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
“I THINK THEY KNOW WE’RE HERE.” Catherine turned as Joe came around the side of the house. She clipped the final wire on the alarm. “We should get the hell out of this courtyard.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.” She shook her head. “No. But I’d lay odds I’m right.”
“You go. Take the mountain road back down to the car. I’m going in.”
“The alarms are off.” Catherine moved toward the French doors across the veranda. “Divide and conquer. You take the kitchen door. Be careful.”
“I’m not going to barge in with guns blazing,” Joe said sarcastically. “And I’m not leaving here without Eve.” He added curtly, “But I don’t need you. Get out of here.”
Catherine was bent over the locks on the French doors. “Shut up, Joe. I’m busy. I’ll see you inside.”
Joe didn’t argue. He shrugged and hurried around the side of the house toward the kitchen door.
Catherine didn’t like this.
It was too quiet.
Queen’s map and plans had said there were no courtyard guards, but she had still expected it to be harder. Queen had been too wary of Gallo and Intelligence’s own chance of infiltrating the compound. If it was this easy, why hadn’t they tried their luck before?
The French doors swung open.
Darkness.
She drew her gun and threw herself into the room and to the side.
She waited.
Nothing.
But she could hear someone in the hall.
“Joe?” Eve’s voice. “Joe, it’s okay. He’s not here.”
Catherine rose to her feet. “Eve!”
Eve threw the door open. “John didn’t mention you, Catherine. Are you okay? Where’s Joe?”
“Here.” Joe was standing in the doorway, a gun in his hand. “Where’s Gallo?”
“I don’t know. Gone. He knew you were coming.” She moved across the room toward him. “How did you find out where I was?”
“Queen.” His gaze was narrowed, moving around the hall. “Gone? You’re certain?”
“He told me that he was leaving. He gave me back my phone and said to try to intercept you. I tried, but I guess you had your phone off. He didn’t want you hurt.”
“I bet he didn’t,” Joe said bitterly. “And did he hurt you, Eve?”
She shook her head. “No, I was a little scared and uneasy at the beginning, but I’m-”
Joe had pulled her close and kissed her hard. “Thank God.”
“He didn’t mean to hurt me, Joe.”
“The hell he didn’t.” Joe let her go. “He’s nuts. Ask Queen.”
“John’s not crazy.” She made a face. “Though he might deny that himself. Emotionally disturbed on some subjects? Yes. But he’s not insane.”
“He evidently managed to convince you,” Joe said. “Let’s see if he can convince me when I catch up with the bastard. We didn’t see any vehicles leave the garage. How did he get away?”
She shook her head. “When he came to my room to tell me he was leaving, he had a backpack.”
“And how long ago was that?” Catherine asked.
“Fifteen minutes? I’m not sure. I’d followed him when he was going downstairs and ran back upstairs to throw on some clothes. Then I came down to see if I could open the doors and try to locate you.”
“And intercept me,” Joe said tightly.
She looked at him. “Yes. Even if he wasn’t here, he has guards on the property who might hurt you.”
“Bill Hanks, head of his security,” Catherine said. “Five others on the team. Besides the guards at the two checkpoints.”
“Queen, again?” Eve asked.
Catherine nodded. “I think he was planning a major assault. He’s not fond of John Gallo.”
“John’s not fond of him, either.”
“You said you followed him downstairs. Where did he go?”
Eve pointed to the door at the end of the hall. “I think it leads to the basement.”
Joe turned and headed for the door. “Stay with her, Catherine.”
Eve sat down on the bottom step. “I’m fine. You don’t have to guard me, Catherine. Go with him.”
“It’s easier to do what he says than to argue with him.” Catherine smiled. “Unless I have a reason to argue. I don’t right now. I’ll just let Joe work off some of that steam and let you fill me in while he’s not around.”
Eve nodded. “I can tell that his steam is scalding hot.” She frowned. “Dammit, it didn’t have to be this bad. I tried to get John to let me contact Joe and tell him I was all right.”
“I’m not sure that would have done much good. Joe would still have gone on the warpath.”
“But you might not have had to come with him. I’m sorry, Catherine. I didn’t intend to involve anyone but myself. John pulled the rug out from under me.”
“Well, I am involved. I started all of this by trying to solve all your problems. You should sock me.”
“I’ll think about it.” Eve grinned. “But I don’t believe that an-”
“What are you doing sitting on the steps?” Judy was coming down the hall, dressed in a navy robe and furry blue slippers. “For goodness’ sake, you look like an orphan sitting there, Eve. Come along to the kitchen. I’ve made coffee and I have doughnuts. They’re store bought, but they’re pretty good.” She turned to Catherine. “Who are you?”