Quicksand (20 page)

"You take a look. I'll stay here. Kistle could be behind us on that trail." Joe's gaze lifted past the boulder to the top of the bluff. "Or he could be coming over the bluff as you did, Montalvo."

"Eve?" Montalvo asked.

"I want to make sure there's no grave in those woods," Eve said. "I can't believe he would have brought us here if he hadn't set up a way to hurt me in some way." She started for the pines. "If the grove's that small, it shouldn't take long, Joe." Joe didn't answer and she looked back over her shoulder. He was staring intently up at the top of the boulder. Or was he looking beyond it to the bluff?

"Joe? Do you see something?"

"I thought I saw a sort of glittering on the top of that boulder." He started to take a step closer and then stopped. "Holy shit!" He dove to the ground and started rolling. "Get down! It's a camera, and that means he may have—"

Montalvo jerked Eve to the ground. "Booby trap!"

The earth erupted and the boulder exploded.

Rock flew in all directions.

Eve buried her head in her arms. She could feel sharp bits of rock stinging her arms like shrapnel.

Joe. Joe had been much closer to the boulder than either she or Montalvo. She lifted her head to see Joe lying crumpled across the clearing.

"No!" She jumped to her feet and tore across the clearing. "Joe . . ." He didn't move.

She fell to her knees beside him.

"Don't move him." Montalvo was beside her. "That was a hell of a blast. We don't know what it did to him."

"He's bleeding." The blood was trickling from a cut on Joe's temple. Montalvo handed her his handkerchief. "So are you."

"We've got to get help for him." She started dabbing at the cut. "This isn't too deep, but it may not be—"

Joe opened his eyes. "Are you . . . hurt?"

Relief poured through her. "No, but I thought you might be. How do you feel? Can you move your arms and legs?"

He tested one limb after another. "No breakage." He sat up. "I'm sore as hell. I feel as if someone punched me in the back."

"I was nowhere near you," Montalvo murmured. "It must have been the blast." He looked at the boulder and gave a low whistle. "Kistle must have packed a truckload of explosives under that boulder. There's not much left."

"And there wouldn't have been much left of us if Kistle had pressed the detonator a few minutes earlier," Joe said. "He waited until you'd moved a little away from the boulder, Eve. He didn't care if I caught the blast, but he's obviously saving you for something more interesting to him."

"There was a camera on that boulder?"

He nodded. "Probably with a detonator programmed into it. That way he got to enjoy watching us try to catch him and still was able to cause mayhem." He slowly got to his feet. He waved Eve away when she tried to help. "I've got to do it myself. I have to make sure I don't have any damage a hot bath won't cure."

She clenched her hands at her sides as she watched him, but she didn't touch him.

"Okay." He turned to her. "I'm all right. Let's go check out the grove and then go home. I have a hunch you'll be hearing from Kistle soon."

"We could check out the grove later," Eve said. "Why don't we leave now?" He shook his head. "You'd worry about there being a grave in those pines. Even though this was more than likely a setup, it would be in the back of your mind." He shrugged. "And I believe it's safe enough. I don't think Kistle is going to be anywhere near here or he wouldn't have set up that camera."

"I don't either," Montalvo said. "But you could wait here while we check out those woods. You look like hell."

"Three will do it faster. We'll split up." He met Montalvo's gaze. "And I do feel like hell right now. But I'll get better and I won't let it stop me. Nothing is going to stop me from getting Kistle." He strode toward the pine grove. "Let's get this over with."
KISTLE STARTED THE CAR.
"Did you hear the blast, Laura Ann? I did that. I pressed a button and I shook the earth." He drove down the rock road toward the highway leading out of the national park. "And I probably blew up Quinn to meet his maker. Have you ever seen a dead man? Before this is over I may be able to show you a few." He glanced over his shoulder and looked down at her on the floor of the car. "I heard a sound behind that gag. Are you crying, Laura Ann?" He shook his head. "No, I see your eyes glittering in the darkness. You're staring at me with such anger and hatred. You know, I'm not accustomed to that from children." He turned back to the road as he put on speed. "Children are usually very frightened. It's what makes the experience so exquisite. And I was counting on wringing Eve's heart when she spoke to you. Oh, well, we have little time. Maybe if I tell you what I'm planning you'll give me the right response."

