CHAPTER
9
SONDERVILLE
He was coming.
He would be here soon.
Margaret sat absolutely still beside the creek, waiting. She was excited, she realized. Was there an element of fear with that excitement? Maybe. Strange. She was seldom afraid.
But everything she’d been feeling since she’d arrived in these woods was somehow … different.
He had stopped just beyond the trees. He was looking at her.
Excitement again.
Don’t let him see it. “Are you going to stand there and gape at me? I promise I don’t have any explosives strapped to me tonight, either, Nalchek.”
“How do I know that?” He came toward her. “You’re an unknown quantity. Eve may trust you, but I don’t.” He stopped a few yards from where she sat. “And I don’t know how she can trust you, either, with what little she knows about you.”
Margaret chuckled. “We have a sort of history, and I was able to help her when she needed me. That must count for something in the balance.” She tilted her head. “Haven’t you ever run into a situation that warranted a little faith in the face of suspicious circumstances?”
“No.”
“I think you have.” She studied him. He was all lean hardness, and his eyes were cool and intent. But there was a barely contained explosiveness beneath that restraint. She knew how strong he was, and she could sense that at the moment, he was barely able to stop himself from lashing out. “Maybe not lately. Why are you here, Nalchek?”
“Because you’re here.” He dropped to his knees beside her. “I could ask you the same thing. You know you shouldn’t be in these woods.”
“And how did you know I was here?”
“I assigned a man to watch the hotel and report if you left it.”
“Why?”
“Because I wanted to keep my eye on you.” He added roughly, “And you hitchhiked here again, dammit. How stupid can you get? That’s inviting an attack.”
“I’m a pretty good judge of character.” She smiled. “And I can take care of myself.”
“I didn’t notice that last night.”
“You surprised me. Besides, I knew right away that you were probably no threat.”
“Then you were wrong. I am a threat to you.”
She went still. The fear was back. Her gaze flew to his face. Then she relaxed. “You’re bluffing. You just want to be in control. You wouldn’t hurt me unless you had to.” She paused. “But I’m surprised you would want me to believe it. I don’t think it’s what you’d ordinarily—” She nodded suddenly. “You want something from me, and you’re not sure I’ll give it to you. What is it?”
His expression didn’t change. “What do you think I want?” He reached out and touched her cheek. “Yes, I do want to be in control. Why do you think I became sheriff?”
Her cheek was tingling beneath his fingers. She could feel a tightness in her chest. “Because you’re one of the good guys?”
“How do you know? Oh, that’s right, you’re such a great judge of character.” His hand moved down to cup her throat. “Bullshit, Margaret.”
She could feel her pulse beating hard against his hand. It felt strange and rhythmic and completely sexual. “I am a good judge of character.” She moistened her lips. “And you would never use your office to either hurt me or for sexual gratification. You’re just angry or frustrated about something, and I’m handy to vent.” She took his hand from her throat and leaned back. “And the fact that you can’t put me in a convenient pigeonhole is making it worse.” She met his gaze. “But I’m no one’s whipping boy, so tell me why you’re being an ass. What do you want from me?”
He stared at her for a moment. “I’m beginning to think of all kinds of things.”
“Don’t start that again. I’m not your type. You thought I was a college kid. You probably like them tall, leggy, and sophisticated. I’m not any of those things.”
He smiled faintly. “No, you’re not. But you’re undoubtedly interesting.”
“You’re damn right.” She got to her knees, her hands clenching into fists. “Why did you come looking for me? I’m sure it wasn’t to make sure I made it safely here to the woods.”
The corners of his lips deepened. “You look like you’re going to take a swing at me.”
“I’m tempted. I don’t like being used.”
“I didn’t use you. Well, maybe a little.”
“I don’t like being manipulated, either.”
He shrugged. “I only tried, I didn’t succeed. I guess I didn’t appeal to you.”
He knew that wasn’t true. That moment had been brimming with sexual tension, and Margaret was aware she was usually transparent as glass. “Why?”
His smile faded. “I’m tired as hell of being the outsider. This is my town, my case, and Eve would never have been involved with that little girl if I hadn’t sent her the skull. Then she brings Quinn and you into it and leaves me out in the cold. That’s not going to happen.”
“She doesn’t regard it as a competition. She’s grateful for your help.”
“As long as she calls the shots.”
“You weren’t this angry earlier today.” Her eyes narrowed on his face. “What happened?”
“She phoned me from Sacramento and wanted to know Jenny’s blood type. When I asked her why, she said she’d call me back.”
“And she didn’t do it?”
“No, and when I tried later, the call went to voice mail.” He smiled crookedly. “So I decided I’d go and search for answers from someone else who belongs to the club.”
“Me?” She shook her head. “I don’t know why she’d want to know that. I haven’t heard from Eve since she left the hotel.” She frowned. “She doesn’t want to involve me any more than she has to, Nalchek. At least, she doesn’t feel guilty about contacting you.”
He didn’t answer.
“Oh, for Pete’s sake, she called you, didn’t she? Why are you being so possessive about the little girl in that grave?”
