Millet was silent, thinking. “They were on our list to be next anyway. Yvette Denarve was only convenient.”

“Then you can occupy yourself with them while I try to find out where Jock Gavin took Jane MacGuire.”

“Yes.” His voice became harsh. “But that doesn’t let you off the hook. You’re trying to distract me. I want to know where MacGuire is, then I’ll decide whether I’m going to wait any longer.”

“You’ll wait. Think how they’ll scream and praise you. She’s going to be an offering beyond belief.” Roland’s hand tightened on the phone. “You wouldn’t be forgiven if you waste her death, Millet. You’ll know where she is as soon as I do.”

“See that I do.” Millet hung up.

Dammit, the situation was escalating, Roland thought as he hung up. Jane MacGuire’s escape tonight had caused Millet to come dangerously close to throwing out the entire case Roland had built for waiting for the execution until April 1.

Screw him. He had to have his time with the MacGuire woman. Nothing was going to stand in his way.

“He’s becoming difficult.” Sheila Carmody smiled. “He’d be even more difficult if he knew how you’ve been screwing him. I’ve never seen anyone so clever at a double cross.”

He turned to look at her. Sheila was blond, naked, and with all the appropriate talents. None of them had anything to do with conversation. Usually she was more discreet in her comments. Not that he had any worry about her talking to anyone else. She was a member and knew what the punishment would be if she broke his confidence. That was why he made sure most of his bed partners were of the chosen. “I haven’t been screwing him.” Roland moved over her on the bed. “Yet. I’ve just been finessing the bastard. I’ve only been screwing you. Now close your mouth and open your legs. I’m about to do it again.”

Moments later, he was listening to her cries as he plunged deep and hard. This was power. Take and twist and make her come. Much better than Millet’s idea of sexual pleasure. You didn’t have to rip and tear to make a woman know she was helpless, and that you were the master.

But if Sheila showed other signs of curiosity, he might have to turn her over to Millet for schooling. He’d recently been stung by that bitch, Adah, who hadn’t known her place. He wasn’t about to have it happen again. But not now. Sheila was entertaining enough, and he was preoccupied with the problem of Jane MacGuire.

And he’d have to find Jane MacGuire if he was going to have a trade for the tablet. He had to hedge all his bets. Either MacGuire or the tablet had the potential to give him what he wanted.

He had to have both. He had to have it all.

He would find MacGuire first, get what he needed from her, then give her to Millet to play with before his frustration built too high. He’d researched her thoroughly and had an idea which way she’d jump.

A few more minutes with Shelia, and he’d get off her and reach for his phone…

Rome

Day Three

11:32 A.M.

MARIO SEVELLI WAS A GOOD enough prospect, Seth Caleb thought as he studied the squat dark man sitting at the outdoor café on the Via Rimaldi. He had not paid much attention to Sevelli when he’d been targeting another member of the Sang Noir several years ago. It had not been necessary to involve anyone else in the search. He had known who he needed to find and kill.

But he probably wouldn’t have to kill Sevelli. It should be a simple Q and A that might lead somewhere promising. After researching Ted Weismann, he doubted if he would have confided in anyone in the group. But he might have dropped a word, a hint, that Sevelli might or might not remember. If he came up zero, then he’d just move on to someone else. There were at least three other members of the Sang Noir who could be possibilities.

But Sevelli was alone at the table and Caleb wouldn’t have any interruptions.

He moved across the street and through the crowded, noisy restaurant to Sevelli’s table.

“A beautiful day, isn’t it? May I sit down?” He smiled at Sevelli. “I’d like to talk to you.”

Sevelli stiffened as he glanced up at him.

Caleb kept his smile in place and made his tone ingratiating. “I’d consider it a great favor.”

The tension left Sevelli and he looked Caleb up and down. “I’m not having any. Buzz off, fag.”

“I’m afraid you’re misunderstanding me.” Caleb pulled out the chair across from him and sat down. He gestured for the waiter, then gazed earnestly into Sevelli’s eyes. “But I’ll take care of that. We’re going to be the best of friends.”

Paris

Bleinart Inn

“JOE SAID YOU’D BE HERE at MacDuff’s Run,” Eve said when Jane answered her call. “Where the hell are you?”

“I’m still in France.” She had been bracing herself for this call. “Did MacDuff explain?”

“He explained as much as he could explain. He told me about Yvette Denarve and that you’d ditched him at the airport.” She paused. “He said that you were looking for this Ted Weismann and were trying to locate someone who could find him.”

“Weismann has all the answers. I have to find him, Eve.”

“I can see that you would. MacDuff said that you didn’t tell him who you were going to get to help you.”

“He wouldn’t approve my choice.” She added, “And I don’t have to tell you who it is, Eve.”

“Seth Caleb. He was the first one I thought about when MacDuff was telling us that Weismann would be difficult to hunt down.”

“Not for Caleb.”

“You’ve contacted him?”

“Yes. He said he’d help me.”

“Out of the goodness of his heart?”

“I don’t know how much goodness there is in his heart. I just know that he agreed, and I’m going to accept it.”

“You must feel desperate. If I remember, I was more inclined to be lenient with Caleb than you were.”

“You didn’t see Celine. You didn’t see Yvette. Yes, I was feeling desperate. I can’t have anyone else killed because I’m stumbling around in the dark. I have to know what’s going on.” She drew a deep breath. “I didn’t trick you into coming to the Run because I was afraid for you. I am afraid for you and Joe. I’m terrified. But I intended to join you there.”

“But then you thought about Seth Caleb and knew that he was your best shot.” She paused. “I know you’d never try to deceive me, Jane.”

“I just had to be sure. I’ll come to the Run as soon as I find Weismann. Will you stay there with MacDuff? It will make me feel better. If you were with me here, I wouldn’t be able to concentrate on anything but keeping you safe.”

Eve didn’t speak for an instant. “I’ll stay here until I think that I can help you more by going after you. Where are you? Or is that a secret from me as well as MacDuff?” Then she added quickly, “No, don’t tell me. I don’t know how secure MacDuff’s communication setup is here.”

“I imagine Jock will tell MacDuff anyway. But I don’t know how long I’ll be here. As soon as Caleb finds Weismann, I’ll have to go.”

“Let me know when you do.”

“I will.” She changed the subject. “Are you working?”

“Of course. When don’t I? It keeps me functioning. I brought the skull of a little boy with me. I call him Ronald. MacDuff is going to set me up a grand workroom next to my bedroom in one of the towers. I’m sure it will feel very plush after my humble work area at the cottage.”

“There’s nothing humble about anything you do,” Jane said. Eve was reputed to be the world’s greatest forensic sculptor. She tried to stay out of the public eye except when it was to help public awareness of the need to find and identify missing children. Since years ago she had lost her little daughter, Bonnie, to a serial killer, it had been her passion. No, that wasn’t quite true. She was dedicated to helping those children and their grieving parents. But her passion was the desire to find her Bonnie’s killer and bring the body of her daughter home. Everything else paled in comparison. “But I’m glad MacDuff is taking care of you there at the Run. How’s Joe?”