“Impossible attempts can kill you.” She started down the hall. “And you’re as bad as all the rest of those blasted macho men in this place. All for glory and revenge. It doesn’t matter that the odds are—”
“You’re sure you don’t want me to wake the Colonel for you?”
“No, I’ll do it. Didn’t you hear him? He’s always at my disposal.”
“I’m sure he will be. However, I should warn you he does sleep naked.”
“So?”
“Nothing.” He turned away and headed down the hall. “Just a random piece of information I thought might hold some interest. Galen will be with Quinn in fifteen minutes. I hope that will please you.”
“No, it doesn’t please me. Not one bit. But it’s not your fault.” She knocked on the door of Montalvo’s room and then threw it open. “I need to talk to you, Montalvo.”
“By all means. Come in.”
It was dark, but she could dimly see the outline of his body in the huge bed across the room. “Turn on the light.”
“As you wish.” He turned on the bedside light. “As you can see, I wasn’t expecting guests.” He smiled. “Although I’m sure that nudity doesn’t bother you.”
“No, it doesn’t.” But he was a magnificent specimen, she thought. Big, muscular, and the epitome of the totally adult sensual male.
He sighed. “I didn’t think so. One can but hope.” He pulled the sheet over the lower half of his body and sat up. “Your ‘history’ is too hard to overcome at the moment.”
“Good God, you’ll try any ploy to get your way, won’t you?” She sat down in the chair by the window. “Sex is not a weapon I use or accept. I’d think you’d be intelligent enough to realize that.”
“Oh, I do. I’d never use it as a weapon. But I’m a lonely man and it’s seldom I come across a woman who pleases me mentally as well as physically.” He smiled. “And there’s a certain closeness between us that would be interesting to explore.” He held up his hand as she opened her mouth to speak. “But since you didn’t come here on an exploratory mission we won’t discuss it. It must be urgent if it wouldn’t wait until morning.”
“Urgent enough.”
“Would you like something to drink?”
“No,” she said impatiently. “I told you I need to talk to you.”
“I’m listening.”
“Joe is going to go after Diaz.”
“I thought it likely. I’m sure that if you’d allowed yourself to consider the possibility that you would have come to the same conclusion. Are you certain?”
“Do you mean has he told me that’s what he’s going to do? No, but I know him and there’s no doubt in my mind. He asked to see Galen. He wants information and maybe his help. He’s going to work like hell to get back on his feet and then he’s going after him.” Her folded hands clenched together on her lap. “He’s angry and he wants to protect me. There’s no way I’m going to be able to talk him out of it.”
“What do you want me to do? Drug him? Lock him in his room?”
“No, Joe would find a way to get free. He’s very smart and savvy.”
“That leaves you very few options, doesn’t it?”
“You know damn well it does.”
“Then tell me what you’re going to do.”
“Are you mocking me?”
“Because I’m smiling? I’m smiling because I believe I’m going to be made a very happy man. Am I right?”
“I’ll do your reconstruction. Go after the skull. Bring it here.”
“The conditions?”
“You keep your word about finding Bonnie. And you go after the skull immediately, no waiting for just the right moment. I want to be able to start working on her tomorrow night.”
“Why?”
“I believe you know why. The sooner I get her done, the sooner you’re able to go after Diaz. Joe can’t possibly be in any kind of shape to tackle Diaz for another week or two. By that time, with any luck you’ll already have blown Diaz and his scumbag cohorts to hell.”
“What a charming plan.” He chuckled. “But you’ve set me quite a tight timetable. How do you know I can meet it?”
“You came damn close when you set yourself that deadline with Marty. You like challenges. This is one you’ve been preparing to meet since your wife was killed. I imagine you’ve been going crazy twiddling your thumbs, waiting for your chance.”
“At first. But I’ve learned patience. It was forced on me. Just as it was with you, Eve.”
