Stalemate

by Iris Johansen

  “In a minute.” She lifted the binoculars to her eyes again. “When they find the skeleton.”

  “Then I hope he didn’t bury her deep.”

  “So do I.” She went still. “I think they’ve reached it. Montalvo is jumping into the grave and Miguel is handing him a box.” Her hands tightened on the binoculars. “He’s got it. He’s climbing out and they’re running through the—” She turned to glance at Galen. “That’s all I need. We can—”

  Galen wasn’t there!

  Panic. Her heart leaped in her chest.

  She whirled and started down the path at a run.

  Stop. Slow is better. Be cautious. You don’t know what’s happening.

  “Eve.”

  She jumped as Galen appeared out of the bushes beside the trail. “You scared me.”

  “Good. We may need a little adrenaline right now.” He grabbed her arm and took off at full speed. “We’ve got to get out of here.”

  “Why? Where did you go?”

  “I did a little backtracking. I had a feeling…” He was glancing on either side of the path as they flew down it. “I ran into one of Diaz’s sentries who was on the trail behind us. I took care of him but I don’t know if he notified anyone we were here.”

  “What about Montalvo?”

  “He’s on his own. He’s not going to do anything differently if he knows Diaz is coming. He expects it. He may get lucky. We’re providing a diversion.” They’d reached the jeep and he jumped into the driver’s seat. “Come on.” He started the engine. “Let’s get out of here.”

  She was already in the passenger seat. “You flicked on the lights. We’ll be seen.”

  “I’d rather risk being spotted than end up in a ditch if Diaz’s men are going to come pouring down that hill.” He pressed the accelerator. “Four miles and we’re out of Diaz’s territory and into Montalvo’s jungle. They can still follow but we’ll be safer. Montalvo and his men know that jungle like the backs of their hands.”

  The jeep was bouncing over the rutted dirt road and she held on tightly to keep from being tossed against the seat belt. “Four miles isn’t that far. We may—”

  A bullet shattered the corner of the windshield.

  “Down.”

  She released the seat belt and leaned down in the seat. The jeep was weaving back and forth on the road like a serpent on a sand dune.

  Another shot.

  “A miss,” Galen muttered. “Same weapon. One sniper. If we can get out of range we’ll make it. Idiot didn’t aim for the tires….”

  How far was it to safety? Eve wondered desperately. He’d said four miles but they were moving fast. Three? Two?

  Another shot.

  “He’s out of range,” Galen said. “Hold on. I have to keep zigzagging in case there’s another sniper up ahead. Another minute and we’ll be out of Diaz’s territory.”

  “You hold on. And don’t you dare get shot, dammit.”

  “I’m doing my best.” He grinned down at her as he swerved back and forth on the road. “And that’s pretty damn good. Admit it.”

  “I admit it. Superior. Stupendous. Now get us back to the compound.”

  “Home free.” He made a sharp turn and they were suddenly enveloped in darkness. “You can sit up now.”

  She sat up and looked around.

  Jungle. The thick, pervading darkness was caused by the overhanging foliage blocking out the night sky. “It’s not what I call home.” She gave a sigh of relief. “But it will do for now. Let’s call Montalvo and check and see if he ran into the same trouble.”

  10

  Montalvo’s phone is off,” Galen said. “That could mean that he’s not in the clear or that he’s been captured by Diaz.”

  “Or that he’s dead,” Eve said.

  “Don’t be pessimistic.” He paused. “Or maybe it’s optimistic. That would end your obligation to do a job you don’t want to do.”

  And it would end a chance to find Bonnie.

  “You’re not answering,” Galen said.

  “He didn’t lie to me. I saw everything just the way he described it. I think what he told me about Diaz and his wife’s skull was true.”

  “And that means you want him to live.”

  “Our aims aren’t so far apart.” She thought about the Montalvo she had come to know. “And I think he deserves to bring his wife home.”

  “And to blow Diaz out of the water?”

  “Hell, yes. He almost killed Joe.”

