The Search (25 page)

Love.

Not for her.

And not for Logan.

"I'll get right on it," Margaret said. "This is a good thing, John. I thought the pup belonged to her."

"So did I."

"Shall I stop the investigation into Madden's background?"

"No, I want to know everything I can about him."

"You sound grim."

"I feel grim. I want to hang him out to dry."

"Why?"

Because he was jealous as hell. Because he'd never had a stronger urge to destroy someone than at the moment he'd learned Madden had been Sarah's lover. "Why not? He's a sleazeball."

"You run into a lot of sleazeballs. You usually ignore them unless they get in your way."

"I'm not ignoring this one. I'm taking him down."

"Okay, okay. I'll try to have more information on him in a few days."

He hung up and dialed Galen's number.

"Where the hell is Rudzak?" he demanded when Galen picked up the phone.

"Hello to you too. Where are your manners, Logan?"

"Have you found Sanchez?"

"Last night. He didn't know where Rudzak was, but I persuaded him to make a few phone calls. He was told Rudzak had returned to the U.S. a few days ago."

"Where?"

"Destination unknown. But before he left he made a buy from a Russian dealer for a hell of a lot of explosives and detonators."

"Shit."

"He's through playing penny ante and it's a good bet he's going after his prime objective. We should be able to make a guess. Dodsworth?"

"Probably. But I've got seven factories and twenty-two research facilities in the U.S. I've increased the security on all of them and ATF is making regular checks."

"Not enough."

"I know that, dammit."

"But you're lucky. You have me flying to your aid even as we speak. I should be landing in San Francisco in a couple of hours. I'll go check out the plant in Silicon Valley tomorrow, since that's your largest facility, then Dodsworth. After that I'll tap my contacts and see if I can get a lead on Rudzak. If that meets with your approval, of course."

"And if it didn't, you'd do it anyway."

"What can I say? So I have an overabundance of initiative. How's the dog lady?"

"Fine."

"Do I detect a sour note? That was a distinct growl."

"I don't growl."

"Well, you might come to a better understanding with her if you did. She seems to have an affinity for animals. But I thought you've been on friendlier terms lately."

You are an animal.

Logan's hand tightened on the phone as Madden's words to Sarah came back to him. "Just find Rudzak. Fast."

"I'll find him." Galen hung up.

Logan shoved the phone into his pocket, his gaze on the sun setting behind the mountains. He should go in, find Sarah, and smooth over the ripples of discord he had stirred after Madden left. He'd bungled it badly. With Rudzak no longer a continent away, he must not be forced to leave Sarah.

He couldn't go back in the cabin. Not yet.

Damn Madden. With a few sentences he had blasted through Logan's composure and shocked him into losing control.

She fucks like a wild animal.

He closed his eyes. "Jesus." He could feel his body ready again even while fury and jealousy coursed through him.

She's the only woman I ever screwed who never said no.

What erotic games had she been willing to play?

Get control. This almost painful lust wasn't natural to him. Sex had always been an exquisite pleasure, not a driving obsession.

It wasn't obsession. He wouldn't let it be. He had reacted with instinctive arousal to Madden's words, but any man would have had the same response.

And as soon as he could get his body in check, he'd go back in the cabin and make Sarah forget that he'd made that slip.

Chapter 10.

"Something's happening," Bonnie said. "I don't like it,Mama."

Eve glanced away from the skull she was working on tolook across the room. Bonnie was curled up at one end ofthe couch. The little girl was dressed in jeans and a T-shirt,as she always was when she appeared to Eve, her red hairwildly curly and her expression radiant and full of life.Eve's heart leaped with joy.

She quickly looked back at the skull. "Well, hello. Iwondered if I was going to see you again." She changed thetab on the skull to a different depth. "I mean, dream of youagain."

Bonnie chuckled. "Of course that's what you mean. Younever give up, Mama. But someday you'll admit I'm who Isay I am. You're already halfway there."

"To the funny farm? No, thank you."

"You know you're not crazy. Where are Joe and Jane?"

"They went to a matinee in town. Jane wanted to seesome new Matt Damon movie. I had work to do, so Ipassed on it." She paused. "But I must have gotten sleepyand stretched out on that couch for a nap. Or you wouldn'tbe here."

Bonnie grinned. "Isn't it great how much work you gotdone on that skull while you were sound asleep?"

"Shut up, brat. I don't care what you say. You're not a ghost, only a figment of my imagination. I created you, andas soon as I no longer need you, you'll fade. I'm already onthe way. You haven't appeared for months." She kept hereyes on the skull. "I thought when Sarah found your bodyand we brought you home that maybe you'd moved on."