“Don’t be ridiculous. It’s my job.”
“It’s more than that,” she whispered.
His gaze flew to her face. “More?” he repeated softly.
Fear again. Yet she had just said that she knew he wouldn’t hurt her. It didn’t matter. Unreasonable or not, the fear was here.
She braced herself to try to break through it. “Did you know Jenny before she was killed, Nalchek?”
He was suddenly rigid. “What?” She could see he hadn’t expected that question and could sense the shock. “What the hell do you mean?”
“It’s a clear question, isn’t it? Did you?”
“There’s nothing clear about it. Are you asking me if I had something to do with her murder?”
“No, but I’m asking you if you had reason to be so obsessive about Jenny’s death. Eve just accepted it because she’s obsessive about her, too.”
“But you don’t accept it. And you’re confronting me about it while we’re alone, and you couldn’t be more vulnerable.” He leaned closer to her. “Which makes my point about the fact that you’re about as able to take care of yourself as the little child in that grave.”
“Stop it.” She drew a deep breath. “Answer me. I’m not going to back down and let you intimidate me. I stand by my guns.”
“Except you don’t have a gun or any other weapon.”
“I know karate and several varieties of street fighting.” She glanced down at his holster. “And, besides, I’m sure you wouldn’t shoot me. Did you know Jenny?”
He didn’t answer for a moment. “Why would you think that? And don’t give me that obsession bullshit.”
“You’re answering a question with a question. You first, Nalchek.”
He gave a half shrug. “No, I did not know that child before I pulled her out of her grave. Did it occur to you that I went to a hell of a lot of trouble to find out her identity if I already knew who she was?”
<
br /> “Yes, but it would seem the innocent thing to do, wouldn’t it? I had to ask.”
His brows rose. “And you believe me?”
She nodded. “But I had to hear you say it.”
“Because you’re such a great judge of character?” he said sarcastically. “And I passed the test?”
“You passed the test.”
“If you had any suspicions about my having something to do with Jenny’s death, you should know that I was still in Special Forces at that time and based in Afghanistan.”
“I know,” she said. “But that doesn’t mean you might not have been in a position to— I understand your missions weren’t entirely confined to Afghanistan. You’re very clever, and you could have finagled something.”
“Finagled? That’s a fancy word for a good ole country boy like me.”
She snorted. “A country boy who majored in mathematics at MIT and turned down two prestigious European scholarships to enlist in the army.”
“Now how did you know that?”
“I dug. The same way that you probably went about trying to find out everything about me.”
“But I have a number of investigative sources at my disposal.”
“And I only have one. My friend, Kendra Michaels. But she has all kinds of friends in police and FBI circles. Though she did say that prying any information out of the military about you was like pulling teeth. Some of the things you did are still considered classified.”
“And why did you put her to that trouble?”
“I had to be sure.”
“But you’re still not entirely sure, are you? Why? Why not accept me as I am? Why dig?”
“Tit for tat?” She made a face. “You’re not going to like it.”
“I can’t say I liked much of what’s transpired tonight,” he said dryly. “Well, maybe a few things.”
His hands on her throat that should have been a threat and became …
She veered quickly away from that memory. “I couldn’t be sure of anything, so I had to check. There were questions about you…”
“What kind of questions? Who was asking them?”
She hesitated, then went for it. “Sajan.”
His jaw dropped. “Oh, my God.”
“I told you that you wouldn’t like it.”
“A coyote has questions about me?”
“Not exactly. You were just jumbled in with Walsh when I was melding with him.” She stared him in the eye. “But it confused me. Because Walsh wasn’t the only one searching in this forest. Sajan saw you, Nalchek. Not once, but many times.”
“When? Anyone can tell you I’ve been practically living in this forest since we found Jenny.”
“I didn’t get the impression that’s what Sajan meant. I believe it was before that.”
“But you’re not certain.”
She shook her head. “But I believe in my instincts. I believe that I’m good at what I do. Sometimes that’s all that I’ve had to hold on to.”
He stared at her. “I could almost believe you, too.” He grimaced. “What am I saying? Sorry, I refuse to be placed under suspicion by the blurred meanderings of your guardian coyote.”
She suddenly grinned. “There wouldn’t be any suspicion at all if you’d tell me the truth. Of course, I don’t expect you to do that. You must have had an important reason to be in the woods—important to you, at least. And you would have told Eve if it wasn’t confidential. I only wanted to know that you weren’t involved in Jenny’s death. That’s all I care about.”
“Is it?” He reached out and touched her cheek. “You’re fairly incredible.”
“That probably means you think I’m weird.”
“A little.” His hand dropped away from her face. “But a lot of people think I’m weird, too. It’s usually a question of choices. I’ve made some pretty bad ones.” He got up in one lithe movement. “But you’re not old enough to have made many mistakes.” He reached down and pulled her to her feet. “And I’m not about to let you start on my watch. No hitchhiking. I’ll drive you back to your hotel.”
“What if I’m not ready to go?”
“You’re ready.”
“How do you know?”