  Galen chuckled. “And that deserves every punishment under the sun. For a complicated woman, you have a very simple code, Eve.”

  “I’m not complicated.”

  “No more than Lucrezia Borgia mixed with Mother Teresa.”

  “Call Montalvo again.”

  He dialed the number and this time Montalvo picked up.

  “Ah, you’re alive and kicking,” Galen said. “We were wondering if you were dead. We had an interesting conversation on the pros and cons of your demise. Yes, we’re out of the line of fire. Where are you? Oops.” He hung up. “He started cursing. Can’t blame him. I heard gunfire in the background. He probably only picked up because he wanted to know if you needed help.”

  “Evidently he’s the one who needs help.”

  “We can’t go back. He’s on his own. He’ll either get out or not.” He glanced at her. “It’s not our fault. As I said, if anything, we were a distraction. He had a plan, he has trained men. I think he’ll wriggle out of it.”

  “I hope you’re right. How close are we to the compound?”

  “Not too far. Who knows? Montalvo may meet us at the gates.”

  Montalvo didn’t meet them at the gates. It was Soldono who came toward them when they stopped the jeep in the courtyard.

  “It’s evidently not been a stress-free jaunt.” Soldono’s gaze was fixed on the bullet-splintered windshield. “Is either of you hurt?”

  “No.” Eve got out of the jeep. “But I don’t know about Montalvo and his men. Have you heard from them?”

  Soldono shook his head. “But I’m not someone in his confidence. He’d have no reason to report to me. Is there any reason why he shouldn’t be?”

  “Gunfire.” Galen came around the jeep. “That’s usually a pretty good sign of trouble, don’t you think?”

  “Perhaps.” He shrugged. “But I can’t pretend to be concerned. I’ve told you how I feel about gang wars, Eve. I don’t see why you risked your neck when you should be trying to walk away.”

  “You don’t have to see. It was my decision. Did you check on Joe?”

  “Once.” He held up his hand as he saw her frown. “It’s only been four hours since you left.”

  “Four hours?” She checked her watch and he was right. It was still hard to believe. Those hours had been crammed so full with tension, it seemed as if days had gone by. “Montalvo estimated six hours.”

  “He’s not always right. He must have built in time for disturbances like the one he ran into.” He started up the steps. “I had the cook make a pot of coffee and bring it to the front parlor. I imagine you could use a cup.”

  “Not now.” She sat down on the top step. “I think I’ll wait for Montalvo.”

  Soldono shrugged. “Suit yourself.” He disappeared into the house.

  “Want company?” Galen asked.

  “No, go check on Joe. I’d go myself but I believe he sensed something wrong when I went to see him before I left. He can read me even half knocked out with drugs.”

  “That doesn’t surprise me,” he said as he went inside the house.

  Her gaze was fastened on the gates. Where the devil was Montalvo? If he hadn’t been caught, he shouldn’t be that far behind them.

  Five minutes passed.

  Ten minutes.

  Fifteen.

  Another ten minutes passed before she heard the roar of the truck engine. Two minutes later the truck and jeep entered the courtyard.

  Relief poured through her. She jumped to her fe
et.

  Jesus, the truck looked like it had been through a grenade attack in Iraq. Bullet indentations spiked the doors and hood, the passenger door hung half off its hinges. The jeep driven by Montalvo appeared to be in almost as bad shape.

  “What happened?” she asked as Montalvo stopped the jeep and jumped out. “Galen said he heard gunfire.”

  “We got out of the cemetery and through the woods to the vehicles okay.” He grimaced. “Well, almost okay. We were intercepted by a troop of Diaz’s men and had a few tight minutes. We got out of it, but they radioed ahead and more were waiting for us on the road. They followed us into the jungle and we got out of the vehicles and staged an ambush at the tower.”

  “What tower?”

  “There’s a crumbling ancient tower used for religious ceremonies by the Chibcha Indians about forty miles from here. They probably threw down sacrifices from the top of the battlements. At any rate, the windows offer great views for snipers.”

