"I'd bet on it," she said dryly.
"Please finish your sandwich. You need your strength." He opened the door and left the room.
Jesus, another Montalvo in the making, she thought. And Miguel had the same tenacity and determination as his idol, together with an appealing boyishness. She liked the kid.
She finished the last bite of her sandwich. Miguel was right, no matter what path she took she'd need strength and determination to get her through the-
Her cell phone rang.
She tensed as she saw the name on the ID screen.
No, Joe. Not now.
It rang again.
Dammit, she'd told him she wouldn't answer if he called her. Why was he-
It rang again.
She punched the button. "Joe, I can't talk to you."
"The hell you can't. You're doing it."
"To tell you that I'm fine and there's no reason for you to worry."
"How nice of you to offer me that scrap of comfort. You're not fine. Not as long as you're in that compound. And I'm going to worry until I have you out of there. What do you expect?"
She expected exactly what she was getting from Joe. Anger and near-explosive frustration. "I expect you to respect my decision."
"Your decision? He swayed you like a snake charmer. He used Bonnie, dammit."
"Yes."
"Lies, Eve. You know it's lies. You knew you were following a ghost when you came down here. You just couldn't help yourself."
"You're right, I thought he might be playing me when I got on that plane. It didn't matter. I had to take the chance." She paused. "But after I got here I found out that there's a chance he wasn't lying. I have to stay until I can decide if it's worth-"
"No!"
"Don't tell me no. I'm the one who has to decide. I'll call you when I do."
"Don't hang up." He was silent a moment and she could feel him struggling for control. "Galen tells me that I'm blowing this. I can't afford to do that."
"Galen? He's with you?"
"He's more with me than I'd like. He keeps interfering."
She had a sudden suspicion. "Joe, where are you?"
"If I used my telescope, I could probably see you."
"Shit."
"My feelings exactly. You should be here with me, not in that compound."
"Go away, Joe. I don't want you here."
"It's mutual. I'm staying. And Galen insisted on bringing everything from explosives to surveillance equipment so we can set up for the duration."
"Joe, Montalvo's a desperate man. And he has a damn army at his disposal."
"Then come out and save me."
"Joe, listen to me. Montalvo's promised me you won't be harmed, but accidents happen and I don't want one of his men to get trigger-happy and shoot you."
"How do I know you're not being held against your will? Maybe Montalvo's standing there with a gun to your head."
"Your imagination is working overtime. I told you-"
"I don't know anything without seeing you face-to-face. I'll leave when you leave."
"Joe, don't blackmail me. I'm not-"
"Blackmail is permitted in circumstances like this. I'll do anything I can do. And Galen says if you won't come out and save me, you can save him instead. Or make it a package deal and get double credit."
"I'm hanging up, Joe. When you call me again, I want to hear you're in Bogota." She pressed the disconnect.
Jesus, it was exactly what she'd been afraid would happen. Admit it, what she'd known would happen or she would never have made Joe a part of her deal with Montalvo. Yet there had been the slightest hope that her actions wouldn't impact Joe.
She stood up and went over to the window and gazed out at the dark jungle. He was there. Close. She was filled with panic and yet there was also a tingle of primitive joy. They were together. That was how it should be. Her mind had said to leave him, but there was no rhyme or reason where instincts were concerned.
Crush those instincts. Protect Joe. She could understand his doubts about her safety. Telephones were often deceptive and unsatisfactory. Yet if she tried to meet with Joe and convince him in person that he should leave, she might be tempted to go with him. She didn't know what Montalvo's reactions would be if she ran. She would have bet on violence before she'd come here. Now she knew him better and yet he'd become eve more of an unknown quantity. He was a desperate man. Desperation could be even more deadly than ruthlessness.
"Quinn's here," Miguel said as he came into the library. "We have a report of a helicopter sighting this afternoon. We think it landed about twenty miles north."
Montalvo frowned. "You're sure it wasn't one of Diaz's? He's been making his presence known lately."
"We checked the number. Rented in Bogota to a Carmine Valdez. The pilot was to drop the clients off and then stay in the neighborhood to pick them up when they called."
"Description?"
"Does it matter? Quinn would have hired someone to do the rental for him."
"No, it doesn't matter." Montalvo grimaced. "I was hoping that I wouldn't have to face that problem right now. I'm making progress."
Miguel nodded. "But she's an emotional woman. She can be swayed by her feelings. I could see that tonight. She wanted to reach out and comfort me."
"She'd do just as well to comfort a tiger cub."
"Tiger cubs can be very cuddly," he protested. His expression sobered. "Do you believe Quinn is close? We've had no report from any of our sentries."
"Quinn was in the SEALs. There's a good chance our sentries wouldn't see him. If they did, they might wish they hadn't."
"Do you want me to go out and find him?"
"No, I don't know yet what I'd do with him if we found him."
"So what do we do?"
"We tell the men to be on high alert. We report any sign of Quinn. And we don't touch a hair of his head until I give the word."
"He could be an opportunity."
How many times had he said that? Montalvo thought as he gazed at the boy. It shouldn't surprise him that Miguel had thrown it back at him. An opportunity was to be grasped, never ignored.
"This particular opportunity could have a backlash. We'll wait and watch and see what he does."
"And see what she does?"
Yes, it all depended on Eve. Quinn would try to get in touch with her and his influence would be powerful. Which way would she jump?
It was almost midnight when Eve left her room. She saw Soldono crossing the foyer as she started down the steps.
He stopped. "It appears to be a late night for all of us."
"I have to see Montalvo."
"And I just came from having him grill me."
"Why?"
His gaze searched her face. "I think you know."
"Joe?"
He nodded. "Montalvo wanted to know if the CIA is helping him. He's here in Colombia."
It couldn't have been worse news. If Montalvo knew, they might be scouring the jungle for Joe right now.
Soldono's eyes narrowed on her face. "Just how near is he, Eve?"
"Too close. Did you help him get here?"
"Not personally. But there's a good chance Venable might have given him a hand."
"Then tell Venable to get him out of here, dammit."
"I don't give Venable orders. He's my boss."
"Then he shouldn't interfere in my business. I got Gonzales out of here for you. You owe me. I won't have Joe killed."
"I'll do everything I can to-"
"Forget it." She strode past him. "I'll take care of it myself." She went into the library and slammed the door. "You promised me Joe wouldn't be hurt, Montalvo."
Montalvo turned away from the window. "He hasn't been hurt yet."
Yet. Ice shivered through her. "And he won't be. I have your word. If you do anything to him, I'll kill you myself."