Hunting Eve (38 page)

“I did make it. I would have been out of here in another few minutes.”

“No, you wouldn’t. I wouldn’t have let you get away.” He was jerking her toward the front door. “And now they’ll see how determined I am to keep you.”

“Who is ‘they’? What was that explos—” She broke off as she saw the flaming wreckage on the ridge road. Through the smoke and flames she could barely make out the figures of two women moving some distance in the rear. Then a Jeep drew up beside the women, and another woman jumped out.

Eve would have known the identity of that woman no matter what the conditions.

“Jane.”

“Yes, Jane MacGuire to the rescue,” Doane said. “So clever. All the people who care about you were so smart about tracking you down. And you’ll notice another car on the road coming down from our former home at the coinery.”

“Who is it?” She moistened her lips. “Tell me.”

“Why, Joe Quinn.” He paused. “And he brought Zander with him. I didn’t have to take you to Canada to see your dear father after all.”

“How do you know?”

“The miracle of technology.” He pushed her out into the street. “But now we have to make sure that everyone sees you … and me. Yes, you’re in full view.” He lifted his gun and fired one shot in the air. “That should do it. Jane MacGuire is coming to the edge of the road and looking down at us. I’m sure that Quinn and Zander can see us, too.” He turned to face her. “Time for a demonstration.”

He lifted his hand and struck her so hard that she fell to the ground.

She could taste the blood from her cut lip as she struggled to sit up. “Did you enjoy that, Doane?”

“Extremely. That hurt you, but I’d bet it hurt those people rushing to your rescue more. Get up.”

She got to her feet. “It doesn’t take courage to strike a woman who has her hands cuffed. Everyone will just think what a coward you are.”

“No, everyone will see how you suffered, and it will make them suffer to remember it.” His head lifted, and his gaze went to the ridge as a black van pulled up behind Jane’s Jeep, and uniformed men poured out of it. “Ah, Venable. Very aggressive. That changes the speed with which I have to work. Fortunately, I’ve planned for every contingency. Have I mentioned before what a superb planner I am?” He lifted his gun and fired one more shot. Then he grabbed her arm and pulled her back into the saloon. “Venable will read that last shot as defiance. It may act as a trigger.”

“You’re cornered. Give up, Doane.”

“You know I can’t do that.” He turned to face her. His blue eyes were glowing with excitement. “Cornered? I’m not the one in a trap. You’re the bait, and they’re all taking it. Zander thought he’d come after you? It only proves that you were wrong about his not caring if you lived or died.”

“No, it doesn’t. It only proves he wants to get rid of you once and for all.”

“Well, he’s here.” He glanced at the bar. “Let him come and get me.”

He was talking about the explosives, Eve realized, chilled. He had set off that explosion on the ridge, and it was clear he had enough left to take down a skyscraper. What kind of booby traps had he set up around this ghost town?

“Don’t do this, Doane.” She knew he wouldn’t listen to her, but she had to try. “Leave this place.”

“Oh, we’ll leave it all right,” he said softly. “I told you that the only way I’d give you up was to Kevin.” His eyes were shining, his face illuminated by a light that held her, frightened her. “What better way to give you to him than have you burned on a glorious funeral pyre and let Zander watch it?” He reached out and touched her bloody lower lip. “And perhaps take him with us.”

She couldn’t take her eyes from him. Doane. Kevin. Who was standing before her? Evil. Pure evil.

Shots outside.

No! She couldn’t just stand here. She had to warn them.

She whirled and broke for the door.

“That’s not in the plan, Eve.” He caught her, brought her down, his hands grasping her throat. “That will be your last escape.” His hands tightened. “Just a little pain, then Kevin will be there to take you.”

Red haze. No breath. Bruising agony.

She was fighting desperately, her hands clawing at his fingers.

Red fading into darkness.

But beyond the darkness … light.

Joy.

Bonnie!

CHAPTER

17

“I’LL
KILL
HIM,” JOE
said between clenched teeth. “Get me there, Zander.”

“Another few minutes,” Zander said. “And in that few minutes, you’d better work out a way to get to the bastard to kill him. You’re not thinking, Quinn.”

Joe knew he wasn’t thinking; he was only feeling. Seeing Eve stand there in the street, bloody, and looking like a holocaust refugee had torn him apart.

And then the son of a bitch had
hit
her.

