Eve Duncan 06 - Countdown by Iris Johansen

Author:Iris Johansen
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Published: 2010-04-30T04:00:00+00:00

The chalet was a small three-bedroom bungalow nestled between two mountains. It was one of several cottages scattered around an ice-covered lake.

Jock got out of the rental car, his gaze on the front door. “I remember this place.”

“You should,” MacDuff said. “It’s not been that long.” He strode up the stairs and unlocked the door.

“Do you remember where you were when he found you?” Jane asked Jock as she got out of the car.

“Doctors.” Jock slowly climbed the stairs. “They didn’t understand. They wouldn’t let me— Blood . . . They strapped me to the bed and wouldn’t let me do what I had to do.”

“Because it was wrong,” Jane said. “To take your life is wrong.”

He shook his head.

“Leave him alone,” Trevor said as he and Mario got out of the car. “Let him get his bearings.”

Jane nodded. “I wasn’t pushing.” She made a face. “Well, I didn’t mean to push. It just sort of happened.”

“Jock and I will share the first bedroom off the living room,” MacDuff said over his shoulder. “There’s an office with a Murphy bed down the hall. And another bedroom with twin beds adjoining it. You decide among you who sleeps where.”

“I don’t think we should be here at all,” Mario said. “Dammit, we can’t settle into this cozy little place. When do we start doing something?”

“Tonight.” MacDuff gave him a cool glance. “Jock needs to rest and have dinner. We’ll go out after that.”

“Sorry,” Mario muttered. “I’m a little on edge.” He passed MacDuff and Jock and went into the cottage. “I’ll take the Murphy bed. I’ll see you all later.”

“Go build a fire, Jock.” MacDuff whirled on Jane and Trevor when Jock had gone inside. “This isn’t going to work. Mario’s on edge? What about Jock? He’s already shaky, and he has to deal with a committee every step of the way? All of you go back to the Run and leave him to me.”

“That’s not what Jock wants,” Jane said. But she could see why MacDuff would object. That moment on the porch had shaken her a little too. It was clear Jock was remembering the suicide attempt in the asylum and it was filling him with confusion. “What were you planning for tonight?”

“Jock was picked up by the police on a road outside Boulder. I’m taking him back there and setting him loose.”

“You’re not staying with him?”

“I’ll be close enough. But I want him to feel alone.”

“And you accuse me of callousness?”

“That’s different. He’s one of—”

“Yours,” Trevor finished for him. “Then all is supposed to be forgiven?”

“Ask him,” MacDuff said. “It should be the two of us. You’re all outsiders.”

“Jock wants this particular outsider along.” Trevor gestured to Jane. “And since this is simply a preliminary foray with Jock, I’ll volunteer to stay here with Mario and keep him from interfering if you’ll take her with you.”

MacDuff was silent a moment. “I’m surprised. I thought you’d give me more of an argument.”

“Why? It’s not a bad plan. You want to shake Jock up, and too many bystanders would interfere with his concentration.

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