TWELVE

MONTALVO DROVE WITH THEM
up to the front door of the lake cottage.

"Are you coming in?" Eve asked as she got out of the SUV. "I'll make coffee." She made a face. "Or maybe you'd prefer a drink. I'm going to make one for Joe and give it to him while he's in the bath."

Montalvo shook his head. "Not right now. I'm going to go back to my camp and call Miguel and see what's happening with him." He took the steps two at a time. "But first I thought I'd check out the cottage."

"I can do it," Joe said. "Go on."

"It will go quicker for me. You're a bit stiff." Montalvo turned to Eve. "Keys?" Eve tossed him the keys. "I don't believe Kistle is going to come after us here. He wants to lure us onto his turf."

"Neither do I. But I don't assume anything." He disappeared into the house.

"Neither do I." Joe started up the porch steps. "And it doesn't hurt to be safe, Eve. By all means, put the bastard to work."

"I'm glad you're not objecting to a little help."

"I'm the one who took the hit, let Montalvo take up some of the slack. He wanted to be involved? We're going to let him be involved up to his eyebrows."

Montalvo came out of the cottage and gave the keys back to Eve. "All secure. I'll check outside the house in case Kistle had some extra explosives he wanted to put to use." He ran down the steps. "Call me if you need me. Otherwise I'll be in touch after we all get a few hours' sleep."

"Right." Joe opened the screen door. "But phone me when you get Miguel's report on Okefenokee."

Montalvo didn't answer. He'd already gone around the side of the cottage. Eve followed Joe into the house. "Okefenokee?"

"Kistle's led us down the garden path at the national forest. He may send us back there. But I'm betting on the swamp." He headed for the bathroom. "I think Chattahoochee was a false trail, a decoy. He was saving the real thing for Okefenokee."

"We'll see as soon as he calls me." She took off her jacket. "Can I get you anything?"

"That drink you promised." He glanced over his shoulder, stiffening. "For God's sake, your arms look like pincushions. Why didn't you tell me you were hurt?"

"I'm not." She glanced at her arms. He was right, both her forearms and wrists were riddled with cuts from the flying rocks. "It's nothing."

"Well, forget the drink and clean them up. All we need is for you to get blood poisoning."

"I can do both. Get into that bath." She went to the sink in the kitchen and got down antiseptic and bandages from the cabinet. Clean up, stick on some Band-Aids, and she'd be fine. Joe would be fine too, thank God.

Her hand was starting to shake. Probably shock starting to set in. They had been so busy since the blast that she had not fully realized how close Joe had come to death. Now it was hitting full force. She had almost lost him.

She leaned her head against the cabinet. Joe had almost lost his life, and it brought home to her how empty her own life would be without him.

"Okay, Eve?" Joe called from the bathroom.

"Fine. I told you it was nothing." She drew a deep breath and got down a glass and the whiskey bottle from the cabinet. "I'll be right in."

She poured his drink. Stop shaking, dammit. Don't let Joe see how upset you are. She couldn't fall apart when she was the one who had brought them all into this. They had been blundering around, keeping to Kistle's rules, letting him call all the shots, hoping against hope that they could see through the lies.

And Joe had almost died.

It couldn't go on, not like this. Something had to change.

EVE'S CELL RANG AT 4 : 35
in the morning.

She didn't look at the ID. She didn't want to know if Kistle had taken another victim to get his cell phone. She knew who it was. So did Joe, who rose up on one elbow to watch her take the call.

"Are you terribly bereaved, Eve?" Kistle asked. "How long had you been with Quinn?"

"A long time. And I'm still with him. You screwed up, Kistle. That blast didn't get any of us."

"No? I suppose it was my mistake. I was so interested in watching you all creep around trying to find me that I waited a little too long to press the detonator. Laura Ann and I found it very entertaining."

"She's still alive?"

"Yes, and very annoying. She stares at me with those big blue eyes and it makes me want to put them out. She's too stupid to know enough to be afraid of me."

"And now you can tell her you've made another mistake and you didn't kill anyone with those explosives." No, she mustn't taunt him with anything connected with Laura Ann. The little girl's position was too precarious. "And perhaps she is scared and doesn't want to show it."