“I’m not going to be patient about this. Joe’s not going to go after Diaz. He said I was caught in the middle between you and Diaz, but it was my choice to come down here. I won’t have Joe caught in the cross fire.” She leaned forward, her voice lowered to steely softness. “I’ll give you what you want and you’ll keep your promises, Montalvo. You’ll move and move fast. Not one hair of Joe’s head is going to be singed while you two tear each other apart. Do you understand?”
“You couldn’t be more clear.” He threw aside the sheet and got out of bed. He bowed slightly and started for the bathroom. “Speed you shall have. And I’ll try to have Diaz taken out before Quinn can totter from his sickbed.”
“Not ‘try.’ You’ll do it.” She shrugged. “Use one of your damn missiles if you have to.”
“My, how violent you can be when your emotions are involved. Quinn isn’t the only one who’s protective.”
“It goes with the territory.”
He smiled over his shoulder. “Or the history? I told you past history was a strong foe to overcome.” He disappeared into the bathroom and shut the door. A moment later she heard the shower.
It was done. She was committed. She’d spurred Montalvo to kick his attack on Diaz into high gear. Not that he’d needed kicking. She’d seen how passionately eager he could be when he wanted something.
How would that eagerness translate in bed?
She felt a ripple of shock at the thought. It had come out of nowhere. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d even had a sexual thought about a man other than Joe.
It meant nothing, she assured herself quickly. She was a woman who’d spent the last fifteen minutes in a room with a strong, virile, naked man. She was not a nun and it was natural that instinct would rear its head. It didn’t mean that she loved Joe less or that she would ever act on that instinct. It was like watching Brad Pitt in a movie and thinking maybe it wouldn’t be so bad to—
Dismiss it. She had gotten what she wanted from Montalvo and it wasn’t a quickie in that monster of a bed. Joe would be safe. She might have a chance at finding her Bonnie.
If everything went well for Montalvo and his men tonight. It all rested on him being able to fade into that village and snatch the skull before Diaz knew he was there.
She stood up and started toward the bedroom door.
A big if, she thought worriedly. A terribly big and forbidding if.
9
When Eve reached the hall, she met Galen coming out of Joe’s bedroom.
His gaze went beyond her to Montalvo’s door. “A late-night rendezvous or an assassination attempt?”
“Neither. And you’re not being funny. What did Joe want with you?”
“You have an idea or you wouldn’t be cozying up to Montalvo in the middle of the night.”
“Joe wants information. He wants your help when he’s able to go after Diaz. Anything else?”
“He wants me to keep you from involving yourself any further with Montalvo while he’s incapacitated.”
“He’s asking a hell of a lot from you.”
“No, he’s not.” He smiled gently. “My friend Eve Duncan was shot and almost killed. Everything Quinn asked I would have done anyway.”
“I’m not going to let him go after Diaz.” She met his gaze. “I’m not going to let you go after him either.”
“How are you going to stop us?”
“I’m turning Montalvo loose on him. It’s his battle. Hell, it’s his wa
r. Soldono says that he has no compunction about letting these criminals kill each other.”
“But I believe you don’t quite think of Montalvo on the same level as Diaz.”
“That’s because I know him. Diaz is still a mystery. It doesn’t change the principle.”
“Then I should have no trouble convincing you that you should shy away from Montalvo. Right?”
“Wrong. I’m going to do the reconstruction. He’ll be retrieving the skull tonight and I’ll do the work with as much speed as I can.”
Galen gave a low whistle. “Quinn’s going to have a relapse.”
“No, he’s not. Because you’re not going to tell him anything. As far as he’s concerned, you’re doing what he asked you to do.” Her lips twisted. “Including keeping me away from Montalvo. I’m only telling you what’s happening because I know that you’ll find out anyway. I can keep Joe in the dark for a limited time because he’s going to be tied to that bed for a while. I just hope it’s long enough for Montalvo to persuade the rebels to move against Diaz.”