“Easy to say,” he said harshly. “You don’t give a damn.”

“Which is the best mind-set for removing obstacles like Doane.” Zander was gazing straight ahead. “And the reason that you should stand back out of my way while I dispose of him.”

Joe gazed at him in disbelief. “And let him kill Eve while you concentrate on killing him?”

Zander said quietly, “That won’t happen, Quinn.”

“Why not?”

“Are you expecting some maudlin emotional statement? You won’t get it. If Doane kills Eve, it will be a victory for him. I’m not allowing any victories.”

“Just get me there, and I’ll go around back and see if I find a way to—” He broke off as the wood sidewalk in front of the saloon was spiked with rifle bullets from the ridge road. He glanced up and saw men swarming down the mountainside toward the town. “What the hell is Venable trying to do?” He dialed Venable. “Get your guys out of there. Are you trying to get her killed?”

“Intimidation,” Venable said. “He’s got to know that we’re on top of him, and he can’t—”

“Get out of there!”

But Venable had hung up.

Joe drew a deep breath, trying to smother the rage. “What do you know about that saloon, Zander? Can I get in from the rear?”

“I didn’t do a thorough scan when I was here. I knew that Doane wasn’t using the place to hold Eve, and I wanted to get on with the hunt. I remember a door and a staircase leading to the upper floor. The staircase was in lousy shape and missing four or five steps.” He glanced at Joe. “You could swing up it, but it will take a bit of effort.”

“Then take me around back.” The gunfire had resumed, and Joe’s hands clenched. “How long?”

“A minute, no more,” Zander said quietly. “I’ll drop you off, then dodge around front and draw Doane out and distract him.” He turned to Stang. “When I jump out, you get in the driver’s seat and get out of here. And stay out of the line of Venable’s fire.”

“I can handle that,” Stang said. “But I should remind you that you’re walking wounded.”

“No, you should not remind me. I can’t think of it right now.” He glanced up the mountain. “Venable’s men are nearly down to the foothills near the town. Once they get there, they’ll head for the saloon, and there will be hell to pay.”

“For Venable,” Joe said grimly. “If he causes Doane to go crazier than he is right now, I’ll take him down.”

“Not Venable’s usual pattern of behavior to go off like this…” Zander murmured. “He’s usually cool, very cool.” He swung the car wide as they entered the town and headed toward the rear of the saloon. “The ground is one giant mud hole. Get ready to jump out and run for it if I get stuck.”

*   *   *

“STOP THEM!” JANE GRABBED
Venable’s arm and whirled him to face her. “Are you nuts? You saw what he did to Eve a few minutes ago. He
wants
to hurt her. Now you’re trying to panic him into killing her?”

“It’s Doane who’s nuts,” Venable said grimly. He threw his arm toward the burning brush and the flaming wreckage of Kendra’s car. “And that should prove it to you. We have to get him under control.”

“Then let Joe do it. Give him backup, but don’t try to take Doane out by yourself. Stop that shooting.”

“I’ve given orders that my men not fire directly at the building itself but at the sidewalk and steps. Just enough to let Doane know he’s pinned down and can’t escape.” His voice was soothing. “Trust me, Jane. It’s the best psychological—”

“And what if a few of those bullets go astray?” Kendra had come up to stand beside them. “Those are hundred-clip assault weapons, not sniper rifles. Doane’s not going to tolerate the front of that saloon being shot apart. If he feels threatened, Eve may be the one who suffers for it.”

“You should approve of my taking action,” Venable said. “You were within seconds of being blown up by that booby trap Doane set.”

“It scared the hell out of Margaret and me,” Kendra said. “But it didn’t kill off any brain cells. The threat to us is over, and Eve is right in the crosshairs, where she’s been all along. We don’t need to make it any worse for her.”

“I’m not making it worse. I’m trying to—Where the hell are they going?” His attention had switched to Trevor and Caleb, who were heading down the mountain toward the town. He started to curse. “They’re not part of the operation. They have no business there. What are they doing?”

“Well, they won’t be shooting up the town,” Jane said. “They have too much sense. I’d guess they’ll be trying to help Joe.” She could see the car that must be Joe’s enter the town and head for the rear of the saloon. “I don’t want to guess. I want to be there.” She went to the edge of the road and stood there, with hands clenched, her eyes straining to see any motion at the front door of the saloon. “I’m not as good at mountain climbing as Trevor and Caleb, so you find me a fast way to get down there, Venable. Or I’ll be following them down this mountain. Either that, or you call off your attack dogs. Your choice. I’ll give you three minutes.”