"The little bitch spat in my face."

Eve felt a surge of fierce satisfaction. "Let her go, Kistle, she's more trouble than she's worth."

"I agree. That's why I've been considering dispensing with her."

"No!"

"See, I believe it would bother you. That's why I have to keep her alive as a carrot to lead you on."

"How do I know she's still alive?"

"I'll let her speak a few words to you later. Now let's go on to Act Two. Okefenokee Swamp. You'll find what you want on one of the lands there."

"Lands?"

"That's what they call the islands in the swamp. I'll put a picture of Bonnie's island on the bulletin board of the visitors' bureau."

"Same tune, Kistle. Why should I let you lead me into a trap when you lied before?"

"Obsession?"

"That won't be enough for Joe or Montalvo."

"Laura Ann?"

She couldn't deny that would draw them on a possible wild-goose chase. "It's not enough. Not after you almost blew us all to kingdom come. Give me some proof that Act Two isn't just going to lead to Act Three if you don't kill us."

He was silent a moment. "This is a two-act play, Eve. I don't have to give you proof, but you'll not find that island barren soil. It was a perfect place to hide a body. And I may decide to hide yours there as well."

"Let me talk to Laura Ann."

"Of course, I promised you, didn't I? Come along, little bitch, speak up." A few seconds passed and then a wisp of a child's voice. "Hello." Relief poured through Eve. At least Kistle had told the truth about Laura Ann. "Listen, baby, my name is Eve and we're going to come and get you. But you're with a very bad man and you mustn't make him angry. Try not to talk to him at all."

"He doesn't like that either. Will you tell my mama that I'm sorry? She told me not to get in a car with a stranger, but he told me he was Daddy's friend. I wanted to see my daddy. I thought maybe he wanted to see me too."

"I'll tell her." Her eyes were suddenly stinging. "I'm sure she'll understand. She gave me a message for you. She said to tell you that she loves you and is very proud of you. She'll see you soon."

"Enough." Kistle was back on the phone. "I'll let you talk to her again when you reach the swamp. The clock is ticking, Eve." He hung up.

She slowly pressed the disconnect.

"What did he say?" Joe asked.

"You were right. It's an island in the Okefenokee. We're to check the bulletin board at the visitors' bureau. Laura Ann is still alive." She swung her feet to the floor and got out of bed.

"Call Montalvo and tell him, will you? We're going to need all the information Miguel gathered about the swamp."

"What if this is another blind alley?"

"That's what I asked him," she said jerkily as she headed for the bathroom. "He said this was the final act and I wouldn't find barren soil on that island."

"And you believe the son of a bitch?"

"Yes. This time I believe him. I think that island's somebody's burial ground." She closed the bathroom door behind her. Take a shower, get dressed, and use that time to think. She had already decided that they couldn't go blindly into Kistle's traps, that something had to change. Dear God, and she had known all along what that change had to be. She had just refused to admit it to herself. But she couldn't ignore it any longer.

The clock was ticking.

THE RESIDENCE WAS A PLEASANT
little house in Morningside with a wide front porch and pots of ferns hanging from the arches.

"This is crazy, Eve," Joe said harshly. "I know you're desperate, but this isn't going to do anyone any good."

"You're right, I'm desperate. I want insurance." She got out of the SUV. "You almost died at Chattahoochee. I don't want to have to go into that swamp blind." She nodded at Montalvo, who had just pulled up behind them, then she turned and walked up the path to the front door. It was barely six in the morning and the house was still dark. They were probably asleep. Should she wait before she—

The clock is ticking.

She rang the doorbell.

No answer.

She rang it again.

A small, thin man opened the door. His hair was mussed and he wore a red robe. "Yes?"

"I have to see Megan Blair. I'm Eve Duncan. You must be her Uncle Phillip?" He nodded. "Megan's still sleeping. Can you come back later?"

"No, I have to see her now. Will you wake her?"

He stiffened. "I'm not sure I should. It took her three days to recover from—"

"It's okay, Phillip." Megan was coming down the hall. She wore only a Falcons T-shirt and red furry scuffs, but she was definitely wide awake. "She wouldn't have come at this hour unless it was important."