  “And?”

  He shrugged. “We’re here, aren’t we?” He reached into the jeep and pulled out a muddy leather container. “And we got what we went for. Nalia.” He handed her the box. “She’s in your hands now.”

  Nalia, his wife.

  His voice was without expression, as was his face. No, not quite, she noticed. There was an almost indiscernible twitch at the corner of his mouth. His shoulders were squared and tense as if carrying a burden.

  Burden? My God, he had yanked her skull from the grave with no care, no reverence. How would she have felt if she’d been forced to do that to her Bonnie?

  “She’ll be in very respectful hands,” she said gently. “I’ll treat her as if she were my friend. She’ll be my friend before this is over.”

  “Thank you,” he said jerkily. He turned on his heel and went into the house.

  “It was hard for him.” Miguel had gotten out of the jeep and was standing beside her. “It’s good that you gave him comfort.”

  “I only told him the truth.” She stared down at the box. “He did it himself, didn’t he?”

  “Yes. He wouldn’t allow anyone else to touch her.” He held out his hand. “Would you like me to take the skull to the library for you? The Colonel had me set up your equipment this afternoon. You should be ready to start tomorrow.”

  She ignored his outstretched hand. For some reason she didn’t want to release the skull to anyone else. “I’ll start tonight.”

  His brows rose. “Tonight?”

  “Tonight.” She started up the steps. “I can do a lot tonight. She’s got to be cleaned up and I can start the measuring. Bring me a pot of black coffee.”

  “You must be very tired. You’re not well.”

  She didn’t feel tired. She felt alive and tingling with the excitement and drive of the project ahead. She had a purpose again.

  Nalia, we have you safe. We’re going to bring you home.

  She repeated, “Black coffee.”

  It was three in the morning when Montalvo came into the library. “Go to bed. This isn’t necessary.”

  She didn’t look up. “This is what you brought me here for. Now let me do my job.”

  “I have every intention of doing that. I just don’t want to have to pick you up off the floor if you pass out.”

  “I won’t pass out.” She arched her back to ease it. “It doesn’t happen when I’m working. No matter how bad I feel, it goes away when I’m working.”

  His lips twisted. “Divine intervention?”

  Divine? Bonnie?

  “I never rule any help out.” She looked back at the reconstruction. “But purpose and determination can also work miracles.”

  “I don’t want miracles from you. Just a good job. Go to bed and get some rest.”

  “I will. I was almost ready to stop. I just wanted to get her cleaned up and see what I have to work with.”

  “And what do you have to work with?”

  “All the bones are intact. That’s a big help. She’s Caucasian, a mature woman.” She reached down and handed him an object in a small Ziploc bag. “A tooth. There should be a chance for a DNA match if you have any of her intimate belongings. I suppose you couldn’t get her father to give you a DNA blood sample?”

  “No way on this earth.”

  “Well, the tooth may be enough for definite proof.”

  “He’ll think I bribed the lab. I’m relying on your reconstruction to break through to him.”

  “Don’t count on it. I’ll do the best I can but I’m not perfect.” She glanced at him. “And this may not be your wife. What if it’s some other woman that Diaz murdered? What if the man who dredged her from that swamp was just trying to score big money?”

  “He would have been too scared to betray me.”

  “He wasn’t too scared to bury the skeleton instead of turning it over to you.”

  His lips set. “It’s Nalia.”

  “Because you want it to be?”

  “God, no. I want her to be the crook her father thinks her and basking on a beach somewhere in Australia. I want her alive.” He started to turn away. “But it was Nalia in that grave.”

  “We’ll find out.”

  “When? How long?”

  “A few days.” She paused. “You don’t have to come in here while I’m working. I don’t need you.”

  “But I need to know what’s happening.” He stopped, gazing at her. “Why shouldn’t I come? Will I bother you?”

  “No, once I end the preliminary measuring I won’t even know you’re in the room. But it will bother you. Her skull is going to look like a voodoo doll while I’m working on it.”

