Bonnie (22 page)

“Try? He’ll recall every single detail, or he’ll wish he had.”

“The third degree? I thought that was no longer politically correct. Particularly when applied to a man of the cloth.”

“It’s Eve, dammit.”

And that meant every method was on the table as far as Quinn was concerned. And Gallo was feeling the same way. Father Barnabas could be totally sincere or the prime demon who had tormented his uncle over the years. “Then nudge his memory. Can you contact the local police and see what their investigation manages to unearth?”

“That goes without saying,” Quinn said curtly.

Then Catherine was back on the line. “What did Eve have with her when she was taken? Any weapon?”

“No, the priest said that she was forced to put down her purse when she entered the study.”

“What about her phone?”

“Maybe. She was carrying it in the pocket of her slacks.”

“Good. We can start there. I’ll call Venable and see if he can get a GPS trace.”

“My uncle is no fool. He’ll find that phone.”

“But we may have a little time before he does. We can determine a direction. For the rest, we may have to rely on Eve.”

“For God’s sake, how can she help?” he asked bitterly. “My uncle was a top-notch special services officer. If you’re right about him, he’s now also a maniac who would—” He stopped and drew a deep breath. “Sorry. I’m not thinking, only feeling right now. I should have been there to help her.”

“Yes, you should have been there,” Catherine said coolly. “But now we have to forget that and find her. Eve is very clever, and I’ve never met anyone more determined. A sharp mind can be more lethal than any weapon. Now where are you?”

“About forty miles west of Rome. I couldn’t stick around the cathedral. The police would have checked me out and gotten that warrant on me from Wisconsin.”

“No, that would have been a nightmare waiting to happen. We’ll meet you, and— No, Joe is shaking his head. He wants to go to the cathedral and talk to that priest. He said if the priest knows anything about where to find Danner, he’ll choke it out of him if he has to. He can drop me off somewhere to rendezvous with you and go on there without me. The minute we find out anything about Eve from Venable or the priest, we’ll take off on the trail. I’ll call you when we get closer, and you can give me exact directions.” She hung up.

Gallo pressed the disconnect.

As usual, after talking to Catherine, he felt as if he’d had a shot of adrenaline. She always cut through every emotion that got in the way of accomplishing what needed to be done.

He needed that shot of pure, clear energy right now.

He needed Catherine Ling.

CHAPTER

11

“ARE YOU OKAY, JOE?” CATHERINE
shot a glance at Joe’s face after she hung up the phone. His expression was grimmer than she’d ever seen it. Who could blame him? She was feeling pretty damn grim herself. “We’ve got a start. The priest may remember something.”

“And he may not. If he does, he’s going to tell me. No, I’m not okay. I want to kill Gallo.”

“Yet either one of us might have done the same thing. There didn’t seem a very big risk.”

“That doesn’t help.”

“Because you’re feeling and not thinking. Like Gallo.”

“And you’re defending him.”

“It was clear he didn’t want anyone to defend him. He’s piling enough guilt on himself to sink the
Titanic.
” She looked out the window. “Yes, I’m defending him. Someone has to do it. This isn’t the time to fight among ourselves.”

“I know that.” His grip tightened on the steering wheel. “But it’s easier to imagine taking Gallo apart limb by limb than it is to imagine what could be happening to Eve.”

Catherine knew what he meant. She was blocking out all thought of the threat aimed at Eve. “As I said, we have the priest. And if Gallo can contact Danner, we have a chance he’ll have enough influence to shift the scales. Father Barnabas said Danner loves Gallo.”

“If we can contact the bastard.” His lips tightened. “And if Gallo can stop worrying about him instead of Eve.”

“Gallo will do everything he can to find Eve.”

“So you’re going to join him and shepherd him in the right direction?”

She shook her head. “There’s no shepherding Gallo. I’m going to join him for two reasons. There’s no use both of us hovering over Father Barnabas and trying to prod him. I’d just be spinning my wheels. Gallo and I are both trained hunters. I’m CIA, and he was a Ranger. If Venable or you can give us a lead, then we can get on the trail.”

“And leave me out?”

