“John.”
“Yes,” he said hoarsely.
The door shut behind him.
She closed her eyes as the tears slowly started to run down her cheeks.
Magical, the nurse had told Eve when she’d brought Bonnie to her at the hospital. And Eve had always known that Bonnie was special. She had not known how special until that moment. So many questions. How had Bonnie managed to reach out to save the father she had never known? She had never mentioned any dreams to Eve. Was that contact with him on a separate level? Had Bonnie even realized it herself in her daily life with Eve?
And Bonnie was still a presence in his life, still standing guard over John Gallo as she did with Eve.
She had reached out, comforting, loving, saving.
And Eve had never known it was happening.
“Bonnie,” she whispered. “Why, baby?”
She huddled there, remembering John’s words, his voice, the pain that had surrounded him and reached out and enveloped her. In the darkness, she had not been able to see a single expression, but she had known every emotion he was feeling and believed every word he spoke was true. It had created a bond with him enormously stronger than any she had known when she was that sixteen-year-old fighting her way out of the projects.
And that bond was Bonnie.
* * *
CATHERINE AND JOE GOT OUT OF their rental car in the foothills halfway up the mountain and Catherine spread the map on the hood of the vehicle.
“We can bypass this checkpoint.” Catherine pointed to the square box drawn on the map. “If we go around the mountain route above the house. We’ll still have to chance the guard just inside the gate, but it’s better than having to do both.” She traced the box to the side entrance. “Then we can get in here if we can disable the alarm.”
Joe looked up at the huge redwood-and-glass house perched on the side of the mountain. “What time is it?”
“Four thirty-five. Queen won’t wake up and be in a position to bother us for another three hours.” She added, “Unless someone goes to his place looking for him. That’s always a possibility.” She was frowning down at the map. “I can take out the video cameras indicated on the map. But Queen wasn’t sure the map was entirely accurate. If Gallo is as smart as they think he is, then he’d have some cameras well hidden. I wish we had time to do our own search.” She held up her hand. “I know we don’t. We have to get in and find Eve.”
“If she’s there. If Queen guessed right about Gallo’s bringing her here.” Joe was looking at the upper floor of the house. “Two bedrooms on the main floor near the garage area. They’re small, maybe servants’ quarters. Four bedrooms on the top level. Eve will probably be in one of them.” I hope, Joe thought desperately. Who knew what the crazy son of a bitch would do with her? The clock was ticking, and he needed to find her. “Once we get inside, I’ll take the bedrooms on the upper level. You check out the ones near the garage.”
Catherine nodded. “And keep cool, Joe. I know you’re mad as hell. But Eve won’t thank us if we kill Gallo when she thinks she can get information out of him.”
“Ask me if I care.” He was moving up the mountain. “I’ll be careful because I want to keep Eve alive, but there’s no way I’ll stay cool. Gallo is going down.”
* * *
THE BUZZER WENT OFF ON THE security pad on the nightstand in Gallo’s bedroom.
South slope.
He reached over and activated the video camera. No picture.
His phone rang.
“I’ve got it, Hanks,” he said when he picked up. “Any other alarms?”
“Not yet. Two cameras on the south slope have been disabled. They missed this one. We should have a visual when the courtyard C2 picks them up. They’re pretty good, and I figure that they’ll get C1 and take it out. But C2 is impossible to detect unless you know where to look. Shall I get a team to head up the slope and intercept?”
He thought about it. It could be that Queen had gotten impatient and was trying for a strike. But there was another possibility. “No, let them reach the courtyard. I’ll make a decision then.” He hung up and quickly dressed.
The buzzer sounded again. C2 camera.
He pressed the video. Two figures, dark clothes, moving swiftly. He zeroed in on them.
A woman, dark hair pulled back, slightly exotic features.
A man, tall, brown hair, dark eyes. He’d seen photos of that face. Joe Quinn.
The woman must be Catherine Ling.
Hanks phoned. “They’re right on top of you. What do we do? Take them out?”
Dammit, I’m backed in a corner, Gallo thought. He couldn’t risk Joe Quinn getting killed, and he couldn’t even guarantee to control the situation once Quinn erupted on the scene.
“No, don’t touch them. I’ll call you back.”
He had known that it might come to this when he had taken Eve, but he’d considered it worth it. What the hell. It might have been necessary anyway. The circle was closing.
He had to move fast. Quinn and Catherine Ling had gotten around most of the alarms with incredible speed and accuracy. They’d be in the house in no time.
He snatched the backpack he always kept ready from the closet and moved down the hall toward the guest room.
Eve sat up as he threw open the door. Her eyes were wide in her pale face. “What is it?”
“It’s your Joe Quinn being superhero,” he said. “I’d heard he was smart. I didn’t realize he’d be able to move this fast.”
“What do you mean? Where is he?”
“Pounding on the gates.” He was crossing the room toward the bed. “I’ll either have to kill him or bow out. I’m going to let him have the castle.”
Her hands clenched on the cover. “I’m not going with you.”
“I’m not asking you to come. I think we’ve said what had to be said.” He reached in his pocket and handed her a key. “Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Queen may get desperate and aggressive once they realize I’ve gone. You may need ammunition.”
She gazed at the key in her palm. “I don’t understand.”
“Blackmail.” He turned and moved toward the door. “He’ll understand even if you don’t. If you don’t need to use the leverage, save it for me. Believe me, I can use it.” He reached in his pocket, pulled out her phone, and handed it to her. “Your property. You might try to intercept your Joe Quinn. I’ll try to call Hanks off, but if they come together, there might be damage.”
He moved quickly down the hall and down the stairs.
“John!” Eve had followed him and was standing at the top of the stairs. She was wearing one of Judy’s sweatshirts, her red-brown hair was rumpled, her expression intense. She looked almost as young as she’d been when he’d first met her. “Dammit, I’m not going to let you go without telling me about Paul Black. Where is he? Talk to me.”
“Sorry. No more time. You’ll have to be satisfied.” He opened the door to the basement and ran down the stairs.
She called after him. “How can you say that? I’m not satisfied.” He went around the corner of the landing, and she was lost to view.
Check to see how close Quinn was to gaining entrance.
John punched the video button on the panel by the exit door that accessed the passage to the outside. He couldn’t see Joe Quinn, but Catherine Ling was almost directly beneath the camera. She was working quickly to disable the house alarm. The expression on that beautiful, exotic face was intent, totally focused.
Suddenly she stopped and looked up.
He inhaled sharply.
She knew he was watching her.
What the hell? He knew she couldn’t see that camera, but she still knew. Incredible instincts. Catherine Ling was remarkable. He’d be interested to explore those instincts.
Not now. No time.
He keyed in the exit code for the door, and it swung open. The next moment, he was closing and locking it behind him.
He pulled out his phone as he moved down the ramp that led to the outside passage.
CHAPTER
13