“I don’t believe you were here communing with your coyote. I think you came out here because you knew I’d follow, and you wanted to talk to me.” He shook his head. “Do you always take chances like that?”
“I have to trust myself,” she said simply. “I don’t have anyone else.”
“Oh, shit. Now what am I supposed to say to that?”
“Nothing.” She started toward the trees. “Now I know that you may have your own agenda, but you won’t hurt Eve.” She glanced back over her shoulder. “And if I hear from Eve, I’ll call you and tell you.” She smiled. “I won’t leave you out in the cold, Nalchek. I know how painful that can be.”
“Not painful, just annoying.”
She turned and moved ahead of him. “Whatever…”
TAHOE
“Three miles ahead,” Joe said as he turned the curve. “If he’s going to contact us, it should be soon.”
“Yes.” Eve glanced out the window at the glittering waters below. Beautiful, she thought. Incredibly beautiful and remote from the ugliness of Walsh. She had thought all during the drive up here to the mountains that this entire countryside was filled with glamour and breathless beauty. Yet she knew that Walsh saw only the trap he was setting for them. “Do you suppose he’s watching us?”
“Probably. He’d have a good view from anywhere along those cliffs.” He didn’t look at her. “Opt out. Let me go it alone.”
She didn’t answer.
“Eve.”
“I’m the one who should be saying that. I knew that was what you had in mind when you insisted on stopping at that army surplus store on the way.”
“Walsh is a professional, and he’s bringing us to fairly wild country. I need to be prepared.”
“See, it’s all about you. Look, I’m the one Walsh wants. I’m willing to take a chance to get that reconstruction, but that chance doesn’t include you, Joe.”
“Then we won’t take a chance.” He smiled recklessly. “I’ll make certain that it’s a sure thing.” He suddenly pulled around a curve and far over to the inside of the mountain. “And we’d better start now.” He cut the engine. “Get out. This car is too much of a target.”
Eve was already out of the car. “You’re right.” She moved over to the brush and pine trees bordering the road. “But I’m interested to know how you intend to—”
Her phone rang. “Walsh.”
“Why did you stop?” Walsh asked mockingly when she picked up. “And I thought you were so eager to see me.”
“You can’t have it all your own way, Walsh,” she said. “We’re not going to blindly follow your orders as if you’re some kind of Pied Piper.”
He chuckled. “Funny that you made that comparison. You do know that the Pied Piper was paid to lead those creatures from the village to drown in the river. Don’t you think that this magnificent lake is so much more impressive?”
“Joe and I have no intention of being your victims, Walsh.”
“But you may have no choice, Eve. You’ve proved to be far too persistent, and you’ve attracted the attention of my employer. I was intending to dispose of you anyway, but now I have a direct order.”
“From whom? If you’re so certain that you’ll be able to get rid of us, you shouldn’t mind satisfying my curiosity.”
“I’m not that arrogant. Nor that stupid. There’s a possibility that you might slip away this time. Not a great possibility, but it does exist.”
“Then tell me where I can find the reconstruction.”
“You’re almost there. Go another mile or two and look down the cliff. I’ve even been considerate enough to put a few Coleman lanterns to light your way.”
“And make certain that we can be seen if we make the attempt.”
“There is no if. You
want it too much. You’ll think that you can find a way. Tell me, is it really the idea of bringing that poor child home, or is it that you’re more arrogant than even I’ve ever dreamed of being.”
“Or is it that Jenny wants you dead and in hell and has picked me to send you there.”
There was silence, and when he finally spoke, his voice was harsh. “The dead don’t have power. I have the power just as I did when I killed the bitch. Now go find her skull before I blow it into a thousand pieces.” He hung up.
“I believe you struck a nerve,” Joe murmured.
“Or Jenny did.” She slipped her phone back in her pocket. “What next?”
“We move.” He went to the trunk and started pulling out the equipment he’d picked up on the way out of Sacramento. He put on the backpack. “On foot. And I lead.”
“No argument.” She fell in behind him. “Your qualifications as a SEAL far outweigh mine in this area. Just don’t try to leave me behind.”
He didn’t answer as he moved up into the trees at the side of the road.
* * *
One mile …
Bright moonlight on the lake below but only darkness here in the trees.
Joe was moving fast, smoothly, every step springy and catlike. He was making no allowances for her, but then he never did when he was on the hunt. He trusted her to keep up with him and not hold him back.
“I see a light,” he whispered as he stopped on the ridge ahead. He fell to his knees and took out his infrared binoculars. “But it could be only a decoy. Let’s take a look…”
“Walsh said another couple miles.” Eve knelt beside him. “Why would he lie about—” She stopped. Why was she questioning why Walsh would do anything? You couldn’t have any expectations about that murderer. You couldn’t believe anything he said. “Maybe he wanted to catch us off guard?”
Joe didn’t answer as his gaze raked the surrounding terrain, then he trained the binoculars on the steep, jutting cliff ahead. “The light’s being cast up from that cliff. But I don’t have a view of where it’s coming from. I have to get closer.” He was rising to a half crouch. “Stay here.”