She smiled faintly. “Are you kidding? A two-prong attack is always more effective. You know that, too, or you wouldn’t be heading for the cathedral when you want to go directly after Danner and grab Eve from him.” Her smile faded. “But I’ll have Danner’s affection for Gallo to use against him, and I’d do it, Joe.”

“If Gallo will let you.”

She shook her head. “I’d do it. That bastard had no right to take Eve. We have to get her back.” She met Joe’s eyes. “Alive. We’ll get her back alive, Joe.”

He didn’t answer.

“Joe?”

“I’m not sure, Catherine,” he said thickly. “I’m not sure how this is going to end. I just know I’m scared shitless.”

And so was Catherine, but she couldn’t admit it right now. Keep busy. She reached for her phone. “I’ll call Venable and get him working on that GPS. If that doesn’t work, I know Eve will find a way to let us know where she’s located or where she’s going.”

“You have a lot of faith in her.”

“Of course, and so do you. Eve can do anything she wants to do.”

He didn’t speak for a moment. “You’re right, and that’s what’s scaring me.” He added somberly, “Anything she wants to do.”

*   *   *

“WE’VE BEEN DRIVING IN
circles.” Eve broke the tense silence that had stretched between her and Danner for the past two hours. She was gazing out of the window of the truck. “Just where are we going, Danner?”

“I have to be sure we’re not followed. A diversionary tactic,” Danner said. “I’m not afraid of the police. I can handle them. But you came to the church with John. He mustn’t be part of this.”

“Because you don’t want him to know what you are?”

He looked at her. “Are you trying to make me angry? You can’t do it by throwing John in my face. He’s always been the best part of my life.”

“I know you loved him.”

“Not past tense. I do love him.”

“He loved you, too.” She paused and then said deliberately, “Of course, he didn’t know you were a murderer.”

“Yes, he did. I killed in the military, and I never tried to hide it from him. I served my country, and he was proud of me.”

“But were you proud?”

“I served my country.”

“You didn’t answer me.”

“I don’t have to answer you. Why should I? I won’t make excuses. I don’t have to talk to you at all.”

She ignored the reply, and went on, “You might have felt like a patriot for a while but that changed, didn’t it? Your psychiatrist who first examined you after you came back from Syria said that something happened that tipped the scales and sent you off the track. What was it?”

“Why are you asking me all these questions? What do you care? That has nothing to do with what’s happening now. Do you think that we’re going to form some kind of bond? You’ll be disappointed. I can’t afford to do that.”

She nodded. “I could have formed a bond with the man who came to see me and Bonnie when she was just a baby. I felt sorry for you. I wanted to help you. All I saw in you was sorrow, not rage. What happened, Danner?”

“Shut up. I don’t need your help. I didn’t then, I don’t now. You’re the one who needs help.”

Her gaze searched his face. “Why, Danner?”

“Can’t you see? Are you stupid? You’re sitting there, with your hands tied, and you know what I am.” His gaze searched her face. “And you keep asking me questions. Why aren’t you afraid?”

“Do you want me to be afraid?”

“I want you to stop asking me questions.”

“You don’t have to answer them.” She looked down at the ropes binding her wrists in front of her. “No, I’m not afraid. But being tied does make me feel helpless. I suppose that increases your sense of power.”

“Yeah, it does.”

She smiled faintly. “I think you’re lying. I believe it makes you uneasy to see me like this.”

“Believe what you like.” He was silent a moment. “Why aren’t you afraid? I did kill Jacobs, you know.”

“I know. And you would have killed my friend, Catherine. Why?”

“Demon. The moment I saw her, I knew she was a Delilah.”

“I don’t know about Jacobs, but Catherine is no demon. I’m not sure there are demons.”

“Then you’re a fool,” he said harshly. “They’re all around us. Look away from them, and they’ll have you.” He tore his gaze away from her. “You have to fight them all the time.”

“And what would they do if they caught you?”

“They’d devour my soul,” he said simply.

“And is my Bonnie a demon?”

He stiffened. “I don’t want to talk about the little girl.”

“Father Barnabas said you’ve never spoken of her by name, that you only talk about a little girl. That little girl is Bonnie, isn’t she?”

“I won’t talk about the little girl.”

“Why not?”

“Be quiet.”

