16 Taking Eve (12 page)

“We’re all unique.” She smiled back over her shoulder. “You, me, Toby, Devon. Isn’t nature wonderful? It’s like a kaleidoscope that never shows the same picture twice.” She opened the door. “Rest, Jane. I’ll send your phone in when Joe Quinn gets here.”

Jane stared after her with bewilderment. She wasn’t sure exactly how wonderful nature could be, but she was beginning to believe that Margaret was a brilliant kaleidoscope of character in her own right. She would actually have gone after Caleb if Jane had asked. And it wasn’t because she underestimated the danger he represented. Totally extraordinary.

But she wasn’t up to analyzing Margaret right now, she realized. She was feeling weak and exhausted, and the temporary adrenaline rush was fading rapidly.

Blank out the bewilderment, the unfathomable questions, Caleb and Margaret. She would deal with them later with Joe.

And then Eve would come, and they would be able to get through this nightmare as they got through everything else.

Together.

*   *   *

VENABLE.

Zander didn’t hesitate as he saw the ID. He punched the access. “Has your agent got a report on Doane?”

“He got into the house. No disk. He snatched the computer, but all the data had been erased. We’re having to restore it. We should know something by tomorrow.”

“That should tell you something. He’s covering his tracks.” He paused. “And he doesn’t want us to know where those tracks are going to lead. Are they going to lead to me? Or to Eve Duncan?”

Venable didn’t answer.

Not good. “Answer me, Venable. Just why did you call?”

“There have been a few developments that have disturbed me. I thought it only fair to put you into the loop.”

“Disturbed?”

“Okay, scared the hell out of me,” he said bluntly. “Jane MacGuire was shot by a sniper. We don’t know whether she’s going to make it or not.”

“Jane MacGuire … Not Eve Duncan? Where? At the lake cottage?”

“No, Jane was on an island in the Caribbean. She was supposed to be with Eve at the cottage, but she flew down there to the island because of an emergency. Joe Quinn is on his way down there right now. He was in Miami giving evidence at a trial, and he took off immediately.”

“He wasn’t with Eve either? Curious.”

“Not really. They lead independent lives.”

“And so does Jane MacGuire, but both Quinn and MacGuire revolve around Eve Duncan. Do you think I haven’t studied her world? MacGuire’s a weakness in the armor, or that’s what Doane would think, anyway.” He was thinking quickly, putting the pieces together. “But why shoot Jane MacGuire? That wouldn’t be necessary and Doane is smart enough to realize—” He stopped. “Quinn is going to the island and not Eve? That doesn’t compute. Where’s Eve Duncan?”

“She may be okay. We haven’t been able to reach her after she told Quinn she’d call him from Atlanta International. Quinn is calling Atlanta PD to go out to the lake.” He paused. “I sent one of my agents, Tad Dukes, out there last night to keep an eye on Eve. I’m trying to reach him now to check out if there was any problem. I can’t contact him.”

“Strange. And curious that you sent out an agent when you were trying to convince me that you doubted if Doane had made a connection to Eve Duncan.”

“I believe in insurance. I’m on my way there myself.”

“It may be too late. She may be dead. It depends on whether he wants instant gratification.”

“You son of a bitch. You wouldn’t care either way, would you?”

“I might care. It depends on how it would affect my having to transfer my operations. I’m finding your slipup very inconvenient, Venable.”

“Screw you. I like Jane MacGuire and Eve. One woman may be dying, and the other is missing. I’m finding this mess more than inconvenient, Zander.”

“Because you’ve never been able to erase emotion from the equations.”

“And you’ve always been able to do that.”

“Not always. I had to learn. But I was a very quick learner.”

“I can imagine,” Venable said sarcastically. “Fresh out of the cradle.”

“Not quite that soon. I evolved. As soon as I realized that it could keep me alive if it made me think more logically. For instance, you’re not thinking straight at all because you’re emotionally involved. I’m rather surprised considering what I know about your background.”

“And, of course, you’re able to deduce exactly what’s happening?”

