Stalemate by Iris Johansen Read Free Book Online Page B

cottage the next day.
    "I suppose you want to look at it before dinner," Joe said.
    She nodded absently as she opened the envelope. "I'm not really hungry."
    "I'll make a pot of coffee." Joe went into the kitchen. "But you've got to eat later. Jane made me promise to make you put on the weight you've lost."
    "Okay." There wasn't much in the envelope. A few photos and two sheets of paper. "From what Venable told us I expected a rap sheet the size of a telephone book."
    Joe came back and picked up one of the sheets. "No jail time. Ten years ago he was picked up for suspicion of weapons trafficking a few times. After that, nothing."
    "How can that be? Venable said he was a big-time dealer."
    "He's either very smart, has contacts in high places, or has enough money to bribe his way out of trouble. Maybe all three."
    "I believe you're right." She glanced through the photos. Montalvo wasn't a conventionally handsome man. His nose had been broken at some time, his lips were well-shaped but large. His dark hair was threaded with silver at the temples and his eyes were dark and stared out of the photo with direct boldness. "How old is he?"
    Joe scanned the report. "It doesn't say. Presumed early forties."
    "Presumed? Venable couldn't even get his birth date?"
    Joe shook his head. "Not according to this dossier. He was supposed to have fought with the rebels when he was younger."
    "Presumed? Supposed? Personal information? Where was he born? Family members? For God's sake, if he was picked up by the police they must have had some record."
    "The CIA's first contact with him was when he was selling weapons to the rebels ten years ago. He'd set up a compound in the jungle and ran it like a feudal castle. They probed; they asked questions and came up with zilch."
    "A mystery man?"
    "There's no mystery that can't be solved. Perhaps they know more than what's on this sheet."
    "That's more logical than them not being able to trace his background. Soldono and he seemed to be in each other's pockets." Her hand clenched. "I want to know more, dammit."
    "You know enough. He's a crook, he has no compunction about killing a man and his entire family, and he'll use you if you let him. I'd say that about covers it."
    "I guess you're right." She looked down at the photos again. "It's just...he's very...it's hard to dismiss him without knowing what makes him tick. What reconstruction does he want me to do? Why doesn't he try for DNA? He must have the money. He's going to a hell of a lot of trouble to get me down there."
    "Including making you think about him nonstop." Joe threw the sheet down on the coffee table. "You've turned down criminals before when they've come to you. What's different about Montalvo?"
    The others hadn't offered her Bonnie.
    She tried to smile. "I guess I won't find out what's different about him from this rap sheet."
    "You've got what you want from the bastard. You've found out who Marty is. Walk away from him."
    "When Gonzales and his family are free and clear. Soldono hasn't called yet to say he's gotten them out. I'll call him tonight to see if there's any progress."
    "And I'll check with Valdosta to see if the kid is who Montalvo said he was." He went back to the kitchen. "The coffee should be finished. Want a cup?"
    "A little later. I think I'll go for a walk by the lake. Do you want to come along?"
    He shook his head. "I want to call Valdosta. I hope they tell me that fax is a fake."
    "I don't think that--I don't know. He was just so pumped when he was talking to me. I don't believe he was lying." She opened the screen door. "I'll be back in half an hour."
    "Okay." He was already dialing his phone, his expression intent on the task at hand.
    Joe was always intent, she thought as she went down the steps. Intent, focused, totally involved with whatever he was working on. That's what made him a brilliant cop.
    The lake was smooth as glass.
    Peace.
    She loved the peace of this cottage and she loved the solid security of her