"And that made you happy?"

"Yes, of course." She closed her eyes. "No, I'm lying. I'vemissed you, baby."

"I've missed you too."

She cleared her throat. "Then why haven't you come tosee me?"

"You were all confused about me. You know, for a smart woman, sometimes you don't think so clearly. I thought I'dstay away until you and Jane got everything straight."

"How diplomatic of you."

"I want things right for you, Mama. I would have stayed away longer, but I got worried." She fell silent a moment. "Something's going to happen."

"You said that before."

"Because it's true. Something bad."

"And I'm supposed to believe you?" Her hand was shaking as she placed another tab. "Joe? Jane?"

"I don't think so. Maybe. You know I can't see what's going to happen. I just get glimpses or feelings."

"A fine ghost you are. Get me all excited and then tell me you don't know any details."

"Sarah . . ."

"What?"

"There's darkness all around Sarah. Death. So much death."

"She just got back from Barat. There was plenty ofdeath there."

Bonnie shook her head. "Something's going to happen."

"Then go visit her dreams."

"Mama."

"What can I do? Tell her my daughter who we justburied is worried about her?"

Bonnie nibbled at her lower lip. "It's not only her. Some of the darkness has to be near you or I wouldn't be able tofeel it." She cocked her head, listening. "I have to go now. I hear Joe's car."

"I don't." Eve wiped her hands on a towel and moved toward the window. Joe's car was just turning the far curve inthe road. "How do you do that?"

"There are some advantages to being a ghost. I love you, Mama."

"And I love you, baby." She turned her head. "But youcan be very--" The end of the couch was empty. No small jean-clad form, no bright, mischievous face. No Bonnie.

She closed her eyes as disappointment surged through her. Most of the time dreaming of Bonnie brought her a sense of peace, but this time she had a nagging feeling of disquiet. Why?

Something's going to happen.

Darkness.

She had thought she had left darkness behind. These last months with Joe had been filled with joy and light. The only cloud had been Jane's attitude, and Eve had been sure that could be remedied. If there were something menacing coming, she wouldn't believe the fates would let it come to them.

She was whistling in the dark. When Bonnie had been murdered, she learned there was no justice in the world. She could only cling to the people she loved and hope.

Joe parked beside the cottage and he and Jane were getting out of the car. They were laughing and Eve suddenly felt better. She headed for the front door to meet them. She wasn't going to let her imagination depress or panic her. Bonnie was not a ghost, only a dream. She had no power to see danger on the horizon. Sarah was perfectly safe, and no darkness was near either Eve or the people she loved.

Darkness was falling, but Rudzak could still see the eager, loving look on Eve Duncan's face as she moved across the porch toward Joe Quinn and the child. It told him all he needed to know. It appeared Logan's affair with Eve Duncan was as dead as yesterday's news. Duncan had a new man and Logan wasn't one to accept the role of second fiddle.

Too bad.

He lowered the binoculars and turned to Duggan. "Start the motor. We can go now." He settled back in his seat as Duggan piloted the speedboat across the lake.

The dossier on Logan had told him that the relationship with Eve had faded, but Rudzak had had to see for himself. It would have been exquisite to destroy a woman Logan loved. However, he might reconsider Eve Duncan if nothing more interesting appeared on the horizon.

His fingers touched the ivory and jade comb he'd slipped into his pocket when he'd left the hotel that morning. He'd thought perhaps . . .

Not yet, Chen Li.

He would be glad to rid himself of the comb. It was one of the last gifts he'd given her and the memories were bitter.

"You shouldn't give this lovely thing to me." Even as Chen Li spoke, her forefinger ran delicately over the yellowedivory teeth of the comb. "It's too expensive. John never saysanything, but I think it makes him feel bad that he can'tgive me gifts like this."

"Logan isn't that selfish. You like it, don't you?"

"It's wonderful." She reluctantly handed it back to him."But John's feelings are more important. You do understand, Martin?"

Fury tore through him. He turned away so she wouldn'tsee it. "Of course I understand." He moved toward the cabinet where she kept her treasures. "But it belongs to you.Suppose we just put the comb in the back of the case and notmention it to Logan? He'll probably not even notice it."

"I--I suppose that would be all right."

"I'm sure it will." He closed the case and smiled at her."After all, he does want you to have the things that makeyou happy."

"It's not things that make me happy, Martin. John makes me happy."

"That's good. That's all I want."

And to see Logan dead.