“And then you’re taking the money and running. You’re not even going to stay around and make sure that Kevin’s work was completed.”

“I’ll be sure. I don’t have to see it happen to know that those cities will blow. Kevin and I set it up so that he could know and enjoy it when it happened.” She paused. “And I’m not entirely unsympathetic to what you’re feeling. A magnificent funeral pyre for Kevin is going to be something to remember always. But I intend to be alive to remember it. That’s what Kevin would have wanted.”

“Would he? I’d sacrifice my life to give him what he wanted. You’re thinking only of yourself.”

“And so did Kevin. We understood each other perfectly. Good-bye, James. When you’re ready to have me watch Zander’s execution, call me again but not until that time.” She hung up.

James was such a fool. He thought he was so clever, but Kevin had always been able to manipulate him with no effort. So had she when she had thought it was worth the effort.

She turned and went out on the balcony. It was the middle of the night, and she should go to bed and rest. She doubted if she could sleep. She was wired because her life was going to change again. In a few days, she’d be in a foreign country and would disappear until it was safe to emerge from hiding. No problem. She’d made her plans, and this new life would be much more to her liking than the one she’d led in Muncie.

“It’s all going to happen, Kevin,” she murmured. “Zander thought he could take my boy from me? All those Washington bastards thought you could be stopped from doing what we wanted to do? No way.”

The lights of the city were spread out before her. What would it feel like to press a button and see those lights go out and not come on again? Would she feel the same heady power that Kevin would have known?

Perhaps.

Soon she would know …

CHAPTER

11

JANE VAGUELY HEARD TREVOR on the phone as she sluggishly opened her eyes.

He was sitting on the side of the bed, and the phone he was using was her own, she realized suddenly. She struggled to a sitting position. “What is—”

“It’s okay.” He held up his hand to silence her. “It’s Caleb. You were sleeping so hard, you didn’t hear the phone ring. I answered the call for you.” He pushed the speaker. “Caleb recorded an interesting call that Harriet received.” He handed her the phone. “From Doane.”

“What?” She was suddenly jarred wide-awake. “Caleb, did he say anything to her about Eve?”

“No, it was all about the location of the nukes and killing Zander.” He briefly sketched in the content of the phone call to her. “So it’s clear that Harriet is in control of the situation. She seems to have been in the background holding the reins since the moment Kevin was born.”

“But there was an obvious conflict between her and her husband.” Jane was trying to think clearly. “And Doane has Eve. As long as he has her, he’s in control as far as I’m concerned. He’s the one who can pull the trigger.”

“But he won’t do it until Harriet’s in a position to witness Zander’s execution and gives him the location and code for the nukes,” Trevor said. “He wants it all.”

“Then we have to keep him from getting it,” Jane said curtly. “And follow her when she goes to see him execute Zander. Because that’s the only way we’re going to find Eve.” Panic was beginning to rise within her. They were closer to Doane than they’d been since that debacle in the ghost town, but Harriet was another deadly element they had to battle. One false step, and Eve would die, and so might millions of other innocents. “Nothing is going to happen until Zander is dead. That will give us a little time. And we’re not really sure she has the detonator even if she said she did. She wasn’t going to give it to Cartland.”

“Then I’m wondering what bribe she’s going to offer Cartland when she’s sees him later this morning,” Trevor murmured.

“Who knows? We have to hope we’ll find out more after we see where she goes to get it.”

“You’re sure you don’t want to reconsider my offer to have a little discussion with Harriet?” Caleb asked.

“And risk her dying without telling us where we can find Doane?” Jane asked. “She’s given most of her life to doing what her son would want her to do. Right now, she’s full of venom.”

“But she also has a keen sense of self-preservation. It could balance out.”

“I won’t risk it. I won’t risk Eve.” She swung her feet to the floor. “We’ll stick close as glue to her until we—” She broke off as a wave of dizziness washed over her. She shook her head to clear it. “Trevor and I are coming over to your hotel. I don’t want to be a block away when all the action is probably going to be going on where Harriet is. It’s the middle of the night, and she’s not going to be strolling around the hotel and run into me. Once we’re in your room, I’ll stay out of sight when there’s any danger of being seen.”

“Whatever you want. I’ll be glad of the company. It’s boring sitting around monitoring this tech equipment. Particularly since Harriet is probably through communicating for the night.” He hung up.

“Let’s go.” She slipped her feet into her shoes. She didn’t remember taking her shoes off, she thought hazily. Trevor had probably done it after she had gone to sleep. She didn’t recall anything but being held by him, the sound of his heart beneath her ear, the sensation of being safe and treasured. “I’m feeling kind of logy. I think I’ll go wash my face.”

“Good idea.” Trevor got to his feet. “It might even keep you conscious until we get to out of this hotel and over to the Marriott.” His expression was grim. “Or maybe not. You look like hell, and you were sleeping like the dead when Caleb called. That ring should have jarred you awake. It didn’t.”

“I’m logy,” she repeated as she headed for the bathroom. “But I can function. I’m not going to argue that I’m in great shape. That would be stupid.”

“No, you’ve got a fever, and you should probably be back in the hospital. You’re damn right you’re not in great shape.” He paused. “Will you let me take you to the emergency room and have them check you?”

“No, we don’t have the time.” She reached the bathroom and held on to the jamb for a moment to steady herself. “Two days. Harriet wants it over in two days. That means Eve could be dead in two days. I can hold out until all this is over. Please don’t argue with me, Trevor.”

He muttered a curse and was across the room in seconds. “Argue with you?” He drew her into his arms, cradling her. “God, all I want to do is hold you, love you. Can’t you see that? If that’s what you want, then I’ll make it work for us.” He was rocking her gently. “There’s never going to be a time that anything I do will hurt you. I’ll never leave you or lie to you. The only person you trust is Eve, and I can understand that. But give me a chance, and you’ll find that I’m worth trusting, Jane.” He drew a shaky breath and pushed her away from him. “You don’t need this right now. Hell, I don’t know if you’re clearheaded enough to realize that I mean every single word.” He opened the bathroom door and gave her a little push. “Wash your face. I’ll do a video checkout and we’ll be out of here.”

She stood before the vanity for a moment, staring at her reflection before she turned on the water.

Trevor was wrong.

She was confused, and her emotions were in a tumult of panic and joy and fear. Yet it was as if she were seeing a brilliant sunrise breaking through darkness.

Because with all her heart, she did believe every word Trevor had said to her.

Woodstock, Illinois

“KENDRA?” MARGARET SAID when the other woman answered. “Hey, I’m on a bus heading for Chicago, and I thought I’d catch up on what you’re doing. Talk to me.”