“Don’t count on Quinn’s recovery going along with your timeline. He asked me to bring him some hand weights so that he won’t lose strength while he’s lying in bed. He says that with my help he thinks he can get out of bed in the next two days.”
“Shit.”
“Even if he makes it out of bed that doesn’t mean he’s going to have the strength to stay on his feet. It could be days before he’s even mobile.”
“And it may be much sooner. I know how determined Joe can be. He’s an irresistible force when he’s focused on anything.”
“Then you’d better work very quickly indeed. I’ve learned one thing working with Quinn during the past days. He won’t be stopped unless you put another bullet in him.”
“How comforting.”
“I’m not sure I want to comfort you. I’m leaning toward going along with Quinn on this one. You believe what Montalvo told you but that doesn’t mean either Quinn or I do. How do you know he’s told you the truth about anything connected with that skull? It might be better for Quinn and me to go after Diaz ourselves.” He shrugged. “We’re not greedy. We don’t have to take down Diaz’s entire operation as Montalvo wants to do. We’d be happy with putting a neat bullet hole between his eyes. That’s possible for a two-man job.”
“Damn you, Galen. You know how dangerous it would be to get that close to Diaz.”
“But we wouldn’t have to depend on someone we have no idea we can trust. That’s also very dangerous.”
“You’re saying I can’t count on you?”
“You can count on my help. I’m not saying how that help will be given.”
She took a deep breath to smother her anger and frustration. “Tell me what I can count on. Are you going to tell Joe that I’m doing the reconstruction?”
“No. I think you’ll be telling him about that. Unless you’re not planning to visit him in his sickbed, you’re not going to be able to hide that you’re working. Not from someone who’s as intimate with you as Quinn. I’ve watched you doing a reconstruction. You’re not even in the same world.”
She hadn’t thought about that. Galen was right. “Maybe not right away. I’ll try to build in a delay.”
“And work with the speed of light. Quinn doesn’t need a spur to prod him.”
“You don’t believe in pressure, do you?”
“You always work better under pressure, luv.”
She shook her head. “But why do you want me to work faster? Which side are you on, Galen?”
“I haven’t decided.” He grinned. “Elena says I’m like a cat on the proverbial hot tin roof. I jump whichever way seems best at the moment.”
“Bull. I know you make commitments.”
“But how I execute them is my choice,” he said gently. “Now run along and get to bed. I’ll stay with Quinn. I don’t believe you want to see him right now. You’re too full of plots and plans and you’ll be trying your best to keep from shaking him and telling him to do what you say. Not good for a patient in his condition.”
“Neither is trying to get out of a sickbed before he should. You’re aiding and abetting him in doing that.”
“Touché.” He turned to the door. “But I won’t shake—” He broke off as Montalvo’s door opened.
Montalvo was dressed in khakis and army boots, the ever-present pistol holstered on his hip as he strode quickly toward them. He nodded at Eve. “Is this quick enough for you? We’re not on our way but I’m in full throttle at making plans. We should be ready to leave by eight tonight.” He went past her and ran down the staircase.
“You certainly lit a fire under him,” Galen murmured. “Or should I say a bonfire. You could almost warm your hands at it.”
She knew what he meant. Montalvo’s excitement and urgency were almost palpable. “He’s been waiting for this. He used to be a soldier and he likes a challenge. He’s going to love every minute of going after that skull under Diaz’s nose.”
“Yeah.” Galen was still looking after him. “It’s kind of addictive.”
Good God, Galen actually sounded wistful, she thought in exasperation.
Men.
“He’ll be lucky if he comes back with his own head, much less that skull,” she said curtly.
“He seems to have a well-trained team. He has a good chance.”
“According to Montalvo, Diaz knew he was close to finding her body. Maybe he knows more than Montalvo thinks about where the grave is located. We’ll see if he manages to deliver that skull to me tonight.” She turned and started back toward her room. She was weaving a little and concentrated on trying to steady herself. She was exhausted and her head was pounding. She needed sleep to heal and she had to heal. She had a strenuous couple of days ahead if Montalvo delivered the skull to her tonight.