“No, but I can stroke in the outlines. Doane wanted Eve Duncan alone and vulnerable, and that wasn’t easy to manage. Their lives aren’t as independent as you’d have me believe. When Quinn isn’t around, Jane MacGuire is usually with Eve. It’s not a conscious decision, it just happens because of their affection for her. Doane waited until he knew Quinn was going to be out of town, and he recognized that this was the time. But Jane MacGuire was going to come for a visit, so she had to be diverted. Hence, an emergency in the Caribbean.” He paused, thinking. “I don’t know why he’d arrange for a sniper to take her out unless he needed more time and security to put his plans for Eve into place. Perhaps plans weren’t going as smoothly as he’d hoped. Things sometimes go wrong…”

“Not for you.”

“And I’d bet rarely for Doane. But he evidently had to rely on someone else to divert Jane MacGuire. That would be an unknown quantity with which he had to deal.”

“Maybe he wanted Jane shot. It took Quinn out of the country and away from Eve.”

“Maybe. Somehow, I don’t think so. Judging by what I’m deducing about Doane, he’s very proud of his planning ability. If he was part of his son’s murky past, he’d have had it down to an art form to escape scrutiny.”

“Bastard.”

“You have to admire the process if not the result.”

“I don’t have to admire anything about him … or you.”

“I’m getting very tired of your comparing me to Doane. I’m nothing like him. It’s like comparing Satan to a minor demon.” He was tired of talking to him. For some unknown reason, the news that Eve Duncan had been targeted had had an unusual effect on him. It wasn’t that he hadn’t expected it. The possibility had always been in the background. What he hadn’t expected was that it would matter. “Someday, I may show you how different we are, Venable.”

“A threat, Zander?”

“No, threats are without meaning. I never say anything without meaning. I gave that up a long time ago. Call me when you find out whether Eve Duncan is alive or dead.” He hung up.

It was beginning. But now, at least, he knew how Doane was going to play his hand.

Perhaps.

He knew Doane was going to use Eve Duncan and not come straight at him. That didn’t mean that Doane might not manipulate the situation to suit himself. He was a vengeful, angry man and skilled in the game they both knew so well.

It might prove interesting, and he hadn’t been intrigued by a chase in a long time. That was probably why the news about Eve Duncan had aroused a response.

“I couldn’t help but hear your conversation,” Stang said quietly from his seat at the desk across the room. “I didn’t have a chance to leave the study.”

“I know.” Zander smiled recklessly. “That’s okay, I’ve decided to take you into my confidence.”

Stang’s eyes widened. “God, no.”

“Come now. Step up to the plate. You might even find something that you can use as a weapon.”

“I’m happy as I am. No one is more private than you. You’ll change your mind, but it may be too late for me.”

“There’s always that possibility. Perhaps I’ll limit your access. That way you might survive.” He tilted his head. “Now what did you hear? Ah, Eve Duncan. She’s the star of our little scenario. Unless she’s dead. Even then, she’ll have a leading part. You’re not asking about her. Aren’t you curious?”

“No.”

“So wary…” He crossed to the desk and drew out his leather folio. He flipped it open. “Read all about them. That’s Eve. The man is Joe Quinn, and the other woman is Jane MacGuire. The queen and her two knights. Only Doane has removed the knights, and she’s alone now.”

Stang was looking at the photos. “But you said she might be dead.”

“Yes, it depends on what Doane wants. Shall I tell you about Doane?”

“No.”

“Perhaps later. It’s enough for you to know that he has the same ambition as you. He wants to kill me, and he thinks he has good reason to do it.”

“I never said I wanted to kill you.”

“No, you didn’t say it, did you? Perhaps you haven’t made up your mind yet.” He shrugged. “I rather enjoy not knowing. It gives life a little zip. However, you notice I always keep you within viewing distance. Tell me, did you love your brother, Sean?”

“Yes, I loved him.” He added, “I was surprised when you let me come to work for you after he died. You must have known it would be dangerous.”

“You were willing to take the risk, how could I resist? Life is boring without the chance of its ending popping up now and then. And, until you decide it’s time, you make me stacks of money and keep me organized.” He smiled. “But now I’ve changed the rules, and I want to see you react. It will be amusing. Since I’m putting you at risk, you might as well know everything about Eve and the situation.”

Stang was silent a moment, studying Zander’s face. “You’re not behaving normally.”

“When have I ever been normal?”

“No, I mean you want to talk about this Eve Duncan. Something about the situation is bothering you.”

Zander’s brows rose. “How perceptive you are. But it doesn’t take much insight to know that I wouldn’t consider moving my entire operation if I weren’t a little concerned.”