“I’m not going to be—” His gaze was suddenly cool. “I’ve done what I thought best. You’ll have to do the same.”

“Right.” Jane took off down the mountain. “And I’ll be going straight to that street in front of the saloon, and any bullets from the gunfire you order will have to go through me.”

“Come back, dammit. I’m warning you. I’ll be on the phone giving orders you’re to be stopped before you get near that saloon, Jane.”

“Go ahead.” She heard him calling behind her, but she ignored it. The time was over for anything but action. She had to get down there.

“Let me go first.” Margaret was suddenly beside her. “I grew up outdoors in the woods and hill country like this. I’m as steady as a mountain goat. Just step where I step.”

“Okay.” She tried to steady her voice. “If it will get me down there faster. Thanks, Margaret.”

Margaret nodded. “I’ll take you to her.” She didn’t speak for a moment as they made their way swiftly down the mountain. “She’ll survive, Jane. I know you told me that she was strong, that she’d fight, but I never knew her, never saw her until a moment ago.” Her voice was quiet. “And she stood there in the street, taking punishment and enduring, and I thought that maybe she was stronger than even you dreamed. Perhaps more than she knows. I watched her, and I wanted to hold her, help her. I came here for you, Jane. But now it’s for her, for your Eve.”

“That’s all I ever asked. I’m so scared, Margaret,” she whispered. “It’s all going wrong.”

“Maybe not. Joe Quinn is down there. All that love surrounding her has to mean something is right.”

The gunfire had started again, and Jane felt rage and desperation choking her. She’d swear one of those bullets had struck the wooden bench beneath the saloon window. Too close. How near must a bullet come before Doane panicked? “Dammit, why don’t they stop?”

Margaret says you’ll survive, Eve. God, let her be right. Fight him. Fight all the stupidity that might destroy you. She’s right, we all love you so much. We can’t lose you.
I
can’t lose you.

‘We’re in the foothills now,” Margaret said. “Not long, Jane.”

But where was Joe, and what was he doing? She hadn’t seen him since he’d driven around to the rear of the saloon. He could even be inside the saloon by now. Stay safe, Joe. Don’t let anything—

She saw the wall of flame first, reaching for the sky.

Then she heard the explosion, rocking the earth, rocking the mountain, rocking the world.

The saloon blew apart, shredding into pieces. One blast following the next, feeding on fire and smoke … and agony.

Jane screamed.

“Dear God,” Margaret whispered. “No. No. No.”

“Eve.” Jane fell to her knees, her gaze on that inferno. No one could live through a blast of that magnitude. There was nothing left of walls or structure. The saloon was nothing but pure flame. The houses and shops around it were knocked flat, and the fire was licking, devouring the wood sidewalks. “Eve!”

Margaret was kneeling in front of her, wrapping her arms around her. “Hold on to me. You’re not alone. I’m here.”

But Eve wasn’t here. Eve would never be here again.

It wasn’t true. It couldn’t be true.

She jumped to her feet. “I’ve got to go to her. I’ve got to help her.”

“Jane…”

But she was running down toward the town, her gaze on that conflagration from hell.

She fell, jumped up again, and ran.

Joe. Where was Joe? Maybe he’d gotten Eve out before the explosion. That could happen, couldn’t it?

Or perhaps Joe was lost in those flames, too.

Agony tore through her at the thought.

Nightmare. Loneliness. Pain.

There were people around her, Venable’s team milling around in front of the saloon.

Caleb was coming toward her.

“Joe Quinn is alive,” he said. “He was behind the saloon, and the blast blew him ten or fifteen feet away against a shop building. I think he’ll be okay. Trevor is checking him out now.”

“Thank God.” She swallowed. “Now tell me Eve is okay.”

Caleb didn’t answer.

“
Tell
me. She has to be alive. She has to be okay.”

Caleb’s gaze went back to the fire. “Eve went into that saloon and never came out. Dozens of witnesses, Jane, all focused in hopes that Eve would walk out of there. There must have been enough explosives in there to blow up a mountain. We’ll see a hole big as a crater when we manage to get in there.”