She glanced back over her shoulder and saw Galen at last turning away from staring after Montalvo and opening Joe’s door. Galen was proving as difficult as all the other men here at the compound.
Cat on a hot tin roof, indeed.
“Duarte hasn’t reported since Tuesday, two days ago,” Nekmon said. “We know he was in the area and monitoring what was happening at the compound. He made no mention of Eve Duncan. We know that a doctor was called to the compound from the village also two days ago. He’s still there.”
Diaz frowned. “Then, if Duarte did manage to take his shot at Eve Duncan, he botched it. Dead women don’t need doctors.”
“We’re not sure she was at the compound.”
“Because the man we sent to Atlanta could find no record of her leaving? Don’t be a fool. Montalvo could find a way of sneaking her over any border.”
Nekmon nodded. “And Joe Quinn did leave Atlanta for Bogotá. But after that we lost track of him.”
“You seem to be losing track of a good many people,” Diaz said sarcastically. “Aquila, Duarte, and you can’t even locate Eve Duncan, much less lose her.”
“If Duarte took his shot, there’s a chance that she’s dead. He was good.”
“Then why call the doctor?”
Nekmon lifted his shoulders in a slight shrug. “Quinn? Montalvo himself?”
“Guesses. God, I’m tired of guesses. I want answers. I want this problem resolved.” He scowled down at the wine in his glass. “Montalvo has been a thorn in my side for too many years. He should have been killed when he came charging after me when we got rid of the Armandariz woman.”
“We did our best,” Nekmon said. “We thought we’d put him down for a good two years after that time. He became a damned phantom. And after he turned to selling weapons we would have had to deal with that little battalion he kept around him. You said yourself it was better to watch and wait.”
“Because I need that damned woman’s body. I should have burned it and scattered the ashes to the four winds. I won’t have it surface and spoil the sweet deal I have with Armandariz. I still need him. It’s not every man who has an army at his command.” br />
“May I suggest that need may be obsolete? You have enough money to move your operations to another country.”
“Another country? Are you mad? Here I’m king. I take what I want and who I want. If I go to another country, I’m only considered a lowlife who must be crushed.” He smiled grimly. “I do the crushing here. No one stands in my way.”
“Only a suggestion.”
“That’s the trouble with you, Nekmon. You settle for the safe berth. That’s why you’ll always be working for a man like me.”
“There’s only one Ramon Diaz. There’s certainly no one like you.”
The asshole was flattering him, Diaz realized. Or maybe he was insulting him and thought he wouldn’t catch the drift. Nekmon with his college education and his smooth ways was beginning to annoy him. He was valuable on the accounting end and he was an excellent front man, but he could be replaced.
But not right now. He needed no change in the men around him while he was dealing with Montalvo. The bastard was getting too close.
“Should we send someone else to check out Duarte?” Nekmon asked.
“If you haven’t heard from him, he’s probably captured or dead. Can’t you do any better than that?”
“There’s a possibility I may be able to lure someone in Montalvo’s camp over to us as an informant. I’ve been working on it for some time. He’s been holding out for more money.”
“Then give it to him.” He frowned thoughtfully. “My sending Aquila and Duarte to Montalvo may act as a trigger. He’ll know that I suspect something is going to happen and am trying to find a way to dodge it. He may not realize that I know about Eve Duncan but it’s going to put a burr under his tail to bring her that fucking skull.”
“If he doesn’t have it already.”
“He doesn’t have it. If he had it, he wouldn’t have waited years to make a move. I’ve been watching him like a hawk since I found out he got that son of a bitch to dredge up her body.” His scowl deepened. “That body is somewhere near here. I know it. That bastard didn’t have a chance to get far before I found out he was dealing with Montalvo. No, Montalvo knows where she is but he hasn’t got hold of her yet.”