Stalemate by Iris Johansen Read Free Book Online

way."
    "I'm not saying I'll catch him. The time's too short. But I'll find out enough to point the way."
    "It's a cold case, Montalvo."
    "Then I'll warm it up. I'm good at making things happen. But I'm disappointed you gave me such a short time. I like to finish what I start. Wouldn't you like me to drag the boy's killer to lie at your feet?"
    "No."
    He said softly, "What about your Bonnie's killer?"
    She went rigid.
    "I'll call you in two days, Eve." He hung up.
    Her heart was beating hard. She couldn't breathe. She had to get out of here. The crowd around her seemed to be pressing closer and closer...
    She made it to the side exit and ran into the alley. The air was cool and crisp. She took a deep breath and then another.
    What about your Bonnie's killer?
    Damn him. Liar. Liar.
    But he'd found out who Marty was in three days.
    That didn't mean he could find Bonnie or Bonnie's killer. It didn't mean he was even telling the truth about Marty.
    "I saw you run out. What's wrong?"
    She turned to see Joe standing behind her in the doorway. "I needed some air." She moistened her lips. "I got a call from Montalvo. He says that Marty is a missing boy from Valdosta. Peter Dandlow. He's sent a fax with the boy's photo to our hotel."
    "He's a crook. It could be doctored."
    "That's what I said. He said you could check with the Valdosta police."
    "You're damn right I will."
    She said slowly, "I don't think it's a fake."
    "Why not? That head he left on the porch was a fake."
    "That's different. He knew I'd find out almost immediately about that. He had a purpose."
    "He has a purpose now."
    Yes, he did, but not the one Joe thought. "You should have heard his voice. He was...exhilarated. He likes the idea of doing something this difficult. I can see him sitting there, thinking, pushing, demanding, putting the pieces together."
    "Then stop thinking about him," Joe said roughly. "You're talking about Montalvo as if you know him. He's trying to con you."
    She was beginning to feel as if she did know him. There was no question that he knew which of her buttons to push. Bonnie. Always Bonnie.
    She tried to smile. "It's never a bad thing to know the enemy." She moved toward the door. "We'd better go back inside. Jane might be concerned."
    "She was surrounded by a crowd of adoring fans when I came out here. What are you going to do? Run back to the hotel to get the fax?"
    "No, this is Jane's night. I'm not even going to look at the fax until we get home from dinner tonight."
    "Hallelujah." He took her arm. "And tomorrow I'll check with Valdosta. I hope the bastard is lying through his teeth."
    "I don't. If it's true, it means Marty will be brought home to his mother."
    "And that makes Montalvo a hero?"
    "No, it means that what I worked for will come to pass. I don't care how it happens, just so it happens."
    He was silent a moment as he opened the door for her. "Sorry. I'll be glad if you're able to bring your Marty home. I just wish it had happened some other way."
    "I do too." She didn't want to think Montalvo was some kind of wonder worker.
    She didn't want to feel this dark stirring of hope.
    She picked up the fax at the front desk when she and Joe arrived back at the hotel before midnight. She waited until they had reached their suite to look at it.
    The photo of Peter Dandlow looked amazingly like the reconstruction she had done. The two photos side by side on the fax were very similar. There were differences, of course. There were always differences when you weren't copying but relying on tissue depth and instinct. But she had done a good job, she realized thankfully.
    She handed the fax to Joe. "Close."
    "Very close. May I have it?"
    "Of course." She went to the bathroom and closed the door as pain poured through her. That smiling, sweet boy, full of life and joy. It was always the same. Satisfaction at a job well done and then the poignant regret.
    "Eve."
    "I'll only be a minute."
    "Let me in." He opened the door. "For God's sake, don't