations.”

  “Neither does the Colonel. That’s why he often succeeds in doing impossible things. Perhaps Quinn is the same?”