Quicksand by Iris Johansen Read Free Book Online

next move.
    Have they told you what I did for you, Eve?
    It's not every woman who has the power of life or death.
    Well, not life. But death, definitely death.
    Are you coming? Of course, you are.
    I'll have to rest now and then decide what to do to welcome you.
    EVE SAW JOE AS SOON AS she got off the plane.
    He kissed her quick and hard, and then gave Jane a hug. "Neither one of you should be here. Eve's obsessed, Jane, but you don't have that excuse." He grabbed their bags and headed for the exit. "What do you think you're going to do? Trek out into those woods and hunt the bastard down?"
    "It's a thought," Jane murmured.
    "A lousy thought," Joe said curtly. "If Kistle doesn't shoot you, then one of those triggerhappy deputies will do it. They're nervous as hell."
    "I'm not planning on going hunting," Eve said. "I just want to be close to wait until Kistle is caught." Something he had said caught her attention. "Why are the deputies so nervous?"
    "Because they're not used to dealing with creeps like Kistle." He opened the door of the rental SUV and threw in their bags. "They were all full of moral indignation and piss and vinegar and thought they'd run him down in a few hours. Now they're probably scared and trying to pretend they're not."
    "It's only been one day," Jane said. "And Kistle is the one on the run. No one should be scared yet." Her gaze narrowed on Joe's face. "Isn't that true?"
    "Ask them." Joe started the SUV and backed out of the parking space. "I'm sure they think they have reason."
    "And so do you," Eve said. "What's been happening here, Joe?"
    "I've made reservations for you at the Brown Hotel," Joe said. "Its about four blocks from here. Dodsworth recommended it."
    "Joe."
    "And the FBI should be in town later today to assist. That forest should be crawling with agents by tonight."
    "And you're not happy?"
    "No." His lips twisted. "That local posse is enough to worry about. The FBI can be a hell of a lot more efficient and lethal. I don't want Kistle dead before he tells you what you want to know. I'll be damned if Bonnie is going to haunt us for the rest of our lives." Eve stared at him in shock at the harshness of his words. "She doesn't have to haunt you, Joe. It's my problem."
    "No, it isn't." He pulled into the parking space in front of the hotel. "What you feel, I feel. That's the way it is." He got out, opened the car doors, and handed them their luggage. "I'll call you later. I'm going back to Clayborne Forest." He glanced at Jane. "Take care of her." Jane nodded. "Always." She glanced from Eve to Joe and then started toward the entrance.
    "I'll check us in, Eve. Ask the desk clerk for the room number."
    "She's being diplomatic. She thinks we're going to argue." Joe started to turn away. "I'll call you later."
    "Don't you drive off," Eve said. "You didn't answer me. There's something going on that you're not telling me." She braced herself before adding, "And there's something I should tell you. Montalvo nudged Venable into getting the FBI involved. He said that he wanted the best and most experienced men after Kistle."
    Joe turned to look at her. "Montalvo called you and told you that?"
    "Yes."
    "And did you tell him it was none of his business?"
    "No, I don't care who is involved if it means we can catch Kistle." She met his gaze. "I did say I didn't want to meet with Montalvo."
    "But he wouldn't listen, would he? Is he on his way here?"
    "He might already be here by now."
    Joe nodded. "Why not? It's the perfect opportunity for him to bond with you. When Venable told me that Montalvo had made a deal with him, it was clear as glass." She stiffened. "You already knew that Montalvo was responsible for the FBI being here? Why didn't you tell me? Was this some kind of test?"
    "No."
    "I think it was."
    He shrugged. "Maybe I was curious."
    "For God's sake, after all these years don't you know I wouldn't lie to you even by omission?"
    "Yes, you would. Maybe not about another man, but you'd do it for