She was disturbing him. His hands were clenched on the steering wheel, and there was a flush burnishing his cheeks. The mere mention of “the little girl” had done this to him.

“I’ll be quiet for now.” She looked away from him. “But you’ll have to answer me sometime, Danner.”

“No, I won’t. I’ll shut you up.”

“By killing me?”

“I don’t want to talk about it.”

Change the subject. “Where are you taking me, Danner?”

“To the place.”

“What place?”

“Her place.”

She inhaled sharply. Dear God, was he speaking of the place where he’d hidden Bonnie’s body? Her heart was starting to pound. After all the years of searching, was she this close? “I don’t understand. Explain. Please.”

He shook his head. “You’ll know later. She’ll tell you.”

She was so frustrated she wanted to shout at him. So damn close.

Control. Patience. She drew a steadying breath. “Okay, I’ll let it go. But I have to come back to it. I have to know everything, Danner. If I make it easy for you. If I go with you, if I don’t fight you, will you tell me what I need to know?”

He didn’t speak for a moment. “You won’t fight me?”

“No.”

“I don’t want you to fight me. I’d hurt you, and John wouldn’t like it.”

Danner’s reasoning was complex and bewildering. She was almost sure he intended to end her life. Evidently, killing her was all right, but not inflicting pain. “No, John does care about me. He would be angry if you hurt me.”

“I don’t know why it should matter to me,” he said jerkily. “It’s just a drop in the ocean. He’ll never feel the way he did about me before. But I have to do the best I can. I know it would matter to me. I’ve never wanted to cause anyone pain.” His eyes were glittering with moisture. “You make it easy for me and I’ll tell you anything you want to know.” He added hoarsely, “And I’ll promise to make … it easy for you.”

He meant her death, she realized. She had been almost sure that was to be the final act, but it still gave her a tiny shock.

“Now you’re afraid?” His gaze was narrowed on her face.

“No.” Shock, not fear. He was taking her to Bonnie. What was there to fear? One way or the other they’d be together. “I’m … eager.”

“You think you’re going to get out of it, that you’ll be able to get what you want, then get away from me.”

She didn’t answer.

“You won’t be able to do it.” He suddenly turned the wheel, and the truck was bouncing along a rutted dirt road into the forest that bordered the highway. “But I still think you’ll keep your promise. From the moment I met you I knew you were a straight shooter. I thought that John was lucky to have met you, before he went into basic training. I never had much luck with women. I got so I couldn’t trust them. But you were different. Honest…”

She was being jounced from side to side on the seat, and tree branches were striking the windshield. “Does this road lead somewhere?”

“Yes.” They suddenly came out of the trees into a small clearing. “Here.” He braked and stopped the truck. “Time to ditch the truck and start out on foot.” He jumped out of the truck and came around to the passenger seat. He jerked her out and quickly ran his hands over her body. He pulled her phone out of the pocket of her slacks. He muttered a curse. “Dammit, I should have searched you before you got in the truck.” He threw the phone on the ground and smashed it under his foot. “That damn GPS signal.”

And there went her only way of being tracked. “The curse of modern technology.” She added sarcastically, “You mustn’t blame yourself. You were in a bit of a hurry kidnapping me at the time. You were so concerned about roping me like a calf to be branded.”

“Shut up.” He turned toward a tarp canvas structure stretched between two pine trees. He grabbed a backpack and slipped it on. “We have to get out of here. They’ll be able to trace that phone.”

“Probably.” She was looking at the tarp. “This is a surprise. A home away from home. Maybe I should have expected it. Father Barnabas mentioned that you lived off the land on occasion. Why, Danner?”

“It keeps me away from the demons. There are animals here, but the demons don’t take over their souls. I’m safe here.” He picked up a Magnum pistol and gestured to her to go ahead of him. “Stop asking questions and start out. We’ve got a long way to go.”

“But you said you’d answer my questions.” She moved forward in the direction he’d indicated. “How far, Danner?”

“It should take us maybe two days if you don’t hold me up. We have to travel through the woods and avoid the roads. It’s rough country.”

“I won’t hold you up, Danner.”

“I’m not so sure. You’re not the tough sixteen-year-old kid you were when we met all those years ago. I would have bet on her. These days, I hear you spend your life messing around with clay and stuff.”