16 Taking Eve by Iris Johansen

Author:Iris Johansen [Iris Johansen]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Eve Duncan
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Published: 2013-04-15T22:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER

9

“IT MAY BE THE RIGHT TRUCK,” Venable said to Joe as he came out of the farmhouse. “It was an old red Ford, parked down by the barn, and Mrs. Hallet, the farmer’s wife, thought she saw a late-model blue Chevy parked in the woods. It looks like he changed vehicles, but he didn’t leave the Chevy. He must have come back for it for some reason. I got the license-plate number of Hallet’s truck from her.” He handed Joe a slip of paper. “Call your headquarters and put an APB out on it.”

“If he hasn’t already changed cars again.” Joe reached for his phone. “And why ditch a late-model car for a truck that’s much older? All he’d have to do would be to change the license plates.”

“Which he probably did.”

“It doesn’t make sense. Unless he wanted to fit into the background of the countryside at the lake house. He appears to be very careful of details. And what about Hallet, the farmer who is missing? Did his wife hear anything about him yet?”

Venable shook his head. “The neighbors and a couple deputies are searching the woods now.”

“No one saw the thief?”

“I would have told you if they had.”

“Would you?” Joe asked bitterly as he started to dial the precinct. “I’m not sure that—” His phone signaled an incoming call. He glanced impatiently down at the ID.

Unknown.

He punched the access. “Quinn.”

“Joe.”

“Eve.” He froze. “My God.”

“Yes, listen, Joe, he’s only giving me a minute.” Eve was talking softly, urgently. “And I’m having to pay for that.”

“Where are you?”

“I can’t talk about that now. Jane. He says Jane is still alive? Is it true?”

“Yes, she’s at a hospital in San Juan. The wound wasn’t serious. How are you? Did he hurt you?”

“No. Drugs. He appears to be good at drugs. Ben? He said he dropped Ben at an urgent-care clinic. How is he?”

“Concussion. He’s as good as can be expected considering that he also suffered from exposure because the clinic didn’t find him for several hours.”

“But he’ll live?”

“He’ll live. What can you tell me about that bastard? Is he going to—Tell him if he hurts you, I’ll kill him … slowly.”

“He can hear you. I’m not in immediate danger, Joe. He wants something from me.”

“What?”

“The usual. What most people want from me. He’s trying to convince me that he has a heart of gold. I’m not buying it. But he made me an offer I couldn’t refuse. I can’t talk about that right now. If you want to keep me safe, make sure that there’s no way anyone can touch Jane. Because my cozy little deal with the bastard is off if they do. I’d kill him myself.”

“No, you won’t. My privilege. I’ll hunt him down and castrate him before I cut him into small pieces. Do you hear me, you son of a bitch?”

“He hears you. And he’s not pleased,” Eve said quickly. “I have to go now.”

“Listen, Eve. Don’t let him use us to make you do anything. I’ll take care of Jane and myself.

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