Stalemate by Iris Johansen Read Free Book Online Page A

close me out." He pulled her into his arms. "I know what you're feeling. I've always helped you through it. What's different now?"
    "Nothing." He had a right to be bewildered. She had acted instinctively when she had run away from him. There was no rhyme or reason why she would do that. "I guess I didn't think."
    "That's what worries me." He pulled her closer. "We disagree about what you did. That doesn't mean I won't be here for you."
    "I know." She buried her face in his shoulder. Dear heaven, she loved him. Why did she feel this desperate sense of loss and regret lately when she was with him? "I know, Joe..."
    They were close to the dirty bastard.
    Montalvo plunged into the water and waded downstream. He could hear the dogs up ahead yelping as they caught the scent.
    Soldono caught up with him. "I'm not going any farther. I don't hunt men like prey."
    "Yes, you do." Montalvo's hand tightened on his rifle. "You do anything you have to do, what your orders tell you to do. This kind of hunt isn't usually necessary for you." His lips thinned. "It's very necessary in my world."
    "But you're enjoying it."
    "Am I?" He plunged ahead. "Think what you like. Just follow me and keep your mouth shut or I'll leave you in this jungle to rot."
    He could see Miguel up ahead with the dogs. "Across the clearing," Miguel shouted. "Shall I turn the dogs loose on him?"
    "No, call them off. Both of you stay here. Leave him to me." He moved forward, darting from tree to tree, taking shelter where he could. It brought back memories of the years he'd spent with the rebels. The same instincts tuned to excruciating acuteness, the adrenaline racing.
    A bullet whistled by his ear and buried itself in the tree next to him.
    He dodged to the left.
    A palmetto bush moved up ahead.
    Meant to draw him out and into a line of fire.
    Circle around and approach the area.
    Move softly, quietly.
    Aquila was waiting ahead with his rifle aimed on anything that moved.
    Another slight shiver of movement to the left of the tree.
    The light was flickering, changing. Montalvo waited for his eyes to become accustomed to the gray pearl of dawn.
    The last movement was not a ploy. He could see Aquila's faint outline against the bushes.
    He dropped to one knee and aimed his rifle. It was not an easy shot. Poor light, long distance, and Aquila could move at any second.
    Concentrate.
    His finger pulled the--
    Aquila moved to the left!
    Take the shot anyway. Make the shot two feet to the left to allow for--
    He pulled the trigger.
    Aquila fell to the ground.
    Playing dead? Wounded? Or really dead?
    He circled and cautiously moved toward him. Aquila was a snake and he had no desire to be bitten by him in his death throes.
    No danger.
    As he drew closer, he could see Aquila lying crumpled on the ground, the top of his head blown off. It had been a true shot.
    "Is this what I'm supposed to see?" Soldono asked.
    He turned around to watch Soldono and Miguel coming toward him. "Yes." He told Miguel, "Bury him here, where he fell."
    Miguel nodded. "I'll get a shovel from the truck." He disappeared into the shrubbery.
    Soldono was looking down at Aquila. "Who was he?"
    "Someone who made me very angry."
    "Why?"
    "That's not important to anyone but me."
    "It's important for me to know why you dragged me through the jungle to watch you blow a man's head off."
    "I saw an opportunity and I took it." He turned and strode in the direction of the truck. "I thought it was a good idea."
    He could feel Soldono's bewildered and faintly repulsed gaze on his back as he moved through the trees. Ordinarily he wouldn't have chosen to have him along when he went after Aquila, but as he'd said, the opportunity was there.
    Dawn was beginning to break. By the time he got back to the compound it would be full daylight. He'd grab a nap and then he'd call Norton in Macon and see what information he had for him.
    Eve Duncan was waiting.
    The dossier on Montalvo was waiting for Eve when they got back to the lake