“You’d be crazy to deal with him,” John said roughly. “Your just having that key will tell him that you know too much. That was your insurance policy.”
“He’s an Army Intelligence agent. He might have you targeted, but I’m a private citizen. He’d have a difficult time trying to harass me.”
“I’m not talking about harassment.” His breath expelled with exasperation. “I’ll say you’re not pleading. Back off, Eve. This isn’t a good move.”
“I can’t back off. Tell me how to reach you.” She had to persuade him. “I have a right, John. No one has a better right than I do to catch that bastard. You know it, and I know it. Isn’t that the real reason you made contact with me? You say we’re all savages. Maybe that primitive instinct told you that this was something we had to do together.”
He was still silent, and Eve wasn’t sure that she’d made an impact.
Then he said, “Take the Delta flight to Milwaukee this afternoon. When you get in, call me, and I’ll come and get you. Queen will probably have someone following you. He won’t stop you because he’ll hope you’re leading him to me.”
“And I will be.”
“I’ll take care of that when you get here. Be careful.” He hung up.
It was done.
Eve hung up and stared out at the lake.
“We’re going to find you, Bonnie,” she whispered. “This is the time, isn’t it? This is how you wanted it.” Why was that certainty growing within her? She could be fooling herself because she wanted it so much, and the search had gone on so long. She was taking a chance on John Gallo. Joe and Catherine were right that he was the ultimate wild card.
And she had taken a chance on him once before, and it had changed her life. He had given her Bonnie.
Stop questioning. The decision was made.
She got to her feet and moved toward the door. She would make her airline reservations, write a note to Joe, and try to get a couple hours’ sleep.
She went to her worktable and covered the reconstruction she’d started on Dale. “Just a little interruption,” she whispered. “You’ve waited a long time. Wait just a little longer.” He was her job, her duty. This was the part of her life that had been born when she had lost Bonnie. But she had to return to the time before she had become the woman who had brought all those other children home until she could come back and do that duty.
If she came back.
Was that why she was having this feeling of destiny, the conviction that Bonnie was guiding her? Was she going to die and join Bonnie? Did Bonnie know that this time Eve would not come back to Joe?
The prospect held no fear for Eve. Joe would be safe. Joe and Jane would have each other.
And she would have Bonnie.
* * *
“EVE DUNCAN JUST BOARDED A flight for Milwaukee,” Queen told Jacobs when he hung up the phone. “I’ve told one of our people in the Chicago office to get over to Milwaukee and make sure she’s under surveillance.”
“Why Milwaukee?” Jacobs asked. “Quinn wasn’t with her?”
“No, he’s at ATLPD headquarters.” Queen smiled unpleasantly. “I think she’s given him the slip. Maybe Quinn was wrong about Gallo taking Eve Duncan. It could be that she decided to renew old times. They must have been a hot item when they were younger.”
“You believe she’s gone to join Gallo again?” Jacobs repeated, “Why Milwaukee?”
“Gallo grew up in Milwaukee. He knows it like the back of his hand. He’d feel comfortable there.” He paused. “Maybe enough to find a hiding place for the ledger.”
“And you believe Duncan is joining him because they’re having an affair?”
“Women seem to find him attractive. He’s had several mistresses over the years. Even a couple movie actresses. Why else?”
“I researched her when Gallo requested the files on her. She’s not the kind of woman who’d abandon her career and a stable relationship to jump into bed with a man she hasn’t seen in years.”
“She was willing to do it when she was sixteen. Maybe she still has a yen for him.” He shrugged. “At any rate, we should explore it. I doubt if Gallo feels the same way, but if there’s a chance, we’ll grab it.”
“There’s another possibility.” He paused. “Paul Black.”
Queen shook his head. “I don’t think Black has surfaced yet. He had me e-mail him some information about Gallo’s employees, and I sent him current info about Eve Duncan as well, including the fact that she’s on her way to Milwaukee.”
“Why pull Black into it?”
“Why not? The hunted pursuing the hunter. Better he go after Gallo than me. I knew I shouldn’t have tried to hand Black over to Gallo. It boomeranged, and it could have been fatal. But I handled it damn well.”
“So you say,” Jacobs said. “But you’ve been prone to impulsive behavior of late. You didn’t have to burn down Gallo’s place. It will make him difficult to negotiate with if that becomes necessary.”
Bastard. Jacobs hadn’t had to deal with Gallo all these years. He hadn’t realized what bullshit Queen had had to take from him. “It won’t be necessary. I’ll find him, and I’ll find the ledger. The woman may be the answer.” He turned and moved toward the door. “She’s going to find Gallo a little too hot to handle.”
* * *
THE NOTE WAS PROPPED UP on the coffeemaker on the counter.
Joe had expected it. He had tried to phone home twice before he’d gotten into his car and driven home. He tore open the envelope and pulled out the sheet of paper.
Joe, I’m with John Gallo. He can lead me to Black. You know why I didn’t tell you before. It’s time I assumed full responsibility. God knows, I’ve leaned on you too long. This isn’t your war, and I won’t have you be a casualty. I’ll be in touch. I love you. Eve
His hand clenched the paper, then he crushed it into a ball and hurled it onto the counter.
Control the anger … and the fear. He had known this could be coming. It had been building for the last few years, and he had been able to fight it off.
He would still fight it off.
But he had to find Eve first.
He pulled out his phone and dialed Eve.
Voice mail.
He called Catherine.
She answered immediately. “Trouble?”
“Why would you think that?”
“Eve was too quiet.”
“She’s gone to John Gallo. He’s convinced her he can take her to Black.”
“Then we have to find Gallo. I suppose she’s not answering her phone?”
“Voice mail.”
Catherine was silent. “Okay, so I track down Judy Clark while you go after Hanks?”
“Can you? How is your son?”
“Luke is fine. I’ve hired a live-in tutor for him. Sam O’Neill used to work for the CIA, but he retired a few years ago. He was a teacher before he joined the Company, and he decided to go back to it. I figured they’d be a good match. Sam’s a nice guy but tough, and they get along. Luke wouldn’t know what to do with a cozy, maternal housekeeper.” She added, “Luke doesn’t need me. After being on his own all these years, he’s totally independent. He reads and studies, and sometimes we even have discussions. It’s a start.” She paused. “I wish he did need me. But that will come.” She added brusquely, “I’ll call Venable and see what we can pull up on Hanks and Judy Clark.”
“And I’ll go to the airport and check to see if Eve left her car there. It’s not here.” He added, “Thanks, Catherine. I need to move fast.”
“Do you think I’m doing it for you? It’s Eve. Every time I look at my son, I remember that I wouldn’t have him with me if it wasn’t for her. And you do need to move fast. Gallo has her blinded. Hell, maybe she’s right about him, but he scares me. He’s unpredictable. Queen could be right about him having a split personality, and there’s no one more convincing than someone who believes that he’s telling the truth. Let me know if she’s taken a flight.” She hung up.