“Consider? You told me to set about doing it.”

“I’ve changed my mind.” He hadn’t realized that he was going to say those words until they came out. “Doane isn’t worth my going on the run. I’ll have to take him down sometime. It will be easier if I let him walk into a trap.” He glanced at the mountains looming outside the window. “Such a beautiful trap. So now that’s settled, there’s nothing more to be worried about.”

“I didn’t say worried. I’ve never seen you worried. You’re just … unsettled.” He paused. “And I don’t believe you’d risk having to dispose of me if you weren’t—I don’t think you’re reacting as you usually do.”

“Unsettled.” He repeated the word. “Yes, you may be right. Though I’m not sure I like being referred to in that way. It sounds a bit weak.”

Stang shook his head. “An earthquake is unsettled, so is a volcano.”

Zander threw back his head and laughed. “Now I like that better. A force of nature is much better for my ego.”

Stang looked back at the photo. “Is it because she might be dead?”

“No. Why should I care? I’ve never met her,” Zander said. “I thought you didn’t want to know about her.”

“You want me to know. And at this point, it doesn’t matter any longer. You’ve pulled me in too deep.”

“You think I want to share?” He shook his head. “You’re crazy, Stang.”

“It was just a thought. So who is Eve Duncan?”

“It’s all there in the dossier.”

“No, who is she to you, Zander?”

Who was Eve Duncan to him? It was a question that he had been asking himself of late. He had tried to dismiss it from his consciousness, but it kept recurring like a persistent nightmare.

“Who is she to me?” Zander smiled faintly. “Why, Stang, I don’t really know. Perhaps my nemesis.”

*   *   *

“DAMMIT, THEY TOLD ME
you were awake.”

Jane opened her eyes to see Joe in the chair beside her bed. “Hi, Joe. I am awake. I was just dozing.”

“Good. Then I’m not to blame for waking you. Though I would have done it anyway when I found out that you aren’t on death’s door. I have to know what’s going on.” He reached forward to give her a quick kiss on her forehead. “You scared us, baby. What the hell happened?”

“Didn’t Devon and Margaret tell you?”

“Yes, what they could. Toby and poison and Caleb on the trail…” His lips tightened. “None of it adds up to a reason for shooting you.”

“It’s all we’ve got. Do you think I don’t know it’s crazy? That’s what I told Eve when I talked to her. Okay, from the moment I found out Toby was sick, nothing was reasonable. It just kept rolling downhill, picking up speed like an avalanche.” She shook her head. “And then I didn’t like the way Eve sounded when I was talking to her, and I thought maybe—I don’t know what I thought. Maybe that she was caught in the avalanche, too. That’s why I was getting on that plane to leave the island and go to Eve.” Her hand tightened on Joe’s. “When will she be here?”

He didn’t answer.

Her gaze narrowed on his face. “Joe?”

“I don’t know, dammit. There’s … a problem.”

“With Eve? Don’t tell me that.” She could feel her heart pounding. “What’s wrong? It’s not like you to—”

“Quiet down. There may be nothing wrong. I just can’t get in touch with her. She was supposed to take a flight out of Atlanta.”

Her gaze was frantically raking his expression. “But you think something is wrong. I can see it.” She was struggling to sit up. “So don’t tell me to quiet down. I have to go and—”

“The hell you do.” His hands were on her shoulders, pushing her back down. “You’re wounded, dammit. Eve would kill both of us if I let you out of that bed.” He frowned. “Look at you. You’re pale as that sheet covering you, and we don’t know what kind of internal damage that bullet might have done.”

And she was weak as a kitten, Jane realized with frustration. Her head was swimming after that instant of rebellion.

Clear it. She had no option.

“Tell me about Eve,” she said unsteadily.

“There’s not much to tell. I just had a feeling something was wrong before I left home to go to Miami. Nothing concrete.”

“And Ben had a dream that brought him to Eve. Nothing concrete there either. What else?”

“Venable.” He filled her in on his conversations with Venable. “He wouldn’t admit to knowing anything about any threat to Eve … or you.” His lips twisted. “Nothing substantial for me to grab and hold.”

“Shall I tell you what’s concrete?” Jane said. “Toby’s being poisoned is concrete, my being shot is concrete. So everything that led up to it is concrete, too.” She closed her eyes, and whispered, “And it’s scaring me to death, Joe. What’s happening?”