  “Christ, you’re talking to a man who tore her skull from her skeleton tonight,” he said harshly.

  “I’m talking to a man who hasn’t looked once at his wife’s reconstruction since he walked into the room,” she said quietly. “And I’m telling you that you don’t have to see it again until I’ve finished. You don’t have to go through that pain.”

  He stood looking at her for a moment. “Is that why you were in such a hurry to clean her up?”

  “Maybe.” She glanced back at the skull. “And maybe I thought she wouldn’t like to be such a mess. I gather she was a very special woman.”

  “Yes, she was. Beautiful.” He cleared his throat. “And very fastidious. What are you calling her? I know you never assume your reconstruction’s identity.”

  “I’ll call her Nalia.”

  “Because you believe me?”

  “No, because it seems right to me. If I don’t have any photos or descriptions, a name isn’t going to throw me off.” She wiped her hands on the towel on the workbench. “She’ll be what she will be.”

  “But you do believe me or you wouldn’t have started the reconstruction.”

  “I believe what my eyes saw tonight. You could have embroidered the background story.”

  “You don’t think that.”

  She wearily shook her head. “No, I don’t believe that you told me fairy tales. I hope I’m not wrong.”

  “I know you won’t trust any pat assurances on my part. I guess time will tell.” He left the library.

  She stood there for a moment, gazing at the skull. “We’re beginning, Nalia,” she whispered. “He wants to bring you home. I want to bring you home. What happened to you was terrible but I hope there’s peace for you now. There’s no peace for him….”

  No peace. No end to the anger. No end to the hurt. She knew that chaos of feeling.

  But he might have reached the end of his search in this skull before her. She hoped it was true.

  “I’ll see you in a few hours, Nalia. I have to get some sleep.” She started toward the door and then impulsively turned and went back to the dais, grabbed a drop cloth, and tossed it over the reconstruction. “This is his library, Nalia. He’ll probably have to be in here for some reason or other. You wouldn’t want him to see you until you’re at your best.”

  She moved across the room and turned ou
t the light before closing the door.

  Exhaustion hit her like a club. It was always like that once the day’s work was completed. The weariness that had been held at bay was released.

  Divine intervention.

  Strange how Montalvo had used those words that had struck that note and had reminded her of Bonnie, she thought as she started to climb the stairs. Perhaps not so strange. Montalvo and she, who were so different, were on the same plane in some ways. She had felt very close to him in the library.

  Mistake.

  She was identifying too much with him and it could cloud her judgment. His personality was too strong to ignore and she felt as if she knew him. She was beginning to hurt when she thought of his loss.

  She’d reached the top of the stairs, and hesitated. She hadn’t meant to go to Joe. She didn’t want to wake him because she was feeling disturbed.

  Oh, what the devil. She needed him. She’d make sure that her presence didn’t bother him. She strode toward the bedroom door and quietly turned the knob. A moment later she was at the bed, crawling in beside him.

  “Eve?” he said drowsily.

  “Shh.” Her arms slid around him. “Go back to sleep. I just wanted to hold you for a while. I won’t be here long. Okay?”

  “Better than okay…”

  Yes, it was better than okay, she thought. It was good and solid and treasure-bright.

  Her arms tightened around him. “Yes, it is, Joe.”

  She was gone. It was as if Eve had never been in this bed with him.

  Joe gazed at the indented pillow next to him that was the only evidence that she’d been here. But the memory of her was very clear even through that haze of heavy medications.

  And there was something else. A familiar scent drifting to him from that pillow. Not perfume. Almost acrid and—

  “Good morning.” Galen came into the room, carrying a tray. “You’re awake, I see. I brought your breakfast. Eggs, bacon, toast, and coffee. Lots of protein and enough caffeine to make you get up and walk out of—”

  “Where’s Eve?”

  “Still in bed, I think.” He set the tray on the bedside table. “How do you feel?”

  “Hazy. No more drugs.”

  “The doctor says there may still be considerable pain.”